Author: newsdesk

  • Sanaullah says Azam Swati ‘maligned’ army, judiciary, not govt

    Sanaullah says Azam Swati ‘maligned’ army, judiciary, not govt

    Federal Interior Minister Rana Sanauallah has said that the cases against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Senator Azam Swati were a part of “political revenge”, adding that Swati did target the army and judiciary but not the government.

    Addressing a press conference in Lahore, the Minister said that the government has got nothing to do with the cases against Swati.

    “If we wanted to frame [PTI leaders] in court cases or treat them the way they treated us, we would have had them charged with the possession of heroin,” he said, referring to the case made against him under the PTI government.

    Sanaullah added that cases are being filed against them in accordance with the law. “Recently, the Balochistan High Court (BHC) cancelled cases against Azam Swati. On the other hand, we have fought our cases for years,” he said.

  • DJ Khaled, Mike Tyson perform Umrah

    DJ Khaled, Mike Tyson perform Umrah

    American singer DJ Khaled and former professional boxer Mike Tyson recently performed Umrah.

    “The second I walked into Mecca, tears came down my eyes. Tears of joy. My whole life I wanted to go to Mecca to pray and to give gratitude to Allah. I prayed for the world for more love, more life, more peace more joy, more health and protection for all of us,” wrote DJ Khaled while sharing a video of his visit.

    Mike Tyson reportedly accepted Islam when he was jailed in 1992.

    Earlier in the month, Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan was spotted at Mecca, performing Umrah. Photos and videos of him at the Holy Kaaba in Mecca were widely shared online.

  • Twitter will soon delete 1.5 billion inactive accounts to free up name space

    Twitter will soon delete 1.5 billion inactive accounts to free up name space

    Twitter is preparing to delete 1.5 billion inactive accounts to free up dormant profiles and user names on the social media platform.

    Elon Musk, the company’s CEO, stated that the suspensions would free up the “name space” of inactive profiles. He also stated that the accounts that would be erased were “obvious” since they had “no tweets” and “no log in for years.”

    Some Twitter users have expressed dissatisfaction with defunct accounts having interesting and appealing usernames that were captured during Twitter’s formative years.

    In the second quarter of 2022, Twitter counted 237.8 million of its users as “monetisable daily active users,” a measure that suggests they’re active on the platform and are being shown advertisements.

    Musk has already committed to deleting dormant Twitter accounts. He said in November that accounts that had been idle for 15 years would be deleted.

    How long an account may remain dormant before being marked for deletion is unknown at this time. Musk announced in October that accounts that had been inactive for more than a year would potentially be in danger.

    According to statistics from Apptopia, Twitter usage appears to have increased in the weeks after Musk’s takeover. In the first week of November, Twitter saw its highest daily active user count ever.

  • MG to launch locally assembled HS in Pakistan soon

    MG to launch locally assembled HS in Pakistan soon

    Finally, MG Pakistan intends to introduce the locally built MG HS model in Pakistan very soon. Previously, the automaker exclusively offered the crossover SUV in the country as Completely Built Units (CBU) or imported models.

    According to Pakwheels, there were certain technical difficulties that prevented the government from granting the company a license. Although given that Pakwheels indicated that MG Pakistan is set to introduce the locally manufactured MG HS in Pakistan, it appears that the issue has been resolved.

    It was discovered that the government has granted the company a license, and the launch is just around the corner. Sources also stated that Pakistan will receive local HS in a matter of days, or maybe a few weeks.

    If true, this is fantastic news for the local auto market since MG HS has become a popular choice among Pakistanis despite its hefty price tag. The MG HS PHEV currently costs Rs8.5 million, while the MG HS turbo variant is priced at Rs8.9 million.

    For those unaware, the MG HS is equipped with MG Pilot, which is a comprehensive suite of driver-assist technologies. It complements the driver, lends a helping hand, and gives you added confidence on the road.

