KARACHI: The non-performing loans (NPLs) of all banks significantly increased by Rs22 billion in the first quarter of the calendar year 2021 to Rs866bn, while the recovery remained less than half of the preceding quarter (October-December 2020). Increased NPLs are a sign of poor banking particularly when the role of the private sector is limited in the banks’ money. The …

LAHORE: Pakistan’s cement producers plan to expand their capacity by more than 40 per cent from nearly 69 million tonnes to nearly 99m tonnes over the next several years in anticipation of 10-15pc growth in their sales every year, claims an All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA) official. Speaking with Dawn, the APCMA official, who requested anonymity, said almost every cement …

ISLAMABAD: Cellular subscriptions in Pakistan crossed the 183 million mark by the end of March 2021 from 178.97m in January, figures shared by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) on Saturday showed. Mainly owing to pressures from the education sector in the wake of Covid-19 lockdowns, authorities have been expanding internet infrastructure in the country for more than a year. Broadband …

ISLAMABAD: The export of services posted a growth of 31.72 per cent year-on-year to $563.95 million in March, showed data compiled by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. After having contracted in the previous year, the export of services bounced back since January this year. However, the service exports in July-March period of 2020-21 grew by just 0.61pc to $4.37bn as …

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have agreed to give strategic direction to their ties through the Saudi-Pakistan Supreme Coordination Council (SP-SCC) by strengthening and diversifying existing bilateral cooperation in different fields. For this purpose, the Saudi Development Fund will finance projects worth $500 million, according to the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The projects to be launched under …

American actress and singer Vanessa Hudgens has, at last, found someone with who she shares her precious time. Even the COVID-19 pandemic cannot stop her from meeting her boyfriend, Cole Tucker as talks to him online through Zoom. The 32-year-actress appears excited to be able to date amid quarantine thanks to Zoom. So, she told The Drew Barrymore Show on …

American music superstar Billie Eilish is attracting the attention of admirers of music lovers every single passing day.  Her recently released track  Your Power shot to the #1 spot on US YouTube Music Videos Chart. The 19-year-old singer released the track Your Power on April 29, 2021. The track debuted at #25 on last week’s US YouTube Music Videos Chart …

Pop singer Justin Bieber values his model wife   Hailey Baldwin very highly as the 24-year-old supermodel keeps supporting him in his endeavours and recently she was seen promoting the 27-year-old singer’s upcoming world tour – Justice. Since their wedding in 2018, Hailey Baldwin is playing the role of an influencer in the pop star’s career. Recently, she shared the list …

Meghan Markle is putting emphasis on vaccination as she urged the public to get their shots against COVID-19 as the pandemic rages on in many parts of the world. She joined a number of bigwigs to take part in Global Citizen’s VAX LIVE: The Concert to Reunite the World benefit event that was pre-recorded last weekend at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. …

American reality television star Khloe Kardashian did not want the show, Keeping Up With the Kardashians, to come to a close after 20 seasons. In the May 6 episode of the series that the family discussed the decision to end the series after the running 20th season. The show was filmed in the early summer of 2020. In the episode …