LAHORE: Seventeen Pakistani nationals imprisoned in the Indian jails were repatriated via Attari-Wagah border on Friday. According to Pakistan High Commission information on Twitter, “17 Pakistani nationals imprisoned in India were repatriated today via Attari-Wagah border after hectic efforts of Pakistan High Commission in India and Foreign Office and cooperation of the Indian side. Our efforts will continue to repatriate all prisoners from India on completion of their sentences, said the commission.

The Express Tribune reported first that India had invited the foreign minister to the SCO meeting scheduled to take place in Goa in May. “Both Pakistan and India are members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. “As in the past, these invitations are being processed as per standard procedures and a decision will be taken in due course,” she added. The SCO meetings come at a time when tensions continue to persist between Pakistan and India. Hina Rabbani Khar visited India in 2011 when she was the foreign minister.

Imported goods will be sold at rates based on the new parity with the dollar and will provide windfall profits to retailers. The fall in the rupee has been enough to absorb any except the most extraordinary fall in global oil prices, with the result that there will additional inflation as goods transport and power rates become more expensive. It may be noted that Senator Dar’s attempt to defend the rupee, which was the policy measure he was best associated with, has come to an abrupt end. Senator Dar came to the Finance Ministry last year to bring down the inflation ruining his party’s electoral hopes. His assumption that inflation was imported proved simplistic, and instead, Pakistan is faced with the sort of inflation it has never seen.

The recent decision to allow a rapist to go unpunished after he married his victim is a slap in the face of human rights. A local jirga facilitated an out-of-court settlement between the families of the victim and the offender. The ruling is a step backwards in terms of ensuring justice, and a step forward in normalising the rape culture. More than 21,000 women were reported to have been raped in just last four years and the unreported cases outnumbered the reported ones. The patriarchal mindset prevailing in all sections of society cannot be turned overnight, but providing justice to the victim is essential under all circumstances.

The rupee devaluation helped the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) rise by 1,200 points during the day. The global lender had asked the government to let the market forces -- mostly commercial banks -- determine the exchange rate. The rupee had remained under government control since Ishaq Dar took charge as the finance minister in late September 2022. At that time, Dar had said that the fair value of the rupee stood in the range of Rs180-200 per US dollar. Now, the black market rate will come closer to the bank rate,” he added.

The demonstrations marking India’s so-called Republic Day as Black Day saw Kashmiris, members of the Sikh community, and their allies pressing the British government to intervene and halt the ongoing genocide in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). “Only those nations who respect wishes and aspirations of other nations, like Kashmiris, have a right to celebrate their freedom,” he added. “Why is India so scared of Kashmiris?” Kayani asked. “This day in 1950 when Indian state adopted its constitution basically legitimized its theft of the right of self-determination from the peoples of the Punjab and Kashmir,” Srai said. “For any success, grass roots momentum is needed in western nations especially Europe where the local governments must be informed vile acts of Indian state i.e.

Pakistan is in no hurry to respond to the Indian invitation for Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari to attend the key regional forum’s meeting in May, as officials have termed New Delhi’s invite “routine practice”. India has invited the foreign minister for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) meeting scheduled to take place in May at Goa. The sources said the decision to attend the SCO foreign ministers meeting would be taken at an appropriate time and after consultations among all stakeholders. Following the meeting of foreign ministers, the meeting of heads of governments of the SCO is scheduled in New Delhi in June. The meeting of chief justices of the SCO is scheduled for March while the foreign ministers will meet in May.

Novak Djokovic's father has been filmed posing with fans brandishing banned Russian flags at the Australian Open, including one featuring Vladimir Putin, in scenes Ukraine's ambassador Thursday slammed as "a disgrace". After the match a group of fans unfurled Russian flags -- which are banned at Melbourne Park -- near the stadium and chanted pro-Russian and pro-Putin slogans. A video later posted to a pro-Russian Australian YouTube account showed Djokovic's father Srdjan posing with a man holding a Russian flag bearing President Putin's image. Serbian tennis reporters confirmed it was Djokovic's father and the Melbourne Age newspaper reported he said in Serbian: "Long live Russia." Among the Serbian flags, there is: a Russian flag, Putin, Z-symbol, so-called Donetsk People's Republic flag," he tweeted with a link to the video.

ISLAMABAD – Pakistan has joined other Islamic nations to strongly condemn the recent attack on Islam’s holy book Quran in the Netherlands. Pakistan also called on world leaders to raise a collective voice against Islamophobia and stressed a united effort for peaceful coexistence. Afghanistan, Turkiye, Qatar, and some other Muslim nations also denounced the Islamophobic act. The second sacrilegious act was committed by a Dutch far-right group leader who desecrated a copy of Islam’s holy book in a Northwestern European nation. Earlier, the same hate crime was committed by Sweden’s far-right politician Rasmus Paludan in Stockholm.

Oak Hill, WV (25901)TodayLight snow this evening will give way to cloudy skies late. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 90%..TonightLight snow this evening will give way to cloudy skies late. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 90%.

President urges nation to adopt modern trends for country’s developmentPresident Dr. Arif Alvi has urged the nation to adopt modern trends of global community for development of the country. Addressing the 12th convocation ceremony of Virtual University in Lahore on Thursday, he said education and training has more impact on character building as compared to knowledge. He said twenty million children are still out of schools in the country. Arif Alvi said no country can progress without education.

Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) Normalization Committee (NC) Chairman Haroon Malik has expressed his gratitude to the Saudi Football Federation for hosting the Four-Nation Cup 2023 in a professional manner, terming their hospitality as commendable. “I would also like to congratulate the Saudi Football Federation for winning the Four-Nation 2023 title. Football is flourishing fast in Saudi Arabia and the recent football activities especially the involvement of football legends including Lionel Messi and Christiano Ronaldo in Saudi football is proof that how serious they are for the promotion of football and their football future seems quite bright,” Haroon added. “I will try to meet high-ups of the Saudi Football Federation to discuss the ways to promote football in both the countries. Hopefully, we will try to finalize some bilateral football events in order to strengthen football ties between both countries," Haroon Malik concluded.

Game Notes Blue Jackets @ Oilers: Edmonton Will Win DivisionPhoto credit: Gaelen Morse-USA TODAY SportsThe Edmonton Oilers haven’t finished first in their division since 1987 — the longest drought in the NHL, one year longer than the New York Islanders. Seattle also has 17 v. BT teams, Calgary 16, while Los Angeles and Vegas only have eight. — Let’s say the Oilers go 12-5, which is much lower than their current P% v. BT teams, but let’s go with a cautious projection. Vegas is on pace for 100 points, but they only have eight games remaining v. BT teams. — Before you say the Oilers don’t beat teams they should, remember they are 8-2 v. BT teams this season.

Share:Pakistan’s central bank has increased the interest rate to 17 percent, the highest since October 1997. While this was more or less expected, the decision has been met with mixed reactions. Regarding these reserves, the unofficial cap on the rupee value has also been dropped so that value could match the market. This increase in supply is expected to check the dollar rate as it continues to decline. Already, the policy rate has increased and if inflation does not fall, further hikes will be unavoidable.

Share:Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will receive United Arab Emirates (UAE) President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on his arrival in Rahim Yar Khan today (Wednesday). The prime minister, during his day-long visit to Rahim Yar Khan, will welcome the UAE president at the Chandana Airport. The UAE president arrived in the South Asian country days after he was invited by the PM Shehbaz during his official visit to the Gulf country. During his visit, the prime minister held a meeting with the UAE president when matters of mutual interest were discussed. The prime minister had thanked the UAE president for inviting him to the brotherly country.