Author: newsdesk

  • China, Russia, Italy make Pakistan 11th largest arms importer in world

    Pakistan is the 11th largest arms importer in the world, a report by Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) — an institute that tracks arms deals around the world — has revealed.

    As per the figures released by SIPRI, China, Russia and Italy are the main suppliers of arms to Pakistan, with Beijing accounting for 73% of the total imports during 2015-2019, and Moscow as well as Rome accounting for 6.6% and 6.1%, respectively.

    The actual share of Pakistani imports in the world has, however, decreased by 39% during the said period, the report revealed. The overall decrease in Pakistan’s arms imports over the latest five-year period was linked to the United States’ (US) decision to stop military aid to the country.

    The institute further noted that Pakistan was among the top three buyers of arms from top weapons exporters like Italy and Turkey. Pakistan had a 7.5% share in arms imports from Italy between 2015-2019, and 12% share in Turkish arms over the same period.

    SIPRI also identified a significant drop in arms sales to South Asia by the US, which was listed as the largest arms exporter in the world between 2015-2019. The institute noted that US arms imports to Pakistan declined by 92%, and to India by 51% over this period. The US, which had accounted for 30% of Pakistan’s arms imports in 2010–14, was responsible for only 4.1% in 2015–19.

    Meanwhile, Islamabad was identified as the largest buyer of Chinese arms between 2015-2019, accounting for 35% of the arms exported by Beijing — the fifth largest exporter of weapons in the world in the five-year period.

    According to SIPRI, China accounted for 51% of Pakistan’s arms imports in 2010–14 and for 73% in 2015–19. SIPRI also noted that Pakistan continued to import arms from Europe, strengthening relations with Turkey with orders for 30 combat helicopters and four frigates in 2018.

    India, on the other hand, has retained its position as the second-largest arms importer in the world followed by Saudi Arabia that now imports 12% of its arms (2015-19) as against 5.6% in 2010-14 — a jump of 130%, the report said.

  • Sindh Food Authority seals Dunkin Donuts factory for using expired products

    Sindh Food Authority seals Dunkin Donuts factory for using expired products

    A donut factory was temporarily sealed for using substandard and expired products in Karachi’s SITE Industrial area.

    As per reports, the Sindh Food Authority (SFA) conducted a raid at the Dunkin Donuts factory on Monday and found expired bunties and sub-standard ingredients.

    The SFA team also found unrefined items that had been intermixed.

    Factory hygiene rules were also being violated, officials said. A fine of Rs250,000 has been imposed. SFA Operations Director Imtiaz Abro discarded the substandard food items.

  • Mehwish Hayat bids a tearful goodbye to her best friend

    Mehwish Hayat bids a tearful goodbye to her best friend

    They say a dog is a man’s best friend and Mehwish Hayat just opened up about losing her pet dog – her dear Balooni.

    Mehwish wrote that she’s been through a lot in life but “these last few days have been the worst of my life.”

    “A decade of having you next to me through all my highs, lows and breakdowns…your one gaze would make me feel everything’s going to be alright. You taught me so much about unconditional love and life itself.”

    “My best friend…you loved me so much that you spared me the pain of saying goodbye and letting you go. I wish you’d waited for me a day more. I wish I could have got to hug you for one last time .. I wish ..,” an emotional Mehwish said concluding her note.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B9hfP_3HRkA/

    Mehwish has often shared pictures of herself with Bruno.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B8B19fZHx0M/
    https://www.instagram.com/p/Bs8GB6YhPxa/

    The actor is currently shooting in Punjab for her upcoming film London Nahi Jaunga. The film which is being directed by Nadeem Baig also starres Humayun Saeed and Kubra Khan. The movie came under much fire recently for being written by the controversial Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar. All the actors in the film, including Mehwish, have yet to comment on the controversy.

  • PTM lawmakers travel to Kabul on Afghan army helicopter

    PTM lawmakers travel to Kabul on Afghan army helicopter

    Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) lawmakers Mohsin Dawar and Ali Wazir on Monday got a free ride on an Afghan National Army helicopter from the Pak-Afghan border crossing to Kabul to attend the oath-taking ceremony of President Ashraf Ghani, Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) reported.

