Author: newsdesk

  • PTA to block unregistered VPNs across the country

    PTA to block unregistered VPNs across the country

    Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) plans to block all unregistered Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) in Pakistan, ARY has reported.

    The matter of VPNs was discussed during a Senate committee meeting on Information Technology (IT) and Telecom, chaired by Senator Palwasha Khan.

    Chairman PTA Hafeezur Rehman stated, “We’re receiving complaints against social media apps including TikTok (95 percent), Meta (65 percent), and X (formerly Twitter) (22 percent ).

    Senator Humayun Mohmand questioned whether using a VPN as an assembly member would go against the rules.

    Chairman PTA responded, “We are working to manage internet restrictions like Dubai and China.”

    “More than 20,500 individuals have registered their VPNs with PTA, and a campaign is underway to collect more registrations. Unregisted VPNs will be blocked later,” he warned.

    PTA has launched a one-window operation to whitelist IP addresses and register VPNs. You can register your VPN on the official website of the PTA Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB).

    The internet slowed down in Pakistan in July, and many digital businesses and freelancers faced issues and financial loss.

    According to a report, Pakistan’s IT industry lost over $300 million due to internet disruption.

    Fiverr, one of the most popular platforms for freelancers, also listed Pakistanis as ‘Unavailable’ for a few days.

  • Humaima Malick gives quick-witted response to a question on Emraan Hashmi’s trip to Pakistan

    Humaima Malick gives quick-witted response to a question on Emraan Hashmi’s trip to Pakistan

    Actress Humaima Malik gave a quick-witted answer to a question about Bollywood actor Emraan Hashmi’s visit to Pakistan.

    Famous Indian journalist Shehryar Faridoon interviewed Feroze Khan and her sister Humaima Malik online.

    Faridoon asked Humaima what she would do if Emraan Hashmi visited Pakistan, giving he two hypothetical options: Would she make him wear a burqa at the airport so he is protected from women, or would she ask all the women to stay home so she (Humaima) can spend some time with him alone?

    The actress did not choose any options and replied, “I will tell all the girls to go that Emraan Hashmi is coming, and Emi (Emraan Hashmi) will also be happy about it.”

    Humaima Malik said, “The option of bringing him from the airport wearing a burqa is an exciting option, but he likes to show off; he enjoys his stardom.”

    When asked what she would question Hashimi about in a podcast, she said, “How can you be so full of yourself? How do you do it?”

    She also said she would like to work with Bollywood director Sanjay Leela Bhansali if given the option.

  • Thrilling trailer of Alia Bhatt’s upcoming movie, Jigra, released

    Thrilling trailer of Alia Bhatt’s upcoming movie, Jigra, released

    Bollywood actress Alia Bhatt is back with an intense, thrilling role in her upcoming film Jigra.

    The short trailer released yesterday shows Bhatt in all her intensity as she takes off on a rescue mission to free her brother. The teaser is set to a cover of the old classic song ‘Phoolon Ka Taaro Ka’ and promises intense action and emotional depth.
     
    After their parents’ deaths, Bhatt and her brother, played by Vedang Raina, had to survive on their own. Due to their father’s suicide leaving a long shadow over their lives, Alia Bhatt’s character is determined to save her brother from everybody.The film, produced by Karan Johar and written and directed by Vasan Bala Jigra, will be released in cinemas on October 11.

  • Supreme Court bhi mehfooz nahin; two computers stolen from top court

    Supreme Court bhi mehfooz nahin; two computers stolen from top court

    Two computers have been stolen from the Supreme Court of Pakistan, the topmost court in the country.

    Geo News’ Arfa Feroz Zaki reported that an FIR of the incident has been registered upon the request of the director of IT department in Supreme Court in the police station of the Secretariat.

    The FIR states that the two computers were shifted to a room on the third floor of the building of the court.

    The Senior Deputy Director also shed light on the situation as he said that the two new computer systems comprising of a CPU and LCD were found missing from the room. The total cost of these two systems is said to be PKR 600,000.

    CCTV examination of the building has led to suspicion towards two employees, namely Faisal Khan and Zahid Iqbal.

