Author: newsdesk

  • Corona Relief Funds: Auditors find fictitious purchases of items worth Rs881 million by KP govt

    Corona Relief Funds: Auditors find fictitious purchases of items worth Rs881 million by KP govt

    Investigative reporter Zahid Gishkori has revealed that the country’s top auditors have pointed out fictitious purchases, huge irregularities, wasteful expenditures, and losses to public funds of more than Rs3 billion by the health department of the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). According to a report published in The News, a special audit team of the Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP) found “fictitious purchases of items worth Rs881 million by the KP government”.

    “The auditors scrutinised the allocation of Rs8.8 billion made for the fiscal year 2019-20, including Rs7.8 billion released by the finance department KP government. Furthermore, auditors also audited an amount of Rs1.7 billion allocated by the finance department to the health department, home & TA department, and the Pandemic Response Effectiveness in Pakistan (PREP), KP, for fighting the Covid-19 pandemic,” read the report.

    “The auditors pointed to doubtful purchases of equipment worth Rs14.358 million, which included stockpiling and logistics, noticing irregularities in an amount of Rs1 billion, which was allocated for provision of death compensation under the relief package for frontline workers dealing with Covid-19.”

    The report also features irregularities in funds of Rs140 million, which were released to the Home and Tribal Affairs Department for screening of prisoners.

    “The audit team also pointed out that the management of PDMA incurred an expenditure of Rs62 million on the purchase of PPEs without any market survey. The audit team pointed to losses of Rs117 million public funds in the purchase of some specification cardiac monitors recommending a high-level inquiry for fixing responsibility and making good the loss sustained by the government,” stated the report.

    “The AGP also questioned non-supply of ICU ventilators despite payment of Rs43.425 million and non-supply of medical equipment worth Rs150 million. Auditors also recommended a doubtful award of contract and payment of Rs11 million to M/s Dawazai & Company, pointing out a supply of 400,000 substandard masks by M/s Protech Solutions to the PDMA accordingly.”

    Meanwhile, Finance & Health Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Taimur Khan Jhagra tweeted, “[The report is] confusing, misleading & irresponsible; this article is based on an on-going audit process in the province.”

    However, as per The News, the complete audit report has been sent to President Arif Alvi.

  • Six star-studded dramas announced with exciting themes

    Six star-studded dramas announced with exciting themes

    Ever since the pandemic woes have damaged the film industry’s progressions in Pakistan, the biggest of stars and technicians have switched to the medium of television. A boast of exciting ensemble casts are teaming up for exciting small screen projects.

    Here’s a list of six recently announced projects that audiences are keenly awaiting:

    Baddua

    Syed Ramish Rizvi, of Jhooti fame, will be directing this drama penned by Samina Ijaz, who has previously worked on Yaariyan and Kaisa Hai Naseeban. Muneeb Butt and Amar Khan will be starring in lead roles, reuniting after Choti Choti Baatein. The supporting cast includes names like Mehmood Aslam, Saba Faisal, Rubina Ashraf, Abdullah Ejaz and Komal Rizvi.

    Amanat

    Shahid Shafaat of ‘Tou Dil Ka Kya Hua’, has roped in names like Imran Abbas, Urwa Hocane, Saboor Aly, Haroon Shahid, Asad Siddiqui, Salman Saeed and Babar Ali in his directorial project. The shooting is almost complete and the drama can release by the end of this year.

    Jhooti

    Actors Farhan Saeed and Hania Aamir will soon be seen opposite each other in the upcoming drama serial Jhooti by ARY Digital and Six Sigma Entertainment. The cast includes names such as Zoya Nasir, Saba Hameed, Waseem Abbas, Osama Tahir, Samina Ahmad and Angeline Malik.

    Sinf-e-Aahan

    ISPR has roped in five leading ladies in their forthcoming drama titled as Sinf-e-Aahan which will be co-produced by Humayun Saeed and is to be directed by Nadeem Baig. The small screen mega project is based on the theme of women empowerment and has been penned by the acclaimed writer, Umera Ahmed. Sajal Ali, Yumna Zaidi, Kubra Khan, Syra Yousuf and Ramsha Khan will be seen in pivotal roles.

    Mein Haari Piya

    Written by the acclaimed novelist Qaisera Hayat, who was also behind hits like Alif Allah Aur Insaan and Saya-e-Dewar Bhi Nahi. Dunk director Badar Mehmood will helm this project. The show features a fresh pairing with Hira Mani and Sami Khan in the leading roles. The cast also includes Sumbul Iqbal and Hamza Sohail. Seeing the names attached to it and this new exciting pairing, we cannot wait to experience it on television.

