Heavy machinery being used at construction work of Expressway during development work in Federal Capital
Youngster enjoying in the tub-well water tank to get relief from scorching hot weather in the city
Rupee sheds Rs1.67 against US Dollar
ISLAMABAD, Jul 17 (APP): Pakistani Rupee on Monday witnessed Rs1.67 devaluation against the US Dollar in the interbank trading as it closed at Rs 279.26 against the previous day’s closing of Rs277.59.
However, according to the Forex Association of Pakistan (FAP), the buying and selling rates of dollars in the open market stood at Rs282 and Rs285.5 respectively.
The price of the Euro increased by Rs 2.18 to close at Rs 313.91 against the last day’s closing of Rs 311.73, according to the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP).
The Japanese Yen remained unchanged to close at Rs2.01, whereas an increase of Rs1.48 was witnessed in the exchange rate of the British Pound, which traded at Rs365.67 as compared to its last day’s closing of Rs364.19.
The exchange rates of the Emirates Dirham and the Saudi Riyal increased by 46 paisa and 45 paisa to close at Rs76.03 and Rs74.43, respectively.
Tanveer off to Czech Republic to compete at World Archery Para C’ships
ISLAMABAD, Jul 17 (APP):Pakistan’s visually impaired archer Tanveer Ahmed flew to Czech Republic on Monday to feature in the World Archery Para Championships 2023.
The week-long Championships that commenced in Pilsen on Monday will conclude on July 23.
The 39-year-old Tanveer claimed the first-ever silver medal for the country in the last edition of the Championships that was held in Dubai, last year. “That was my first appearance in the event and I returned home with a silver medal. Now I’m targeting another medal; hopefully gold this time,” Tanveer, who has low vision and shoots blindfolded told APP on phone.
Tanveer has won several medals in national and international competitions since taking on archery in 2017. Prior to that he was a blind cricketer where he showcased his talent for 16 years. “I’ve been a cricketer. But it is archery that gave me real recognition.” The 2022 has been a year of success for him as he earned five international medals in it, including the first-ever mix team gold medal in Andorra International Open for VI Archery, silver medal in 30-metre individual event of VI Archery and bronze medal in 18-metre individual event of VI Archery in Andorra International Open for VI Archery, bronze medal in World Ranking Event & European Cup and silver medal in World Archery Para Championships. “I’m the only archer from Pakistan, who has won five medals in a calendar year,” he added.
He said he had been training hard for the World Archery Para Championships and believed he was fully fit to take on the challenge and emerge victorious. “My coach Muhammad Ijaz is a seasoned trainer. I wanted him to accompany but due to visa issues he could not accompany me.
“I will be competing in the event without my coach,” said Tanveer, who is being sponsored by the BARD Foundation for the event. “The BARD Foundation is also sponsoring me for World Blind Games where I will be again the only archer to represent my country.”
The 2023 World Games is the largest high-level international event for athletes with visual impairment, with more than 1250 competitors from 70 nations. The games, staged every four years are the pinnacle of the international sporting calendar outside the Paralympic Games.
The sports taking place during the 2023 World Games include archery, chess, cricket, blind football, partially sighted football, women’s football, goalball, judo, powerlifting, showdown, tenpin bowling and tennis. Pakistan’s men blind cricket team is also scheduled to feature in the Games.
170 Fulbright Scholarship students to depart for USA
ISLAMABAD, Jul 17 (APP):The United States Educational Foundation in Pakistan (USEFP) Monday announced that 170 accomplished Pakistanis had been awarded the prestigious ‘Fulbright Scholarship’ to study and conduct advanced research at leading U.S. universities.
The flagship academic exchange program of the U.S. Government, the Fulbright Program, enabled students from around the world to attend universities across the United States, said a press release issued here on Monday.
The 2023 cohort gathered for a two-day pre-departure orientation to prepare for their educational journey and learn about the American culture, life on campus, and opportunities for exchange students in the United States.
U.S. Acting Deputy Chief of Mission, William Ostick congratulated the students on securing the scholarship and advised them to connect with fellow students and learn from each other’s experiences.
“In the United States, the students will be cultural ambassadors, strengthening ties between the peoples of Pakistan and the United States. They will connect with Americans eager to learn more about Pakistan. And when return, the student can help explain America – its people, its values, and its character their communities,” he added.
This year’s 170 participants belong to 44 public and private universities. Among these are 129 Master’s and 41 PhD students and 7 Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant (FLTA) fellows.
