Telefonica and Liberty Global on Thursday said they would merge their UK units O2 and Virgin Media to create a £38-billion telecoms giant that could shake up the British market.
The number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in Pakistan rose to 24,648 on Thursday after new infections were confirmed in the country, while the corona-related deaths jumped to 585.
Black people and men of Bangladeshi and Pakistani origin are nearly twice as likely to die from the Covid-19 disease than whites, even when adjusting data for deprivation, a new British report said on Thursday.
Prime Minister Imran Khan has reportedly expressed his intention to raise $ 15 billion from the sale of 100,000 plots of land to overseas Pakistanis across Pakistan at a price of $ 150,000 each, well informed sources told Business Recorder.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has projected total government net debt at 78.3 percent of the GDP for 2020 against 75.2 percent in 2019 that is an increase of 3.1 percent of the GDP.
The United Nations on Thursday issued a new appeal for $4.7 billion in funding to "protect millions of lives and stem the spread of coronavirus in fragile countries."
Advisor to the Prime Minister on Finance Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh on Thursday formally launched the Secured Transactions Registry (STR), saying that it would broaden the scope of assets and help banks to expand their lending portfolios.
Eleven people were killed and hundreds hospitalised after a pre-dawn gas leak at a chemical plant in eastern India on Thursday that left unconscious victims lying in the streets, authorities said.
The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) has proposed that "used vehicles EPZ" be set up in Karachi, Port Qasim or Gwadar and import of both right-hand and left-hand drive vehicles may be allowed under this EPZ for their export
The Cabinet Committee on Energy (CCoE) has directed Power Division to resolve outstanding issues of Renewable Energy (RE) policy with Government of Sindh for its early notification by the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC), well informed sour
The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication has forwarded a summary to the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet seeking incentives for smart phones assembly leading to manufacturing in the country.
The federal government is planning to provide cash flow assistance to Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in three types of areas - loss of investment, fixed assets and clearance of pending payments to restart businesses.
The Board of Investment (BoI) is hoping that Pakistan's position on the Ease of Doing Business Index, 2021, will improve, following recent amendments to the Companies Act, 2017.
The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) on Thursday cut the prices of re-gasified liquefied natural gas (RLNG) to $1.84 per mmbut for SNGPl May and $1.806 per mmbtu for end consumers of the Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) over previous month.
Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa visited Kohat on Thursday, Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) said. The COAS was given detailed briefing on operational preparedness, prevailing security situation including border security measures
The Sindh government's approach to the Covid-19 challenge deserves praise. It has shown no complacency towards this issue ever since the first coronavirus positive case detected in the province. It has clearly sent - through a host of steps - a message ac
From Kazakhstan to the North Sea and the United States, physical crude has jumped in value in recent days but the rally will likely be tactical and short-lived rather than signalling a proper recovery, according to traders and analysts.
The developing countries are not doing much different from the rest. There is no discussion to plan even reform and support packages that bail workers out on a large scale, and not the big businesses; a reform plan that revisits the economic model towards
According to a Press report, the government of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) "has quietly closed over 310,000 tax audit cases that had been automatically selected from 2015 to 2017 due to the failure of taxpayers to timely file tax returns and pay due ta
A five-member bench of the Supreme Court (SC) headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Gulzar Ahmed, while hearing the suo motu case on May 4, 2020 regarding measures taken by the federal and provincial governments for preventing the spread of Covid-19,
The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) announced a temporary refinance scheme (up to 30 June 2020) to support employment and prevent layoff of workers in the aftermath of the Covid-19 outbreak on 10 April 2020 with effectivity from 13 April 2020, the following
Chief Justice of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) Justice Athar Minallah will be tested for the coronavirus after his secretary contracted the infectious disease.
Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani on Thursday asked the government to allow the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) to resume domestic flights in order to facilitate parliamentarians' travelling to capital during the coronavirus lockdown.
