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Showing posts from December, 2023

How to Backup or Transfer WhatsApp Chat Data on a New Phone

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When you upgrade to a new phone, you won’t have to stress about your whole WhatsApp conversation history disappearing. By recovering your data from Google Drive, utilizing a local backup, or using an app that allows you to move WhatsApp across phones, it is simple to migrate your WhatsApp data to a new phone. You may migrate your WhatsApp conversations, images, and videos to a new phone by following the step-by-step method we have provided below.     Transfer WhatsApp Messages from one Android smartphone to another WhatsApp is kind enough to provide you with all of the tools you need to be able to do this task. First, you should duplicate every single one of your WhatsApp messages and transfer the copy to the new smartphone. Is it that simple? First, let’s have a look at how: Launch WhatsApp on your mobile device running Android. To access Settings, first hit the Menu button. Select “Chats” from the list of available settings. Tap Chat Backup. To choose your Google Drive account or to

Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Statue (Statue of Democracy at Larkana VIP Road)

Benazir Bhutto, born on June 21, 1953, into a politically influential Pakistani family, left an indelible mark on the country's history as a trailblazing politician.  The daughter of former Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Benazir was exposed to politics from a young age. Educated at Harvard and Oxford, she returned to Pakistan amidst political turmoil and assumed leadership of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) after her father's execution in 1979.In 1988, Benazir Bhutto made history by becoming the first female Prime Minister of a Muslim-majority nation.    This achievement marked a significant milestone for women in politics globally. Her leadership focused on addressing socioeconomic challenges, and she implemented reforms to promote education and healthcare. However, her terms were marred by allegations of corruption, leading to challenges and controversy.Benazir's charismatic presence and commitment to democratic principles earned her both admirers and detractor

Pakistan fast bowler Mir Hamza feels that the visitors are still in the game in the Boxing Day Test match against Australia. Things went downhill for Pakistan despite picking up four early wickets for just 16 runs on Day 3 of the Test match

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Pakistan fast bowler Mir Hamza feels that the visitors are still in the game in the Boxing Day Test match against Australia. Things went downhill for Pakistan despite picking up four early wickets for just 16 runs on Day 3 of the Test match  

Number of active taxpayers reaches 5.3m mark

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ISLAMABAD: The number of active taxpayers (ATL) has reached 5.3 million as on December 26, 2023. It is learnt that the number of individual taxpayers has reached 3.69 million as per income tax updated ATL. The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR)’s data revealed that the number of corporate/ association of persons (AOPs) has reached 1.67 million under the ATL. A tax expert has raised questions that (i); how much tax paid by new filers? (ii) What is the number of total filers for tax year 2023 and (iii) why still higher tax being collected from non-filers despite crackdown against non-filers? Manual filers declared as active taxpayers by FBR Recently, the FBR chairman informed the Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue that there are 11.4 million registered persons, but not all of them are filing their income tax returns. The FBR has received over 2.9 million income tax returns for the tax year 2023 till October 31, 2023. Last year, the FBR had received over 2.5 million returns

Pakistan’s central bank reserves increase $852mn, now stand at $7.75bn

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Pakistan’s central bank reserves increase $852mn, now stand at $7.75bn State Bank of Pakistan attributes jump in dollar stockpile to receipt of official Government of Pakistan inflows   Foreign exchange reserves held by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) witnessed a significant increase of $852 million on a weekly basis, clocking in at $7.75 billion as of December 22, data released on Thursday showed. Total liquid foreign reserves held by the country stood at $12.85 billion. Net foreign reserves held by commercial banks stood at $5.1 billion.   The SBP attributed the surge in the reserves to official government inflows. “During the week ended on 22-Dec-2023, SBP’s reserves increased by $852 million to $7,757.1 million mainly due to receipt of official GoP inflows,” it said. The SBP reserves held by the central bank had earlier got a boost in July when Pakistan received the first tranche of around $1.2 billion from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) after the lender approved a new $3-b

ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Commerce announced achievements in trade sector with a year-on-year balance of payments improvement of $5.6 billion.

