Author: newsdesk

  • The Current Projections: 45,000 COVID-19 cases by June

    The Current Projections: 45,000 COVID-19 cases by June

    The number of coronavirus cases in Pakistan is likely to rise upwards of 45,000 by the first week of June, suggests the stable trend of rise in infections in the country since its first case of the COVID-19 was reported on February 26.

    The tally reached 1,235 on March 25 (in 30 days), which was followed by an increase of 11,875 in a single month (until April 25) — putting the total number of infections past 12,000 — and later a record spike of 11,416 cases in just 11 days from April 26 to May 7.

    The World Health Organization (WHO) has already warned that the number of COVID-19 cases in Pakistan can rise to 200,000 by mid-July if “effective interventions” are not taken.

    Despite the rising number of cases, countrywide lockdowns have been eased to save the economy while the government is planning to entirely lift the ban on inter-city transportation ahead of Eid holidays.

    READ: Supreme Court orders reopening of shopping malls across Pakistan

    The number of confirmed cases of coronavirus in Pakistan stood at 42,227 by the time this report was filed. The number of fatalities was 899 with 11,922 recoveries. Sindh had the most number of infections — nearly 18,000 — with Punjab trailing behind at 14,500 cases of COVID-19.

  • Pakistani-American girl honoured by President Trump as a coronavirus hero

    Pakistani-American girl honoured by President Trump as a coronavirus hero

    President Trump and first lady Melania Trump on Friday paid tribute to several American heroes who are helping on the front lines of the coronavirus crisis, including Girl Scouts from Maryland who donated cookies to nurses and firefighters. Among those girl scouts was a ten-year-old Pakistani-American girl Laila Khan.

    According to a report in APP, Laila who hails from Maryland was recognised as American coronavirus hero as she had donated cookies to nurses and firefighters. Laila, along with Lauren Matney and Sravya Annappareddy – all 10 years old – had donated 100 boxes of Girl Scout cookies to local doctors, nurses and firefighters. They also wrote 200 personalized cards for health care workers.

    Speaking about the recognition, Khan said: “While we are honoured that our troop was invited to be here today, we know that we are just part of the millions of other children out there that are doing amazing things to support their communities, their friends and their families. It is a privilege to be here representing all of them.”

    Meanwhile, President Trump in a ceremony in the White House Rose Garden had said: “The men and women we honour today remind us that the bonds that unite us in times of hardship can also raise us to new heights as we reopen and recover and rebuild.”

    Ambassador of Pakistan to the US Asad Khan also appreciated Laila and thanked President Trump for honouring her.

  • VIDEO: Hareem Shah ready to play Halime Sultan if Prime Minister Imran Khan plays Ertugrul

    VIDEO: Hareem Shah ready to play Halime Sultan if Prime Minister Imran Khan plays Ertugrul

    As ‘Diriliş: Ertuğrul’ fever continues to grip Pakistan, TikTok celebrity Hareem Shah has made headlines for saying that she is ready to play the role of Halime Sultan — the wife of Ertuğrul — if Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan plays the lead of the hit Turkish series.

    “Turkish actor Esra Bilgiç performed so well in the drama. Her acting made me travel back in time to the era depicted in the series,” Shah said in an interview with vlogger Moin Zubair.

    READ: Pakistanis lose it over ‘un-Islamic’ Instagram of ‘Diriliş: Ertuğrul’ star

    It wasn’t later that the internet celebrity expressed her desire to play the role of Halime Sultan, to which she was asked who would she want to play the lead role of Ertuğrul.

    “[Prime Minister] Imran Khan can be Ertuğrul,” Shah said.

    WATCH VIDEO:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmFg43_k1eg

    Turkish historic fiction series ‘Diriliş: Ertuğrul’ has been trending ever since its first episode aired on PTV Home. Pakistanis are loving the drama series and it has become a sensation in the country to the point that PTV is now aiming to set a new record with the series.

    READ: Fans spot ‘Virat Kohli’, ‘Usman Shinwari’ in Ertuğrul

    In an exclusive interview with The Current, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Senator Faisal Javed Khan revealed that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan gifted the drama series to Pakistan as a goodwill gesture.

    The series set in pre-Ottoman era centres around the life of Ertuğrul, the father of Osman I.

