Author: newsdesk

  • Pakistanis buying 47% fewer cars due to rising prices

    Pakistanis buying 47% fewer cars due to rising prices

    Despite an increase from month to month in October, the total number of cars sold fell by 47 per cent to 39,700 units in 4MFY23 from 74,952 units as a result of increased prices, restrictions on auto financing and part imports, and high interest rates.

    However, the number of cars sold in October increased to 11,129 from 9,213 in September, a significant decrease from the 17,413 sold in October 2021.

    Assemblers have been allowed to hand over automobiles after the release of auto parts from the port as a result of the State Bank’s decision to increase the import quota, which led to a recovery in car sales as well as production in October.

    Honda Civic/City sales decreased to 6,416 units in 4MFY23 from 10,444 units during the same period in FY22, while Toyota Corolla and Yaris sales significantly decreased to 8,253 units from 19,214 units. Sales of the Suzuki Cultus and WagonR decreased from 11,454 to 6,779 units to 2,952 and 2,181 respectively. Sales of the Suzuki Bolan and Alto were unchanged at 1,469 and 13,464 units, compared to 4,012 and 20,773 units in 4MFY22.

    Jeep and pickup sales decreased by 45 percent, from 14,969 units in the same period last fiscal year to 8,234 units in July-October FY23.

    Additionally, the total number of tractors sold decreased by 47 per cent, from 17,386 units to 9,258 units, indicating a decline in agricultural activity.

    Compared to 2,011 and 184 units sold in 4MFY22, trucks and buses showed sales of 1,109 and 210 units, respectively.

    Sales of two and three-wheelers in the country fell dramatically, from 629,212 units in the same period last year to 412,111 units in the first four months of the current fiscal year.

  • Bipasha Basu, Karan Singh Grover blessed with a baby girl after six years of marriage

    Bipasha Basu, Karan Singh Grover blessed with a baby girl after six years of marriage

    Bollywood star couple Bipasha Basu and Karan Singh Grover, who tied the knot in 2016, welcomed their baby girl on Saturday. The couple announced the news on Instagram.

    They are currently on cloud nine as they are all set to hop on to their parenthood journey. The actress has been living her pregnancy days to the fullest, and she is leaving no stone unturned to make every moment of her life memorable. Bipasha has been serving major maternity goals, and needless to say, she’s the hottest mamma-to-be in Tinseltown.

    In a recent interview, Bipasha Basu revealed that she and Grover, have always wanted to have a girl. She also talked about how her life changed after getting pregnant and shared how this beautiful phase would evolve her relationship with Karan.

    “Karan and I were clear from the beginning that we wanted a baby. I don’t have any thoughts on why it is so late or why it took time. For me, this is the right time. I believe this is when we were supposed to have our baby. We believe in manifestation. From the time we have wanted a child, we have hoped for a baby girl. I know a baby is a beautiful gift, and we are supposed to be in acceptance of any gender, and the bigger picture is that, but we call our baby ‘she’. We believe it’s a she, and we have believed that since the time we decided to have a baby.”

    The Alone duo announced their pregnancy with a heartfelt note on social media.

    Bipasha Basu and Karan Singh Grover to welcome their first child; share a heartfelt note on Instagram

    The Dhoom 2 diva penned an emotional note about her new journey and posted photos from the recent pregnancy photoshoot featuring her baby bump.

    The couple is seen posing in matching white shirts in these photos along with a note saying, “A new time, a new phase, a new light adds another unique shade to our prism of life. Making us a little more whole than we used to be. We began this life individually and then we met each other and from then we were two. Too much love for only two seemed a little unfair for us to see…so soon, we who once were two will now become three. A creation manifested by our love, our baby will join us soon and add to our glee Thank you all, for your unconditional love, your prayers, and good wishes as they are and will always be a part of us. Thank you for being a part of our lives and manifesting with us another beautiful life, our baby Durga Durga”

    For the uninitiated, Bipasha Basu and Karan Singh Grover, met on the sets of the horror film Alone which was released in 2015, where they fell in love. They later tied the knot in April 2016 in a big fat Indian wedding in Mumbai.

    Bipasha Basu-Karan Singh Grover wedding reception, a flamboyant Bollywood gathering – The American Bazaar
  • Daily Mail defamation case: UK court directs PM Shehbaz to deposit nearly Rs8 million

    Daily Mail defamation case: UK court directs PM Shehbaz to deposit nearly Rs8 million

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was ordered by London High Court to deposit £30,000 (Rs7.8 million or almost Rs80 lac) through his lawyer by November 23 after the premier’s advocates applied unilaterally to the court to withdraw the stay application in favour of the trial proceedings to go ahead in Daily Mail defamation case, reports Geo News.

    This “stay” was agreed between all parties — Daily Mail publishers, Shehbaz Sharif and his son-in-law Imran Ali Yousaf — in agreement but then Shehbaz Sharif’s lawyers decided to withdraw the “stay” just ahead of the case management hearing where the dates for the trials were to be set.

