Tehreem Shahh

  Pakistan has been struggling with its economy for quite some time now, and the recent offer by the government to sell shares in State Owned Entities (SOEs) to two top UAE firms is a promising step in the right direction. Access to shares in National Bank of Pakistan (NBP), Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC), Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL), and Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) has been offered to two UAE companies in an effort to bolster investment in the country. The UAE firms run a combined $300 billion investment fund portfolio and have expressed interest in investing in profitable public entities in Pakistan. This move by the government shows their willingness to attract foreign investment and help revive the struggling economy. The investment proposal was discussed during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s recent visit to the UAE where he apprised the top leadership of possible big-money undertakings in Pakistani...

  he death toll in the Peshawar mosque blast has climbed to 100 after dozens of dead bodies were taken out from the wreckage by the rescue teams during the operation that continued for hours. With the latest updates, the number of causalities soared to 100, and over 150 people were injured, including 27 KP police personnel, as a suicide explosion rocked a mosque in Peshawar Police lines on Monday. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa set one day of official mourning for the heinous attack that stunned the nation. On Monday, a suicide bomber blew himself up when worshippers gathered in the mosque for afternoon prayers. A part of the mosque was also caved in due to the intensity of the blast. Rescue teams and security forces were dispatched to the area which is said to be near Police Secretariat in the northern city. Videos and pictures shared by social media users show horrific scenes as injured drenched in blood were shifted to Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar for first aid. Rescue worker...

  With an increasing number of wedding and event planners recommending Dubai to couples as the ideal location to celebrate their weddings, the city is quickly becoming the top choice for destination weddings. This is consistent with initiatives geared at enhancing the emirate’s reputation as an ideal location for living, working, and visiting, as well as a popular wedding destination on a global scale. The city is the best location for planning special social gatherings thanks to its first-rate infrastructure, scenic resorts, opulent hospitality options, services, stellar safety record, and variety of tourist attractions. Dubai weddings are popular worldwide. Dubai is becoming a more popular destination for people to celebrate personal occasions and milestones in addition to weddings. Dubai offers a unique experience for wedding couples and guests because to the availability of highly qualified wedding and event planners, its distinctive settings, eclectic culinary sce...

  Bilateral Relations The bilateral relations between the United Arab Emirates and Pakistan are acquiring new dimensions at all political, economic and social levels emerging into trust-worthy strategic partnership. Right from the beginning, the UAE has been famous among all comity of the world due to its generous humanitarian assistance, stability, tolerance, innovation, vision for better health and education. UAE is one of the largest investors in the country but bilateral trade has been steadily growing over the years and people-to-people contacts are constantly on the increase. Infinite Bonds the founder of UAE Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan was keen to give an impetus to the bilateral relations between the two countries from the very beginning. It was further strengthened and patronized by H.H. Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of the UAE and H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, Vice-President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai. Both c...

  Pakistan on Saturday strongly condemned the act of desecration of the Holy Quran by Danish politician Rasmus Paludan, the same Islamophobe who committed a similar act in Sweden a few days ago. Pakistan termed the abhorrent act done in Denmark “senseless and deeply offensive”. In the statement, the Foreign Office (FO) said the “repetition of the vile act leaves little doubt in the minds of Muslims around the world that freedom of expression is being blatantly abused to spread religious hatred and incitement to violence”. The spokesperson called into question the legal framework behind which Islamophobes hide and spread hatred with impunity. MoFA spokesperson reiterated that freedom of expression comes with responsibilities, saying it is the responsibility of the international community to stop these racist and Islampohobic acts. Several thousand people protested across Pakistan after Friday prayers to voice outrage over right-wing protests targeting the Holy Quran in S...

  The IMF will send a team to Pakistan next week to discuss reviving a desperately needed bailout programme, with a foreign exchange crisis bringing imports almost to a standstill. The South Asian nation is in dire economic straits servicing endless external debts, battling rising inflation and with only enough dollars for around three weeks of imports. The IMF said in a statement late Thursday that a review team will arrive in the capital Islamabad on Tuesday in a bid to break the deadlock over releasing more financial aid. It comes days after Islamabad bowed to pressure to remove an exchange cap to help control a rampant black market. Its removal saw the rupee plummet to a historic low against the US dollar on Thursday. Mohammad Sohail, financial analyst and CEO of Top-line Securities, said the government had cleared a big hurdle in securing the next IMF installment. “Leaving the Forex market to market forces was one of the biggest conditions of the IMF, which the...

