Author: newsdesk

  • Tried to contact military for talks, got no response, Asim Munir has a grudge against me: Imran Khan

    Tried to contact military for talks, got no response, Asim Munir has a grudge against me: Imran Khan

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, while talking to Reuters on Saturday, said that he tried to contact the military for talks but got no response. He further said that he did not know why Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir is ‘fixated’ on sidelining him.

    Khan said that he thinks that Asim Munir has a grudge against him because he asked him to resign as the head of Inter Services Intelligence (ISI), adding, “I don’t know.”

    “He shouldn’t have issues with that now because he is the army chief,” Khan said, wondering, “So why would he harbour that grudge?”

    Talking about the crackdown on his party, Imran said, “It is completely the establishment,” adding that “They are really now openly – I mean, it’s not even hidden now – they’re just out in the open.”
    While talking about the events of May 9, Imran Khan said that it was a false flag operation that was meant to target him. “That’s the only way they are going to get me into prison,” he added.
    “So their only hope, and because they are determined to get me out of the way, I think they will, their whole charade of military courts is to imprison me.”
    Stating that he has no doubt that the military courts are meant for him, the former Prime Minister said that ISI was involved in the crackdown against his party.

    Earlier, in an interview with Independent Urdu, Imran said, “A semi-martial law is already in place in the country” and “everything is happening on the wishes of those in power”. He passed the remarks while talking about the use of the Army Act against civilians.

  • 18 years after 2005 earthquake, survivor reunites with family

    18 years after 2005 earthquake, survivor reunites with family

    A ‘survivor’ of the devastating earthquake of 2005 has returned to Balakot to search for his family, DAWN has reported.

    On Sunday, Ijaz Ahmed contacted local police to ask for their help in searching for his family.

    He said that his school was razed in the 2005 earthquake when he was a child. Injured by the collapse of the building, he was shifted to Rawalpindi for treatment.

    Ahmed claims he was abducted and sold to people linked to brick kilns. “I was sold four times in different cities and worked as a bonded labourer at brick kilns,” he told DAWN.

    He told the police that his father’s name was Anwar while his mother’s name was Naseem Akhtar.

    A large number of people showed up at the police station upon hearing the news. Miraculously, Anwar was among the crowd.

    The father and son had a tearful reunion. Police have said they will carry out DNA tests to ascertain paternity.

  • Govt expected to present Rs13-15 trillion budget for FY23-24 amidst economic uncertainties

    Govt expected to present Rs13-15 trillion budget for FY23-24 amidst economic uncertainties

    The government is anticipated to present a budget ranging from Rs13-15 trillion for the fiscal year 2023-24, according to a budget preview report by Topline Securities. This substantial increase is attributed to the record-high markup cost caused by the soaring interest rates. The proposed budget target of Rs9-9.2 trillion marks a 21 per cent surge compared to the current fiscal year’s target of Rs7.5 trillion.

    Notably, if implemented, the tax target for the upcoming financial year would be 29 per cent higher than the projected tax collection for the outgoing FY23. However, the brokerage house highlights the challenging nature of formulating a budget amidst stagflation and uncertainties surrounding the upcoming elections and Pakistan’s ability to bridge its external account funding gap.

    The report emphasises the prevailing nervousness in currency, bond, and stock markets due to the uncertainty surrounding the financing of the US dollar funding gap. Furthermore, it states that revenue targets have historically deviated by an average of 8 per cent from the actual targets in the past five years, and a similar trend is expected in FY24 due to the economic slowdown.

    The non-tax revenue target for FY24 is estimated at Rs2.5 trillion (2.4 per cent of GDP), compared to Rs1.6 trillion (2 per cent of GDP) for FY23. The report predicts several taxation measures, including tax on undistributed reserves, continuation of the super tax, a shift from the final tax regime to the minimum tax regime, asset/wealth tax, higher tax on non-filers, tax on rental income, and taxes on banks, tobacco, and beverages.

    Regarding development spending, the Federal Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) is projected to amount to Rs0.9 trillion for FY24. However, due to fiscal constraints, significant cuts are expected in this area. The consolidated PSDP (federal and provincial) is anticipated to reach Rs2.6 trillion (2.5 per cent of GDP) in FY24.

    With the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party being sidelined, there is a possibility of a weak coalition government coming to power in the upcoming elections. The report highlights the importance of an aggressive and competent new setup to tackle the ongoing economic crisis.

