Author: newsdesk

  • Live screening of Pakistan India match

    Live screening of Pakistan India match

    One day to go for the most awaited match of the ICC World Cup 2019. Long-time rivals Pakistan and India are all ready to face each other at Old Trafford, Manchester. Any cricket match between the two opponents becomes the talk of the town and all the restaurants, tea stalls and cafes arrange live screening for the cricket lovers.

    For Karachites:

    Q Star
    Convention Hall- DHA:

    Cricket lovers can enjoy the match on big screen with food, music and selfies. You can go with your children also and let them enjoy the face painting. Tickets are priced at PKR 1000/- per head.

    Pavilion End Club- Rashid Minhas

    Cricket fanatics can enjoy the match with numerous activities with just 400 rupees per person. They range from food stalls, lucky draws, gifts, and giveaways.

    For Lahoris:

    Emporium Mall:

    Lahoris can head to emporium mall to watch the match. Enjoy the match with various other activities. Go with your family. You can enjoy match and can go for shopping during match breaks.

    Uncle Tetsu Pakistan:

    Watch the nail biting Pakistan  vs India match  with the cheesy jiggly cakes. Uncle Tetsu Pakistan is giving a free drink with each cheese cake purchase if you bring your father with you.

    For Islamabadis:

    Shakar Parian National Park:

    Cricket
    fans can sit back and enjoy the match with free popcorn and a drink at Lok
    Virsa, Garden Avenue, Shakar Parian National Park. Ticket is for 800
    rupees.

  • All the Pak vs India news you’ve got to see

    All the Pak vs India news you’ve got to see

    With Pakistan and India gearing up to clash in a historic ICC Cricket World Cup match, excitement and tension levels are at an all-time high on both sides of the border. Die-hard cricket fans have arrived in Manchester ahead of the match and the frenzy is unmissable. Pakistan is currently on the 9th spot with three points and one win, while India is on 4th spot with five points and two wins.

    Here is some interesting news on the match.

    Pakistani fan gets a match ticket from MS Dhoni

    A Karachi-born, Chicago-based fan Mohammad Bashir, also known as ‘Chacha Chicago’ will be receiving a ticket from MS Dhoni to watch the Sunday’s high-octane Indo-Pak contest.

    India Today reported that Bashir and Dhoni’s friendship blossomed during the 2011 World Cup semi-final between India and Pakistan when Dhoni gave Bashir a ticket for the sold-out match in Mohali. Their friendship has grown stronger since then and eight years later, Bashir has landed in Manchester, without a match ticket, to watch the two teams play.

    “I arrived here yesterday and saw that people are ready to pay as much as 800-900 pounds for a ticket. A return ticket from Chicago costs the same. Thanks to Dhoni, I don’t have to struggle for a match ticket,” the 63-year-old, who owns a restaurant in Chicago and is an American passport holder.

    Chacha Chicago says that he will be supporting both the teams and his match-day uniform will have both the Indian and Pakistani colours. He also met with players of both the teams in Manchester.

    Chris Gayle appears to be supporting India

    ICC shared a picture of Chris Gayle sporting a white, green and orange tie and dye suit with the caption “The #UniverseBoss is ready for #INDvPAK.”

    Wasim Akram and Virat Kohli ask fans to be calm

    Wasim Akram said the match should be enjoyed rather than used to inflame the situation.

    “This can’t be bigger,” Wasim said. “India and Pakistan playing at the World Cup with over a billion audience is the biggest thing in cricket, so my message to both sets of fans to enjoy it and stay calm.

    “One team will win, one team will lose, so stay graceful and do not take this as a war. Those who project this match as war are not true cricket fans.”

    Meanwhile, speaking to the press on the eve of the match, Kohli said, “Watch and enjoy… it’s just a cricket match.”

    Weather woes

    While everyone is trying to remain positive, the weather in Manchester is unpredictable and there are 60 percent chances of rain between 2 pm and 5 pm, with chances increasing to 80 percent at 6 pm UK time. The rains have already forced four wash-outs in the tournament and affected several training sessions as well.

    Wasim Akram, Kapil Dev think India is the stronger team

    Cricket veteran Wasim Akram believes the match is “70-30 in India’s favour because “India has depth in their batting and their bowling is also good.” Kapil Dev also shared the same thoughts.

