Pakistani filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy has gone from strength to strength, initially by becoming the first Pakistani and woman of color to first win two Oscars, then to helming Marvel projects and now to taking on the mantle of the first female director to take on the iconic franchise ‘Star Wars’.
Chinoy’s remarkable achievements have made Pakistanis incredibly proud, putting the country on the global map of the entertainment industry.
The ‘Star Wars’ announcement has prompted a lot of people to congratulate Chinoy, including local and international stars. However, Hollywood actress Priyanka Chopra’s sentimental note about the director irked a lot of people, including actor Adnan Siddiqui.
Chopra has shared a note for Chinoy on Instagram, calling her the first ‘South Asian’ woman to achieve such monumental heights.
Adnan Siddiqui then schooled her in a tweet, reminding her that Chinoy was a Pakistani first, then a South Asian
“With due respect, @priyankachopra . Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy is a Pakistani first just to brush up your knowledge. Much like the way you flaunt your Indian nationality whenever you get the opportunity before claiming to be a South Asian.”
With due respect, @priyankachopra . Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy is a Pakistani first just to brush up your knowledge. Much like the way you flaunt your Indian nationality whenever you get the opportunity before claiming to be a South Asian. pic.twitter.com/B7wy8gD8QB
Level of insecurity shown by @priyankachopra here is mind boggling. She is a big name herself and yet can’t digest someone from neighbouring country make a name for Pakistan. Unreal hate they have for Pakistan. https://t.co/CC7TOgaWau
On Thursday, the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the cabinet approved a loan scheme with 0 per cent markup for environment-friendly electric bikes (e-bikes) and electric rickshaws (e-rikshaws) in a bid to facilitate youth and promote self-sufficiency.
The approval was given during a meeting chaired by Finance Minister Senator Ishaq Dar, where various financial proposals of ministries and divisions, including the loan scheme, were approved.
The Ministry of Industries and Production submitted a summary on the financing facility for e-bikes and e-rikshaws, presenting details on viability, demand, and incentives to make them affordable. In order to create a sustainable demand for these vehicles, the ECC approved the Prime Minister’s Youth Business & Agriculture Loan Scheme (PMYB&ALS) model for two and three-wheelers.
Under this scheme, interest-free loans worth Rs0.5 million will be provided to youth for a period of three years. The Ministry of Industries and Production will work out the modalities of the scheme in coordination with PMYB&ALS.
During the meeting, the Ministry of National Food Security and Research tabled a summary on the price of sugar during the month of Ramadan and briefed the attendees on the outcome of the Sugar Advisory Board’s meeting with the Pakistan Sugar Mills Association (PSMA) regarding the retail price of sugar.
The ECC endorsed the decision that PSMA Punjab Zone will provide 20,000 metric tonnes of sugar at a retail price of Rs95 per kg during the holy month of Ramadan for sale to the general public through the government of Punjab at the district level. The ECC also directed to make similar arrangements with other provincial PSMA for the provision of sugar in other provinces/areas.
South Korea plans to provide approximately $500 every month as a cash giveaway to encourage young individuals, who are mostly underprivileged and reclusive, to come out of their isolation.
In an effort to assist young people affected by hikikomori, a term used to describe severe social withdrawal, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family in South Korea has initiated the funding program. The Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs estimates that approximately 3% or 350,000 individuals aged between 19 and 39 in South Korea experience loneliness or isolation.
As per the reports from the Ministry, citing the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs, roughly 3.1 per cent of South Koreans aged between 19 and 39 are classified as “reclusive lonely young people.” This term is defined as individuals living in a restricted space, disconnected from the outside world for an extended period, and struggling to lead a regular life.
The Ministry’s report stated that around 338,000 individuals in the country fit the category of “reclusive lonely young people,” with 40% of them starting to withdraw during their adolescence. The reasons behind their isolation are diverse and may include financial difficulties, mental health issues, family conflicts or health problems
Karachi Zoo’s ailing elephant Noor Jehan suffered another setback on Thursday after she fell into a concrete pond inside her pen. According to Karachi Times, the elephant had to be pulled out with the help of cranes and was not moving much after that.
Speaking to Geo News, Safari Park Director Kanwar Ayub said that the unfortunate accident happened on Thursday night, leading to worsening of Noor Jehan’s pain. He further added that her treatment was still being supervised by foreign doctors.