  A truck-sized asteroid will pass near Earth on Thursday in one of the closest approaches to our planet ever recorded, NASA said, emphasising that it poses no danger. Asteroid 2023 BU, which was recently discovered by an amateur astronomer, will zoom by the southern tip of South America at around 4:27 pm PST on Thursday (0027 GMT Friday), according to NASA. It will pass just 2,200 miles (3,600 kilometres) from Earth’s surface, much closer than many geostationary satellites orbiting the planet. But there is no risk that the asteroid will hit Earth, NASA said in a statement on Wednesday. Even if it did, the asteroid measuring 3.5-8.5 metres (11-28 feet) across would largely disintegrate in the Earth’s atmosphere, potentially just resulting in a few small meteorites. It was discovered on Saturday from an observatory in Crimea by amateur astronomer Gennadiy Borisov, who previously spotted an interstellar comet in 2019. Dozens of observations were then...

  Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, president of the UAE, said on Wednesday that his nation was thinking about increasing its investment in Pakistan, whose economy urgently needs such infusions to remain afloat in the face of a financial crisis. President Al Nahyan, who arrived in Pakistan on a private visit, met with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The dignitary was welcomed by PM Shehbaz and senior government officials at Chandna Airport. During a friendly encounter with Prime Minister Shehbaz at the airport, the UAE president reportedly said, “Be prepared, UAE will make a significant investment in Pakistan. The Prime Minister reflected on his most recent trip to the UAE and emphasised that both nations will seek to implement the agreements struck between the two leaders in a number of areas during that trip. According to the president of the UAE, their brotherly ties date back many years, and his father, who had a deep love for Pakistan and its people, lay the grou...

  During his visit to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan landed today in Rahim Yar Khan. His Highness was welcomed at the airport by the prime minister of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif, as well as several other ministries and high-ranking officials. During the discussion, the two sides discussed ways to strengthen bilateral ties between the UAE and Pakistan while also reviewing historical ties between the two nations. This review fell under the umbrella of the strategic partnership between the UAE and Pakistan. The visit of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed to Pakistan was warmly greeted by Prime Minister Sharif, who emphasized that it shows a strong commitment to strengthening ties between the two brotherly nations. The two sides addressed numerous pathways for collaboration, particularly in the areas of economy, commerce, and development, which are consistent with the sustainability goals of the two nations. They also d...

  The popular streaming service Netflix has acknowledged that it may start charging users for password sharing by the end of March. According to the streaming service, a crackdown on password sharing will begin “later in the first quarter.” The crackdown’s exact start date is not stated, though. The company said, “While our terms of use limit the use of Netflix to a household, we recognize this is a change for members who share their account more broadly”. “So, we’ve worked hard to build additional new features that improve the Netflix experience, including the ability for members to review which devices are using their account and to transfer a profile to a new account”. When Netflix first revealed its plans to alter its password-sharing policy in October, it did not provide a start date for the new policy and also stated that it would eventually start charging users to share accounts.

   Russia and Pakistan announced in a joint statement on Friday that Pakistan will begin importing oil and gas from Russia by March under conditions that will ensure "mutual economic gain." Since beginning its military offensive against Ukraine, Moscow has faced economic sanctions from the West. As a result, it has drastically decreased its hydrocarbon supply to Europe and turned to Asia to make up the difference. “Both sides agreed that after consensus on the technical specifications achieved, the oil and gas trade transaction will be structured in a way such that it has mutual economic benefit for both countries,” the statement said. “The process will be completed in March,” it added. It came after the conclusion of Nikolay Shulginov, the Russian energy minister three-day ,'s trip to Islamabad. Early in December, the Pakistani government stated that Russia had agreed to offer discounted oil exports to energy-scarce Pakistan. Since December, Russian crude oil has been...

