Author: newsdesk

  • Class of 2022: Apply for this Chinese scholarship before it ends

    Class of 2022: Apply for this Chinese scholarship before it ends

    China Scholarship Council (CSC) is providing a great opportunity for Pakistani students to pursue a degree in the country with the support of the Chinese government.

    For the academic year 2024–2025, the Chinese government has entrusted the Higher Education Commission (HEC) with the responsibility of managing these scholarships on behalf of the Government of Pakistan.

    Interested individuals can submit their applications through the relevant HEC portal or the CSC’s portal before the December 28 deadline.
    The initiative is a proactive step towards promoting educational opportunities for international students and researchers pursuing bachelor’s, master’s, or PhD degrees.

    Eligibility:

    To be eligible for consideration under the Chinese Government Scholarship Program for the academic year 2024-25, applicants must possess a valid Higher Education Aptitude Test (HAT) or Higher Education Undergraduate Studies Admission Test (USAT) score obtained after January 01, 2022.

    How to Apply:

    According to the official Higher Education Commission (HEC) website, the China Scholarship Council (CSC), under the auspices of China’s Ministry of Education, assumes responsibility for the enrollment and administration of the Chinese Government Scholarship Program.

    Applications for the concerned programme can be submitted to the related HEC portal or the CSC’s portal by December 28.

    Enrollment:

    According to the official HEC website, the CSC — entrusted by China’s Ministry of Education — is responsible for the enrollment and the administration of Chinese Government Scholarship Program.

  • Another important Pakistan bowler ruled out of Australia series

    Another important Pakistan bowler ruled out of Australia series

    In another setback to the Pakistan team, left-arm spinner Nouman Ali has been ruled out of the Test series with Australia.

    According to Geo sources, Nauman Ali has undergone surgery after being diagnosed with appendicitis, and doctors have advised him complete rest.

    Sources say that the bowler will not be able to play the remaining two Tests against Australia. Before the Perth Test, Nouman Ali got a cut on his finger, ruling him out of the first Test.

    It should be noted that Khurram Shehzad, who made his debut in the absence of Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf, is also out of the series due to injury. In his place, the responsibility of the fast bowling department will be on the shoulders of Shaheen Shah Afridi as well as Hasan Ali or Mir Hamza.

  • No ‘bat’ for PTI; ECP takes away party symbol

    No ‘bat’ for PTI; ECP takes away party symbol

    The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has released its verdict in the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) intra-party elections on Friday, declaring that the party will not be given the cricketing ‘bat’ symbol it has contested previous elections with.

    The verdict comes right after a delegation from PTI said that it had been assured by the ECP of a level playing field after the Supreme Court of Pakistan asked the two to hold a meeting.

    The order stated, “So keeping in view, the clear mandate of Elections Act, 2017 read with PTI constitution 2019, and for reasons mentioned hereinabove, it is held that PTI has not complied with our directions rendered therein order dated 23rd November, 2023 and failed to hold intra-party election in accordance with PTI prevailing Constitution, 2019 and Election Act, 2017, and Election Rules, 2017. Therefore, the certificate dated 4″ December. 2023 and Form-65 filed by the alleged Chairman, is hereby regretted and rejected accordingly. The provisions of Section 215 of the Election Act, 2017 are hereby invoked and PTI is hereby declared ineligible to obtain, the Election Symbol, for which they have applied for.”

    PTI held intra-party polls on December 2, with Barrister Gohar Khan taking the Chairman’s seat after approval from party founder Imran Khan. The results of the polls were contested by founding member Akbar S. Babar, who moved the ECP against what he termed “fraudulent” elections.

    ECP had sought a reply from PTI on the polls violating the party constitution. The party itself meanwhile turned to Peshawar High Court in a bid to defuse what it termed as discrimination by ECP.

