Author: newsdesk

  • Bollywood’s Chitrangada Singh opens up on resemblance with Mehwish Hayat

    Bollywood’s Chitrangada Singh opens up on resemblance with Mehwish Hayat

    Bollywood actress Chitrangada Singh was recently asked about her resemblance to the Pakistani star-actor Mehwish Hayat, who is riding high on the success of Ms Marvel and London Nahi Jaunga.

    The Bollywood star, in an interview addressed the resemblance with Hayat, “I keep getting tagged on Instagram saying that she’s my doppelganger and fans keep telling us that we look alike, or ask if we’re twins or sisters.”

    Mehwish Hayat finds her doppelgänger in Bollywood

    Singh added, “I haven’t seen Mehwish Hayat’s work in Ms. Marvel yet, but she’s beautiful and lovely. I do think that sometimes there is a look that is very similar – I do agree that there is a resemblance. Let’s just say that we’re both very hot women.”

    Taking to Instagram, the Punjab Nahi Jaungi diva recently shared a video of herself training at the gym. In the caption, Hayat wrote: “Now bring it on Nimra Bucha aka Najma, Aisha is getting ready!”

    Bollywood singer Honey Singh commented on Mehwish’s training video: “Brilliant.”

    Mehwish Hayat gets an admirer in Bollywood's Honey Singh

    In June 2022, Indian actor and singer Gippy Grewal took to his Instagram handle to praise the trailer of Mehwish’s Eid-ul-Azha release, London Nahi Jaunga.

    In 2020 also, the Carry On Jatta star said while speaking to the local media in Pakistan, Gippy said that he has seen Punjab Nahi Jaungi and would like to work with Mehwish.

  • Islamabad Traffic Police organises internship programme for university students

    Islamabad Traffic Police organises internship programme for university students

    15 students from the 14th batch of the Capital University of Science and Technology (CUST) participated in the internship programme that the Islamabad Traffic Police (ITP) organised on the directives of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP).

    According to the SP Traffic, during the internship programme, students will be introduced to the various departments and functions, as well as the work related to capital police, including a technical overview, radio production, on-air training and broadcasting, road safety workshops and seminars, licencing overview, on-field operations, awareness, and training related to education.

    Dr Syed Mustafa Tanweer, SSP Traffic, stated that Islamabad Capital Police has always regarded students as the most important group and that ITP fully believes that students play a crucial part in the development of any nation.

    He said that the goal of this internship programme was to advance community policing.

    According to the SP Traffic, during the internship programme, students will be introduced to the various departments and functions, as well as the work related to capital police, including a technical overview, radio production, on-air training and broadcasting, road safety workshops and seminars, licencing overview, on-field operations, awareness, and training related to education.

    Dr Syed Mustafa Tanweer, SSP Traffic, stated that Islamabad Capital Police has always regarded students as the most important group and that ITP fully believes that students play a crucial part in the development of any nation.

    According to him, the goal of this internship programme was to advance community policing.

  • Karachi among South Asia’s top 10 start-up-friendly cities: Report

    Karachi among South Asia’s top 10 start-up-friendly cities: Report

    Karachi has been ranked in the top 10 start-up-friendly South Asian cities in Blink’s Startup Ecosystem Report 2022. Karachi has emerged as the highest-ranked city in Pakistan, taking the position away from Lahore.

    Karachi’s position has moved up in South Asia but globally it lost five spots to rank 291st. Lahore dropped a heartbreaking 48 positions to rank 305th whereas Islamabad dropped one position to 438th. This year has not been good for city rankings of smaller Pakistani cities – Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, Multan, and Jhelum are out of the global top 1,000, leaving Pakistan with only three ranked cities, versus seven in 2021.

    Pakistan has dropped one spot in 2022 to rank 76th globally and maintains its second rank in South Asia. Pakistan is ranked fourth in the CAREC (Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation Program) business region.

    Pakistan’s overview:

    “With a population of over 220 million, Pakistan’s economy has massive potential to grow. For this to happen, digitalisation and successful startups will be a critical element. Amid the Covid-19 pandemic, digital entrepreneurship increased side by side with investment in local startups,” says the report.

    The report further states that digital infrastructure in Pakistan has seen improvement with the introduction of broadband internet coverage, including 4G. All this came together with new legal frameworks that regulate and promote digital payments, investment, and credit under the State Bank of Pakistan’s Digital Banking Policy.