  In a horrifying instance, a group of students at a private school in Lahore tortured another student because she refused to use narcotics. The suspects are the subject of an investigation by the Lahore Police under sections 337A I 354, and 379 of the PPC. The victim’s father, Imran Younas, alleged that Jannat, his daughter’s classmate, is a drug addict who wanted his daughter to work for her business. He continued by saying that when his daughter objected, Jannat, her sister Umaima, and other people attacked her, dragged her to the canteen, and then abused and humiliated her. The youngsters released a video of the terrifying ordeal on social media. According to reports, the victim girl was hurt and sent to a hospital for treatment.

  The declaration of 2023 as the UAE's Year of Sustainability by President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan was the culmination of the nation's significant efforts in sustainability and environmental preservation. It also marked a turning point in the advancement of COP28 and the driving force behind the world's efforts to support climate action. Since the creation of the Union in the 1970s, the UAE has had an inspirational path in environmental protection, and it has put forth significant effort in climate action, starting with its signing of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer in 1989.   The UAE ratified the Paris Climate Agreement in 2015, a milestone in the achievement of the agreement's goals for tackling climate change and lowering greenhouse gas emissions. Being the first country in the area to ratify the Paris Agreement and announce a climate neutrality policy plan, the UAE Net Zero by 2050, the UAE is a leader in adva...

  The WEF Leadership Council, which consists of 13 members from different nations, has welcomed Mohammad bin Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs, to its ranks. The Council will be a crucial institutional community that serves as a sounding board for the Forum’s long-term strategy and aids in its ability to play a particular role as an annual platform that promotes business growth and establishes international cooperation and dialogue. This role is one of acting as a non-formal but effective global bridge-builder. Al Gergawi emphasised that the UAE’s participation in the WEF for more than 20 years reflects the country’s pioneering role. Under the leadership of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who seeks to maximise the UAE’s global role in achieving prosperity and development in the world, the country was able to solidify its position as a global hub for positive future change. The UAE’s valuable participation in international fo...

  2023 has been declared the “Year of Sustainability” by President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Numerous programmes, events, and initiatives that make use of the UAE’s deeply ingrained sustainability values and the heritage of its late founder, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, will be part of the “Year of Sustainability.” In keeping with the UAE’s national policy, it will also put an emphasis on environmental sustainability by encouraging statewide commitment to sustainable practises and bringing together everyone who calls the UAE home to strive toward a successful future. The year also intends to demonstrate the UAE’s dedication to encouraging international cooperation in the search for creative answers to major sustainability-related problems including energy and climate change. H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Presidential Court, and H.H. Sheikha Mariam bint Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan are in c...

  COP28, which will be held at Expo City Dubai from November 30 to December 12, 2023, the incoming Presidency of the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and Dubai Cares have decided to collaborate on a number of climate education outcomes. The global education collaboration platform RewirEd Summit’s second iteration, which this year will focus on climate action education and methods, will be hosted by Dubai Cares in conjunction with the global climate summit. From now until the summit, Dubai Cares will also take the lead in a global planning process to mobilise public and private actors around new policy, financing, and technological outcomes that both prepare students for the net-zero economy and improve accessibility and resilience in the education sector. The announcement was made in the presence of Majid Al Suwaidi, Director-General of COP28, and Dr. Tariq Al Gurg, Chief Executive Officer a...

  The Emirates is considered one of the safest countries in the world with a ‘very low’ risk of spread of extremist activities The UAE is regarded as one of the safest nations with a “very low” danger of the spread of terrorist activities and one of the safest nations in the world. The UAE also takes strong efforts to combat terrorist and extremist activities. The Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), which created the index and releases its findings yearly, served as the basis for the ranking. One of the metrics tracked by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation is the Global Terrorism Index (Mofaic). The Ministry’s Global Peace and Stability Initiative backs up its data. As part of this project, the ministry has communicated with important international sources, including the UN and international organizations, specialized research institutions and centers, and the Institute for Economics and Peace, to support the index data. Mofaic also offer...

  President UAE, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, met with the heads of many friendly nations in a consultative capacity. King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain, Sultan Haitham bin Tariq of Oman, Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani of Qatar, King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein of Jordan, and President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi of Egypt were all present at the meeting that Sheikh Mohamed hosted. The goal of the fraternal meeting, which was held in Abu Dhabi’s capital under the theme “Prosperity and Stability in the Region,” is to strengthen and expand relations between the friendly nations in a variety of fields that contribute to the region’s growth, prosperity, and stability through collaboration and regional integration. The leaders reviewed different avenues of collaborative collaboration and coordination in all domains that serve the ambitions of their peoples for a more prosperous future during the conference, as well as fraternal relations between their respective c...