    MG PILOT’s advanced driver assistance features constantly sense your surroundings and look for unseen hazards. It offers a selection of warning and alert features to assist the driver while maintaining the highest safety standards, as shown by the 5-star Euro ANCAP rating given to the MG HS.

    Here are some unique features of the MG HS:

    1. Active Emergency Braking (AEB) – Automatically braking to assist with avoiding a collision with a vehicle, bicycle or pedestrian.
    2. Lane Keep Assist (LKA) – Detects lane markings ahead and warns the driver; will assist with steering to keep within the lane.
    3. Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) – Maintains the speed set by the driver, automatically adjusting to other traffic.
    4. Traffic Jam Assist (TJA) – Automatically follows the vehicle in front in slow traffic.
    5. Blind Spot Detection (BSD) – Whenever there is a vehicle in the driver’s blind spot, a visual signal will show in the door mirror.
    6. Intelligent High Beam Assist – Automatically switches to low beam when it detects a vehicle ahead.
    7. Intelligent Speed Limit Assist – Actively detects speed limit signs and alerts the driver of the current speed limit.

  • ‘More resources are urgently needed’: UN calls for more funds for Pakistan flood victims

    UN Secretary-General’s Spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric, has said that flood victims in Pakistan need more funds as more resources are needed in winters to provide relief.
    He added that around 2.6 million people have received food assistance.

    “To date, in support of the government response, our humanitarian partners have reached more than 4.7 million people with aid since the onset of the flood,” Dujarric told reporters.

    “Our (humanitarian) partners have also helped 125,000 children to resume their education, including through more than 500 temporary learning centers.” However, schools remain inaccessible for more than two million children.

    “More resources are urgently needed,” he stressed, emphasizing that so far only 23% of the $816 million Floods Response Plan has been received.

    Torrential monsoon rains triggered the most severe flooding in Pakistan’s recent history. Hundreds of thousands of homes have been damaged or destroyed, while many public health facilities, water systems and schools have been destroyed or damaged. More than 33 million people have been affected by floods and flash floods in 94 districts.

  • Google is officially registered as a company in Pakistan

    Google is officially registered as a company in Pakistan

    Google has opened a liaison office in Pakistan and registered with the Securities Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), according to Brecorder.

    A spokesman for SECP stated that the company “has been registered as a foreign company” in Pakistan, while a Google representative also verified that the liaison office had been opened.

    A liaison office is a foreign company’s office set up to promote its products, offer technical support and advice, consider potential joint ventures, and promote exports.

    The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT), according to insiders, was in contact with foreign companies and made arduous attempts to attract them to Pakistan, but the businesses hesitated owing to the political unrest.

    However, there has been a breakthrough in this regard with Google and TikTok agreeing to set up offices in the country, while the talks between the ministry are ongoing with Meta.

  • Pakistan’s 1st Animal Rights Curriculum launched

    Pakistan’s 1st Animal Rights Curriculum launched

    Pakistan’s first animal rights curriculum has been launched by Federal Minister for Education, Rana Tanveer. The curriculum will teach kids about the responsibilities of keeping pets and to treat stray animals with compassion.
    The curriculum is being
    launched on the directions of Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif to counter cruelty against animals. The curriculum includes chapters on animal rights and how Islam also forbids mistreatment of animals. It will be taught in private and public schools.

    Head of Prime Minister’s Strategic Reforms Unit, Salman Sufi, while talking to The Current said, “Never in Pakistan’s history was any attention was given to animal rights. It was always a neglected subject, and given the situation of animals in Pakistan- the abuse of donkeys and pets- this curriculum will pave a way for our future generations to be better than we are.”

    “So this will change how Pakistan and its citizens treat animals because our children will learn from this and our future generation will be in a much better place to have a tolerant society than we ever had,” he stated.

  • Meta introduces Stars for Pakistani content creators to monetize content

    Meta introduces Stars for Pakistani content creators to monetize content

    All Pakistani content creators who meet the requirements can now use Facebook Stars, Meta’s monetization tool, to connect with their viewers and grow their businesses.

