Author: newsdesk

  • Sikh Yatrees to come to Pakistan for mela

    Sikh Yatrees to come to Pakistan for mela

    Sikh pilgrims will come to Pakistan on April 13 to participate in the celebrations of Khalsa Janma Day and Vasakhi Mela. Officials of the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB), Pradhan and other Sikh leaders will be welcoming the guests.

    The main ceremony will be held at Gurudwara Panja Sahib, Hasan Abdal, on April 14. The pilgrims will reach Nankana Sahib from Hassan Abdal on April 15 and on April 18, they will go to Gurudwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur, Narowal, reports The Express Tribune.

    On April 20, the yatrees will visit Aimanabad and reach Lahore where they will stay for one day.

    The Sikh pilgrims will return to India after completing their 10-day pilgrimage on April 22.

  • Get ready for Eid: Aima Baig to release new song

    Get ready for Eid: Aima Baig to release new song

    Aima Baig is getting ready to release her new song on April 11, as shown on a poster she posted on Instagram.
    Aima Baig is very popular in Pakistan as a singer, but she recently faced a difficult time because of a cheating and a tax scandal.
    Despite the tough situation she is ready to shine in the music scene again, judging by her latest posts on Instagram.

    The post said: “It’s been a while… Finally thinking about releasing a song this Eid. What do you guys think! Maybe a poster tonight? Or…”

    “We created this song a while back, and I feel like now is the right time to release it on this Eid, April 11th, 2024.
    I believe everyone can connect with the lyrics in some way. Let’s hope you all enjoy it.
    I’m excited for you all to listen and watch the music video. @thatlil.kid and @uzzifilms did a fantastic job shooting it. It’s definitely going to be a fun watch.”

  • ’Four salary bonus’, PM Shehbaz is reportedly rewarding his staff

    ’Four salary bonus’, PM Shehbaz is reportedly rewarding his staff

    A few days before leaving for Washington to ask the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a new bailout package to avoid a default, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif approved a proposal to give up to four salaries in bonuses to his staff. He also asked his finance minister to concur with it.

    The PM is being faced with criticism that the policy to hand out such big awards to bureaucrats amidst such deeply serious economic conditions is against an austerity drive.

    Also, analysts are asking whether this move would bode well for the new IMF bailout package as the IMF discourages bloated government expenditures.

    The rewards were approved for staff officers because of ‘their extraordinary efforts in the completion of tasks’, according to the Express Tribune.

    More importantly, the cost for these bonuses will be paid to these government servants by taking loans from banks at a 23 per cent interest rate.

  • Bella Hadid’s sister creates Palestinian film company to expose truth about Israel

    Bella Hadid’s sister creates Palestinian film company to expose truth about Israel

    Fashion designer Alana Hadid, who is the sister of supermodels Bella and Gigi Hadid, has started a film production and distribution company called Watermelon Pictures, according to Deadline. Watermelon Pictures aims to be a Palestinian-owned independent film label. It plans to support filmmakers from all over the world who are not well-represented in the industry, with a focus on cultural diversity and social issues.

    Watermelon Pictures, as mentioned on its website, is committed to giving a voice to those often overlooked in the film world. The company wants to share stories that haven’t been told before and believes in using creative expression to make a difference in society.

    Their first project, a documentary called ‘Walled Off’, focuses on the ‘Walled Off’ Hotel in Bethlehem. This hotel, facing the Israeli West Bank barrier wall, is a special place financed and thought up by famous British street artist Banksy. It stands as a symbol of artistic resistance against political challenges.

    A lot of famous people are working together on the documentary Walled Off, including Anwar Hadid, who is Alana Hadid’s brother. Roger Waters from Pink Floyd is also part of the team. Plus, Kweku Mandela, who is Nelson Mandela’s grandson, is helping with the production.
    Alana, who is the Creative Director of Watermelon Pictures, shared her vision for the company,: “We want to make a place where voices that often get ignored can be heard. We want people to express themselves creatively against unfairness. With our films, we hope to teach and inspire people all around the world to stand up against injustice.”

    Watermelon Pictures isn’t just about supporting important causes; it also celebrates Palestinian culture as a big part of who they are. They’re proud of Palestinian heritage and want to show how vibrant and strong it is. That’s why they chose a watermelon as their symbol because it shares colors with the Palestinian flag.

    As Watermelon Pictures starts sharing different stories and encouraging important conversations, they’re making a big effort to include everyone. Their work is a big step towards making sure everyone’s voices are heard in the movie world.

  • Serious lapses in security protocol of slain Chinese nationals

    Serious lapses in security protocol of slain Chinese nationals

    Since a tragic terror attack in Shangla claimed six lives including five Chinese citizens, a decision to constitute an investigative committee was taken by the government.

    The attack exposed serious lapses in the security detail of the Chinese engineers and a disregard for standard operating procedures (SOPs).

