TEHRAN – Iran on Wednesday said new deaths from the novel coronavirus remained in double figures for the second day in a row, as the country gradually reopens its sanctions-hit economy.
Health ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour said 94 deaths from the COVID-19 disease were recorded in the past 24 hours, bringing the overall toll to 4,777.
Another 1,512 people tested positive for the illness.
That took the total number of infections to 76,389, Jahanpour said, noting that 49,933 of those hospitalised had recovered and been discharged.
The government of President Hassan Rouhani has struggled to contain the outbreak that emerged two months ago.
It shut schools and universities, postponed major events and imposed a range of other restrictions, but it has stopped short of ordering lockdowns.
Iran allowed small businesses outside Tehran to reopen on Saturday and is set to extend the measure to the capital next week.
The move has faced criticism from health experts and even some authorities.
Rouhani and other top officials have argued that the economy must reopen amid diminishing oil and tax revenues coupled with US sanctions on the country.
"We have to fight both the disease and unemployment at the same time," Rouhani told a cabinet meeting on Wednesday.
The president announced the sale of a 10 percent stake in Social Security Organisation's investment arm, known by its Persian acronym SHASTA, on the stock market.
The Tehran Stock Exchange's website put the holding's market capitalisation at 688 trillion rials ($4.3 billion) for the offered eight billion shares.
SHASTA is Iran's biggest holding company with stakes in industries as diverse as construction and pharmaceuticals.
The offering is expected to raise a significant amount of cash for the government, without it giving up control to appoint managers and board members.
While Iran had forecast that its economy would contract by 7.2 percent in the year to March 21, the country's stock market has risen over 187 percent during the same period.
Since then, the Tehran Stock Exchange's main index, the TEDPIX, has climbed by another 20 percent despite the COVID-19 outbreak.
This is while Iran has faced rising inflation and a sharp decline in the value of its national Currency.
Iran has requested a $5 billion emergency loan from the International Monetary Fund to battle the coronavirus outbreak.
But the United States, which effectively holds a veto at the IMF, has signalled it has no intention of allowing the loan, alleging that Iran would use the money to fund "terror abroad".
Associated Press of Pakistan Corporation (APPC) - Pakistan's Premier News Agency
KARACHI - Following are the foreign currency exchange rates for US Dollar, Saudi Riyal, UK Pound Sterling, U.A.E. Dirham, European Euro, and other foreign currencies in Pakistan open market on January 26, 2023 (Thursday).
Source: Forex Association of Pakistan. (last update 09:00 AM)
Currency | Symbol | Buying | Selling |
US Dollar | USD | 253.4 | 255.15 |
Euro | EUR | 274 | 276.6 |
UK Pound Sterling | GBP | 311 | 314 |
U.A.E Dirham | AED | 68.7 | 69.3 |
Saudi Riyal | SAR | 66.4 | 67 |
Australian Dollar | AUD | 176 | 178 |
Bahrain Dinar | BHD | 615.68 | 620.18 |
Canadian Dollar | CAD | 186 | 188 |
China Yuan | CNY | 34.12 | 34.37 |
Danish Krone | DKK | 33.83 | 34.18 |
Hong Kong Dollar | HKD | 29.52 | 29.87 |
Indian Rupee | INR | 2.81 | 2.89 |
Japanese Yen | JPY | 2.5 | 2.54 |
Kuwaiti Dinar | KWD | 756.69 | 761.69 |
Malaysian Ringgit | MYR | 52.59 | 53.04 |
New Zealand Dollar | NZD | 148.33 | 149.53 |
Norwegians Krone | NOK | 22.43 | 22.73 |
Omani Riyal | OMR | 600.37 | 604.87 |
Qatari Riyal | QAR | 63.5 | 64 |
Singapore Dollar | SGD | 178 | 179.3 |
Swedish Korona | SEK | 21.78 | 22.08 |
Swiss Franc | CHF | 250.23 | 251.98 |
Thai Bhat | THB | 6.98 | 7.08 |
KARACHI – The price of a single tola of 24-karat gold in Pakistan is Rs190,900 on Thursday. The price of 10 grams of 24k gold was recorded at Rs163,670.
Likewise, 10 grams of 22k gold were being traded for Rs150,300 while a single tola of 22-karat gold was being sold at Rs 173,200.
Note: The gold rate in Pakistan is fluctuating according to the international market so the price is never been fixed. The below rates are provided by local gold markets and Sarafa Markets of different cities.
City | Gold | Silver |
Lahore | PKR 190,900 | PKR 2,100 |
Karachi | PKR 190,900 | PKR 2,100 |
Islamabad | PKR 190,900 | PKR 2,100 |
Peshawar | PKR 190,900 | PKR 2,100 |
Quetta | PKR 190,900 | PKR 2,100 |
Sialkot | PKR 190,900 | PKR 2,100 |
Attock | PKR 190,900 | PKR 2,100 |
Gujranwala | PKR 190,900 | PKR 2,100 |
Jehlum | PKR 190,900 | PKR 2,100 |
Multan | PKR 190,900 | PKR 2,100 |
Bahawalpur | PKR 190,900 | PKR 2,100 |
Gujrat | PKR 190,900 | PKR 2,100 |
Nawabshah | PKR 190,900 | PKR 2,100 |
Chakwal | PKR 190,900 | PKR 2,100 |
Hyderabad | PKR 190,900 | PKR 2,100 |
Nowshehra | PKR 190,900 | PKR 2,100 |
Sargodha | PKR 190,900 | PKR 2,100 |
Faisalabad | PKR 190,900 | PKR 2,100 |
Mirpur | PKR 190,900 | PKR 2,100 |
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