Author: newsdesk

  • Numbers’ game: Opp likely to defeat govt in Senate showdown

    Numbers’ game: Opp likely to defeat govt in Senate showdown

    All eyes are on the upper house of the parliament on Thursday as senators from opposition parties, in a first, attempt to oust through a no-confidence motion its chairman, who enjoys the support of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) led ruling coalition.

    According to the numbers’ game, the joint opposition is in a comfortable numerical position to turn the tables on the senators from treasury benches and remove Sadiq Sanjrani.

    The opposition parties, in the 103-member house, enjoy the support of 67 senators while the governing alliance has the backing of 36 members.

    The chairman can be removed by the majority of the total membership, and so, the support of at least 52 senators will be required to carry the no-trust motion.

    OPPOSITION:

    The opposition alliance in the upper house comprises of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) with 30 senators, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) with 20, Mir Hasil Khan’s National Party (NP) with five members, Jamiat Ulemae Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) with four senators, Pashtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) of Mehmood Achakzai with four and Asfandyar Wali’s Awami National Party (ANP) with one member.

    With the inclusion of two senators from Jamaate Islami Pakistan (JIP) and an independent senator, the tally stands at 67. However, PML-N’s Ishaq Dar has still not taken oath and the two belonging to JIP have reportedly decided to abstain from the proceedings.

    GOVERNMENT:

    The government alliance, on the other hand, is in a weaker position, with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) 14 senators. Its ally Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) has five, Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) has eight and Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M) and Pakistan Muslim League-Functional (PML-F) have one senator each in the house.

    Seven independent senators also sit on the government benches.

    While the opposition alliance is apparently in a stronger position, the primary condition remains that all opposition members, in the secret ballot, cast their votes in the favour of the consensus nominee that is Bizenjo.

  • ‘Drugged’ pictures of Deepika, Ranbir among others create a stir

    ‘Drugged’ pictures of Deepika, Ranbir among others create a stir

    It’s a well-known fact that Karan Johar’s hosts the wildest parties in Bollywood. Also that the industry’s who’s who is part of those. Pictures and videos from the parties often go viral on social media as fans and followers love to watch candid moments of their favourite celebs.

    When Karan uploaded a video from the previous weekend’s party on Instagram, he may not have imagined the furore it would cause.

    Featuring several celebrities like Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor, Ranbir Kapoor, Vicky Kaushal, Arjun Kapoor, Malaika Arora, Vicky Kaushal, Varun Dhawan and Shahid Kapoor, the video captioned “Saturday night vibes” has Johar showing the Bollywood actors in conversation with each other or laughing at the camera.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B0bn6fpnRk-/

    The clip, which has been viewed 2 million times, was widely-circulated and caught the attention of an MLA, Manjinder S. Sirsa who criticised it and accused the actors of abusing drugs. He even threw in a Bollywood reference by naming Shahid Kapoor’s film Udta Punjab in this tweet. The film was based on drug abuse in India.

    The actors are yet to respond, but another politician Milind Deora has tweeted in support of the celebs saying that his wife was also present that evening and that nobody was in a ‘drugged state.’

  • Which onscreen couple has the best chemistry?

    Which onscreen couple has the best chemistry?

  • PM Imran’s US trip cost taxpayers Rs11 million

    PM Imran’s US trip cost taxpayers Rs11 million

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s visit to the United States (US) has cost the national treasury around Rs11 million ($67,180), it was revealed Thursday.

    According to the breakdown of expenses released by the government, Rs1.35 million were spent on accommodation for PM’s 27-member delegation, while the PM chose to stay at Pakistan Embassy.

    An amount of Rs92,120 were incurred on transport, Rs142,000 on gifts, Rs6,075,800 on airfare, miscellaneous expenditures stood at Rs1,287,460, tips at Rs706,001 and meals at Rs1,389,077.

    There was no TA/DA for any official and the ministers accompanying PM Imran.

    WAY LESS THAN NAWAZ, ZARDARI’S EXPENSES:

    The premier set an example of simplicity and austerity by saving millions of rupees of the national exchequer as he spent much less than the visits of former PM Nawaz Sharif and former president Asif Ali Zardari.

