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.

In Pakistan, over 75% of the population, particularly young people, are said to be suffering from stress, anxiety, or depression, according to public health specialists and intellectuals.

According to Prof. Shahzad Ali Khan, vice chancellor of the Health Services Academy (HSA), most Pakistanis are either depressed, stressed out, or anxious, and they are not overly hopeful about the future of their nation.

He was speaking during the Jahan-i-Maseeha Adbi Forum’s 24th Thematic Calendar launch (JMAF). Considering these conditions, Allama Iqbal’s message of “Khudi” serves as the topic of the 2023 calendar.

According to Prof. Khan, the youth have become increasingly gloomy and dejected, and in these conditions, Iqbal’s message of self-worth can revive Pakistan’s national spirit.

Most young people in Pakistan, he continued, view everyone as corrupt and incompetent, despite the fact that similar problems, such as inflation, unemployment, and recession, affect young people everywhere.

Prof. Khan said, adding that things were not as bad as they were being made out to be, “Initially, teachers and academia of our society were targeted and they were defamed, later, character assassination of physicians and healthcare professionals was carried out, and the same treatment was met out to politicians.”

He praised Iqbal’s ideology and added that by instilling in them the values of optimism, passion, and encouragement, he was able to unite young people from a minority population on the Indian subcontinent.

The occasion was planned in association with the pharmaceutical company Pharmevo, which has been spreading Iqbal’s worldview among medical professionals nationwide.

In addition to promoting literary activities like conducting book fairs and mushairas, Syed Jamshaid Ahmed of Pharmevo emphasized the importance of constructing and developing a healthier society in Pakistan.

Famous poet Ajmal Siraj claimed that the life and literary creations of Iqbal were chosen as the theme for the upcoming calendar by an advisory council made up of educators, authors, and researchers.

Pakistan has urged Afghan authorities to reconsider their decision to suspend university and higher education for female students in Afghanistan.

“Pakistan is disappointed to learn about the suspension of the university and higher education for female students in Afghanistan,” an official statement from the Foreign Office read, adding that Pakistan’s position on the issue has been “clear and consistent”.

The FO added that “every man and woman has the inherent right to education in accordance with the injunctions of Islam.”

Following a statement by the Taliban-run government that women would be barred from tertiary education, female university students in Afghanistan were turned away from campuses on Wednesday.

Foreign governments and the UN denounced the move to exclude women when it was made public on Tuesday evening in a letter to universities from the higher education ministry.

Shaista, a business studies student at a private institution in Kabul, stated, “We got to campus, the Taliban were at the entrance and informed us ‘you are not permitted to enter the university until further notice’… everyone was crying.

Female students were turned away at the gate, according to a professor at a different Kabul institution who declined to be named, because staff members had no choice but to follow the directive.

The decision was made by the cabinet of the Taliban administration, according to a late Tuesday release.

In recent months, a number of Taliban officials, including the spokesperson for the government and the deputy foreign minister, have advocated for the education of women. Major choices are made by the ultimate spiritual head of the Taliban, who is based in the southern city of Kandahar. The matter has been discussed by the leadership, according to diplomatic and Taliban officials who spoke to Reuters.

“This decision had been anticipated for weeks, prompting some Western officials to start talking about additional sanctions and further economic restrictions,” said Graeme Smith, senior consultant at International Crisis Group.

“But the flood of outrage from the West will strengthen the resolve of the Taliban leadership, which defines itself as a bulwark against the outside world.”

The leadership of the Taliban has stated that while they desire peaceful relations with the world community, outsiders should not meddle in Afghan affairs. Most girls can’t attend classes past the first grade. While claiming to be developing a plan for secondary education for girls, the Taliban government has not provided a timeline. The administration unexpectedly changed its mind after giving out signs that all high schools for girls will begin in March.

Although it resembles real leather, vegan leather is made from synthetic or plant-based components. PVC and polyurethane are frequently used to manufacture vegan leather, especially in the fast fashion industry. Not exactly the most environmentally friendly option, given these materials, are made of plastic and petroleum.

However, other materials, like cork, paper, and even bananas, can also be used to make vegan leather. Yes, you read that right. You can make your handbag using the same elements that go into your morning smoothie.

Depending on how it was produced, vegan leather may or may not be considered “sustainable.” For instance, while not directly harming animals during manufacture, alternatives to leather made of plastic might still take years to decompose, which is bad for the environment.

But is that plastic pollution more harmful than the effects of conventional leather on the environment? Animals are not only killed every year for their skins and hides, but even the tanning procedure (which turns hides into leather) has a bad reputation.

Heavy metals are used in tanning and dyeing, and they can leak into streams and kill marine life. What sustainability considerations are important to you ultimately determines how you should proceed. No green product can ever be flawless. While plastic-based leather doesn’t directly kill animals but may not biodegrade and can emit deadly poisons, real leather directly harms animals and is produced using chemicals. It somewhat produces a “lesser of two evils” situation.

