Author: newsdesk

  • Pakistan’s Namira Saleem set to launch into space

    Pakistan’s Namira Saleem set to launch into space

    The Galactic 04 spaceflight will take off today carrying three passengers, including a Pakistani, Namira Salim.

    On Tuesday, Virgin Galactic announced a day’s delay in the space tourism mission to Friday, October 6.

    “The slip will give our team an additional day to complete vehicle prep and checks,” they wrote on their X account. “We look forward to taking to the skies (on Friday)!”

    Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar ul Haq Kakar congratulated Namira Salim for becoming the first woman from Pakistan to go into space.

    “By proving their mettle as trailblazers in multiple fields, Pakistani women are making the whole nation proud,” Kakar had written on his X account, wishing her luck.

    Namira Salim is a Pakistani polar adventurer and artist based in Monaco and Dubai.

    The other two passengers are British advertising executive Trevor Beattie and Ameri­can astronomy educator Ron Rosano.

    Virgin Galactic’s carrier plane VMS Eve will be piloted by Pakistani-Canadian Jameel Janjua alongside Kelly Latimer and CJ Sturckow

    Galactic 04

    Galactic 04 will take off from Spaceport America in New Mexico, carrying the passengers to suborbital space and back. In simpler words, suborbital flight is a short journey into space where a spaceship goes up but does not stay in space. It leaves the earth’s atmosphere for a brief time and comes back right after. It is a quick trip to experience weightlessness and witness space. Unlike an orbital spaceflight, it does not circle the earth.

    Space.com explains that the space tourists will be carried by Virgin’s VSS Unity space plane taken into the sky by a carrier craft named VMS Eve. Eve will drop Unity at an altitude of about 50,000 feet (15,000 meters); the space plane will then fire up its rocket motor to get to suborbital space.

    “VSS Unity passengers get to experience a few minutes of weightlessness and see Earth against the blackness of space. A ticket to ride the space plane currently costs $450,000”.

  • Is Feroze Khan a supportive parent? Aliza Sultan reveals in new Q&A session

    Is Feroze Khan a supportive parent? Aliza Sultan reveals in new Q&A session

    Controversial actor Feroze Khan made headlines last year when allegations by his ex-wife Aliza Sultan surfaced, detailing the abuse and torture she allegedly suffered during their four year marriage.

    Now in a recent Q &A session with her followers on Instagram, Aliza has opened up about whether Feroze Khan plays a role in providing financial support for the upbringing of his children.

    He does, Aliza said. “No that’s not true. He has taken on their financial responsibility.”

    Another user asked Aliza about whether she thought the height of a man mattered in a marriage, to which her response was: “Height of his patience and personality bas.”

    Aliza Sultan had previously shut down rumors claimed by Feroze that he wasn’t allowed to visit the children when a user chided her for not letting the father visit them during Eid.

    “No one has stopped anyone from visiting. You should relax and enjoy your Eid,” she wrote in response.

  • VIDEO: BJP sends women to England-New Zealand match, allegedly telling them it’s a Pak-India match

    VIDEO: BJP sends women to England-New Zealand match, allegedly telling them it’s a Pak-India match

    The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) landed itself in a hilarious predicament when on Thursday, in a bid to fill empty stadiums, it fraudulently gave tickets for the England-New Zealand while telling them they were for the Pakistan-India match.

    Outside the Narendra Modi Stadium where England faced off with New Zealand in the first match of the ICC World Cup, the women told media that they had been given tickets by the BJP, adding that they had been promised food inside the stadium as well.

    One woman told a journalist that they were at the stadium, “to watch the Pakistan -India match.” Upon being told that the match was between England and New Zealand, the woman said, “We were told it’s Pakistan Vs India, that’s why we were sent here.”

    Read More: Rohit Sharma’s reply to journalist gets Babar laughing

    The women were given the tickets to fill the empty stadium, a sight that has brought severe criticism for India.

  • Pending missing persons cases is ’embarrassing’, says court

    Pending missing persons cases is ’embarrassing’, says court

    While hearing almost a dozen applications related to cases of missing persons, Chief Justice of Islamabad High Court, Amir Farooq, said that the court is ashamed of the matter that has been pending since the past several years.

    According to Dawn, the remarks were passed during a hearing of a case related to the disappearance of journalist Mudassar Naro, who went missing during a visit to the northern regions.

    Sadaf, Naru’s wife, filed a case in the Islamabad High Court almost five years ago. While waiting for her husband to come back, she too passed away.

    Mudassar Naru’s young son, Sachal, who was only a few months old when his father disappeared, is usually present in court during case proceedings.

    On Thursday, a division bench comprising Chief Justice Aamir Farooq and Justice Mian Gul Hasan Aurangzeb stated that cases of enforced disappearances are tarnishing Pakistan’s identity.

    The Attorney General of Pakistan was asked for help in solving the long-standing problem.

    Justice Gul Hasan Aurangzeb pointed out that a former prime minister had also spoken in court on the issue of enforced disappearances but he had not taken any action to stop it.

    Additional Attorney General Barrister Munoor Iqbal Dagal said that the government is serious about this issue and a committee has also been formed in this regard.