Chairman National Accountability Bureau (NAB) former Justice Javed Iqbal has directed to the Director General Sukkur Bureau to investigate the cases filed by Sindh Food Department alleging misappropriation in wheat distribution from district Ghotki to Kar
President Arif Alvi has summoned the session of the National Assembly on Monday, May 11, 2020 at 3pm in the Parliament House, said a press release issued on Thursday.
The Commission on Minorities Thursday informed the apex court that the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony is not implementing the directions given in the SC judgment of June 19, 2014.
The capital city has emerged as one of the hotspots of coronavirus in the country with 521 cases, which is likely to increase further as gross violation of standard operating procedures (SOPs) devised to control spread of the deadly virus, continue in var
A statement issued by PBA condemned PEMRA's order issued today to suspend the license of PBA's member TV Channel "NEO". The statement added that by doing this PEMRA has endangered the livelihood of over 600 workers. On the one hand PEMRA continues to issu
The United States Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation, Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad, is expected to arrive here today (Friday) following holding talks with Taliban leadership in Doha focusing on reduction of violence in Afghanistan.
The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has yet not made any final decision regarding alleged cases against the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) leaders, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Chaudhry Pervez Elahi, and nor it has issued any orders in this reg
The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has decided to file supplementary reference against former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and other accused in connection with the liquefied natural gas case after Eid -ul-Fitr.
Pakistan on Thursday called upon the international community to take notice of the deteriorating situation in Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IOJ&K) and hold the Modi government accountable for its illegal actions, which are imperilling peace and stabi
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)'s Digital Pairs series for Test players has gained popularity among the fans, current and former players, pundits and journalists. The campaign entered its fifth phase on Thursday with the followers asked to name two all-round
The investigators of Benami Transaction (Prohibition) Zone-1 Islamabad have unearthed that Benamidar companies serve the purpose of holding Benami properties in the form of multi-billion assets for carrying out immediate or future business deals on paymen
Federally-funded development projects in Karachi showed mix trends in terms of receiving the funds during the first ten months (July-April) of current financial year.
Sindh Minister for Information, Local Government, Housing & Town Planning, Religious Affairs, Forest and Wildlife Syed Nasir Hussain Shah has said that according to the medical experts, the month of May was very dangerous for Pakistan with regard to the s
The Met Office on Thursday said that the mild heat wave will continue in the metropolis with maximum temperature up to 40 degrees Celsius in the next 24 hours.
Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is to operate special flights to bring Pakistanis stranded in the USA home. Initially two special flights will be operated by PIA from Washington DC to Islamabad on May 10 and to Karachi on May 13.
Senior Vice Chairman All Pakistan Motorcycle Spare Parts Imports and Dealers Association (APMSIDA), Nasir Maqbool has urged the Sindh Government to allow opening of motorcycle spare parts shops in the province from May 20, 2020.
In the light of directives issued by the Ministry of Railways on 5th May, the PR Karachi division performed full-dress rehearsal at Cantt station Karachi Thursday.
Novartis donated Rs 41.25 million to Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS), one of the largest humanitarian organizations in the country to support in efforts against Covid-19.
The Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah hyas urged the people of Sindh to be cautious and save themselves and their near and dear ones from the Covid-19. The CM said since March 19 when we had one death stemming from Covid-19 and today we have 14 dea
Members of the opposition parties in Sindh Assembly here on Thursday submitted a joint application before the office of Assembly Secretary seeking urgent session of the house to discuss COVID-19 related situation and its implications on public health as w
The Board of Directors of Meezan Bank in its meeting, held on May 05, 2020 approved the financial statements of the Bank for the quarter ended on March 31, 2020. The meeting was presided by Riyadh S.A. A. Edrees - Chairman of the Board; Faisal A. A. A. Al
Pakistan has suffered huge revenue loss to the tune of billions during 2019-20 on account of growing illicit trade in tobacco sector, which is now touching almost 40 percent of total cigarettes consumption in the country.
