Climate Change Minister Sherry Rehman is not one to hold back when it comes to calling out audacious ideas. Earlier this week, Capital Development Authority (CDA) Chairman Noor Ul Amin Mengal tweeted a suggestion for alleviating traffic congestion on the road to Daman e Koh and Peer Sohawa on Margalla Hills. He pondered planning a road from Peer Sohawa to Barri Imam and 3rd Avenue to make it a loop to facilitate traffic movement.
The road to daman e koh and peer sohawa at times becomes congested. Should we plan a road from peer sohawa to barri Imam and 3 rd avenue to make it a loop to facilitate traffic movement or not ? Pl say or no.
Rehman clapped back today, reminding the Chairman of his domain of authority:
This is not @CDAthecapital domain. You cannot take a road through @WildlifeBoard green area. It is against our existing wildlife laws and goes against our Int’l commitments. Not your mandate to be eliciting comments. This is under @ClimateChangePKhttps://t.co/AsDC8cSK1x
Correcting the Chairman, Rehman stated that planning infrastructure through a Wildlife Board-protected green area is not under the CDA’s domain of authority. She reiterated that the plan is against Pakistan’s existing wildlife laws and goes against the country’s international commitments to preventing climate change.
Other Twitter users also chimed in with their opinions:
Will this not open doors to illegal construction and real estate mafias moving in especially in the KPK side of the national park area ?
As part of UNDP’s Climate Promise, Pakistan intends to set a cumulative ambitious conditional target of an overall 50% reduction of its projected emissions by 2030, with a 15% reduction from the country’s own resources and a 35% reduction subjected to the provision of international grant finance.
Cutting down trees in order to build concrete infrastructure stands decidedly against Pakistan’s Nationally Determined Contribution to the Climate Promise.
According to a resurfaced Demographic and Health survey taken in 2018 by the National Institute of Population Studies (NIPS), around 40 per cent men agreed that a husband is justified in beating his wife.
However, the reasons for beating were as follows: If she burns his food, goes out without his permission, neglects his children or refuses to have sex with him. Surprisingly, 42 per cent women had also agreed with the statement. Around 34 per cent women, the report reveals, had experienced spousal violence, whether it was physical, sexual or emotional.
The report states that 28 per cent married women had experienced physical violence since the age of 15, and 15 per cent women had experienced violence in the past year.
Up to seven per cent married women admitted that they experienced violence during their pregnancy.
On experiencing sexual violence, six per cent married women had experienced sexual violence and the most common perpetuator was revealed to be the husband, while 14 per cent women who were divorced, seperated or widowed had experienced sexual violence.
Moving on to financial stability and empowerment, the survey reported that only 19 per cent married women had been working in the past 12 months, compared to 98 per cent married men.
Half of the married women who are employed and earned an income, made independent decisions on how to spend their earnings, while 41 per cent made joint decisions with their husband. 76 per cent of working women reported making less money than their husband.
The survey also found that only three per cent of ever-married women owned a house, alone or jointly, compared to 72 per cent ever-married men.
The survey sampled from all four provinces including Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, including Azad Jammu Kashmir and FATA. A total of 12,364 women between the ages of 15-49 and 3,145 men had participated in the survey.
During an emergency meeting convened on Monday, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) made the decision to raise the policy rate by 100 basis points (bps), resulting in a new rate of 22 per cent.
1/3 MPC of #SBP convened an emergency meeting today, where it noted that potential upside risks to the inflation outlook have increased from the last meeting, and accordingly decided to raise the policy rate by 100bps to 22%.https://t.co/unuS6xmJHz#SBPMonetaryPolicypic.twitter.com/FWenKLqdkt
The announcement was made subsequent to a gathering of the bank’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC).
The SBP clarified that the MPC acknowledged a heightened potential for upward risks to the inflation outlook compared to its previous meeting held on June 12.
