Category: Lifestyle

The lifestyle of millennials is underreported in our mainstream media. The Current’s lifestyle news covers social events and issues that are unique.

  • Sindh lawyers team up against a female judge for exposing water scam

    Sindh lawyers team up against a female judge for exposing water scam

    Sadaf Khokhar, a female jurist posted as a District and Sessions Judge at the Malir court in Karachi, has exposed a scam in which water from Karachi court’s RO filter plant was being illegally sold for profit.

    After she exposed the scam, lawyers from different groups of the province pitted themselves against the female judge.

    She had a sign displayed at the court’s RO filter plant last week on Thursday, May 11, prohibiting the sale of the water.

    Given the lack of access to clean drinking water for those who visit this court, the Malir Bar Association requested authorisation to establish a RO plant in 2021.

    However, when senior civil judge and supervisory officer Khurram Amin Khan paid a surprise visit to the RO facility last week, he discovered that a man by the name of Hajan Ali was peddling packed bottles of water from it.

    Hajan Ali informed the civil judge that he had a contract in place to sell the water with the current elected Malir Bar Association board.

    At the plant, the civil judge discovered bottles and packing materials.

    Justice Khokhar was then informed by the civil judge about the scam. “[D]istilled water is being sold commercially,” Khokhar said in a letter she wrote to the registrar of the Sindh High Court on May 13.

    “The RO plant is donated and being maintained at the [cost of] court/public exchequer (electricity etc).”

    The District Bar Association then promptly organised a strike, scheduled for the following day.

    The lawyers accused the female judge of harassing and humiliating the lawyers of the Malir Bar and stopping the service of drinking water.

    According to the Malir Bar lawyers, the female judge had violated the law,and they had declared a strike that would last until Monday, May 15.

    The case then moved on to further courts, with the Sindh Bar Council bringing it before the Chief Justice of the Sindh High Court by May 18.

    The Chief Justice Ahmad Ali M Sheikh was informed about the judge’s behaviour by the Sindh Bar Council, the Sindh High Court Bar Association, the Karachi Bar Association, and the Malir Bar Association.

    However, they were dissatisfied with the judge’s response.

    Amir Saleem, the president of the Karachi Bar, said on May 20, they will go on strike in protest of the Chief Justice’s and District and Sessions Judge Sadaf Khokhar’s lack of cooperation.

    On Monday, May 22, the strike was still in effect. Her transfer out is what the solicitors desire.

  • Kahaan baarish horehi hai? Apple, why are you doing this to us

    Kahaan baarish horehi hai? Apple, why are you doing this to us

    Despite a pleasant first week, this May is not being kind to Lahoris, with the temperature currently at 42°C which has left us without no option but to stay inside with ACs on 24/7.

    But, this is not the case as per the weather App on our iPhones. According to the application, while all of us are burning in this garmi, a thunderstorm is happening. We have just one question. Where are the rainy clouds?

    Social media users have also taken to Twitter to express their frustration.

    https://twitter.com/Xxrishrana/status/1660516708954828802?s=20

    According to a report, a searing heat wave that gripped parts of South Asia in April this year was made at least 30 times more likely by climate change.

    The climate change-fueled heat caused deaths, widespread hospitalizations, damaged roads, sparked fires and led to school closures in the region.

  • Revolutionising air travel: Pakistan launches first-ever online ‘air taxi service’

    Revolutionising air travel: Pakistan launches first-ever online ‘air taxi service’

    Pakistan has achieved a significant milestone by introducing its groundbreaking online air taxi service, revolutionising air travel for its citizens. This innovative service offers individuals the utmost convenience in booking air travel according to their preferred time and destination.

    With just a few taps on a user-friendly mobile app, individuals can now reserve an air taxi from the comfort of their homes, mirroring the simplicity of booking a regular taxi.

    The official launch of the aerial air taxi service took place in Karachi, marking a momentous occasion. The lease agreement for the highly acclaimed DA 40 Diamond series aircraft was officially signed at the Civil Aviation office adjacent to Karachi Airport.

