Author: newsdesk

  • IT ministry demands Rs20 billion to improve country’s cybersecurity, social media

    IT ministry demands Rs20 billion to improve country’s cybersecurity, social media

    The federal government has sought Rs20 billion for the next fiscal year to improve the country’s cybersecurity and manage social media. According to the proposal, the government will only allow social media platforms to operate if they establish local offices.

    The Ministry of Information Technology has demanded Rs20 billion for the Digital Information Infrastructure Initiative (DIII) in the 2024-25 fiscal year budget, according to government sources who spoke to The Express Tribune.

    The Express Tribune requested comments from the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Information Technology, but they did not respond. Government sources also revealed that Rs15 billion has already been allocated as a technical supplementary grant to the information technology ministry for the current fiscal year.

    However, the total cost of the DIII project, which is equipped with Chinese technology, is Rs38 billion. The government is spending a significant amount this year, and the remaining amount has been requested for the next fiscal year.

  • ‘My kids refused to act in the Coke TVC’: Javeria Saud

    ‘My kids refused to act in the Coke TVC’: Javeria Saud

    Reowned actress Javeria Saud is the proud mom of 17-year-old Jannat and 12-year-old Ebraheem.

    The actor has recently revealed that her children refused to work in a Coca-Cola television commercial that was supposed to be shot in Turkey. They even convinced their parents not to participate because they did not want to align themselves with a company that supports Israel as the genocide in Gaza rages on.

    She posted on Instagram, “So, my kids refused to act in the Coke TVC, and they even convinced us not to participate in the shoot that was planned in Turkey. They didn’t want to compromise their morals by working with a company that supports Israel. Jannat and Ebraheem told us, ‘If we can’t do anything else, at least we can play our tiny part by boycotting.’ This made me think of Surah al-Feel. May Allah bless everyone with such honest and principled children. Ameen.”

  • Indian celebrities, journalists complain of not being allowed to vote in elections

    Indian celebrities, journalists complain of not being allowed to vote in elections

    Elections in India are entering the last phase, with polling in Mumbai on Monday. While there was a buzz surrounding celebrities coming out to vote in India’s tinsel town, complaints of celebrities and journalists not being able to vote surfaced. It was overwhelmingly stated that their name was not on the voting list while they have been voting for decades.

    Actress Vidya Maladev, famous for her role in Netflix series Mismatched complained about what she said was really “upsetting” as she was not able to vote because she could not find her name in the voting list.

    Famous singer and musician Amit Trivedi also posted a video with the caption, “Voting is our constitutional right. Today I was denied that right and I feel helpless.”

    Actress and model Gauhar Khan vented out her frustration of being denied the right to vote in a video where she was seen saying, “Why do we have Adhaar Cards (voting cards) when we are not considered citizens enough.”

    Journalist Rana Ayyub, who is also vocal about intolerance in India towards Muslim community, posted an Instagram story stating that she went with her family to vote and their names were missing from the voters list in Nayi Mumbai area despite the fact that they have been voting in this constituency for the last eighteen years. “Never missed a vote since I turned 18. Frustrating to say the least.”

    Producer and Entrepreneur Gayatri Pahlajani posted on X, “After having voted in not one but four general elections, my name has been struck off the voting list.”

    Reports of low voting turnout in many states have emerged in Indian media.

    Muslims not able to find their names in the voting list made rounds on social media during the elections in Gujrat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s home state.

    Haroon Khan posted on May 6 that the names of 575 Muslim fisherman in Gujrat were deleted from the voters list. “Is this beginning of a “Hindu Rashtra” by snatching voting rights from Muslims?”, he posted.

    Journalist Radhika Bordia posted a video of a Muslim man from UP who was denied the right to cast a vote as his name wasn’t missing from the voting list.

    Videos of both Muslim women complaining about their voting cards being downplayed as fake and them being dragged by the same police to not allow them to vote also emerged.

    All of this poses a big question mark over the transparency and effectiveness of the election process in India.

  • Farmer slams Dr. Qaiser for targeting watermelons

    Farmer slams Dr. Qaiser for targeting watermelons

    Dr. Affan Qaiser, a doctor from Multan is known on social media for videos that are usually part social commentary and many times, factually incorrect.

    In his latest video, he raised the issue of “adulterated watermelons” i.e. injecting watermelons with chemicals in order to give them the red colour that consumers accept as a sign of the fruit being sweet.

    The video was followed by criticism as people debunked the supposed myth — particularly farmers.

    One farmer pointed out that today, in the age of social media, everyone is a supposed expert in everything, adding that while Dr. Qaiser gives his two cents on everything, he doesn’t realise how his claims can be detrimental for certain people.

    He also said that Qaiser should instead focus on his profession i.e. doctor, and talk about the exploitation by medical labs and pharmaceutical companies instead of farmers.

    A couple days later, Dr. Qaiser released another video, justifying his claims with online articles while also pointing that he never put the blame on farmers.

    Who is Dr. Qaiser?

    Dr. Affan Qaiser and his partner-in-crime – his wife, Nazish Butt -are widely followed on social media.

    As internet personalities, apart from explainers, they also host podcasts and interviews.

    Time and again, people have criticised Dr. Qaiser for having a holier-than-thou attitude while being hypocritical all the same. For example, he persistently and strongly disapproves eating out in efforts to encourage a healthy diet yet simultaneously, he and his wife have often been seen at restaurants.

    But he is mostly known for his criticism of the widely loved Pakistani snack: samosa.