The committee highlighted that these risks primarily stem from the implementation of new measures in the fiscal and external sectors, which hold significant importance in the context of concluding the ongoing programme with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
“MPC noted that today’s action is necessary to keep the real interest rate firmly in positive territory on a forward-looking basis that would help in bringing down inflation towards the medium-term target of five to seven per cent by the end of fiscal year 25,” the SBP said.
The end of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s $15.7 million partnership with Spotify has been the subject of much commentary in news media. The parting of ways had a lot to do with production hurdles, mismanagement and simple laziness on the part of the Sussexes who put out only one season of one podcast.
According to the Wall Street Journal, at one point, Meghan Markle sent a personal letter to Taylor Swift, requesting the pop star to make an appearance on her show, which had also featured celebrities like Serena Williams, Paris Hilton and Mariah Carey. But the ‘Midnight Rain’ singer rejected the invitation through a representative.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle had set up multiple content-creation deals with production giants like Spotify and Netflix, after the duo had announced that they were stepping down from their positions as senior members of the Royal Family.
They had signed a three year deal with Spotify, which was worth around £15.7 million.
However, insiders report that the Duke and Ducchess’ production company, Archwell, had been unable to reach production benchmarks required to justify the payout.
Another report by WSJ revealed that there were several production mishaps and mismanagement in the process, including Markle making last-minute changes to the episodes. The partnership also failed to honor a term in their deal that Harry and Meghan would be directly innvolved in the production and voicing the podcasts.
Spotify executives were also reportedly frustrated by the length of time it had taken for Archwell to finalise the idea about Meghan’s show, and also put together a team for production to begin.
Netflix too is reportedly contemplating ending ties with the royal duo.
Whatever the reasons for ending the lucrative deals, we can safely say that not even a personal invite from the Duchess of Sussex was enough to impress the reigning queen of pop.
Today marks eleven years since actress Yumna Zaidi made her mark in the entertainment industry, breaking all the rules with her show-stopping talent and the ability to completely change pop culture with every powerful performance. In those years, her roles have ranged from a child prostitute learning to overcome her past to a headstrong woman with an ambition to serve in the army, and a fearless girl who disguises herself as a man to make a living for her family. In other words, every time she appears on screen, be prepared for a performance so mesmerizing that it will be seared on your memory.
In celebration of this event, Zaidi’s fans on Twitter marked the occasion by highlighting their favorite performances in dramas.
Hate the drama all you want, but give credit to Zaidi for bringing life to a powerful woman like Meerab, despite attempts by the writer and the show-runners to mold her into another bheegi bili. Yes, the story is cringe worthy and typical of the saas bahu dramas where a woman is abused, bullied by her family members, and she learns to forgive them all. But Zaidi is the only good part of the show with her Meerab, a feared headstrong character who openly challenges her husband, refuses to follow the traditions of her in-laws, and in doing so managed to make the show a bit more bearable.
Bakhtawar
When she surprised, with dual role, everyone when #Bakhtawar teasers got dropped… The voice modulations and diff tone for bakhtu & Bakhtawar
How could we forget the drama that proved Yumna is not someone who will fade away after a few years? Very few actresses have taken the leap to challenge themselves to take on a project that challenges social norms, especially in a country like Pakistan. But Yumna did it so and delivered a performance that is to this day still revered by fans. She plays the independent and competitive Bakhtawar, a girl born in a working class family who flees to a new city after her uncle tries to marry her off. To make a living for her family, she cuts off her hair and takes on a boyish appearance to find work.
Yumna continued to prove that she was a thespian with this feminist drama, where she played a girl from a conservative family, destined to be married off quickly, but she defies all of them by joining the army, despite their doubts. Paired with equally wonderful performances from Syra Yousef, Kubra Khan and Sajal Aly, this is the drama we recommend to anyone who wishes to understand the lore surrounding Yumna Zaidi.
The Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Major General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, addressed an important press conference on Monday afternoon.
While talking about self-accountability in the army, DG ISPR revealed that three officers including a Lieutenant General have been sacked and due actions have been completed against another 15 officers, including three Major General and seven Brigadiers.