    Geo’s sources say that Zahid Iqbal is serving as a driver for the Chief Justice of Pakistan whereas Faisal Khan is appointed as Naiq Qasid in the court.

  • Khumariyaan welcomes Pakhtun vocalist Obaid Khan to the band

    Khumariyaan welcomes Pakhtun vocalist Obaid Khan to the band

    Khumariyaan recently took to Instagram to announce that they have added a new Pakhtun vocalist, Obaid Khan, to their music band. The news was met with support by many fans.

    In the same Instagram post, the band shared that they aim to include “languages of our land”, i.e. languages of Pakistan, in their music.

    Khumariyaan, known for being an instrumental band, was founded by rubab player Farhan ‘Bogey’ Bogra in 2005 and officially became a band in 2009. Bogra has always emphasised that the band belongs equally to all its members, each playing a vital role.

    The group includes Bogra on the rubab, Shiraz Khan on the zerbaghali, Sparlay Rawail on lead guitar, and Aamer Shafiq on rhythm guitar.

    Over the years, Khumariyaan has represented Pakistan at international platforms, including the South by Southwest (SXSW) Festival in Texas.

    After over a decade of promoting music from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Bogra believes the band is ready to focus on promoting different languages.

    Obaid Khan, a 28-year-old artist and anthropologist, is the perfect fit because of his multi-lingual abilities.

    “Obaid has done his master’s in anthropology and has been singing and playing in KP for years. With him, we plan to promote Pashto, Kohistani, Hindko, and eventually even languages from Sindh and Punjab,” said Bogra.

  • ‘Tumhara baap bhi nai karskta’: Gandapur to Khawaja Asif on possible military trial for Imran Khan

    ‘Tumhara baap bhi nai karskta’: Gandapur to Khawaja Asif on possible military trial for Imran Khan

    Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur gave a hard-hitting, controversial speech at the September 8 party rally, even threatening Defence Minister Khawaja Asif by remarking, “Not even your father can do a military trial of Khan!”

    “Those whom you [Khawaja Asif] consider your father, they cannot do it [military trial of Khan] as well. He [Khawaja Asif] says that Gen Faiz contacted us after retirement. Did we get Gen Faiz in dowry or inheritance? He was your father…your general… fix your institutions and generals,” exclaimed the KP CM.

    Journalist Muneeb Farooq, speaking on the Geo News programme last night, revealed the military establishment’s perspective on the KP CM’s speech, saying, “Whatever they’ve said in the rally, the military reply is this: whatever is ‘inevitable’, PTI is pushing it at jet speed.”

    Farooq also quoted a high-level official regarding the stark difference between Gandapur’s speech at the rally and his soft-spoken attitude during meetings with the military establishment.

    “Ali Amin Gandapur may not stay in his post for long for many reasons,” predicted Muneeb Farooq.

    Furthermore, Ali Amin Gandapur also vowed that if Imran Khan is not released within two weeks, the party would “set him free” themselves.

    He also announced that the next party rally would be conducted in Lahore while inciting violence against CM Punjab Maryam Nawaz, saying, “Tumhara wo haal karenge kay tum Bangladesh bhool jao gay.”

  • 3,500 schools forced to shut down with shortage of teachers in Balochistan

    3,500 schools forced to shut down with shortage of teachers in Balochistan

    More than 3,500 schools in Balochistan have been shut down due to a shortage of teachers, the provincial education department has revealed in a written reply to a question posed by a Balochistan Assembly member.

    Balochistan education department also said that 542 schools have been closed since the new government led by Sarfraz Bugti in February came to power.

    Since then, the total number of non-functional schools for both boys and girls have jumped to 3,694 in all 35 district of the province.

    Currently, there are 15,096 government schools in the province, with a total of 48,841 teachers.

    The top seven districts with the highest number of non-functional schools are as follows:

    Pishin (254)

    Khuzdar (251)

    Kalat (179)

    Qila Saifullah (179)

    Barkhan (174)

    Awaran (161)

    Quetta (152)

    The document also sheds light on the closure of 13 schools in Dera Bugti, the hometown of Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti, due to a shortage of academic staff.