    Imran Aslam Khan, the Chief Operating Officer of Sky Wings Aviation, expressed his genuine excitement as the aircraft designated for aerial tours successfully arrived in Pakistan after a flawless test flight.

    Notably, this remarkable single-engine plane boasts a comfortable seating capacity of four passengers.

    Imran emphasised that the primary objective of this exceptional air taxi service is to provide emergency transportation from Karachi to remote areas in rural Sindh and Balochistan through captivating aerial tours.

    The German-manufactured aircraft demonstrates remarkable capabilities, with a maximum speed of 160 kilometers per hour and a flight range of 2,000 kilometers, making it an ideal choice for efficient air travel across the region.

    To further enhance the convenience for passengers, Imran revealed that the mobile app, which is set to launch soon, will empower citizens to effortlessly select their desired time and destination for air travel, putting the control in their hands.

    Significantly, the fare for this novel air taxi service will be significantly lower compared to typical charter services, which often begin at a staggering cost of Rs2.5 million for a trip from Karachi to various cities in Sindh and Balochistan. This affordability factor opens up endless possibilities for a wider range of individuals to experience the convenience and luxury of air travel.

    The initial phase of the air taxi service will commence with eight aircraft of varying capacities, with promising plans for expansion in the near future. Importantly, this remarkable service is not limited to political, religious, or business personalities.

  • ‘Your wife is not your cleaner’: Washing powder brand’s new commercial has enraged Twitter users

    Ever thought that Pakistani commercials couldn’t go lower than they already are? Welp, Brite decided to hit rock bottom with an advertisement that has enraged social media on its blatant display of misogyny.

    The commercial shows a woman opening her husband’s suitcase and finding his clothes covered with food stains. But below the clothes is a package and a card which tells the mother to not worry, because Brite can wipe away all kinds of food stains.

    First of all, how is it possible that a grown working man dribbles this much food down his clothes? And is this woman his wife, or a walking talking robot who is now responsible for all of his chores? Twitter had the same questions when they caught hold of the ad.

    A user slammed it as a failed marketing strategy, which is once more highlighting the fact that women weren’t equal members of the households, but they were subservient to the men around them.

    Others began joining in, sharing other sexist advertisements that they have disagreed with.

    Women are not your domestic helpers. They don’t exist to clean and cook around you. Especially if you’re a grown man who is capable of travelling but can’t seem to clean himself.

  • 5 Pakistani’s make it to the Forbes ’30 Under 30′ list

    5 Pakistani’s make it to the Forbes ’30 Under 30′ list

    Forbes magazine has unveiled its highly anticipated list of 30 under 30 successful individuals across Asia, which features 300 people who have excelled in the fields of arts, tech, medicine and more. This year, spotted among the prodigies, are five Pakistanis who exceeded against the odds and made their mark in the fields of media, finance, marketing. Check them out below!

    Azam Mahmood as screenwriter for ‘Ramy’

    Originally from Karachi, Azam Mahmood is a story editor for the Peacock show ‘Queer As Folk’, who is also working with the Golden Globes award winning actor Ramy Youssef for the show ‘Ramy’.

    Anas Niaz as the founder of ‘Bioniks’

    Niaz is a mechatronics engineer who is the founder and CEO of Bioniks, a social enterprise from Karachi which is developing low-cost bionic arms using 3D printing technology, to create custom-made prosthetics which can allow users to manipulate objects using robotic fingers.

    Ayesha Mubarak Ali as a visual tech artist

    Mubarak is a multimedia visual tech artist whose work revolves around identity politics, space applications and the future of humanity. She made history by becoming the first Pakistani artist to collaborate with NASA scientists with her work being sent to the International Space Station for the Maleth II mission.