  • KIA car prices reduced by up to Rs500,000 in Pakistan

    KIA car prices reduced by up to Rs500,000 in Pakistan

    Lucky Motor Corporation (LMC) has announced a substantial reduction in the prices of its KIA vehicles, with savings of up to Rs500,000 for customers. This decision comes as a result of the recent strengthening of the Pakistani rupee (PKR) against the US dollar. 

    The company stated, ” Owing to the recent appreciation of PKR against the USD, we have decided to pass the benefit to our valued customers by reducing the prices of our vehicles.” 

    Among the models affected, the Sorento variants, including the 3.5L FWD, 2.4L AWD, and 2.4FWD, have seen the most significant price reductions, each receiving a cut of Rs500,000. Their new prices are now Rs11.29 million, Rs11.2 million, and Rs10.3 million, respectively. 

    It’s important to note that these reduced prices apply exclusively to customers choosing the full payment option.  

    KIA cars latest prices in Pakistan (effective October 6, 2023)

    Other KIA models have also seen price reductions, with the Sportage (Black Limited Edition) receiving a discount of Rs350,000, Sportage AWD/FWD models getting a reduction of Rs150,000, and the Picanto AT receiving a Rs100,000 price cut. 

    These new prices will come into effect on October 6, 2023. The company has clarified that any new or additional government-imposed duties and taxes applicable at the time of vehicle delivery will be the responsibility of the customer. 

    This price reduction is particularly significant in light of the recent challenges faced by the auto industry in Pakistan, which has experienced rising car prices due to the rupee’s previous depreciation against the US dollar.  

    However, the rupee has been steadily strengthening, with 21 consecutive sessions of improvement in the inter-bank market. This trend aligns with the caretaker government’s efforts to combat currency smuggling. 

  • Largest money laundering scandal: FBR exposes Rs47 billion trade-based fraud 

    Largest money laundering scandal: FBR exposes Rs47 billion trade-based fraud 

    The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) in Pakistan has uncovered a massive case of money laundering and under-invoicing in the trade industry, making it one of the country’s biggest financial scandals. 

    Following a thorough investigation by auditors, the FBR took legal action against two companies based in Peshawar. They found that these companies were involved in a staggering money laundering operation worth Rs47 billion, which they officially termed ‘trade-based money laundering.’ 

    According to the FBR’s report, these companies allegedly caused a massive financial loss of Rs25 billion to the national exchequer by under-invoicing transactions, all under the guise of dealing with solar panels. 

    In the FIR, the owners of these companies, Moon Light Traders and Bright Star, were named as suspects. The report revealed that Bright Star had been involved in under-invoicing since 2013, while auditors scrutinised records of 705 Goods Declarations (GDs) related to Moon Light Traders. 

    Furthermore, it was discovered that these companies continued their money laundering activities from 2017 to 2022. According to ARY News, the FBR promptly shared its report on trade-based money laundering and under-invoicing with the Caretaker Prime Minister, Anwaarul Haq Kakar. 

    In a separate incident in September, the FBR exposed a massive tax fraud worth Rs314 billion perpetrated by a fictitious company called K H & Sons. This fraud was uncovered by the Director-General of Internal Audit at Inland Revenue’s team. 

    Interestingly, K H & Sons was a paper company registered under the name of a Benami individual, Muhammad Kashif. Their fabricated documents falsely claimed to be in the iron and steel business, using addresses of legitimate markets like Liaquat Market, Agri Market, and M.A. Jinnah Market. 

    Sources also revealed that this bogus company was used for various illegal activities. What’s surprising is that despite the large-scale tax fraud, the FBR had not taken legal action against the culprits, leading to concerns that they might flee the country if a First Information Report (FIR) was not filed promptly. 

  • State Bank of Pakistan reports $21 million decline in forex reserves

    State Bank of Pakistan reports $21 million decline in forex reserves

    Pakistan’s total liquid foreign reserves reached a sum of $13,030.8 million, with the central bank holding reserves amounting to $7,615.4 million, as reported by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP). 

    According to a statement released by the State Bank of Pakistan on Thursday, during the week ending on September 28, 2023, SBP’s reserves experienced a decrease of $21 million, resulting in a total of US$ 7,615.4 million. Concurrently, commercial banks held net foreign reserves totaling $5,415.4 million. 

    In the preceding week, ending on September 22, 2023, the country’s total liquid foreign reserves were reported at US$ 13.162 billion. Among these, the central bank held foreign reserves amounting to $7.636 billion, while commercial banks held net foreign reserves of $5.525 billion. 

    As of September 29, the total liquid foreign reserves of Pakistan stood at US$ 13.18 billion, with the central bank’s reserves totaling $7,636.7 million. The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) spokesperson attributed the decrease in SBP’s reserves by $59 million to debt repayments during the week ending on September 22, 2023. Net foreign reserves held by commercial banks amounted to $5,525.1 million. 

    In the week ending on September 15, 2023, the country’s total liquid foreign reserves were recorded at $13.186 billion. Among these, the central bank held foreign reserves amounting to $7.695 billion, while commercial banks held net foreign reserves totaling $5.491 billion. 

