Author: newsdesk

  • Historic Day: Pakistan launches first satellite mission to moon

    Historic Day: Pakistan launches first satellite mission to moon

    Today marks a historic milestone as Pakistan launches its first satellite (iCube Qamar) mission to the moon. The groundbreaking event signifies a significant step forward in the country’s space exploration endeavors.

    Dr. Khurram Khurshid, a member of the core committee of the Institute of Space Technology, while talking to Geo News, said, “The space mission will be sent today on May 3 at 2:10 pm. This mission will be sent into space from China’s Hainan Space Launch Site, the launch of satellite iCube Qamar will also be telecasted directly from the website.”

    He said, “iCube Qamar has been designed and developed in collaboration between China and Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SPARCO). Two cameras are installed in iCube Qamar to take pictures of the moon. satellite images of the moon’s surface will be acquired through China’s Deep Space Network.”

    In 2022, the Chinese National Space Agency through the Asia-Pacific Space Corporation Organization (APSCO) provided a unique opportunity for member countries to reach lunar orbit for free.

    The National Institute of Space Technology also submitted a proposed project on behalf of Pakistan. Out of eight countries, only the Pakistani project was accepted, and after two years of hard work, the satellite ‘iCube Qamar’ has been completed.

  • ‘Girls are not display items’, Maya Khan on rishta rejections

    ‘Girls are not display items’, Maya Khan on rishta rejections

    A video of actress and TV host Maya Khan talking about how people search for girls for marriage is making rounds on social media and it seems like a lot of people agree with her.

    In the video that got a lot of attention, she talks about how people visit a girl’s house to consider marriage, but they end up not marrying her

    The actress said, “After seeing the girl, the people who come ask the girl’s parents for a few days and then say on the phone that their istikhara is not correct, they cannot have a relationship. In the same way, the girl’s parents get a call from someone else to come to see the girl and then the family asks the girl to stay at home or leave the office early.”

    Maya Khan stated, “The people who come for the second time also do the same, see the girl, leave after drinking tea and water and ask for an answer after a few days.”
    She added, “Calls for girls to see relationships are coming again and again and every time the girls are decorated and dressed like a ready-made item in a showroom.”

    The actress’s video discussing Pakistani culture regarding girls’ relationships became really popular. Users commented on it and agreed with her. They said that some people pretend to pray for guidance (istikhara) when they don’t really intend to marry the girl.

  • Hamid Mir received death threats, CPJ urges authorities to investigate

    Hamid Mir received death threats, CPJ urges authorities to investigate

    The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has urged Pakistani authorities to “swiftly and impartially investigate death threats and online harassment targeting prominent television anchor Hamid Mir and ensure his safety.”

    Hamid Mir, a prominent journalist in Pakistan who hosts a political talk show ‘Capital Talk’ on Geo News, has survived at least two assassination attempts in the past.

    Mir told the CPJ that he had received multiple death threats on social media and warnings that his life was in danger from two journalists familiar with the situation.

    The Islamabad police is yet to register an FIR after Hamir Mir reported the threats to the police last week.

    The CPJ reported that on April 28, YouTuber Imran Riaz Khan posted on X, formerly Twitter, that he had been told that “preparations are being made to take action” against Mir for his comments in support of freedom of speech in Pakistan

    On April 27, he filed a petition in the Islamabad High Court seeking the formation of a judicial commission to investigate the 2022 killing of Pakistani journalist Arshad Sharif in Kenya. In February, Mir spoke out on his show against the detention of Imran Riaz Khan and journalist Asad Ali Toor.

    Mir also told CPJ that he saw at least two people filming him last week while he was in his vehicle near his Islamabad home but they ran away when he approached them. Mir also reported the incident to the police.

  • PM orders inquiry on wheat import last year

    PM orders inquiry on wheat import last year

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has ordered an inquiry committee to investigate the import of wheat last year under caretaker setup despite abundant harvest.

    Shehbaz appointed Secretary Cabinet Division Kamran Ali Afzal as head of the probe body.

    “What led to the import of wheat despite abundant production,” the prime minister inquired.

    Farmers in Punjab have staged protests because the government is not buying wheat crops from them at the agreed-upon rates.

    “All necessary measures should be taken for buying wheat and farmers should be compensated for their hard work soon,” Shehbaz assured.