    To create a favorable perception, the government may set unrealistic revenue targets in order to allocate more spending in the budget. The report suggests that it is unlikely for the government to complete the current International Monetary Fund (IMF) program on time and urges Pakistan to enter another, potentially larger, IMF program.

    In light of the economic slowdown and high inflation, the government may introduce expansionary policies in the budget to appease the public, such as direct cash subsidies for the underprivileged and an increase in minimum wages. However, the brokerage firm warns against excessive spending without substantial tax collection measures.

    In terms of its impact on the stock market, the upcoming budget is expected to be neutral to positive. Sectors such as oil and gas exploration, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, consumers, tobacco, technology and communication, textile, cement, fertilizers, and oil marketing companies may experience a neutral effect. Conversely, the budget might have a neutral to negative impact on banks and autos, while steel and independent power producers could experience a neutral to positive effect, according to the research.

    As the budget is unveiled, stakeholders and citizens alike will closely monitor the government’s strategies to address the economic challenges and promote stability and growth in Pakistan.

  • Man kills six-year-old grandson to marry daughter-in-law

    Man kills six-year-old grandson to marry daughter-in-law

    Police have arrested a man in Lahore for kidnapping and killing his six-year-old grandson to marry the child’s mother.

    As per details, Nazir Ahmed wanted to marry his daughter-in-law, and had asked his son to divorce her.

    His son refused act on his father’s desire after which Nazir kidnapped his grand-son Ghulam Mustafa, to blackmail his son, Tanvir Ahmed.

    Tanvir told police there his father had killed his son and thrown his body in a drain.

    Police are investigating the case.

  • A desi adaptation of Jane Austen’s ‘Persuasion’? Here’s who we want in the cast

    A desi adaptation of Jane Austen’s ‘Persuasion’? Here’s who we want in the cast

    Period dramas are all the rage now days, with Queen Charlotte becoming Netflix’s biggest hit this year, and more film adaptations like ‘Lady Chatterley’s Lover’, ‘Macbeth’ releasing in the last few years. But what we have yet to see, and are patiently waiting for, is Pakistani writers picking up their pen and writing a desi adaptation of a popular period book.

    Because as we all know, there is literally no difference between societies during the Victorian era, and how women in Pakistan are treated today. We’re still told that marriage is our biggest accomplishment, restricted to our homes and only allowed to visit relatives rather than travel independently on our own.

    So this idea flouted around the internet, when a twitter user Aimun asked how in the world has there not been a good Pakistani adaptation of Jane Austen’s popular novel ‘Persuasion’.

    “So much discourse on Pakistani dramas but imagine a desi adaptation of Persuasion,” she wrote.

    If you’re living under a rock and have poor reading taste, let us treat you to some culture. Persuasion revolves around a woman, Anne, who is in her late twenties and living with her family. When she was 18, she had rejected the marriage proposal of her true love, Frederick Wentworth, because of her family’s elitist assumptions that he wasn’t fit to marry into their family, a decision that breaks her heart and because of which she decides to remain single. But years later, when Wentworth becomes rich and comes back in town in search for a bride, both of them chose to avoid each other, yet cannot deny that they’re in love with each other.

    And like the rest of Twitter, we are down with the idea, infact we are pitching in our own idea about who we feel should direct, write and act in this adaptation.

    Marina Khan is the perfect choice for directing the project.

    Why? Because Marina Khan knows how to play powerful, independent and strong-minded women from dramas like ‘Tanhaiyaan’ and ‘Tum Se Kehna Tha’. So who better than her to take on Jane Austen and give the book the justice it deserves?

    For screen writing: Sarah Majeed

    For someone who wrote such a compelling and gorgeous drama like ‘Fairy Tale’, we would be anticipating the project with glee if she decided to take on this drama and rewrite it for the Pakistani audience.

    For our broody and lovelorn Wentworth, we think no one but Ahad Raza Mir can capture the character.

    As for the leading lady, we think Dur-e-Fishan Saleem would capture the tenderness and warmth of Anne so well.

    When it comes to Anne’s father, Sir Walter Elliot, who would capture his snobbery and entitled attitude better than Behroze Sabzwari?

    As for Anne’s confidant and best friend, Lady Elliot, who helps her navigate coming out of her shell and becoming brave enough to go after what she wants, we think Saba Qamar would do this character justice.