Pakistan Kissam Ittehad (PKI) has termed the rejection of intervention price for cotton crop 2020-21 as victory of the mafia, which has representation in the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet.
Five doctors, including two lady doctors, have tested positive for coronavirus in a Ratodero town on Thursday, according to District Health Officer (DHO).
More than 26,000 persons who returned to Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) since March were 'traced' and quarantined as a precautionary measure against coronavirus.
Abdul Razzak Dawood, Advisor to the Prime Minister on Commerce and Investment, had a conference call with Uzbek Deputy Prime Minister, Sardor Umurzakov,. Uzbek Ambassador to Pakistan, Furqat Sidikov, also joined the meeting in Ministry of Commerce, Islama
Adviser to the Prime Minister on Finance and Revenue Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh has agreed to look into the policy matter of restoration of sales tax zero-rating facility for the dairy sector in the upcoming budget (2020-2021).
Basir Shamsie is President & CEO of JS Bank Limited. Basir has completed the Program for Leadership Development from Harvard Business School. He joined Bear Stearns Jahangir Siddiqui & Co. in 1994 in the Money and Bond Markets business. He was part of the
Evidence mounted of the devastating economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Thursday as hard-hit Europe moved to further ease lockdown measures that ground its economies to a halt.
UK output is to crash by 14 percent this year on the coronavirus, the Bank of England said Thursday as it left its interest rate at a record-low 0.1 percent.
The number of international tourist arrivals could plunge by 60 to 80 percent in 2020 owing to the coronavirus, the World Tourism Organization said Thursday, revising its previous forecast sharply lower.
British Airways owner IAG said Thursday it plunged into the red in the first quarter as the coronavirus pandemic grounded planes, adding that pre-crisis passenger demand would not return until 2023.
Millions more Americans sought unemployment benefits last week, suggesting layoffs broadened from consumer-facing industries to other segments of the economy and could remain elevated even as many parts of the country start to reopen.
China's exports saw a shock 3.5 percent rise in April despite the global impact of the coronavirus pandemic, official figures showed Thursday, partly due to rising medical exports.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu received crucial support in his bid to form a unity government Thursday, inching closer to ending more than a year of political deadlock.
The Kabul administration has released more than 900 Taliban fighters since the militants signed a landmark deal with the United States to end the war in Afghanistan, an official said Thursday.
Japan on Thursday authorised the antiviral drug remdesivir to treat coronavirus patients, the government said, with an eye to approving another medication Avigan this month.
Many thousands of migrants have been left stranded by the coronavirus pandemic, unable to move due to lockdowns and border closures around the globe, the United Nations said Thursday.
Floods have left 65 dead in Rwanda and heavy rains swept away scores of houses, several bridges and farms, the government said Thursday, as similar scenes played out across East Africa.
The EU on Thursday defended agreeing to let Beijing censor an article by European ambassadors published in Chinese media to remove a reference to the coronavirus originating in China.
US President Donald Trump called Thursday for involving China in new arms control talks with Russia, telling his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin that they need to avoid a "costly arms race," the White House said.
Chicago Board of Trade corn futures slipped on Wednesday, following a pullback in crude oil prices and mounting concern over domestic demand for feed use, traders said.
Below-average rainfall in Ivory Coast last week has raised fears of a cocoa supply shortage in the coming months and a weak end to the April-to-September mid-crop, farmers said on Monday.
Dalian iron ore futures ended higher on Wednesday, supported by ramping up of production by steelmakers amid robust construction activity and hopes for further demand as China eased coronavirus restrictions.
Chicago Board of Trade wheat futures eased on forecasts for rain in key growing regions of the United States and Europe in the next week, providing some much-needed moisture for developing wheat crops in those areas, traders said.
Euronext wheat futures rose on Wednesday, consolidating above a six-week low, as traders assessed whether showers across Europe would be enough to stave off drought in its major grain belts, while a weaker euro helped underpin prices.
