Author: newsdesk

  • Arjun Kapoor praises Pakistanis for offering help to India

    Actor Arjun Kapoor who’s movie Sardar ka Grandson has been recently released talked about Pakistan and India’s relationship in a recent interview with Bollywood Hungama. He praised Pakistan and also mentioned gestures of love India had received from the people of Pakistan during the current COVID-19 crisis.

    “You should not forget that in the time of need [Covid-19 crisis], there was a helping hand and that should be respected in the bigger picture,” Arjun said.

    “This is one such time when emotions have resonated and people are coming together and leaving aside borders and whatever the political scenario might have been, one or two years back,” he added.

     “Except for cricket, we have friendship and I just hope that friendship is kept alive and maintained,” he said while talking about the relationship between both countries.

    He continued by saying, “Today, the obstacles are more; I hope some obstacles get eradicated. I can just hope and pray that the distance and vacuum that has been created go away and we are able to co-exist in peace.”

    Sardar ka Grandson also stars Rakul Preet Singh and Neena Gupta alongside Arjun Kapoor in lead roles and was released on May 18. It is “a story of a romance that spans seven decades and two countries, a story of sub-continental hustling and earthy ingenuity, a story of victory against impossible odds.”

  • PTI’s MNA justifies Hitler’s actions to show solidarity with Palestinians

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s Member of the National Assembly Kanwal Shauzab, justified the actions of Adolf Hitler during a session in Parliament. She was giving a speech about Israel’s atrocities against the people of Palestine.

    Kanwal Shauzab’s speech went viral on social media with many people criticising her for her anti-semitic comments.

    Zarrar Khuhro, who hosts a show on Dawn News TV, also explained discussed Kanwal’s speech, discussing how the actions of a man who conducted a mass genocide should not be used in a ‘positive way’.

    In her speech, Kanwal said that Adolf Hitler had said that, “I spared some Jews to let the world know why I killed them,” but Zarrar pointed out that the quote was wrongly attributed to Hitler.

    Many people on the social media also called out the MNA for her ill-informed opinion.

    https://twitter.com/schaheid/status/1395274659147419648
    https://twitter.com/ABjeezExpert/status/1395038410407088131
    https://twitter.com/LeanneMohamad/status/1394007317113360385?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1394007317113360385%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.dawn.com%2Fnews%2F1187254

    Adolf Hitler was responsible for the Holocaust, which took place between 1941 and 1945 and killed almost six million Jews in Germany and other parts of Europe.

  • Maryam Nawaz: the next Prime Minister?

    In a programme on ARY News, ‘The Reporters’, journalist Sabir Shakir said that PML-N vice president Maryam Nawaz will succeed PM Imran Khan as Pakistan’s next prime minister.

    “She [Maryam Nawaz] will become the next prime minister, in my opinion,” he said.

    “She can,” agreed Chaudhry Ghulam Hussain, another senior journalist who has critised PML-N in the past and has spoken in favour of PM Imran Khan over the years.

    Shakir said there will be a ‘break’ in the prime minister’s term, stating that he will lose the next general elections.

    “This is his first innings, he is learning how to play,” said Shakir. “Hence, he will lose first and will then emerge again stronger the next time,” he added.

    Another senior journalist, Arif Hameed Bhatti, said this was PM Imran Khan’s “first and last innings” as the prime minister of the country, adding that Maryam Nawaz can become the country’s next premier.

    Journalist Sami Ibrahim said that ‘politics demands performance’ and that giving lectures like Ibn Khaldun was of no use until rulers did not have any realization of the hardships that masses were facing

    Prominent journalists, who have been known for their pro-Imran Khan views over the past couple of years, think the prime minister will not be able to win the next general elections, making Maryam Nawaz a popular choice for Prime Minister.

  • PCB gets the green light from Abu Dhabi authorities for remaining PSL matches

    PCB gets the green light from Abu Dhabi authorities for remaining PSL matches

    The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has gotten the green light from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) government for the remaining 20 Pakistan Super League (PSL) matches in Abu Dhabi.

    The PCB will now hold an online meeting with the six franchise owners later in the day to update them on the progress made and also to finalise details, which will be shared in due course.

    PCB Chief Executive Wasim Khan said, “We are delighted with this development as the remaining hurdles in the staging of the remaining HBL PSL 6 matches in Abu Dhabi have been overcome and all systems are now good to go.”

    “We are grateful to the UAE government, National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority, Emirates Cricket Board and Abu Dhabi Sports Council for their support and patronage in ensuring all final obstacles were removed, which has firmly put us in a position to complete our marquee event,” he added.

