Author: Maryam Asrar

The government has increased profit rates for Regular Income Certificates, Savings Accounts, and Short Term Savings Certificates by up to 100 basis points, while rates for Special Savings Certificates, Behbood Savings Certificates, and Pensioners Benefit Account have been lowered. Defense Saving Certificates, however, remain unaffected.

Pakistan’s national elections are confirmed for February 11, 2024, as revealed by the Election Commission during a Supreme Court hearing addressing concerns about election delays. The date will be finalized after consultations with the president, following the completion of the delimitation process by November 30.

Management Position officers (MP I, MP II, and MP III) will see a substantial 45% pay and benefits increase approved by the Caretaker Prime Minister, effective from October 1, 2023, with adjustments to salary, house rent, and allowances. These changes will be covered by respective divisions/ministries, and existing MP scale officers will receive the revised package based on their performance evaluations, while transport allowances remain unaltered.

Pakistan’s cricket stars, Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi, have made history by claiming the top positions in ICC ODI rankings – a moment of immense pride for the nation.

Foodpanda has been honored with three Dragons of Asia Awards, including the prestigious Black Dragon for its exceptional Pau-Pau launch campaign. This recognition, a first for any foodpanda entity in the Asia-Pacific region, highlights the company’s dedication to innovation and excellence in the food delivery and e-commerce sector.

Shaheen Afridi’s remarkable performances in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup have propelled him to the top spot in the latest ODI Bowling Rankings, making him the world’s best ODI bowler. With 16 wickets, he shares the lead in the tournament’s wicket-taker list and clinched the coveted No.1 ODI bowling ranking for the first time in his career after Pakistan’s impressive victory over Bangladesh.

The Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI) is embracing digital transformation by introducing a modern system for public parking fees in the city. The project, carried out in collaboration with a private company, will begin in popular areas like F-9 Park, aiming to simplify the payment process for citizens without changing existing parking rates.

In response to the Pakistani Rupee’s recent recovery against the US Dollar, the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) has decreased the price of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) by Rs. 9.95 per kg for November. This translates to a 3.8 percent reduction in the cost of an 11.8 kg domestic LPG cylinder, benefiting consumers.

The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) witnessed a surge in bullish sentiment, with the KSE-100 Index gaining 437 points and briefly breaking the 52,000 level for the first time in over six years. Improved corporate profitability and the government’s decision to raise gas tariffs, expected to boost the energy sector’s profitability, contributed to this positive market activity.

Kia Pakistan has lowered prices for the Sorento and Carnival models, thanks to a stronger Pakistani Rupee, making these vehicles more budget-friendly for customers until December 31, 2023. Additional cash-back offers on different models are also available until November 30, 2023.