News Archives for Print - 2020-03-21

Print - 2020-03-21

China says Pompeo 'lying' in new coronavirus clash

The United States and China on Friday took their growing clash over the coronavirus pandemic to social media, with Beijing telling Secretary of State Mike Pompeo he was "lying through (his) teeth."

Published 21 Mar, 2020 12:00am

300 million children missing school meals due to virus closures: WFP

Some 300 million children who depend on school meals are missing out due to closures triggered by the coronavirus pandemic, the Worlld Food Programme said Friday The WFP pointed out that more than 860 million children - roughly half the world's student po

Published 21 Mar, 2020 12:00am

Virus deaths pass 10,000 as California shuts down

More than 10,000 people have now died in a coronavirus pandemic that has swept from China throughout the world, forcing the confinement of tens of millions in their homes. As the virus has marched westwards, the severity of the outbreaks and the focus of

Published 21 Mar, 2020 12:00am

US announces $1 million assistance

The United States has announced to help Pakistan in the fight against coronavirus with an initial US$1 million assistance to bolster the monitoring and to give a rapid response to COVID-19 in the country. This was announced by US Principal Deputy Assistan

Published 21 Mar, 2020 12:00am

Murad urges people to observe three-day voluntary self isolation

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has advised the people of the province to spend the next three days under voluntary isolation for the sake of safety and security.

Published 21 Mar, 2020 12:00am

PM again rules out lockdown, promises package

Prime Minister Imran Khan has stated that the government will announce a comprehensive package on Tuesday for businesses as well as industry to offset the impact of coronavirus pandemic on the economy, but ruled out complete nationwide lockdown for now, t

Published 21 Mar, 2020 12:00am

Stocks

PSX snaps losing streak: BRIndex100 out of wild swings

Pakistan Stock Exchange Friday made a sharp turnaround on the back of fresh buying on attractive low levels and closed on strong positive note with healthy gains after seven days of turmoil. BRIndex100 gained 63.76 points or 2.08 percent to close at 3,125

Published 21 Mar, 2020 12:00am

Combined income groups: SPI inflation up 0.05 percent WoW

The weekly SPI inflation during the week ended March 19 against March 12 witnessed an increase of 0.05 percent for combined income groups, ie, from 129.66 points to 129.72 points, Pakistan Bureau of Statistic (PBS) revealed.

Published 21 Mar, 2020 12:00am

Exports to suffer setback, delegation tells government

As feared, exporters on Friday informed the government that Pakistani exports would suffer a setback in the coming months owing to coronavirus that has propelled the global economies into recession, and demand for Pakistani products, especially apparel, h

Published 21 Mar, 2020 12:00am

61 items exempted from duties, taxes

To effectively deal with the coronavirus (COVID19) pandemic in Pakistan, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has exempted customs duty, regulatory duty, additional customs duty, withholding tax and sales tax on the import of 61 different kinds of Diagnosti

Published 21 Mar, 2020 12:00am

SBP lends a helping hand to exporters

The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has announced a relief package to support exporters affected by loss of demand due to COVID-19 and to prevent export sector from any liquidity crisis.

Published 21 Mar, 2020 12:00am

EU believes policies skewed to favour Chinese companies

The European Union (EU) has reportedly raised concerns on status to "Chinese" companies vis-à-vis European companies which intend to participate in different projects, well-informed sources told Business Recorder.

Published 21 Mar, 2020 12:00am

Atif Bukhari appointed BoI chairman

The federal government has appointed Atif Bukhari as new chairman of the Board of Investment (BoI). Sources said that the federal cabinet had approved his appointment as chairman BoI and notification to this respect will be issued by the Establishment Div

Published 21 Mar, 2020 12:00am

FIs must submit eCIB data by 10th of every month: SBP

In order to bring uniformity in eCIB data submission timeline, all member financial institutions are required to submit their monthly data to the SBP by the 10th of every month, instead of 15th, the central bank said Friday.

Published 21 Mar, 2020 12:00am

Subsidy to export sectors: ECC sets up inter-ministerial body to evaluate eligibility

The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet has constituted an inter-ministerial committee to evaluate the eligibility of export-oriented sectors for consideration of subsidy, well-informed sources told Business Recorder.