    As for the villain, William Elliot, who aspires to marry Anne in order to steal her wealth, Bilal Abbas would be a great choice.

  • Fairytale, Tanhaiyaan, Hum Tum: Here are some of our favourite men written by women

    Fairytale, Tanhaiyaan, Hum Tum: Here are some of our favourite men written by women

    If you’re chronically online like us, then you’ve heard the phrase floating around on this internet a lot – “written by a woman”.

    This phrase is used to describe a male character from a book or a drama who is not toxic or misogynistic. He does not pass degrading remarks about women; instead, he is kind and supportive towards them. Which means he was written by a woman.

    There are a lot of beloved characters from our television screens that could fit this description, like the Hot Priest from ‘Fleabag’, Otis from ‘Sex Education’ and King George from ‘Queen Charlotte’. But in Pakistan, can we say that male characters written by women are non-problematic and wholesome?

    There are female screenwriters like Nooran Makhdoom and Umera Ahmed who seem to be in a competition to see who can horrify their audience the most with the most unbearable male character.

    However, very rarely, women screenwriters in Pakistan have written some of our favorite, wholesome and well-rounded male characters who won audiences with charm and attention to female characters.

    Farjaad Bahadur from ‘Fairytale’

    Farjaad starts off as a warning flag in ‘Fairytale’ as a grumpy businessman who is dismissive of people unimportant to him, sticks to a strict routine. That means when he and Umeed meet, he comes of as a jerk who dismisses her as ‘spoilt’ and not capable of meeting his standards. However, when he starts falling in love with Umeed, we come to see how much Farjaad is a green flag because of the way he immediately reforms to help empower and never wants to tame or control her. Mr I-can’t-come-to-my-own-birthday-because-I’m-working to following the love of his life around and giving her flowers. He drives to a police station in the middle of the night because Umeed is stuck there, then successfully gets her out of there without complaining? Settles arguments without gaslighting or demeaning Umeed, but instead takes her on a chai date?

    Who were we before Sarah Majeed introduced this absolutely wholesome character in our lives? We’re glad we don’t know either.

    2 Zain from ‘Tanhaiyaan’

    No one can talk about the phrase ‘written by a woman’ without mentioning the beloved writer Haseena Moin, who set high standards for men with her beloved dramas like ‘Tanhaiyaan’ and ‘Ankahi’. A key token of her dramas were the strong, empowered women who took destiny in their own hands, refused to sit around and wail to be saved, and the men in their lives respected their power rather than shunning them. Zain from ‘Tanhaiyaan’ was a beloved male character because he respected Zara’s ambition, was caring and considerate to her sister Suniya, and chose not to impose his love on her but respectfully walk away until she was ready to love him back.

    3 Maahir from ‘Doobara’

    There is a settled notion within Pakistani dramas that a romance must take place between some balding dude who is a self-declared bad boy and some sheltered, naive girl who is barely in her twenties, who must shift between being a full-time therapist, punch bag and mommy to her lover. But rarely do we see this toxic trope switched and audiences are given a beautiful love story like Mehrunnisa and Mahir’s in ‘Dobara’.

    Although he is younger than her, Maahir works hard to prove that despite the setback he receives from Mehrunnisa’s family, he is worthy to be her husband. He works hard to get a job, empowers Mehru to start taking life in her own hands and do the things she was always restricted from doing, never standing in the way of her dreams. Kudos to Sarwat Nazir for giving us this absolute gem of a character

    4 Adam from ‘Hum Tum’

    Saima Akram Chaudhry already won hearts with ‘Suno Chanda’, but we feel that it was ‘Hum Tum’ that was one of her best works and also her most feminist drama because of how it introduced us to empowered female characters, and men who are more ‘female-centric’. We have women who have impressive careers like working in psychology, chemistry and computer science, but it is the men like Adam (played by Ahad Raza Mir) who take care of the chores around the house, is attentive and kind to his little sister and his elder brother Sarmad is a successful chef, a trait mostly associated with women.