    Meanwhile Sachin Tendulkar warned the Indian Cricket Team to be wary of Muhammad Amir and give him a tough challenge.

  • Snack Guide for the #CWC19

    Snack Guide for the #CWC19

    A cricket match is incomplete without food. How is it even possible to watch the overs go by without any snacks to munch on? Here are some easy snacks you need to have on the table for the “hottest match of the season.”

    Corn and Cheese Nachos

    Tortilla chips topped with cheese, corn, jalapenos and salt are irresistible. Can’t wait to dive into the crunchiness.

    Pizza

    You can never go wrong with pizza. Either avail one of cricket pizza deals or make your own bread pizzas at home, if you’re someone who is health conscious.

    Simply add ketchup, cheese and your favourite toppings on a slice of bread and pop it in the oven for a quick bread pizza.

    Chips and Dips

    Grab a few packets of crisps and a bottle of salsa dip from the store or make your own creamy dip at home with mayonnaise, cheese, yogurt, herbs and lemon.

    Ice Cream

    The Pakistani cricket team is very unpredictable and you can never tell what they will do next. For those moments when things get heated and tense, ice cream is the best snack to cool everyone down and bring down the tension.

    Fruit Salad

    For all those who are conscious of their diets, the fruit salad (better known as fruit chaat) is the best match snack. Mix together your favourite fruit, add some chaat masala and juice and your chaat is ready.

    Mixed Nuts

    Another healthy option. Add cashew nuts, peanuts, walnuts, pistachio, almonds to a bowl and your guilt-free snack is ready.

    Masala Corn

    Probably one of the easiest things to make. Boil frozen corn and add butter, salt, lemon and masala to it and you have chatpata snack ready.

    Nuggets and Fries

    Perfect for when the match is not going your way and the depression hits. Allah na karay but you gotta be prepared for anything.

  • Buzdar beats Shehbaz in social sector reforms, increases education budget to Rs89.8bn

    Buzdar beats Shehbaz in social sector reforms, increases education budget to Rs89.8bn

    Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Sardar Usman Buzdar has beaten his predecessor Shehbaz Sharif in reforming the social sector, as an amount of Rs89.8 billion has been earmarked for the provincial education sector.

    As per the details, presenting the provincial budget on Friday, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government enhanced the education budget, which under the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) rule stood at Rs52.35 billion.

    In its last provincial budget for the fiscal year 2017-18, the outgoing PML-N government had allocated Rs52.35 billion for school education and Rs28 billion for providing basic facilities at government schools.

    An amount of Rs6.03 billion had been fixed for the construction of new classrooms in Punjab schools.

    According to the budget presented by the Buzdar administration, health stands second in the social sector with Rs47.5 billion. Water supply & sanitation will gain Rs22.4 billion, local governments Rs6.3 billion, social welfare Rs1 billion and women development Rs0.8 billion.

    Meanwhile, Rs350 billion have been allocated for the Annual Development Programme (ADP) 2019-20, which stood at Rs635bn under the Shehbaz administration in 2017-18.

  • How Prince Harry is saving the environment

    How Prince Harry is saving the environment

    The World Economic Forum has estimated that currently there is 50 million tons of plastic in the world’s oceans which is alarming because plastic can take centuries to degrade. Hence, popular personalities across the world are making efforts to combat this problem and are encouraging people to go plastic-free and adopt a sustainable lifestyle.

    Prince Harry is one of them. UK media outlets, quoting the Prince’s close friend Argentinian polo player Nacho Figueras, have reported that the Duke of Sussex is making conscious efforts to cut down on his plastic use and actually requests hotels he stays in to use minimum plastic.

    Recalling a time he and Harry stayed a night at a hotel before a game, Figueras said, “He talked to a person at the hotel and said, ‘This morning I got my coffee and I saw that you have a plastic thing on the coffee. And then I also sent my shirt and I got my shirt in a big plastic bag.”

    Looks like Harry is borrowing a page from wife Meghan’s book. The Duchess follows an eco-friendly lifestyle and in fact, a lot of her fashion is also sustainable.

