Author: newsdesk

  • Punjab IT Board develops more than 500 quality websites for different govt departments

    Punjab IT Board develops more than 500 quality websites for different govt departments

    For several government departments in the province, the Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) has designed and developed more than 500 official websites, 490 of which are in English and 18 of which are in Urdu.

    This was announced at a progress review meeting on Tuesday presided over by PITB Chairman Syed Bilal Haider. The meeting was briefed on how the PITB’s web presence team developed these websites with a strong emphasis on transparency and citizen facilitation, offering optimised performance, scalability, improved loading times, and responsiveness.

    According to The News, the Punjab government has been helping many ministries set up portals to increase the government’s online presence with the help of PITB. CPEC, Web 3.0, SMU, CM Inspection Team, PESSI, Punjab Portal, Punjab Examination Commission, Lahore High Court, Punjab Police, Excise & Taxation Department, Punjab Information Technology Board, Punjab Procurement Regulatory Authority, Finance Department, and Chief Minister Punjab are among the top 10 websites developed by PITB among many others.

    It was reported that these websites had received more than 8.5 billion hits overall. The Right to Information (RTI) Act of 2013 has been used by PITB to increase transparency. As websites are being developed, PITB instructs the relevant departmental officials how to frequently and independently update and manage the content on their own websites.

    PITB has assisted various government departments, including the Audit Bureau of Circulation, the Baluchistan Police, the Ministry of Information, Broadcasting, and National History and Literary Heritage, in addition to creating websites for the administrative departments of Punjab and their affiliated bodies. The services offered as part of this project are all free. You can visit the websites created by the PITB’s web presence team at pitb.gov.pk/web.

  • Nawaz Sharif will return to Pakistan in January 2023, says Ayaz Sadiq

    Nawaz Sharif will return to Pakistan in January 2023, says Ayaz Sadiq

    Ayaz Sadiq, former Speaker of the National Assembly and senior leader of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), has claimed that the party supremo, Nawaz Sharif, will return to Pakistan in January 2023.

    The PML-N leader made the claim while speaking on Geo News’ programme ‘Capital Talk’ while talking about his party head, who has been living in London in self-exile for the past almost four years.

    Nawaz will allocate tickets to candidates for the next general elections, Ayaz Sadiq said, adding that polls would be held in the country in 2023.

    “It seems that the assemblies would be dissolved between March-June 2023,” he predicted.

    The PML-N supremo had left for London in November 2019 following an illness in jail after then prime minister Imran Khan had permitted him to go abroad for medical treatment.

  • No food for chickens: Massive increase in chicken, egg prices expected

    No food for chickens: Massive increase in chicken, egg prices expected

    Due to the widespread shortage of poultry feed, poultry farmers and traders are worried that the supply of chicken and eggs may run out in a month.

    At an urgent press conference held at the Karachi Press Club, Chaudhry Ashraf, the central chairman of the Pakistan Poultry Association, former chairman Ghulam Khaliq, Sindh-Balochistan zone chairman Saleem Baloch, and others expressed their grave concerns regarding the non-clearance of soybean shipments that had been stopped at Karachi Port.

    According to Express Tribune, soybean and canola appear to be the two main ingredients in poultry feed, according to poultry owners. More than six lakh tonnes of soybeans that have not been authorised for export are currently at the port.

    Additionally, in conjunction with the purchase of soybeans, poultry owners have paid importers more than $44 million. In order to restart the feed supply to the nation’s poultry sector, the ministry of food security and other ministries should right away resolve their conflict with soybean importers and issue orders for the clearance of soybeans at the port.

    Presently, poultry owners in Pakistan generate 3.5 million eggs each day from 3.8 million chickens. If the problem of feed supply for the poultry industry is not immediately addressed, there is a potential that the supply of chicken and eggs may stop within a month.

    More than 50 per cent of the poultry business is currently closed. If this sector is entirely shut down, which would result in the loss of nearly 2.5 million jobs, there will be a greater risk of food insecurity in the country.

  • From watches to visas, is Imran Riaz and Moonis Elahi ka Twitter phadda never ending?

    From watches to visas, is Imran Riaz and Moonis Elahi ka Twitter phadda never ending?

    Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) leader Moonis Elahi and journalist Imran Riaz Khan have been engaging in Twitter fights since a while.

    Just as it seemed that the trading of barbs had died down, this morning Elahi reignited the feud again, tweeting, “Heard someone’s visa got cancelled due to strong links with criminal elements. He had to go back from airport.”

    Responding to Moonis, Riaz tweeted, “Take the name Moonis Sahib, my visa got cancelled. And yes take the name of the ones because of whom it got cancelled.”

