Province Punjab Financial News

Pakistani rupee hit an all-time low, crossing the PKR 300 mark against the US dollar in August 2023. The country's foreign reserves with the State Bank of Pakistan (SPB) also dropped to an alarming level — at $3.1 billion in January 2023. The cash-strapped country struggled to unlock funding from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Pakistan surged 34 per cent in November, with 63 militant attacks recorded in the country during the month, a think-tank report said on Sunday. The 63 militant attacks in November resulted in 83 deaths, including that of 37 security forces personnel and 33 civilians, the Dawn newspaper reported, citing data by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS) think tank. Additionally, 89 individuals, including 53 civilians and 36 security forces personnel, sustained injuries, according to the Islamabad-based think tank.

Project Management Unit holding a dance party on the premises of the Gurudwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan's Punjab province surfaced online, the authorities on Monday dismissed the report that participants drank alcohol and ate non-vegetarian food at the gathering. Two PMU officials on Monday told PTI that alcoholic beverages were not served or there was no dance at the reception held on November 18.

Afghanistan, has alleged that Pakistan has subjected Kabul to humiliation by expelling Afghan immigrants, as reported by Khaama Press, an online news outlet for Afghanistan. As reported by ANI citing Khaama Press, Muttaqi stated that they have raised their concerns with Pakistani military and foreign affairs authorities, but no measures have been taken to stop the deportations. Also Read: Tehreek-e-Jihad Pakistan claims responsibility for rare attack in Punjab province.

Mianwali on Saturday damaging three "non-operational" aircraft, the military said. Three men were killed before they entered the base, and three other attackers had been "cornered/isolated", the military said earlier.

Nawaz Sharif, the caretaker government of Pakistan's Punjab province on Tuesday suspended his seven-year sentence in the Al-Azizia corruption case. The Punjab caretaker government led by Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi is considered an extension of the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz government. The government's decision came at the time when 73-year-old Sharif was appearing before the Islamabad High Court on Tuesday to seek bail in the Al-Azizia case. Before his arrival to Pakistan after ending his four-year self-imposed exile last Saturday, the IHC had granted him protective bail till October 24. On Tuesday, the Punjab government issued a statement saying that it has suspended PML-N supremo Sharif's sentence in the Al-Azizia case on his request. «The former prime minister's sentence has been suspended after the provincial cabinet's approval. The decision has been taken in the light of a higher court that allowed the Punjab government to suspend Nawaz's conviction in the Al-Azizia case on medical grounds,» the government said.

Taliban fighters attacked a police post in eastern Punjab province early Sunday, killing one officer and injuring three others, triggering an intense shootout that killed two of the attackers, officials said. The attack occurred in the Mianwali district of Punjab province and led to an intense exchange of fire as reinforcements arrived at the besieged police post, said Imran Nawaz, a spokesman for the counterterrorism police. A group of 10 to 12 militants attacked the Kundal police post in the Easa Khel area of Mianwali, close to the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, after midnight, Nawaz said. The exchange of gunfire continued for hours during which two of the attackers were killed and a third was injured but escaped with others, Nawaz said.

Roche's Avastin cancer drug after 12 diabetic patients injected with the drug became blind, said a report by news agency Reuters. The health authorities in Punjab had launched the investigation into local use of the drug Avastin, the report said citing the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP).

Imran Khan from the Attock jail in Punjab province to high-security Adiala prison in the garrison city of Rawalpindi, according to media reports. In August, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) petitioned the Islamabad High Court (IHC) to transfer the deposed party chief to Adiala prison where A-class facilities are available, keeping in view Khan's affluent family background, social and political status. During the hearing, the IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq remarked, «Shift the PTI chairman to Adiala jail». A written ruling has yet to be issued in the case, the Dawn newspaper reported. «IHC Chief Justice has ordered moving PTI chairman Imran Khan from Attock Prison to Adiala Prison in Rawalpindi,» Khan's party said. IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq Farooq presided over the hearing, while Khan's lawyer Sher Afzal Marwat and Additional Attorney General Munawar Iqbal Dogal appeared before the court. Meanwhile, talking to the media outside the IHC, Marwat said they had «finally been granted justice from the IHC» on the matter of shifting Khan from Attock jail to Adiala jail.

Imran Khan has been charged with "criminal conspiracy", which carries a maximum sentence of the death penalty, for «masterminding» the attack on army installations and inciting the people to mutiny, a senior Punjab Police official said on Wednesday. Pakistan saw massive nationwide anti-government protests following the arrest of Khan, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman, by paramilitary Rangers in a corruption case on May 9.

Pakistani traders have staged strikes across the country against the soaring cost of living, including higher fuel and utility bills and record depreciation of the rupee against the dollar

BCCI office-bearers, president Roger Binny and vice-president Rajeev Shukla, travelled to Pakistan and reached Lahore on Monday after crossing the Attari-Wagah, honouring the PCB's invitation to watch Asia Cup there. The last time an Indian cricket team travelled to Pakistan was back in 2008 for the Asia Cup.

Christian community in Punjab province even as the government on Thursday ordered a high-level probe into the riots over blasphemy allegations. Scores of churches and homes belonging to Christians in Jaranwala tehsil of Faisalabad district, some 130 km from the provincial capital, were burnt down on Wednesday by a mob enraged over reports that two Christians had desecrated the Quran. According to the Punjab government, over 100 people, including activists of the extremist group Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), have been taken into custody for attacking homes and churches of Christians over the alleged blasphemy.

AP. Police chief Rizwan Khan said this had angered the local Muslims. A mob gathered and began attacking multiple churches and several Christian homes, burning furniture and other household items.

Khan's party on Monday petitioned the Islamabad High Court to shift the jailed former prime minister from the Attock jail in Punjab province to Rawalpindi's high-security Adiala prison, keeping in view his affluent family background, social and political status. In a petition, the lawyer of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party requested the Islamabad High Court to transfer the deposed premier where A-class facilities are available, adding that his family, lawyers and his physician Dr Faisal Sultan should be allowed to meet him.

Khan was the mastermind of the unprecedented anti-government protests across Pakistan on May 9 and it was aimed at toppling the military leadership, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said. Pakistan saw massive nationwide anti-government protests following the arrest of Khan, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman by paramilitary Rangers in a corruption case on May 9. Khan, 70, was later released on bail.

Also read: ‘Your career is over…’, When Shoaib Akhtar picked up Sachin Tendulkar and promptly fell to the ground   Hailing from Rawalpindi city in Pakistan's Punjab province, Shoaib Akhtar gained widespread recognition as the 'Rawalpindi Express,' a title bestowed upon him by cricket enthusiasts and fans due to his exceptional speed and bowling skills. Throughout his career, he astonished the cricket world with his achievements, including holding the world record for bowling the fastest delivery in an international cricket match.

snooker player Majid Ali, who was reportedly suffering from acute depression, died by suicide in Pakistan's Punjab province, police said. The 28-year-old player, who won a silver medal in the 2013 Asian Under 21 Snooker championship and bronze in the 2018 World 6-Red Snooker championship, was reportedly a patient of depression for the last few years and died by suicide on Saturday.

Pakistan's former Prime Minister Imran Khan was wounded together with some of his supporters after a gunman opened fire at a truck carrying him, a senior leader from his party and police said.