The Karachi Port handled 91,065 tonnes of cargo comprising 48,974 tonnes of import cargo and 42,091 tonnes of export cargo including 6,290 loaded and empty containers during the last 24 hours ending at 0700 hours on Thursday.
Trading activities in cotton market were badly effected due to the rejection of the proposal of buying of cotton at Rs 4200 per maund through Trading Corporation of Pakistan by Economic Coordination Committe.
US natural gas futures fell almost 9% on Wednesday on forecasts for lower demand next week than previously expected and longer-term projections that businesses will use less of the fuel and exports will drop in coming months due to government lockdowns to
Most major bourses in the Gulf rebounded on Thursday, led by gains in banking stocks as traders bought on dips, but Saudi Arabia bucked the trend. The Abu Dhabi index gained 1%, buoyed by a 3.3% rise in the United Arab Emirates' (UAE) largest lender First
Philippine shares reversed course to end higher on Thursday on hopes the country would soon ease its coronavirus-driven restrictions, while Thailand stocks fell on gloomy outlook for its economy.
European shares closed higher on Thursday as a surprise rise in China's exports suggested some resilience in global demand, while a batch of mostly strong earnings also provided cheer.
US stocks jumped on Thursday as an upbeat outlook from PayPal and a surprise rise in Chinese exports raised hopes of a faster economic recovery from what is expected to be a deep coronavirus-led recession.
The S&P 500 and the Dow fell on Wednesday as declines in financials and defensive groups countered gains in tech shares and as data showed US private employers laid off 20 million workers in April, underscoring the economic fallout of the coronavirus outb
Japanese shares eased on their return from a long holiday on Thursday, with airlines declining the most, as sentiment was dampened by Tokyo's move to extend a state of emergency and dour US economic data.
UK stock markets inched higher on Thursday, with investors looking past dismal quarterly earnings reports and hoping for a faster recovery from a deep coronavirus-led recession following a surprise rise in China's exports.
China stocks ended lower on Thursday, as investors remained cautious on a bleak trade outlook globally that could slow the recovery in the world's second largest economy from the coronavirus crisis. The Shanghai Composite index closed down 0.23% at 2,871.
The South Korean won weakened on Thursday after a central bank official said the country is likely to record a current account deficit for the month of April, while the Philippine peso firmed despite a shock contraction in economic growth.
Sterling hit a 16-day low against the dollar on Thursday, despite some brief respite after the Bank of England's policy statement, dominated by uncertainty over how Britain will ease its coronavirus lockdown and Brexit.
The dollar climbed to two-week highs on Thursday, garnering more safe-haven bids, after yet another report showed millions more Americans took unemployment aid from the government in the latest week as the coronavirus pandemic continued to ravage the US e
The euro dipped to its lowest level in almost two weeks on Thursday, on nagging concern over the direction of the European Central Bank's stimulus scheme following a German court ruling earlier this week.
Women owned small and medium enterprises are facing 90 percent production and sale loss due to coronavirus lockdown and government must take immediate measures to revive the economy in addition to saving the jobs of female workers, said Qurrat-ul-Ain, Pre
A division bench of the Lahore High Court Thursday adjourned to May 11 the hearing of three identical petitions of PML-Q leaders Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Speaker Punjab Assembly Chaudhry Pervez Elahi challenging 20-year old inquiries against them init
The Planning & Development Board Punjab arranged a high-powered meeting here on Thursday to prepare new guidelines for annual development programme 2020-21 in response to the financial and economic recovery phase after the natural calamity of Covid-19.
National Coordination Committee (NCC) has decided conditional opening of all those businesses from coming Saturday (tomorrow) on which the federating units have developed consensus.
Chief Minister Punjab Sardar Usman Buzdar said on Thursday that the decision to ease lockdown in a phased manner has been taken with collective consultation and unanimous decisions have also been taken in order to bring ease and facilitation in the lives