Author: newsdesk

  • ‘Why not Imran?’ asks Twitter as US State secy calls Gen Bajwa on Iran tensions

    ‘Why not Imran?’ asks Twitter as US State secy calls Gen Bajwa on Iran tensions

    With United States (US) Secretary of State Mike Pompeo calling Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa to discuss heightening tensions with Tehran following the killing of top Iranian military leader Qassem Soleimani, Twitterati are wondering why did Pompeo choose the army chief over Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan or Foreign Minister (FM) Shah Mahmood Qureshi.

    The telephonic conversation came after Iran’s top security body vowed to retaliate in the “right place and time” following Revolutionary Guards commander Soleimani’s death in an airstrike ordered by US President Donald Trump on Friday.

    “America should know that its criminal attack on General Soleimani has been the country’s biggest mistake in west Asia, and America will not avoid the consequences of this wrong calculation easily,” the Supreme National Security Council said in a statement.

    The dramatic escalation and subsequent fears of “World War III” were followed by both Washington and Tehran alerting their allies.

    “#Pakistan’s Chief of Staff General Bajwa and I spoke today about U.S. defensive action to kill Qassem Soleimani. The #Iran regime’s actions in the region are destabilizing and our resolve in protecting American interests, personnel, facilities, and partners will not waver,” Pompeo tweeted on Friday.

    In another tweet, Pompeo disclosed he spoke to Afghan President Ashraf Ghani as well about Soleimani’s killing “to protect American lives at stake”.

    ‘MAXIMUM RESTRAINT’:

    Separately, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) disclosed that the army chief and the US secretary of state discussed “regional situation including possible implications” after the escalation in the Middle East. 

    “COAS received telephone call from US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Regional situation, including possible implications of recent escalation in Middle East, was discussed,” the military’s media wing tweeted.

    “COAS emphasised need for maximum restraint and constructive engagement by all concerned to de-escalate the situation in broader interest of peace and stability. COAS also reiterated the need for maintaining focus on success of Afghan Peace Process,” read another tweet.

    ‘WHY NOT IMRAN?’:

    Meanwhile, Twitterati took to Twitter to ask as to why had Pompeo not called PM Imran or FM Qureshi at such a time.

    https://twitter.com/mazharshehzaad/status/1213315972611923968
    https://twitter.com/BILAL_GHARSHEEN/status/1213341499171233792

    The tweets came as Indian journalists such as The Hindu Editor Suhasini Haider pointed out the same.

    While Pakistan’s Foreign Office (FO) has advised both the US and Iran to refrain from taking “unilateral action” against each other and abide by the United Nations (UN) Charter to respect each other’s territorial integrity, the premier has not yet made any statement.

  • Mehwish Hayat has the perfect response to a misogynist troll

    Mehwish Hayat has the perfect response to a misogynist troll

    Mehwish Hayat should just change her middle name to ‘sassy’ because the responses she gives to trolls are simple brilliant.

    In a recent tweet, Mehwish condemned the US airstrike that killed Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani in Iraq saying that the matter is not just about Iran and US but involves the entire world.

    In response to Mehwish’s tweet, a troll commented “since when did women start understanding international affairs.”

    The actor did not shy away from giving him a history lesson.

    This is not the first time, Mehwish has given such responses to trolls. Check out her sassy responses below:

  • Lahore panagahs refuse to accomodate women

    Lahore panagahs refuse to accomodate women

    A 65-year-old woman, Noreen Malangi from Rahim Yar Khan, has had to spend the cold winter nights on the streets of Lahore as shelter homes in the city did not allow her in.

    While talking to a private news outlet she said, “I came here alone, but the management of the shelter refused to let me in. Ever since, I have been spending my nights on the streets.”

    Malangi has been sitting outside the Data Darbar shelter home
    for a week. She went there twice but was sent back both times.

    Another 62-year-old woman Aasia came to the shelter from Shahkot but was also sent back.

    “They told me they didn’t have rooms for women but allowed men to come in the shelter,” she said.

    As per reports, there is space for 750 men but just 115 women at five shelter homes across Lahore.

    According to the management of the Data Darbar shelter, women
    can’t be let in unless female staff is hired.

    “We have halls and rooms already allotted for women but we are all men here,” said Fayyaz, the in charge of the Data Darbar shelter home.

    “In case of an emergency with the women, how are we going to tackle the situation?” he asked.

    Panagahs have been set up in different cities on the direction of Prime Minister Imran Khan who had issued instructions to the Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief ministers to ensure that all people have a roof over their heads in this freezing weather.

  • 3-year old girl rescued alive from underneath debris after 21 hours

    3-year old girl rescued alive from underneath debris after 21 hours

    A three-year-old girl was rescued alive after 21 hours from underneath the debris of a multi-story building that collapsed in Sukkur.

