Author: newsdesk

  • Electricity prices increase by Rs 4.30, petrol by Rs.6

    Electricity prices increase by Rs 4.30, petrol by Rs.6

    The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has approved the decision to increase power tariff by Rs4.30 per unit on account of fuel cost adjustment (FCA) for November 2021.

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    The adjustment will be shown separately in the consumers’ bills on the basis of units billed to the consumers in the month of November 2021 by the XWDISCOs.

    Similarly, the government is likely to increase the prices of petroleum prices by Rs6 per litre this month. However, the Ministry of Finance is yet to make the final announcement, reports Geo News.

    It is reported that the implementation will be effective from January 16 after consultations with Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan. Recently, the government on the New Year’s eve had increased the prices of petroleum products to meet the petroleum levy target agreed with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

    The news came after PM Khan’s statement when he asked his party’s spokespersons to inform the masses that there is no inflation in the country.

  • ‘We made you PM’: PTI’s Pervez Khattak lashes out at PM Khan, Khan responds

    ‘We made you PM’: PTI’s Pervez Khattak lashes out at PM Khan, Khan responds

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan and Defence Minister and former Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Pervez Khattak exchange bitter words during a parliamentary party meeting chaired by the premier himself.

    It is being reported that Pervez Khattak said in the meeting that, “we have made you the prime minister.”

    “Gas is banned in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, we generate gas and electricity and we are the ones who are suffering,” said Khattak, adding, “We will not be able to get votes if this is your attitude.”

    After hearing Khattak, PM Khan got up to leave, and said that if you are not satisfied with me then I will give the government to someone else.

    However, while talking to journalists Khattak said, “No one spoke harshly, I spoke for my right.”

    When asked why Khattak got up and walked out of the meeting, he said that he was not angry with anyone during the meeting but went out to smoke.

    Today, PM Imran Khan himself came to the Parliament House and was presiding over a meeting of the parliamentary party before the National Assembly session.

  • Zayn Malik reacts to Indian fans surprise meals on his birthday

    Zayn Malik reacts to Indian fans surprise meals on his birthday

    From One Direction heartthrob to a major pop sensation, Zayn Malik turns 29 years old on January 12 and fans in India marked his big day by arranging donations to send out medical meals for those in need.

    Late Wednesday, Zayn took to his Instagram Stories to share a post from a fan account named @zaynie4u that showed them distributing meals to people in need at public hospitals on behalf of the singer as part of his project to birthday.

    “We have so far donated more than 100 medical meals to people in need who are admitted in government hospitals,” ‘Shelly’ the account owner explained in the caption.

    “What started as a Zayn’s birthday project turned out to be so much bigger than that. I’m proud and grateful to everyone who participated,” they added.

    Responding to the food drive, the singer lauded the effort, saying, “This is incredible. So proud of you guys – makes me happy. You’re the best.”

  • Committee summons ex-CJP Saqib Nisar to ask how Khan won the election

    Committee summons ex-CJP Saqib Nisar to ask how Khan won the election

    

    
    A requisition has been submitted to the National Assembly Secretariat for the meeting of the Standing Committee on Information of the National Assembly (NA).
    

    Former Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Saqib Nisar has been issued a notice to appear before the committee once again while the committee has also summoned ex-chief judge of Gilgit Baltistan Rana Shamim for the next meeting.
    

    Committee chairman Javed Latif also summoned former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), President Javed Hashmi, to the meeting and directed him to provide details of revelations regarding the removal of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supreme leader Nawaz Sharif.
    
    

    The committee has sought details from Javed Hashmi about Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s statement paving the way for the PM post. Javed Hashmi has also been asked to provide details about Saqib Nisar’s role in this regard.
    
    

    Journalist Ansar Abbasi, analyst Hassan Nisar, and Chairman Pemra have also been summoned for the next meeting. The committee has also taken notice of Hassan Nisar’s statement to shoot the person who took the name of democracy.
    

    It may be recalled that earlier, the Information Committee of the National Assembly had summoned Saqib Nisar and Rana Shamim on December 29, 2021.
    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    Pakistani cricketers send warm wishes to Kamran Akmal on birthday
    
			
    Pakistani cricketers send warm wishes to Kamran Akmal on birthday
    
			
    Former Pakistan wicket-keeper-batter Kamran Akmal is celebrating his birthday today and all Pakistani cricketers are sending him warm wishes on social media.
    

