Author: newsdesk

  • ‘Khud lagwa lo’: Merub Ali hits out at troll for a derogatory comment

    ‘Khud lagwa lo’: Merub Ali hits out at troll for a derogatory comment

    Actor Merub Ali, who was last seen in HUM TV’s Paristan has clapped back at a troll on Instagram. A netizen commented under her picture that she needs “3 drips”.

    The starlet responded by saying that “So you get them yourself, why are you mentioning here?”

    Earlier this year, Merub’s fiance Asim Azhar announced their engagement via Instagram, earlier this year to his rumoured girlfriend and longtime friend, Model Merub Ali.

    The pair posted identical announcements on Instagram on Sunday. “Shukar Alhamdulillah [Thank you God]. With the grace of Allah Almighty and our parent’s duas, we announce our Imam Zamin – engagement. May Allah SWT keep us protected and this happy forever, Ameen. Keep us in your prayers,” read their posts.

    There were many speculations prior to the announcement but the duo never confirmed their relationship publicly. In an interview, Ali said, “We’re great family friends and have known each other since childhood. My brother is his best friend and our mothers are best friends.”

    After, the announcement, congratulations began pouring in under both their posts from their celebrity friends.

    Last year Asim urged social media portals to not spread unverified news about his and Merub’s engagement.

  • In Pictures: Clingy husband takes pillow with his wife’s face on it on holiday

    In Pictures: Clingy husband takes pillow with his wife’s face on it on holiday

    A Filipino man recently went on a holiday with a pillow that had his wife’s face on it. Raymond Fortunado had planned a vacation to Coron in Palawan with his wife Joanne Fortunado. However, due to some work commitments, his wife could not go with him.

    The man then decided to take a pillow with his wife’s face on it along with him on the holiday.

    He clicked pictures with the pillow throughout the vacation. He took photos with it while shopping and while having breakfast at the hotel.

    He even got the pillow’s temperature checked at the airport in accordance with Covid-19 protocols. He also asked people to pose with the pillow for pictures.

    While talking about the idea of taking a pillow with his wife’s face on it, Raymond said, “I thought of [the idea] because I’m used to being with my wife, and we’re very clingy with each other.”

    Have a look at the pictures:

  • Toyota announces a massive price increase for all vehicles

    Toyota announces a massive price increase for all vehicles

    Toyota Indus Motor Company (IMC) has announced a massive price increase for all of its completely knocked down (CKD) units.

    Here are the new prices:

    Model Old Price (Rs) New Price (Rs) Total Increase (Rs)
    Toyota Yaris
    1.3 Gli M/T 3,039,000 3,799,000 760,000
    1.3 Gli CVT 3,249,000 4,039,000 790,000
    1.3 ATIV M/T 3,209,000 3,999,000 790,000
    1.3 ATIV CVT 3,379,000 4,209,000 830,000
    1.5 ATIV X M/T 3,449,000 4,309,000 860,000
    1.5 ATIV X CVT 3,659,000 4,569,000 910,000
    Toyota Corolla
    Altis 1.6 M/T 3,909,000 4,899,000 990,000
    Altis 1.6 A/T 4,099,000 5,139,000 1,040,000
    Altis SE 1.6 A/T 4,509,000 5,639,000 1,130,000
    Altis 1.8 CVT 4,499,000 5,679,000 1,180,000
    Altis 1.8 Grande CVT Beige Interior 4,859,000 6,149,000 1,290,000
    Altis 1.8 Grande CVT Black Interior 4,899,000 6,189,000 1,290,000
    Toyota Hilux
    Revo G 2.8 M/T 7,989,000 9,819,000 1,830,000
    Revo G 2.8 A/T 8,379,000 10,299,000 1,920,000
    Revo V 2.8 A/T 9,229,000 11,349,000 2,120,000
    Revo Rocco 9,729,000 11,999,000 2,270,000
    Toyota Fortuner
    Fortuner G A/T 9,959,000 12,489,000 2,530,000
    Fortuner V A/T 11,459,000 14,279,000 2,820,000
    Fortuner Sigma 4 A/T 12,039,000 15,069,000 3,030,000
    Fortuner Legender 12,679,000 15,839,000 3,160,000
    Latest Toyota Price List

    After declining for 10 straight sessions in the interbank market as the country’s foreign exchange reserves continued to shrink, the Pakistani rupee managed to make a small gain of a few paisas against the US dollar.

    Read more: Cheapest new cars in Pakistan

    The ongoing depreciation of the local currency has shown a significant negative impact on the purchasing power of the masses.

  • Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and wife face backlash for photoshoot during war

    Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and wife face backlash for photoshoot during war

    President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine has posed with his wife Olena Zelenska for Vogue magazine. The magazine described the cover as a ‘portrait of bravery’.

    The photoshoot has received criticism from around the world. Some are criticising it for being out of time and glamourising war.

    In one of the photos, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Olena Zelenska were holding hands with each other.

    In another photo, First Lady Olena Zelenska is seen posing with a broken vehicle with three Ukrainian soldiers standing guard.