Women represent 61 percent of this year’s departing cohort. The recipients will begin their educational journey this fall at 81 U.S. universities in various disciplines, including engineering, energy management, and social sciences.
“This year’s cohort of Fulbrighters continues to represent the rich diversity of Pakistan with grantees drawn from every province and region of the country. The prestigious scholarship is merit-based, but the merit is not just grades and examination results. Fulbrighters are selected for their potential to contribute to the social and economic development of Pakistan and for their ability to represent and build bridges between our two cultures. We hope that bright and gifted individuals studying and teaching at universities across Pakistan will be encouraged to consider applying if they have a vision for how their higher education in the United States can help them uplift and support their communities in the future,” William Ostick said.
Operated in 160 countries, the Fulbright Program is administered by binational commissions and U.S. embassies.
The Fulbright Commission in Pakistan, also known as USEFP, manages the largest program in the world in terms of U.S. government contribution.
The Government of Pakistan, through the Higher Education Commission (HEC), also provides significant financial support. To strengthen the partnership in the education sector, the HEC funds 25 PhD grantees annually.
Since 2005, 2,785 Pakistanis have received the Fulbright award to study, conduct research, exchange ideas, and contribute to finding solutions to shared international concerns.
USEFP is a bi-national commission established in 1950 by the governments of the United States and Pakistan.
Since its inception, more than 9,621 Pakistanis and over 941 Americans have participated in USEFP-managed exchange programs. For more information, visit www.usefp.org.
A bird is sitting on the eggs at her nest
A farmer ploughing field in a traditional way with the help of bulls for next crop in the outskirts of the city
Street vendor selling colorful balloons at a roadside
Registered voters cross 126m figure: ECP reports
ISLAMABAD, Jul 17 (APP):The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Monday issued a report that revealed the number of registered voters in the country had reached over 126 million, as of June 30, 2023.
The ECP also released the percentage of voters in terms of age, according to which, the highest number of voters remained within the age group of 26 to 35 years.
According to the report, the ratio of male and female voters in Pakistan stood at 54.02 per cent and 45.98 per cent respectively.
The total number of registered voters in Islamabad was over one million while Punjab topped with 71.60 million voters.
The number of registered voters in Balochistan is over 5.27 million of which 2.96 million are male and 2.31 million are female.
The number of registered voters in K-P is over 21.62 million of which 11.79 million are male while 9.82 million are female.
In Punjab, the largest province of the country population-wise, the number of registered voters is 71.60 million, of which 38.41 million are men and 33.19 million are women.
Similarly, the number of registered voters in Sindh is 26.52 million, of which 14.38 million are male and 12.14 million are female.
Domestic edible oil, ghee output grew by 12.75% and 10.44% in 11 months
ISLAMABAD, Jul 17 (APP): Domestic production of cooking oil, and vegetable ghee during the 11 months of the financial year that ended on June 30, 2023, increased by 12.57 per cent and 10.44 per cent respectively as compared to the output of the corresponding period of last year.
During the period from July-May, 2022-23 about 513,206 metric tons of edible oil were produced locally in order to fulfil the domestic requirements as compared to the manufacturing of 455,884 metric tons of same period last year.
Meanwhile, during the period under review, about 1.421 million tons of vegetable ghee were locally manufactured as against the production of 1.286 million tons in the same period last year, which was up by 10.44 per cent, according to the data of the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics.
The Large Scale Manufacturing Industries (LSMI) in the country grew by 5.88 per cent during the month of May 2023 as compared to the previous month of (April). The Quantum Index Numbers of Large Scale Manufacturing Industries (QIM) for May 2023 estimated at 110.60 as compared to 104.46 during April 2023.
The provisional quantum indices of LSMI for May 2023 with the base year 2015-16 have been developed on the basis of the latest data supplied by the source agencies including Oil Companies Advisory Committee (OCAC), Ministry of Industries and Production, Ministry of Commerce and Provincial Bureaus of Statistics.
In 11 months 27, 728 tractors were locally assembled as compared to the assembling of 51,772 tractors in the corresponding period of last year.
Meanwhile, 2,083 tractors were assembled during the month of May 2023 as compared to the production to 4,362 tractors of the same month of last year.
The LSMI production during July-May 2022-23 as compared to the corresponding period of last year has increased in wearing apparel, furniture and other manufacturing (football), while it decreased in food, tobacco, textile, coke & petroleum products, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, non-metallic mineral products, machinery and equipment, automobiles and other transport equipment.