    Read more – Andre Russell, Martin Guptill among lead names joining PSL6 in June

    “I take this opportunity to thank my staff for their untiring efforts and hard work that included sacrificing their Eid-ul-Fitr holidays in an effort to ensure the PCB honours its commitment to its fans to hold the remaining matches of the tournament in June,” Khan said.

    Khan also mentioned that the holding of the remaining matches in Abu Dhabi would allow fans follow and support their favourite players and teams through high-quality broadcast coverage.

    The PSL 6 was postponed after 14 matches on March 4 this year, after a Covid-19 outbreak was reported in the tournament’s bio-secure bubble.

  • Shahid Afridi shares heartwarming poem for Palestinian children

    Shahid Afridi shares heartwarming poem for Palestinian children

    Former Pakistan Cricket team captain Shahid Afridi has shared a heartwarming poem for the Palestinian children in solidarity.

    Read more – Asim Azhar, Shahid Afridi, Farhan Saeed call out Israel’s atrocities against Palestinians

    Afridi took to his social media and expressed his support for the victims of the deadly Israeli bombardment in Gaza City. He assured them that they are not alone amid this oppression.

    The poem read: “This message is for you, children of the land of Palestine. We are far away here, but our hearts beat with you, in the same way that the hearts of our fathers and their fathers, beat with your ancestors. All the knots of sorrow, anxiety, fear and worry are temporary. All avenues of grief are temporary!”

    Afridi shared two pictures with his daughter, in which they can be seen holding Palestinian flags in their hands.

    Israeli fighter jets continue to pound the Gaza City on Thursday. The death toll has increased to 227 Palestinians, including 64 children, in 11 days of violence.

    The United Nations Security Council’s effort for a ceasefire between Israel and Gaza remains stalled, with the United States continuing to veto action on the issue.

  • ‘Naya Pakistan Housing Scheme’ was made in ‘Purana Pakistan’, alleges journalist

    ‘Naya Pakistan Housing Scheme’ was made in ‘Purana Pakistan’, alleges journalist

    Prime Minister Imran Khan inaugurated a low-cost housing colony for labourers and industrial workers on Wednesday.

    The PM said the housing scheme for workers in Peshawar was launched in 2011 but it remained incomplete since then as it was not a priority because it was meant for the poor labourers. He said he wanted to see how much the condition of the poor had improved after the five-year tenure of the PTI government. This new project has now been put under the ‘Naya Pakistan Housing Scheme’.

    However, a report by journalist Izharullah sets the record straight about the origins of the scheme.

    
    

    The labour colony in the Regi Lalma area of Peshawar was approved in 2008 during the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) regime. Work on the project began in 2011, with a total of 1,200 flats. However, in 2013, construction of 1,000 additional flats was approved.

    The project was funded by the Workers’ Welfare Board, an organisation working for the welfare of workers, and funding for it was obtained from the Workers’ Welfare Fund set up under the same board.

    Addressing the inaugural function, PM Imran Khan said that the government had launched a ‘new Pakistan housing scheme’ under which the working class and the poor would get houses.

    At the time the colony was approved, there was a PPP-Awami National Party coalition government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Work on the labour colony began in April 2011, and was completed in 2020. Some work is still pending though.

    These flats were approved for labourers in Hattar, Peshawar, Takht Bai, and Haripur. These projects were later inaugurated in 2013 by the then PPP Provincial Labour Minister Sher Azam Wazir. The old name plates have been removed and the housing scheme has been inaugurated once again.

    Special Assistant to Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhawa, Kamran Bangash, tweeted that about half of the flats were started in 2011, while the rest were started in 2013. “However, due to the Workers Welfare Fund being a federal department, the funds of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were cut off during the Nawaz era,” tweeted Bangash.

    
    
  • IN PICTURES: Celebs in Karachi come out in support of Palestine

    Protests in solidarity with the people of Palestine were held in several cities yesterday, including Karachi. Mahira Khan, Sheheryar Munawar, Anoushay Ashraf, Faysal Quraishi, Mansha Pasha, Ayesha Omar, Sanam Jung and Hania Amir were spotted amongst other celebrities there.

    Have a look at some pictures from the protest:

    At least 227 Palestinians, including 64 children, have been killed in 11 days due to Israeli attacks.