  • Supreme Court orders reopening of shopping malls across Pakistan

    Supreme Court orders reopening of shopping malls across Pakistan

    Despite coronavirus continuing to spread across the country, the Supreme Court (SC), which seems to be at odds with the government over the latter’s handling of the pandemic, has ordered the reopening of shopping malls across the country.

    According to the details, a five-member larger bench of the apex court was hearing a suo motu case regarding measures taken to curb the spread of COVID-19.

    The bench was headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Gulzar Ahmed while Justice Umar Ata Bandial, Justice Mazhar Alam Khan Miankhel, Justice Sajjad Ali Shah and Justice Qazi Muhammad Amin Ahmed were also on the bench.

    During the hearing today, Chief Justice of Pakistan Gulzar Ahmed remarked that if the shops are shut down then shopkeepers will ‘die of hunger rather than the coronavirus’.

    CJP Ahmed said that in Karachi, except for five big malls every market has resumed operations.

    Upon which, Commissioner Karachi Iftikhar Shallwani said that a few markets were sealed for not following the Standard Operating Procedures laid out by the government.

    “The sealed markets should be opened and instead of intimidating them (shop owners) make them understand (the situation and SOPs),” remarked the top judge.

    The CJP noted that the SOPs will be ‘better implemented’ at the big shopping malls.

    The apex court also ordered that on the weekends, all the small markets should remain open to public.

  • ‘One Indian is enough for your thousands,’ Dhawan tells Afridi, gets trolled with Abhinandan pictures

    ‘One Indian is enough for your thousands,’ Dhawan tells Afridi, gets trolled with Abhinandan pictures

    Indian cricketer Shikhar Dhawan, who hit out at former Pakistani skipper Shahid Afridi for his comments on Kashmir during a recent visit to the Pakistan-administered side of the valley, is being trolled by Pakistanis for saying that “Kashmir belongs to India” and “one Indian is enough for 125,000 Pakistanis”.

    As per the details, a video clip of Afridi speaking to the people of the Azad Kashmir village went viral on social media, which showed the former Pakistani cricketing star criticising Indian Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi for deploying forces in Kashmir and making it a living hell for Muslims.

    “At a time when the whole world is fighting corona[virus], you are concerned about Kashmir. Kashmir is ours and will remain ours. Bring your 220 million, one [Indian] is enough for 125,000. You do the math,” Dhawan tweeted while tagging Afridi.

    It wasn’t later that Pakistanis started trolling the Indian batsman, reminding him of what happened last year when an Indian Air Force (IAF) jet violated Pakistani airspace.

    The jet was shot down by the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) and the pilot captured. Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman was released a day later by Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan as a goodwill gesture to promote peace between the two countries.

    While Afridi himself is yet to respond, here are some other responses to Dhawan’s tweet:

    What do you think of the Indian cricketer’s tweet? Let The Current know in the comments.

  • Govt announces Eid holidays

    Govt announces Eid holidays

    The federal government has announced Eid holidays from 22nd to 27th May (Friday to Wednesday).

    According to the notification, all businesses, public places, community markets and shops, etc will remain closed during these holidays. Only essential items’ shops and medical stores/pharmacies will remain open.

  • Halime Sultan sends her love to Pakistan

    Halime Sultan sends her love to Pakistan

    Turkish drama Diriliş: Ertuğrul has taken Pakistan by storm ever since it was released in the country in Urdu on Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s advice to “help youngsters connect with their roots”.

    As praise pours in for the historical fiction over the internet by both celebrities and the general public, fans have started following the show’s actors on social media. While a handful of people were disappointed with the real lives of the actor, many sent their praises and love to the actors.

    Read more – Pakistanis lose it over ‘un-Islamic’ Instagram of ‘Diriliş: Ertuğrul’ star

    Esra Bilgiç, who essays the role of Halime Sultan, Ertuğrul’s wife has now responded to Pakistanis fans and thanked them for the love they have sent her way. She also added that she would love to meet all her fans in Pakistan once the pandemic is over and the situation normalises.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CAQEy7bjYiU/

    Similarly Gülsim Ali, who plays Aslihan Hatun in the third edition of Diriliş: Ertuğrul also expressed her desire to visit Pakistan once the coronavirus pandemic is over.