Published 21 Mar, 2020 12:00am

Church 'forgives' sins of those stricken by virus

The Catholic Church on Friday granted "forgiveness" - under certain conditions - for the sins of the faithful struck by the novel coronavirus. A decree published by the Vatican also covers healthcare workers and those who pray for their wellbeing. Relativ

Published 21 Mar, 2020 12:00am

Insurers/Takaful operators: SECP simplifies product submission requirements

To promote ease of doing business, the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) Friday issued simplified submission requirements for standardized products of life insurers/family Takaful operators to be applicable from April 1, 2020.

Published 21 Mar, 2020 12:00am

75 bps cut in policy rate termed a 'joke'

Economists and industrialists have termed the 75 basis points (bps) reduction in policy rate by the State Bank of Pakistan 'nominal' and a 'joke' and not an appropriate response to deal with the coronavirus challenge and domestic ground realities.

Published 21 Mar, 2020 12:00am

Letters

'Need for all-out reforms - I'

This is apropos the first part of a series of articles titled "Need for all-out reforms - I" carried by the newspaper yesterday. The writers, Huzaima Bukhari and Dr Ikramul Haq, have argued, among other things, that "The right of access to justice is an i

Published 21 Mar, 2020 12:00am

Articles

Miners stuck in limbo as Beijing's last coal mine closes

Gutted factories, rusting pickaxes and crumbling homes that will soon be abandoned dot the scarred hills in Mentougou - home to Beijing's last coal mine slated to close this year as the city battles chocking smog.

Published 21 Mar, 2020 12:00am

Articles

Mask diplomacy: China tries to rewrite virus narrative

With millions of face masks, low interest loans and teams of medical experts, China is trying to paint itself as a Good Samaritan while deflecting criticism over its initial missteps in handling the coronavirus.

Published 21 Mar, 2020 12:00am

Articles

Coronavirus, falling oil hit Putin hopes for economic revival

Russian President Vladimir Putin insists the economy can weather the coronavirus storm and low oil prices but the two-pronged crisis is a huge challenge to his promises to reduce poverty and boost growth.

Published 21 Mar, 2020 12:00am

Articles

PSM problem: a workable solution

Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM) Board of Directors' incumbent Chairman is reported to have stated last week that PSM is in the process of revival and recovery. According to him, it needs to reinvent itself as a new organization.

Published 21 Mar, 2020 12:00am

Confronting the Covid-19 crisis

More than anything else it was sober symbolism of the visit that gave it meaning. President Arif Alvi went on a three-day trip to China - March 16 to 18 - accompanied by Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Planning and Development Minister Asad Umar a

Updated 24 Mar, 2020 09:58am

PIA's most pressing problems

The national flag carrier's many problems were bound to become part of the proceedings as the Supreme Court allowed Air Marshal Arshad Malik to function as PIA's (Pakistan International Airline's) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) with full authority on Wedne

Updated 24 Mar, 2020 09:58am

Coronavirus outbreak: Government fails to ensure effective arrangements at panagahs, langarkhanas: survey

As coronavirus continues to unleash its devastation across the globe, the federal government has failed to ensure effective arrangements against this deadly pandemic particularly at the panagahs (shelter homes) and langarkhanas (free food distribution fac

Published 21 Mar, 2020 12:00am

Political parties ask their workers to join relief work

Almost all political parties have either suspended or limited their political activities in the aftermath of the outbreak of the coronavirus in the country.

Published 21 Mar, 2020 12:00am

KP apex body takes preventive measures

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Apex Committee in its meeting held here on Friday took various important decisions related to prevention and spread of coronavirus pandemic in the province. A meeting of the Apex Committee held here with KP Governor Shah Farman in t

Published 21 Mar, 2020 12:00am

KP PDMA releases Rs 1.73 billion for combating COVID-19

On the directives of the Chief Minister Mahmood Khan, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has released a fund amounting to Rs 1.73 billion to districts for combating COVID-19 and provision of facilities in Quarantine Cen

Published 21 Mar, 2020 12:00am

Telecommunication

COVID-19 outbreak: PTA issues advisory for operators, stakeholders

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has issued an advisory for telecom operators and stakeholders for uninterrupted telecom services amid coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in the country.

