Author: newsdesk

  • ‘Insensitive’: Waqar Zaka slams Nida Yasir’s claim he tried to sabotage her show

    ‘Insensitive’: Waqar Zaka slams Nida Yasir’s claim he tried to sabotage her show

    Television presenter and cryptocurrency expert Waqar Zaka fired back at actress and morning show host Nida Yasir over her claims that he tried to sabotage her show. In a video statement posted on his social media accounts, Waqar revealed he had complained about Nida’s conduct of hosting morning shows when she invited the parents of a deceased girl who was raped and then murdered. The show was subjected to intense controversy as Nida made the parents cry by asking them invasive and hurtful questions, which caused outrage.

    Waqar said that Nida claimed the parents had themselves requested to be invited on the show in order to gain media support to grant their daughter justice. However, he refuted these claims by sharing the video of an activist interviewing the parents, who revealed they were invited by Nida, rather than the other way round.

    Waqar debunked another claim made by Nida on her show, where she claimed the family had filed an FIR after their appearance. But as Waqar shared in the clip, the activist spoke with the victim’s parents who revealed they had filed it before making their appearance on the morning show.

    Waqar shared that these revelations had created an outrage on social media, which is when in 2020 he had encouraged his followers to file a report with PEMRA, and to message Salman Iqbal, the CEO of ARY, to remove Nida as a host.

    “It is insensitive how Nida exploited a case like this for the sake of getting ratings, and lied so much that she couldn’t even apologise after getting caught later,” said Waqar. “And also remember: a host is always aware of what goes on during the show. If the host approves something, then it appears on the show.”

    Waqar further added it’s time all the elderly hosts sitting on their morning shows should now consider letting go, and giving other young people a chance. He added Nida should host a contest to see who could replace her, and revealed he had complained to Salman Iqbal that other women should be given a platform because Nida was no ‘Oprah’ and nor did she hold any philosophy in her life.

    On Saturday, Nida made headlines when as a guest on Geo’s ‘Hasna Mana Hai’, she revealed Waqar Zaka had tried to sabotage her morning show as well as her career. She added the two were on good terms during the time he worked with the channel, but his demeanour changed when he left.

    “When Waqar left ARY, he started sending emails to the channel’s management, urging them to remove me from my morning show,” she confessed.

  • Former Attorney General Shah Khawar appointed Chief Election Commissioner of PCB

    Former Attorney General Shah Khawar appointed Chief Election Commissioner of PCB

    Former Attorney General and Supreme Court lawyer Shah Khawar Advocate has been appointed as the Chief Election Commissioner of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

    According to the announcement issued by the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination, Shah Khawar has been appointed Chief Election Commissioner of PCB for 3 months on a monthly salary of 10 lakh rupees.

    According to the announcement, Shah Khawar has been entrusted with the responsibility of conducting the PCB elections before 4th February 2024.

    It should be noted that the affairs of the Pakistan Cricket Board are currently being looked after by the Chairman of the Interim Management Committee, Zaka Ashraf, whose term was extended by caretaker Prime Minister Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar this month.

  • Anti-smog crackdown intensifies: Rs129 million fines issued to violators

    The Lahore High Court (LHC) has been apprised through a comprehensive report detailing the robust measures taken by the Punjab government to address the smog issue. The report highlights the imposition of fines totalling Rs129 million on violators as a strong deterrent against activities contributing to air pollution.

    The report outlines that 6,700 units were sealed for violating smog-related restrictions. Over a three-month period, authorities inspected approximately 60,000 small and large units, resulting in the closure of more than 6,700 units due to violations.

    During this crackdown, 540 cases were registered against those contributing to smog, leading to the arrest of 118 individuals.

    The report highlights the sealing of 735 smoke-emitting factories in the Lahore division and the closure of 187 brick kilns during the smog control initiative.

    Fines amounting to Rs8.6 million were imposed for burning crop residue, and 216 cases were registered against those setting fire to crop stubble.

    Despite these efforts, the air quality index (AQI) of Lahore, initially recorded at a hazardous level of 371 in the morning, later dropped to around 211 in the afternoon. This shift caused Lahore to fall to the third position on the list of the world’s most polluted cities, a noteworthy change from its consistent first and second positions in recent months due to high levels of air pollution.

    Specifically, Polo Ground Cantt and Phase 8 DHA were identified as the most polluted areas within the city, with AQIs of 291 and 259, respectively.