    The photoshoot is receiving a lot of criticism. Have a look at some of the tweets:

    https://twitter.com/znik700/status/1552019830143782912?s=21&t=Bo55WxedBlW7JznavqvCNg

  • Punjab Assembly session: Who will be the new Speaker?

    Punjab Assembly session: Who will be the new Speaker?

    The Punjab Assembly (PA) session to elect its new Speaker has started today (Friday). Today’s session will be chaired by Panel of Chairman Wasim Badozai.

    The seat fell vacant when the previous Speaker, Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, was sworn in as Punjab Chief Minister (CM) after the Supreme Court’s (SC) verdict in his favour.

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Muslim League (PML-Q) have the majority in the Assembly, and have nominated Sibtain Khan as their joint candidate while the Opposition parties, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), have nominated Saiful Malook Khokhar as their joint candidate.

    Khan is currently serving as Provincial Minister of Punjab for Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries since 2020.

    Sibtain Khan claimed that the PML-N would “fail to cause any interruption” during the Speaker’s election. He hoped that he would win the contest “effortlessly”.

    PML-N’s Khokhar said that the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) will win. “They [PTI] will know who is better and who is a thief,” he added.

  • ‘My favourite Pasoori topped the charts for 85 days, now its Kesariya’: Alia Bhatt gets candid

    ‘My favourite Pasoori topped the charts for 85 days, now its Kesariya’: Alia Bhatt gets candid

    Alia Bhatt’s latest love ballad Kesariya has taken over the music charts in India. The song was recently in hot waters when called out for copying Pakistani band Call’s Laree Chootee, but while that’s contested, Bhatt came to defend her song by claiming that Kesariya has dethroned the global favourite Coke Studio song Pasoori.

    Amidst a promotional interview for her Netflix’s debut film, Darlings, Bhatt was directed with a question that asked how she feels after the massive critique Kesariya, which she calls her and husband Ranbir Kapoor’s love song, has gotten for including the phrase “love storiyan”.

    Defending the lyrics, Bhatt shared she believes its “great” however the song got attention from people. “I don’t think people are having issues with the song. I think it’s great. I think it’s lovely that there is so much given to even two words in a song. I think there was so much anticipation with the song that the ones who weren’t liking those two words just wanted the song to be so perfect.” 

    She further added, “Like we dethroned, which I want to say very proudly, Pasoori which is one of my favourite songs but it’s been number one for 85 days and Kesariya went straight to number one. I proudly want to scream on the rooftop and say this because any kind of attention to a creative unit, good bad, is attention at the end of the day and it adds on people knowing more about the film that’s about to release and it just shows that they care that much.”

    Bhatt recently added her name to the list of Indian actors who opted for Pakistani designer Faraz Manan’s couture collection for a public event.

    The Highway star recently shared pictures of her on Instagram in which the actor could be seen wearing Faraz’s dress.

    The designer also shared pictures of the Udta Punjab diva on the official Instagram handle.

    Deepika also opted for a dress designed by Faraz Manan.

    Earlier, this year in October, Shah Rukh Khan donned Faraz Manan’s white royal jacket on a shalwar kameez. The jacket was customised for the Don 2 star with detailed embroidery work.

    Faraz has alo collaborated with India’s top actors like Sridevi, Jacqueline Fernandez and Karishma Kapoor.

    On the work front, Alia is gearing up for the release of Darlings and Brahmastra.

  • Army chief asks US to help Pakistan secure early dispersal of loan from IMF: report

    Army chief asks US to help Pakistan secure early dispersal of loan from IMF: report

    Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa has appealed to the United States (US) to help Pakistan secure an early dispersal of $1.2 billion in funds under the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme, reported Wajahat S Khan for Nikkei Asia.

    Gen Bajwa spoke by phone with US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman earlier this week.

    “The IMF has already granted Pakistan staff-level approval for the loan in question on July 13. But the transaction — part of the IMF’s $6 billion Extended Fund Facility for Pakistan — will only be processed after the multilateral lender’s executive board grants final approval,” said the report.

    According to an IMF official who also spoke on condition of anonymity, the IMF is going into recess for the next three weeks and its board will not convene until late August. Because of the recess, no date has been set for announcing the loan approval for Pakistan.

    “There is a major difference between staff-level approval and board approval. Our stakeholders, the countries that take the vote as to whether they are supporting this or not, make the final decision. This is a difference. So the legally binding step is a board approval, not the staff level agreement,” said the official.

    Pakistan’s former ambassador to Washington, Husain Haqqani, said, “This reflects the Pakistan army’s concerns about the state of the economy. It also reflects that the Pakistan army chief is the authority with whom the global players feel the final word rests.”

    Haqqani said that Pakistan has developed a habit of getting on an IMF plan, getting quick access to a couple of tranches, but then abandoning the deals without making the important structural and systemic changes required for further financing. This has left Pakistan little leverage with international financiers.

    “The reason why the IMF program has been delayed is that Pakistan has a track record of not keeping its word with the IMF,” Haqqani said.

    “Gen Bajwa calling the US administration, if he has done so, suggests that he is assuring the US — and through the US, the IMF — that any promises made will be kept.”