    The committee was shocked to find out that the bus carrying the Chinese officials was not bulletproof, let alone bombproof, which is the requirement under the security SOPs.

    It pointed out multiple significant flaws in the security detail due to which the incident took place.

    They further said the company “that was required to provide bullet- and bombproof vehicles to transport Chinese workers, and duly paid for, failed to meet its contractual obligations.”

    Moreover, according to the SOPs, the District Police Officer in Upper Kohistan was supposed to be informed about the movements of the foreign nationals in advance which did not happen.

  • Ismat Zaidi criticizes newcomers for lack of respect towards seniors

    Ismat Zaidi criticizes newcomers for lack of respect towards seniors

    Ismat Zaidi, a seasoned actress in the drama industry, has contributed to numerous remarkable projects throughout her extensive career. Even today, she continues to excel in her roles in various dramas. As a guest on Ghazal Siddique’s podcast, she highlighted essential changes required within the industry to foster a more positive environment.

    She said, “There should be a criteria for what an artist with so much experience deserves. Many times, the production is paying so much money to an actor who may have started two years ago and ignore the rights of senior artists. I have had these bad experiences in the productions of actors who should have known better.”

    Ismat also shared details about bad experiences with new directors. “There was one director who misbehaved and insulted me in front of everyone. I was extremely disappointed,” she lamented.
    She stressed the significance of mutual respect and kindness in the workplace, urging directors to treat artists with dignity and empathy.

  • As street crime escalates in Karachi, HRCP voices concern

    As street crime escalates in Karachi, HRCP voices concern

    Street crime in Karachi has been on an alarming rise since the beginning of the year and the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has voiced its concern on the matter.

    Once known as the city of lights, Karachi has long been the victim of street crimes and the breakdown of law and order, making the lives of common people difficult.

    In 2023, over 90,000 crimes were reported in the metropolitan city which was, unfortunately, an increased number as compared to 2022 when 80,000 crimes were registered.

    As per the reports, out of 90,000 incidents a total of 134 citizens were brutally murdered, hundreds injured over resisting robberies, while 411 civilians were killed in various incidents.

    HRCP released a statement on X saying, “The first quarter of 2024 has followed the same pattern. While vigilantism and increased brutality in response by citizens is not the answer, the government’s failure to address rising crime levels is shocking.”

    It further stated that the core reasons for this upward tick in crimes have always been “unemployment” and “economic desperation” which must be urgently addressed to restore law and order in the city.

  • Hiba Bukhari & Arez Ahmed open up about their family planning journey

    Hiba Bukhari & Arez Ahmed open up about their family planning journey

    In an exclusive interview on Green Entertainment’s Ramazan transmission, popular Pakistani television actors Hiba Bukhari and Arez Ahmed shared insights into their personal lives, addressing the topic of family planning.

    “We don’t feel any pressure from our families. However, many people from outside the family ask us about having a baby. Once, an aunty asked me about it, and I jokingly said, ‘We already have one baby on YouTube,’” Arez jokingly replied.

    Hiba spoke up, adding, “According to some reports on YouTube, I became a mother just six months after marriage, and Arez supposedly gifted expensive presents to my sisters.” Both emphasized that only Allah knows the truth, and they will have children when the time is right. Arez Ahmed also expressed his desire for Hiba to become the mother of their children.
    Hiba married fellow actor Arez in January 2022, after being in a relationship for some time.

  • Norway removes Pak from terror threat assessment list

    Norway removes Pak from terror threat assessment list

    The Norwegian government has removed Pakistan from the National Threat Assessment List which is published by the country’s Police Security Service.

    Pakistan’s inclusion in the list poses significant challenges for Pakistani students and researchers who want to pursue their studies or careers in Norway.

    The decision came about after active diplomacy from Islamabad in persuading Norwegian authorities to remove its name from their list of nations of “security concern,” reported the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP).

    “Pakistan’s diplomatic initiatives bore fruit, leading to its removal from the list,” the report read.

    “The announcement came through the latest report issued by Norway’s Police Security Service, which holds responsibility for intelligence and security matters within the country.”

    The terror threat assessment is a crucial report that identifies potential threats to Norway’s national security including Espionage, Proliferation, Terrorism, and threats to government officials.

  • PTI requests postponement of Senate chairman, deputy chairman polls

    PTI requests postponement of Senate chairman, deputy chairman polls

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has asked on Monday for the postponement of the election for Senate chairman and deputy Senate chairman until polls for the upper house are conducted in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).

    Senator Saifullah Niazi from PTI submitted an application to the Senate secretary, stating that the true count of Senate members is 96.

    Last week, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) postponed the KP Senate elections because the MPAs elected to reserved seats hadn’t taken their oath. As a result, the upper house is now lacking 11 members.