Pakistan’s Hamza Khan won the Asian Junior Squash Championship in Islamabad. The exciting event saw young talents from across Asia compete fiercely for the title with Hamza Khan emerging victorious in the Under-19 category. In the final of U-19, Hamza Khan faced third seed Haris Daniyal of Malaysia.
Hamza dominated the court in the 35-minute match and won comfortably with scores of 11-5, 12-10 and 11-9.
Former Indian cricket team captain Virat Kohli has announced his retirement from T20 cricket.
After a sensational match, India defeated South Africa and became the T20 world champion once again.
Speaking after the match, Virat Kohli announced his retirement from T20. He said that today was the last T20 World Cup and today’s final was the last match for India.
Kohli was declared Man of the Match for the final.
Virat has represented India in 125 T20 Internationals and scored 4188 runs with one century and 38 fifties.
Dr Murtaza Syed, former Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan, has raised significant concerns about Pakistan’s alarming debt situation, describing it as one of the most severe debt traps globally.
In a series of tweets, he highlighted the country’s excessive borrowing and criticized the misuse of funds on non-productive expenses, leading to a situation where servicing the debt takes precedence over crucial developmental and climate-related investments.
According to Dr Syed, Pakistan currently spends more on servicing its debt than any other country globally, a burden that is expected to persist for years. This high debt servicing obligation has necessitated heavy taxation and severely limited resources for essential social expenditures, such as education and health.
He pointed out that Pakistan’s spending on interest payments vastly exceeds allocations for education and health, indicating a prioritization that hampers human capital development and public health.
Citing data from the UNCTAD, Dr Syed highlighted that Pakistan’s government spends a disproportionate amount of its revenue on interest payments, second only to Sri Lanka. This financial strain not only constrains immediate social spending but also impedes long-term economic growth by limiting investments in infrastructure and other critical sectors.
Despite fluctuations in global interest rates, Dr Syed emphasized that Pakistan’s debt burden remains among the highest globally, indicating a systemic issue rather than a temporary financial challenge.
He cautioned that even with potential increases in government revenue, a significant portion would still be consumed by interest payments, further squeezing resources available for developmental initiatives.
In conclusion, Dr Syed proposed a strategic restructuring of Pakistan’s debt to alleviate the fiscal pressure and redirect funds towards sustainable development and climate resilience.
This, he argued, would require a balanced approach, avoiding over-reliance on taxation and instead focusing on optimizing debt management strategies to foster economic stability and social progress in Pakistan.
India has defeated South Africa by seven runs in the final of the ICC T20 World Cup in Barbados.
Rohit Sharma won the toss and decided to bat first.
First inning:
Indian skipper Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli opened the innings. Sharma was caught out for 23 runs, followed by Rishabh Pant for no runs and Surya Kumar Yadav for 36 runs.
Kohli and Akshar Patel batted responsibly and scored 72 runs for the fourth wicket. However, Akshar Patel was run out for 47 runs off 31 balls, with four sixes.
After that, Kohli and Dubey took over the Indian batting, but Kohli was caught after scoring 76 runs.
India scored 176 runs for losing seven wickets in the allotted 20 overs. Kohli scored 76, Akshar 47 and Shivam Dubey scored 27 runs.
For South Africa, Enrich Nurkia and Keshav Maharaj dismissed two players each.
But Indian bowlers made an impressive comeback when South Africa needed 30 runs on 30 balls. In the last over, Protease needed 16 runs, but Hardik Pandya bowled an excellent over and led the team to victory.
Second inning:
With India’s target of 177 runs, the start of South Africa’s innings was disappointing. The first two wickets fell for 12 runs.
Quinton de Cook and Tristan Tubbs made a partnership of 58 runs for the third wicket to stabilize the team’s position, but Tristan Tubbs got out after scoring 31 runs.
Quinton de Cook scored 39 runs and caught Kuldeep, but Klaasen played an aggressive innings and returned to the pavilion after scoring 52 runs off 27 balls with the help of 5 sixes and two fours.
Apparently, there is a general consensus among viewers that Pakistan’s drama industry, though extremely successful, needs better writing. Many writers lack training, relying on natural talent alone, critics say, adding that it leads to repetitive stories and characters. To improve, writers need training to craft engaging stories.
The host of the interview ‘Fuchsia Magazine’ asked Actors Sanam Saeed and Ali Kazmi, where they talked about the industry’s neglect of drama films and the lack of visible efforts to enhance their quality.
The host asked, “Why isn’t the film industry focusing on the things that we’re trying to change, and why aren’t we seeing any efforts to improve those aspects?”
Ali Kazmi said, “That’s the problem, it’s become a dying art. There are very few writers now who are amazing. The rest, they have outsourced.”
Sanam Saeed elaborated, “Come on, even the films you are watching, one out of a hundred hits the chord. Most of what we see on OTT platforms is unwatchable, a waste of time. And then you find that one gem among the millions.”