  Video courtesy: Pakistan Observer The United Arab Emirates (UAE) agreed to roll over the existing $2 billion debt in much-needed financial help that would stabilise Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves.  In addition to announcing the rollover, the Gulf country announced a loan of $1 billion for the South Asian country. The development would calm the jittery markets and strengthen the rupee against the US dollar.  In a recent video shared on social media, Prime minister Shehbaz Sharif was seen narrating how he had to ask the President of UAE Sheikh Zayed Al Nahyan to further provide loan of 1 billion dollar of Pakistan. This video make me sad and happy at the same time, sad because, we as a country are in such an economic condition where we have to literally ask for countries to save us, and happy because once again UAE proved that it is always standing with Pakistan to face any crisis. Pakistan must value the friendship that we have as a nation with United Arab Emirates...

    Mari Petroleum Company Limited (MPCL) announced the discovery of gas reserves from its exploratory well in Ghotki district of Sindh. The company said, “MPCL as operator with 100% working interest, has made a landmark gas discovery at Mari Ghazij-1 exploration well, drilled in Mari Development & Production Lease (Mari D&PL) area, located in Sindh Province.” MPCL further said that the well was spudded-in on November 24, 2022 as development cum exploratory well by using MPCL’s in-house expertise. “The gas flow rate established through Drill Stem Test is 5.1 million standard cubic feet per day (MMSCFD) with wellhead flowing pressure (WHFP) of 232 pounds per square inch (Psi) at 64/64 inch choke size,” the company said. This was the first dedicated exploratory well targeting multiple Ghazij Limestone units.  The concept emerged from Iqbal-1 well wherein a thin limestone unit in Ghazij Formation was found to make minor contribution of ~0.5 MM...

  With the State Oil Company of the Republic of Azerbaijan (SOCAR), one of the largest clean energy companies in the world, Masdar has signed joint development agreements for onshore wind and solar projects as well as integrated offshore wind and green hydrogen projects with a combined capacity of 4 gigawatts (GW). On the margins of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, the international platform for advancing sustainable development that Masdar is hosting, the agreements were signed by Rovshan Najaf, President of SOCAR, and Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, Chief Executive Officer of Masdar. The signing was observed by Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, President-Elect of COP28, and Chairman of Masdar, as well as Mikayil Jabbarov, Minister of Economy for Azerbaijan. Dr. Al Jaber said, “These agreements will serve to strengthen the already powerful relationship between the United Arab Emirates and the Republic of Azerbaijan, and are a testament to our sha...

  On the anniversary of a terrorist attack in Abu Dhabi that left three people dead, US Vice President Joe Biden issued a message of support to the United Arab Emirates. "We stand firmly to ensure it cannot happen again," Mr. Biden said, adding that his nation will defend the Emirates against any threat. International outrage resulted from the Houthi rebels of Yemen, who are supported by Iran, attacking an oil distribution plant in Mussaffah, which resulted in three fatalities and six injuries. Two ballistic missiles and a number of drones were used in a terrorist strike that was launched from Yemen one year ago to target civilian targets in the United Arab Emirates. Three innocent civilians perished in this barbaric attack while the UAE's air defence systems, a pillar of our decades-long security alliance, blasted the missiles out of the sky. Today, we honour the terribly lost lives and reaffirm America's dedication to the safety and security of the Emirati people. T...

  The German chemical engineering company Thyssenkrupp Uhde and the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) have agreed to collaborate on the development of large-scale ammonia cracking plants.   The agreement with the Thyssenkrupp Group subsidiary is a component of a plan to develop new markets for hydrogen and advance global value chains for clean energy. Petrochemical, fertiliser, coking, and polymere plant development is done by Thyssenkrupp Uhde. The two businesses will collaborate to create industrial-scale ammonia cracking facilities under the terms of the agreement. Additionally, it will open up potential for the supply and transportation of low-carbon or green ammonia from the UAE to significant plants throughout the world. Hydrogen is transported by ammonia, which is significantly simpler to compress and move. Ammonia must be broken down or converted into hydrogen after being transported and before being used in the energy value chain. “Countries in Europe, along with...