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Exchange rates for currency notes

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Currency rates of NBP

KARACHI, Jan 15 (APP): CURRENCY SELLING BUYING
USD 283.66277.55
GBP 361.76 353.85
EUR 310.89 304.72
JPY 1.9535 1.9114
SAR 75.64 74.00
AED 77.24 76.07

LIBOR
LIBOR FOR CALCULATING INTEREST ON SPECIAL USD BONDS
LIBOR 1M 5.44764
LIBOR 3M 5.57560
LIBOR 6M 5.58391

US DOLLAR Indicative FBP Rates

CURRENCY SIGHT/
15 DAYS1M2M 3M4M 5M 6M

USD279.17278.08275.60272.94269.90267.02264.66

EUR 306.11305.16302.76300.21297.22294.38292.12

GBP 355.94 354.60351.48348.14344.26 340.58337.52

APP/mzr/

NBP exchange rates

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NBP

KARACHI, Jan 15 (APP): Treasury Management Division of National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) on Monday the following exchange rates.

CURRENCY SYMBOL TT Selling TT Buying
U.S DOLLAR USD 280.85 280.35
EURO EUR 308.37 307.82
JAPANESE YEN JPY 1.9341 1.9307
BRITISH POUND GBP 358.17 357.54
SWISS FRANC CHF 329.28 328.70
CANADIAN DOLLAR CAD 209.70 209.32
AUSTRALIAN DOLAR AUD 187.91 187.58
SWEDISH KRONA SEK 27.47 27.42
NORWEGIAN KRONE NOK 27.33 27.28
DANISH KRONE DKK 41.27 41.20
NEWZEALAND DOLLAR NZD 174.94 174.63
SINGAPORE DOLLAR SGD 210.94 210.57
HONGKONG DOLLAR HKD 36.06 35.99
KOREAN WON KRW 0.2125 0.2122
CHINESE YUAN CNY 39.30 39.23
MALAYSIAN RINGGIT MYR 60.43 60.32
THAI BAHT THB 8.06 08.05
U.A.E DIRHAM AED 77.00 76.86
SAUDI RIYAL SAR 74.89 74.76
QATAR RIYAL QAR 77.04 76.90
KUWAITI DINAR KWD 914.31 912.69

CONVERSION RATE FOR FROZEN FCY DEPOSITS
USD 280.2317
GBP 357.9679
EUR 307.6944
JPY 1.9332

SETTLEMENT DATE: 17-01-2024

APP/mzr/

Foreign exchange rates

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Currency rates

KARACHI, Jan 15 (APP): The Exchange Rates Committee of the Financial Markets Association of Pakistan issued the following Exchange rates bulletin, here on Monday.

CONVERSION RATES FOR JANUARY 15, 2024 FOR FOREIGN CURRENCY FOR FORWARD COVER FOR DEPOSITS (EXCLUDING FE 25 DEPOSITS)

SBP SETTLEMENT VALUE DATE JANUARY 17, 2024

USD 280.2317
GBP 357.9679
EUR 307.6944
JPY 1.9332

APP/mzr/

UN experts slam German support for Israeli genocide at world court

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UN

UNITED NATIONS, Jan 14 (APP): Germany’s decision to become the first country to legally defend Israel’s deadly war on besieged Gaza at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) as a third party had drawn a significant number of negative reactions from across the world, including UN experts.

“Shocking abdication of all responsibility by Germany,” wrote Balakrishnan Rajagopal, UN special rapporteur on the right to adequate housing, on X.

“May better angels prevail,” he wrote. “Germany should be supporting efforts to enforce the Genocide Convention, not oppose it.”

During the ICJ’s two days of hearings earlier in the week, South Africa instituted proceedings that accused Israel of genocide against Palestinians and said Tel Aviv’s aggression aimed to bring about “the destruction of the population” of Gaza.

Separately, Tlaleng Mofokeng, UN special rapporteur on the right to health, also criticized Germany for trying to prevent Israel from being tried for crimes it has been committing with its ongoing war against Palestinian fighters.

“The state (Germany) that committed more than one genocide throughout its history is trying to undermine the efforts of a country (South Africa) that is a victim of colonialism and apartheid, to protect another genocide and an occupying nuclear power (Israel),” she lamented on X.

“Germany? Are you for real? We hope you can do better!!,” she added.

German federal government spokesperson Steffen Hebestreit previously announced on X that Berlin “firmly rejects the accusation of genocide made against Israel.”

It has no basis whatsoever. We will therefore speak as a third party in the main hearing before the International Court of Justice,” he added.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz had attributed his country’s unconditional support for Israel after Oct. 7 to Germany’s historical responsibility for the Holocaust.