    As per reports, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) officials along with army officers rescued the girl, who miraculously did not even have a scratch on her. She was immediately taken to the city’s Civil Hospital for a medical checkup.

    Five others were also rescued from the debris. According to Sukkur Commissioner Shafiq Ahmed Mahesar, the death toll from the collapse rose to six.

    The four-story building, located on Sukkur’s busy Station Road, was built above a few shops and had four families living there.

    Rescuers initially faced difficulties after the collapse caused a power blackout in the area.

    Commissioner Mahesar who was overseeing the rescue efforts said the building could have collapsed either because poor material was used in its construction or because it was not built according to the approved maps. An investigation will be conducted to determine the real cause behind the collapse.

  • Fawad Chaudhry requests Netflix, Amazon to invest in Pakistani content

    Fawad Chaudhry requests Netflix, Amazon to invest in Pakistani content

    Former Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry in a recent tweet requested Netflix and Amazon to look towards Pakistani content and invest in them because “we have immense talent and experience.”

    The minister asserted that Pakistani dramas have recently made a huge comeback and that he can assure the movie streaming website successful partnerships.

    Speaking exclusively to The Current, Fawad said that after observing the ratings and business done by Pakistani dramas, he was motivated to share Pakistani content with the world which is why he devised a strategy and pitched Pakistani content to Netflix and Amazon while he was the information minister. While in office, Fawad had also planned to digitise PTV and the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) as well as introduce a digital sports channel. However, his plans were shelved soon after he left office.

    Fawad further said that he had also reached out to Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Turkey to collaborate on content creation. Content from Turkey and Egypt is the highest viewed in the Arab world and Pakistan can learn a lot from it. It is pertinent to mention here that Prime Minister Imran Khan is a fan of Turkish content and has even directed PTV to dub his favourite series Diriliş: Ertuğrul in Urdu so more people can view it.

    Earlier, in an interview with The Current, Special Assistant to the PM for Overseas Pakistanis Sayed Zulfiqar Bukhari said that PM Imran has a vision to produce good quality films that showcase the culture, religion and heritage of Pakistan.

  • It was raining mobile phones at a barat in Dera Gazi Khan

    It was raining mobile phones at a barat in Dera Gazi Khan

    While most groom processions aka the baraat are welcomed with flowers and money, a baraat in Punjab’s Dera Ghazi Khan witnessed a rain of mobile phones and money.

    According to a report on ARY News, three to four persons, including the bridegroom’s brother, standing atop a truck were showering the baratis and guests with mobile phones and wads of money. The shower of phones and money sent the crowd and passersby into a frenzy and everyone gathered around the vehicle and pushed and shoved to get closer to the truck so they could get their hands on the phones. Some were even seen climbing the truck.

    Watch video:

  • HEC wants random drug testing to be conducted at educational institutes

    HEC wants random drug testing to be conducted at educational institutes

    The Higher Education Commission has demanded the federal government to form a policy and provide funds to curb the use of drugs in educational institutes. University students are likely to get tested for drugs on campus.

    As per reports, during a meeting of the Senate’s Standing Committee on Science and Technology , it was revealed that more than 76 million Pakistanis are addicted to drugs with most of them being university students.

    “University students are increasingly getting attracted towards
    ice (methamphetamine) and other harmful drugs. The government should devise a
    policy to stop this,” said committee chairman Mushtaq Ghani.

    The
    HEC informed the committee about the issuance of guidelines for random drug
    screenings that will make campuses drug and smoke-free.

    “A policy would be needed to start random drug screening for which
    more human resource as well as testing labs will be required. With our current
    resources we can’t conduct drug screening tests at all universities,” said an
    HEC official.

    The committee has, therefore, advised the government to issue Rs21
    billion for the HEC.

    Conducting random drug tests, using peer pressure, signing
    contracts with NGOs and reaching out to the root of drug trafficking will pull
    drugs out from their roots, the HEC assured the standing committee.

    It was also decided that the Anti-Narcotics Force will be called in the meeting to discuss their opinion on the matter.

  • PCB will deduct players’ salaries if they don’t meet fitness standards

    PCB will deduct players’ salaries if they don’t meet fitness standards

    The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced that it will deduct salaries of the players who do not meet the fitness requirements.

    According to a press release by the cricket board, “A player failing to meet the minimum fitness requirements will be fined 15 per cent of his monthly retainer, which will remain effective until he achieves the standards. Player failing consecutive tests will risk the chances of retaining his central contract category and may face demotion.”

    All centrally contracted players have to undergo the fitness test which will be held on January 6 and 7. The available players will attend the two-day testing, which is aligned to their contracts.

    Meanwhile, “Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Amir and Shadab Khan, who will be occupied with their commitments in the Bangladesh Premier League, will undergo the tests on 20 and 21 January.“

    Players will be tested in five major areas namely fat analysis, strength, endurance, speed endurance and cross-fit, with all areas carrying equal marks.