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ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Commerce announced achievements in trade sector with a year-on-year balance of payments improvement of $5.6 billion. Caretaker Minister of Commerce Dr Gohar Ejaz said the positive trade figures and upwards trend showcases Pakistan’s resilience. The minister said, “We will continue to work towards enabling our exporters and to find new destinations for exports.”   In the first 20 days of December 2023, Pakistan experienced an year-on-year increase in exports, amounting to $479 million, reflecting an impressive growth rate of 33.1 per cent. Conversely, imports during the same period saw a substantial decrease of $405 million, marking a -12.8 per cent reduction. This positive trend contributed to an $884 million improvement in the balance of trade for December 2023. Export milestone from July to December 2023: From July 1, 2023, to December 20, 2023, Pakistan’s exports soared to $14 billion, showcasing a year-on-year increase of $709 million, translating to a su

Amjad's Fabulous Academy of Science and English Language Larkana

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Amjad's Fabulous Academy of Science and English Language Larkana Amjad's Fabulous Academy is excellence in education, a place where knowledge meets innovation and students embark on a journey of self-discovery and growth. Nestled in the heart of learning, this academy stands as a testament to the vision and dedication of its founder, Amjad, who has crafted an institution that goes beyond conventional education. At the core of Amjad's Fabulous Academy is a commitment to fostering holistic development. The academy recognizes that education extends far beyond textbooks, and as such, it provides a nurturing environment where students not only excel academically but also develop essential life skills. The curriculum is meticulously designed to encourage critical thinking, creativity, and a passion for lifelong learning. One of the distinctive features of Amjad's Fabulous Academy is its diverse and experienced faculty. The educators here are not just teachers; they are mentor

Big drop in Solar Panel prices in Pakistan after rupee’s appreciation against dollar

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Big drop in Solar Panel prices in Pakistan after rupee’s appreciation against dollar KARACHI – Pakistanis who are looking to shift to solar have a good chance to buy the imported module, thanks to a sharp fall in prices.   Solar plates of all grades continue to see drop in prices, allowing inflation-weary Pakistani to shift to solar especially in these times when power tariffs are touching record high, and there’s menace of extended power cuts. The price drop comes in light of the appreciation of local currency against US dollar. Amid lowering prices, sales of solar panels are moving up. With the latest change in cost, the 160W solar panel’s price comes down by Rs4,000-Rs4,500, hovering around Rs11,000. Previously, its price was around Rs15,000.   Watt Price range 165 Watt Solar Panel Rs11,000 260 Watt Solar Panel Rs25,000-Rs30000 550 Watt Solar Panel Rs35000-45000 Solar power systems are becoming famous for being a renewable energy source. It cauuses little greenhouse emissions, helpi

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has announced major reforms in the customs department to upgrade and transform Pakistan Customs’ core functions of clearances of imports, exports, transit and assessments into new customs digital management systems

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ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has announced major reforms in the customs department to upgrade and transform Pakistan Customs’ core functions of clearances of imports, exports, transit and assessments into new customs digital management systems   According to a notification issued by the FBR on Wednesday, the FBR will implement major reforms in the customs organization. In order to upgrade and transform Pakistan Customs’ core functions through comprehensive Business Process Mapping & Re-engineering while finalizing system requirement specifications for development of new customs digital management system to replace “WeBOC”.   The existing “WEBOC” customs clearance system will be replaced with the new customs digital management system. The working groups have been formed in the areas of Appeasement, transit, Preventive, valuation, technology, post-clearance audit, integration, HR management, exports and other areas. The Board has notified working groups with their

‘Notices to deceased persons’: PTBA urges FBR to upgrade its system

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‘Notices to deceased persons’: PTBA urges FBR to upgrade its system   ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tax Bar Association of Pakistan (PTBA) has asked Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to upgrade its system to avoid issuance of notices to the deceased persons under the ongoing exercise against non-filers of income tax returns. Recently, the FBR has issued a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for deregistration of National Tax Numbers (NTNs) and sales tax registration numbers (STRNs) of deceased taxpayers. The Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO) has recommended that the FBR is required to revisit the entire scheme of deregistration of deceased persons and formulate a dedicated SOP in this regard specifically removing any system based glitches that hamper the deletion of NTN/ Registration despite legal orders having been made in IRIS by the concerned IR authority. A letter of the PTBA to the FBR Chairman said: “refer to the section 114 of the Income Tax Ordinance whereby the Commissioner is empowered to iss