    His spendings were 11 times less than Zardari and eight times less than Nawaz, who spent $752,688 and $549,853 on their visits to the US, respectively.

    Earlier, PM Imran travelled to the US on a commercial flight instead of a special aircraft. He stayed at the residence of Pakistan’s ambassador in Washington DC instead of a 7-star hotel, while he bore his family’s expenditure himself.

    His visit was termed a success owing to the mammoth crowd he pulled at Washington’s Capital One Arena and his meeting with President Donald Trump wherein the two leaders forged good chemistry.

  • Coke’s Ad gets banned by PEMRA

    Coke’s Ad gets banned by PEMRA

    Extremism is no joke. Pakistan has suffered for the larger part of its history because of extremists. It’s something every single Pakistani is aware of and it’s nothing new. But using it as a casual term in a soft drink advertisement is.

    On July 28, after the Ad was released in a big social media and television campaign, singer and politician Jawad Ahmad tweeted: “The new #Coke Ad is an ugly interpretation of the word ‘Extremism’. It shows how low can marketing of a brand stoop to, just to make more money.

    It is dumb & immature of marketing team of Coke to use such a highly socially sensitive word so non-seriously just to sell their bottles.”

    Pakistan’s Electronic Media Regulatory Authority also found the advertisement to be problematic and has ordered that the Ad not be run on television or the radio until they review it. The Authority stated in their notice that they had gotten many complaints against the Ad and that, “the content of the advertisement is not only offensive but also tantamount to demeaning Pakistanis, as a nation.”

    PEMRA’s notice available on @ReportPEMRA ‘s twitter feed
    PEMRA’s notice available on @ReportPEMRA ‘s twitter feed

    It’s not clear what clause PEMRA has used to ban the Ad. The Authority will make it clear when the Ad is reviewed and the controversial content is omitted (which might be difficult in this case). Until then, judge for yourself.

    Watch the Ad here:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIuU_kKWYZs
  • Everything we know about Yasir Hussain and Iqra Aziz’s engagement

    Everything we know about Yasir Hussain and Iqra Aziz’s engagement

    Iqra Aziz and Yasir Hussain’s very public engagement at the Lux Style Awards had created quite a stir when it happened. A few weeks later, people finally got over it and moved on. Magar hua kuch yoon, keh eik aur twist aagaya. Turns out, the couple had been formally betrothed a long time ago and pictures from the event have finally surfaced on social media, sending fans into a frenzy once again.

    It all started when Iqra’s sister, Sidra shared a photo of the couple from what appears to be an intimate engagement ceremony. Fans began to speculate that the engagement happened in February because Iqra had posted pictures of herself in the same dress and styling as in the picture below. Yasir also sported a beard, which he had removed for his play Naach Na Jaane.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B0iXvblA1HW/
    https://www.instagram.com/p/BtvwAZWHRF0/

    Needless to say, that led people to comment that the LSA engagement was staged by the couple as a publicity stunt. And it turns out that the fans were right. About the February part, not the engagement or publicity one.

    Because a few hours later, Yasir took to Instagram to share that the pictures were from the couple “baat paaki” ceremony which was an intimate family affair. He said that according to him the engagement happens when rings are exchanged and those were exchanged in front of the whole world at LSA 2019. He said Iqra had no idea about the proposal and that he doesn’t care what the world has to say because he’s happy and in love.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B0lCEgmDMiZ/

    Here are some more pictures from the baat pakki event.

    Following Yasir’s post, best man Asad Siddiqui also shared a picture with the couple from a private event they did to celebrate. Asad’s post also came with a note in which he requested everyone to think before passing comments on someone’s special moment.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B0lSJJbHaeh/
  • Condition of brown bear in Islamabad Zoo sparks furor

    Condition of brown bear in Islamabad Zoo sparks furor

    As government agencies in Islamabad tussle over who is responsible for Islamabad Zoo’s management, animals are suffering and being neglected, with many falling sick. Though activists have been actively campaigning for the animals’ plight, little to none is being done to help the animals who are suffering in the hot, humid Pakistani summer.

    Recently, a video of the Himalayan Brown Bear caged in Islamabad Zoo has sparked outrage and furor among activists and people alike.