    Moonis replied, “Imran sb It wasn’t meant for you.”

    Riaz calling Moonis “deputy wazir-e-alla” said, “I also know who told you, you enjoy things like this.”

    Their arguments started on December 2, after Moonis Elahi revealed that former army chief General (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa had advised his party to back Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) when the no-confidence motion was moved against former Prime Minister Imran Khan.

    Riaz, reacting to Moonis’s remarks, tweeted, “And the PTI people kept thinking that Moonis Elahi and Pervaiz Elahi were willing to accept the Chief Minister post because of their conscience’s voice and love for Imran Khan.”

    Moonis didn’t take long to Riaz, stating, “Do not worry. Your ticket is also ready and then you can takeover. And then @PTIofficial as well as others will understand.”

    The journalist reacted by criticising Moonis for “trading party tickets”, calling it the “family business” of the PML-Q leader. “By the way, how is Richard Mille’s wrist watch running which only costs Rs.75 million,” he said referring to a luxury brand of Swiss watches.

    Moonis fired back by denying he owns a Richard Mille watch. “Think they are overpriced. Since you are such a fan shall I send you one? Or shall I present it to you when you ‘officially’ join politics,” he asked the journalist.

    Sharing a picture of his watch, Imran said in a tweet that he liked his own watch very much, advising Moonis not to deny receiving gifts.

    “Ask Farhan about the watch. He will remind you,” he wrote.

  • Smog chutis: Punjab closes schools three days a week in Lahore

    Smog chutis: Punjab closes schools three days a week in Lahore

    The Punjab Government has ordered closure of schools of the provincial capital for three days a week amid increasing air pollution.

    The notification of three day weekly holiday was issued by School Education Department (SED). Sundays will count as the third holiday.

    “In compliance with the directions of Hon’ble Lahore High Court, Lahore, in Writ Petition No. 227807/ 2018 vide order dated 02-12-2022, it is notified that owing to prevailing SMOG condition, all Public & Private Schools in District Lahore shall remain closed on every Friday & Saturday, in addition to the weekly holiday on Sunday till further orders,” stated the notification.

    Additionally, it was stated that during school closures, the chief executive officer of the District Education Authority (DEA), Lahore, along with the relevant heads, would oversee the distribution of homework to pupils.

    Pakistan’s biggest cities have ranked among the most polluted in the world for the past week. Lahore, the capital of the province has been ranked as the metropolis with the most polluted air thrice in the past one week.

  • Saboor Aly breaks silence on alleged cosmetic treatments, makes revelations

    Saboor Aly breaks silence on alleged cosmetic treatments, makes revelations

     Actor Saboor Aly recently addressed the speculation about her getting whitening injections on The Talk Talk Show. Saboor revealed the truth on being asked by host Hassan Choudary. “Would you please clarify that you and Ali Ansari had whitening injections, which were misinterpreted?”

    “They were just the vitamins injections,” Saboor responded when asked about the problem. “We work a lot, we get tan and dehydrated, and that’s why we had. Had I been white, I would have been in every other drama and I would have turned completely white, but it’s not like that.”

    Saboor Aly Reveals Truth About Getting Whitening Injections | Reviewit.pk

    Saboor said that in the past, directors placed a strong emphasis on applying ivory foundation to every actress in order to make her look white, but that practice has since changed. Saboor claimed that although she is unsure of whether the trend has altered, she is now in a position to refuse it.

    On the work front, Aly was last seen in the blockbuster soap Mushkil.

  • British recipe for one-pot korma leaves a bad taste with Pakistani Twitter

    British recipe for one-pot korma leaves a bad taste with Pakistani Twitter

    “One-Pot Chicken Korma”, a recipe video from the well-known online food channel Tasty UK, was tweeted. It calls for rice, raisins, and spinach. Desi Twitterati came together over the dishonour of their cherished national cuisine after learning the recipe and name.

    The name “one-pot” gave the impression that perhaps they were attempting something novel, but we never in our wildest imaginations imagined this creative blasphemy against the cherished qorma.

    In response to this video, desi netizens launched a culinary war on Twitter, and the tweets are hilarious! Take a look.

    https://twitter.com/SahilBulla/status/1599654019026538496?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1599654019026538496%7Ctwgr%5Eaa4695bf6b844e888ffc1018182f306fb1ad48ad%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Ftribune.com.pk%2Fstory%2F2389581%2Fan-abomination-pakistani-twitter-disgusted-by-british-recipe-for-one-pot-chicken-korma

  • ‘Marriage is a risk, I prefer love over arranged’: Sajal Aly opens up about tying the knot

    ‘Marriage is a risk, I prefer love over arranged’: Sajal Aly opens up about tying the knot

    Actor Sajal Aly recently discussed her viewpoint and choice on marriage in an interview at the Red Sea International Film Festival in Saudi Arabia. The talented artist was accompanied by Jemima Goldsmith and legendary performer Shabana Azmi.

