Politics

As of Wednesday, June 4, 2025, here are the approximate gold prices in Pakistan:
* 24K Gold Per Tola: Approximately PKR 351,800 – PKR 356,283
* 24K Gold Per 10 Grams: Approximately PKR 301,620 – PKR 306,108
* 24K Gold Per Gram: Approximately PKR 30,162 – PKR 30,610
Please note that gold prices can fluctuate throughout the day and may vary slightly depending on the city and local bullion markets.

The price of a “normal” gate in Pakistan can vary significantly depending on several factors, including:
* Material: Iron, steel, aluminum, and combinations of these (e.g., with glass, fiber, or CNC designs) are common. The type of metal and its gauge (thickness) will heavily influence the price.
* Size: Larger gates naturally cost more due to increased material and labor.
* Design and Intricacy: Simple, standard designs will be less expensive than custom-made, ornate, or CNC-cut gates.
* Type of Gate:
* Swing gates: Traditional opening gates.
* Sliding gates: Often used for larger driveways or where space is limited.
* Automatic/Motorized gates: These include the cost of the motor and installation, significantly increasing the price.
* Finish: Powder coating, paint, or other rust-proof treatments will add to the cost.
* Labor and Installation: Prices can differ between cities and individual fabricators/installers.
* Market Fluctuations: Steel and other material prices can fluctuate, impacting the final cost.
General Price Ranges (as of late 2024/early 2025 based on available data):
It’s challenging to give a single “normal” price, but here’s a breakdown of what you might expect for residential gates in Pakistan:
* Basic Iron Gates: You can find very simple iron gates starting from around PKR 7,500 to PKR 20,000. These are typically for smaller openings or very plain designs.
* Standard Iron/Steel Gates: For a more typical residential main gate made of iron or steel, prices often range from PKR 35,000 to PKR 65,000.
* More Elaborate or Larger Gates: If you’re looking for a larger gate, a gate with more intricate designs (like CNC cut patterns), or a gate with heavier gauge materials, the price can go up to PKR 100,000 or even higher. Some premium or very large custom-designed gates can even reach PKR 600,000 or more.
* Aluminum Gates: Aluminum gates can be in a similar range to steel or higher, depending on the design and complexity, with some listings showing prices around US400 – US500 per set (which translates to approximately PKR 110,000 – PKR 140,000 at an exchange rate of ~PKR 278 to 1 USD).
* Automatic Gate Systems: Adding an automatic motor and remote control system will significantly increase the overall cost, with automatic gate motors alone ranging from PKR 100,000 to PKR 150,000 or more, in addition to the gate’s cost.
Where to look for prices:
* Online Marketplaces: Websites like OLX Pakistan are good for getting an idea of current asking prices from various sellers and fabricators.
* Local Fabricators/Welders: Visiting local workshops that specialize in metalwork will allow you to get quotes for custom designs and standard sizes.
* Construction Material Suppliers: Some larger suppliers of construction materials may also offer pre-fabricated gates.
To get an accurate price, it’s best to:
* Determine your exact requirements: Measure the width and height of the opening.
* Decide on the material: Iron, steel, aluminum, etc.
* Choose a design style: Simple, modern, traditional, ornate, etc.
* Contact multiple suppliers/fabricators for quotes and compare them.

The decline in the quality of education in Pakistan is a complex issue with multiple interconnected factors. Here’s a breakdown of the primary causes:
1. Insufficient Funding and Resources:
* Low budget allocation: Pakistan consistently allocates a low percentage of its GDP to education, hindering infrastructure development, resource provision, and teacher salaries.
* Lack of facilities: Many schools, especially in rural areas, suffer from a severe lack of basic resources like sufficient classrooms, clean water, electricity, and up-to-date learning materials.
* Under-resourced institutions: Teacher training institutions and schools in impoverished areas often lack the necessary financial and human resources to provide quality education.
2. Poor Quality of Teachers and Teacher Training:
* Shortage of well-trained teachers: Despite increased hiring, a significant shortage of qualified teachers, particularly in public schools and for subjects like mathematics, science, and English, persists.
* Inadequate teacher training: Many teacher education programs are outdated, lack standardization, and offer limited practical training. In-service training is often infrequent, of low quality, and not systematically implemented.
* Demotivation and absenteeism: Factors like low salaries, poor working conditions, and a lack of professional development opportunities can lead to demotivated teachers and high absenteeism.
* Teachers teaching out of their field: Many teachers are assigned subjects outside their area of training, further compromising the quality of instruction.
3. Curriculum and Examination System Issues:
* Outdated and inconsistent curriculum: The curriculum often lacks uniformity across provinces and is frequently outdated, failing to meet local needs or incorporate modern pedagogical techniques.
* Lack of focus on critical thinking: The curriculum often emphasizes rote learning over critical thinking and creativity, hindering students’ overall intellectual development.
* Overloaded content: The curriculum can be overloaded, leading to a focus on covering vast amounts of information rather than ensuring quality learning.
* Substandard examination system: The examination system is often criticized for being unable to accurately measure the true qualities and understanding of students.
* Political influence and bureaucratic delays: Curriculum development is often subject to political interference and bureaucratic inefficiencies, preventing timely and effective reforms.
4. Socioeconomic Factors and Access Barriers:
* Poverty: Poverty is a major barrier to education. Many families cannot afford school fees, uniforms, or supplies. Economic necessity often forces children to drop out of school to work and support their families, perpetuating a cycle of illiteracy.
* High dropout rates: There are alarming dropout rates, particularly at the primary level, due to financial constraints, lack of interest, and perceived irrelevance of education.
* Gender and regional disparities: Significant disparities exist in literacy rates and access to education between urban and rural areas, as well as between genders, with girls and children in rural communities being disproportionately affected.
* Parental illiteracy and concerns: Illiteracy among parents and their concerns about safety, particularly for female students, can also contribute to low enrollment.
5. Governance and Policy Implementation:
* Political interference and corruption: Political interference in the education system, mismanagement of funds, nepotism in hiring, and bribery undermine the integrity and effectiveness of education policies.
* Weak accountability and supervision: Inadequate supervision and tracking of educational institutions lead to poor performance and a lack of accountability.
* Lack of consistent policy implementation: Despite numerous policies and ambitious targets, the government has struggled to effectively implement reforms and achieve universal primary education goals.
* Security threats: In some regions, security threats, including attacks on schools, create an unsafe learning environment and deter parents from sending their children to school.
Addressing the decline in education quality in Pakistan requires a comprehensive and sustained effort from the government, communities, and educators to tackle these multifaceted challenges.