
Amin Lakhani conferred with Tamgha-e-Imtiaz
Listen to article
President Asif Ali Zardari on Sunday conferred Tamgha-e-Imtiaz on Amin Lakhani, the honorary consul general of Singapore, in recognition of his meritorious services to Pakistan, and for strengthening the relations between the two countries.
Lakhani received the award from the president at the awards ceremony held at Aiwan Sadr on the occasion of Pakistan Day. For 35 years, Lakhani, as honorary consul general, has been playing important role in promoting relations between Pakistan and Singapore.
Besides, Lakhani has represented Pakistan in many fields, including economic, cultural and education. Because of his efforts, bilateral trade and business increased and visa issuance for the Pakistanis became easier. His efforts led to the issuance of Singaporean visa to 200,000 Pakistanis.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Business Recorder
42 minutes ago
- Business Recorder
Pakistan Economic Survey: Economic performance misrepresented: PTI
ISLAMABAD: The opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Monday strongly criticised the Economic Survey for the fiscal year 2024-25, dismissing the reported 2.7% GDP growth rate as both embarrassing and manipulated. The opposition party accused the government of misrepresenting the country's economic performance ahead of the annual budget, due to be presented in the National Assembly Tuesday. Speaking at a presser, PTI spokesman Sheikh Waqas Akram said: 'At least 30 million people in Pakistan have fallen below the poverty line. These were the very people brought in by the current regime to fix the economy, yet they ended up extinguishing household stoves instead.' The remarks came shortly after Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb unveiled the Economic Survey for 2024-25, which reported GDP growth of 2.7% and an inflation rate of 4.6% for the outgoing fiscal year. According to the finance minister, the economy had begun to recover after the 2023 fiscal year and was showing signs of stability and consolidation moving into 2025. The survey, released a day ahead of the 2025-26 federal budget, provides an overview of Pakistan's socio-economic performance, including GDP trends, tax revenue, industrial output, and other fiscal indicators. Akram challenged the government's economic claims, drawing comparisons with growth under the PTI-led administration of former prime minister Imran Khan. 'They used to scoff at the 6.5% growth rate achieved under our government. But over the past three years, the average growth has been only 1.5%,' he said. Describing the current figures as 'fake and misleading,' he likened the growth numbers to Form-47 – a reference to alleged rigging during the 8 February general elections. He also questioned the credibility of the Economic Survey for 2024-25, saying it failed to reflect the economic hardships being faced by the general population. 'The people have become economically orphaned under this government,' he claimed. Akram further cited a reported 13.5% decline in the agriculture sector, accusing the government of pursuing policies that were anti-farmer and, in his words, akin to enmity with the nation. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025


Business Recorder
6 hours ago
- Business Recorder
Consumer sentiment: Rising from the rubble
After flirting with economic freefall in recent years, Pakistan's consumer confidence is showing signs of life. The Q2 2025 Consumer Confidence Index (CCI) from Ipsos marks a perceptible shift in public mood: optimism about the country's direction, perceptions of the economy, and comfort with household purchases have all inched upward. From six-year lows to six-year highs in some metrics — a swing headline writers dream of. But it's worth asking: from where, to where? There's no doubt sentiment has improved since the inflation tsunami of 2023–24. Official CPI data shows year-on-year inflation has plunged to multi-year lows after peaking at historic highs just over a year ago. The relief is real — the difference between treading water and drowning. Yet while fewer Pakistanis may feel like they're gasping for economic air, most are still a long swim from shore. Consider the 'right direction' indicator. In Q2 2025, 42 percent of respondents said the country is headed the right way — a notable recovery from previous lows. But it still means most remain unconvinced. What's more revealing is the shift in framing. Back in February, the Q1 report declared that seven in ten Pakistanis believed the country was on the wrong track. In Q2, the headline flips the perspective: around two in five believe the country is on the right track. The numbers haven't moved much. The lens has. The same rhetorical pivot is visible in expectations about the economy. The Q1 survey stated that four in ten expected the economy to get weaker in the next six months. Q2's version? Roughly two in five now expect it to get stronger. It's the same statistical territory, packaged to suggest momentum. Nowhere is this more evident than in the claim that 'optimism has risen sharply… reaching its ever highest in 6 years.' Yet when one digs deeper, the exuberance begins to look premature. Only 29 percent of respondents actually consider the economy to be strong. Job confidence, while improved, stands at just 30 percent. And although comfort with household purchases has risen marginally, only one in five respondents currently feel comfortable making such purchases. That's a sobering reality, even if it's better than the 88 percent who said they were uncomfortable a quarter ago. To be clear, the direction of change is positive. But these are not numbers of a confident consumer class. These are numbers of a population still grappling with economic stress, expressing a cautious sigh of relief rather than any surge of optimism. Ipsos deserves credit for presenting time-series data, allowing for trend tracking over multiple quarters. But given how the survey has evolved into fodder for headlines and podium speeches, the gaps in methodology warrant scrutiny. The use of Computer-Assisted Telephonic Interviews (CATI) is pragmatic, and post-stratification by province, gender, and socioeconomic class (SEC) is standard. Yet the lack of detail around sampling precision, response rates, and the definitions of SECs leaves unanswered questions. There is also no mention of urban-rural balancing — a gap that matters, especially when rural respondents have repeatedly shown more optimism. It's understandable why the government is eager to seize this narrative. A fragile rebound is more politically palatable than stagnation. But public policy shaped by cherry-picked numbers runs the risk of overlooking deeper vulnerabilities. Sentiment may be improving, but it is doing so from a historically low base. And the path to real economic stability remains long and uneven. So yes, the mood is better than it was. But if this is what a 'record high' looks like, it serves as a reminder of just how deep the hole was to begin with. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025


Business Recorder
6 hours ago
- Business Recorder
Eidul Azha celebration with troops: Field Marshal visits forward positions along LoC
RAWALPINDI: Field Marshal Asim Munir visited forward positions along the Line of Control (LoC) to celebrate Eidul Azha with frontline troops. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said the visit commenced with Eid prayers, during which special supplications were made for Pakistan's enduring peace, stability, and prosperity as well as for martyrs who made supreme sacrifice for the defence of their motherland. Extending warm Eid greetings to the officers and soldiers, the Field Marshal commended their unwavering commitment, professional excellence, and steadfast service in the face of persistent challenges. The COAS expressed that celebrating Eid on the frontline away from their families serves the superior national purpose of defending the motherland at all costs throughout the year. Field Marshal Asim Munir lauded the formation's exemplary performance during Marka-e-Haq, Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos and paid solemn tribute to the martyrs and Ghazis whose sacrifices continue to fortify the nation's security and resolve. COAS said, 'You have befittingly avenged the loss of lives of innocent Pakistani civilians including children, women and elderly through your bold and effective response.' While interacting with troops, COAS expressed deep appreciation for their high morale, exceptional operational readiness, and resolute vigilance in responding effectively to Indian ceasefire violations. He reiterated complete confidence in the battle preparedness of the armed forces to decisively deter and defeat any act of aggression. Underscoring Pakistan's principled stance, the Field Marshal affirmed that the just and valiant struggle of the Kashmiri people against Indian occupation will never be forgotten. He emphasized the need for the resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, in line with the aspirations of its people and the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions. Upon arrival at the LoC, the COAS was received by the Commander, Rawalpindi Corps.