Author: newsdesk

  • Nazish Jahangir asks seniors to stop feeling jealous

    Nazish Jahangir asks seniors to stop feeling jealous

    Pakistani actor Nazish Jahangir has stirred a hornet’s nest by talking openly about jealousy among older actors in the industry. She was a guest on The Night Show with Ayaz Samoo where she talked about getting noticed online, dealing with advances from male colleagues, and how important it is to be genuine in the entertainment world.

    During the interview, the 29-year-old spoke up about facing jealousy from older actors in the industry. She mentioned that some people in the industry feel jealous without any clear reason, even though they are more experienced. “It’s people within your own industry who are jealous of you for no good reason. Like you are way too senior.” Although she didn’t mention anyone by name, she suggested that this is a common issue. “All I can say is that there are many people like this,” she observed, indicating that such feelings are widespread.

    Expressing sadness about seeing jealousy among older actors, the Inaam-e-Mohabbat actor stressed how crucial it is to have mutual respect. “We respect you a lot as our seniors. I don’t think they should show us a side to them that disappoints us,” she said, highlighting the importance of having a positive and supportive atmosphere in the industry.

    She also talked about her personal beliefs, saying it’s important to be true to yourself. “It’s not just about me. I believe if there are five people in a room and one of them is negative, it can ruin the mood for everyone, and that’s not fair,” Nazish explained.
    She encouraged everyone to accept their own unique selves, saying, “I think everyone should realize: I am me, you are you. You can’t be me, and I can’t be you. Knowing this helps life go smoothly, without feeling like you’re in a race or under pressure.”

    In a touching moment, Nazish made a sincere request to her colleagues: “Please don’t be jealous. If I say I am very pretty in every interview, it’s because I feel I have a right to take pride in that but so do you. We are all very pretty.” Her words urged everyone to come together and feel confident in an industry where competition and insecurity are common.

  • PTI BOYCOTTS Senate chairman, deputy chairman elections

    PTI BOYCOTTS Senate chairman, deputy chairman elections

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has boycotted an important election for top positions in the Senate. The party had previously requested the postponement of Senate chairman and deputy chairman polls until the senate elections are conducted in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). 

    The former ruling party’s core committee made the decision and also called for postponing the upcoming elections for the top positions in the Senate. The party stated in its announcement that these elections would be unconstitutional if they didn’t represent all units of the federation.

    The former ruling party also asked the Senate secretary to delay the mentioned polls. In their request, Senator Saifullah Niazi stated that their request should be heeded since they were actually 96 Senate members.

    Currently, the upper house is short of 11 members as the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) postponed the KP Senate elections last week because of non-administration of oath to MPAs-elected on reserved seats.

  • Sindh police to receive advanced Turkish weapons to counter dacoit gangs: IGP

    In a recent press talk, Sindh’s Inspector General of Police, Ghulam Nabi Memon, stated that the police department has faced significant losses in personnel and resources battling dacoit gangs who possess more advanced weaponry.

    He, however, mentioned that the Sindh government is acquiring similar arms for the police force, with a shipment expected from Turkey in the next two weeks.

  • PPP’s Yousaf Raza Gillani elected Senate chairman ‘unopposed’

    PPP’s Yousaf Raza Gillani elected Senate chairman ‘unopposed’

    Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) Saidal Nasir Khan were elected as Senate chairman and deputy chairman respectively on Tuesday.

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) senators continuously protested throughout the oath taking session.

    No other senator submitted his nomination papers against Gillani and Saidal Nasir Khan for the important posts.

    Earlier today, 41 newly-elected senators took oath as PTI members protested on the floor of the house, terming the process of election of chairman and deputy chairman as “unconstitutional” due to an “incomplete house”.

    President Asif Ali Zardari had called a session of the upper house for the oath-taking ceremony and the election of the Senate chairman and deputy chairman.

  • Kangana Ranaut had to explain to Twitter that she did not eat beef

    Kangana Ranaut had to explain to Twitter that she did not eat beef

    Among the gossip spreading on social media, bigoted actress Kangana Ranaut, used X (formerly Twitter) to reject rumors about her eating beef. The controversial star stressed that she follows a healthy lifestyle based on yoga and Ayurveda.

    In a tweet she posted recently, Ranaut said, “I don’t eat beef or any other red meat. It’s shameful that there are completely false rumors about me. I’ve been supporting and talking about the yogic and Ayurvedic lifestyle for many years now. These kinds of tricks won’t make people think badly of me. The people who know me know that I’m a proud Hindu, and nothing can change their opinion.”