    “In addition, the government set up Special Technology zones offering several tax exemptions and incentives. Pakistan has come a long way with its legal framework, but there are still some areas that require more clarity when it comes to taxation or incentives for domestic investments. The country’s turbulent political climate is not helping to create certainty and stable policies to boost the local startup ecosystem.”
    As per the report, “The spike in funding and startups needs to be fuelled by talent with experience in scaling startups. To sustain this need, the country needs to come up with ways of providing its startup ecosystems with qualified and trained personnel.”

    The global rating evaluates the state of the startup economy and describes the dynamics of their growth and the main trends. This year’s report evaluated startup ecosystems in 1,000 cities and 100 countries.

  • This Apple Watch Series 7 clone costs less than Rs2,000

    This Apple Watch Series 7 clone costs less than Rs2,000

    On Pakistani online marketplaces, there are a number of replicas that are so similar to the original product that a layperson would have a hard time telling the difference.

    Apple Watch clone smartwatches, which are significantly less expensive than the original Apple Watch, are one of the most popular products in online marketplaces like OLX and Daraz.

    Here is the cheapest Apple Watch Series 7 copy version currently available on Daraz with a price tag of just Rs1,899:

    The seller claims that the ‘I7Pro Max IWO13 PRO’ is an IP67-resistant watch with a heart-rate monitoring system and 1.8-inch ‘HD’ screen. It is currently one of the cheapest Apple Series 7 clone smartwatch available in Pakistan.

    These smartwatches come in a variety of model numbers and brand names, and most of them are made in China.

    Lower grade replicas are more affordable ones. Smartwatches costing more than Rs5,000 can be thought of as slightly superior to ones costing less than Rs4,000.

    Read more: Cheapest new cars to buy in Pakistan

    The most intriguing thing is that despite many online shoppers knowing that these affordable watches don’t offer good quality or features, they continue to purchase them since the original Apple Watch Series 7 has a starting price of Rs90,000, which is significantly higher than what an average consumer can afford.

  • Man attempts suicide inside a mosque, policeman rescues him

    Man attempts suicide inside a mosque, policeman rescues him

    Trigger warning: Self harm/suicide

    A 55-year-old cloth merchant attempted suicide inside a mosque in Karachi. The man tried to cut his throat with a razor inside a mosque in Karachi’s Defence Housing Authority (DHA) after Friday prayers.

    “He availed a loan to support his drowning cloth business but failed to overcome the financial losses,” said his family.

    Clifton Division Superintendent of Police Rohail Khan said that the worshippers and the policeman deployed outside the mosque for security rescued Nisar from further harming himself, reports Samaa News.

    He was taken injured to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) for treatment. JPMC Executive Director Dr Shahid Rasool said the patient was stable but he has been placed on a ventilator for the time being.

    According to the JPMC Medico-legal Officer (MLO) who examined the patient, the man’s family said the patient was suffering from psychiatric issues and depression.

  • Annual inflation in Pakistan jumps to 38.63% after weekly increase of 0.82%

    Annual inflation in Pakistan jumps to 38.63% after weekly increase of 0.82%

    The sensitive price indicator (SPI) hit an annualised high of 38.63 per cent due to a lack of perishable goods brought on by severe rains, and weekly inflation increased by 0.82 per cent for the seven days ending August 4, 2022.

    The base for most cooked meals in the country is an onion and tomato. Onions increased in price from Rs75.41/kg to Rs94.2/kg while tomatoes increased from Rs74.07/kg to Rs82.91/kg.

    Data from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) indicates that the increase is attributable to the increased price of diesel (109.15 per cent), onions (107.95 per cent), pulse masoor (106.71 per cent), petrol (88.94 per cent), cooking oil 5 litre (74.44 per cent), mustard oil (73.89 per cent), chicken (73.42 per cent), vegetable ghee 1 kg and 2 kg (72.26 and 70.48 per cent), washing soap (62.62 per cent), pulse gramme (59.07 per cent), electricity for Q1 (52.61 per cent), gents sponge slippers (52.21 per cent), pulse maash (46.01 per cent) and garlic (41.16 per cent).

    According to The News, consumers are struggling with soaring food and fuel prices. Hi-speed diesel was being sold last August 5 for Rs117.58 per litre, but it is now Rs245.92 per litre.