Published 21 Mar, 2020 12:00am

Lethal virus: PTI to take political parties on board

In a coordinated effort to combat the spread of coronavirus in the country, the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Friday decided to unite all political parties as the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the country jumped to 464.

Published 21 Mar, 2020 12:00am

Business & Economy

Advisory for factory owners

The Chairman Hyderabad SITE Association of Trade and Industry Mazhar-ul-Haq Choudhry has advised the mill and factory owners to ensure availability of sufficient stock of masks and sanitizers for their workers as precautionary measures against Coronavirus

Published 21 Mar, 2020 12:00am

Country can't afford lockdown: Imran Ismail

Sindh Governor Imran Ismail on Friday said that the country could not bear a lockdown-situation amid rising cases of deaths and confirmed patients of coronavirus in the country.

Published 21 Mar, 2020 12:00am

Business & Economy

Railways to lose 35,000 passengers daily owing to suspension of 34 trains

Pakistan Railways (PR) will be losing around 35,000 commuters per day due to suspension of its 34 passenger train operations across the country, owing to the fast spreading coronavirus - the global pandemic, official sources told Business Recorder.

Published 21 Mar, 2020 12:00am

CJA calls for release of Mir Shakil

The Commonwealth Journalist Association (CJA) calls on the Government of Pakistan to release the Jang Group Editor-in-Chief, Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman, who has been in detention since 12 March.

Published 21 Mar, 2020 12:00am

Telecommunication

PTCL & Ufone close sales & service centers

In the best interest of public health, Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited & Ufone have announced closure of Sales & Service Centers and Joint Shops across Pakistan till March 31, 2020, due to the increasing number of coronavirus cases emerging in

Published 21 Mar, 2020 12:00am

Business & Economy

Call for a plan to stimulate economy

Economic & Financial Analyst Ateeq-ur-Rehman has said that until the rooting out of this invisible enemy, COVID 19, the economy and all kinds of supply chains of our country will be complicated. This is a pandemic.

Published 21 Mar, 2020 12:00am

Business & Economy

FPCCI asks KE to withdraw July to December 2019 ISPA charges

Former Senior Vice President (SVP) Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), Shaukat Ahmed on Friday asked K-Electric (KE) to withdraw the industrial support packages adjustment (ISPA) charges from July-2019 to December-2019 and ad

Published 21 Mar, 2020 12:00am

Business & Economy

Ittehad Panel seeks keda's fresh elections

Ittihad Panel of electronic dealers has raised concern on election process of Karachi Electronic Dealers Association (KEDA) and urged for a free and fair election under an independent election committee.

Published 21 Mar, 2020 12:00am

Business & Economy

BMP urges ministry to manage handsome aid to improve economy

Secretary General (Federal) of the Businessmen Panel (BMP), Ahmad Jawad has said Ministry of Economic Affairs must start serious negotiation with the international financial institutions for a handsome aid to fight with the country economy in the wake of

Published 21 Mar, 2020 12:00am

Cotton & Textile

PHMA seeks economic relief package from government

Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers & Exporters Association (PHMA) on Friday sought an economic relief package from the government following the Covid-19 pandemic hitting the international trade badly.

Published 21 Mar, 2020 12:00am

COVID-19: 'Saylani to provide ration to 1.2 million people'

Founder and chairman of Saylani Welfare Trust, Maulana Bashir Farooqi has said in order to tackle the deadly widespread outbreak of coronavirus across the country, the trust has decided to provide ration to 1.2 million poor and needy persons.

Published 21 Mar, 2020 12:00am

SHC orders government to provide face masks to paramedics

Sindh High Court (SHC) Friday ordered provincial government to ensure provision of face masks to paramedical staff in the hospitals of the province.

Published 21 Mar, 2020 12:00am

207 held for flouting Sec-144

The city police in its ongoing crackdown against the violation of section-144 in the provincial capital have arrested 207 alleged criminals and registered 72 first information reports (FIRs) against them. "We have, so far, arrested 207 people for violatio

Published 21 Mar, 2020 12:00am

Punjab to donate Rs 1 billion for quarantine facility at Taftan

Chief Minister Punjab Sardar Usman Buzdar has approved to set up field hospital of one thousand beds capacity, here at Expo Centre and directed the Commissioner Lahore Division to take immediate steps in this regard.

