Author: newsdesk

  • ‘I will visit Pakistan this year,’ Bollywood actress Sonam Bajwa

    ‘I will visit Pakistan this year,’ Bollywood actress Sonam Bajwa

    Bollywood actress and model Sonam Bajwa held a Q&A session with fans on Twitter and announced that she will definitely come to visit Pakistan this year.

    “I will definitely come this year,” she responded to a fan’s request to visit Pakistan.

    Previously, Bajwa had expressed her love for Pakistani actor Mahira Khan on a Twitter post. When a twitter user had asked her to comment on the trolls coming after Mahira Khan for looking similar to her, Bajwa responded:
    “I love love and love Mahira Khan.”

    Mahira had responded with ‘Hey you sending you lots of love x’

    Bajwa had also previously revealed that she had a crush on singer and actor Fawad Khan. In a conversation with Connect FM Canada, Bajwa revealed that if Khan was not married, she would have dated him.

     “I don’t eye on married men. It’s Fawad Khan, so if he wasn’t wed, I’d make my move.”

  • SBP-held forex reserves increase by $66 million as Pakistan seeks critical IMF loan tranche

    SBP-held forex reserves increase by $66 million as Pakistan seeks critical IMF loan tranche

    The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has reported a minor increase in its foreign exchange reserves, as the nation desperately seeks to unlock a critical tranche of funding from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

    The central bank stated that its reserves had risen by $66 million to $3,258.5 million as of the week ended February 17, providing an import cover of around three weeks. The net foreign reserves held by commercial banks were reported to stand at $5,468.0 million, $2,209.5 million more than the SBP, taking the total liquid foreign reserves to $8,726.5 million.

    China development bank approves $700 million facility for Pakistan

    Finance Minister Ishaq Dar has announced that the forex reserves are expected to receive a significant boost in the coming week, as the Board of China Development Bank has approved a $700 million facility for Pakistan. The funds could be deposited into the SBP’s account this week.

    Pakistan takes austerity measures in a bid to resume IMF programme

    In a bid to resume the delayed IMF programme and avoid default, the Pakistani government has taken a series of steps in the past two months. These measures include adding new taxes, increasing energy prices, and loosening its control on the rupee.

    Parliament approved a supplementary finance bill that increases sales tax from 17 per cent to 25 per cent on imports ranging from cars and household appliances to chocolates and cosmetics. People will also have to pay more for business-class air travel, wedding halls, mobile phones, and sunglasses. A general sales tax was raised from 17 per cent to 18 per cent.

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also unveiled cost-cutting measures to save $764 million annually, stating that austerity, simplicity, and sacrifice are the need of the hour.

    Concerns over Pakistan’s debt and dollar crunch

    Fitch Ratings, a global credit ratings agency, has downgraded Pakistan’s $350 billion economy twice in four months, citing dwindling foreign reserves. Bloomberg data shows that Pakistan has coupon repayments of $542.5 million this year.

    In all, the country has $8 billion in dollar bonds debt due by 2051, with the next payment of $1 billion due in April of next year. Most of the nation’s external debt of about $100 billion is sourced from concessional multilateral and bilateral sources.

    Pakistan also faces a dollar crunch that tests its external stability, and supply disruptions caused by flooding, food shortages, and IMF preconditions for rescue may push inflation above 30 per cent for the first time on record, according to Bloomberg Economics.

  • Newborn baby severely burnt after hospital staff forgets to remove her from warmer

    Newborn baby severely burnt after hospital staff forgets to remove her from warmer

    A newborn baby girl has suffered severe burns after medical staff at BHU Hospital in Jhelum forgot to take her out from a warmer.

    As per news reports, the baby was moved to the DHQ Hospital in critical condition.

    According to the spokesperson for the Jhelum Health Department, CEO Health Dr. Mian Mazhar has also suspended all of the labour room employees. LHV Nadia and two midwives, Farzana and Samia, were among the members of the suspended staff.

    Paediatric Regulations will be applied to the negligent employees while their employment contracts will be terminated.

  • Father kills sleeping son for not offering fajr prayers

    Father kills sleeping son for not offering fajr prayers

    In a shocking incident, a 24-year-old man named Muhammad Sohail was killed by his father for not offering fajr prayers on Wednesday morning.