    The cricketer celebrated his birthday with his family. Posting the pictures on Twitter, Akmal wrote: “Late night birthday surprises are always amazing. Thank you my wife,kids and family for a wonderful birthday surprise!!”
    

    

    


    

    

    

    Several cricketers like Saeed Ajmal, Wahab Riaz, Fawad Alam, Hassan Ali, Ahmad Shahzad and others wished him on Twitter with sweet birthday wishes.
    

    

    


    

    

    

    

    


    

    

    

    

    


    

    

    

    

    


    

    

    

    

    


    

    

    

    

    


    

    

    

    

    


    

    

    

    His brother and batter Umar Akmal also wished his older brother on social media.
    

    

    


    

    

    

    Afghan cricketer Najib Zadran also wished him under his post.
    

    

    


    

    

    

    Akmal made his ODI and Test debuts during Pakistan’s tour of Zimbabwe in 2002 and the cricketer has taken more than 1400 catches behind the stumps and more than 250 stumps. This is the most by any Asian wicket-keeper.
    

    Kamran Akmal’s poor show in the Sydney Test led to suspicion and allegations of match fixing. In September 2010, the ICC sent an official notice to inform him that he is under investigation for fixing the Sydney Test. However, Kamran was absolved off all charges.
    

    Akmal also had reservations about his demotion in Pakistan Super League’s (PSL) seventh edition by his franchise Peshawar Zalmi and said that he is “humiliated” but the issues were resolved later and Zalmi cleared that he will “very much be a part” of the franchise, and that he will be playing for the team next season.
    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    Court declares NDMA responsible for Murree tragedy
    
			
    Court declares NDMA responsible for Murree tragedy
    
			
    The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has declared National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) responsible for the Murree tragedy which killed 23 people, including children due to carbon monoxide poisonous gas in their cars.
    

    The NDMA Chairman is Lieutenant General Akhtar Nawaz since 2020.
    

    During the hearing, the court asked the NDMA whether a letter had been written to the Opposition leader to call a meeting of the commission. At this, the official said the Opposition leader had not asked them to call a meeting, reports Geo News. 
    

    “You have failed, it was your responsibility to call a meeting, you were responsible for providing a national management plan to the area,” the justice told the management member.
    

    Justice Minallah said that had the NDMA ensured that everyone followed the law, such incidents would not have happened.
    

    It is also revealed that NDMA held its last meeting on March 28, 2018. To this court chief Justice Athar Minallah questioned that, “It is a powerful body. How come no meeting took place since 2018.”
    

    The court ordered Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan to call a meeting of the commission next week and directed the NDMA member to submit a report on the incident by next Friday.
    

    The hearing was called because of a petition by Hammad Abbasi, a Murree resident. According to him, on their way to Murree neither were they stopped and nor were they warned of the danger.
    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    Former cricketer Aqib Javed opposes PSL anthem
    
			
    Former cricketer Aqib Javed opposes PSL anthem
    
			
    Former Pakistan Test cricketer Aqib Javed has said that every year a new anthem of Pakistan Super League (PSL) is unnecessary.
    

    “There is no need for an advertising campaign; it is just a plain waste of money. Nobody wants to see singers,” the former head coach said while speaking to Geo News.
    

    Javed said that money should not be wasted on songs, there is no star bigger than cricketers and fans want to see Shaheen Afridi and Babar Azam, not singers.
    

    “But now, fans come to watch Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and other cricketers in action. There’s no bigger star than the cricketers. People don’t come before the matches to see the singers,” he said.
    

    He further added that now there is no need for publicity campaign. Fans want to see cricketers in action and the song “Groove Mera” which is popular should be permanent.
    

    Speaking about his team’s anthems, he said the franchise had released several songs, but none of the songs were as famous as the first one.
    

    He said that the proposal of PCB chairman Ramiz Raja to hold a four-nation cricket series was good.
    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    ‘We are in this together’: Australian cricket chief says if team tours Pak, ‘I will go with them’
    
			
    ‘We are in this together’: Australian cricket chief says if team tours Pak, ‘I will go with them’
    
			
    Australian Cricketers Association (ACA) Chief Todd Greenberg has told Australian cricketers that he will travel to Pakistan with them if the tour gets final approval but respects the wishes of “one or two” who might want to back out of the trip. If the team gets security clearance to travel, it will be Australia’s first tour to Pakistan since 1998.
    

