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UHS students visit PDMA

Lahore: A delegation of students from the University of Health Sciences (UHS) visited the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Punjab on Friday to gain insights into its disaster management system.

During the visit, the students were briefed on the PDMA Punjab's operational framework for addressing natural disasters. They toured the PDMA Control Room, where Director General (DG) Irfan Ali Kathia highlighted the authority's 24/7 communication system with all districts in Punjab.

DG PDMA Irfan Ali Kathia explained that PDMA remains on high alert to tackle challenges such as floods, COVID-19, dengue, drought, smog, and heat waves. He emphasized the importance of advance warnings and alerts issued to the administration regarding potential disasters like heat waves, heavy rains, and floods.

Addressing the delegation, the DG underlined the severity of climate change in Pakistan and stressed that combating smog and other climate-related challenges are top priorities for the Punjab government. The students were also introduced to PDMA's flood simulation model and received insights into the authority's response mechanisms and rehabilitation efforts for disaster-affected families.

The students actively participated in the session, posing questions about PDMA's operations and victim rehabilitation programs. DG Kathia assured that financial assistance for disaster-affected families is provided under the Punjab government's policies.

At the conclusion of the visit, the students expressed appreciation for the Punjab government's proactive measures in rehabilitating flood victims. DG PDMA Irfan Ali Kathia presented a commemorative shield to the delegation.

This visit reflects the importance of fostering awareness among the youth about disaster management and the steps being taken to mitigate the impact of climate change in the province.

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SBP injects Rs2.43 trillion in the market

Karachi: The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) injected Rs2,429.65 billion in the market through reverse repo purchase and Shariah Compliant Mudarabah based Open Market Operations (OMO) on Friday.

The SBP conducted Open Market Operation, Reverse Repo Purchase (Injection) on January 03, 2025 for 7-day and 28-day tenors and, as per results issued, accepted an amount of Rs2,245.65 billion offered through 23 bids.

The central bank received 10 bids for 7-day tenor cumulatively offering an amount of Rs1,455.8 billion at the rate of return ranging between 13.04 to 13.09 percent while 13 bids were received for the 28-day tenor offering an amount of Rs1,145.65 billion at the rate of return ranging between 13.04 to 13.08 %.

The central bank accepted an amount of Rs1,100 billion offered through 10 quotes for 7-day tenor at 13.04% rate of return. Total amount offered at 13.04% was Rs427 billion, out of which SBP accepted Rs100 billion on pro rata basis. The SBP also accepted all the 13 quotes offered for 28-day tenor amounting to Rs1,145.65 billion at 13.04% rate of return.

Meanwhile, SBP also conducted Shariah Compliant Mudarabah based Open Market Operation for the 7-day and 28-day tenors and injected Rs184 billion into the market while accepting the 5 quotes offered.

The central bank received 4 bids for 7-day tenor quoting an amount of Rs179 billion at the rate of return ranging between 13.08 to 13.10 % and one bid for 28-day tenor amounting to Rs5 billion at 13.08% rate of return.

The SBP accepted all the 5 quotes for 7-day and 28-day tenors with the entire offered amount at 13.08% rate of return.

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Short-term inflation falls by 0.26pc: PBS

Islamabad: The weekly inflation, measured by the Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI), went down by 0.26 percent for the combined consumption groups during the week ended on January 2, the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) reported on Friday.

According to the PBS data, the SPI for the week under review in the above-mentioned group was recorded at 326.10 points as compared to 326.96 points during the past week.

As compared to the corresponding week of last year, the SPI for the combined consumption group in the week under review witnessed an increase of 3.97 per cent.

The weekly SPI with the base year 2015-16 =100 covers 17 urban centres and 51 essential items for all expenditure groups.

The SPI for the lowest consumption group of up to Rs 17,732 witnessed decrease of 0.51 per cent and went down to 320.01 points from last week's 321.65 points.

The SPI for consumption groups of Rs 17,732 to 22,888; Rs 22,889-29,517; Rs 29,518-44,175 and above Rs 44,175, declined by 0.59 percent, 0.28 percent, 0.10 percent and 0.10 percent respectively.