Berlin had put forward the same reason when blocking demonstrations of support for Palestine in Germany on the grounds of combating anti-semitism.

During this period, more than 100 pro-Palestinian demonstrations were not allowed in the country, while in the capital, students were banned from carrying Palestinian shawls and stickers with Palestinian flags on them.

In the state of Bavaria, the slogan: “Palestine will be free from the river to the sea,” used in pro-Palestinian demonstrations, was banned on the grounds it was “anti-semitic.”

Scholz was the first foreign head of government to visit Israel after Oct. 7.

Israel’s Ambassador to Germany, Ron Prosor, announced that Germany has become Tel Aviv’s “best ally in Europe” after the unconditional and unlimited support it has given since Oct. 7.

Tensions have been running high across the West Bank amid an Israeli military offensive on the Gaza Strip following a cross-border attack by Hamas on Oct. 7.

The Israeli escalation resulted in the killing of 347 Palestinians and injury to 4,000 others, including 593 children, since Oct. 7, according to the Ministry of Health. The arrest of 5,822 Palestinians has been recorded, according to prisoner affairs institutions.

Israel has launched air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip in retaliation for the Hamas’ cross-border attacks, killing at least 23,843 Palestinians, mostly children and women, and injuring 60,317 others, according to health authorities in the enclave.

Meanwhile, Namibia said Sunday that Germany committed the first genocide of the 20th century on Namibian soil and “is yet to fully atone for the genocide.”

Namibia rejected Germany’s support to Israel’s attacks in Gaza, the presidency of Namibia said in a statement on X.

President of Namibia, Hage Geingob, expressed “deep concern with the shocking decision communicated by the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany yesterday, 12 January 2024, in which it rejected the morally upright indictment brought forward by South Africa before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.”

The statement stressed concern, stating, “Ignoring the violent deaths of over 23,000 Palestinians in Gaza and various United Nations reports disturbingly highlighting the internal displacement of 85% of civilians in Gaza amid acute shortages of food and essential services…”

Germany “has chosen to defend in the ICJ the genocidal and gruesome acts of the Israeli Government against innocent civilians in Gaza and the Occupied Palestinian Territories,” it added.

“Germany cannot morally express commitment to the United Nations Convention against genocide, including atonement for the genocide in Namibia, whilst supporting the equivalent of a holocaust and genocide in Gaza,” the statement pointed out.

Several global entities, including Human Rights Watch, have “chillingly” determined that Israel is engaging in war crimes within the Gaza Strip, it highlighted.

Emphasizing the president’s call on 32 Dec. 2023, it said: “Geingob appeals to the German Government to reconsider its untimely decision to intervene as a third-party in defence and support of the genocidal acts of Israel before the ICJ.”

Earlier, President Gaigob stated, “No peace-loving human being can ignore the carnage waged against Palestinians in Gaza.”

German colonial forces carried out the Namibian genocide against the indigenous Herero and Nama peoples between 1904 and 1908.

During the target of populations resisting colonial forces, at least 65,000 Herero and 10,000 Nama lost their lives.

As a result of the genocide, the Herero population decreased by at least 70%, and the Nama population decreased by at least 50%.

While Germany acknowledged the crimes committed in Namibia as genocide in 2021, it refused to accept responsibility for reparations.

APP/ift

ECP summons candidate accused of harassing RO, DRO

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ECP

ISLAMABAD, Jan 14 (APP): The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has summoned the Punjab Election Commissioner and a candidate accused of harassing the returning officer (RO) and District Returning Officer (DRO) for a hearing in Islamabad on Tuesday.

In response to the seriousness of the matter, the election commission promptly took notice, and the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) personally discussed the incident with the Chief Secretary of Punjab, DRO/Deputy Commissioner of Rahim Yar Khan, and the District Police Officer of Rahim Yar Khan, and obtained preliminary information.

Rising trend of water level in Mangla dam in progress as outflows reduced to only 100 cusecs from reservoir

