Pakistan has received first onion export order of more than 300 tons from Bangladesh after nearly 15 years. This is after an Indian ban on Bangladesh to avert price hike in domestic markets. At least 12 containers of onions are being exported to Bangladesh and more will follow. The onion trade was also agreed on in government-to-government talks. The shipment value from Pakistan will be around $600/ton.
Exports of manufactured leather goods from Pakistan grew by 10.41% during the first quarter of the current financial year as compared to exports of the corresponding period last year. According to the data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, the export of leather garments increased by 11.48%. Other leather goods exports of the country also recorded a positive growth of 5.20%. i.e. worth $2.6 million as compared to to the exports of $2.5 million in the same period last year.
Pakistan may remain on the grey list of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) beyond February 2020, mainly because of its risk profile and in view of two simultaneous evaluations according to senior officials. Officials also revealed that the government recovered only Rs5.6 billion in taxes on foreign assets worth about $7.4bn (Rs1.15 trillion) of Pakistanis reported by the international
International Tennis Federation’s independent security advisors have advised against playing India’s Davis Cup tie against Pakistan in Islamabad this month and suggested the tie must be played at a ‘neutral’ venue. The Asia/Oceania Group I tie, originally scheduled for September 14-15 in Islamabad, was postponed by the ITF to Nov 29-30 following a security review amid political tensions between the neighbours.
Emirates has announced special fares across its global route network to inspire and encourage Pakistani travellers to explore new destinations and revisit their favourite cities. The special fares are available for booking till 18 November 2019, for travel between 12 November 2019 and 30 September 2020. According to Mohammad Sarhan, Emirates’ Vice President Pakistan, special fares represent savings of 15 percent for First Class, and 10 percent on Business and Economy Class fares across 150 countries including Dubai.
The Freedom House has declared Pakistan ‘Not Free’ in terms of internet use for the ninth consecutive year, with the country score decreasing from 27 to 26 out of 100 in 2019. The country scored 5 out of 25 for obstacles to access, 14 out of 35 for limits on content, and 7 out of 40 for violation of user rights index and is the third worst country after Vietnam and China in its region.
Aqsa Kausar, an accomplished graduate of NUST School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (SEECS), has beaten the odds by becoming the first female Google Developer Expert in Machine Learning from Pakistan. She is currently working as an Artificial Intelligence (AI) developer with a software organisation named Red Buffer. Aqsa has done her Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from NUST.
During a meeting with Minister for States & Frontier Regions and Narcotics Control Shehryar Khan Afridi, Chinese Minister showed interest in investing in the halal meat industry in Pakistan, exporting it to China and Middle Eastern countries. He vowed to showcase Pakistani products and halal food in Chinese markets. According to Afridi, Chinese President Xi Jinping’s vision will benefit the underdeveloped countries.
In a recent report, the World Bank has ranked Pakistan at number six amongst the top 20 global reformers. The World Bank also acknowledged Pakistan amongst top 10 economies that improve the most on the ease of doing business after implementing regulatory reform. As per the report, for the first time Pakistan has improved 28 ranks, from 136 to 108, in one year.
More than 30 migrants from Pakistan were found hidden in a lorry in southern France.The Pakistani driver was detained. The group of 31 Pakistani migrants was discovered during a routine check on a motorway near the Italian border on Friday. The discovery came after 39 people were found dead in a refrigerated truck in Britain last month. The prosecutors said they will try to trace back to a network.