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Historic government; historic period

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Pakistan is currently going through a historic period. For the first time in its history, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf is in power.

Imran Yaqub Khan Profile Imran Yaqub Khan

For the first time in history, the US dollar is also touching the mark of Rs170. For the first time in history, petrol has gone up to Rs123 per litre. According to the SBP data, Pakistan's internal and external debt has reached Rs39,859 billion in June 2021. A landmark presidential ordinance has imposed an advance income tax of 5 to 35 percent on electricity bills. Additional tax will be applicable on electricity bills of non-filers belonging to professional sectors. This is in addition to the 40% increase in electricity prices from 2018 to date. The basic rate of electricity in 2018 was Rs11.72 paise per unit, which has now increased by Rs 4.72 paise to Rs16.44 paise per unit.

According to the official retail rate, one kg of sugar is available in Rs89.75. Ordinary consumers who find sugar at this price in the market are considered lucky. According to last week's statistics, the price of ghee was Rs345.70 per kg. A 20kg bag of flour costs Rs1,180, meaning one kilogram of flour costs about Rs60. Despite this year's historic and record wheat production, flour is not cheap. Despite record production, wheat has to be imported.

The PTI government has successfully completed its 3 years. On the completion of 3 years, a big celebration was also held at the federal level in which the achievements of the government were lost. The government of Punjab, the largest province in Pakistan in terms of population, also publicized its performance after completing 3 years. Now if we talk about the prices of flour, ghee, sugar, petrol and the dollar 3 years ago, the difference is sky high. The income of the common man has not increased while inflation has doubled. This historic inflation has made it difficult for the common man to light a stove. According to a recent outlook report by the Asian Development Bank, Pakistan's growth in 2022 will be 4%. The same Outlook report also states that the inflation rate will remain at 7.5 percent. Rising prices of wheat, sugar and foodstuffs will lead to higher prices.

Well, every one of our beloved Prime Ministers has a very positive attitude, he is an athlete, he has sportsmanship, he demands the same attitude from his party and the people, where he keeps urging his team to work hard. I have repeatedly advised not to panic. Interesting reactions of the people on social media to this statement of the Prime Minister also keep coming to the fore. In some light-hearted public videos on rising inflation, citizens are seen pleading, “Prime Minister! Now let us panic. " There are also some tyrants on social media who keep searching for past statements and tweets of the Prime Minister and his team's top leaders.

On the other hand, when petrol became a little more expensive, he immediately posted an old tweet and statement on social media in which the increase in the price of petrol was proved to be the theft of the thief rulers or there was a comparison between the real price of petrol and the tax. In the days of his opposition, Khan Sahib has also tried to launch a civil disobedience movement. In such a situation, he had set fire to the electricity bill in front of the people. However, now that the price of electricity has reached the level of his government, the people are waiting to see what the Prime Minister will advise them to set fire to. Finance Minister Shaukat Tareen blames "corona virus" for inflation. He believes the global epidemic has affected the world's supply line and pushed up commodity prices around the world. Talking to media this week, he said that the current price of sugar in the global market is 4 430 per tonne as against 24 240 per tonne in 2018. He also claimed that India, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Vietnam were selling expensive petrol to us.

Now compare Pakistan with India, then 2 rupees 30 paise becomes one Indian rupee. India's per capita income is 22 2,200, inflation is 5.6% and the average price of petrol is Rs 105 per liter. Pakistan's per capita income is 90 1,190 and inflation is 8.4 percent. It is not appropriate to make such a comparison. However, other government spokespersons have also offered similar interpretations on the rise in petrol prices. Inflation and government figures may be correct somewhere, but the common man is also going through a difficult economic period historically.

Look at the good fortune of the sitting government that it has got an opposition in its time which has hardly any other government in history. The opposition has to be the voice while expressing the people on how friendly or hostile the policies of the government are, but the opposition has not yet decided how to be the voice against the government. The PML-N is the largest opposition party. To give the government a tough time, he is still embroiled in a dilemma over whether to honor the vote or the performance, often confused even by his big and small leaders. PML-N leader Rana Sanaullah has said that he will decide to launch a movement against inflation later, now let the people enjoy some more change.

The PPP is still going through a new process of self-identification after splitting from the PDM, so it too has not been able to become the voice of the people on the most important public issue like inflation. Maulana Fazlur Rehman is a sting of the PPP, so he is also keeping pace with the PML-N. Perhaps the repeated warnings from the government leaders have made a small place in some corner of his heart and mind Like the PPP, the PML-N should not leave them alone at any point. Jamaat-e-Islami has started its protests against inflation. So far, however, they are proving to be the sound of parrots in the gallery.