    Shershah Hassan and Waleed Amjad Islam, co-founders of KalPay

    Shershah Hassan and Waleed Amjad Islam are co-founders of the fin-tech startup KalPay, a Sharia compliant buy now pay later venture, which aims to provide financial access to a country where credit card use is less than 1%. The company had previously partnered with Pakistani ventures like Food Panda and Muawin to provide users with a convenient and easy way to conduct banking transactions.

  • Fake daddy citizenship scam: Migrant women are offering British men £10,000 to pose as fathers of their children

    Fake daddy citizenship scam: Migrant women are offering British men £10,000 to pose as fathers of their children

    According to reports, there is a growing trend of British men accepting payments of up to £10,000 to have their names added to the birth certificates of children belonging to migrant women.

    A recent investigation by BBC Newsnight has revealed that scammers are utilising Facebook as a platform to find willing participants.

    These individuals claim to have assisted thousands of women in securing UK citizenship for their children and obtaining residency for themselves.

    Facebook, in response to the findings, informed the BBC that such content is explicitly prohibited according to their rules. To delve deeper into the issue, an undercover BBC researcher, assuming the identity of a pregnant woman residing in the UK unlawfully, engaged with individuals offering these services.

    One of the agents, using the alias “Thai,” informed the researcher that he could arrange for several British men to pose as fake fathers. He presented a comprehensive package at a cost of £11,000. The undercover operative was introduced to a British man named Andrew, who would feign being the child’s father and receive £8,000 from the total fee.

    If a migrant woman is residing illegally in the UK but gives birth to a child fathered by a British citizen or a man with indefinite leave to remain, the child automatically attains British citizenship. Subsequently, the mother can apply for a family visa, granting her the right to remain in the UK and pursue citizenship in due course.

    In the previous year, a total of 4,860 family visas were granted to “other dependants,” encompassing individuals applying to stay in the UK as parents of British children. It should be noted that deliberately providing false information on a birth certificate is a criminal offense.

    The Home Office assured the BBC that it has implemented measures to prevent and detect instances of immigration fraud involving falsified birth certificates. The investigation revealed that this illicit practice is prevalent in various migrant communities, including those from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nigeria, and Sri Lanka, and has been ongoing for many years.

    The investigation further uncovered that these illegal activities were widely advertised on Vietnamese Facebook groups intended for jobseekers.

    Meta, the parent company of Facebook, stated that “the solicitation of adoptions or birth certificate fraud on Facebook” is strictly prohibited. The company pledged to continue removing content that violates their policies.

  • Lahore, do you know what the biggest pollutant in your city is?

    Lahore, do you know what the biggest pollutant in your city is?

    The Urban Unit of the Planning and Development Department of Punjab has released a report revealing that over 80 per cent of Lahore’s pollution originates from the transport sector.

    Titled “Sectoral emission inventory of Lahore,” the report represents the first comprehensive attempt in the Punjab province to assess atmospheric pollutants resulting from human activities across six developmental sectors.

    The report identifies various primary sources of pollution in Lahore. Transportation accounts for 83 per cent of the emissions, making it a significant contributor. The increasing number of registered vehicles in Lahore, including a notable rise in two-stroke vehicles such as motorbikes, scooters, and auto-rickshaws, is a cause for concern.

    However, it is worth noting that vehicle figures may be inflated as anecdotal evidence suggests that many vehicles in the Punjab province are registered in Lahore.

    In addition to transportation, the burning of crop residues contributes 3.9 per cent to the pollution levels, while waste burning—a common practice in the outskirts of Lahore—accounts for 3.6 per cent.

    Furthermore, the report highlights that emissions from the industrial (9 per cent), domestic (0.11 per cent), and commercial (0.14 per cent) sectors primarily result from the consumption of inefficient fuels like coal and diesel oil.

    The report also examines the health impact of the pollution in Lahore. The concentration of pollutants in the city’s ambient air exceeds the defined limits of Pollutant Equivalent Quantities (PEQs). Air pollution is currently the most severe form of pollution affecting the residents of Lahore.