  • PM Shehbaz urges Turkish business community to boost investments in Pakistan

    PM Shehbaz urges Turkish business community to boost investments in Pakistan

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif, amid increasing debt burden and declining foreign exchange reserves, has invited Turkish investors and businessmen to expand their investments in different sectors of Pakistan. The premier is currently in Ankara on a two-day official visit to attend the inauguration ceremony of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

    During a meeting with a delegation from the Anadolu Group, which included Coca Cola CCI CEO Karim Yahi, Chief Strategy Officer Atilla Yerlikaya, and Head of Public Policy Taylan Coban, the PM expressed his encouragement for the Anadolu Group to invest in Pakistan and provide job opportunities to the people.

    Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Tariq Fatimi, and Pakistan’s Ambassador in Turkey Dr Yousuf Junaid were also present at the meeting.

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to Turkey is a result of an invitation from Turkish President Erdogan, who emerged victorious in the second round of elections held on 28 May. Upon his arrival at Ankara airport last night, the Prime Minister was received by senior officers of the Turkish Foreign Ministry and Pakistan’s ambassador in Turkey, emphasising the significance of the visit.

    Pakistan, facing economic challenges, is actively seeking foreign investments to alleviate its debt burden and stabilize its foreign exchange reserves. The Prime Minister’s appeal to Turkish investors and businessmen reflects the government’s commitment to attracting international investment and fostering economic partnerships.

    By engaging with the Anadolu Group and inviting increased investment, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif aims to leverage Turkish expertise and capital to drive economic growth and create employment opportunities in Pakistan.

    During the ongoing visit, it is anticipated that discussions between Pakistani and Turkish officials will focus on exploring potential areas of collaboration, identifying investment opportunities, and strengthening bilateral ties. The outcome of these engagements may play a pivotal role in shaping Pakistan’s economic trajectory, leading to increased foreign investment and a revitalized economy.

    In a time of economic challenges, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s proactive approach and diplomatic outreach to Turkish investors send a clear message of Pakistan’s commitment to enhancing economic cooperation and attracting much-needed investment.

  • Woman murders tutor, after crime shows spike her ‘curiosity’

    Jung Yoo-Jung of South Korea posed as a student to murder her tutor with whom she had scheduled an online consultation.

    Yoo-Jung signed up on an online app by posing as the concerned mother of a daughter who was looking for a suitable English tutor. After connecting with another woman who was in her 20s, both agreed to meet at the victim’s home for a session.

    On May 26, Yooo-Jung showed up at the deceased’s house wearing a school uniform, pretending to be a student. Once she was let inside, she murdered the tutor, stabbing her multiple times and then dismembered her body.

    Afterwards, Jung placed the victim’s body parts in a suitcase, hiding her mobile phone, ID card and wallet to make it seem like the victim was travelling. She tried to dispose of the body by travelling to Nakdong River in a taxi. The cabbie made a call to the police to report Yoo-Jung’s suspicious behavior. Police discovered the suitcase along the riverside and arrested Jung from her home.

    According to the police, Jung confessed to the crime. She said that watching crime shows and reading about illegal activities spiked her curiosity and led to the murder:

    “Jung was found to have premeditated the crime driven by a desire to kill someone after she became obsessed with murder from TV programs and books,” a police spokesperson from Busan said. “Jung also said she feels sorry for what she did. We are conducting tests to see if she is a psychopath.”

    On Friday, Jung was indicted for murder.

  • Pakistan’s merchandise exports dive for ninth consecutive month, drop by 16.69% in May

    Pakistan’s merchandise exports continue to decline for the ninth consecutive month, plunging by 16.69 per cent year-on-year to $2.18 billion in May, according to data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics.

    The downward trend has persisted throughout the first 11 months (July to May) of the 2022-23 fiscal year, with exports experiencing a dip of 12.14 per cent to $25.36 billion compared to $28.87 billion during the same period the previous year.

    The decline in export proceeds can be attributed to a combination of internal and external factors, raising concerns about the potential closure of industrial units, particularly within the textile and clothing sector.

    In line with this, imports also experienced a significant decrease of 36.76 per cent to $4.27 billion in May compared to $6.76 billion in the corresponding month last year. From July to May, imports fell by 29.22 per cent to $51.15 billion, down from $72.28 billion during the same period last year.

    The government has implemented restrictions on luxury and non-essential goods while promoting imports of raw materials, semi-finished products, pharmaceuticals, food, and energy products. This policy shift has resulted in a substantial decline in the import bill over the past 11 months.