2023 The India Story: When rupee gained currency against US dollar

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2023 The India Story: When rupee gained currency against US dollar   The rupee displayed remarkable stability against the US dollar in the current calendar year, marking the least volatility witnessed in nearly three decades. The local currency experienced a marginal depreciation of 0.5 per cent against the greenback.    The last time the Indian unit exhibited such stability was in 1994, when it appreciated by 0.4 per cent.   Market participants attribute the stability to the Reserve Bank of India’s timely intervention in the foreign exchange market, both in terms of selling and buying dollars. Moreover, the domestic market witnessed robust foreign inflows, which kept the rupee   

Nadra smart ID card renewal fee – December 2023

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Nadra smart ID card renewal fee – December 2023 Normal Smart ID Card Renewal Fee   As of December 2023, the regular renewal fee for a smart computerized national identity card is Rs 750. For urgent services, the fee is Rs 1,500, and for executive services, it is Rs 2,500. Normal Smart ID Card Renewal Fee As of December 2023, the regular renewal fee for a smart computerized national identity card is Rs 750. For urgent services, the fee is Rs 1,500, and for executive services, it is Rs 2,500.  Pakistan is introducing an innovative Smart National Identity Card (NIC) for its citizens, featuring a fusion of cutting-edge technology and meticulously defined regulations to ensure its credibility and legitimacy.   This new NIC boasts a unique 13-digit identification number that holds nationwide recognition and has become an essential prerequisite for various official documents, including licenses, National Tax Number (NTN) registration, bank accounts, passports, and cellular connection Applyin

Dec 27 public holiday in Sindh notified

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  Dec 27 public holiday in Sindh notified KARACHI: Putting an end to speculations, Sindh government has announced a public holiday for Dec 27 on the occassion of death anniversary of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto.   In commemoration of the martyrdom day of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, Sindh notified Dec 27 as public holiday across the province. The Caretaker Chief Minister of Sindh approved a public holiday for December 27 and all government, private offices, local councils, and provincial government administrative offices will remain closed.   BENAZIR BHUTTO: A LEGACY REMEMBERED As the first woman to lead a Muslim-majority nation, Benazir Bhutto remains a significant figure in Pakistani politics. Her vision for Pakistan and her ideals continue to inspire her supporters and the PPP, who use this annual commemoration as a time to reflect and reaffirm their commitment to her values. Benazir Bhutto’s leadership was marked by her relentless pursuit of democracy and her comm

پاکستان کے لیے بڑے میکرو اکنامک خطرات پیدا ہونے والے ہیں:عالمی بینک

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 ، ورلڈ بینک کو خدشہ ہے کہ آنے وا انتخابات کے بعد، مضبوط اور منظم ذاتی مفادات کی وجہ سے اہم پالیسیاں واپس لیے جانے اور قرض دہندگان کو کیے گئے وعدوں پر پورا نہ اترنے پر پاکستان کے لیے بڑے میکرو اکنامک خطرات پیدا ہونے والے ہیں۔ان ممکنہ تبدیلیوں میں گیس اور بجلی کی سبسڈی کو معقول بنانا، تجارتی نرخوں میں کمی اور پراپرٹی ٹیکس کی بہتر وصولی شامل ہے۔ورلڈ بینک نے حال ہی میں منظور شدہ 350 ملین ڈالرز کے جائزے میں کہا کہ ’مضبوط اور منظم مفادات کی وجہ سے اسٹیک ہولڈرز کے خطرات زیادہ ہیں، جو ممکنہ طور پر اہم اصلاحات، خاص طور پر تجارتی ٹیرف کی اصلاحات، پراپرٹی ٹیکسیشن اور توانائی کے شعبے میں اصلاحات کو ریورس کرنے کی وکالت کرتے ہیں۔‘ بینک نے بین الاقوامی مالیاتی فنڈ (IMF) کے ساتھ مل کر ایک اور درمیانی مدت کے قرضے کے پروگرام کے تحت مزید مدد فراہم کرنے پر آمادگی ظاہر کی ہے، جس پر نو منتخب حکومت کے ذریعے دستخط کیے جائیں گے۔ورلڈ بینک نے کہا کہ، ’آئندہ انتخابات کی وجہ سے سیاسی اور گورننس کے خطرات زیادہ ہیں، کیونکہ اس سے منسلک سیاسی دباؤ مالیاتی روک تھام یا چیلنجنگ اصلاحات کے مسلسل نفاذ کے عزم کو ختم کر سکت