    Currently 19 top players are under contract in A, B and C categories and get monthly salaries ranging from 1.1 million to 0.5 million rupees based on their contract.

    Director of International Cricket PCB Zahir Khan said that the players have been informed about the board’s expectations and sanctions, adding, “This time we have decided to enforce penalties, which is in accordance with the contracts, as part of our objective to make the players more accountable and responsible for maintaining high fitness standards throughout the year.”

    Meanwhile, Imam ul Haq posted a picture of himself with his teammates “getting ready for the fitness test” while enjoying the winter sun and fresh oranges.

    Centrally contracted players:

    Category A – Babar Azam (Central Punjab), Sarfaraz Ahmed (Sindh) and Yasir Shah (Balochistan)

    Category B – Asad Shafiq (Sindh), Azhar Ali (Central Punjab), Haris Sohail (Balochistan), Imam-ul-Haq (Balochistan), Mohammad Abbas (Southern Punjab), Shadab Khan (Northern) and Shaheen Shah Afridi (Northern)

    Category C – Abid Ali (Sindh), Hasan Ali (Central Punjab), Fakhar Zaman (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Imad Wasim (Northern), Mohammad Amir (Northern), Mohammad Rizwan (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Shan Masood (Southern Punjab), Usman Shinwari (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) and Wahab Riaz (Southern Punjab)

  • Mahira Khan shares never-seen-before pictures from the sets of ‘Superstar’, ‘Parey Hut Love’

    Mahira Khan shares never-seen-before pictures from the sets of ‘Superstar’, ‘Parey Hut Love’

    Superstar Mahira Khan welcomed the New Year by interacting with her fans in a #AskMahira Twitter session and sharing some exclusive behind the scenes pictures and videos from her films Superstar and Parey Hut Love (PHL). While Mahira had the leading role in Superstar, she had an extended cameo in PHL.

    Mahira started her trip down the memory lane with a picture of herself resting on the floor on the sets of her song Morey Saiyaan in PHL.

    In the caption, she said that she feels “super comfortable on the floor” and “prefers it to sitting on a chair.”

    Following that she shared more pictures of herself as Zeena including some adorable moments with producer and co-star Sheheryar Munawar and director Asim Raza.

    Mahira Khan & Sheheryar Munawar
    Mahira Khan & Asim Raza
    https://www.instagram.com/p/B6vrATYBbmV/

    Mahira then shared pictures of herself from the sets of Superstar and a video of herself learning the dance steps for Noori.

    L-R: Director Ehteshamuddin, Mahira Khan, Bilal Ashraf. Sitting – Nadeem Baig
    https://www.instagram.com/p/B6xoFWGhCId/

    In the Twitter interaction with her fans, Mahira revealed the one film she can watch 10 times without getting bored, her last decade in a sentence, how she wants to be remembered, which Disney character she feels she is, and how she deals with her anger among other things.

    Mahira also offered meaningful advice to her fans.

    Guess how many nicknames Mahira had?

    Mahira also said that she wouldn’t mind working in an Iranian film.

    And last but not the least, will Mahira ever get married again?

  • VIDEO: Imran Khan finds aloo gosht at Panahgah ‘better than PM House’

    VIDEO: Imran Khan finds aloo gosht at Panahgah ‘better than PM House’

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan and Federal Minister for Planning and Special Initiatives Asad Umar have found the aloo gosht [potato-meat curry] served to them at Faisalabad Panahgah [shelter home] “even better than the one at PM House in Islamabad”.

    This was revealed by Umar, who on Friday tweeted:

    “Got a chance to dine at the shelter home in Faisalabad during our visit. Both I and the prime minister really liked aloo gosht. The premier said it was [even] better than the one he gets to have at PM House,” he wrote.

    The tweet came hours after PM Imran and a few members of his team reached Faisalabad to inaugurate the first shelter home in the city, which has been constructed over a four kanal area as part of the government’s flagship Panahgah initiative.

    WATCH VIDEO:

    Accompanied by Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Usman Buzdar, the premier toured the shelter home to review the facilities being provided by the provincial government to homeless people, and received a briefing by the administration.

    Last week, he had directed the chief ministers of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) to take steps to provide temporary shelters and food to every person in their respective province in the wake of harsh cold weather.

    “Given the extremely cold weather conditions, I have asked CMs of Punjab and KP to ensure that no person is left out without a shelter; and their administrations must take immediate action to provide temporary shelters plus food for those who cannot be accommodated in existing Panah­gahs (shelter homes),” the PM had tweeted.

    Earlier on Friday, the premier also broke ground on the state-of-the-art Allama Iqbal Industrial City that has been planned over an area of 4,000 acres.

    The industrial city is a mega project of the Special Economic Zone of Faisalabad Industrial Estate Development and Management Company (FIEDMC) under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).