Business
Power tariff in Pakistan to go up by Rs7.14 per unit
Electricity in Pakistan will be increased by Rs 4.79 per unit as the base price,fuel rates will have a surge by another Rs 2.35 per unit.

Islamabad: Amidst a devastating energy crunch in Pakistan, the government has decided to gradually revive the stalled International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme under the USD 6 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF)—raising the electricity tariffs by Rs7.14 per unit along with hiking the petrol prices.
Authorities privy to the development stated that electricity tariff will increased by Rs4.79 per unit as the base price, while to arrange fuel price adjustments rates will have a surge by another Rs2.35 per unit.
According to details, the government is planning to increase only petrol prices in the country while it will continue to provide subsidies on diesel.
Pakistan and the IMF are scheduled to hold review talks from Wednesday (May 18) to renew attempts to reach a staff-level agreement so that the fund's executive board approves the delivery of the next USD 1 billion tranches.
Notably, if the prices remain the same—during the current fiscal year— Pakistan would have to bear the cost of about Rs140 billion till June for a duration of four months.
However, in a bid to protect 30 million Pakistanis from a surge in inflationary pressures, the coalition government is forced to devise a mechanism for the placement of targeted subsidies identified through the National Social Economic Survey (NSER).
Additionally, the government is also under pressure to increase the tariffs on gas to improve the liquidity crisis faced by the Sui Southern Gas and Sui Northern Gas in Pakistan.
Moreover, if current POL prices in the international market remain intact, it is estimated that fuel subsidies might incur the cost of Rs118 billion.
Furthermore, the government acknowledged that it requires Rs200 billion to pay to gas utility companies—bringing the total amount to Rs701 billion, or over 1% of GDP.
In the meantime, with the delay in the revival of the IMF programme and falling foreign currency reserves, the PKR has hit an all-time low against the US Dollar—crippling the Pakistan’s economy further.
Sports
Tennis star Nadal makes entry into French Open last 16
The Spaniard is now 108-3 at Roland Garros in his career

Rafael Nadal continued his pursuit of a 14th French Open title, cruising past Dutch 26th seed Botic van de Zandschulp 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 to reach the last 16 on Friday.
The 21-time major champion will play Canadian ninth seed Felix Auger-Aliassime for a place in the quarter-finals, where world number one Novak Djokovic could await him.
Nadal is now 108-3 at Roland Garros in his career.
"I think I played a good match against a good player. I'm very happy to win," said Nadal.
The Spaniard had a break point for 5-0 in the third set, but Van de Zandschulp refused to roll over, winning four of the next five games before Nadal put away his second match point, having saved a break point in between the two.
"You always feel a little bit the nerves to finish the match, so I'm happy to be through in straight sets," said Nadal.
"I think it was my best match of the tournament so far for two-and-a-half sets, so I'm very happy with that."
Nadal has reached at least the fourth round in 17 of 18 visits to Paris, with the exception of 2016 when he withdrew in the third round with a wrist injury.
SOURCE: AFP
Regional
Forest fire video case: TikToker 'in a fix' as court rejects pre-arrest bail application
Nosheen Saeed alias Dolly had posted a clip of herself walking playfully in a silver ball gown in front of a burning hillside

Islamabad: A district and sessions court in Islamabad on Friday rejected the pre-arrest bail application of TikToker Nosheen Saeed alias Dolly in a case related to a forest fire in Margalla Hills.
Dolly, who has more than 11 million followers on TikTok, had posted a clip of herself walking playfully in a silver ball gown in front of a burning hillside, presumably the Margalla Hills in Islamabad, with the caption: "Fire erupts wherever I am."
Her video immediately came under fire on social media as people initially assumed that she had started the blaze herself at a time when a devastating heatwave was underway in Pakistan causing forest fires.
Subsequently, within hours after it was uploaded, the video was taken down from the application.
Later, the TikToker said in a clarification released by an assistant that she did not start the fire and there was "no harm in making videos".
Pakistan
Govt coalition agrees on name of Justice (r) Maqbool Baqar as Chairman NAB
The government believes the Opposition Leader will also support the government's pick

Islamabad: The government and its coalition partners have agreed on name of Justice (retd) Maqbool Baqar as the new Chairman of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).
According to sources privy with the development, the name of a former Supreme Court judge came under discussion during a meeting of Prime Minister Imran Khan and former president Asif Ali Zardari.
Sources further said that Government believes the Opposition Leader of the National Assembly will also support the government pick as Maqbool Baqar’s judicial career is spotless.
Government members are hopeful that if all goes smoothly, Justice (retd) Maqbool Baqar will be the new head of the anti-graft watchdog.
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