    According to Dr Qaiser, the samosa is an “atom bomb of 400 calories”, and that samosas are fried in poor quality oil.

  • ICC allots Nassau cricket stadium to India for warm up match against Bangladesh in yet another favour

    ICC allots Nassau cricket stadium to India for warm up match against Bangladesh in yet another favour

    The International Cricket Council (ICC) has allotted the Nassau Cricket Stadium in New York to the Indian cricket team for the warm-up match against Bangladesh.

    The high voltage match of Pakistan and India is also scheduled to be played in this stadium on June 9.

    Fans expressed their disappointment on allotting the Nassau Cricket Stadium to India saying that the Indian team has been given a warm-up match on the ground to get used to the conditions so that they can see the pitch and formulate strategies against Pakistan.

    Top officials of ICC are leaning towards the Indian board.

    Earlier, ICC had controversially changed the timing by allotting the second semi-final slot to India for the convenience of Indian cricket fans.

  • Spain, Norway, Ireland recognise Palestine state in historic move

    Spain, Norway, Ireland recognise Palestine state in historic move

    Spain, Norway and Ireland have officially recognised the Palestinian state on Wednesday, paving the way for other European countries to do the same.

    The momentous development comes as yet another setback to Israel after the ICC announced this week that it will seek arrest warrants for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Gallant for war crimes.

    “Today, Ireland, Norway and Spain are announcing that we recognise the state of Palestine,” Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris announced at a news conference, adding that other countries will join them within a few weeks.

    Israel reacted by announcing that it has recalled its ambassadors to Norway and Ireland. The occupying country’s ambassador to Spain had already been recalled in November last year.

    During the news conference, Harris said that he viewed the two-state solution as the only viable pathway for peace and security for the peoples of Israel and Palestine.

  • Faysal Quraishi reacts to mother’s viral statement

    Faysal Quraishi reacts to mother’s viral statement

    Television star Faysal Quraishi has addressed his mother’s comments about disobedient children.

    He joined the show Meri Saheli on Samaa TV via video call and discussed how people use social media to gain attention. He also addressed his mother Afshan Qureshi’s most recent statement.

    Speaking about his mother’s viral message and the reasons for individuals posting critical comments,

    Faysal Quraishi said, “People on social media share stuff about me to get a rise out of me. When I react, they claim they just wanted my attention. These days, websites and apps need clicks and likes, so they focus on negative content. I don’t think people pay much attention to positive news – they’re drawn to drama. I found the viral post about me funny and told my mom to ignore it, but she still responded. I think the ones making a big deal about it are people who never got scolded by their moms or never saw their moms get angry. I have a great relationship with my mother.”

    Background:
    An old interview of Afshan Qureshi, Faysal’s mother, went viral on social media, showing her discussing her son’s success and personality. She mentioned that while she prayed for his success, she didn’t pray for him to be a good son and person. The edited clip led to speculation about Faysal’s behavior towards his mother. However, she was actually giving a general message to all children to respect and care for their parents.

  • PTI’s spokesperson Raoof Hassan attacked by unknown people in Islamabad

    PTI’s spokesperson Raoof Hassan attacked by unknown people in Islamabad

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) central spokesperson, Raoof Hassan, was attacked on Tuesday by transgender people in Sitara Market, Islamabad.

    “Extremely shameful and deplorable,” the party said in a statement on X, formerly Twitter, adding: “Central Information Secretary Raoof Hasan attacked by unknown persons outside the office of a private channel.”

    It is not known why Hassan was attacked.

    In another statement, PTU said that if the spokesperson of the “largest party” is not safe and can be attacked in the capital city, then “what can we make of the safety of others? ”

    The attackers used a sharp instrument to injure Raoof Hassan and escaped easily after the incident.

    On the other hand, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader and information minister Attaullah Tarar condemned the attack and urged a thorough investigation into the incident.

  • Government to end solar net-metering & introduce gross-metering

    Government to end solar net-metering & introduce gross-metering

    The government has briefed the International Monetary Fund (IMF) about plans to change the country’s solar power policy, Geo News has reported.

    According to the government, almost 1938 MW of electricity in the system through roof-top solar system under net metering mode.

    Because of this revenue loss of Rs100 billion in the system has been shifted to consumers by passing a hike of tariff to Rs1.90 per unit on those who have not installed solar systems on their roofs.

    The government intends to introduce gross metering instead of net metering.

    The tariff would be reduced to Rs7.5 to 11 per unit instead of Rs21. They will be provided electricity from the national grid at Rs60 per unit during night or peak hours.

    However, under this new policy, a buyback tariff from solar consumers would be brought down to Rs7.5-11 per unit due to a significant decline in solar panel prices and the government would sell them electricity from the national grid at Rs60 per unit during night time or peak hours.

  • Wasim Akram appointed multicultural ambassador of Cricket Australia

    Wasim Akram appointed multicultural ambassador of Cricket Australia

    Former Pakistani star bowler Wasim Akram has been appointed as multicultural ambassador of Cricket Australia.

    A total of 54 ambassadors of Cricket Australia have been selected, including India’s Ravi Shastri, former Sri Lankan player Russell Arnold and Bangladesh’s Amin ul Islam.

    Australian Test opener Usman Khawaja, Fawad Ahmed, Scott Boland, former women’s captain Lisa Sthalekar and Mel Jones are also part of the ambassador program.

    These ambassadors have been appointed by Cricket Australia for a period of 2 years.

    The Ambassador Program aims to provide a clear pathway for cricket in Australia to players, spectators and coaches from the South Asian region.