    Ek Jhoota Lafz Mohabbat

    After a short hiatus, Baaji star Amna Ilyas is returning to television with a new drama. The actress will be seen alongside Junaid Khan, Emmad Irfani, and Aiza Awan in an upcoming Express TV drama serial Ek Jhoota Lafz Mohabbat. Amna will be seen playing the role of Aleeza, whereas Junaid will be seen as Maaz and Emmad will be portraying the role of Hassan, who is not only rich but is deeply in love with Areesha.

  • Man arrested for attacking 10 women who ‘looked happy’ to him

    Man arrested for attacking 10 women who ‘looked happy’ to him

    A man who stabbed 10 female passengers on a train in Tokyo was arrested by the Japanese police, public broadcaster NHK reported.

    As per reports, the 36-year-old man told the police that he wanted to kill women who appeared happy and chose his targets randomly. A woman in her 20s who was attacked is critical, according to the Japanese media.

    The Tokyo Fire Department said nine of the 10 injured passengers were shifted to nearby hospitals, while the tenth was able to walk away. All of the injured were conscious according to the fire department officials.

    The Japanese capital is currently hosting the Olympics, which end Sunday. The site of the stabbing spree was about 15 kilometers (9 miles) away from the main National Stadium.

    Read More: Bride calls off wedding after uncle injured in celebratory firing

    The suspect left his knife behind when he ran away, and later walked into a convenience store and identified himself as the suspect on the news, and said he was tired of running away. The store manager called the police after seeing bloodstains on the man’s shirt.

    Another local media outlet said he told the police he developed the intent to kill women who “looked happy” and stabbed a woman who happened to be seated near him in the train. He also told the police that he chose to stage the attack inside a train because it offered the chance to kill a large number of people.

    The suspect was also carrying cooking oil and a lighter, with which he allegedly intended to set fire inside the carriage, NHK reported.

    A witness at a nearby station where the train stopped said passengers were moving out of the carriages asking for help and shouting that there was a stabbing. Another witness told NHK that he saw passengers smeared with blood come out of the train, as an announcer asked for doctors and for passengers carrying towels.

    Paramedics and police immediately arrived at the station, one of the witnesses said.

  • Aima Baig hosts a luxuriant wedding ceremony for sister Komal Baig

    Singer Aima Baig hosted a lavish wedding ceremony for her sister Komal Baig in Lahore. Her fiancée and actor Shahbaz Shigri also graced the event and posed for the shutterbugs.

    Have a look at the pictures:

    Aima Baig wore brown minimal outfit and accessorised it with heavy jewellery.

    The bride did her entry in a very unique style.

    Earlier, Aima Baig hosted a dholkhi ceremony for her sister on which she was captured dancing on traditional songs. Komal and Salem had their Nikkah ceremony in December 2020. The Kalabaz dil musician made sure her sister feels special and that their guests enjoy the event to the fullest.

  • Sara Ali Khan reveals the reason behind Saif and Amrita’s divorce

    Sara Ali Khan reveals the reason behind Saif and Amrita’s divorce

    Sara Ali Khan recently appeared on Voot‘s chat show, where the Judwaa 2 actress revealed the reason of her parents’, Saif Ali Khan and Amrita Singh’s divorce. She stated on the show that her parents weren’t happy together and hence decided to part ways.

    The Kedarnath star stated, “It’s very simple. If you see there are two options, either live in the same house where no one is happy or live separately, where everyone is happy with their own lives and you also get a different kind of love and warmth every time you meet.”

    She continued talking about her relationship with them, saying: “I live with my mother. She’s my best friend and means everything to me. I have a father too who is always available on the phone and I can meet him whenever I want. I don’t think they were happy together ultimately, so I guess separating was the best decision at that time.”

    “They both are happy in their own world and lives, because of that their kids are happy too. All of us are much happier than we would have been for sure. So, everything happens for a reason,” added the Simmba star.

    Saif and Amrita tied the knot in 1991 and officially parted ways in 2004. The ex-flames have two children together Sara and Ibrahim.

    On the work front, Sara will be seen next in Anand L Rai’s Atrangi Re opposite Akshay Kumar.

  • Bride calls off wedding after uncle injured in celebratory firing

    A 22-year-old bride in Uttar Pradesh, India, cancelled her wedding after her uncle was allegedly hurt in a celebratory firing by the groom’s guests.

    As per details, Iram cancelled the wedding with Shahzad a few hours prior to the wedding, which was scheduled on Wednesday night after the accident took place.

