Author: newsdesk

  • Three Pakistani cricket players test positive for COVID-19

    Three Pakistani cricket players test positive for COVID-19

    The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced that three players – Haider Ali, Haris Rauf, and Shadab Khan – have tested positive for COVID-19.

    The board said that the the players had shown no symptoms until they were tested in Rawalpindi on Sunday ahead of the Pakistan men’s national cricket team’s tour to England.

    According to a press release, the PCB medical panel is in contact with the three who have been advised to immediately go into self-isolation.

    Imad Wasim and Usman Shinwari, who were also screened for the virus in Rawalpindi, tested negative and will travel to Lahore on 24 June.

    Read more – Mohammad Amir reveals why he backed out of England tour

    The statement further added that “other players and team officials, barring Cliffe Deacon, Shoaib Malik and Waqar Younis, underwent tests at their respective centres in Karachi, Lahore, and Peshawar on Monday.”

    Their results will be announced as soon as they are received.

    “Until then, the PCB will not make any further comment,” added the statement.

    Meanwhile, PCB on June 12, had announced a 29-player squad for three Tests and three T20Is against England to be played in August-September.

    “An extended squad, including white-ball specialists, is being sent to England as the players, in accordance with series SOPs in the wake of COVID-19, will remain in England from start to finish,” stated a press release.

    According to details, the Pakistan Cricket Team is scheduled to depart on June 28 for Manchester, before driving to Derbyshire for their 14-day quarantine period during which they will be allowed to train and practice. Apart from training and practicing, there will be intra-squad matches to compensate for the lack of practice matches due to non-availability of local teams as the ECB is yet to commence its domestic season.

  • Areas in Islamabad to be sealed in 36 hours

    Areas in Islamabad to be sealed in 36 hours

    Deputy Commissioner Islamabad Hamza Shafqat has announced that following a sharp rise in cases in Sector G-6/2, G-6/1, G-10/4, G-7/2 and Ghori Town, the areas will be sealed in next 36 hours. The DC asked residents to plan their activities accordingly.

    Earlier, Sector G-9/2, G-9/3 were also sealed to curb the coronavirus cases.

    While talking to the Arab News, Islamabad’s Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Hamza Shafqaat told that the number of coronavirus cases in Pakistan’s federal capital has significantly decreased in the wake of the smart lockdown in the city.

    10,912 coronavirus cases have been reported in Islamabad so far.

  • Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, Maryam Nawaz celebrate Father’s Day

    Chairman Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and Vice President Pakistan Muslim League (N) Maryam Nawaz celebrated Father’s Day by honouring their fathers.

    Bilawal shared an image of a video call with his father, former President Asif Ali Zardari, and his siblings Bakhtawar Bhutto-Zardari and Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari on Father’s Day and commented: “#COVID Virtual Father’ s Day.”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CBtR-i6Jb7S/

    Meanwhile, Maryam Nawaz shared an old letter from her father Nawaz Sharif, head of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), and some pictures on her Twitter and Instagram accounts.

    The letter dated October 11, 2019, said that the National Accountability Beaurea (NAB) is taking Nawaz Sharif away in Chaudhry Sugar Mills case. Sharif tells his daughter to be strong and not lose hope in the letter addressed to his daughter.

    Read more – Maryam Nawaz shares the name of the book she read while in jail

    In an Instagram post, Maryam wrote: “I am at a loss for words for a befitting tribute but as they say ‘A dad is a daughter’s first love’… Yes, and the last …. And the only one …. because he becomes the standard she would judge everyone against and no one would measure up ….. I love and miss you Abu, every minute, every second. May you live long.”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CBs6y4HF-Fc/
  • Bilal Maqsood wants to make Fawad Chaudhry head of Ruet-e-Hilal Committee

    Bilal Maqsood wants to make Fawad Chaudhry head of Ruet-e-Hilal Committee

    Bilal Maqsood of Strings has said that if he was the prime minister of Pakistan, he would make Fawad Chaudhry the head of Ruet e Hilal Committee.

    In a Q&A session with his fans on Instagram, when a user asked Bilal what he would do if he was to become PM, the singer responded: “I will make Fawad Chaudhry the head of Ruet e Hilal Committee.”