  • Transgender persons set to contest elections 2024

    Transgender persons set to contest elections 2024

    Nayyab Ali, a transgender person from the federal capital city of Islamabad, and Sobia Khan, a transgender individual from Peshawar, are all set to contest in the upcoming general elections.

    Nayyab Ali, a resident of the federal capital city of Islamabad, has submitted nomination papers to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to contest the upcoming general elections from National Assembly Constituency 47. Nayab is the second transgender individual to submit nomination papers for the 2024 elections so far.

    Nayyab took to X (former Twitter) and worte, “Just arrived at the returning office to submit my nomination papers for NA46 & NA47 as a candidate for the National Assembly. Proud to represent the trans community as the sole candidate thus far. Grateful for the warm welcome from the community!”

    Her supporter were chnting, “Aap ka na Janaab Ka, Vote Hai Nayyab ka.”

    Peshawar native Sobia Khan, has filed nomination papers for a provincial assembly seat in constituency PK-81. The upcoming polls are scheduled to be held on February 8 next year.

    Sobia Khan was also the first transgender person to be elected as a jirga member of the Dispute Resolution Council (DRC) in March 2021.

    Running as an independent candidate, Sobia Khan aims to be a voice for the transgender community, women, and children, advocating for their rights if she secures victory in the elections. With a Bachelor’s degree to her name, Sobia holds the distinction of being the first transgender radio jockey in the province.

    She said that not only her family but also the people of the area are supporting her. Sobia said that she would request NGOs and social welfare to support her election campaign.

    She will also ask the district administration to provide security to her during this time as it has happened for the first time that a transgender is directly participating in the elections.

    Sobia Khan said that she will conduct a door-to-door election campaign in the area and will also meet the women of the area to support her. She also praised Assistant Commissioner Syed Ahsan Ali Shah who encouraged her a lot while submitting nomination papers.

    Sobia Khan said that because there was no separate seat for transgenders, she submitted the papers for the general seat. It should be remembered that Sobia Khan belongs to Peshawar district. She holds a BA and also holds the distinction of being the first transgender broadcaster of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

    The general elections are set for February 8 next year across the country, following the Supreme Court’s directives.

    It is pertinent to mention that in the 2018 elections, Maria, the lone transgender candidate from KP, secured 536 votes as an independent candidate, surpassing the votes of many women candidates.

  • ‘I will not contest the election, even if Imran Khan asks,’ Aleema Khan

    ‘I will not contest the election, even if Imran Khan asks,’ Aleema Khan

    Aleema Khan, the sister of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, has stated that none of his family members will contest the upcoming general elections slated for February 8 next year.

    During a chat with journalists outside the Islamabad High Court on Thursday, she remarked: “I will not contest the election, even if Imran Khan asks (me), I will not participate in the election.”

    Aleema clarified that neither Khan’s sisters nor his wife will contest. “None of us is contesting elections. We only come for the cases of the PTI founder”.

    She emphasized that treating the PTI founder in the same manner as former Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto was unwarranted, highlighting the absence of a young generation during Bhutto’s time.

    She alleged that Nawaz Sharif, the leader of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), had got two umpires, asserting that he was preventing other political players from entering the political arena, stressing that evidence supporting this claim became apparent during the nomination paper submission process, where individuals are allegedly being deprived of their papers.

    She dismissed the cipher case as a mere joke, expressing concern over the rapid pace of the trial and raising the possibility of a death sentence being pronounced by December 30.

    “Our hope for justice is from Allah and justice should also be expected from the Supreme Court, but what is happening is in front of everyone. We are no longer disappointed with the Supreme Court. If you don’t expect anything from the Supreme Court, who will you expect from? If we do not get justice from there, we will definitely get it from Allah,” she remarked.

  • Pakistani rupee closes week strong at Rs282.53 against US dollar

    Pakistani rupee closes week strong at Rs282.53 against US dollar

    In a trend marking its ninth consecutive session, the Pakistani rupee (PKR) demonstrated resilience against the US dollar (USD) by registering a 0.09 per cent appreciation in the inter-bank market on Friday.