    The incident took place in the Gulistan-e-Johar area of Karachi where the father, identified as Haji Muhammad Saeed, returned from offering fajr prayers and found his son sleeping. Without any warning, the father hit the boy with a hammer, killing him.

    The accused claimed that he had repeatedly warned his children, including Sohail, to offer prayers on time, but the victim did not pay heed. Frustrated and angry, he lost control and killed his own son.

    The police were notified of the crime and have arrested the accused. A hammer and a knife, which are believed to have been used in the murder, were also found at the crime scene.

    A murder case has also been registered against the father.

  • Bushra Ansari reveals struggles she faced in her first marriage

    Bushra Ansari reveals struggles she faced in her first marriage

    Bushra Ansari was a guest on Nida Yasir’s talk show where among many things, she opened up about her abusive first marriage and the ways her husband, Iqbal Ansari, restricted her from the things she used to love. Ansari and her ex-husband parted ways after 36 years of marriage. The veteran actress said in the interview that she was quite naive when she got married:
    “Girls who are around 19 or 20 years old when they’re getting married, it’s not easy for them to stand up for their rights, and most of the time they don’t want to. I believe that young people are very innocent and idealistic, which is why it is easy for an older person to enter their lives and mold them to his taste. Especially it is your parents and other relatives who complain about your bad habits to your husband, and encourage him to keep a strict control over you. But girls are very naive when their getting married, they’re like jelly. But I’m proud of this generation today because women are well-educated and also know how to stand up for themselves.”

    Ansari went on to share how she followed the customs of her time to obey and act according to the wishes of her husband, hoping that he might like her and be happy but instead of that, she was expected, all the time, to do what he said.

    “He asked that i remove my nose pin, which I loved, but I agreed. He also said don’t wear ghararay on your wedding so I decided to switch to wearing sari’s. Then he also said don’t wear mehndi on your hands on your wedding, I agreed. Even though this wasn’t a twenty year long affair, but we only knew each other for three months and then we got married.”

    “I thought that if I would say ‘theek hai jee, aap ki marzi’, then everything would be fine. Because once he is happy, then I would also be happy. Whatever he said, I would do. He said stop going to your friend’s house, I agreed. I thought that he was a temple, and I was running around it. But this was the kind of mindset women from this generation used to follow because they were told this is how they must remain happy in their marriages. I’m not saying you should completely rebel and refuse to be nice to your husband, because sometimes listening to someone’s request is a good thing and they acknowledge you. Otherwise you listen to them once, then they keep expecting you to listen to everything they have to say.”

    You can watch the complete interview here:

  • Biopic on Dada: Ranbir Kapoor to play the role of Saurav Gangully

    Biopic on Dada: Ranbir Kapoor to play the role of Saurav Gangully

    Biopic on Dada: Ranbir Kapoor to play the role of Saurav Gangully

    Ranbir Kapoor has bagged another covered role, getting selected to portray Saurav Ganguly, the Dada of Indian cricket, in an upcoming biopic.

    Ganguly, considered one of the greatest Indian captains, played for his country from 1992 till 2008 when he retired from all formats of the game.

    After his retirement from cricket, Ganguly has remained involved in the sport as a commentator and administrator. He was the President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) from 2019 to 2021.

    Shooting of the biopic will start soon after the promotion of Ranbir Kapoor’s new film
    “Tu Jhuuti May Makaar” is over.

    Film makers have not announced the full cast yet but it is confirmed that Ranbir Kapoor will do the lead role. As per details, MS Dhoni, also known as Saurav Ganguly’s talent pick in 2006 series against Pakistan, will also be essayed in the film.

    The movie will be directed by filmmaker Hansal Mehta and produced by Shemaroo Entertainment in association with Joy Ganguly, Saurav Ganguly’s brother.
    The biopic is expected to showcase Ganguly’s journey as a cricketer and his rise to becoming the captain of the Indian cricket team. It will also delve into the controversies that he faced during his career, including the infamous 2002 feud with former Indian coach Greg Chappell.

  • Six terrorists shot down by CTD in Lakki Marwat operation

    Six terrorists shot down by CTD in Lakki Marwat operation

    At least six terrorists were gunned down during an operation in the Dadowala area of Lakki Marwat in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), counter-terrorism department (CTD) officials have confirmed.

    According to the CTD, ammunition and explosives were recovered from the slain terrorists who were involved in terror attacks and assaults on security forces.