    Various items in the SPI basket are given varying weightages. The goods with the heaviest weights in the bottom quintile are milk (17.5449 per cent), electricity (8.3627 per cent), wheat flour (6.1372 per cent), sugar (5.1148 per cent), firewood (5.0183 per cent), long cloth (4.2221 per cent), and vegetable ghee (3.2833 per cent).

    While the cost of firewood and electricity remained consistent, the cost of milk, wheat flour, sugar, long fabric, and vegetable ghee 2.5kg increased. Vegetable ghee 1kg saw a decrease in price.

    SPI is made up of 51 necessities that were gathered from 50 markets spread over 17 cities across the nation.

    Out of 51 goods, 33 (64.71 per cent) of the prices rose during the week, 4 (7.84 per cent) of the prices fell, and only 14 (27.45 per cent) of the prices kept the same.

    The price of onions increased by 24.92 per cent, tomatoes by 11.93 per cent, pulse moong by 5.72 per cent, pulse mash by 5.28 per cent, potatoes by 5.03 per cent, pulse masoor by 4.43 per cent, diesel by 3.78 per cent, pulse gramme by 2.69 per cent, eggs by 2.44 per cent, powdered milk by 1.61 per cent, gur by 1.53 per cent, LPG by 1.49 per cent, salt by 1.46 per cent, and garlic by 1.30 per cent on a WoW basis.

  • Dynastic politics: PTI slammed for giving ticket to Shah Mahmood Qureshi’s daughter

    Dynastic politics: PTI slammed for giving ticket to Shah Mahmood Qureshi’s daughter

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Vice President Shah Mahmood Qureshi’s daughter Meher Bano Qureshi is contesting the upcoming by-polls for a National Assembly (NA) seat vacated by her brother Zain Qureshi.

    She will contest the election from NA-157, Multan. Addressing a press conference, Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that they had filed nomination papers after the approval of PTI Chairman Imran Khan.

    “Meher Bano has a sense of the next generation. If we want to get our country out of this difficult situation, then mothers and daughters have to play a role because a mother has more sense of what will be the future of her child.”

    Meher Bano said that she has been working with the social media team of PTI since 2018.

    “My father has chosen me to keep Imran Khan’s narrative alive, contrary to tradition.”

    However, in Multan, PTI workers came to protest against their own party’s candidate, Meher Bano Qureshi, outside the Election Commission office and raised slogans of disapproval for dynastic politics. They argued that Mahmood couldn’t find anyone within the party for the candidacy.

    “First Mahmood gave a party ticket to his son, now her to his daughter,” they complained.

    A local PTI member, Engineer Waseem, who was also a part of the protest, said that if the party does not give him a ticket, then he would contest the election as an independent candidate.

    People on social media are expressing their disappointment over PTI continuing with the tradition of dynastic politics.

    https://twitter.com/Zara75520916/status/1555522618228445184?s=20&t=nDRe3scpPcj4cUJJzB3taA

    https://twitter.com/__Mugal/status/1555581107739004929?s=20&t=nDRe3scpPcj4cUJJzB3taA

    Reacting to the backlash, Meher Bano tweeted: “I have come across so many spreading fake news, doctored images and posters and attributing false statements to me. I wonder if it would have been different had I been a man. Anyhow, happy to work hard and prove myself.”

    Shah Mahmood’s son Zain Qureshi won PP-217 in the Punjab by-polls held on July 17. After becoming a member of the Punjab Assembly, he vacated his NA seat. His sister will now contest the election for the NA seat vacated by him.

    PTI Chairman Imran Khan himself has condemned and attacked the Pakistan Muslim-League (PML-N) and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) for dynastic politics on multiple occasions.

  • Video: Saba Faisal confesses to getting cosmetic treatments to look young

    Video: Saba Faisal confesses to getting cosmetic treatments to look young

    Senior actress Saba Faisal recently appeared on actor and host Sajid Hassan’s chat show. The Baaghi star revealed on the show that she has gotten cosmetic treatments like botox to make herself look younger.

    Saba Faisal Reveals Details About Her Cosmetic Surgery

     She said that she never goes overboard o the extent that her features change but it is a requirement of the industry and she does get it done. Saba and Sajid also talked about the quality of doctors we have who are practicing these procedures and Saba said that she has one reliable doctor whom she always goes to get her botox done.