    Citing the Air Quality Life Index Fact Sheet for Pakistan, the report reveals that if the World Health Organization’s guidelines for an annual average PM2.5 concentration of 5µg/m3 are met, the average life expectancy of Lahore residents could increase by 6.8 years. Moreover, the rising pollution in the city has led to an increase in respiratory diseases.

    The report emphasises the broader challenge of air pollution in Pakistan and the subsequent problems it causes. Pakistan’s air quality performance, as assessed by the Environmental Performance Index (EPI) published by Yale University in 2022, ranks 176th out of 180 countries with a score of 5.7 in air quality points. This indicates a decrease of -0.3 compared to the previous report. The World Air Quality Report (2021) by IQAir also ranks Pakistan as the third-most polluted country in terms of air quality.

    Additionally, the report highlights the country’s high climate vulnerability and environmental degradation. Rapid urbanization is exacerbating exposure to pollution within Pakistani cities. Urban areas, while significant centers of energy production and atmospheric emissions globally, are particularly susceptible to climate-related disasters.

    Major urban centers in Pakistan face challenges such as inadequate waste management, rapid urban sprawl, air pollution, poor access to water and sanitation, and congestion.

  • In aftermath of policeman opening fire on school van, psychological reviews to be conducted every 6 months

    In aftermath of policeman opening fire on school van, psychological reviews to be conducted every 6 months

    A police constable on Tuesday opened fire on a school van in Swat District, killing at least one student and injuring six others.

    The deceased was identified as seven-year-old Aisha.

    The suspect named Alam Khan was arrested on the spot with an FIR registering against him immediately. Alam Khan was posted on security duty of the school since the past three months. The suspect has admitted his crime in front of a court.

    The residents of the area staged a protest against the incident on Wednesday.

    Journalist Iftikhar Firdous has tweeted that after the tragic incident, the Home and Tribal Affairs Department of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has ordered that psychological reviews of security guards be conducted every six months.

  • LUMS professor beaten up for demanding freedom of speech

    LUMS professor beaten up for demanding freedom of speech

    Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) professor Muhummad Tariq said that he was beaten up for holding placards outside of the university with his teenage children and for “suggesting upholding the constitution and exercising fundamental rights to express ourselves.”

    He has alleged that due to the beating, he ended up with a broken arm and knee.

    Taking to social media, he said that after all this he does not regret coming back to Pakistan and is proud of the country and will serve it with even more dedication, commitment and honesty.

    He also said he always tells his student to stand strong. He ended the note by saying that he is doing fine now.

  • In groundbreaking move, National Assembly passes bill granting paid maternity leave

    In a historical move, yesterday the National Assembly passed the ‘Maternity and Paternity Leave Bill’ 2020, which has granted mothers the right to take up to six months paid maternity leave from their workplaces at their first birth, as well as leaves for three to four months during the birth of their second and third child as the bill states:

    “Maternity leave shall in the prescribed manner be granted on full pay outside the leave account to a female employee on her option to the extent of one hundred and eighty days on first birth, one hundred and twenty days on second birth, ninety days on third birth.”

    The bill also granted paternity leave for fathers, allowing men to take one month paid leaves from their work places on the birth of their child:

    “A male employee expecting his wife to give birth to a child shall , at his option, be granted paternity leave on full pay not exceeding thirty days.”

    The bill has been passed in federal territory, which means it will be made a legal priority for Islamabad workplaces to include paid paternity and maternity leave in their policies. But hopefully, this progressive step will soon encourage other cities to take note and follow to make inclusive policies that do not push women out of the workplace after their marriage.

    The bill was presented at the National Assembly by Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Senator Quratulain Marri, who praised her colleagues support to prioritise social issues, which helped in making this landmark legislation possible.

    Social media users have celebrated the legislation as a progressive step that will stop women from being forced to chose between motherhood and their jobs, and applauded Senator Marri for helping ensure this will happen.