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Mangla dam
MIRPUR (AJK): Jan. 14 ( APP)::After the outflows from the country’s second-largest reservoir- Mangla Dam reduced to only 100 cusecs of water, the water level in the dam has started rising with inflows of 3300 cusecs of water to the reservoir reported on Sunday,
official sources said.
As a result of the reported heavy snowfall on the highest upper reaches of the Himalayan state of Jammu and Kashmir, the country’s second-largest reservoir – Mangla dam was found constantly dry a couple of days ago due to the continual gradual reduction of inflows due to intermittent snowfall on the Himalayan peaks. Consequently, an unprecedented decrease in the flow of water in the rivers, falling into the reservoir – that had caused a reduction of the water level to a considerable extent.
 The water level in Mangla dam, located in the Mirpur district of AJK,  was reported  as 1157.10 feet on Sunday against a maximum conservation level  of 1242 feet with a live storage capacity of 2.073MAF in the reservoir, official sources
told APP here on Sunday.
The water level in the dam is currently gradually increasing at the slowest pace,  the sources underlined.
As a result of the continual due inflow of water during the ongoing season, the water level in the Mangla Dam reservoir was
recorded as 1157.10  feet after the discharge of 84.90 feet of water from the reservoir by Sunday, Jan 14, 2024.
It may be added that Mangla Dam, the largest reservoir in terms of water storage in the country, was filled to its maximum conservation capacity of 1242 feet, on August 17, this year as seasonal reservoir impounding. official sources told the news agency.
At present 2.073 million acre-feet (MAF) of water is available in the Mangla dam reservoir, the media wing of WAPDA said on Sunday.
The inflows and outflows of Jhelum River at Mangla reservoir were equally recorded as 3300 cusecs with outflows of only 100 cusecs of water from the dam on Sunday.
Meanwhile, the overall position of the river inflows and outflows at Tarbela, Mangla and Chashma along with the reservoir levels and the barrages on Sunday remained  as under:-
Rivers: Indus at Tarbela: Inflows 15300 cusecs and Outflows 12000 cusecs, Kabul at Nowshera: Inflows 7700 cusecs and Outflows 7700 cusecs, Khairabad Bridge: Inflows 13200 cusecs and Outflow 13200, jhelum at Mangla: Inflows 3300 cusecs and Outflows 100 cusecs, Chenab at Marala: Inflows 3900 cusecs and Outflows 3900 cusecs.
Barrages: Jinnah: Inflows 18900 cusecs and Outflows 18900 cusecs, Chashma: Inflows: 26000 cusecs and Outflows 18000 cusecs, Taunsa: Inflows 14500 cusecs and Outflows 14500 cusecs, Guddu: Inflows 14400 cusecs and Outflows 2800 cusecs Sukkur: Inflows 3800 cusecs and Outflows 3800 cusecs Kotri: Inflows 5200 cusecs and Outflows Nil cusecs Trimmu: Inflows 5400 cusecs and Outflow 5400 cusecs Panjnad: Inflows 2800 cusecs and Outflows 2800 cusecs.
Reservoirs (Level and Storage):
Tarbela: Minimum operating level 1402 feet, present level 1480.67 feet, maximum conservation level 1550 feet, live storage today 2.288 Million acre feet (MAF).
Mangla: Minimum operating level 1050 feet, present level 1157.10 feet, maximum conservation level 1242 feet, live storage today 2.073 MAF.
Chashma: Minimum operating level 638.15 feet, present level 641.90 feet, maximum conservation level 649 feet, live storage today 0.056 MAF.
The inflows and outflows of River Indus at Tarbela, Jinnah and Chashma, River Kabul at Nowshera and River Jhelum at Mangla have been reflected as mean flows of 24 hours, whereas the other flows have been gauged at 6.00 a.m ?on  Sunday.

AJK govt to support Kashmiris’ struggle to secure right to self determination: Anwar

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AJK PM

MIRPUR ( AJK): Jan. 14 ( APP): Azad Jammu and Kashmir Prime Mnister Chaudhry Anwar ul Haq on Sunday said that his government would go to any lengths to promote and support Kashmiris’ just cause for right to self determination.

AJK premier said this while talking to the PSF delegation, which was led by President Peoples Party (AJK Chapter ) and PML-N President who called on him separately at Ja.mu and Kashmir House in the federal metropolis.

Speaking on the occasion, the AJK Premier said that the AJK government would use all its energies to highlight the Kashmir issue both at national and international levels.

He said that a massive public gathering held in Kotli was part of the government’s campaign to highlight the Kashmir cause. He said that similar types of rallies would be organized at all divisional headquarters and important world capitals in future.

Terming youth as valuable capital for the nation, the PM said that the educated youth should dedicate themselves to highlighting the freedom movement. He said that Burhan Wani Shaheed raised the banner of revolt against India at a tender age.

The PM said that the coalition government would use all available resources to strengthen Kashmir’s ongoing freedom struggle.

He said that the establishment of an independent accountability system, putting the liberated territory on the path of development, creating employment opportunities in the state and providing basic amenities of life to the common masses were among the government’s top priorities.

