Author: newsdesk

  • HUM Network joins forces with American studio to film ‘Unmarriageable’ in Pakistan

    HUM Network joins forces with American studio to film ‘Unmarriageable’ in Pakistan

    In a groundbreaking move, HUM Network is teaming up with American production companies Traveling Picture Show Company (TPSC) and Rising Tides to bring Soniah Kamal’s bestselling novel. ‘Unmarriageable’ to life in Pakistan. This modern-day retelling of ‘Pride and Prejudice’ will be one of the few Western productions shot entirely in Pakistan, showcasing the country’s beauty and complexity to a global audience.

    The film follows the story of Alys Binat and Mr. Darsee against a universal backdrop of love stories, identity, and happily-ever-after told from a unique lens.

    The production team includes Carissa Buffel and Luisa Iskin for TPSC, Sadia Ashraf and Shahla Khan for Rising Tides, and on the side of HUM Network, Sultana Siddiqui along with Badar Ikram will join Kamal as executive producers.

    The script is written by Sadia Ashraf, who will also co-direct alongside James McMillan. The film is set to challenge stereotypes and showcase authentic cultural diversity.
    The American production company said, “We, along with our great partners, are thrilled to bring this beloved story to the big screen and to showcase the beauty and complexity of Pakistani culture to English-language audiences around the world,”

    Talking about the film CEO HUM TV Duraid Qureshi said, “HUM network has always taken the lead in taking Pakistani culture to new territories. Partnering with Unmarriagable film production is also part of this conviction. We shall continue to take our stories to the global audiences.”

  • Terrorist attacks surge in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: 76 police officers martyred in 2024

    Terrorist attacks surge in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: 76 police officers martyred in 2024

    Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police have been targeted by terrorists this year, with 76 officers killed so far.

    Police force in the province is frequently targeted by terrorists. This year, 76 police personnel have been martyred and 113 have been injured.

    According to a report by the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD), 23 police personnel were martyred and 23 were injured in DI Khan, 12 martyred and 12 injured in Bannu, 11 martyred and 32 injured in Bajaur, and 11 policemen martyred and 11 injured in Peshawar.

    Following the American withdrawal from Afghanistan, terrorists have reportedly been using thermal guns and other modern weapons against security forces in Pakistan.

    Government representatives indicate that the provincial government has begun equipping the police with modern weapons.

    Last year, 184 police officers and personnel were martyred, and 408 were injured in terrorist incidents.

  • Malala Yousafzai meets Pakistani athletes at Paris Olympics

    Malala Yousafzai meets Pakistani athletes at Paris Olympics

    Pakistani Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai met Pakistani athletes Faiqa Riaz, Jahan Ara Nabi, and Ahmed Durrani at the Paris Olympics. During the meeting, she encouraged the athletes and took pictures with them.

    Her husband, Asser Malik, was also present on this occasion.

  • Gaza wins: Belal Muhammad becomes first Palestinian fighter to win UFC title

    Gaza wins: Belal Muhammad becomes first Palestinian fighter to win UFC title

    Belal Muhammad has created history, becoming the first Palestinian-American mixed martial arts fighter to win a UFC title on Saturday. He snatches the welterweight crown from English champion Leon Edwards. His winning scores were 48-47, 48-47, and 49-46.

    Muhammad fell to his knees right after winning his 11th straight fight and getting the championship belt. He hasn’t lost a fight since 2019.

    The 36-year-old Palestinian-American fighter was born in Chicago to Palestinian immigrant parents.

  • Failed to qualify: Pakistani swimmers, shooters couldn’t make it to the finals

    Failed to qualify: Pakistani swimmers, shooters couldn’t make it to the finals

    The Olympics looks grim for Pakistan as four contestants don’t make it to the finals.

    Pakistani swimmer Jehanara Nabi finished 26th out of 30th in the 200m freestyle heat at the Paris Olympics 2024. Nabi did not manage to break through in the top 16. Swimmer Ahmed Durrani finished last in the 200m freestyle heats and missed the semifinals.

    Earlier, Pakistani shooters Gulfam Joseph and Kishmala Talat failed to qualify for the finals in the 10m air pistol event.

    In the Olympics, Australia is leading the race for medals at the Paris Olympics, winning three gold and two silver medals to take the top spot with five medals. Kangaroos won one gold medal in cycling and two in swimming.

    China is in second place, winning three gold and one silver medal, while Korea is in third place with five medals, winning two gold, two silver, and one bronze.

    All eyes are on javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem now who might take Pakistan forward for a win. He will compete on August 6.

  • Petroleum minister confirms gas prices will remain unchanged, highlights falling inflation

    Petroleum minister confirms gas prices will remain unchanged, highlights falling inflation

    In a recent press conference, Minister for Petroleum Musadik Malik announced that the federal government has decided to keep gas tariffs unchanged. He confirmed that consumers will not experience any increase in gas prices.

    Malik highlighted that the government’s economic policies are beginning to yield positive results. He reported a substantial reduction in food inflation, which has decreased from 48 per cent to just 2 per cent.

    Overall inflation has also dropped significantly, falling from 38 per cent to 12 per cent, with a continued downward trend anticipated. Malik stated that all economic indicators suggest the country is moving towards greater stability.

    The minister emphasised that the government’s primary objectives are to alleviate poverty, control inflation, and create job opportunities for the youth. He revealed that Prime Minister allocated Rs600 billion in the current federal budget to support the underprivileged.

    Development projects are being prioritised, particularly in underserved areas, to generate local employment. Additionally, Rs50 billion has been earmarked to protect 86 per cent of electricity consumers for the upcoming three months.

