Labourers, who set up the venue, sit under a wall with a billboard displaying a photo of Imran Khan. Reuters 
Labourers, who set up the venue, sit under a wall with a billboard displaying a photo of Imran Khan. Reuters 

Imran Khan calls on Pakistanis abroad to double money they send home



Prime Minister Imran Khan hopes to ease the financial crisis threatening his lofty reform promises by persuading overseas Pakistanis to double the amount of money they send back home.

Pakistan's prime minister said he was drawing up incentives to encourage nationals abroad, including millions living in the Middle East, to boost remittances and provide vital foreign currency.

The country is gripped by deepening financial woes and last week bowed to pressure and began talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for Islamabad's thirteenth bailout since the late 1980s.

The move marked an about turn for Mr Khan's government which had spent weeks trying instead to get loans from Saudi Arabia and China, only for them to baulk at the size of Islamabad's problems, economists said.

Any IMF bailout is now expected to come with tough conditions likely to dramatically rein in Mr Khan's promises to overhaul health, housing and education by building a welfare state in Pakistan.

Mr Khan said overseas Pakistanis were an asset that could improve the country's finances.

He said: “We are going to announce a special package of incentives to encourage [overseas Pakistanis] to send remittances through banking channels by removing all hindrances and procedural issues. Philippines did this successfully.”

“InshaAllah by removing these hindrances we will be able to increase remittance flows from $20bn to at least $30bn and perhaps even $40bn through banking channels.”

_________

Read more:

Pakistan demands answers over its nationals’ UAE property investments worth billions

Pakistan's Imran Khan struggles with shift from opposition candidate to incumbent

Pakistan's Khan says austerity begins at home

_________

He also vowed to crackdown on illegal land mafias preying on the property of Pakistanis living abroad.

An estimated 3.5 million Pakistanis live in the Middle East, including nearly 1.4 million in the UAE alone. The money they send back is a vital source of foreign currency in Pakistan, where reserves have plunged to the lowest in almost four years. Mr Khan's government has already floated the idea of creating new bonds to draw investment from overseas.

Pakistan's financial crisis has seen its current account and budget gaps dramatically widen leaving the country needing to urgently raise up to $12bn.

The scale of the need had sunk Mr Khan's hopes of avoiding the IMF by taking loans from China or Saudi Arabia, said Khurram Husain, business editor at Dawn, the leading English daily paper.

He said: “The sheer quantity in which the government needs resources is so large that no single bilateral partner can actually arrange for the entire amount.”

There has also been widespread speculation that Riyadh wanted Pakistan to join its military coalition in Yemen in return for money, which Islamabad decided was unacceptable.

“The Saudis nor the Chinese are bilaterally going to bail anyone out without expecting something in return for themselves,” he said.

The failure has left Mr Khan at the mercy of the IMF, which is expected now to demand painful reforms to break Pakistan's boom and bust cycle.

The Washington-based fund will be wary of Islamabad's failure to meet the conditions of past loans and America will have a large say in lending.

“Today's White House looks at Pakistan with great disappointment and they have made that disappointment clear,” said Mr Husain. “Clearly that unhappiness is going to spill over into the IMF programme.”

“I think the negotiations for an IMF programme will be quite tough this time around,” added Jeremy Zook, associate director of Fitch Ratings.

“I think the current US administration has a large say in IMF lending policies so I think they are likely to put a significant amount of pressure on Pakistan, probably more so than in the past.”

Cuts to public spending, devaluation of the rupee, ending subsidies to ailing state businesses and hiking taxes are all likely to be conditions of any bailout.

All of that will hit living standards and Mr Khan's high-spending campaign promises.

“History tells us that whichever government has undertaken the kind of macroeconomic stabilisation that this government is about to undertake has paid a heavy, heavy cost politically,” said Mr Husain.

“They are going to pay a very steep price in terms of their popularity.”

Pakistan's finances are likely to get worse before they get better and negotiations with the IMF could take months, said Charles Robertson, global chief economist at Renaissance Capital.

“I have to say I have a some sympathy for Imran Khan,” he said.

“No-one should want to take power against such a tough backdrop where the first thing you betray are your promises to your voters.”

ONCE UPON A TIME IN GAZA

Starring: Nader Abd Alhay, Majd Eid, Ramzi Maqdisi

Directors: Tarzan and Arab Nasser

Rating: 4.5/5

The Settlers

Director: Louis Theroux

Starring: Daniella Weiss, Ari Abramowitz

Rating: 5/5

Results

5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,200m, Winner: ES Rubban, Antonio Fresu (jockey), Ibrahim Aseel (trainer)

5.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh85,000 (T) 1,200m, Winner: Al Mobher, Sczcepan Mazur, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami

6pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 2,200m, Winner: Jabalini, Tadhg O’Shea, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami

6.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 2,200m, Winner: AF Abahe, Tadgh O’Shea, Ernst Oertel

7pm: Handicap (PA) Dh85,000 (T) 1,600m, Winner: AF Makerah, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel

7.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m, Winner: Law Of Peace, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar

House-hunting

Top 10 locations for inquiries from US house hunters, according to Rightmove

  1. Edinburgh, Scotland 
  2. Westminster, London 
  3. Camden, London 
  4. Glasgow, Scotland 
  5. Islington, London 
  6. Kensington and Chelsea, London 
  7. Highlands, Scotland 
  8. Argyll and Bute, Scotland 
  9. Fife, Scotland 
  10. Tower Hamlets, London 

 

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

Read part one: how cars came to the UAE

Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
Dust and sand storms compared

Sand storm

  • Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
  • Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
  • Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
  • Travel distance: Limited 
  • Source: Open desert areas with strong winds

Dust storm

  • Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
  • Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
  • Duration: Can linger for days
  • Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
  • Source: Can be carried from distant regions
Fixtures
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EWednesday%2C%20April%203%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EArsenal%20v%20Luton%20Town%2C%2010.30pm%20(UAE)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EManchester%20City%20v%20Aston%20Villa%2C%2011.15pm%20(UAE)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EThursday%2C%20April%204%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ELiverpool%20v%20Sheffield%20United%2C%2010.30pm%20(UAE)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
No more lice

Defining head lice

Pediculus humanus capitis are tiny wingless insects that feed on blood from the human scalp. The adult head louse is up to 3mm long, has six legs, and is tan to greyish-white in colour. The female lives up to four weeks and, once mature, can lay up to 10 eggs per day. These tiny nits firmly attach to the base of the hair shaft, get incubated by body heat and hatch in eight days or so.

Identifying lice

Lice can be identified by itching or a tickling sensation of something moving within the hair. One can confirm that a person has lice by looking closely through the hair and scalp for nits, nymphs or lice. Head lice are most frequently located behind the ears and near the neckline.

Treating lice at home

Head lice must be treated as soon as they are spotted. Start by checking everyone in the family for them, then follow these steps. Remove and wash all clothing and bedding with hot water. Apply medicine according to the label instructions. If some live lice are still found eight to 12 hours after treatment, but are moving more slowly than before, do not re-treat. Comb dead and remaining live lice out of the hair using a fine-toothed comb.
After the initial treatment, check for, comb and remove nits and lice from hair every two to three days. Soak combs and brushes in hot water for 10 minutes.Vacuum the floor and furniture, particularly where the infested person sat or lay.

Courtesy Dr Vishal Rajmal Mehta, specialist paediatrics, RAK Hospital

Book%20Details
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What is graphene?

Graphene is a single layer of carbon atoms arranged like honeycomb.

It was discovered in 2004, when Russian-born Manchester scientists Andrei Geim and Kostya Novoselov were "playing about" with sticky tape and graphite - the material used as "lead" in pencils.

Placing the tape on the graphite and peeling it, they managed to rip off thin flakes of carbon. In the beginning they got flakes consisting of many layers of graphene. But as they repeated the process many times, the flakes got thinner.

By separating the graphite fragments repeatedly, they managed to create flakes that were just one atom thick. Their experiment had led to graphene being isolated for the very first time.

At the time, many believed it was impossible for such thin crystalline materials to be stable. But examined under a microscope, the material remained stable, and when tested was found to have incredible properties.

It is many times times stronger than steel, yet incredibly lightweight and flexible. It is electrically and thermally conductive but also transparent. The world's first 2D material, it is one million times thinner than the diameter of a single human hair.

But the 'sticky tape' method would not work on an industrial scale. Since then, scientists have been working on manufacturing graphene, to make use of its incredible properties.

In 2010, Geim and Novoselov were awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics. Their discovery meant physicists could study a new class of two-dimensional materials with unique properties. 

 

BMW M5 specs

Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor

Power: 727hp

Torque: 1,000Nm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh650,000

Lexus LX700h specs

Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor

Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm

Transmission: 10-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh590,000

Story%20behind%20the%20UAE%20flag
%3Cp%3EThe%20UAE%20flag%20was%20first%20unveiled%20on%20December%202%2C%201971%2C%20the%20day%20the%20UAE%20was%20formed.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EIt%20was%20designed%20by%20Abdullah%20Mohammed%20Al%20Maainah%2C%2019%2C%20an%20Emirati%20from%20Abu%20Dhabi.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EMr%20Al%20Maainah%20said%20in%20an%20interview%20with%20%3Cem%3EThe%20National%3C%2Fem%3E%20in%202011%20he%20chose%20the%20colours%20for%20local%20reasons.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EThe%20black%20represents%20the%20oil%20riches%20that%20transformed%20the%20UAE%2C%20green%20stands%20for%20fertility%20and%20the%20red%20and%20white%20colours%20were%20drawn%20from%20those%20found%20in%20existing%20emirate%20flags.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
What can you do?

Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses

Seek professional advice from a legal expert

You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor

You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline

In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support

The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting 

2. Prayer 

3. Hajj 

4. Shahada 

5. Zakat 

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
 
Started: 2021
 
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
 
Based: Tunisia 
 
Sector: Water technology 
 
Number of staff: 22 
 
Investment raised: $4 million