  • Tim Hortons to open soon in DHA Phase 2, Islamabad

    Due to overwhelming support from Lahoris, Tim Hortons is set to open soon in Defence Housing Authority (DHA) Phase 2, Islamabad. 

    The construction of the Tim Hortons building is currently underway and appears to be mostly finished. 

    Anticipated to draw considerable attention from residents of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, the introduction of this renowned Canadian coffee chain to DHA Islamabad is expected to attract a substantial crowd. 

    The peaceful reputation of DHA Islamabad contrasts with the potential influx of visitors, especially from Rawalpindi and Islamabad. 

    The ability of DHA to manage this increased activity, particularly in the initial days, remains to be seen. 

    Unlike DHA Lahore, which has numerous entry points, DHA Islamabad has limited gates, posing a potential challenge. 

    The upcoming days will reveal how residents of the twin cities respond to this new addition.

  • Pakistan forms new body led my three-star military general to expand tax base

    Pakistan forms new body led my three-star military general to expand tax base

    The government has established a new committee, led by a three-star military general, to oversee data integration efforts aimed at expanding the tax base.

    This move precedes the imminent arrival of a technical mission from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), tasked with assessing Pakistan’s tax system.

    Lieutenant General Muhammad Munir Afsar Chairman of the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), will head the technical committee, as notified by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).

    The newly formed committee will devise proposals for data integration to expand the tax base and formulate an IT infrastructure transformation plan.

    The eight-member committee, consisting of three senior FBR members, has been tasked with crafting a comprehensive plan for data integration. Their primary objective is to significantly increase the number of income tax return filers, aiming to elevate last year’s count of 4.9 million to 6.5 million within the next eight months, as outlined in an official notification.

    As reported by Express Tribune, Pakistan has shared an FBR restructuring plan with the IMF, outlining the integration of 145 entities into the FBR network to expand the tax base. However, the Prime Minister has withheld approval, instructing further refinement to address ambiguities and contradictions in the proposed restructuring plan.

    This strategic initiative aligns with the impending visit of an IMF technical mission to Pakistan, scheduled to commence next week.

    The mission will conduct a thorough review of the country’s tax laws and FBR’s administrative structure, ultimately delivering recommendations within two months. These suggestions may serve as a foundation for the upcoming IMF program.

  • Karachi: Fire in multi-storey mall leaves 10 dead and 22 injured

    Karachi: Fire in multi-storey mall leaves 10 dead and 22 injured

    A fire broke out in Karachi’s RJ shopping mall on Rashid Minhas road, causing the death of 10 people so far. The incident took place early on Saturday.

    Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab has confirmed the number of casualties and injured, taking to his X (formerly Twitter) account. He also confirmed that the fire has been extinguished, while the cooling process is underway.

    A statement from the Fire and Rescue spokesperson said they were alerted about the incident at 6:30am, after which eight fire tenders, two snorkels and two bowsers were sent to the location.

    Earlier, police surgeon Summaiya Syed told Dawn that nine bodies have been brought to hospitals — eight at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) and one at Civil Hospital Karachi (CHK). Wahab said one was also brought to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital.

    She further said that an 18-year-old was currently admitted at CHK.

    District East Deputy Commissioner (DC) Altaf Shaikh, who was personally supervising the rescue operation, said 30 others, including the wounded, were rescued, reported Dawn.

    Experts say around 12,000 to 15,000 people die in hundreds of fire incidents in the country every year. More than 90% of the industries, residential buildings, and structures in Karachi, which is the largest industrial hub of Pakistan, lacked fire safety arrangements as building codes were not being implemented by the authorities concerned, Geo reported citing experts.

  • CDA to receive 30 Chinese electric buses for Islamabad in January 

    CDA to receive 30 Chinese electric buses for Islamabad in January 

    The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has initiated a transformative move by securing 160 electric buses from China.

    The procurement plan involves the delivery of 30 buses in January, followed by two additional fleets arriving in February and March.

    CDA Chairman Anwarul Haq on Friday chaired a meeting to receive an update on the import of buses, as per sources from Dawn. The chairman directed the concerned wing to expedite the process, ensuring the timely arrival of all buses.

    Commencing in January, the first batch of 30 electric buses is set to play on 13 new routes across the capital city. This strategic deployment is a step towards enhancing sustainable and eco-friendly public transportation.

    The National Radio and Telecommunication Corporation (NRTC) has been entrusted with the pivotal role of managing the operation of the buses on the designated 13 routes.