    Saba Faisal Reveals Details About Her Cosmetic Surgery

    Faisal added that there is no shame in getting these procedures done, so she feels no need to hide it. Arguing against the taboo attached to these procedures, the actor said, “Why should I lie? I do get these treatments done, and there’s no shame in getting them done. As you age, if you can maintain your looks and look your best for however long with these treatments, then you should go for it.”

  • ‘Name the neutrals, have some courage’: PML-N’s Malik Ahmad challenges Imran Khan

    ‘Name the neutrals, have some courage’: PML-N’s Malik Ahmad challenges Imran Khan

    Pakistan Muslim League- Nawaz (PML-N) leader Malik Ahmad Khan challenged Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan and said that he should show some courage and name the neutral who gave him the guarantee that Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikander Sultan Raja will remain neutral.

    “You [Imran Khan] said that the neutral said to you that they take to guarantee that CEC will remain neutral. Now name the neutral if you have the courage to do so. Did Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa say this to you or your DG ISI General Faiz Hameed? Have some audacity and courage and name him. You claim to be a fighter, then name the person who said this to you.”

    “Show some courage and take names,” said Malik Ahmad to Imran Khan.

    Malik Ahmad’s comments came after the PTI chairman’s recent interview on Express News.

    Talking about CEC Raja, the former prime minister said that the neutrals guaranteed that the new ECP chief would remain neutral.

    “We were in a deadlock situation, that’s when the neutrals approached us and said that they will provide us with a candidate for the position of election commissioner and no will oppose him. We agreed to it. It was the neutrals who suggested Sikander Sultan’s name, I didn’t even know him. The moment his [Sikander Sutan Raja’s] name came out, people told us he is associated with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz [PML-N],” said the PTI chairman.

    “I approached the neutrals again and told them that he is associated with the PML-N, to which they said we take guarantee of him that he will remain neutral,” said Imran Khan, adding that we made a huge mistake.

  • Hurtful and derogatory comments on social media unacceptable: ISPR

    Hurtful and derogatory comments on social media unacceptable: ISPR

    The military’s media wing Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Friday condemned a social media campaign after the tragic Pakistan Army helicopter crash in Balochistan during a flood relief operation. Six military personnel were martyred in the tragic incident.

    “The regretful social media campaign after the unfortunate helicopter crash on August 1 has caused deep anguish and distress among Shuhada families and rank and file of the armed forces,” said the ISPR.

    “While the whole nation stood with the institution in this difficult time, certain insensitive quarters resorted to hurtful and derogatory comments on social media, which is unacceptable and highly condemnable,” said Director General (DG) ISPR Major General Babar Iftikhar.

    Speaking on Geo News programme ‘Naya Pakistan’, DG ISPR emphasised that this should not happen and that the elements spreading negative propaganda and rumours should be rejected.

    “Insensitive behaviour is unacceptable and should be condemned at every platform,” added DG ISPR.

    “We have been distressed since the accident on August 1. The propaganda has caused immense pain, particularly to the families of the martyrs.”

    “The derogatory and insensitive remarks were very hurtful. Especially when everyone was grieving. It was necessary to say this because we know everyone is standing with the Pakistan armed forces and supporting us. It is because of this support that the Pakistan Army is standing and is serving the nation day and night. Our people and their support are our pride,” said DG ISPR.

    “We need to look into these things in our society. The way campaigns start on social media is not right. We collectively need to dismiss and reject such elements from our society,” said DG ISPR.

    DG ISPR was also asked about reports and rumours if President Dr Arif Alvi’s absence from the funeral of the martyred military personnel was because he was stopped by families of the Shuhada from attending due to the “false and negative propaganda created by social media trolls”.

    “I think it is better that I don’t comment on this,” responded Maj Gen Babar.

    ‘Unnecessary controversy’: President Alvi

    President Dr Arif Alvi clarified his absence from the funeral of the martyred military personnel and tweeted, “There is unnecessary controversy on why I did not attend Janaza of the Shaheeds recently.”

    The president said that he is taking the opportunity to condemn, in unequivocal terms, the despicable tweets by those who are “neither aware of our culture [nor] our religion”.

    President Alvi said that he has called hundreds of families, attended funerals, and visited them to offer his condolences — stressing that he does not keep away during such occasions.

    “When the family members have cried, I have cried. There is no doubt in my mind that Pakistan is safe only because of their ultimate sacrifices. That is what makes me proud of Pakistan.”

    However, his tweets did not specify why he did not attend the funeral.