Published 21 Mar, 2020 12:00am

Coronavirus tally rises to 96 in Punjab

With 16 more fresh cases, the total number of coronavirus positive cases in the province of Punjab has reached to 96. So far, 71 of the cases have been reported from Zaireen who traveled to the province from the Pakistan-Iran border at Taftan, 15 from Lah

Published 21 Mar, 2020 12:00am

Punjab government to distribute ration among families

The Punjab government will distribute minimum 14 days ration among the families of people quarantined due to coronavirus. This was decided in a meeting chaired by the Punjab Disaster Management Unit Minister Mian Khalid Mehmood here on Friday.

Published 21 Mar, 2020 12:00am

Students in China are safe: Hassan Ali

Pakistani Students studying in Wuhan Textile University and other Universities of China were safe and sound and they were carrying their curriculum activities by "On-Line" study despite the closure of the Chinese Educational Institutions due to outbreak o

Published 21 Mar, 2020 12:00am

'Indus Water Treaty legalises theft of water by India'

The 1960 Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) was never meant to be a Pakistan-friendly treaty, and amounted to a little more than the legalization of the theft of water by India that legally belongs to Pakistan.

Published 21 Mar, 2020 12:00am

Business & Economy

Trade and business activities badly affected in Punjab

While the number of coronavirus cases is increasing with every passing day, trade and business activities across the province have badly hampered and the daily wage earners are worst effectees.

Published 21 Mar, 2020 12:00am

Articles

Partly Facetious: The coronavirus pandemic

"It's a marvel!"

Published 21 Mar, 2020 12:00am

Telecommunication

Telenor, Zong & Ufone miss most of key performance indicators: survey

Telenor, Zong and Ufone have missed most of the key performance indicators (KPIs) set in their license and applicable regulations, revealed an independent quality of service survey carried out by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA).

Published 21 Mar, 2020 12:00am

Carrefour implements strict hygiene, safety protocols

Carrefour, operated in Pakistan by Majid Al Futtaim has implemented strict hygiene and safety protocols across all its stores in the country for the health and wellbeing of its customers amid concerns of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Published 21 Mar, 2020 12:00am

Bar councils, associations polls: 'Canvassing for votes only through ads, banners, placards and posters'

The Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) and the provincial councils and associations decided that no prospective/contesting candidate or his supporter, in the ensuing elections of provincial/Islamabad Bar Councils and the bar associations, shall canvass for votes

Published 21 Mar, 2020 12:00am

Equipment purchases, Covid-19 responses: Government redirects $40m non-utilised sums from WB projects: minister

"The government has redirected $ 40 million non-utilized sums from the World Bank (WB) projects, which would be used by the provinces and the federal government for equipment purchases and responses to coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak in the country."

Published 21 Mar, 2020 12:00am

Business & Economy

PSDP 2019-20: Government releases Rs 466.68 billion against budgeted Rs 701 billion

The federal government has released Rs 466.68 billion (66.57 percent) including Rs 92.74 billion foreign aid (72.3 percent) for various ongoing and new development projects under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) 2019-2020 against the total b

Published 21 Mar, 2020 12:00am

Taxes

Customs foils steel importer's attempt to evade Rs 22 million tax

Model Customs Collectorate (MCC), Port Qasim foiled an attempt of evading Rs 22.13 million taxes by steel importer.

Published 21 Mar, 2020 12:00am

Nation to overcome COVID-19 challenge: Alvi

President Dr Arif Alvi has expressed the confidence that Pakistani nation will overcome the challenge posed by the coronavirus.

Published 21 Mar, 2020 12:00am

Faryal's plea in bank accounts case: AC defers announcement of reserved judgement

An Accountability Court hearing multi-billion-rupee fake bank accounts case on Friday deferred announcement of its reserved judgment with respect to former president Asif Ali Zardari's sister Faryal Talpur's plea to unfreeze her bank accounts till March 2

Published 21 Mar, 2020 12:00am

Ex-PPMA chief alerts govt against acute shortage of medicines

The local pharmaceutical industry has warned the government of acute medicine shortage within next four weeks, if appropriate steps are not taken to deal with the situation.

