MR News

KARACHI: The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) witnessed a surge in the foreign exchange reserves with a reported increase of $31 million, ARY News reported on Thursday. The State Bank of Pakistan in a statement said that “the total foreign reserves of Pakistan surged to US$16.632 billion, while the SBP reserves crossed $12.081 billion as of December 13, 2024.” According to the central bank, the total liquid foreign exchange reserves held by commercial banks climbed to US $4.551 billion. The reason for the increase in foreign reserves has not been revealed. Last week, the total foreign reserves of the country stood at US$16.60 billion including the SBP reserves at $12.5 billion and commercial banks reserves at US$4.55 billion. Earlier today, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Governor Jameel Ahmed said that the country has paid back a US$2 billion loan during the past two years. In a television talk show, the SBP governor pointed out that the foreign exchange reserves have also increas...

Hollywood actor Eddie Redmayne has confirmed that he will reprise his role in season two of ‘The Day of the Jackal.’ “Thank you so much for watching and supporting The Day of the Jackal. If there’s one thing that the Jackal can’t stand, it’s a loose end. So we will see you soon for season two,” Redmayne said according to a Sky Instagram post. While the makers had confirmed renewing the show for a second season , there were no updates on whether Eddie Redmayne and Lashana Lynch would reprise their roles for the next season as it would have spoiled the ending of the first season, which released its finale on December 12. ‘The Day of the Jackal’ became the most popular series to ever launch on Sky after its first episode reached a UK audience of 4.5 million after 26 days. The series is based on a 1971 novel by Frederick Forsyth which was adapted into a feature film in 1973. ‘The Day of the Jackal’ tells the story of the titular character Jackal (Eddie Redmayne), a contract killer “w...

LAHORE: A fire broke out on Tezgam Express on Wednesday, causing panic among the passengers, ARY News reported, citing officials. According to the spokesperson of Pakistan Railways, the incident occurred between Kot Lakhpat and Jia Bagga Railway Station. The brake van of the Tezgam Express caught fire as it travelled from Lahore to Karachi. The passengers quickly disembarked the train as soon as the incident happened and no casualties were reported, as per the spokesperson. Rescue 1122 and the train staff rushed to the spot, promptly extinguished the flames. The affected brake van was detached and the Tezgam Express was clear to depart to Karachi. Pakistan Railways CEO Amir Ali Baloch ordered an immediate inquiry into the incident, directing the officials to submit the report within two days. Read More: Pakistan Railways posts significant growth in revenue It is pertinent to mention that a similar incident also occurred in 2019 when around 70 people were reported dead and 40 ot...

RAWALPINDI: Security forces killed eleven Khwarij in three separate operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, ARY News reported quoting ISPR. According to ISPR, an intelligence based operation was conducted by the Security Forces in Tank District on reported presence of Khwarij. During the conduct of operation, own troops effectively engaged the khwarij location, as the result of which seven Khwarij were killed. Another intelligence based operation was conducted in general area Datta Khel, North Waziristan District. In ensuing fire exchange, two Khwarij were shot dead by the security forces. In third encounter that took place in general area Mamad Gat, Mohmand District, after an intense fie exchange two Khwarij were gunned down. Weapons and ammunition were also recovered from killed khwarij, who remained actively involved in numerous terrorist activities against the security forces as well as innocent civilians. Sanitization operations are being carried out to eliminate any other Kharji...

ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Law and Justice has announced significant reforms in the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) 1898, ARY News reported. According to reports, Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar presented the wide-ranging amendments in the Criminal Procedure Code, which were unanimously approved by the federal cabinet. According to the Ministry, the amendments were recommended by a committee formed under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The proposed reforms in the Criminal Procedure Code reflect consultations with bar councils, lawyers, prosecutors, and judges. Key reforms in the Criminal Procedure Code include the introduction of an electronic system for filing FIRs, along with initial inquiry powers for registering FIRs. Furthermore, only female officers will be authorised to arrest women under the new amendments. The reforms also emphasise the use of modern investigative tools, including audio and video recordings, to enhance evidence accuracy. As per the...

ISLAMABAD: Maulana Fazlur Rehman, head of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F), expressed his concerns regarding the delay in signing the Seminary Registration Bill, emphasising the need for immediate resolution through legal and constitutional means, ARY News reported. According to reports, the recent meeting of the Ittehad Tanzimat Madaris Diniyah (ITMD) concluded with detailed discussions on the Seminary Registration Bill. Key leaders, including Mufti Muneeb ur Rehman, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, and Mufti Taqi Usmani, were present. Speaking at a press conference after ITMD meeting, Maulana Fazlur Rehman stated that the bill was initially introduced by the government, and his party accepted it in principle. He pointed out that during the 26th Amendment discussions, the bill was revisited, and any changes made to it were introduced by the current government, not his party. “There is no controversial clause left for us in this bill,” he remarked, adding that the government should now move forwa...

LAHORE: The Punjab Assembly has approved the manyfold increase in the monthly salaries of MPAs, provincial ministers, speaker, deputy speaker, parliamentary secretaries and other officials, ARY News reported on Monday. The 19th session of the Punjab Assembly was held under the chairmanship of Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmed Khan. Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman tabled the bill to increase the salaries of members of the assembly. Opposition leader Malik Ahmad Khan Bhachar raised some nominal objections before the House passed the bill with a majority vote. The monthly salary of a member of the provincial assembly (MPA) has been increased by 426 percent to Rs4,00000 from the previous Rs76,000. Similarly, the salary of a provincial minister surged by 860 percent, reaching Rs9,60,000 from the previous amount of Rs1,00000. Also, the salary of the speaker assembly was hiked from Rs1,25000 to Rs9,50,000, while the deputy speaker’s salary rose from Rs1,20,000 to ...