    Not only the Prince but Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also announced a ban on single-use plastics in Canada. The leader of the state said that Canada will ban single-use plastics as early as 2021 and the specific items to be banned will be determined based on a science-based review, but the government is considering items such as water bottles, plastic bags and straws.

    Trudeau asserted that the issue of plastic pollution is a “global challenge” and that everyone should play an active role in combating it.

    Moreso, even our neighbours are taking the initiative to end plastic pollution. A village in the east India state of Assam, where people are too poor to pay school fees, is educating children free of cost as long as they bring 25 recyclable plastic items.

    Pakistanis are also making efforts to adopt a more sustainable lifestyle, albeit on a micro-level. Here are some tips from The Green Gang Pakistan on how to use less plastic:

  • Should people elect Sarfraz Ahmed as the next PM of Pakistan?

    Should people elect Sarfraz Ahmed as the next PM of Pakistan?

  • Private bank fires employee for abusing journalist on Twitter

    Private bank fires employee for abusing journalist on Twitter

    A private bank has fired an employee for abusing journalist Hasan Zaidi during a Twitter spat earlier this week.

    As per the details, the bank’s Financial Reporting Unit head Fazeel Tajammul was fired after Zaidi reported him for abusing.

    Tagging the bank in his tweets with screenshots of Tajammul’s abusive remarks, Zaidi had urged the bank to take action against him.

    Zaidi also shared multiple similar tweets by the bank employee, which took the micro-blogging website by storm with people urging the bank to sack Tajammul.

    The campaign followed an official statement from the bank, wherein it announced having taken the “appropriate action” against Tajammul.

    Meanwhile, Twitterati are criticising Zaidi as well as the bank for the move, calling it unfair.  They allege that the journalist “used his influence to get Tajammul sacked”.

    Some are also seeking Zaidi’s removal for some of his abusive remarks.

    https://twitter.com/azbkt1122/status/1139393829193179136

    Tajammul, for the time being, has deactivated his Twitter handle.

  • Budget 2019-20: Expenses worth Rs2.3 million a day proposed for PM’s Office

    Budget 2019-20: Expenses worth Rs2.3 million a day proposed for PM’s Office

    Funds worth Rs860.28 million have been allocated for the Prime Minister’s (PM) Office in the federal budget for the fiscal year 2019-20, the Ministry of Finance has said.

    According to the proposed allocation, PM Office’s daily expenditure stands at Rs2.36 million (Rs2,356,931) at 365 days a year, which contradicts the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government’s earlier claims of reducing expenses for austerity.

    The proposal to spend over Rs2 million a day from taxpayers’ money comes just months after dozens of cattle and excess luxury cars of the PM House were auctioned to save money.

    The development had come after PM Imran Khan, in his first address to the nation on August 19, announced the austerity drive and vowed to cut down on government expenses.

  • Duty first: Rescue 1122 diver missed sister’s funeral to save lives

    Duty first: Rescue 1122 diver missed sister’s funeral to save lives

    There are some people who restore your faith in humanity and make you believe that compassion does exist somewhere. And this Rescue 1122 official is one of them.

    Zahir Shah, a Rescue 1122 official, missed his own sister’s funeral in order to retrieve the bodies of three sisters who drowned in Kundal Dam on Eid in Swabi.

    According to reports, a boat carrying 38 passengers capsized in Kundal Dam due to overloading. While the 35 of the 38 passengers were rescued safely, three sisters drowned and died in the dam. Shah was part of the rescue team who tried their best to save the sisters. He was informed of his sister’s death while he was on the rescue mission but he chose to complete his duty before attending to personal matters.

    Shah’s actions and commitment received applause from all around and he was hailed a hero on social media. He was also given a ‘Certificate of Appreciation’ by Rescue 1122.

  • K Town gets a new bun man

    K Town gets a new bun man

    When Pappa Roti shut down in Pakistan, bun lovers across the country were left heartbroken. But Karachi fans can now rejoice because a new Baker Boy has arrived in the city.

    Baker Boy, a Malaysian brand, has opened its to doors to customers and are serving hot, buttery, coffee buns as well as karak chai and freshly baked brownies. Their signature buns are made with a special recipe that makes them crisp outside and soft inside. Sounds like the perfect tea time.