Gold imports fall by 6.02% to $13.5 mln in 1st half

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Tue, 23 Jan 2024, 3:54 PM

ISLAMABAD, Jan 23 (APP): The imports of gold decreased by 6.02 percent during the first half of the current fiscal year as compared to the corresponding period of last year, Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) reported.

The gold imports during the July-December (2023-24) were recorded at $ 13.562 million as compared to the imports of $14.431 million during July-December (2022-23), according to PBS data.

In terms of quantity, Pakistan imported 240 kilograms of gold during the period under review as compared to the imports of 239 kilograms last year, showing increase of 0.54 percent.

On year-on-year basis, the gold imports decreased by 76.06 percent in December as compared to the same month of last year. The gold imports during December 2023 were recorded at $0.780 compared to imports of $3.259 million.

In terms of quantity, the gold imports declined by 75 percent to 12 kilograms in December 2023 as compared to the imports of 48 kilogram during December 2022 2023.

On month-on-month basis, the gold imports during December 2023 decreased by 79.99 percent when compared to the imports of $3.899 million in November 2023.

In terms of quantity, the gold imports declined by 80 percent when compared to the imports of 60 kilogram during November 2023.
It is pertinent to mention here that the country’s overall merchandize trade deficit contracted by 34.29 per cent during the first half of the current fiscal year compared to the corresponding period of last year.

The Trade deficit from July-December (2023-24) was recorded at $11.148 billion as against the deficit of $16.965 billion in July–December (2022-23), showing negative growth of 34.29 per cent.

During the period under review, the exports increased by 5.17 per cent to $14.981 billion compared to the exports of $14.244 billion during the corresponding period of last year, according to the latest PBS data.

On the other hand, the imports narrowed by 16.28 per cent and were recorded at $26.129 billion compared to $31.209 billion last year.

A vendor displaying the strawberry to attract the customers on his hand cart.

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Wajid

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Tue, 23 Jan 2024, 3:54 PM

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APP16-230124 HYDERABAD: January 23 - A vendor displaying the strawberry to attract the customers on his hand cart.

Vendor busy in preparing traditional food items “seekh kabab” and “tikka” for customers at Azadi Chowk.

By

Wajid

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Tue, 23 Jan 2024, 3:53 PM

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APP08-230124 SARGODHA: January 23 – Vendor busy in preparing traditional food items “seekh kabab” and “tikka” for customers at Azadi Chowk.

Caretaker CM vows zero tolerance for corruption

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Iqra Yousaf Iqra Yousaf

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Tue, 23 Jan 2024, 3:48 PM

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PESHAWAR, Jan 23 (APP): Caretaker Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Justice (Retd) Arshad Hussain Shah, has taken notice of complaints regarding undue problems in the Inteqal of land (land transfer deeds).

He has directed the Board of Revenue Land to obtain records of land Inteqal deeds from the last four months.

The Chief Minister has instructed the records to be scrutinized in the CM Complaint Cell, and individuals should be contacted by telephone to ensure that no additional amounts were wrongfully taken from them during the Inteqal of land process.

He announced a zero-tolerance policy of the government against corruption and warned of strict action against officials involved in corrupt practices.

RDA lodges FIRs against four illegal housing schemes

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Iqra Yousaf Iqra Yousaf

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Tue, 23 Jan 2024, 3:44 PM

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RAWALPINDI, Jan 23 (APP): Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) on the directives of the Director General (DG), Muhammad Saif Anwar Jappa, has lodged First Information Reports (FIRs) against four illegal housing schemes namely Rahber Joshua Block, Shah-e-Kharasan Valley, New Iqra City/Iqra Residencia and Moon Galaxy Housing Project in Chakri.

The Metropolitan Planning and Traffic Engineering (MP&TE) Directorate RDA lodged FIRs against the owners of four illegal housing schemes namely Arshad Mehmood Rahi, Nabeel Shahzad, Azhar Ali Khan, Saeed Rizwi, Muhammad Arshad Safi and Haq Nawaz in Chakri police station, Rawalpindi, RDA Spokesman said.

He said that the MP&TE Directorate was taking legal action against the illegal advertisements and marketing of illegal housing schemes.

He informed that earlier, the authority had also issued notices to the four illegal housing schemes.

He said RDA had warned that without getting the requisite NOC from RDA for launching of the housing schemes, apartment projects, commercial buildings, etc. within the controlled area of RDA, advertisements, marketing and development of the projects are illegal.

RDA had advised the citizens not to invest in illegal housing schemes and to check the status of the housing projects on RDA’s official website. The sponsors were also warned to immediately stop the marketing of the unapproved and illegal housing schemes.

He said RDA had sent letters to the Governor State Bank of Pakistan, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Rawalpindi, FIA Cyber Crime Islamabad, Overseas Pakistanis Foundation Islamabad, SNGPL Islamabad, the District Collector Rawalpindi, District Council Rawalpindi, PEMRA Islamabad and Commissioner Islamabad about illegal advertisements of private housing schemes on social media.

The DG had directed the MP&TE Directorate to take strict action against illegal and unauthorized housing schemes, constructions and commercial activities, booking offices and encroachments without any discrimination, he added.

Rupee gains 06 paisa against dollar

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NNPS Desk

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Tue, 23 Jan 2024, 3:42 PM

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ISLAMABAD, Jan 23 (APP): The Pakistani Rupee on Tuesday witnessed an appreciation of 06 paisa against the US Dollar in the interbank trading and closed at Rs279.79 against the previous day’s closing of Rs279.85.

However, according to the Forex Association of Pakistan (FAP), the buying and selling rates of the Dollar in the open market stood at Rs279 and Rs281 respectively.

The price of the Euro increased by 19 paisa to close at Rs305.03 against the last day’s closing of Rs304.84, according to the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP).

The Japanese Yen went up by 01 paisa and closed at Rs1.89, whereas an increase of Rs1.02 was witnessed in the exchange rate of the British Pound, which traded at Rs356.34 compared to the last closing of Rs355.32.

The exchange rates of the Emirates Dirham and the Saudi Riyal decreased by 02 and 01 paisa to close at Rs76.17 and Rs74.60 respectively.

AIOU Mirpur campus to launch expo & career counseling event on Jan 24

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Iqra Yousaf Iqra Yousaf

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Tue, 23 Jan 2024, 3:41 PM

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MIRPUR, AJK, Jan 23 (APP): Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) Mirpur campus would launch a two-day open Expo and Career Counseling event tomorrow (Wednesday), January 24 at regional campus Mirpur, AJK to provide a comprehensive platform for individuals seeking educational and career advancement.
Official sources told here on Tuesday that Regional Director of AIOU Mirpur campus, Faisal Shehzad has already shared about the career counselling event that will have stalls from a variety of institutions including educational, vocational, and Information Technology institutions.
Along with the opportunity to interact with representatives from these institutions, attendees will also have access to subject experts and career counselling sessions to make informed decisions about their future.
He said that event also commits to environmental sustainability following the expo a plantation drive will be conducted, promoting a greener future and contributing to the local eco-system.
“Empowering individuals to make informed choices about their education and careers is our priority,” said Faisal, inviting participants to take advantage of this one-stop destination for career exploration.
He also informed that the event will be held at AIOU Regional Campus Mirpur, providing a convenient and accessible location for attendees.

Gold imports fall by 6.02% to $13.5 mln in 1st half

By

Muhammad Ashraf Wani

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Tue, 23 Jan 2024, 3:40 PM

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ISLAMABAD, Jan 23 (APP):The imports of gold decreased by 6.02 percent during the first half of the current fiscal year as compared to the corresponding period of last year, Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) reported.