    Mohsin Dawar thanked Afghan President Ashraf Ghani for delaying his oath, because of the two Pakistani legislators who were barred by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) from flying to Kabul for being on the Exit Control List (ECL).

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan on Sunday gave one-time permission to the two Pashtun legislators to attend the oath-taking ceremony of Afghan President Ghani.

    Mohsin Dawar, in his tweet after reaching Kabul, said, “Wanted to express my gratitude to President @ashrafghani for delaying his oath-taking for the arrival of @Aliwazirna50 and myself.”

    The Afghan government specially dispatched a military helicopter to rush the two parliamentarians to the ceremony from Torkham.

    Mohsin Dawar, in another Twitter post, from Kabul said, “Overwhelmed by the welcome we have received here. Wishing a peaceful future for Afghanistan and the region.”

    Dawar also shared some pictures showing them travelling in an Afghan army helicopter.

    According to Afghan media, before reaching Kabul, the PTM leaders also briefly visited some officials in eastern Nangarhar province.

  • Atif Aslam wishes his ‘little battery’ happy birthday

    Atif Aslam wishes his ‘little battery’ happy birthday

    Though Atif Aslam rarely shares pictures of his family, he makes sure to wish his son every year on his birthday.

    The award-winning singer recently took to Instagram to wish his son – his ‘little battery’ – happy birthday and we have to say his wish made us melt.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B9ePr9gFySn/?utm_source=ig_embed

    Atif and his wife Sara have two children. Their younger one was born in December last year.

    Meanwhile, check out Atif’s earlier wishes for his son:

    https://www.instagram.com/p/Buvx0rtH0QJ/
    https://www.instagram.com/p/BgCdTlzFkW6/
  • Lahore Qalandars’ Ben Dunk reveals the reason behind chewing gum on-field

    Lahore Qalandars’ Ben Dunk reveals the reason behind chewing gum on-field

    Lahore Qalandars’ batsman Ben Dunk has been a hero for his team as he scored 99 off 40 balls that helped Qalandars win at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Sunday. The star player hit 12 sixes during the course of the match. Meanwhile, there has been a lot of speculation on why he chews gum on the field and the player has finally revealed the reason behind this.

    Speaking to the media after the match, Dunk said that he chewed gum on the pitch because it helped him focus on the task.

    “There is nothing special in the gum, I chew it to remain focused on the task,” he said.

    “Chewing gum is perhaps not a very good habit and I should not be doing it. It is being highlighted more in the videos. But I only do it to stay calm and focused on my task in the game,” Dunk added.

    On the fact that he missed out on a century for the second time in the tournament, Dunk responded, “But it does not matter, what matters is that the team won.”

    “I have to play the role in the batting lineup that is assigned to me by the team management. I always try and play according to the need of the team. The batting number does not matter, I always give my best.”

    Dunk also admired the fans in Lahore for cheering for the team, saying that the crowd during the game is the 12th player for the Qalandars. He asked fans to keep backing the team through their wins and losses.

  • GCU students produce Pakistan’s first-ever fan-made Harry Potter movie

    GCU students produce Pakistan’s first-ever fan-made Harry Potter movie

    Potterheads in Pakistan have taken their love for the book to a whole new level. Students of Government College University (GCU) Lahore have produced Pakistan’s first-ever fan-made Harry Potter movie: The Last Follower and The Resurrection of Voldemort. The group of young Ravians released the film under their production house, Khyaali Production.

    The film, which has been positively received by the audience, is full of magical visuals and inventive and exciting sequences. It has been filmed at GCU, with the university shown as Hogwarts.

    The movie is set a few years after the Harry Potter series and shows students roaming in the castle. Some mysteries emerge and this is the premise of the story.

    The movie has been written and directed by Waleed Akram, who shared that the gothic architecture of GCU motivated him to make the film.

    “If there is Hogwarts in this world, it’s GCU Lahore,” said the director, adding, “I started this venture with a single camera and the whole movie has been shot with a very simple camera.”

    The main cast of the movie includes Umer Darr, Jazib Alram, Mariam Hassan Naqvi, Talha Chahour, Dua Marium, Sheikh Mubashir and Habib Chaudary.