Let’s not overlook the apples and bananas we stated previously, though. A few plant-based substitutes are becoming more and more popular. There is vegan leather manufactured from mushroom caps, for instance. It is even rumored to be softer and more water-resistant than conventional leather because it is tanned with non-toxic substances.

It’s crucial that we as customers learn about the origins and manufacturing processes of the vegan leather products we purchase.

In order to decrease the violation of traffic rules, the Lahore traffic police came up with an objective and decided to introduce action against those who drive without a license.

Asad Malhi, the CTO (Chief Traffic Police Officer), issued a warning to the people of Lahore, informing them that anyone seen driving without a license in the city will face a punishment of Rs 2000.

To help the public obtain their license, he announced that the DHA and Irfa Karim Driving License Centers would be open today until 4 PM.

Further, he stated that Smart Licencing Centre Manwa will remain open 24/7 for the facility of the masses to save themselves from fines.

According to reports, the cabinet committee for traffic in Lahore city approved a rise in the fines for moving violations last year to reduce reckless driving and the likelihood of accidents.

Raja Basharat, the law minister for Punjab, presided over the meeting that approved the revision. As a result, people who are caught speeding, not wearing helmets, or breaking lane regulations would have to pay higher challan fines.

According to a recent survey, a significant portion of the population would relocate to a country with greater possibilities and a better quality of life if given the option.

37% of Pakistanis, according to the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE), would travel abroad if they could.

Balochistan has the greatest rate of residents who desire to leave Pakistan among the four provinces, at 42%, followed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Sindh. Punjab has the lowest rate, despite the fact that 35% of Punjabis want to leave the nation. At 44%, Kashmiris have the highest likelihood of leaving Pakistan, followed by Gilgit-Baltistan. The least number of residents in Islamabad express a wish to move.

According to the study, identity is also influenced by age and gender. Women depart the country less frequently than males do. Between the ages of 15 and 24, 62% of people express a desire to leave the country; however, as people get older, this desire lessens. People with less education are less inclined to leave the country.

PIDE believes it’s difficult to leave one’s home or country, but there must be a valid reason. According to the survey, economic problems are the main culprit.

According to the report, Pakistanis’ desire to emigrate was second only to the want to live with dignity. The poll revealed that Balochistan and Sindh prefer respect to equality.

Balochistan, Kashmir, and Sindh are the regions where people are most ready to emigrate for security. Gender equality was the main reason people left KP.

The Pakistan Bureau of Immigration and Overseas Employment estimates that between 1971 and June 2020, about 11.2 million Pakistanis looked for employment in 52 different nations.

A high-level international polio team concluded on Thursday after visiting Pakistan that there is unprecedented support and commitment to ending polio by 2023 and that if the current pace is maintained, the nation will be able to stop transmission in the upcoming year.

Dr. Chris Elias, Chair of the Polio Oversight Board (POB), Dr. Ahmed Al-Mandhari, Regional Director of WHO, and George Laryea-Adjei, Regional Director of UNICEF, headed the delegation.

The hardest part of eradicating polio is yet to come, but eradication is possible because of the diligent work being done in Pakistan, according to Dr. Elias.

“During my three-day visit, I was once more moved by the government’s and the community’s commitment to eradicating polio forever,” he continued. The next polio campaigns must successfully reach every child, and the regular immunization program must be strengthened.

The highest governing body of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative is the Polio Oversight Board. This is the delegation’s second trip to Pakistan as a group this year. A polio case was discovered in Pakistan after almost 15 months, prompting the previous visit in May. The most recent visit occurred after devastating floods that resulted in the widespread relocation of people and the loss of multiple medical institutions, which raised the danger of polio transmission.

Pakistan is at the “final stretch” of the road to eradication, according to WHO Regional Director Dr. Ahmed Al-Mandhari.

“The nation is in a strong position to completely eradicate poliovirus transmission by 2023 thanks to the accomplishments made this year. Although 2023 will be a year of elections and political transition, maintaining political and administrative commitment will be necessary to ensure that we achieve our goal, he added. In accordance with our regional vision of health for all by all, “everyone has a part to play in ending polio via our collective solidarity and action.”

Director of UNICEF’s South Asia Region George Laryea-Adjei stated that Pakistan’s accomplishment in halting the spread of polio through collaborative efforts by the government, funders, frontline health workers, and partners is genuinely impressive.

We must step up efforts to involve parents and other caregivers in protecting these kids, he added, noting that the recent flooding has increased health concerns for millions of kids, particularly those who reside in areas that have historically had the highest risk of contracting polio. “The eradication of polio is imminent, and we must now make the final push to guarantee that every kid is protected against this crippling condition.”

The delegation met with the Prime Minister, the Federal Health Minister, the Engineer-in-Chief of the Pakistan Army, and the leaders of the provincial governments of Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Sindh during the visit, and they reaffirmed their support for helping Pakistan stop the spread of the poliovirus by 2023.