    According to Express Tribune, Pakistani online content creators will be able to sign up, monitor their profits by content type, manage their goals, and access other Stars settings thanks to Stars, a digital tool that fans can buy and send to support creators.

    This feature is accessible in a variety of media, including Facebook Live, on-demand videos, photographs, and text updates.

    “Helping creators to build community and turn their passions into professions is a key part of our continued investment in Pakistan,“ said Jordi Fornies, Meta’s Director of Emerging Markets for the Asia Pacific region. “Today, we are thrilled to announce that Facebook Stars is open to all eligible creators in Pakistan, so more people can start earning while they grow their creativity, audience, and careers.”

    Reels introduced short-form, amusing video experiences and tools to creators and fans earlier this year when Meta debuted it in Pakistan. The fastest-growing content format on Meta platforms right now is reels. Every day, Reels are played on Facebook and Instagram in excess of 140 billion times.

    “We are encouraged to see Meta’s contribution to supporting local businesses in Pakistan and opening up different ways for Pakistani content creators to generate meaningful, reliable revenue on their platforms. We hope the Stars program will create new opportunities to monetize and play a role in strengthening the country’s digital economy,” said Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, the Foreign Minister of Pakistan, during his visit to the Meta regional office in Singapore today.

    The following eligibility requirements must be met in order for any Pakistani creative with at least 1,000 online followers over the previous 60 days to start getting Stars from their fans.

    “So wonderful to see Stars has launched in Pakistan, giving more creators like me on Facebook and Reels the opportunity to build community and earn money through doing what we love,” said Danish Ali, Pakistani content creator.

    “I’m excited for creators in Pakistan to start using Stars to generate an income and build deeper connections with their audiences as they grow on Facebook,” he added.

  • Bushra Bibi’s bestie Farah left Pakistan right after Khan was removed as PM

    Bushra Bibi’s bestie Farah left Pakistan right after Khan was removed as PM

    Farah Khan, a close friend of former First Lady Bushra Bibi, left Pakistan nearly 20 days after former Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan was removed from power, it has been revealed.

    Farah left the country on April 29 on a private jet owned by a private firm in Pakistan, reports Naeem Hanif for Samaa News, 19 days after Imran Khan was removed through a no-confidence motion.

    The news report has revealed that on her way out of Pakistan, she was accompanied by two people— Zainab Bashir and Muhammad Zoraiz Malik. According to the news outlet, Farah most likely used one of her foreign passports to travel out of the country.

    It is pertinent to mention that Farah is the prime suspect in Toshakhana reference.

    Last month, Dubai-based businessman Umar Farooq Zahoor claimed that he had bought an expensive Graff set— gifted to Imran Khan by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in 2019— through former accoun­ta­bility minister Shahzad Akbar and Farah Khan. He said that he had paid the equivalent of $2 million in cash for the set.

    Earlier, The News reported that Farah’s wealth grew exponentially within the first three years since former PM Khan formed his government. Her total declared assets grew four times from Rs231 million in 2017 to Rs971 million in 2021.

  • ‘Preparations to welcome Nawaz Sharif underway’: Sanaullah

    ‘Preparations to welcome Nawaz Sharif underway’: Sanaullah

    Federal Interior Minister, Rana Sanaullah, has said that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has started preparations to welcome home party supremo Nawaz Sharif.

    Sanaullah has claimed that the former Prime Minister would return to the country to lead PML-N’s election campaign the day election schedule is announced.

    The interior minister reiterated that general elections in Pakistan will be held in October next year as the government refused to succumb to pressure through dissolution of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Punjab assemblies.

    Sanaullah dared Imran Khan, the Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), to stop vacillating and dissolve KP and Punjab assemblies. He reiterated that polling will be held within three months.

    “We will beat you in Punjab elections, and you will not find any place to hide your face,” he challenged PTI chief.