Published 21 Mar, 2020 12:00am

India hangs four over 2012 Delhi bus gang-rape

India executed four men on Friday for the gang-rape and murder of a woman on a Delhi bus in 2012 that sparked huge nationwide protests and international revulsion. The four were hanged before dawn at Tihar Jail in the Indian capital, prison chief Sandeep

Published 21 Mar, 2020 12:00am

Global Business Economy

UK to cover 80 percent of wages of virus-hit workers: finance minister

The British government on Friday said it would help cover the wages of people hit by the coronavirus outbreak as it tightened restrictions to curb the spread of the disease.

Published 21 Mar, 2020 12:00am

Global Business Economy

New Zealand offered US$515 million bailout

Air New Zealand has been offered a NZ$900 million (US$515 million) loan to help the flag carrier survive the coronavirus crisis, the government said Friday. "Without this intervention, New Zealand was at risk of not having a national airline," Finance Min

Published 21 Mar, 2020 12:00am

US suspends all routine visa services due to virus

The United States said Friday it was suspending all routine visa services around the world due to the global coronavirus pandemic. US embassies and consulates will still consider emergency visas if they have adequate staff, the State Department said.

Published 21 Mar, 2020 12:00am

Pentagon successfully tests hypersonic missile

The United States announced Friday it has successfully tested an unarmed prototype of a hypersonic missile, a weapon that could potentially overwhelm an adversary's defense systems.

Published 21 Mar, 2020 12:00am

US senators sold stock before virus hit, sparking 'insider' accusations

An independent watchdog demanded an investigation Friday after two Republican senators aware of the looming coronavirus disaster dumped their stocks even as the White House played down the threat.

Published 21 Mar, 2020 12:00am

Dutch tram shooter jailed for life

Dutch judges on Friday sentenced a Turkish-born man to life in prison for a "terrorist" shooting on a tram in the city of Utrecht that killed four people. Gokmen Tanis, 38, was found guilty of opening fire with a pistol on a tram while shouting "Allahu Ak

Published 21 Mar, 2020 12:00am

US approval for Trump's coronavirus handling shoots up

A majority of Americans now approves of President Donald Trump's handling of the coronavirus crisis, according to a poll released Friday, in a sharp pivot from his previously dire numbers. According to the ABC News/Ipsos poll, 55 percent approve of his pe

Published 21 Mar, 2020 12:00am

At least 24 Afghan security forces killed in insider attack

At least two dozen Afghan security forces were killed Friday in an insider attack on their base in southern Afghanistan, officials told AFP, as fighting raged in the war-weary country while efforts to start talks with the Taliban stalled. The pre-dawn att

Published 21 Mar, 2020 12:00am

Finland is again world's happiest country: UN

Good cheer may feel in short supply as the world reels under a global pandemic, but experts at the United Nations on Friday declared Finland to be the world's happiest nation for the third year running. Researchers for the World Happiness Report asked peo

Published 21 Mar, 2020 12:00am

Lebanon summons US envoy over ex-militiaman's flight

Lebanon's foreign minister summoned the US ambassador Friday over the return of a naturalised American former militiaman accused of torture to the United States despite a travel ban, state media said. Amer al-Fakhoury, a former member of the South Lebanon

Published 21 Mar, 2020 12:00am

Global Business Economy

EU to suspend budget rules to help face virus crisis

The European Commission said Friday that the EU would suspend its strict rules on public deficits to allow governments to open the money taps to face the coronavirus pandemic. In an unprecedented decision, Brussels triggered something called the "general

Published 21 Mar, 2020 12:00am

Money & Banking

Dollar rally loses steam in Asia

The dollar lost steam on Friday after an ascent that left it set for its biggest weekly gain since the 2008 global financial crisis, as the coronavirus pandemic caused a stampede for cash that has trampled asset markets.

Published 21 Mar, 2020 12:00am

Money & Banking

Dollar slows in Europe, set for biggest weekly rise since 2008 crisis

The dollar eased on Friday as stock markets around the world recovered but remained on track for its biggest weekly rise since the global financial crisis in 2008 as a global scramble for funding sent other currencies reeling.