    Ruet-e-Hilal Committee of Pakistan is the department that announces the sighting of the new moon. It is currently headed by Mufti Muneeb ur Rehman and assisted by 150 observatories of the Pakistan Meteorological Department and many religious scholars of different sects.

    On the other hand, Chaudhry who is the Minister for Science and Technology recently launched Pakistan’s first official Moon-sighting website and Hijri Calendar. He also said: “In my opinion, Ruet-Hilal Committee is no longer required (for moon-sighting).” 

    The minister faced a lot of criticism from religious circles and both Chaudhry and Mufti Munib ur Rehman are often involved in a banter whenever it comes to the announcement of Eid.

  • Ertuğrul cast to visit Pakistan in Oct/Nov

    The cast of Ertuğrul, including Esra Bilgiç and Engin Altan Düzyatan, have expressed their desire to visit Pakistan and interact with their Pakistani audiences who have showered them with so much love and appreciation.

    VIDEO: ‘Ertuğrul’ star Engin Altan sings ‘Dil Dil Pakistan’

    Given the ongoing pandemic and restricted movement, the cast has been unable to plan a visit to the country. However, according to a press release by Sophisto Global Media, the cast is expected to visit Pakistan in October or November depending on the situation. Sophisto Global Media is an international media company and a subsidiary of Imtiaz Holding, Turkey’s largest British-Pakistani owned holding company. It provides advertising, endorsement and media services to many of the world’s leading brands in both Turkey and abroad.

    CEO of Imtiaz Holding Omar Imtiaz said that the cast will visit Pakistan to meet with fans and producers and “build something spectacular for the long term”.

    He added that the Turkish actors are looking forward to the visit and many are already learning words as well as choosing which food dishes they want to try.

    Read more – ‘Ertuğrul’ star thanks Neelam Muneer for her ‘nice compliments’

    According to details, a joint collaboration agreement was signed between Sophisto Global Media and Hasan Gungor, a celebrity management agency which represents many of Turkey’s leading actors including those from Diriliş: Ertuğrul, to promote cross-border partnership. Under the agreement, Turkish talent, culture and history through film, drama, art and music will be showcased in Pakistan while Pakistani drama, talent, productions, art and music will be promoted in Turkey.

  • Cockpit crew, air traffic control responsible for plane crash: report presented to PM today

    Cockpit crew, air traffic control responsible for plane crash: report presented to PM today

    Exactly a month after the fatal Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) plane crash in Model Colony, Karachi, the preliminary investigation report was presented to Prime Minister Imran Khan today. Federal Minister for Aviation Ghulam Sarwar Khan met the prime minister and briefed him on the investigation into the incident.

    Read more – PIA crash survivor recalls what happened

    The crash claimed 97 lives and two survivors and according to Geo News, the report details that the air traffic control and the cockpit crew of the plane were responsible for the crash but it also says that the deterrents in place by PIA and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) were not enough to avoid the plane crash and they also share equal responsibility of the crash.

    The report has also stated that investigation into any technical failure is still on-going but no technical issues have been determined yet. It is pertinent to mention here that this is a preliminary one and the detailed report will take upto six months or a year.

    Read more – The Sher I knew

    Following the crash, the prime minister had ordered a probe into the incident to determine why the plane had crashed and Federal Minister for Aviation Ghulam Sarwar Khan had said that he would present the report to the national assembly today (June 22nd).

    According to a recording of a Mayday call, the pilot told controllers the aircraft had lost power when he tried to land for the second time.

    Read more – Currency worth Rs3 crores was being smuggled on PK8303; discovered in PIA plane’s debris

    The aircraft had tried to land earlier but went around for a second attempt. According to the recording, an air traffic controller told the pilot that he might be off-course. The pilot told him that he had lost the engines. The pilot had been cleared to use any runway but called, “Mayday, Mayday, Mayday,” and the plane crashed minutes later.

    After the aircraft reportedly called off an earlier attempt to land and went around for a second attempt, a controller radioed the pilot of flight 8303 that he appeared to be turning left, suggesting he was off-course.