    Behind the Scenes

    Meanwhile, Zeeshan Hameed has done the visual effects for the film.

    While the film has been screened in GCU, the director said that he hopes that it will be screened in other universities and is also working towards releasing the film in cinemas across the country.

    Watch the teaser of the film here:

  • Mariyam Nafees shuts up man looking to ‘buy sex’

    Mariyam Nafees shuts up man looking to ‘buy sex’

    Pakistani actor and model Mariyam Nafees recently opened up about an incident in which a man kept asking her inappropriate questions.

    Sharing screenshots of the messages he sent, Nafees took to social media and wrote, “Actress hu, prostitute nahi. (I’m an actress, not a prostitute).”

    “I’m sick of these proposals and I’ve tried whatever I could to make them stop but this is what I’m going to do now. It affects my mental health, it disturbs me that some people think this is what my business is. NO! I’M NOT FOR SALE!,” wrote Mariyam on her Instagram.

    Senior actor Hina Bayat stepped forward in support of Mariyam, commenting, “Never let it bring you down…because the fault is with them, not you.”

    Earlier Humaima Malick had shared a similar incident in which she was harassed at a local hotel.

    “I can’t even keep count of times business cards of men that I do not know have been slipped under the door of my room at various well known and supposedly safe hotels. Just because a woman is from entertainment business does not, DOES NOT means that she wants business cards slipped under her door,” the actor had written in a note shared on social media.

  • Feroze Khan, Alizey celebrate second wedding anniversary

    Feroze Khan, Alizey celebrate second wedding anniversary

    Feroze Khan and wife Syeda Alizey are celebrating two years of marital bliss.

    Alizey took to social media to wish her husband writing that she will always need him no matter how old they become.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B9cn_6FpKy5/?utm_source=ig_embed

    Under Alizey’s post, Feroze commented:

    The couple tied the knot two years ago on this date. They have a son – Sultan – together. In a recent interview Feroze said that he will be shooting for Khuda Aur Mohabbat on his anniversary. He also shared that last year, on his first wedding anniversary he was shooting for his film Tich Button.

    See pictures from their wedding:

    Meanwhile, Feroze has announced that he will be taking a break from acting to focus on his spiritual journey.

    Feroze’s sister Humaima Malick and Hamza Ali Abbasi wished the actor all the best for the new chapter in his life.

  • Saudi king appears in public, dispelling rumours about his death, critical health

    With two senior Saudi princes, including a former heir to the throne, being detained in a crackdown against potential rivals of Saudi Arabia’s powerful crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, the Saudi king has appeared in public, dispelling rumours about his death or critical health.

    The two princes are being held in private villas and have been allowed to call their families, according to a person with ties to the royal family.

    As speculation about the motivation for the arrests swirled, the Saudi royal court sought to quell rumours that King Salman was in poor health, releasing photographs said to have been taken Sunday that show him greeting two Saudi diplomats and appearing to be well.

    The move came as two other princes who had also been arrested were freed late on Sunday. Reports confirmed that both Prince Abdul Aziz bin Saud bin Nayef and Prince Saud bin Nayef had been questioned by royal court aides since being seized from their homes on Friday.

    According to The Guardian, Saudi officials continued to insist on Sunday that the detentions had foiled the early stages of a coup against the heir to the throne, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who had ordered his relatives arrested. He is viewed as the de facto ruler, controlling all the major arms of government from defence to the economy.

    Officials said King Salman himself had signed the arrest warrants, an unusual move against two of the Kingdom’s most senior royals — one of whom, Prince Ahmed, is his only surviving full brother.

    Both men had been seen as among the last remaining obstacles to Prince Mohammed’s almost inevitable ascension. Earlier purges of business figures and rivals had already cleared the way for the 34-year-old crown prince.

    The early-morning arrests caused new shockwaves in a kingdom shaken by three years of cultural reforms combined with a ruthless crackdown on dissent, highlighted by the 2018 murder of the critic and journalist Jamal Khashoggi, which was carried out by royal court aides.

    King Salman’s support for his son appeared consistent throughout. However, persistent reports from inside the palace revealed glimpses of an ongoing tussle for power, which the young crown prince appeared to be winning.