    The purpose of the costs and case management hearing is to set directions for the case to proceed to trial and to consider the parties’ costs budgets, i.e. their estimated costs of the proceedings to a conclusion.

    The court has also asked Sharif’s lawyers to submit a comprehensive reply to Daily Mail’s defence within a month or the case could be struck out.

    Earlier, PM Shehbaz’s request for an indefinite adjournment, in this case, was denied by a court. The court had said that if PM Shahbaz and Imran fail to respond to Daily Mail’s lawyers in court, they would have to pay the defendant all the cost of the legal proceedings.

    In July 2019, renowned media law firm Carter-Ruck sued British newspaper The Mail on Sunday, online news site Mail Online and its journalist David Rose on behalf of Shehbaz Sharif for publishing a “politically motivated” article. The story, published on July 14, 2019, had suggested that Shehbaz and Yousaf “stole British taxpayers’ money” given to Earthquake Relief and Reconstruction Authority (ERRA) set up to help the victims of the 2005 Pakistan earthquake.

    Earlier this year, London High Court ruled that the article by reporter Rose carried the highest level of defamation (Chase level 1 – the highest form of defamation in English law) against both Shehbaz Sharif and his son-in-law.

  • Imran Khan’s security increased after assassination attempt

    Imran Khan’s security increased after assassination attempt

    Former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s security has been increased after an assassination attempt last week in Wazirabad.

    During the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) long march, Khan was shot at leaving the party chairman and other leaders injured, while one bystander lost his life.

    As part of increased security arrangements, concrete blocks have been placed around Khan’s Zaman Park residence, reports Dawn.

    Police check-posts have also been set up at the entry and exit points of Zaman Park and a record of visitors to the locality is also being maintained by the Punjab government.

    A special contingent of commandos from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) also reached Zaman Park on Friday to take charge of his security, while the number of local police personnel has been increased with the inclusion of policewomen, to frisk the women visitors coming to inquire after the PTI chairman.

  • Netizens react to Humayun Saeed’s viral kissing scene from ‘The Crown’

    Netizens react to Humayun Saeed’s viral kissing scene from ‘The Crown’

    Actor Humayun Saeed’s Netflix debut The Crown’s season 5 premiered on 11th November. The London Nahi Jaunga star is receiving rave reviews for his performance in the series based on the royal British family.

    While the local media and audience is glorifying Humayun’s reach as an artist, a section of netizens are criticising him for kissing his co-star Elizabeth Debicki in the show.

    Humayun Saeed Does a Kissing Scene in The Crown | Reviewit.pk

    Here are a few comments by netizens:

    Humayun Saeed Does a Kissing Scene in The Crown
    Humayun Saeed Does a Kissing Scene in The Crown
    Humayun Saeed Does a Kissing Scene in The Crown
    Humayun Saeed Does a Kissing Scene in The Crown
    Humayun Saeed Does a Kissing Scene in The Crown

    Earlier this year, Ahad Raza Mir has also come under scrutiny for locking lips in Netflix’s web series Resident Evil.

    Ahad Raza Mir Under Fire For Bold Kissing Scene in Netflix's Resident Evil - INCPak
  • ‘More excited than nervous’: Babar Azam on the final tomorrow

    ‘More excited than nervous’: Babar Azam on the final tomorrow

    Pakistan skipper Babar Azam addressed a pre-match conference ahead of the T20 World Cup final between Pakistan and England scheduled to be played on Sunday.

    “We lost the first two matches, [but] the way we came back the last four matches, we’ve performed very well,” Azam said at his pre-match press conference.
    “I’m more excited than nervous … there is pressure, no doubt. But it can only be suppressed with confidence and belief in ourselves. And for good results, it is important that one must do so.”

    Acknowledging that England is a competitive team, Babar cited India’s 10-wicket thrashing at their hands as proof of their aggressive strategy.

    “Our strategy is to stick to our plan and use our pace attack as our strength to win the final. Utilising the powerplay to grab as many wickets will be essential for the match,” he stated.

    The T20 World Cup final between Pakistan and England is set to be played at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), Australia on November 13 (Sunday).
    For the first time since 1992, Pakistan and England will play each other in an ICC World Cup match. In the 1992 ICC World Cup final between the two sides, Pakistan won the cup.

    The final still remains under a cloud as rain is predicted for Sunday. ICC has set aside Monday as a reserve day in case rain does not allow a full match to be played out.

  • All eyes on the COAS appointment as Gen Bajwa and President Alvi arrive in Lahore

    All eyes on the COAS appointment as Gen Bajwa and President Alvi arrive in Lahore

    President Dr Arif Alvi and Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa were in Lahore on Friday night as speculations ran rife on who will be appointed the new army chief. It is pertinent to mention here that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman is also in Lahore, recuperating from surgeries at his home in Zaman Park.