    An old tweet from 2019 started circulating again where Ranaut talked about her becoming a vegetarian and following a yogic lifestyle. It said, “There is nothing wrong with eating beef or eating any other meat. It’s not about religion! It’s not a hidden fact that Kangana turned vegetarian eight years ago and chose to be a yogi. She still doesn’t believe in just one religion. On the contrary, her brother eats meat” (Ranaut’s old tweet). However, Ranaut strongly denied the ideas in the old tweet. She emphasized that her beliefs match Hinduism’s principles.

    Ranaut, who recently joined politics as a candidate for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi Lok Sabha seat, organized a roadshow in the city as part of her campaign for the upcoming Lok Sabha Elections 2024. During this event, she sought support from the people of Mandi and assured them of her dedication to representing their interests.
    Looking back on her journey in the film industry, Ranaut talked about the difficulties she faced as an outsider, especially because of her regional background and language skills. Despite these challenges, she spoke proudly of her roots in Mandi and her strong determination to succeed despite adversity.

    With her recent movie Tejas and her upcoming directorial project Emergency, based on the life of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, Ranaut continues to make an impact both in the entertainment world and in politics.

  • From football to acting, Muneeb Butt’s fascinating career journey

    From football to acting, Muneeb Butt’s fascinating career journey

    Muneeb Butt may be very famous now but the route he has taken to arrive at this point was marked by plenty of twists and turns. He recently talked about his first acting job as a junior artist in a commercial during an interview on ARY Digital’s Ramadan special show ‘Shan e Suhoor’.

    During the heart-to-heart chat with host Nida Yasir, Muneeb openly discussed his personal life, family, daughters, and career.
    Talking about his dreams for his career, Muneeb Butt shared that he didn’t come from a family in the entertainment industry. He revealed that it all began when he was playing football in his neighborhood. A guy who was about his age, working as a junior artist coordinator for a commercial, approached him and suggested trying acting. He convinced Muneeb to visit the sets of a commercial shoot, which sparked Muneeb’s interest in acting.

    “I went there as discussed, and I saw that there were at least 4 buses filled with other young boys like me, all being taken for the junior casting of the commercial,” Butt explained. He mentioned that actors like Shehroze Sabzwari, Ahmed Ali Akbar, and Ainy Jaffri were the main stars of the commercial, while he wasn’t even in the background.

    “After that commercial, I told my family about my dream to study media sciences. While studying, I began my journey to enter the entertainment industry,” shared the actor from ‘Sar-e-Rah’. “That’s how it all began for me – going to auditions, facing rejection many times, and finally getting small roles.”
    But he is grateful, saying, ‘I owe my success to a friend’s father who had connections in the industry and decided to help me without any ‘mutual benefit’.’

    The celebrity also revealed that while he was studying, he began working at an advertising agency. There, he learned more about the industry’s opportunities. With the support of his boss and colleagues, he decided to step in front of the camera.
    Muneeb Butt made his first appearance on screen in ARY Digital’s drama ‘Baandi,’ alongside Maria Wasti, Yasra Rizvi, Nimra Bucha, and others.

  • Know all about Eid predictions here

    Know all about Eid predictions here

    There is a strong possibility that the Shawwal moon will be visible in Pakistan today.

    The age of the moon will be complete enough to be visible to the human eye this evening, according to experts of Meteorological Department. However, the final announcement of the moon of Shawwal will be made by the central Ruet-i-Hilal Committee.

    The moon of Shawwal has not been seen in Saudi Arabia, in view of which, Eid-ul-Fitr will be held tomorrow, Wednesday, in Saudi Arabia.

    In addition to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Kuwait will celebrate Eid tomorrow, according to media reports in the Gulf-based newspapers. Simi­larly, Australia has also announced that Eid will be observed on Wednesday.

    The central moon-sighting body will meet at the roof of the Federal Secreta­riat’s Kohsar Block in Islamabad, while meetings of zonal and district Ruet-i-Hilal committees will be held at their respective headquarters concurrently.

    In a statement on Mon­day, the committee requ­es­ted citizens to share any information regarding sightings of the moon with the committees in their respective areas.

    If the committee manages to spot the new moon today, then Pakistan will also celebrate Eid with the rest of the world.

  • Azhar Mahmood appointed Pakistan head coach for New Zealand series

    Azhar Mahmood appointed Pakistan head coach for New Zealand series

    Former test cricketer Azhar Mahmood has been appointed as head coach of the national cricket team for the series against New Zealand starting from April 18.