    Closing the week at Rs282.53, the currency saw an increase of Rs0.26, according to the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP).

    This positive momentum follows a marginal gain on Thursday, settling at Rs282.79 against the US dollar.

    Simultaneously, the foreign exchange reserves held by the State Bank of Pakistan experienced a decline, falling below the $7 billion mark.

    A notable decrease of $136 million, attributed to debt repayments during the week ending December 15, 2023, brought the reserves to $6.904 billion.

    On the international front, the US dollar found itself near a more than four-month low on Friday, anticipating a key US inflation gauge reading scheduled for later in the day.

    This data is expected to provide clarity on the Federal Reserve’s room to manoeuvre in terms of interest rate cuts in the coming year.

    Early Asia trade witnessed the greenback hitting a five-month trough against the New Zealand dollar and a three-week low against the euro.

    This decline resumed after a sudden risk-aversion episode in New York hours on Wednesday triggered a sell-off in US stocks, leading to a rise in the dollar.

    Against a basket of currencies, the greenback hovered around 101.76, remaining close to the previous session’s more than four-month low of 101.72.

     The dollar index seemed poised for a weekly loss of about 0.8 per cent, extending the previous week’s 1.3 per cent decline.

    The Federal Reserve’s decision to leave the door open to potential rate cuts in the next year, as indicated in its last policy meeting for 2023, contributed to the ongoing downward pressure on the US dollar.

    This market movement has implications for various currency pairs, including the Pakistani rupee to US dollar exchange rate, which continues to be of interest to investors tracking global economic trends.

  • Gold price hits Rs219,800 per tola after an increase of Rs1,800

    Gold price hits Rs219,800 per tola after an increase of Rs1,800

    In a notable uptrend, domestic gold prices in Pakistan experienced significant gains on Friday, with the price of 24-karat gold rising by Rs1,800 per tola and concluding the session at Rs219,800.

    According to the Karachi Sarafa Association, the closing price for 10 grammes of 24-karat gold in today’s session was Rs188,443, marking an increase of Rs1,543.

    Similarly, the price for 10 grammes of 22-karat gold reached Rs172,740, showing a gain of Rs1,415.

    Contrastingly, the price of silver remained steady in the local market, with 24-karat silver and 10-gramme 24-karat silver settling at Rs2,650 and Rs2,271.94, respectively.

    The continuous surge in international gold prices is a driving force behind the upward trajectory of gold prices in the domestic market.

    Currently, international spot gold is trading at $2,055.91, indicating a 0.48 per cent increase compared to the previous session’s closing.

    Furthermore, international gold is set for its second consecutive weekly gain, influenced by the weakening dollar and US Treasury yields.

    The recent statement from the US Federal Reserve, outlining a cumulative rate cut of 75 basis points in 2024, is putting sustained pressure on the dollar and Treasury yields, contributing to further gains for the precious metal.

    In addition to the impact of international price fluctuations, the domestic gold market is also susceptible to changes in the interbank exchange rate of the local currency.

    The intricate interplay between global and domestic factors continues to shape the dynamics of the gold market in Pakistan.

  • The top five most eligible Pakistani bachelors of 2023

    The top five most eligible Pakistani bachelors of 2023

    It is no secret that Pakistanis are obsessed with shadis. This is reflected everywhere, from television dramas to the daily discourse. The marital status of people in the limelight always attracts more curiosity. Politicians, actors, and sportsmen are the three types of public figures the masses are generally most interested in.

    So, it is impossible that anyone especially a man, a good-looking one, can escape the omnipresent question, “When are you getting married?”. While we are not asking that personal question, we at The Current bringing you our top picks of the most coveted bachelor’s in Pakistan, exceptional men achieving big things in their respective fields-be it acting, singing, sports, or politics.

    It is important to note that we conducted a poll on our social media platforms to incorporate the feedback of our followers.