During the week, out of 51 items, prices of 18 (35.29%) items increased, 10 (19.61 percent) items decreased and 23 (45.10 percent) items remained stable.

The items, which recorded major decrease in their average prices on a week-on-week basis included tomatoes (13.48 percent), electricity charges for q1 (7.48 percent), potatoes (5.59 percent), pulse gram (0.34 percent), eggs (0.23 percent), garlic (0.21 percent), LPG (0.18 percent), wheat flour (0.09 percent) and pulse mash (0.05 percent).

The commodities which recorded major increase in their average prices on week-on-week basis included chicken (10.28 percent), onions (4.93 percent), bananas (1.68 percent), diesel (1.18 percent), pulse moong (1.08 percent), sugar (0.95 percent), gur (0.58 percent), firewood (0.55 percent), vegetable ghee 2.5 kg (0.53 percent), vegetable ghee 1kg (0.28 percent) and petrol (0.21 percent).

On-year basis, the commodities that witnessed decrease included wheat flour (36.12 percent), onions (29.95 percent), chilies powder (20.00 percent), eggs (15.78 percent), electricity charges for q1 (13.92 percent), pulse masoor (11.24 percent), rice basmati broken (8.42 percent), diesel (6.39 percent), bread (6.01 percent), pulse mash (5.98 percent) and petrol (5.45 percent).

The commodities which recorded an increase in their average prices on year-on-year basis included tomatoes (77.84 percent), ladies sandal (75.09 percent), potatoes (66.63 percent), pulse gram (47.53 percent), pulse moong (30.73 percent), powdered milk (25.62 percent), beef (23.94 percent), garlic (17.82 percent), gas charges for q1 (15.52 percent), cooked daal (15.10 percent), shirting (14.36 percent) and firewood (13.18 percent).

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1,231 applications of employees’ welfare approved

Khanewal: The District Welfare Fund Committee, chaired by Deputy Commissioner (DC) Salma Suleman, approved 1,231 applications for various grants, benefitting government employees and their families.

The committee approved grants including monthly financial assistance, funeral expenses, marriage assistance and scholarships worth Rs 48.48 million.

Deputy Commissioner (DC) Salma Suleman lauded the initiative and directed that all legal requirements be met before disbursing the funds. The meeting was attended by senior officials from education, health, and other departments, ensuring a transparent review of applications.

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Gold rates increase by Rs.2,200 per tola

Islamabad: The price of 24 karat per tola gold increased by Rs.2,200 and was traded at Rs.276,900 on Friday against its sale at Rs.274,700 on the last trading day, All Sindh Sarafa Jewellers Association reported.

The price of 10 grams of 24 karat gold increased by Rs.1,886 to Rs.237,397 from Rs. 235,511 whereas that of 10 grams of 22 karat went up to Rs.217,614 from Rs.215,885.

Per tola and ten gram silver were sold at existing prices of Rs 3,350 and Rs.2,872.08 respectively.

The price of gold in the international market increased by $22 to $2,657 from $2,,635, the Association reported.

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Steps afoot to develop LG dept on modern basis: Minister

Quetta: Provincial Minister for Local Government (LG) Sardar Kohiyar Khan Domki on Friday said that practical measures were being taken to develop LG Department on modern basis for provision of facilities to people in the province.

He expressed these views while visiting the Chief Officer of Municipal Corporation Khuzdar.

Sardarzada Dinar Domki was also with him during visit. Chief Officer of Municipal Corporation Khuzdar and Dera Saleh Jamot gave a complete briefing to the provincial minister regarding the corporation

The provincial minister expressed his determination to further develop the Local Government department and bring projects and discussed various issues. He also appreciated the performance of the Municipal Corporation Khuzdar.

Meanwhile, Hafiz Hamidullah Mengal, President of Anjuman Tajran Khuzdar, met with Provincial Minister for Local Government and welcomed him on coming to Khuzdar and congratulated him on becoming the Chief of the Domki tribe.

Provincial Minister for Local Government while talking to Hafiz Hamidullah Mengal said that his representation is for the people only and he would try to fulfill their trust by using all his abilities to solve their problems and difficulties.

On this occasion, Sardar Buland Khan Ghulamani Jamil Qadir Zehri and others met the provincial minister.