  • Lahore Development Authority seals illegal commercial buildings

    Lahore Development Authority seals illegal commercial buildings

    On Thursday, the LDA’s Town Planning Wing carried out a massive operation against unpaid commercial fees and illegal commercial activity throughout the city.

    LDA DG Chaudhry Muhammad Ali Randhawa, who directed the operation, stated that illegal construction and commercial activity would not be tolerated and that action would be taken against them.

    The operation on Thursday involved sealing off illegal and unapproved commercial buildings and business centres in the neighbourhoods of Gulshan Ravi, Ferozepur Road, Multan Road, and LDA-controlled areas.

    According to chief town planner Shakeel Anjum Minhas, legal notices have already been sent to the building owners, directing them to correct the irregularities. He stated that “action will be taken against the buildings if the LDA notices are not implemented” and threatened to seal any structures that did not stop any illegal activity or respond to the notice.

    Director Shafqat Niaz Kang and Chief Town Planner Shakeel Anjum Minhas oversaw the operation. The Enforcement Wing and a large police presence were also present during the operation.

    Two officers were appointed and transferred as a result of LDA DG’s orders. While Assistant Director Muhammad Haris Ali, who was a Deputy Director in the Town Planning Wing, was posted to the Directorate of State Management (Private Housing Schemes) at his own pay scale, Assistant Director Tayyab Ali was appointed in the Directorate of State Management (Private Housing Schemes) at the Chief Town Planner LDA’s discretion.

  • ‘Every child deserves the chance to reach her full potential’: Malala at the Commonwealth Games

    ‘Every child deserves the chance to reach her full potential’: Malala at the Commonwealth Games

    Nobel Prize laureate and activist Malala Yousafzai attended the Commonwealth Games inauguration ceremony on Friday and gave an inspiring speech in Birmingham.

    “When I first came to this city, I had never heard its name but I would come to understand it through the doctors and nurses at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital,” said Malala.

    “Through the teachers who inspired me at school, helped my mother to learn English and taught my little brothers to drive,” she added.

    “To the library of Birmingham, through the friends, I have made, from my best friend Ellen, a lifelong Brummy – to the families that have come here from Zimbabwe, Hong Kong, Pakistan and beyond.”

    “Tonight teams from 72 countries and territories join the people of Birmingham to celebrate friendship across borders,” said Malala addressing the crowd during the Opening Ceremony.

    “The young athletes who will compete over the next few weeks represent millions of girls and boys across the Commonwealth – our shared hope for the future.”

    “A future where every child can go to school, where women are free to participate in society, where families can live in peace and in dignity.”

    “Over the next two weeks when we watch the incredible athletes of the Commonwealth Games, remember that every child deserves the chance to reach her full potential and pursue her wildest dreams.”

    “And now, it is my honour to say welcome to Birmingham.”

    Pakistan has sent a contingent of 103 members to Birmingham who will participate in 13 different sports.

  • Petrol, diesel prices may increase by Rs10-17 per litre

    Petrol, diesel prices may increase by Rs10-17 per litre

    Despite the fact that the prices for petroleum products and crude oil have remained largely stable, the price of petrol and diesel may increase by Rs10 to Rs17 per litre as of August 1, 2022. The depreciation of the Pakistani rupee is anticipated to be the cause of the upcoming increase.

    According to The News, sources claim that without taking into account the petroleum levy (PL), a price increase of Rs10 for petrol and Rs16–17 for diesel has been estimated. Additionally, Mogas prices have been forecasted at Rs15 per litre and diesel at Rs23 per litre if the government increases the petroleum levy of Rs5 per litre on gasoline.

    The anticipated increase in POL prices has also been calculated without taking into account the ECC’s Thursday approval of an increase in dealers’ margins (DMs) on POL prices of Rs2.10 per litre for gasoline and Rs2.87 per litre for diesel to Rs7 per litre. Petrol’s price could increase by Rs2.10 to Rs17.10 per litre, and diesel’s price could increase by Rs2.87 to Rs25.87 per litre.

    The increase in dealers’ margin will take effect on August 1, 2022, if the federal cabinet approves this decision in the next two days. Industrial sources reported that the US dollar has increased in value by Rs40 so far this month.

    The current exchange rate against the US dollar is Rs239.9427, and the open market price is Rs246.15. However, they did say that the exact price of gasoline and diesel will depend on the exchange rate in force as of today (Friday).

    Since the price of crude oil as of Thursday settled at $99.4 per barrel, according to independent experts, Pakistani consumers won’t be able to benefit from the decrease in price of POL as a result of the rising exchange rate. The government seems more inclined to impose PL on both gasoline and diesel by Rs5 per litre each.

    Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) costs also rose by Rs10 per kilogramme on Wednesday without an Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority notification (OGRA).

    The chairman of the LPG Distribution Association (LDAP), Irfan Khokhar, told Profit that a household cylinder now costs Rs2,750 after an increase of Rs150, while the cost of a commercial cylinder has increased by Rs450 to Rs10,438 as a result of the unannounced price increase.