    Malik reiterated the government’s commitment to providing further relief to the public by enhancing healthcare facilities, digitising the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), and pursuing the privatisation of state-owned enterprises.

    Criticising the previous Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) administration, Malik accused them of distributing $4 billion to the wealthiest individuals during their tenure. He also addressed the issue of terrorism, asserting that while the government is working to combat it, opposition parties are criticising these efforts.

    The minister expressed disappointment with the opposition’s approach, which he described as destructive and confrontational. He specifically criticised the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) for its negative campaign against state institutions and its focus on sit-ins without offering viable solutions.

    Furthermore, Malik accused PTI leaders of inconsistency, recalling that they previously claimed their government was overthrown by the US, yet they are now seeking assistance from the same country.

  • Reducing financial burden on low-income groups remains top priority for govt: Aurangzeb

    Reducing financial burden on low-income groups remains top priority for govt: Aurangzeb

    Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said Sunday that the government is taking robust measures to improve the country’s economy.

    Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, he said reforms are being done in the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to increase revenue collection.

    He said weekly meetings are being held under the chair of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. He said that putting less burden on the lower-income class is the government’s top priority.

    Expressing gratitude to the Chief Ministers of all four provinces for supporting the government’s tax reforms agenda, he expressed hope that they will introduce tax legislation for the inclusion of the Agricultural sector in the taxation regime.

    He said without including the untaxed and under-taxed community in the tax regime, we cannot achieve certainty and ease of collection which is vital for economic stability.

    Regarding facilitation to the business community, Aurangzeb said claims worth 68 billion rupees have so far been now refunded.

    The Minister said notices will be sent through a centralized system, while field formations will be authorized to collect taxes accordingly.

    Mentioning the details of tax evasions and frauds, he said we have identified a tax potential worth 600 billion rupees that was not collected, out of which one billion rupees has been recovered so far.

    In customs, through misclassification, tax worth around 50 to 200 billion rupees has been identified.

    He urged the media to start a campaign against the under-tax and un-taxed community.

    The Minister said the government is also working on the simplification of the tax processes to facilitate the business and salaried persons.

    Through this simplified process, they will be able to respond to our system in a very simple and easy manner without the involvement of any tax consultant.

    Stressing the importance of rightsizing, the Minister said five ministries, including Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan, SAFRON, Industries and Production, IT and Telecom, and Health have been short-listed in this regard.

    He said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will take the final decision to this effect, he said.

  • Video: Shahrukh Khan scored fastest fifty in Tamil Nadu Premier League

    Video: Shahrukh Khan scored fastest fifty in Tamil Nadu Premier League

    In Tamil Nadu Premier League 2024, Lyca Kovai Kings captain Shahrukh set a record by scoring 50 off 17 balls.

    Chasing a target of 172 runs, Shahrukh came in to bat in the 13th over of the innings and hit two consecutive sixes in the 15th over.

    In the 17th over, he hit the bowler Harish Kumar for a boundary and two towering sixes and completed his aggressive half-century in 17 balls.

    However, the situation became interesting when they lost three wickets in four balls, and captain Shahrukh was also out. At that time, the team score was 168 runs in 18 overs, and eight players were out.

    Thanks to a four on the last ball of the last over, Shah Rukh’s team won this sensational match.

  • Assault incident against PML-N worker by a PTI worker turns out to be fake

    Assault incident against PML-N worker by a PTI worker turns out to be fake

    In a new twist to the story, the assault against Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) worker by a Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) worker, Aneela Riaz, turned out to be fake as it allegedly pre-planned, Geo News reported.

    According to police sources, Tahir Anjum and Anila Riaz, aka Neeli Pari, had a telephone conversation before the incident, and she also went to Anjum’s house.

    Both have, to the police, confessed that the entire incident was pre-planned. Interestingly, she was present at Tahir Anjum’s house at the time of her arrest.

    Earlier, videos emerged on social media in which Neeli Pari was seen assaulting Anjum by stopping his car and even tearing his clothes outside the Punjab Assembly.

  • Govt may withdraw free electricity, petrol benefits for officials to reduce financial pressure

    Govt may withdraw free electricity, petrol benefits for officials to reduce financial pressure

    The government is considering ending free electricity for officials, including bureaucrats, judges, and parliamentarians, to relieve the financial pressure on Pakistan’s struggling power sector.

    This move is part of a broader emergency plan being developed by the federal government to address severe financial challenges and prevent a potential default.

    The proposed plan could also involve removing free petrol benefits in the future. Given the country’s significant external debt and financial strain, these measures are seen as necessary for stabilising the economy.

     The plan includes providing electricity only to essential industries and businesses, and it also proposes reducing Maximum Demand Indicator (MDI) charges for factories.

    Additionally, there may be a review of the performance of the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) and the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra).

    The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has recently approved a $7 billion bailout for Pakistan but has raised concerns about high power theft and distribution losses, which contribute to the sector’s debt problems.

    Power Minister Awaiz Leghari has stated that the government is working to cut “circular debt”—liabilities from subsidies and unpaid bills—by Rs100 billion annually through structural reforms

    The power sector’s issues with theft and losses have led to increased debt and affected both poor and middle-class households. To meet IMF requirements, the government has raised power tariffs, which, despite record summer temperatures, has reduced household electricity consumption.

    In December 2023, the government stopped providing free electricity to officers in Grade 17 and above in power generation, distribution, and management companies. These officers received a pay raise to compensate for the loss of this benefit.

    This decision, made by the Cabinet Committee on Energy (CCoE) on October 26, 2023, was later approved by the federal cabinet.

    Overall, the government’s potential actions aim to address the financial crisis in the power sector and ensure fiscal stability amidst ongoing economic pressures.