    Under this arrangement, the CDA will be providing financial support to the NRTC, with a reimbursement ranging from Rs306 to Rs331 for every kilometre covered by the electric buses.

    To streamline the operation of these buses, the CDA is planning the construction of a dedicated depot at Zero Point, situated along the Srinagar Highway towards the H-8 side.

    The planning wing of the CDA has already designated a specific piece of land for the construction of this essential facility.

  • Cabinet approves seven MoUs for $10 billion investment deal with Kuwait

    Cabinet approves seven MoUs for $10 billion investment deal with Kuwait

    On Friday, during a session of the caretaker federal cabinet, seven Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) for investments between Pakistan and Kuwait were granted approval.

    These agreements are slated to be formally signed during the upcoming visit of the prime minister to the Gulf country, signifying a commitment to fostering economic cooperation and partnership between the two nations.

    The meeting was held under the chairmanship of Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar ul Haq Kakar.

    As a result of dedicated initiatives by the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), both countries will sign MoUs encompassing a range of projects.

    These projects span various sectors, including the expansion of water reservoirs, development of mining facilities, conservation of mangrove forests in coastal areas, advancements in information technology, and initiatives to bolster food security.

    The prime minister, presiding over the session, directed the facilitation of collaboration with the provinces to ensure the prompt and equitable implementation of the projects.

    The caretaker federal cabinet also endorsed the resolutions and actions deliberated upon during the Cabinet Committee on Legislative Affairs (CCLC) meeting held on November 14, 2023.

    Additionally, it gave its approval to the determinations reached in the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) meeting held on November 15, 2023, showcasing a comprehensive review and endorsement of key decisions across various governmental committees.

  • In Pictures, Imam-ul-Haq’s wedding

    In Pictures, Imam-ul-Haq’s wedding

    Pakistani cricketer Imam-ul-Haq and Dr. Anmol Mehmood tied the knot in a grand ceremony in Lahore today.

    Pakistan cricket team opener Imam ul Haq and Pakistani-origin Norwegian doctor Anmol Mehmood shared some of the happiest moments of their wedding on social media.

    Groom Imam ul Haq wore a pastel green while bride Anmol wore a beautiful pastel pink dress. Anmol wore a stone-studded saree with silver and gold embroidery and covered her head with a dupatta of the same color.

    The bride was made up by makeup artist Zahra Sarfraz’s salon ‘Glam Jansy’ in Lahore while her dress was made by Zainab Salman Studios.

    The groom Imam ul Haq wore a pastel green sherwani with matching shoes and a turban on his head, the sherwani had delicate embroidery which made the outfit more elegant while the groom also wore double-shade glasses.

    The cricketer and his newlywed bride took to social media to share pictures from the big day of their lives with cute captions. In which he wrote, “Today, we’ve not only become partners for life but have also solidified the bond of best friendship, which has always been the foundation of our love story. Today, I not only married my best friend but also found my forever home in your heart. Keep us in your prayers.”

    Fans and viewers showered their love and best wishes for the newlyweds in the comments sections.

    It should be noted that the wedding celebrations of national team batsman Imam ul Haq started with a grand Qawwali night, the important personalities of the cricket world including Babar Azam, Usman Qadir, Sarfraz Ahmed, Kamran Akmal, Mushtaq Ahmed, and Inzamam ul Haq also participated in the celebrations.

  • Petition filed for removal of President Arif Alvi

    Petition filed for removal of President Arif Alvi

    A petition has been filed in the Supreme Court against President Arif Alvi for misconduct and failing to carry out his constitutional duties by Ghulam Murtaza under Article 184 section 3.

    The President, Secretary, and the Ministry of Law have been made respondents in the petition.

    In the petition, the Supreme Court has been requested to carry out an inquiry into President Arif Alvi’s conduct, summoning him after investigations, and subsequently removing him from office.

    The petitioner argues that Dr Arif Alvi misused his powers as the president and insulted the office of the president. He states that the president belongs to the entire nation and not just one political party.

    The petitioner alleges that Dr Arif Alvi is guilty of unconstitutional action of having misused his office. He contends that the president neglected his constitutional responsibility, adding that it was the president’s job to give the date for the next general elections, but he failed to do so.

    The petitioner argues that the president was also guilty of illegally dissolving the assembly. He contends that Dr Arif Alvi did not ensure the implementation of the Constitution under Article 5 of the Constitution.

    The petitioner has requested the court to stop Dr Arif Alvi from working as the president and action be taken against him for alleged violations of the constitution and law.