Published 21 Mar, 2020 12:00am

Money & Banking

Early trade in New York: dollar eases

The dollar eased on Friday after a rally that put it on track for its biggest weekly rise since the 2008 financial crisis, as a global scramble for dollar funding sent other currencies reeling. Currencies from the Australian dollar to the British pound tu

Published 21 Mar, 2020 12:00am

Money & Banking

Dollar climbs across the board in New York

The US dollar rallied across the board on Thursday, as worries about the economic fallout from the coronavirus boosted dollar demand despite recent steps by world central banks aimed at alleviating market stress. The dollar index, which measures the green

Published 21 Mar, 2020 12:00am

Money & Banking

Latam currencies come off record lows

Latin American currencies lifted off record lows on Friday tracking an uptick in sentiment as central banks flooded world markets with liquidity and governments ramped up support efforts. Brazil's real and Chile's peso rose more than 1%, with the latter o

Published 21 Mar, 2020 12:00am

Money & Banking

Most emerging Asian units rise against dollar

Most emerging Asian currencies rose against a weaker dollar on Friday, but were set to end the week sharply lower as a scramble for hard cash and surge in demand for the greenback prompted investors to pare holdings in Asian bonds and currencies. The US d

Published 21 Mar, 2020 12:00am

Money & Banking

Turkey's lira up

Turkey's main share index rose 3.2% on Friday, after it hit its weakest level since January 2017 earlier this week due to concerns over the economic impact of the coronavirus outbreak. The banking index was up 2.88%. The lira stood at 6.4820 against the d

Published 21 Mar, 2020 12:00am

Money & Banking

Sterling climbs off 1985 lows against dollar

Sterling rebounded versus the US dollar and euro, climbing off more than three-decade lows against the greenback as central banks moved to ease a scramble for dollars. The British currency had been one of several to tank as investors rushed to put their m

Published 21 Mar, 2020 12:00am

Money & Banking

Australia central bank buys $2.9 billion of bonds in first round of unlimited QE

Australia's central bank bought A$5 billion ($2.87 billion) in local government bonds on Friday, in the first round of its unlimited quantitative easing programme as it looks to cushion the economic shock from the coronavirus pandemic.

Published 21 Mar, 2020 12:00am

Other

Snooker world championship postponed

Snooker's world championship has been postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic, the World Snooker Tour (WST) announced on Friday.

Published 21 Mar, 2020 12:00am

Other

Virus hits Europe, Asia badminton tournaments

Badminton's European Championships and Asia Championships have been suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic, officials said Friday, the latest sporting casualties of the outbreak. The global sporting calendar is in tatters due to the rapidly spreading v

Published 21 Mar, 2020 12:00am

Cricket

Cricket great Warne's gin distillery shifts to hand sanitizer

Australian cricket great Shane Warne has halted production of gin at a distillery he co-owns to make medical-grade hand sanitiser for hospitals in these "challenging times".

Published 21 Mar, 2020 12:00am

Other

Olympic flame gets muted welcome in Japan as Games doubts grow

The Olympic flame arrived in Japan to a scaled-down welcoming ceremony Friday as doubts grew over whether the Tokyo Games will go ahead on schedule with the coronavirus pandemic causing chaos around the world.

Published 21 Mar, 2020 12:00am

Other

Goretzka and Kimmich set up coronavirus programme

Bayern Munich players Leon Goretzka and Joshua Kimmich on Friday announced that they had launched a programme to help fight the coronavirus and had put in the first 1 million euro. "Germany is a at a standstill," the two 25-year-olds wrote on their platfo

Published 21 Mar, 2020 12:00am

Other

F1 teams plan to build medical equipment to fight virus

Formula One's British-based teams are working on a plan to manufacture medical equipment needed to fight the coronavirus.

Published 21 Mar, 2020 12:00am

Hockey

Czech ice hockey great Zabrodsky dies at 97

Czech ice hockey legend Vladimir Zabrodsky, a silver Olympic medallist and two-time world champion, died at the age of 97 on Friday, the Czech Ice Hockey Association (CSLH) said.