On this occasion, PPP AJK President Ch. Yasin and PML-N President Shah Ghulam Qadir assured the AJK PM of their full support to strengthen the freedom movement. They also appreciated the government’s initiatives aimed at establishing good governance in the region.

Over 77 % polluting brick kilns converted to cleaner Zig-Zag technology in federal capital: Spokesman

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Modern brick-kilns; a profitable, healthier and socially responsible industry
ISLAMABAD, Jan 14 (APP):As many as 49 out of 63 brick kilns in the Islamabad capital territory (ICT) and nearby areas have converted to zig-zag technology, aiming to reduce air pollution, said Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Ministry senior official Muhammad Saleem.
While four traditional brick kilns have been dismantled, the remaining 10 air-polluting traditional brick kilns are presently being shifted onto the environmentally-friendly modern, cleaner zig-zag technology, the official added.
Spokesperson, Muhammad Saleem stated that the traditional brick manufacturing sector significantly contributes to the country’s breath-choking air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, as such brick kilns rely on dirty energy sources for baking bricks, mainly coal, rubber and shoe olds as fuel, emitting lethal black carbon emissions into the atmosphere.
But, now with the conversion to the zig-zag technology the cleaner brick kilns technology would help reduce levels of the breath-choking carbon emissions by 60 percent and save their owner’s energy expenses by 30 percent, he added. “It’s indeed a great milestone the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination (MoCC&EC) and Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency Islamabad (Pak-EPA-Islamabad) supported by the Islamabad administration and other stakeholders managed to achieve the milestone with well-coordinated efforts despite various bottlenecks to fight the escalating problem of air pollution in the capital city and its rural areas,” the official said.
He highlighted that while most of the air-contaminating brick kilns were located in rural areas of the capital city, these adjoining areas would particularly benefit from the cleaner air after the conversion of the traditional kilns to the cleaner brick-making zig-zag technology.
Explaining the traditional brick-making process, which is highly health and environmentally damaging, the ministry’s media spokesperson said that such brick producing process consists of hand-made bricks, which are baked in Fixed Chimney Bull’s Trench Kilns (FCBTK), a widely used brick firing technology in South Asian countries including Pakistan, ranked as the most contaminating techniques for brick production, resulting in myriad adverse social and environmental effects including air pollution, climate change, cardio-respiratory diseases, land use impacts and deforestation.
The traditional kiln types and fuels it burns, make it difficult to accurately identify the makeup of air pollutants emitted by the sector, but they likely include sulfur oxides, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide (CO2), forms of particulate matter (PM) including black carbon, and additional compounds released by burning coal and other fuels, the ministry official highlighted.
He also emphasised that the black carbon (a major component of soot from the brick kilns) is produced basically as a result of the incomplete combustion of fossil fuel and biomass. Besides, it is also notoriously known for its planet-warming impact on climate for being 460 to 1500 times stronger than CO2.
The official explained that the black smoke emitted by the traditional brick kilns, transport and industrial sectors is highly polluting and toxic, which is extremely dangerous for public health and the environment as well as a key cause of blinding and breath-suffocating smog.
Black smoke is among the main causes of asthma, respiratory diseases, eye infections and other various lung-related diseases in humans. Spokesperson Muhammad Saleem highlighted, “Given the backdrop of adverse health and environmental impacts, the efforts were taken by the federal ministry for introducing the zig-zag technology to only mitigate the issues of not only the emission toxic black carbons that cause smog but also overall air pollution in the federal capital and its adjoining rural areas.”

NDMA’s fourth aid consignment of 20-tonne for Gaza’s people reached Jordan

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ISLAMABAD, Jan 14 (APP): The fourth consignment from the people of Pakistan consisting of 20 tonnes of medical and food items reached Jordan for the war-hit victims of Gaza.

Pakistan’s Ambassador to Jordan and Jordanian Chief of Air Staff received the flight for further distribution to the affected people of Gaza.

ECP Sindh for action against mayors, deputy mayors over violation of election laws

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ecp
KARACHI, Jan 14 (APP):The Provincial Monitoring Coordinator and Joint Provincial Election Commissioner (Admin) Sindh has directed the Regional Election Commissioners & Regional Monitoring Coordinators and District Monitoring Officers across the province to strictly observe and take legal action against mayors, deputy mayors, chairmen and deputy chairmen of different local government councils, who were violating election laws.
In a letter to the aforesaid officials, they were informed that some complaints were coming from different corners that the mayors, deputy mayors, chairmen and deputy chairmen were participating and misusing their office resources in the election campaign of contesting candidates, which was the violation of para-18 of code of conduct issued by the ECP for conduct of general elections 2024.
The officials had also been directed to send audio, visual and documentary proof if any for necessary action.