Discussing the issue of training for writers, Sanam Saeed said , “It’s a universal issue, but in our country, the problem is the lack of training.” Ali Kazmi added, “Creative writing is a course in universities. We need writers who have done courses and can show us their skills.”
Ali Kazmi also shared his personal journey, saying, “I too went to Toronto Film School in the early 2000s because there wasn’t a film school here. I wanted to show my parents and my old PTV training that I am qualified in this field and moving forward.” Sanam Saeed concluded, “Actors want to go to Napa, writers want to go to Karachi Film School or take online courses from their favorite writers abroad.”
Sanam Saeed and Ali Kazmi are currently starring in films like ‘Umro Ayyar’ which is now screening in cinemas.
Ali Kazmi is the son of two well-known actors, Rahat Kazmi and Sahira Kazmi.
Juggan Kazim is celebrating her 11th wedding anniversary with a surprise party for her husband. She planned a fun celebration with music and surprises to make their day unforgettable.She arranged a Dolli performance and had a band play music to lure him out of the house, adding a playful twist to the celebration.
This unique celebration showcased Juggan’s creativity in keeping their love alive.
Check out the video below:
Pakistani actor Rashid Mehmood is distraught after receiving an electricity bill of Rs45,000. He said it makes him feel like he was born in the wrong country.
A video of Mehmood showing his electricity bill to viewers went viral on social media. He explained that he used 701 units of electricity and got a huge bill.
Mehmood, who has had four heart attacks, wondered why he survived, asking, “Was I kept alive just to endure this?” He said it’s hard for him to pay such a big bill since he hasn’t found work as an actor in Lahore since a long time.
He blamed politicians and officials for living in luxury while ordinary people struggled with high inflation and huge electricity bills.
Mehmood said if he had been dishonest, he could have been rich, but he chose to work honestly, believing Allah would judge him after he died.
The actor is very sad about the situation in Pakistan and feels he was born in the wrong country, despite dedicating his life to serving it. He is disheartened to get such high bills in return.
In his distress, Mehmood shared his pain and worry, saying he doesn’t want to live anymore and hopes his family will have a better life after him.
Despite his difficulties, he remains committed to Pakistan but prays for Allah’s mercy, thinking life could have been easier if he lived abroad.
In a recent episode of The Fahad Ansari Show, TV host Mathira spoke out against Nadir Ali, a podcast host known for his controversial behavior. Nadir is infamous for his direct and sometimes inappropriate questions, which have led to discomfort among guests on his show.
Reflecting on the episode, Fahad, the host of the show, said that Mathira seemed uncomfortable. She didn’t hesitate to share her thoughts, saying, “I expected his show to be respectful like others I’ve been on. I used to have respect for him, but the way he behaved…”
She criticized Nadir further, alleging, “I feel he targets women on his show. Every woman who goes on feels cornered. That’s not okay.” According to Mathira, there’s a line between being funny and being disrespectful. “You can’t ask rude questions that aren’t even funny.”
Despite Nadir’s popularity, criticism against him is growing. Mathira’s strong stance echoes the views of many who believe that respect should be a priority, especially in the entertainment industry.
In the vibrant world of fashion and entertainment, celebrities often set new trends that are then followed by their fans. Nadia Hussain, renowned model and actor, recently appeared as a guest on Ahmed Ali Butt’s podcast ‘Excuse Me’ where she gave fashion and style tips for Sajal Aly and Yumna Zaidi.
The host asked, “We have some very famous actresses here, can you tell us what tips you would give them according to your makeup standards?”
Nadia Hussain said, “I believe Sajal Aly looks fantastic in Western looks. When she adopts Eastern styles, like using ‘Kajal’ in her eyes, it gives her a very traditional ‘desi’ appearance, which is nice, but I personally prefer her in Western attire. Overall, she exudes an Eastern charm, akin to a girl-next-door image, so I’d love to see her more in Western styles.”
Talking about Yumna Zaidi, Nadia Hussain said that she usually sticks to safe choices. ,”I’d love to give her a funky makeover with unique makeup that she hasn’t tried before.”
Nadia Hussain owns her own salon and beauty brand.
Sajal Aly is currently starring in the drama ‘Zard Patton Ka Bun’ on HUM TV, while Yumna Zaidi is doing ‘Gentleman’ which is airing on Green Entertainment.
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Nabil Gabol has predicted that incarcerated former Prime Minister Imran Khan will be released from jail, but it will take six months or more.
Nabil Gabol said during an interview with ARY News that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder will come out of jail after entering into a deal.
“He will soon understand,” he added.
“His problem is, no one believes him or his guarantee,” the MNA from Lyari said. “Only one person is responsible for the uncertain situation, who is in Adiala jail,” Gabol stated.
Responding to a question about the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government, the PPP leader said, “We are pushing the PML-N government to keep it running. Whenever we stop pushing, the government will stop running”.