    Importantly, Shehbaz has removed Federal Secretary National Food Security and Research Division Captain (R) Muhammad Asif from his post on the issue of wheat import during the caretaker government.

    Asif is a Grade 21 officer of the Pakistan Administrative Service. He has been made OSD.

  • American women marries Pakistani Polo player after accepting Islam

    American women marries Pakistani Polo player after accepting Islam

    An American woman converted to Islam and married a young polo player from Chitral district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a province of Pakistan.

    Polo player Anwar Wali and American woman Claire Stephen got married on Thursday in Islamabad. The family of the boy also participated in the ceremony.

    Video credit: Aaj Tv Official

    During an interview on a YouTube channel, Anwar Wali said that Claire had come to Chitral a year ago and had stayed in his hotel. “She liked the environment and people of Chitral so much that she extended her stay here for 6 months.”

    Claire mingled with people here and tried her best to understand the Chitrali culture.

    She said that she had traveled all over the world but found the culture of Chitral inspirational.

    She said that she is associated with a local sports magazine in America, and had reached Chitral to watch a polo match. “Anwar Wali is the best polo player,” she remarked.

    Claire will stay in Chitral for some time after which she will leave for America.

  • ‘Mujhay easy na laina’, Gandapur slams federal govt for not paying KP dues

    ‘Mujhay easy na laina’, Gandapur slams federal govt for not paying KP dues

    Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s (KP) Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur criticized the federal Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)-led government on Thursday, threatening that people from his province will march towards Islamabad if the Centre does not pay KP’s dues. 

    While speaking at an event in Peshawar, Gandapur said that “They [centre] are making a mistake by denying the rights of the province.” 

    The chief executive of the province said that he will protest against the federal government, and the people of KP will stand by him.

    “Clear the dues of my province as soon as possible, otherwise no body will even thank you,” he told the Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif-led government in Islamabad.

    “I will ask the federal government not to take me easy.”

    The KP chief minister believes that his province deserves its fair share, as the province shares its sources with the country.

  • ICC banned West Indies player Devon Thomas for five years

    ICC banned West Indies player Devon Thomas for five years

    The International Cricket Council (ICC) has imposed a 5-year ban on West Indies player ‘Devon Thomas’, after which he will not be able to play any type of cricket.

    According to the details, Devon Thomas accepted the charge of violating seven clauses of the anti-corruption codes of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) and Caribbean Premier League (CPL) for which the ICC sentenced him. He has been declared ineligible for any type of cricket for 5 years.

  • PSL commissioner Naila Bhatti resigns from post

    PSL commissioner Naila Bhatti resigns from post

    Pakistan Super League (PSL) commissioner Naila Bhatti has resigned from her post due to differences with the cricket board.

    According to the sources, PSL Commissioner Naila Bhatti’s resignation has also been accepted. Naila Bhatti was a part of former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Najam Sethi’s team.

    Earlier the Director of Medical and Sports Sciences of PCB Dr. Sohail Saleem resigned due to the injury of Pakistani fast bowler Ihsanullah, whose resignation was also accepted by PCB.

  • Worcestershire county player Josh Baker passes away

    Worcestershire county player Josh Baker passes away

    Josh Baker, a 20-year-old spin bowler from the English county of Worcestershire has passed away.

    Josh Baker played two Second XI matches this season. He made his first-class debut in 2021 and played a total of 47 matches across all formats, taking three wickets in his last match against Somerset.

    Pakistani spinner Usama Mir, who plays for Worcestershire, said in a message on social media, “Josh Baker’s death is sad and a blow, he was a good person and a great cricketer.”

    Worcestershire County Chief Executive Ashley Giles said: “We are all saddened by the death of Josh Baker.”

  • GCU students protest against American band concert

    GCU students protest against American band concert

    Students of Government College University (GCU) held Palestinian flags while protesting against a US Consulate-sponsored concert of the American band Raining Jane in Lahore.

    University administration canceled the concert after the students protested by raising the Palestinian flag at the US Consulate concert.

    In videos that emerged from the protest, it can be seen that students remained undeterred and raised the popular slogan, ‘From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.”

    GCU Vice Chancellor Dr. Shazia Bashir told Dawn that all the demands of the students were accepted and the event was postponed.
    She said no disciplinary action was taken against any of the students.