    The pilot replied, “We are returning back, sir, we have lost engines,” and the controller cleared the plane to land on either of Karachi airport’s two West-Southwest-facing runways.

    Meanwhile, the flight data recorder (FDR) and cockpit voice recorder (CVR) have been been decoded in France and the inquiry committee has received a report.

  • Mangoes sent to Huda Beauty’s sister by President Zardari

    Mangoes sent to Huda Beauty’s sister by President Zardari

    Mango season has officially begun and some lucky fellows have already started receiving their mango paitis straight from the farms.

    Huda Kattan’s sister Mona Kattan received her box of mangoes from Bilawal House Karachi, with compliments from President Asif Ali Zardari and his children Bakhtawar, Aseefa and Bilawal. Mona shared her excitement of receiving the boxes of mangoes on her social media.

    According to the greeting card, the mangoes are grown naturally at farms in Tando Allahyar.

    Read more – On Benazir Bhutto’s birthday, here are her favourite things

    Bakhtawar is reportedly good friends with the Kattan sisters.

    Bakhtawar and Huda

    Huda is an Iraqi-American makeup artist, beauty blogger, and entrepreneur. She is the founder of the cosmetics line Huda Beauty. According to Forbes, her net worth is $610M.

  • Teenager accidentally kills himself while recording TikTok video

    Teenager accidentally kills himself while recording TikTok video

    A teenager accidentally shot himself while recording a TikTok video in Karachi’s Sikandarabad on Sunday.

    As per reports, the deceased, who was 17 years old, was reportedly filming himself while holding his father’s pistol when he accidentally pulled the trigger, killing himself.

    VIDEO: Hassan Ali, wife turn filmy on TikTok

    According to the Sachal police, the family declined a post-mortem. After the completion of medico-legal formalities, the body was handed over to the family. The police said that the pistol was licensed and belonged to the boy’s father.

  • Esra Bilgiç wishes to feature Kashmir in her documentary project

    Esra Bilgiç wishes to feature Kashmir in her documentary project

    Esra Bilgiç, who plays the fearless Halima Sultan in the super hit Turkish series, Diriliş: Ertuğrul, says that she would love to visit Pakistan and feature the country in her documentary project.

    In an interview with Hello Magazine Pakistan, Esra, who is currently studying Law, shared that she has written a documentary project about “how nature responds to us in all circumstances.”

    “The destroyed agricultural areas, forests ruined by urbanization and the habitats of animals which could return to their former fertile states in such a short time. No matter how much damage we do to nature, it hugs us every time we go to it,” said Esra.

    She continued: “I intend to reach villages and mountainous areas that have difficulties, due to financial deficiencies and access to natural resources. I want to help the local people, to listen and photograph their problems, and to make everyone aware. In the quarantine period with the team in Turkey, we have identified a few places. I want to complete all our preparations — and after a few photography classes— get to work.”

    The actor then expressed her desire to visit Pakistan for her project.

    “I hope that my first visit to Pakistan will take place as part of this documentary project,” she said. “I want to photograph the geographical topography, the vegetation and the exotic sites. I love the mountainous areas of the Babusar Kaghan Valley; the views overlooking the Valley of Leepa in Azad Kashmir; the camp plan in Concordia and the amazing Deosai plateau.”

    Esra added: “In fact, the Kashmir region is one of the places I am most curious about and want to travel to and determine a few places for the documentary project.”

    Read more – Halime Sultan sends her love to Pakistan

    Meanwhile, talking about the success of the series in Pakistan, Esra said she cannot thank the Pakistani audience enough for their love and that the success has motivated her to excel more.

    “To know that the character to whom I gave life as an actor, embraced like this, is the biggest reward I could get. Literally it is like a prize,” exclaimed the actor.

    On why Ertuğrul resonated so well with the Pakistani audience, Esra said: “The fact that a movie series or music finds a response in people living in other cultures proves that emotions are universal. The main theme of the Ertuğrul was not to remain silent in the face of injustice, to stand by the oppressed and to fight for justice.”

    “I believe that the Pakistani people’s love for Ertuğrul has led them to embrace our similarities, especially in the ways we express emotion.”

  • Quiz – End of the World

    Quiz – End of the World

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