    As a result of these developments, the trade deficit has narrowed by over 40 per cent, reaching $25.79 billion between July and May of the fiscal year 2022-23, compared to $43.40 billion during the corresponding months of the previous year. In May, the trade deficit saw a year-on-year decline of 49.49 per cent to $2.08 billion.

    According to Dawn, the textile and clothing sector, which constitutes over 60 per cent of total exports, has been severely affected, making it challenging for the government to achieve its export target for the current fiscal year. Exporters have pointed out that the federal government lacks a clear strategy and effective prioritization, leading to a decline in textile exports.

    Exporters have also highlighted several root causes contributing to the export decline. These include shortages in working capital and liquidity, delayed refunds of taxes and levies, technology upgradation fund, and duty drawbacks.

    The promised faster refund system has not functioned as intended, resulting in refund processing times of 3-5 months instead of the expected 72 hours. The sector is also grappling with increased financial and energy costs.

    In addition, exporters are facing challenges in procuring raw materials and other inputs, both domestically and through imports. The State Bank of Pakistan’s hurdles in opening letters of credit have further contributed to the decline in exports.

    The negative growth in exports, except for a slight increase in August due to backlog clearance, poses a significant concern as it threatens the balance of the country’s external account.

    The government needs to address these issues promptly and formulate effective policies to revive the export sector and stimulate economic growth.

  • Pakistan will not default, reforms underway for economic recovery: Finance Minister

    Pakistan will not default, reforms underway for economic recovery: Finance Minister

    Pakistan’s Finance Minister Ishaq Dar has assured the nation that the government is committed to implementing long-term reforms aimed at improving the country’s economic situation.

    Speaking to the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Dar emphasised the need for collective efforts to overcome the current economic challenges. He outlined key areas of focus, including the agricultural sector, the establishment of a sovereign wealth fund, and the development of the IT industry.

    Additionally, he addressed concerns about the delay in the International Monetary Fund (IMF) program, expressing confidence in Pakistan’s assets and downplaying the possibility of default.

    Reforms for Long-Term Improvement: In his address to the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar reiterated the government’s commitment to implementing reforms that would pave the way for long-term improvement.

    He acknowledged the importance of the agricultural sector, emphasising the need for an agricultural revolution to enhance productivity and ensure food security.

    The establishment of a sovereign wealth fund was also highlighted as a means to generate additional revenue and support sustainable economic growth. Furthermore, Dar expressed determination to prioritise the neglected IT sector and capitalise on its potential for job creation and technological advancements.

    No technical reason behind delayed IMF program

     Addressing concerns regarding the delay in the IMF program, Dar reassured the delegation that there was no technical reason behind it. He emphasised that Pakistan, as a sovereign country, possesses valuable assets worth trillions of dollars, thereby implying that default is not a plausible scenario. While external liabilities stand at approximately $100 billion, the finance minister pointed out that Pakistan’s gas infrastructure alone is valued at around 40 to 45 billion dollars, underscoring the country’s significant assets.

    Recognising the vital role of the business community in Pakistan’s economic development, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar called upon them to present reasonable demands for the upcoming budget. He assured the delegation that the government would cooperate with the business community to address their concerns and promote a conducive environment for trade and investment. By fostering a constructive partnership, the government aims to create a business-friendly climate that supports entrepreneurship and economic growth.

    IMF loan requirement and government’s approach

    Amidst recent developments, it was revealed that the IMF rejected Pakistan’s request to lower the requirement of arranging $6 billion in new loans. Minister of State for Finance Dr Aisha Pasha highlighted that returning to the IMF was Pakistan’s only option, stressing the urgency of fulfilling the financing requirement. Pakistan had sought a reduction in the external financing requirement based on new current account deficit data. However, the IMF insisted on the full $6 billion to demonstrate Pakistan’s commitment to implementing necessary economic reforms.

    Finance Minister Ishaq Dar’s reassurances regarding the government’s commitment to long-term reforms and the denial of Pakistan’s possibility of default provide a glimmer of hope amid economic challenges.

    The focus on sectors such as agriculture and IT, the establishment of a sovereign wealth fund, and the emphasis on cooperation with the business community signal the government’s determination to foster economic growth and stability.

    While the IMF’s rejection of Pakistan’s request poses a hurdle, the government remains steadfast in its efforts to revive the deal and secure the necessary financing to support the country’s economic recovery.