    The matches of the series will be played from April 18 to 27 in Rawalpindi and Lahore.

    Azhar Mahmood represented Pakistan in 164 international matches, taking 162 wickets and scoring 2,421 runs. He has previously served as bowling coach with Pakistan Men’s Cricket Team from 2016 to 2019.

  • Apple set to unveil new iPad Pro, iPad Air models in May

    Apple set to unveil new iPad Pro, iPad Air models in May

    Apple is preparing for a significant launch event, as reported by Mark Gurman in Bloomberg’s Power On newsletter. The tech giant is set to unveil its latest offerings, the new iPad Pro and iPad Air, during the week of May 6.

    The anticipated launch will introduce new models, including 11-inch and 13-inch OLED iPad Pro versions, alongside a larger 12.9-inch iPad Air. Additionally, consumers can expect refreshed Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil accessories to accompany these devices.

    This announcement marks a notable event for Apple, as it’s been nearly eighteen months since the release of any new iPad hardware. The upcoming iPad Pros are expected to boast enhanced displays, transitioning from mini-LED to OLED panels similar to those found in iPhones.

    This upgrade promises deeper contrast and increased brightness. Alongside display improvements, there’s anticipation for a sleeker design, with a thinner chassis and a repositioned front camera to the landscape edge. These new models will be powered by the advanced M3 chip.

    However, consumers may need to prepare for potential price hikes, as hinted by Gurman’s newsletter. Currently, the 11-inch iPad Pro starts at $799, while the 12.9-inch model begins at $1099.

    For those seeking a more budget-friendly option, the new 12.9-inch iPad Air aims to deliver a larger screen size without breaking the bank. Details regarding its processor, whether M2 or M3, remain unclear at this stage.

    Excitingly, the new accessories are expected to enhance the user experience further. Rumors suggest that the new Apple Pencil might include a new squeeze gesture feature, while the Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro is set to mimic a laptop with its aluminum base and larger trackpad.

    Although updates for the base model iPad and iPad mini are scheduled for later in the year, Gurman anticipates only minor improvements, primarily a processor upgrade for the iPad mini.

  • Overseas workers’ remittances surge to $3 billion in March

    Overseas workers’ remittances surge to $3 billion in March

    In March 2024, Pakistan witnessed a significant surge in the influx of overseas workers’ remittances, reaching a notable milestone of $3 billion.

    This remarkable figure reflects a remarkable 31.3 per cent increase on a month-on-month basis compared to February 2024, when the remittances stood at $2.25 billion.

    The latest data released by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) unveiled this positive trend, highlighting the pivotal role remittances play in Pakistan’s economic landscape.

    Year-on-year comparisons also underscored the upward trajectory, with a 16.4 per cent increase noted in March 2024 compared to the same month in the previous year, when remittances amounted to $2.54 billion.

    Such consistent growth in remittances holds significance beyond mere monetary figures, as these funds contribute substantially to bolstering the country’s external account and fueling economic activity.

    Moreover, they serve as a crucial supplement to the disposable incomes of remittance-dependent households, enhancing their financial resilience.

    In a broader fiscal context, the first nine months of Fiscal Year 2024 witnessed a steady rise in workers’ remittances, totaling $21.0 billion.

    This marks a modest 0.9 per cent increase compared to the corresponding period in the previous fiscal year, where remittances amounted to $20.8 billion.

    Such stability and growth in remittances underscore the resilience of Pakistan’s overseas workforce and their commitment to supporting their families and homeland.

    Breaking down the sources of these remittances, Overseas Pakistanis in Saudi Arabia emerged as leading contributors, with remittances totaling $703.1 million in March 2024.

    This represents a substantial 30 per cent increase compared to the previous month and a noteworthy 24 per cent increase year-on-year.

    Similarly, remittances from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) witnessed a remarkable surge, jumping by 43 per cent on a monthly basis to reach $548 million in March, reflecting a 34 per cent increase compared to the same period last year.

    The United Kingdom also played a significant role in this surge, with remittances soaring to $462 million in March 2024, marking a notable 33 per cent increase compared to February 2024.

    Meanwhile, remittances from the European Union exhibited a robust 19 per cent monthly growth and a 6 per cent year-on-year improvement, amounting to $315 million in March 2024.

    Overseas Pakistanis in the United States also contributed significantly, send`ing $373 million in March 2024, reflecting an 18 per cent increase compared to the previous year and a substantial 30 per cent increase month-on-month.