Pakistan's stock market tumbles as India-Pakistan tensions simmer
Islamabad, Apr 24 (PTI): Pakistan’s stock market on Thursday witnessed a sharp dip, with the benchmark KSE-100 index closing at 115,019.81, down by 2206.33 points from the last close, amid brewing tension between India and Pakistan after the Pahalgam terror attack.
Terrorists opened fire in Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday, killing 26 people, mostly tourists, in the deadliest attack in the Valley since the Pulwama strike in 2019. The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy of the banned Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), claimed responsibility for the attack.
India on Wednesday downgraded diplomatic ties with Pakistan and announced a raft of measures, including suspension of the Indus Water Treaty and immediate shutting down of the Attari land-transit post in view of the cross-border links to the terror attack.
In retaliation, Pakistan also suspended bilateral trade and accords, including the Simla Agreement, and airspaces with India, among other moves.
The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) took the hit, and the KSE-100 index plunged by 2,485 points early in the session, dropping to 114,740 points.
As the day progressed, the market showed signs of slight recovery, narrowing the loss to 1196 points. By midday, the current index was at 116,030.02 points.
However, it nosedived again and finally closed at 115,019.81, down by 2,206.33 points, or 1.92 per cent.
The sharp dip comes after the market touched an all-time high, crossing the 120,000 mark earlier this year. Observers said the bearish trend is expected to dominate the market until there is a sign of improvement in the current political and security situation with India.
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Body of Kerala nurse killed in Ahmedabad plane disaster brought home
Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): The body of a 37-year-old nurse from Kerala who died in the Ahmedabad flight disaster was brought back to her home state on Tuesday morning.
Ranjitha, a native of Pathanamthitta district, was working in the UK when the incident occurred. Her mortal remains were identified through a DNA test.
Her body arrived at the international airport in Thiruvananthapuram around 7 am.
Kerala ministers V Sivankutty and G R Anil were among the officials who paid their last respects.
Senior political leaders, including CPI(M) general secretary M A Baby and Congress veteran Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, also offered tributes.
The coffin was later taken to her village, where it will be kept at a school in Pullad for the public to pay their respects.
Her brother and a close relative accompanied the body on its final journey.
Cremation is expected to take place on the premises of her family home later in the evening.
Ranjitha, a mother of two, was remembered as a dedicated nurse who had worked outside the state for several years to support her family.