    CTD added that the operation was launched after it received information regarding the presence of the terrorists in Dadowala. The department added that the terrorists were planning to launch an attack on the Abbasia police check post.

    Terrorism is rising again across the country as attacks increased since the end of the ceasefire with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) last year.

  • Yamaha passes sales tax burden to customers: YBR 125G price increased to Rs353,000

    Yamaha passes sales tax burden to customers: YBR 125G price increased to Rs353,000

    Yamaha has recently announced its first price increase of 2023, affecting all of its motorcycles. The latest announcement marks the second increase in prices since December, with the highest increase being up to Rs3,500.

    Despite this, Yamaha has implemented the smallest price increases compared to its competitors and has only raised its bike prices once this year.

    In contrast, Yamaha increased its bike prices seven times last year. Due to the persistent economic issues in Pakistan, dealers and industry experts are anticipating further price hikes this year.

    According to recent data, a significant proportion of bike manufacturing has been localised in Pakistan. As such, there appears to be little justification for motorcycle manufacturers to frequently and substantially increase their prices.

    Variant Old Price (Rs) New Price (Rs) Increase (Rs)
    YB 125Z 305,500 308,500 3,000
    YB 125Z DX 327,000 330,500 3,500
    YBR 125 336,000 339,500 3,500
    YBR 125G 349,500 353,000 3,500
    YBR 125G (Matte Gray) 352,500 356,000 3,500
  • Aurat March 2023: Feminism in the time of crisis

    Aurat March 2023: Feminism in the time of crisis

    Feminist social movement Aurat March has unveiled their theme for this year: Feminism in the time of crisis.

    The movement elaborated on the significance behind this theme on Twitter, revealing that it will address the ongoing security, climate and economic issues currently plaguing the country.

    “We demand a feminist response to these crisis: one that centers the voices and experiences of one of the most affected and prioritizes justice and equity for all.

    These responses must be democratic and equitable. A Pakistan plagued by regional, ethnic and class inequity is unacceptable. We cannot afford to ignore the intersectional impacts of these crises any longer.

    Pakistan is plagued with challenges on multiple fronts including security and safety crisis, economic crisis, climate crisis and a relentless crisis of gendered violence. We know that these issues are deeply rooted in the patriarchal system that prioritize masculine politics and ignores the needs and rights of gender minorities and marginalized communities.

    It’s time to demand a better future for all.

    Join us on 8th March.”

  • Twist in Barkhan tragedy as woman believed dead recovered alive

    Twist in Barkhan tragedy as woman believed dead recovered alive

    The Barkhan tragedy has taken a twist on Wednesday night when an autopsy report revealed that the body believed to be that of Giran Naz, a woman allegedly imprisoned in a private jail in Balochistan, is of an unknown teenager.

    Giran Niaz with her daughter and four sons were recovered alive in the late hours of Wednesday night after three separate search operations were conducted in different locations. The autopsy conducted on the female corpse recovered from a well, thought to be that of Naz, showed that the body was of a young woman aged around 18 years, who had been raped and shot in the head thrice.
    Police on Wednesday had earlier arrested Sardar Khetran from Quetta on charges of killing Naz and her two sons.

    Giran Naz along with her children is in protective custody and will be handed over to representatives of the Marri tribe.

    What is the back story?

    Sardar Abdur Rehman Khethran, 64, head of the Khethran tribe in Balochistan’s Barkhan, allegedly runs a private jail in the province, and the three bodies recovered in Haji Koat were imprisoned in the same private jail. Khethran wanted Mohammad Marri, who worked as a guard for him, to testify against his son Inaam Shah in a fake police case about a property clash. Marri refused to testify against Inaam after which Khethran imprisoned eight members of his family in his private jail including his wife Giran Naz Bibi, six sons Mohamad Nawaz, Abdul Majid, Abdul Qadir, Abdul Sattar, Abdul Ghaffar, Mohammad Imran and a teenage daughter Farzana.
    Khethran also had Marri arrested, however, he was released after spending three and a half years in jail. After getting released, he started to look for ways to release his family from the private jail.
    Marri, with the help of Inaam Shah, smuggled a cellphone inside the private jail where his wife and kids were being detained.

    A video of Giran Naz Bibi was recorded while she was carrying a Holy Quran. She claimed in the video that Sardar Khethran is holding them captive.