17 year old elephant #NoorJehan , who recently went through a surgery by foreign doctors , reportedly fell into to a concrete pond which further worsened her condition. #Karachi#TOKAlertpic.twitter.com/jC80Z6V4ZU
Activists and celebrities slammed the Zoo’s management authorities for mishandling animals and the overall poor state of the facility.
Bakhtawar Bhutto-Zardari shared a video of Noor Jehan in distress on Twitter, demanding that the zoo should be shut down because of it’s inability to provide proper facilities to animals.
“#KarachiZoo should be shut down because it is clearly beyond the capacity of KMC.”
Actress Ayesha Omar too posted a video clip of Noor Jehan on her Instagram page, asking her followers about how could they help in ensuring the elephant receives proper treatment.
Actor Yashma Gill shared a video clip on her Instagram stories of Noor Jehan, and wrote that for the sake of Ramzan, the zoo needs to shut down.
“Please for the sake of this holy month join hands in this cause and help in BOYCOTTING this zoo culture!”
Nadia Jamil prayed that the elephant’s critical condition is ressolved as she shared a clip of Noor Jehan after her surgery
Veteran actress Simi Rahael shared a tweet that slammed Karachi Zoo’s administration for the poor condition of Noor Jehan, and in the caption she shared the hashtag #banzoo and #stopanimalcruelty
International animal relief organization Four Paws also posted updates from their Twitter account, stating that they had coordinated all night with the local team to try and save the elephant’s life.
The FOUR PAWS team worked until late at night together with the local team via video calls to find possible solutions to save her. And today our efforts continue, we won’t give up on her!
Earlier, Four Paws had flown its veterinarians to Karachi to operate on Noor Jehan after her condition had gotten worse. In a press release, they had written that in 2021, the organisation had strongly recommended that both elephants should be shifted from Karachi Zoo as the facilities there do not comply with international standards. However, no such measures were taken by the authorities.
On April 5, Dr Amir Khalil, the head of Four Paws, revealed that the surgery on Noor Jehan had been successful, hoping that authorities would comply with the organization by relocating both elephants, Noor Jehan and Madhubala, to a proper facility equipped to handle the animals.
On April 7, Times of Karachi announced that the Director of Karachi Zoo, Khalid Hashmi, had been suspended due to negligence and mismanagement which had led to Noor Jehan’s illness.
Director #KarachiZoo Khalid Hashmi has been suspended from Safari Park and recreation posts, over exhibiting negligence in the medical treatment of sick elephant ‘Noor Jehan’. The municipal commission of the KMC handed over the responsibilities of Hashmi to the local got’s… pic.twitter.com/61ay7Fa4Kg
In a significant development towards reviving the stalled bailout programme, the authorities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have pledged to provide $1 billion in bilateral support to Pakistan, according to Finance Minister Ishaq Dar.
Dar tweeted, “UAE authorities have confirmed to the IMF for their bilateral support of $1 billion to Pakistan.” He also stated that the State Bank of Pakistan is currently in the process of completing the necessary documentation to receive the deposit from the UAE authorities.
Pakistan was required to provide assurance that its balance of payments deficit is fully financed for the remaining period of the IMF programme, which has been stalled since November last year. Last month, the IMF’s Director of Strategic Communications, Julie Kozack, emphasised that “timely financial assistance from external partners will be critical to support the authorities’ policy efforts and ensure the successful completion of the review [with Pakistan].” She added, “Ensuring that there is sufficient financing to support the authorities is the paramount priority. A Staff Level Agreement (SLA) will follow once the few remaining points are closed.”
Earlier this month, Saudi Arabia also pledged to provide a $2 billion loan to Pakistan, according to Pakistan’s Minister of State for Finance Aisha Ghaus Pasha. The country’s economic situation has been further exacerbated by months of political and economic turmoil, crippling floods last year and record inflation. Pakistan has been grappling with a debt crisis and foreign exchange reserves have fallen to less than four weeks of imports.
In an effort to ease the situation, China has agreed to refinance $2 billion, of which $1.7 billion has already been credited to Pakistan’s central bank. China also rolled over a $2 billion loan last month, providing relief during Pakistan’s acute balance of payments crisis. However, talks with the IMF for a delayed $1.1 billion loan tranche, part of the bailout agreed in 2019, have been ongoing.
The Punjab government on Friday announced that holidays will extend from April 21 to 25 on account of Eid ul Fitr.
On Thursday, the federal government had also announced a five-day holiday for Eid.
The Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee is set to meet on April 20 for sighting of the Eid ul Fitr crescent moon, a statement from the religious affairs ministry said on Tuesday.
This year, the holy month of Ramazan started on March 23.
The Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) has unanimously recommended the name of Justice Mussarat Hilali for appointment as the Chief Justice of the Peshawar High Court (PHC).
JCP has sent its recommendation to the parliamentary committee for approval. The commission unanimously recommended the appointment of Justice Hilali during a meeting with Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial.
Upon the retirement of PHC Chief Justice Qaiser Rashid Khan, on March 30, the most senior judge of the court, Justice Noorul Amin Khan was appointed as the acting CJ. But his stint lasted only a day.
After Justice Khan’s retirement on March 31, a day after he took over as the acting CJ, Justice Hilali was appointed as the first woman acting chief justice of the PHC.
Born in Peshawar on August 08, 1961, Justice Hilali received a degree in law from Khyber Law College, Peshawar University and enrolled as an Advocate of District Courts in 1983, as an Advocate of the High Court in 1988 and as an Advocate of the Supreme Court of Pakistan in 2006.
She was also the first female Additional Advocate General of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa from November 2001 to March 2004.
She was elevated to the bench as an additional judge on March 26, 2013, and confirmed as a permanent judge of the Peshawar High Court on March 13, 2014.
Whilst serving as Finance Minister, Ishaq Dar has repeatedly assured the public that Pakistan has not defaulted and will not do so in the future. Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), has endorsed Dar’s views and stated that Pakistan has not yet reached the level of default.
Speaking at a news conference during the spring meeting of Breton Wood Institutions at the Fund’s headquarters in Washington, Georgieva said that the Fund was seeking confirmation from international partners to meet Pakistan’s financing gap requirements. Responding to a question about Pakistan’s looming default risk, she stated that the country had not yet reached that level, but required a sustainable policy framework to avert such risks.
Georgieva emphasized that the lender has been working closely with the authorities in Pakistan, within the context of the current programme, to ensure that the country has the policy framework in place to prevent reaching the point of unsustainable debt. Pakistan has less than a month’s worth of foreign exchange reserves and is awaiting a $1.1 billion bailout package from the IMF that has been delayed since November due to issues related to fiscal policy adjustments.
Georgieva expressed hope that, with the goodwill of all parties involved and the implementation of what has already been agreed upon by the Pakistan authorities, the current programme can be completed successfully. Islamabad is required to provide assurance that its balance of payments deficit is fully financed for the fiscal year ending in June in order to unlock the next tranche of IMF funding.
During the IMF-World Bank spring meetings, Dar attended via Zoom from Islamabad with IMF Deputy Managing Director Antoinette Moniso Sayeh. Sources report that Sayeh stated that Pakistan has yet to meet its external financing gap of $6 billion, of which $3 billion would need to be financed before striking a staff-level agreement.
At this point, the State Bank of Pakistan’s Jameel Ahmed, who is presently in Washington, reportedly told participants that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) had shared a draft agreement for the provision of an additional $1 billion deposit to meet the requirement for signing the staff-level agreement. A top official expressed hope that the UAE deposit would be confirmed shortly and suggested that it may be confirmed as early as next week.
Regarding the cross-fuel subsidy, the IMF was informed that it was only an idea floated by a relevant ministry and would be implemented only after an agreement on the salient features of the scheme. The Pakistani authorities agreed with the IMF that the scheme appeared good on paper but its transparent implementation would be challenging.
We will sadly have to spend our Eid this year without getting any crispy brand-new rupee note as Eidi.
The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on Thursday decided against issuing fresh currency notes on the eve of Eid-ul-Fitr.
SBP spokesperson has confirmed that the bank will not issue new notes as the supply-demand gap was on the rise fueled by people’s possession of the notes.
Eid-ul-Fitr is expected to fall on April 22 this year. The federal government has announced that Eid holidays which will run from April 21 to April 25, thus making Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday gazetted holidays.
Punjab Excise and Taxation Department sent a notice on Thursday to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, asking him to pay luxury tax on his Zaman Park residence in Lahore.
The notice said, “The Government of Punjab has levied Luxury House Tax on houses with land areas of two kanals.”
He was asked to clear arrears under luxury tax amounting to Rs3.6 million.
The notice was addressed to his late mother Shaukat Khanum.
Furthermore, the department has warned that if the dues are not cleared within a week, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) will be approached in this regard.
The notice has been sent as the date for Punjab elections, May 14, looms nearer.