“As of now, a granddaughter of a retired four-star general, son-in-law of a retired four-star star general, wife of a retired three-star general,l and wife and son-in-law of a retired two-star general are facing the process of accountability due to irrefutable evidence,” he said.
“So far, the investigation has revealed that the May 9 tragedy had been planned in the past few months,” said the DG ISPR.
Stating that no one involved in May 9 riots will be spared, he stressed that the perpetrators will be punished according to the law.
He further said that currently 102 people are being tried in military courts.
While answering a question about the masterminds of May 9 events he said, “It would be premature to say definitively who the mastermind is. These are the same people who have influenced the minds of the people against the military.”
The Co-Chairman and Chairman of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Asif Ali Zardari and Bilwal Butto-Zardari have met Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Chief Organiser, Maryam Nawaz, on Monday in Dubai.
The agenda of the meeting was economic and political issues in the country. According to the sources of Geo News, Maryam Nawaz took the two PPP heads in confidence over the ongoing political situation in the country.
Another meeting will likely be held tonight between PML-N and PPP to further discuss solutions for the economic and political crisis. This meeting is important as PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif’s return to Pakistan is expected after a law passed by National Assembly to limit the lifetime disqualification to five years.
PML-N sources have revealed that a meeting held on Sunday afternoon had the longest discussion, but the attendees have not been disclosed as of now.
After the release of ‘Crash Course in Romance’, there has been a slump in engrossing Korean dramas, especially rom coms that could keep you captivated from beginning to end. More thrillers and action pack series have been announced including ‘Bloodhounds’, ‘Squid Games Season 2’ and even ‘Alice in Borderland’ but the magic of Korean rom-coms is unlike any other. The way women are the ones leading the narrative, bringing forward complexities they face, and men do not belittle women, but empower and respect them.
With the arrival of Netflix’s ‘King The Land’, it seems like the K-romance is back. Set in the backdrop of an elite hotel, the story revolves around a hard working concierge who clashes with the grumpy chaebol whose family runs the hotel. It seems like this is the perfect serial every K-drama lover should watch.
Grumpy x sunshine trope
If fans were missing the magic of dramas like ‘A Business Proposal’ and ‘Crash Course In Romance’ which featured the much beloved grumpy x sunshine trope, where one half of the couple was a grouch, while the other one was the complete opposite by being the cheerful one, then they should certainly keep a lookout for this drama. Gu Won is the son from a chaebol family who is known to be a strict, business-only man. On his arrival back to Korea, he gets involved with his sister in a conflict over who should have control of the hotel, and has to encounter the memories of his mother. When he meets the cheerful and hard working Cheon Sa-Rang, who begins working as a lobby maid for the hotel, the two originally clash because Gu Won loathes fake smiles, and while Sa-Rang is critical of his lackluster attitude towards his family business, over time he begins falling for her even more.
Office romances FTW
What’s the secret to making a standout K-drama that will decades later be remembered as an iconic pop-culture moment? By making it into an office romance. Looking back at some of the best K-dramas like ‘What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim?’, ‘Her Private Life’ and even the critically acclaimed ‘Extraordinary Attorney Woo’, Korean creators know that the perfect formula that will keep creators hooked is setting up a workplace romance, and adding a mixture of enemies to lovers, it is chef’s kiss.
The female gaze is here to stay
Korean rom-coms have surged in popularity with their detailed attention the female gaze plays. Along side Sa-Rang’s experience of navigating life as a lowly hotel maid, are the experiences of her friends who work as shop manager and an air hostess, and how they tackle discrimination, discriminating bosses and long hours, but most importantly, how they stick with each other through thick and thin.
The National Assembly has passed an amended Finance Bill 2023, marking a significant milestone in the country’s ongoing financial saga. With the revised bill meeting the rigorous conditions set forth by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), hopes are high that this last-ditch effort will unlock a vital infusion of bailout funds.
The IMF had previously voiced its disappointment with the country’s initial budget, deeming it a missed opportunity to implement a more progressive and comprehensive tax framework.
