Mohammad Ishaq Dar reviews Maldives presidential visit and AJK development plans

Sadiq Sanjrani, a Member of the Provincial Assembly of Balochistan and former Chairman of the Senate, stated that national security must never be compromised for political interests. The former Senate head argued that terrorism is a national tragedy rather than a tool for political bargaining.

Sanjrani noted that while Maulana Fazlur Rehman has every right to oppose government decisions, using the opposition as a pretext for rhetoric on Pakistan’s security and sovereignty risks reinforcing the enemy’s narrative. Pakistan’s future depends on responsibility, clarity of purpose, and an unwavering commitment to defeating terrorism.

The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) Islamabad Circle recovered Rs 82,000 from a woman who fell victim to a cyber fraud scheme. Officials returned the full amount to the complainant after investigating her financial grievance.

On 17 October, an NCCIA representative confirmed that the Islamabad Circle acted on the woman's specific complaint. The agency continues to process financial complaints submitted by members of the public while pursuing legal action against those involved in cybercrime.

Gold prices in Pakistan fell by Rs1,600 per tola on Saturday, bringing the cost down to Rs439,036. The 10-gram gold rate in the country dropped by Rs1,372 to reach a selling price of Rs376,402 on the same day.

International gold rates also saw a downward trend, declining by $16 to settle at $4,165 per ounce on Saturday. Silver prices in Pakistan decreased by Rs81 to reach Rs6,175 per tola on Saturday.

On Friday, the gold price per tola in Pakistan rose by Rs2,800 to reach Rs440,636. The 10-gram gold price in Pakistan was sold at Rs377,774 on Friday after an increase of Rs2,401.

Global gold rates were up by $28 to reach $4,181 per ounce on Friday, while the silver price in Pakistan rose by Rs108 to hit Rs6,256 per tola. The gold price in Pakistan remained unchanged at Rs437,836 per tola on Thursday.

YouTube is currently in discussions with various publishers to integrate audiobooks into its platform. The video-sharing giant reportedly intends to incorporate audiobook listening capabilities into the YouTube Premium subscription tier.

This new feature might be officially unveiled as early as 2027. Google has not issued an official statement regarding these reports.

Since 1 January 2018, users have been required to purchase audiobooks individually through the Google Play Store. In early 2023, Google introduced podcast support for YouTube Music, allowing Premium subscribers to stream content both online and offline.

While the YouTube Premium Lite plan excludes music, it does provide ad-free playback for podcasts. Earlier this year, Spotify expanded its audiobook offerings to more than 180 markets and introduced a Page Match feature.

Syed Muhammad Nehal Hashmi issued a message on 17 October to mark the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. Hashmi stated that eliminating poverty is a fundamental requirement for establishing a prosperous and safe society.

Providing every citizen with affordable and secure housing serves as a critical move toward this goal. The message further noted that poverty can be defeated by guaranteeing public access to education, healthcare, and jobs.

Government bodies, private entities, and the wider community must collaborate to support vulnerable groups and remove poverty.

The Prime Minister’s Coordination Committee on Ease of Doing Business convened at the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) in Islamabad on 17 October. Adviser to the Prime Minister joined SIFC leadership and the Regulatory Reform Technical Team for the session.

Participants discussed provincial onboarding, coordinated reform implementation, and the adoption of the Asaan Karobar Bill across various regions. These measures intend to simplify licensing, business registration, and regulatory compliance by streamlining procedures between government institutions.

SIFC is facilitating engagement between federal and provincial stakeholders to create a transparent, business-friendly regulatory framework nationwide. The government aims to reduce regulatory complexities to support entrepreneurship and sustainable economic growth for investors.

Ambassador of Pakistan to the United States Rizwan Saeed Sheikh spoke to students, faculty, and academic members at the University of California, Berkeley on 17 October. The Department of Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures, Asian American and Asian Diaspora Studies, Department of Ethnic Studies, and Programme on Arab and Palestinian Studies organised the event.

Sheikh delivered a talk titled "Pakistan’s Role in a Changing Middle East: Geopolitics, War and Migration." Over the last year, Pakistan has developed into a stabilizing force across South Asia, the Middle East, and other regions.

The nation serves as a frontline state in the international struggle against climate change while remaining vulnerable to floods and extreme weather. Pakistan has experienced significant exposure to the political economy of the Middle East for more than 8 decades.