Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves have decreased to $4.3 billion, the lowest level since February 2014, according to the country’s central bank, following the repayment of some of Pakistan’s external debt.

The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) published the data on Thursday, adding that commercial banks have $5.8 billion, for a total of approximately $10.1 billion.

The IMF disbursed a $1.17 billion tranche in August of last year, but the next batch of funds has been stalled since Pakistan has yet to agree to the lender’s several criteria, such as raising energy costs and extending the tax base.

Last year, Pakistan was also hit by disastrous floods, which killed over 1,700 people, affected 33 million people, and cost the country more than $30 billion. Pakistan hosted an international donors’ summit with the United Nations earlier this week in Geneva when the world community promised more than $10 billion over the next three years.

Experts, on the other hand, have painted a bleak picture, arguing that the government should shift its focus from finding short-term fixes to more long-term reforms. According to Sakib Sherani, an economist based in Islamabad, Pakistan faces more than $20 billion in debt payback obligations over the next two years.

“In 2017, our yearly debt repayment was close to $7 billion. Over $20 billion is expected this year and next. We can’t help but borrow more, and while it may be a short- to a medium-term solution, it’s simply unsustainable,” Sherani explained in an interview.

He stated that Pakistan’s debt obligations should be restructured and that the government should develop a clearer plan for its economic strategy.

The Earth’s ozone layer is on its road to recovery, thanks to decades of work to eliminate ozone-damaging compounds, according to a group of worldwide experts supported by the United Nations.

The ozone layer performs a crucial role for all living organisms on Earth. This stratospheric shield protects humans and the environment from the sun’s dangerous UV radiation.

In May 1985, scientists detected a hole in the ozone layer, which frightened the international community. Scientists had previously discovered that compounds like chlorofluorocarbons, which are utilized in the production of aerosol sprays as well as solvents and refrigerants, might deplete ozone.

Two years following the discovery of the ozone layer’s deplorable status, international agencies adopted the Montreal Protocol. This mandated the elimination of nearly 100 synthetic compounds linked to the deterioration of the critical ozone layer.

The last assessment of the Montreal Protocol’s success indicated that approximately 99% of banned ozone-depleting chemicals have been phased out.

If current practices are maintained, the ozone layer is likely to rebound to 1980 levels by 2040, according to the United Nations. It may take longer in some areas. Experts predict that Antarctica will rebound to 1980 levels by 2066, while the Arctic will recover by 2045.

Taking what we’ve learned from this remarkable year into account, we may set life-changing goals to live better lives as balanced and mindful Muslims.

Here are some New Year’s Resolutions for Muslims that we can implement in our life.

Elevate your prayers

When the five daily prayers become a part of our daily habits, they can become monotonous and robotic activities. For example, by altering the typical Suras (Chapters) we read or the Duas (Supplications) we recite after prayer, we may become more present and attentive to what we are saying during our prayers.

Start Quran Journalling

Islam is all about education and learning. Muslims should strive to comprehend God’s messages and connect with the Quran.

Practice Gratitude

Don’t leave your daily prayers without spending at least 2 to 5 minutes grounding yourself in Sujood (prostration) and reflecting on all the small things for which you are grateful, such as good health, family, and friends.

Give more charity

All Muslims are expected to provide charity (zakat). Find a charity that is near to your heart and establish a monetary goal for yourself.

Surround yourself with positivity

Take some time to consider the individuals in your life; are any of them bringing you down or filling your life with negativity? Surround yourself with people who care about your success, who make you laugh, and who care about you. Test it out and discover how it affects your life!

Get Healthy

We would all be healthy if we all followed Islamic eating etiquette. Simple modifications such as not eating on an empty stomach or introducing sunnah fasting twice a week (Mon & Thurs) can help.

Brand value is the ‘perceived value,’ or how frequently consumers choose one brand over competitors. When consumers believe a brand is distinctive and in line with their personal beliefs, it creates a significant competitive advantage.

Here are 7 suggestions on what you can do to immediately add value to your brand:

Stay on top of your customer needs:

Develop strong ties with your A-level clients, keep an eye on their issues, and maintain “high touch” contact with them. The relationship may be strengthened, and your network can be expanded at the same time by frequent customer visits, evaluations, and networking events.

Be visible to your customers:

A smart method to let your customer know you are continually developing is to provide an updated version of your product or tag on a free service. Make your customer believe that having you around makes their lives easier.

Know your competition:

Be aware of your competitors and keep an eye out for what others are doing. Prepare to compare your value proposition to that of your rivals. You must be able to support your claims with evidence. You’ll become more competitive as a result, just as how all restaurants provide smaller quantity meals in their own unique ways.

Try new ideas:

If your market is heavily commoditized, you should consider where your profits come from. Many times, competing just on price or service is useless. Try out novel concepts, such as the “freemium” model, where you can initially offer portions of your products or services for free before charging for value-added services or premium accounts.

Improve experience:

Doing business with your organization should be a positive experience from beginning to end. Consider your customers’ needs and strive to make each process as seamless as feasible. They should be aware that they may get in touch with you with any issues and that you will do it in a timely and efficient manner. This also gives word-of-mouth advertising excellent leverage.

Include a human element:

Many businesses don’t put enough effort into humanizing their brand. Customers may feel disconnected as a result. They must sense that they are more than just clients. Logos, slogans, taglines, and websites are merely pointers; they are promotional tools. Allowing your customers to contact you in interesting ways in addition to through your newsletters, pamphlets, emails, and phone calls can aid in the expansion of your business. Don’t be afraid to use your imagination; host events, start a blog, or interact on social networking sites like Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook.

Reward loyalty:

Give your customers something extra in exchange for remaining with you or using your goods and services, much like a rewards program. It might be a pair of baseball tickets, a gift card, or a discount for future transactions.