  • ‘One SHO is enough for Jahangir Tareen’s group’: Faisal Vawda

    ‘One SHO is enough for Jahangir Tareen’s group’: Faisal Vawda

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Faisal Vawda downplayed the significance of the leaders who support Jahangir Khan Tareen, saying they can be handled by a station house officer (SHO) alone.

    Faisal Vawda criticised Jahangir Tareen on a talk show on ARY News, ‘Off The Record’, saying, “There is no doubt that Jahangir Khan Tareen is an intelligent and successful person. But he is not Imran Khan, for sure.”

    The PTI leader said Tareen earned respect thanks to Imran Khan, adding that whatever reputation he had was only because of PM Khan. Giving his own example the leader said he came into power because PM Khan’s name was associated with him. He alone could not have done anything.

    Vawda said no one should lose sight of their standing. He asserted, “Imran Khan is the leader and he will remain so and 50 million Jahangir Tareens, 500 million Faisal Vawdas, and 500 million cabinets put together could not create a single Imran Khan.”

    On Tuesday night, Jahangir Khan Tareen hosted a dinner at his residence and announced a ‘group of like-minded people’. The newly formed group has appointed PTI’s Raja Riaz as Parliamentary Leader in the National Assembly while PML-N’s Saeed Akbar Nawani will lead in the Punjab Assembly.

  • The trailer of ‘Friends: The Reunion’ is here

    The long-awaited trailer of the reunion episode of Friends is finally here with the show scheduled to stream on HBO Max on May 27.

    “The year is 2002, it’s Thursday night, and you rush home to catch the latest episode of Friends,” read the caption with the trailer. “Now get ready for it to happen all over again.”

    Friends: The Reunion is streaming May 27 on HBO Max.”

    Ahead of the reunion episode, the cast of the show spoke People Magazine in which Jennifer Aniston said getting back together for the reunion was “like a family. I don’t have sisters. It’s what I assume sisters are like.”

    The special reunion episode will feature a star-studded lineup including Malala Yousafzai, Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga, and K-Pop band BTS, British soccer star David Beckham and Game of Thrones actor Kit Harington.

    The reunion episode was originally announced in February 2020 and will star Jennifer Aniston, Lisa Kudrow, Courteney Cox, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry, and David Schwimmer together onscreen for the first time since the show wrapped in 2004.

    Friends aired for ten seasons between 1994 and 2004. It was also nominated for 62 Primetime Emmy Awards and won the Outstanding Comedy Series award in 2002.

  • Arshad Khan ‘Chaiwala’ to open 10 café outlets in UK

    Arshad Khan ‘Chaiwala’ to open 10 café outlets in UK

    Arshad Khan Chaiwala is planning to open 10 outlets of his Cafè Chaiwala in the United Kingdom (UK).

    After successfully establishing his own brand of Rooftop Cafè in Islamabad, Arshad has emerged as a quietly confident entrepreneur. In an interview with ARY’s Bakhabar Savera, Khan had also shared that he plans to open branches of Cafè Chaiwala across Pakistan soon.

    Now, Arshad has announced that he will establish his chai business in London as well. In a recent post on his official Facebook page, Arshad shared a photo himself along with the the announcement of opening a Cafè Chaiwala outlet in London.

    “Cafè Chaiwala will Insha Allah open its first Cafè outlet in London [by the] end of this year,” said Arshad. He also quoted Napoleon Hill, saying “Strength and growth come only through continuous effort.”

    Khan has signed a Franchise Agreement for running the business in the United Kingdom with two of his investors and affiliates. The agreement which is unique in scope, lays the foundations for Cafè Chaiwala Arshad to become a global brand.

    The first Chaiwala Cafè was first launched in Islamabad October 2020 and since then four franchise agreements have been signed. The two investors, Nadir and Yawer have considerable experience supporting and developing franchises with former based out of the UK while the latter is based in USA.

    The first Cafè Chaiwala outlet will open in London by the end of this year. Reports have further detailed that the first phase of the UK expansion will entail 10 outlets.

    For those who don’t know, Jiah Ali was the photographer who took the viral photograph of Arshad. Arhsad was working at his chai stall when Jiah discovered him selling chai in an open-air Sunday Bazaar. Jiah was stunned by his deep blue eyes and his model-like looks so she photographed him.

    She later shared her work on Instagram, marveling at his striking good looks. That’s when Arshad won gigantic recognition as the ‘Chaiwala of Pakistan’.

    From humble beginnings as a tea maker at a small dhaba in Islamabad to doing business on international waters, Arshad Khan Chaiwala’s journey from rags to riches is quite an exciting one.