The duty of real opposition is to stand in the way of the public interest and against wrong policies of the government. Well, since we are living in a historical period, perhaps that is why the opposition seems to be playing a historic role. Whatever the economic indicators of the government, the rising inflation, unemployment and the depreciating value of the rupee are indications that the average Pakistani is getting poorer with each passing day and this historic era is dark for the common man. And this historical period is becoming the era of darkness for masses! 

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Technology

TikTok is testing AI-generated search results

On TikTok, ChatGPT-generated results appear for some search queries, along with a more general “search highlights” feature. Not all queries have AI answers.

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TikTok is testing a more robust search results page, including using generative AI. The feature appears to be a new and is called “search highlights.”

A snippet of AI results appear at the top of some search results pages, and clicking into the section opens a new page with the full response. In quick tests, I was able to find AI results for queries about recipes or topics like “best laptops 2024.”

TikTok search results page for “chia seed pudding recipe” showing AI results at the top. Clicking the result takes you to a full screen page.TikTok search results page for “chia seed pudding recipe” showing AI results at the top. Clicking the result takes you to a full screen page.
Clicking the result takes you to a full screen page.
Screenshot: TikTok

A page explaining the results says that the material is generated using ChatGPT, and that TikTok displays the content “when [the algorithm] finds them relevant to your search.” The feature appears to be limited so far: not all queries have AI answers.

TikTok’s AI search results page say the material is from ChatGPT and the algorithm displays the answers when they are relevant to a search.TikTok’s AI search results page say the material is from ChatGPT and the algorithm displays the answers when they are relevant to a search.
The feature is called “AI Smart Search”
Screenshot: TikTok

There’s also a similar feature called “search highlights” that are not labeled as AI-generated. Those, too, show up at the top of search results, but it’s not clear where that information is coming from, like whether it’s summarizing videos or taken from someplace else. TikTok didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment about the features.

The video platform has steadily added more features to its in-app search. Last fall, TikTok began testing adding Google Search results to its in-app results page that essentially acted as a link back to Google. TikTok has also experimented with adding links to Wikipedia, IMDb, and other websites directly in the app’s search results page.

TikTok is trying to harness some of the habits its users — especially younger people — have developed on the app. Many younger users treat TikTok like a search engine, opting to look up restaurant or product recommendations in the app instead of using platforms like Google Search. And like Google, TikTok now seems to be leaning into AI results by including them above creator content.

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Business

Gold price dips by Rs600 per tola

The price of per tola gold in the country has reached Rs245,000

Published by Noor Fatima

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Karachi: The price of per tola 24 karat gold slashed by Rs600 in the country on Friday has decreased by Rs.600.

After the decrease, the price of per tola gold in the country has reached Rs245,000.

According to the All Pakistan Gems and Jewellers Association (APGJA), the price of 10 grams of 24 karat gold has decreased by Rs514 to settle at Rs210,048 from Rs 210,562.

Whereas the prices of 10-gram 22 karat gold went down to Rs192,544 from Rs193,016.

The price of per tola and 10-gram silver remained constant Rs2,730 and Rs2,340.53, respectively.

The price of gold in the international market decreased by $6 to settle at $2,384 from $2,390, the association reported.

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Pakistan

Jinnah House case: Yasmin, Cheema granted bail

Judge Arshad Javed heard the bail applications of Dr. Yasmin Rashid and Umar Cheema.

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Lahore: The Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) Friday granted bail to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders Dr. Yasmin Rashid and Umar Sarfraz Cheema in the Jinnah House attack case.

Lahore Anti-Terrorism Court Judge Arshad Javed heard the bail applications of Dr. Yasmin Rashid and Umar Cheema.

It is pertinent to note that the PTI leaders were arrested on the charges of attack on Jinnah House in Lahore and arson and encirclement and a case has been registered against the accused in Sarwar Road police station. Both leaders are in police custody.

Notably on March 1, 2024, the Lahore ATC had granted bail to Dr. Yasmin in the Gulberg arson case on May 9, ordering her release against the bond of Rs0.5 million.

It should be noted that after the arrest of PTI Chairman Imran Khan from the Islamabad High Court (IHC) premises in the Al-Qadir Trust case on May 9, there was a nationwide protest by the PTI, during which soldiers, Civil and private installations were set on fire. Public and private property was severely damaged while at least eight people were killed and 290 injured.

The protesters also stormed the Corps Commander's residence in Lahore, also known as Jinnah House, and broke a gate of the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi.

Subsequently, 1,900 people involved in fighting, vandalism and arson were arrested across the country with law enforcement agencies, while cases were also registered against Imran Khan and his party workers.

Dr Yasmin Rashid, along with other leaders and activists, was named in First Information Report (FIR) registered with the Sarwar Road police on charges of terrorism and other charges for the alleged attack on the Corps Commander's House.

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