    1. Babar Azam

    Former Pakistani cricket team’s captain, popularly known as ‘King Babar’, surpasses every other bachelor in the country with an overwhelming majority of the vote.

    The support and the fan base this Lahori cricketer has is unprecedented. Even though he may be enjoying his bachelor life, fans want him to settle down.

    Different names keep getting associated with him one after the other, the latest being Hania Amir. The actress refuted all such claims by saying “Babar bhai hain bro”.

    We really hope that next year the nation gets to see a “national bhabi”.

    1. Bilawal Bhutto Zardari

    Bilawal Bhutto Zardari is the second most prized bachelor people want to see get married.

    The former Foreign Minister, son of the late Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, has been asked about his wedding plans multiple times but it seems like nothing is on the horizon for the 35-year-old politician. However, in an interview with The Current, he mentioned that the prospective bride must get along with his two sisters.

    1. Hasan Raheem

    Peechay Hut fame singer Hasan Raheem is a youth icon.

    He has not just the looks of a rock star but also a professional degree of MBBS, along with a smooth voice. There is a huge number of girls that are smitten. His political correctness has our hearts melted already.

    The singer seems to be eager to get married as well as he expressed in one of the interviews.

    1. Hamza Sohail

    Hamza Sohail has raised the bar high with the uber-romantic Farjad Khan Bahadur in Fairytale.

    A significant number of viewers want this boy-next-door to settle with his on-screen wife Sehar Khan but will settle for him tying the knot with anyone.

    1. Bilal Abbas Khan
      Bilal Abbas made it to the list as recommended by people, for the thirty-year-old actor is the very definition of an old-school hero.

    Two-time winner of the Lux Style Award, he is casting his spell on audiences with the role of Shahmeer Sikander in the drama serial Ishq Murshid. Known for his long-lashed eyes, we hope he someday enchants a girl for good.

    Towards the end, we want to share the results of the poll conducted by The Current where Babar Azam won the poll with a clear majority.

  • ‘Khamosh hojaao,’ Maryam Nawaz gets furious at female PML-N worker

    ‘Khamosh hojaao,’ Maryam Nawaz gets furious at female PML-N worker

    The Parliamentary Board of Muslim League-N is conducting interviews of candidates for the distribution of party tickets.

    More than 400 women gathered at the meeting to give interviews to the Parliamentary Board. Each of the N-League women gave details of the work they had done for the party and the time and hardships they had put in.

    According to We News, Madiha Niazi, a worker from Lahore, got up and said, “I am a common political worker, I am neither someone’s niece nor nephew,” implying that she has no reference. She went on to say that party workers like her are not paid any heed and their sacrifices are ignored conveniently.

    Madiha Niazi complained, “We are not even being listened to fully,” to which Maryam Nawaz angrily said that you should be quiet and sit down, other women have to be heard too.

    Madeeha Niazi replied, “I have not come to sit here, I have come to relate all my sacrifices for the party, if you want to throw me out, throw me out, I will not leave without completing.”

    When Madiha Niazi finished her speech, several other women also started narrating their sacrifices for the party.

    According to PML-N sources, before this fiasco, senior leaders sitting in the parliamentary board praised the work of some women, including Hina Parvez Butt, Saba Sadiq and Uzma Bukhari. A woman who came for the ticket of reserved seat got up, asking, “What are the sacrifices of Hina Parvez Butt for the party? We stood with the party in difficult times, surrounded the courts, remained outside the NAB, raised slogans for the leaders, during this time we were penalized by the then authorities but we stood with the party.”

    She went on to criticise the elitism of the mentioned women “They come wearing branded clothes and good makeup, they have no services to offer.”

    She continued: “We poor workers have been there in front of courts during the trials of party leaders but how many times has Hina been spotted there? We should not be underestimated.” The woman demanded to be given the same status as those who wear branded suits.