    When asked about her thoughts on love and arranged marriage, the Alif actress stated, “It is too early for me to say anything about love or arranged. But I just feel like, I just believe in love marriages, I just believe in love. And anyway, a wedding is just a risk be it arranged or love. That’s all I can say.”

    Earlier this year, Sajal shared her take on the meaning of true love while chatting with Hello Pakistan while shooting for its cover with her Sinf-e-Aahan costar Sheheryar Munawar.

    Sajal Aly And Sheheryar Munawar's Bold Photoshoot Goes Viral
    THE ART OF LOVE SAJAL ALI & SHEHERYAR MUNAWAR CONFESSIONS OF TWO OF THE BEST PAKISTANI ACTORS

    On being asked what love means to her, she responded by saying that “I am still searching for the meaning of love. I don’t have an answer yet.”

    In March 2022, Sajal officially parted ways with her ex-husband Ahad Raza Mir.

    This happened just days after Ahad’s Hollywood debut, Resident Evil.

    Ahad Raza Mir Under Fire For Bold Kissing Scene in Netflix's Resident Evil - INCPak

    Earlier when the news broke, actor Azfar Rehman asked netizens and fans of the former celebrity couple of to show compassion and grant privacy to the couple amidst the difficult time.

    Actor Azfar Rehman on Sajal Ali and Ahad Raza Mir's Divorce, Urges People to Show Compassion and Grant Privacy

    He took to his Instagram stories and said, “Divorce is a very difficult decision to take especially when the world knows about you & your spouse. We must show compassion and grant privacy to such couples… Kindly be understanding. And don’t bombard their inboxes with hurtful questions. Act responsibly. Thanks”

  • Indonesia bans sex outside marriage

    Indonesia’s parliament has approved a new criminal code that bans sex outside marriage—an act for which people can be jailed.

    Under the law, unmarried couples caught having sex can be jailed for up to a year. They are also banned from live-in relationships, with perpetrators facing jail time of up to six months. Adultery will also be an offense for which people can be jailed.

    The new code will apply to locals as well as foreigners with critics calling the law a “disaster” for human rights.

    However, the code will not come into effect for three years to allow for implementing regulations to be drafted. Currently, Indonesia bans adultery but not premarital sex.

    A 28-year-old Muslim woman said that she is now at risk for living with her partner for the past five years, reports BBC.

    According to international media, researcher Andreas Harsano, said there were millions of couples in Indonesia without marriage certificates, “especially among Indigenous peoples or Muslims in rural areas” who had married in specific religious ceremonies.

    It is pertinent to mention that these changes have come after a rise in religious conservatism in the Muslim-majority country.

    Several protests have also been carried out after the passing of this law. However, it’s expected that the new law will be challenged in court.

  • Auto financing in Pakistan declines for fourth straight month due to high interest rates

    Auto financing in Pakistan declines for fourth straight month due to high interest rates

    The number of outstanding auto loans declined for the fourth consecutive month at the end of October, according to data issued by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP).

    At the end of November, the total amount of outstanding vehicle loan was Rs345 billion, which is Rs0.1 billion less than the Rs346 billion number for October 2021. The most recent amount owed on auto loans is 1.4 percentage points less than it was in September 2022.

    Buyers have been compelled to put off making purchases due to a sharp rise in car prices, skyrocketing interest rates, different SBP efforts to slow down auto financing, factory closures of several assemblers in recent months due to import restrictions, and delays in the delivery of vehicles.

    However, a few new automakers have recently begun to provide immediate delivery of cars in exchange for full payment following the port clearance of their imported auto kits. However, their sales may still be hampered by high pricing and a sharp rise in the benchmark interest rate last month.

    The SBP is forecasting another 100 basis point increase in the key interest rate to 16 per cent, which will cause auto demand to remain subpar for at least the coming year.

    Consumers must now make larger monthly payments on auto loans because the benchmark interest rate has increased from 7.25 per cent to 16 per cent since September 2021.

    The average 40 per cent increase in car costs since September 2021 is one of the key causes of buyer concerns.

    For instance, the price of a Honda City manual is now Rs3.77 million as opposed to Rs2.59 million in September 2021.

    In order to prevent the sale of expensive vehicles, auto loans were limited to a maximum of Rs3 million, and the length of time it took to repay them was also shortened.