Published 21 Mar, 2020 12:00am

Cricket

Umar Akmal charged under PCB Anti-Corruption Code

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has charged batsman Umar Akmal with two breaches of Article 2.4.4 of the PCB Anti-Corruption Code in two unrelated incidents.

Published 21 Mar, 2020 12:00am

Cricket

Umar Akmal faces lifetime ban over corruption charges

Pakistan's perennial problem-maker Umar Akmal could face a lifetime ban if convicted of match-fixing charges unveiled Friday by Pakistan cricket authorities.

Published 21 Mar, 2020 12:00am

Other

English rugby season ended below Premiership level

English rugby chiefs on Friday confirmed the end of the 2019/20 season for all levels beneath the Premiership due to the coronavirus. The move applies to "all league, cup and county rugby", according to a statement from the Rugby Football Union (RFU), whi

Published 21 Mar, 2020 12:00am

Football

English football extends shutdown till April 30

The shutdown of English football was extended until at least April 30 on Thursday after the Premier League and English Football League (EFL) held crisis meetings.

Published 21 Mar, 2020 12:00am

Global Business Economy

China unexpectedly keeps lending benchmark unchanged but future easing likely

China kept a benchmark lending rate unchanged on Friday, defying expectations for a reduction with the economy jolted by the coronavirus pandemic although policymakers will likely need to loosen lending rates soon to free up funds.

Published 21 Mar, 2020 12:00am

Global Business Economy

China unveils more steps to support jobs as virus jolts economy

China's cabinet announced more measures on Friday to support employment in the world's second-largest economy, which is expected to shrink for the first time in four decades because of the coronavirus outbreak.

Published 21 Mar, 2020 12:00am

Money & Banking

Argentina will need 'substantial debt relief': IMF chief

Argentina's government will need "substantial debt relief" from private creditors as the coronavirus pandemic and its economic impact exacerbates the country's financial situation, IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva said Friday.

Published 21 Mar, 2020 12:00am

Money & Banking

Russia leaves interest rates on hold as ruble tumbles

The Russian central bank left its key interest rate unchanged Friday at six percent, aiming to keep inflation in check as the ruble tumbles in the face of an oil price war with Saudi Arabia and the coronavirus outbreak.

Published 21 Mar, 2020 12:00am

Money & Banking

Central banks expand access to dollar swap facility

The central banks of the United States, the euro zone, Canada, Britain, Japan and Switzerland agreed on Friday to increase the frequency of their one-week US dollars credit facility, they said in a joint statement.

Published 21 Mar, 2020 12:00am

Global Business Economy

AirAsia's Fernandes returns as boss after Airbus probe

AirAsia boss Tony Fernandes has returned to his post after being cleared by an independent probe, the Malaysian carrier said Friday, weeks after stepping aside amid a $4 billion Airbus graft scandal.

Published 21 Mar, 2020 12:00am

Saudi Arabia announces emergency stimulus, expects wider deficit

Saudi Arabia announced emergency stimulus measures on Friday that took its support for the economy to more than $32 billion as it tackles the coronavirus outbreak and lower oil prices, and said it is looking to borrow more to finance a widening deficit.

Published 21 Mar, 2020 12:00am

Money & Banking

ECB says banks now have extra 1.8trn euros to lend in virus fight

Eased rules on the capital buffers that lenders supervised by the European Central Bank must hold to weather crises will free banks up to issue as much as 1.8 trillion euros ($1.9 trillion), the institution said Friday.

Published 21 Mar, 2020 12:00am

Previous Day

Forex
World
Commodity

Currency	Rate
USD PKR Interbank Selling / Dec 24	278.53
USD PKR Interbank Buying / Dec 24	278.33
USD to Japanese Yen / Dec 24	157.14
USD to Swiss Franc / Dec 24	0.90
Pound Sterling to USD / Dec 24	1.25
Euro to USD / Dec 24	1.04

Stock	Volume
Germany DAX 30 / Dec 23	19,848.77
S&P 500 / Dec 24	6,040.04
India Sensex / Dec 24	78,472.87
Tokyo Nikkei / Dec 24	38,986.40
Nasdaq / Dec 24	20,031.13
Hang Seng / Dec 24	20,098.29
FTSE 100 / Dec 24	8,136.99
Dow Jones / Dec 24	43,297.03