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif will soon return from London after consulting his elder brother and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz supremo Nawaz Sharif on the political quagmire in the country and the appointment of a new army chief.

    According to news reports, President Alvi has emerged as the leading figure in the army’s ongoing “backchannel talks” with PTI. He has already facilitated at least one direct meeting between Gen Bajwa and Khan at the Presidency.

    In an interview on Geo News’ programme “Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Saath”, PPP leader Qamar Zaman Kaira — whose party also holds an important position in the ruling alliance — said merit would determine who becomes the next army chief.

    “The [government] will appoint the next army chief from among the top-five senior generals,” Kaira said and mentioned that PM Shehbaz would return to Pakistan and deliberate over the matter with members of the government and PDM chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman.

    Lashing out at Khan, Kaira said the person against whom Khan had reservations was the same man with whom he spent four years in power.

    Earlier this week, PM Shehbaz and Nawaz Sharif agreed not to succumb to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) pressure, especially on Khan’s key demand for early elections.

    The Premier had a meeting that lasted for over three hours with his elder brother. Reportedly, Nawaz told Shehbaz to “continue doing his best to take Pakistan out of the economic crisis” and “not succumb to any kind of pressure”.

    Meanwhile, Khan has also reiterated his stance on appointing the army chief on “merit” and criticised PM Shehbaz for consulting Nawaz on this all-important appointment.

    During an address to participants of his party’s long march in Gujrat via video link, Khan said: “Whoever fits the merit, should be appointed the army chief.”

    “Nawaz Sharif always brings up the man who is beneficial for him,” Khan said referring to the appointment’s decision. The statement was in stark contrast to Khan’s stance of just a day earlier, as reported by Dawn, when he told journalists that, “They [government] can appoint whoever they want.”

  • ‘I am absolutely fine’: Rana Sanaullah sends message from hospital

    ‘I am absolutely fine’: Rana Sanaullah sends message from hospital

    Federal Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah has said that he is on the road to recovery after undergoing a couple of minor checkups and medical procedures.

    “To all those well-wishers who are concerned about my health after viewing my picture at the hospital, I am absolutely fine,” the minister said in an audio message on Friday. Earlier in the night, a picture of the federal minister lying on a hospital bed, hooked up to oxygen, had been widely shared on social media.

    “I had heart surgery almost 20 years ago in 2004. For patients like me, some minor procedures and a general checkup are essential every two to three years,” Rana Sanaullah clarified.

    “All my friends are welcome to see me when I am back home on Sunday,” he added.

    The minister was admitted to the Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology, also known as the National Institute of Heart Diseases (NIHD) in Rawalpindi, for routine procedures and health checks, according to the interior ministry.

  • PSX surpasses 43,000-mark on hopes of inflows from friendly countries

    PSX surpasses 43,000-mark on hopes of inflows from friendly countries

    The news that the country will get a financial package from friendly countries led to another bullish session at the Pakistan Stock Exchange on Friday.

    The benchmark index started the pre-Friday prayer session in the green, according to Arif Habib Ltd, but lacklustre activity caused the index to drop 96.39 points at the end of the session.

    However, as trading started again, the benchmark recovered. Following Finance Minister Ishaq Dar’s announcement of a $13 billion package from China and Saudi Arabia, investors started looking for equities. While significant activity was seen in the oil and exploration sector, volumes overall remained stable.

    The KSE-100 index settled at 43,092.95 points, up 191.68 points or 0.45 per cent from the preceding session.

    The trading volume decre­ased 20.8 per cent to 232.8m shares while the traded value went down 25.4 per cent to $34.4m on a day-on-day basis.

    Stocks contributing significantly to the traded volume included Cnergyico PK Ltd (21.1m shares), WorldCall Telecom Ltd (17.9m shares), TPL Properties Ltd (15.1m shares), Pakistan Refinery Ltd (14.8m shares) and Oil and Gas Development Company Ltd (12.5m shares).

    Sectors that contributed to the index performance were exploration and production (129.3 points), technology and communication (98.4 points), oil marketing (22.8 points), tobacco (13.1 points) and food and personal care products (12.8 points).

  • T20 World Cup Final: How much money will Pakistan get if it wins tomorrow?

    T20 World Cup Final: How much money will Pakistan get if it wins tomorrow?

    The T20 World Cup final between Pakistan and England is set to be played at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), Australia on November 13 (Sunday).

    The winners of ICC T20 World Cup 2022 will get a whopping amount of $ 1.6 million. In Pakistani rupees , the amount stands around 354,410,596.32. The International Cricket Council (ICC) has also revealed that the runners-up will get prize money equivalent to half the amount the winners’ get Hence, the runners-up team will get $ 0.8 million.

    The teams that lost the semi-finals, India and New Zealand, will also earn $ 0.4 million each.

    For the first time since 1992, Pakistan and England will play each other in an ICC World Cup match. In the 1992 ICC World Cup final between the two sides, Pakistan won the cup.