Banks suspend foreign ATM cash withdrawals, some lower credit card limits

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Banks suspend foreign ATM cash withdrawals, some lower credit card limits The decision was taken because their regular transactions appear unusual in some countries   Some private commercial banks have decided to suspend all forms of cash withdrawal by their cardholders outside Bangladesh, while some have also lowered their credit card limits. Many banks choose not to inform customers, saying the decision was made because the rising daily withdrawal amounts on their cards appeared unusual in some countries.   "All types of cash withdrawals outside the country with BRAC Bank cards have been suspended," the private commercial bank said in text message to its customers on Sunday. Some private commercial banks have decided to suspend all forms of cash withdrawal by their cardholders outside Bangladesh, while some have also lowered their credit card limits. Many banks choose not to inform customers, saying the decision was made because the rising daily withdrawal amounts on their

’مائیکروسافٹ ونڈوز 10 کے لیے سپورٹ ختم کر رہا ہے، 24 کروڑ کمپیوٹرز متاثر ہوں گے

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 ’مائیکروسافٹ ونڈوز 10 کے لیے سپورٹ ختم کر رہا ہے، 24  کروڑ کمپیوٹرز متاثر ہوں گ   مائیکروسافٹ کارپوریشن کے ونڈوز 10 آپریٹنگ سسٹم کے لیے سپورٹ ختم کرنے کے منصوبے کے نتیجے میں تقریباً 24 کروڑ کمپیوٹرز پرسنل کمپیوٹرز (پی سی) کو ضائع ہو جائیں گے، جس سے ممکنہ طور پر الیکٹرانک کچرے میں اضافہ ہو سکتا ہے کمپیوٹرز سے الیکٹرانک کچرے کا وزن ایک اندازے کے مطابق 480 ملین کلو گرام ہو سکتا ہے، جو تین لاکھ 20 ہزار کاروں کے برابر ہے۔ اگرچہ بہت سے پی سی او ایس سپورٹ کے خاتمے کے بعد سالوں تک فعال رہ سکتے ہیں، تاہم کینالیز نے خبردار کیا کہ سکیورٹی اپ ڈیٹس کے بغیر ڈیوائسز کی مانگ کم ہو سکتی ہے۔   مائیکروسافٹ نے اکتوبر 2028 تک ونڈوز 10 ڈیوائسز کے لیے سکیورٹی اپ ڈیٹس فراہم کرنے کے منصوبے کا اعلان کیا ہے جس کی سالانہ قیمت نامعلوم ہے۔   اگر توسیع شدہ ونڈوز 10 کی قیمتوں کا ڈھانچہ ماضی کے رجحانات کی عکاسی کرتا ہے، تو نئے پی سی کی طرف منتقلی زیادہ سرمایہ کاری مؤثر ثابت ہو سکتی ہے، جس سے پرانے پی سیز کی تعداد میں اضافہ ہو سکتا ہے جو سکریپ بننے جا رہے ہیں۔   مائیکرو سافٹ کا مقصد اکتوبر 2025 تک ونڈوز 10 کے لیے سپور

World Insights: What is behind Western negative opinions on China's economy?

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Thanks to its massive market size, technological innovation, and robust development resilience, China can withstand external pressure and overcome internal difficulties. Indeed, its economy is rebounding, effectively refuting various pessimistic arguments. BEIJING, Dec. 21 (Xinhua) -- Recently, some Western institutions have once more started to engage in pessimistic rhetoric about the Chinese economy.   They are using old tricks: First raise growth expectations, and then clamor about the figures that fell below the expectations. Their intention remains unchanged: to see the Chinese economy fail. But they won't succeed. Trapped in their "self-designed economic model," these institutions neglect the reasonable growth target set by China and the fundamentals of the Chinese economy. Any conclusions they make would only smear the Chinese economy while serving their own interests. COMMON PATTERN IN THE WEST "There is growth, but growth is not as good as expected; there ar