    “I’ve never been in Pakistan before but I hope one day I’ll be there to meet with you after this pandemic period,” she wrote on Instagram.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CASvq4flSDN/
  • ‘Meri beti nihayat jhooti hai’: Mahira Khan’s mother roasts her on live television

    ‘Meri beti nihayat jhooti hai’: Mahira Khan’s mother roasts her on live television

    By now we all know that Mahira Khan’s mother has a lit sense of humour.

    Read more – ‘Tumhari tankha se katay ga’, Mahira Khan’s mother tells her off

    She was recently invited as a live caller on Jeeto Pakistan League, where Mahira was the celebrity guest, and while speaking to the host Fahad Mustafa, couldn’t resist roasting her daughter, much to the actor’s surprise.

    When Fahad asked Mahira’s mother what Adnan Siddiqui was doing wrong on the show, she replied, “Yeh mujhe nahi pata magar meri beti nihayat confused insaan hai (I don’t know this, but my daughter is a very confused person).”

    Her comments sent everyone present into a fit of laughter. But she was still not done roasting Mahira.

    She continued, “Yeh jhoot bol rahe hai. Yeh nihayat jhooti insaan hai. She’s just going to confuse you.”

    In response, Adnan said, “Thank you Aunty. You made my day.”

    Later, when Fahad asked Mahira’s mother what the other celebrity contestant Waseem Badami was doing wrong, she was all praises for him and said she was very fond of him.

    Watch video:

    Meanwhile, Humayun Saeed thanked Mahira for being on the show.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CASVhdqJvle/
  • Visually challenged Pakistani girl becomes a sensation on ‘Britain’s Got Talent’

    Visually challenged Pakistani girl becomes a sensation on ‘Britain’s Got Talent’

    14-year-old singer Sirine Jahangir – the only contestant of Pakistani origin on Britain’s Got Talent – has gone on to become a huge sensation on the show. She hopes to make it to the final.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CALPY6uliT5/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
    https://www.instagram.com/p/B9W60tzlFna/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

    Born in 2005 in London, Sirine started losing her eyesight gradually from the age of five. By the time she was 10, she had completely lost it. Sirine excelled at sports and dancing was her favourite pastime.

    Speaking to a news outlet, Sirine’s father Kafeel Jahangir shared that during his trips to the UK, the late Junaid Jamshed used to sing with Sirine and teach her about music. Sirine uses music and her story to inspire other people with disabilities.

    Sirine is also the granddaughter of Sahibzada ‘Chico’ Jahangir who is an active Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI) member. He is currently serving as Prime Minister Imran Khan’s spokesperson on Trade & Investment in UK & Europe. Fauzia Kasuri is Sirin’s aunt while the late singer Junaid Jamshed was her uncle.

    Every Monday she visits a school to teach a young 6-year-old boy who has the same condition as her. She teaches him Braille and gives him the confidence to believe in himself and not let his challenges hold him back.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B_5GGgpJwA_/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
  • Yasir Hussain likens Turkish dramas to ‘landay k kapray’

    Yasir Hussain likens Turkish dramas to ‘landay k kapray’

    The debate around the airing of Diriliş: Ertuğrul doesn’t seem to end.

    After Shaan and Reema, Yasir Hussain has also come forward and urged PTV to make a historic drama using those artists and technicians who pay taxes to the country.

    “Landy k kapray aur Turkey k dramay, dono hee local industry ko tabah kardein gay,” wrote the actor.

    Read more – Humayun Saeed to play an Islamic hero in Khalil Ur Rehman Qamar’s historical epic

    It appears that actor received criticism for his comments because, in a successive Instagram story, Hussain said that when someone’s father or brother lose their jobs to Turkish people, only then will they understand what he is saying.

    Meanwhile there are some actors who have praised the series.

    Turkish historic drama series Diriliş: Ertuğrul has been trending ever since its first episode aired on PTV Home. Pakistanis are loving the drama series and it has become a sensation in the country to the point that PTV is now aiming to set a new record with the series.

    In an exclusive interview with The Current, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Senator Faisal Javed Khan revealed that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had gifted the drama series to Pakistan as a goodwill gesture.