Item	Value
Crude Oil USD/Barrel / Dec 24	70.10
Karachi Cotton PKR/37.32 KG / Dec 24	17,785
Gold 10 Grams PKR / Dec 24	240,487.70
Gold Spot USD/Ounce / Dec 24	2,616.87
Cotton US¢/pound / Dec 24	68.78
Petrol/Litre / Dec 25	252.10

Gainers
Losers
Leaders

Stock	Price
Sec. Inv. Bank / Dec 24 Security Investment Bank Limited(SIBL)	5.99 ▲ 1.00 (20.04%)
Next Capital / Dec 24 Next Capital Limited(NEXT)	8.90 ▲ 1.00 (12.66%)
Pak Agro Pack. (GEM) / Dec 24 Pak Agro Packaging Limited (GEM)(GEMPAPL)	9 ▲ 1.00 (12.50%)
Ghani Chem. Ind. / Dec 24 Ghani Chemical Industries Limited(GCIL)	16.13 ▲ 1.47 (10.03%)
Pak Gulf Leasing / Dec 24 Pak-Gulf Leasing Company Limited(PGLC)	14.37 ▲ 1.31 (10.03%)
Popular Islamic / Dec 24 Popular Islamic Modaraba(PIM)	15.58 ▲ 1.42 (10.03%)
Mandviwala / Dec 24 Mandviwala Mauser Plastic Industries(MWMP)	16.59 ▲ 1.51 (10.01%)
Blessed Tex. / Dec 24 Blessed Textiles Limited(BTL)	301.77 ▲ 27.43 (10.00%)
Crescent Cotton / Dec 24 Crescent Cotton Mills Limited(CCM)	55 ▲ 5.00 (10.00%)

Stock	Price
S.G.Power / Dec 24 S.G. Power Limited(SGPL)	10.58 ▼ -1.18 (-10.03%)
Olympia Mills / Dec 24 Olympia Mills Limited(OML)	36 ▼ -4.00 (-10.00%)
J.A.Textile / Dec 24 J.A. Textile Mills Limited(JATM)	33.95 ▼ -3.77 (-9.99%)
Sanghar Sugar / Dec 24 Sanghar Sugar Mills Limited(SANSM)	26.16 ▼ -2.90 (-9.98%)
I.C.C. Ind. / Dec 24 ICC Industries Limited(ICCI)	9.85 ▼ -1.07 (-9.80%)
National Silk / Dec 24 The National Silk & Rayon Mills Limited(NSRM)	50.01 ▼ -5.43 (-9.79%)
Gulshan Sp. / Dec 24 Gulshan Spinning Mills Limited(GSPM)	4.10 ▼ -0.40 (-8.89%)
Crescent Fib. / Dec 24 Crescent Fibres Limited(CFL)	40.16 ▼ -3.81 (-8.66%)
Reliance Ins. / Dec 24 Reliance Insurance Company Limited(RICL)	11.55 ▼ -1.05 (-8.33%)

Stock	Volume
WorldCall Telecom / Dec 24 Worldcall Telecom Limited(WTL)	126,573,463 ▲ 0.05
Fauji Foods Ltd / Dec 24 Fauji Foods Limited(FFL)	66,984,381 ▲ 0.49
Cnergyico PK / Dec 24 Cnergyico PK Limited(CNERGY)	66,471,663 ▼ -0.27
Pak Elektron / Dec 24 Pak Elektron Limited(PAEL)	38,651,653 ▼ -1.53
K-Electric Ltd. / Dec 24 K-Electric Limited(KEL)	36,108,956 ▼ -0.18
Sui South Gas / Dec 24 Sui Southern Gas Company Limited(SSGC)	33,467,532 ▼ -0.50
P.T.C.L. / Dec 24 Pakistan Telecommunication Company Ltd(PTC)	33,030,118 ▼ -1.31
TRG Pak Ltd / Dec 24 TRG Pakistan Limited(TRG)	29,441,264 ▲ 3.35
Pace (Pak) Ltd. / Dec 24 Pace (Pakistan) Limited(PACE)	28,106,970 ▼ -0.18

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