    A shortage of 16,000 teachers is affecting the educational structure of the province.

    The government has made efforts to fill the vacant posts and started the recruitment of 9,496 teachers but the gap is still intact.

    Notably, the reply by the education departement could not be presented in the house as the questioner was absent from the session, and the query was deferred till the next meeting.

    Balochistan Student Organization laments the deteriorating education system

    Dawn reports that the Central Committe of Balochistan Students Organisation in its meeting also expressed serious concerns over the deteriorating education system in the province.

    Organisation Chairman Balaach Qadir Baloch blames business and administrative corruption, poor planning and a culture of favouritism as the reasons behind the current state of the education system.

  • Pakistan’s two last-minute goals end match in draw

    Pakistan’s two last-minute goals end match in draw

    The match between Pakistan and Korea ended in a dramatic draw after both teams scored three consecutive goals in the last minute in the Asian Hockey Champions Trophy in China.

    Pakistan fought hard in the first half of their second match of the event against Korea. Pakistan made several attacks on the opposing goalpost from both sides, but neither team could score a goal.

    In the second half, Korea took the lead by scoring a goal, and the match slowly moved towards Pakistan’s defeat. However, on this occasion, Pakistan’s Shahid Hanan scored two back-to-back goals in the last minute to take the lead.

    However, a few seconds before the end of the match, the Korean player smashed the ball into the goalpost, and the game tied with two goals in a dramatic manner.

    On the first day of the event, the first match between Pakistan and Malaysia was tied with two goals each.

    The national team will play their next match against Japan on Wednesday.

  • Alina Abbas opens up about weight gain after ‘Noor Jahan’

    Alina Abbas opens up about weight gain after ‘Noor Jahan’

     
    Actress Alina Abbas Shah, star of the hit drama serial ‘Noor Jahan’, recently appeared as a guest on Aik Entertainment.

    During the interview host asked Fatemah Abbas asked, “After you cross your twenties, you start experiencing weight issues, body image issues, was it the same when you entered the media industry?”

    Alina replied, “Even if I lose as much weight as I can, the thought will always remain in my mind that I was 85 kg at that point.”
     
    Talking about body shaming, The Noor Jahan opened up about her struggle with body image and the impact of weight gain after her role in the serial,

    Alina said, “Maybe the clothes don’t fit, and what if I go back to being a size 12 or 14? I would still look big. That thought stays in the mind. You told me that now this thought is stuck in your mind. And then I stopped. I stopped. I said, ‘No, I’m not going to abuse myself and my body for anything or anyone.’ That’s what I’ve always loved. That should’s the only thing you have control over, right, and you’re ruining it, you’re abusing it. Why? Because people don’t like what they see, but you know, it did take a mental toll. It did, because I got really comfortable. I was a complainer, but I wasn’t doing anything about it because I myself couldn’t come to terms with the fact that I would have to work hard for this.”
     
    “Hard work is the first step. Making up your mind and going for it is tough. I used to run away from the gym, thinking I can’t do this, to hell with it. But after that, I think those comments actually helped me make up my mind. That I can’t keep living like this because I don’t like it myself,” Alina Abbas added.

  • I want to play at number 4, not on 7 or 8, says Iftikhar Ahmed

    I want to play at number 4, not on 7 or 8, says Iftikhar Ahmed

    Pakistan cricket team’s all-rounder batsman Iftikhar Ahmed said, “I performed at number four in domestic cricket. I want to play in the national team at the same number.”

    Speaking to the media before a practice session in Faisalabad on Sunday, the all-rounder said, “When you perform well, you get better opportunities. Preparing for the red ball, I got a chance in just one inning. I am trying to come back to red ball cricket.”

    “In ODI cricket, you must play by looking at the situation. Where power hitting is needed, I will do power hitting,” he added.

    He also said, “I am not a middle-order batsman but a tail-ender batsman, as I bat on number seven or eight. In the world, middle-order batsmen play at number four or five.”

    The Champions ODI Cup will start September 12 in Faisalabad, and the teams’ practice sessions have started.