  • New Zealand defeats England by nine wickets in the opening match of the World Cup

    New Zealand defeats England by nine wickets in the opening match of the World Cup

    New Zealand has defeated England by an astonishing margin of nine wickets in the first match of the World Cup 2023 played in Ahmedabad on Thursday.

    The Kiwis won the toss and decided to field against England in the opening match of the World Cup at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad in a one-sided contest.

    In the first inning, England scored 282 runs for the loss of 9 wickets in the allotted 50 overs, with Joe Root scoring 77 runs and captain Jos Buttler scoring 43 runs.

    New Zealand easily achieved the target of 283 runs given by England in the 37th over with the loss of just one wicket. Dion Conway scored 152 off 121 balls while young Richan Ravindra played an unbeaten innings of 123 runs on 96 balls.

    The second match of the ICC Cricket World Cup will be played tomorrow between Pakistan and Netherlands.

  • Mahira Khan’s marriage shows families just aren’t about father, mother, children: they can be different and happy

    Mahira Khan’s marriage shows families just aren’t about father, mother, children: they can be different and happy

    It was a picture of serenity, one that won the hearts of millions of Pakistan. A 38-year-old single mother looking stunning in a light outfit walked down the aisle, shedding tears of joy as she married the love of her life, Salim Karim. For the past three days, Mahira Khan’s wedding was all anyone could talk about, and one many women are expressing joy about. One user shared a picture of Mahira as a bride, alongside veteran celebrity couple Manzar Sehbai and Samina Ahmed (who both married at a later age) with the caption “Love and life are worth trying for”, which pretty much sums up why we are feeling so emotionally attached to the event. Not because it’s a celebrity who got married, but because she chose to marry on her own terms, and kept advocating throughout her career that families can be complex and unique.

    Mahira Khan married during the beginning of her career, to Ali Askari, whom she called her “childhood sweetheart” in some interviews. This decision, she revealed during a session at Faiz International Festival, was something other people urged her not to follow, because it might harm her career.

    “You’re just 21 years old!’ Mahira recalled Ghazanfar Ali telling her, when she was working as a VJ.

    “Career, career, career, it didn’t make sense to me. I just wanted to get married,” said Mahira. She spoke about how she objected to the concept that a film heroine is not allowed to get married or have a baby, and has to, in a way, remain “an untouched girl” to the public, while the same isn’t expected from the man.

    The couple got divorced in 2015, but Mahira maintained that it was not out of enmity, as the two continued to remain close friends even to this day. She maintains a cordial relationship with him to this day

    “I think that Azlan’s father and their family and my family, we are on the same page, when it comes to Azlan,” the actress told Fuchsia in 2021. “I’m very close to them, even now, as I have grown up in their house. It takes work, it takes swallowing your pride at times, and it takes trying to understand the other person. And for your child’s sake, you do it. If you’re lucky that people from both sides are good and looking at the child’s well-being and true happiness, then you forget the bitterness.”

    She also revealed recently to Frieha Altaf that their relationship wasn’t abusive, and the two continued to remain good friends to this day, while ensuring that Azlan remained their top-most priority.

    Such words coming from a woman hold a lot of weight as she is currently one of Pakistan’s top-paid actresses, and also one who comes from a country where divorce is treated like a plague. A 2021 report said atleast 19,875 households in Pakistan were headed by single mothers, but the majority of our pop culture loathes divorcees and does it openly. Only this year, two of the most critically acclaimed dramas consisted of women forcefully married to a man their family chose.

    Mahira’s marriage is a lighthouse moment, proving that families can comprises of two parents and a child, but can also include a step-parent, or even just a single mother. Her wedding wasn’t typical, a powerful reminder that you can settle when you want and choose how to celebrate your wedding. One picture that made the most rounds on social media and earned a lot of praise was when the actress walked down the aisle with her son.

    Many users highlighted the beauty of this picture, an actress being given away by the son she raised on her own as a single mother, to the man she married for love. There’s nothing more beautiful than this moment, no matter how many celebrity weddings we watch in the future, watching Mahira gracefully embrace her ‘imperfect’ family, while encouraging other Pakistani women to do so, is the catharsis we all needed.

  • ICC World Cup 2023: Still no Indian visa for Pakistani journalists

    ICC World Cup 2023: Still no Indian visa for Pakistani journalists

    The ICC Cricket World Cup has started today, but Indian authorities are yet to issue visas for Pakistani journalists. Indian visas are only issued for Pakistan Cricket team. Ramiz Raja and Zainab Abbas, who are joining as commentators, have been issued visas.

    This will be the first World Cup since 1975 in which no Pakistani journalist will be present in the press gallery.

    India has not yet issued a visa to any Pakistani journalist, while some Pakistani people who are associated with the ICC (International Cricket Council) have also not been issued visas. Pakistanis working in British media organizations are also not getting visas. It seems that until the Pakistan-India match on the 14th, Pakistani journalists will not get visas.

    Read More: Everything you need to know about World Cup trophy’s history, material, and worth