However, determined to rectify this setback, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar introduced a series of new taxes and expenditure cuts, which were instrumental in garnering the Assembly’s approval.
Undoubtedly, the standout feature of this momentous bill is the introduction of fresh taxation measures projected to generate an impressive Rs215 billion in revenue.
In a bold move towards fairness and equity, the Finance Bill also sanctions an increase in tax rates for higher income brackets within both the salaried and non-salaried classes.
Outlined below are the revised income tax slabs for the year 2023, reflecting a more balanced approach to income taxation:
Taxable income range
Tax rate
Not exceeding Rs600,000
0% (Tax-free)
Rs600,001 – Rs1,200,000
2.5% of the amount exceeding Rs600,000
Rs1,200,001 – Rs2,400,000
Rs15,000 + 12.5% of the amount exceeding Rs1,200,000
Rs2,400,001 – Rs3,600,000
Rs165,000 + 22.5% of the amount exceeding Rs2,400,000
Rs3,600,001 – Rs6,000,000
Rs435,000 + 27.5% of the amount exceeding Rs3,600,000
Exceeding Rs6,000,000
Rs1,095,000 + 35% of the amount exceeding Rs6,000,000
1. Tax-free threshold:
Individuals with a taxable income not exceeding Rs600,000 are exempt from income tax obligations.
2. Progressive tax rates:
For those with taxable incomes exceeding Rs600,000 but not surpassing Rs1,200,000, a tax rate of 2.5 per cent will be levied on the amount exceeding Rs600,000.
3. Unchanged tax rate for salaried individuals:
Salaried individuals with taxable incomes ranging from above Rs1,200,000 to Rs2,400,000 will continue to face a tax rate of Rs15,000 plus 12.5 per cent of the amount exceeding Rs1,200,000.
4. Moderate income brackets:
Taxpayers with taxable incomes exceeding Rs2,400,000 but not surpassing Rs3,600,000 will experience a tax rate of Rs165,000 plus 22.5 per cent of the amount exceeding Rs2,400,000.
5. Higher income brackets:
Individuals falling within the income range of Rs3,600,000 to Rs6,000,000 will face a tax rate of Rs435,000 plus 27.5 per cent of the amount exceeding Rs3,600,000.
6. Top earners:
Those with taxable incomes exceeding Rs6,000,000 will be subject to a tax rate of Rs1,095,000 plus 35 per cent of the amount exceeding Rs6,000,000.
With this bold and progressive tax structure, the Finance Bill 2023 promises to forge a more equitable financial landscape.
As the nation eagerly awaits the release of the much-needed bailout funds, this resolute step taken by the National Assembly stands as a testament to the government’s determination to safeguard the country’s economic well-being and chart a path towards sustainable growth.
On Friday, Minister of Finance Ishaq Dar announced fiscal adjustments for the upcoming fiscal year (FY24), part of which is a notable 2.5% additional income tax individuals within the salaried class who earn a monthly income exceeding Rs200,000.
The present government is being criticised for adjustments that will increase the tax burden specifically on the salaried class.
The decision to impose additional income tax on the salaried class, while leaving powerful sectors like real estate and agriculture relatively untouched, has left many Pakistanis angry. Many are using memes to express their frustration.
Have a look at the twitter reactions:
Honestly guys me and many more like me who have been working for decades and had finally reached the salary level where we could have been living in peace and prosperity have just been slaughtered by the govt. Now I’m literally working to make money for these thugs. https://t.co/umXPeFpXoA
Very Unfair.Pak’ taxation regime is unfair.Taxng the alrdy heavily taxed salaried class while Real estate sector,Infrmal economy n retailers evade taxes. U wudnt expct a party to tax the powerful sector whose chief organiser once tweeted to get tax on the retail sector removd. https://t.co/EdoiRSnbxy
The biggest looser in last 1 year economic circus is salaried class. They don’t have any association or person on their side who can tagg FM & say plz look into further 2.5% Income tax. Avg inflation is c.30%. There will be few employers who would be matching this in increment.