    The video, shared by HWO Animal Rescue, shows the bear in a deplorable condition. It is having trouble breathing and is lying listlessly in its enclosure, which doesn’t even have water.

    HWO Animal Rescue also shared a side by side picture of a healthy brown Himalayan Bear and the one lying in the enclosure and the difference is horrifying.

    Several people, including journalists and actors, voiced their concern for the bear and tweeted to Deputy Commissioner Islamabad to take some action.

    However, the DC informed that the zoo does not come under his jurisdiction. Despite that, he broke into the zoo with the police and had the bear examined by a private vet who said that the bear was fine.

    Meanwhile, Minister for Climate Change Zartaj Gul said that a team has been constituted by her for the complete tests, profiling, medical treatment and nutritional requirements of this bear and all other animals.

    It is pertinent to mention here that there is an ongoing tussle between the Islamabad Metropolitan Corporation and the Ministry of Climate Change over the management of the zoo. After a petition was filed in the Islamabad High Court against the zoo’s management, the court had handed over management of the city’s zoo to the climate change ministry till August 29. However, the director of Marghazar Zoo is resisting the transfer and is not cooperative. He locked the gates when officials of climate change ministry went to take over control of the zoo.

  • Tareen’s Multan Sultans played PSL 4 without depositing franchise fee

    Tareen’s Multan Sultans played PSL 4 without depositing franchise fee

    Ali Khan Tareen’s Multan Sultans participated in the fourth edition of the Habib Bank Limited (HBL) Pakistan Super League (PSL) without depositing the mandatory franchise fee, Cricket Pakistan reported.

    Tareen-led Multan Consortium had won the franchise rights for the sixth team of the cricketing tournament, however, reports claim that the annual franchise fee of $6.35 million has not yet been paid to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

    According to PSL rules and regulations, every franchise is required to deposit the fee before the start of the season. But despite the passage of over four months since the league’s final match, Sultans have not yet cleared the dues.

    “Multan Sultans is in compliance of their franchise agreement,” the report quoted PCB as saying while neither confirming nor denying the news.

    Meanwhile, Tareen tweeted:

    PCB had previously terminated the franchise agreement of the Multan Sultans franchise ahead of the fourth season. The termination was brought about due to the franchise’s inability to meet its financial obligations under the agreement.

    In the new bidding process, the PCB had set the reserve price at $5.21 million per annum for a period of seven years. This reserve price had been exceeded by the Ali Tareen-led group.

    The new owners had decided to continue with the same name for the franchise.

  • PIA is offering up to 20% discounts for certain destinations

    PIA is offering up to 20% discounts for certain destinations

    The Eid Al Adha 2019 holidays are just around the corner,
    and Pakistan International Airlines has made sure that you get Eid bonus.

    PIA is offering a 10% discount to all the customers traveling from Pakistan to London till 10th August. For people traveling to the UAE, there is a 20% discount till 12th August.

    From September 24th to 30th November, PIA will be offering its passengers a 10% discount for London to Sialkot flights.

    Senior citizens will also get a special discount of up to 10% and school students will receive a 10% discount on international and domestic flights.

  • ‘Pakistan Post entering $34.2bn logistics market, expecting investment up to $1.5bn’

    ‘Pakistan Post entering $34.2bn logistics market, expecting investment up to $1.5bn’

    Federal Minister for Communications and Postal Services Murad Saeed has said that Pakistan Post was entering the country’s logistics market, which at present is worth $34.2 billion and is growing at a rate of more than 18 per cent per year.

    “Pakistan Post is expecting up to $1.5 billion Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) on public-private partnership model for its capacity building in the logistic sector,” Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) quoted the minister as saying.

    FDI is an investment in the form of a controlling ownership in a business in one country by an entity based in another country.

    Within past one year, Pakistan Post has introduced revolutionary initiatives, including Electronic Money Order (EMO) at doorstep, Mobile App, E-Commerce and Same Day Delivery services, to improve efficiency and expand its network across the globe.

    According to Pakistan Post Director General (DG) Dr Naseer Ahmed Khan, the national postal operator is adopting new communication and information technologies to move further.

    He said that on the special directives of the federal minister, Pakistan Post has initiated inclusive measures to develop a better perception of its services among the public by ensuring timely delivery of mail, money and other articles.