    Tehmina Daultana also jumped in and had a heated debate with Maryam Nawaz.

    Maryam asked Tehmina Doultana, a stalwart, “What are your services for the party,” to which an infuriated Tahmina Doultana replied, “What do you want? What should I do at this age, you want me to die?”

    At this point, Nawaz Sharif had to intervene to control the situation, saying, “You women are our strength.” He told the women that the party is moving forward because of them, calling them the party’s pride. “All of us went to assemblies because of you, you are an asset to the party.”

    Hina’s response

    Hina Parvez Butt took to Twitter and refuted that any such conversation never happened at the meeting.

    She stated categorically that none of this happened.

  • ‘Baloch protestors can stay in Islamabad, protest, or go back home. The choice is theirs’: IHC Chief Justice

    ‘Baloch protestors can stay in Islamabad, protest, or go back home. The choice is theirs’: IHC Chief Justice

    The Islamabad High Court (IHC) raised concerns on Friday about the forced repatriation of Baloch protesters, who had experienced harsh police action the day before, back to their province.

    Chief Justice Aamer Farooq heard a petition filed by Baloch protesters against unlawful detention, questioning why they were being “forcefully” sent back to Balochistan.

    “They can stay in Islamabad, protest, or go back home. The choice is theirs,” remarked Justice Aamer Farooq

    The police used brutal force on Wednesday night to disperse and detain Baloch demonstrators in Islamabad, who were protesting against enforced disappearances and extra-judicial killings in their province.

    Over 200 protesters were taken into custody after encountering tear gas, water cannons, and police batons.

    The government later claimed that more than 90 per cent of the Baloch men and women in custody had been released, except for men “who could not be identified” by the police.

    However, during the IHC hearing on a petition seeking the release of detained Baloch protesters, it was revealed that over 50 Baloch women protesters had gone missing after police took action.

    The court instructed representatives of the protesters and their counsel to approach the Islamabad SSP (Investigation) to record their version and sought a report from the police.

    Petitioners’ counsel Attaullah Kundi and Imaan Mazari appeared before the court, explaining that the police had informed them that buses were waiting to take protesters back home.

    Kundi stated that the police chief had mentioned orders from the prime minister for the repatriation of protesters, and Baloch women were forcefully filled into buses. He further revealed that some Baloch students studying in Islamabad were also coerced into the buses.

    The court expressed displeasure and summoned IG Akbar Nasir in response. The police chief claimed to have arranged transport for the protesters, to which the court questioned why they were sent back forcefully. Chief Justice Farooq emphasized that the protesters had the choice to stay in Islamabad, protest, or go home.

    When asked how many protesters were in police custody, the IG replied that 216 Baloch men and women were at the Kohsar police station of which some had been sent on judicial remand. Out of these, 19 women were released, he added.

    Protesters at the Tarnol police station were released by the local magistrate while 162 detainees were sent on judicial remand, said IG Nasir.

    The court also asked about the number of women who were sent home, those released, and the ones staying at the hostel. It also directed the police chief to arrange a meeting of the women with their counsels.

    “You have to convince them that not one person is missing,” Justice Farooq emphasised.

    Journalist Hamid Mir and Ahmed Butt of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan also provided insights during the hearing. Mir highlighted discrepancies in government statements, and Butt emphasized the constitutional right to protest in a democracy.

    The court directed the police chief to arrange a meeting between the detained women and their counsels and ensure transparency in the process.

    The IHC CJ further expressed displeasure over Wednesday night’s events, regretting the police action on protesters. “What kind of a society are we living in? Even if a common person is being unjust, public officeholders should always be careful,” he remarked.

    The court then instructed Kundi to oversee the entire matter and contact the IHC registrar’s office if there was a problem. It further said that all the women staying at the I-10 hostel be released.

    “I will issue a detailed order of today’s proceedings,” Justice Farooq said, adding that the next hearing would be conducted by Justice Miangul Hasan Aurangzeb.