Xinhua Headlines: Buzzwords of 2023 reflect transforming China

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  Xinhua Headlines: Buzzwords of 2023 reflect transforming China Multiple organizations in China have recently unveiled their lists of 2023's most popular catchphrases, new lexicons, and online buzzwords, painting a vivid picture of a dynamic and transforming country. * These phrases have succinctly captured various facets of the year, marking changes in Chinese people's perceptions and everyday lives. * Over the past decade, the top online buzzwords have also evolved, increasingly reflecting people's self-confidence as well as their confidence in the Chinese nation and Chinese culture.  https://deeprootedstranded.com/z3gtsf845j?key=21f63fe6cc0525a520ce063787440222  BEIJING, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- Multiple organizations in China have recently unveiled their lists of 2023's most popular catchphrases, new lexicons, and online buzzwords, painting a vivid picture of a dynamic and transforming country. From emerging technological terms such as "generative AI," to gras

90 million dinars forgotten in Kuwait banks

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  90 million dinars forgotten in Kuwait banks KUWAIT CITY, Dec 24: Informed sources have disclosed that the cumulative amount of overlooked small balances in local bank accounts is approximately 90 million dinars, numbering in the thousands. It has been explained that some of these accounts start with amounts as modest as 5 dinars. Banks extend loans to companies at a more economical interest rate — 0.55 percent above the discount rate, with pricing structured for a one-year term.       These sources have indicated that the majority of these accounts were opened for minors, with a significant portion belonging to the accounts of individuals who are no longer residents of Kuwait.     Based on supervisory directives from the Central Bank of Kuwait, a majority of banks conducted an audit of inactive accounts in their systems, characterized by limited movements at distant intervals. The audit included an estimate of the amounts present in these accounts, clarifying that this category exclu

BRICS: Major US Bank Predicts Future of US Dollar

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  BRICS: Major US Bank Predicts Future of US Dollar As 2023 comes to a close, the US economy has started its long road to recovery, with interest rate hikes finally slowing. The FED has remained optimistic that interest rates will see cuts next year as inflation of the US dollar slows, despite ongoing threats from BRICS. With the BRICS bloc growing as well as its mission for de-dollarization, a major US Bank is predicting the future of the US Dollar.   Bank of America, one of the leading banks in the United States, remains optimistic for the US Economy and the future of the US dollar against BRICS. In September, CEO Brian Moynihan highlighted that the bank’s financial strategists expected a soft landing for the US economy rather than a recession. Now, with inflation slowing back under control, the optimism remains.   Additionally, BRICS has been adamant in the past that the biggest threat to the US Dollar would be on American soil, not overseas. The US Dollar has been the powerhouse cu

KARACHI: In Pakistan general inflation is constantly soaring, already surpassing almost 45% and it is expected to go even higher, said Ateeq ur Rehman, economic and financial analyst.

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KARACHI: In Pakistan general inflation is constantly soaring, already surpassing almost 45% and it is expected to go even higher, said Ateeq ur Rehman, economic and financial analyst. The new situation of re-routing of ships in Red Sea with unavoidable longer voyages and additional payments like “transit disruption surcharges and peak season surcharge” would hugely increase the sea freight and two/ three weeks delay in delivery, thus creating a challenging situation for exporters to meet the quotations, cost and competition. At times, we import wheat and the ship route diversions consequently will increase sea freight and also the import cost of wheat further hiking the price of flour and inflation, added Ateeq. He said a 10-days voyage is now expected to take about 27 days, which is a challenging condition for reefer containers.  He said most likely the reefer containers will face plug-in issues and cost of their functioning will be escalated because of the special equipment attached

Income Tax Department’s Big Announcement on Income Tax Returns Form FY 2023-24 & AY 2024-25

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Income Tax Department’s Big Announcement on Income Tax Returns Form FY 2023-24 & AY 2024-25   The Central Board of Direct Taxes has issued Notification No. 105/2023-Income Tax, dated 22nd December, 2023, to amend the Income-tax Rules, 1962 for the Assessment Year 2024-25 / Financial Year 2023-24. The amendment includes changes to Form ITR-1 SAHAJ and Form ITR-4 SUGAM. These changes are effective from April 1st, 2024. The notification also emphasizes the importance of checking Form 26AS before filing income tax returns. The complete details can be found in the notification. CBDT notifies ITR 1 and ITR 4 for Assessment Year (AY) 2024-25 / Financial Year (FY) 2023-24 vide Notification No. 105/2023-Income Tax Dated: 22nd December, 2023. Notification No. 105/2023-Income Tax Dated: 22nd December, 20 G.S.R. 908(E).— In exercise of the powers conferred by section 139 read with section 295 of the Income-tax Act, 1961 (43 of 1961), the Central Board of Direct Taxes hereby makes the following