    “I’ve made an assurance to the players that they won’t go alone. If they’re going to Pakistan, I’ll be going with them and I think that’s important. It’s an opportunity to show the players that we’re in this together,” Greenberg told Australian publication The Sydney Morning Herald (SMH).
    

    “The ACA accompanied Cricket Australia on a pre-tour of Pakistan late last year, and the reports were all very positive,” he further added.
    

    “But we’ll continue to take the advice of DFAT and other government organisations, as we need to be able to satisfy not just the players, but their families, that it’s safe to tour.” International teams have been reluctant to travel to Pakistan since the terrorist attack on the Sri Lanka team bus in Lahore in 2009.
    

    However, international players have competed in Pakistan Super League (PSL) and the West Indies also travelled to Pakistan in December 2021 for a Twenty20 series.
    

    Greenberg is aware that despite security assurances, a few cricketers might be unwilling to travel to Pakistan but he won’t force anyone.
    

    “There may be one or two players who won’t be comfortable despite the best advice we give, and that’s OK, we need to respect that.”
    

    CA chief executive Nick Hockley is also planning to travel to Pakistan for at least some part of the tour, while the interim chair Richard Freudenstein may visit for a period to meet with his counterpart Ramiz Raja, unless a new permanent chair is chosen by then, according to the report in the SMH.
    

    New Zealand and England had called off their tours to Pakistan ahead of the T20 World Cup last year, much to the disappointment of cricket fans in Pakistan.
    

    Chairman PCB Raja had earlier emphasised that cricketing nations need to back each other but said that “western bloc” was not helping the cause. He said he was expecting Australia to do the same what England and New Zealand did to them.
    

    It must be noted here that Pakistan will be hosting series with England twice in 2022. The Englishmen will visit Pakistan for seven-T20I series in September-October and they will return for a three-Test series starting in November, after the T20 World Cup in Australia.
    

    Pakistan and New Zealand Cricket Boards are also in constant talks to plan a series between the two nations.
    

    Meanwhile, the seventh edition of PSL is also set to kick start from January 27. International players from many cricketing nations will participate in the league.
    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    Slow internet woes: Man sets fire to internet equipment, gets seven years in prison
    
			
    Slow internet woes: Man sets fire to internet equipment, gets seven years in prison
    
			
    Authorities in China have sentenced a man to seven years in prison for setting internet equipment on fire after becoming enraged by a slow internet connection.
    

    According to NDTV, a man by the name of Lan in China said in a statement that the internet was so slow that he retaliated by destroying a public box containing optical fiber network cables.
    

    In a court statement, details statated that “the man used a lighter to set a napkin he had on him on fire, then burned down a telecommunications box at a traffic intersection”.
    

    Nearly 4,000 households and offices, including a public hospital, lost internet access for 28 to 50 hours as a result of the fire.
    

    “After the incident, public security officials seized Lan’s instrument of crime — a lighter,” according to the court in Cenxi.
    

    Lan was sentenced to seven years in prison for “disrupting public telecommunications facilities.”
    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    Can only travel visa free to 31 countries, Pakistani passport ranks 4th worst in 2022
    
			
    Can only travel visa free to 31 countries, Pakistani passport ranks 4th worst in 2022
    
			
    

    The Pakistani passport has been placed at 4th position in the category of the world’s worst passport for international travel in a list released by the Henley Passport Index 2022. 
    

    Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria ranked the top 3 worst passports in the world respectively. 
    

    Overall, the Pakistani passport ranks at 108th position in the world for the third consecutive year with visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 31 destinations around the world.
    

    India climbed up seven positions and ranked at 83rd on the list this year. India had previously ranked at 90th place after slipping from 85 in the year 2021.
    

    East Asian and European countries as usual dominated on the passport global ranking this year as well. 
    

    Japan and Singapore have been placed at the top of the list of powerful passports in the global ranking which allows travel visa-free to 192 destinations. 
    

    South Korea and Germany are placed in second place with total of 190 points whereas Finland, Italy, Luxembourg, and Spain gained 189 scores which made them into third place.   
    

    France, Netherlands, and Sweden moved up at one spot and joined Austria and Denmark in fourth place with a score of 188. 
    

    Ireland and Portugal received total scores of 187 and placed them in fifth place, and the United States and the United Kingdom rank in at number 6.
    

    Since 2006, the international firm, Henley & Partners has been regularly monitoring the world’s most travel-friendly passports under the “Henley Passport Index”.