    “How can I marry him? If his family is behaving this way in front of my whole family, how will they behave when I will be alone with them at their place?” questioned Iram.

    Soon after the girl announced her decision, her family members broke the groom’s car, beat his relatives and held them hostage for some time.

    The situation was brought under control after the police reached the spot.

    An FIR was registered and the woman’s uncle was taken to a hospital where his condition is said to be stable.

    Police officials told reporters that the video of the ceremony is being analysed to identify those who opened the fire.

  • Justice Athar Minallah expresses anger over TikTok ban, asks PTA for justification

    Chief Justice of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) Athar Minallah expressed anger over the fourth ban on video-sharing app TikTok by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and has asked the authority for justification regarding the ban.

    Chief Justice IHC was hearing a citizen’s petition against ban. During the hearing, CJ IHC remarked: “Why has TikTok been banned? If banning TikTok is the only solution, then Google should also be banned.”

    The PTA lawyer said that the ban was imposed under PECA in light of the orders of the Sindh and Peshawar High Courts. Chief Justice IHC Athar Minallah directed the PTA counsel to read out both the judgements and remarked that neither of the courts had asked for a complete closure of TikTok, but had rather asked to create a mechanism.

    TikTok was banned for the fourth time in Pakistan on July 21, 2021 for its failure to take down “inappropriate content”. Days before the ban, President Arif Alvi had joined TikTok to “spread the message of positivity & motivation for the youth of Pakistan“.

    For this first time, Pakistan blocked the video-sharing app on October 9, 2020. However, the ban was lifted after the TikTok management assured the Pakistani authorities that it will block all accounts repeatedly involved in spreading obscenity and immorality

  • Imran’s close friend Awn Chaudhry resigns after refusing to leave Tareen group

    Imran’s close friend Awn Chaudhry resigns after refusing to leave Tareen group

    Awn Chaudhry has resigned as Special Coordinator to Chief Minister (CM) Punjab on Political Affairs. In his resignation, Awn wrote that he was summoned to the CM House where he was asked to disassociate from Tareen group or resign. “My conscience does not allow me to abandon my association with the most loyal member of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) who served selflessly,” says Awn.

    As per Geo News, Awn Chaudhry was accused of lobbying for the Tareen group and recruiting new members of the Assembly into the Tareen group.

    Earlier this week, Punjab MPA Nazir Chohan, a Tareen loyalist, quit Tareen’s PTI faction, saying, “Jahangir Tareen used me.”

    

    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    ‘Couple Goals’: Manzar Sehbai flaunts love for wife Samina Ahmed
    
			
    ‘Couple Goals’: Manzar Sehbai flaunts love for wife Samina Ahmed
    
			
    Veteran actor Manzar Sehbai shared a picture of his wife Samina Ahmed and showered his love for her.
    

    Taking to Instagram, the Alif actor wrote: “Aap ki tareef main kya kahiye, aap humari jaan ban gye.”
    

    


    

     
    

    Earlier, he also shared a picture of his wife, saying “Queen of my heart.”
    

    


    

     
    

    On her birthday, Manzar also shared a heartfelt note for his “one and only Samina.”
    

    


    

     
    

    Samina and Manzar tied the knot on April 4, 2020 in a private ceremony that took place in Lahore. 
    

    On their first wedding anniversary, the Bol  star had shared another photo with Samina and wrote: “Today is our first wedding anniversary,” followed by heart emoji.
    

    


    

     
    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    Anoushey disappointed over preferential treatment for Zahir Jaffer, Mariyam supports Wishah Abubakr
    
			
    Anoushey Ashraf has expressed her disappointment over the preferential treatment for Zahir Jaffer by authorities of Adiala Jail. Zahir  was taken to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad on Wednesday afternoon for a headache.
    

    “Every time Zahir Jaffer asks for hospitals, bail and nice ironed shirts to wear to his trials.I hope the people deciding his fate remember, see and shudder when they think of this angelic face,” wrote Anoushey. 
    

    “I hope they can’t sleep knowing she’s waiting on them to deliver justice,” she added. 
    

    

    


    

    

    

    Netizens demanded the end of special treatment towards the alleged murderer, after which Punjab Jail Minister Fayyaz ul Hassan Chohan ordered prison authorities to stop  any preferential treatment for Zahir.
    

    Diyar-e-Dil star Mariyam Nafees has raised voice for Wishah Abubakr who has has accused her husband, Shahzawar Bugti, the son of Nawab Akbar Bugti, of domestic violence by sharing her private videos on social media.