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.

  • Pakistani philanthropist Dr Amjad Saqib nominated for Nobel Peace Prize

    Pakistani philanthropist Dr Amjad Saqib nominated for Nobel Peace Prize

    Dr Amjad Saqib, a Pakistani philanthropist and founder of Akhuwat — the country’s largest interest-free microfinance programme — has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for his humanitarian work. Dr. Amjad Saqib has been nominated by Malta’s Foreign Minister, according to the British organization PA Media. However, as per the information available on the website of Nobel Prize, “Neither the names of nominators nor of nominees for the Nobel Peace Prize may be divulged until 50 years have elapsed.”

    “The Committee does not itself announce the names of nominees, neither to the media nor to the candidates themselves. In so far as certain names crop up in the advance speculations as to who will be awarded any given year’s prize, this is either sheer guesswork or information put out by the person or persons behind the nomination. Information in the Nobel Committee’s nomination database is not made public until after fifty years.”

    Dr Saqib earned Asia’s highest honour, the Ramon Magsaysay Award, in 2021 for his humanitarian work in poverty reduction, and has now been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for his humanitarian work in poverty alleviation.

    Amjad Saqib, while talking to The Express Tribune about his nomination said, “My services are beyond such awards and they are purely for the sake of Allah.” He continued by adding: “An official of a foreign country might have recommended my name for the award as people across the world are familiar with my services for humanity… but I am not aware of any such development.”

    Dr Saqib resigned from Civil Service in 2003 and founded Akhuwat the same year. He has been its CEO and main driving force since beginning. With 17 years of successful operations, Akhuwat now presents a viable model of Shariah-compliant microfinance, which is both sustainable and replicable. Besides Akhuwat, Dr Saqib is voluntarily serving many civil society organisations in the realm of education, health, disability, banking and finance. He is also on the board of a commercial bank and a few public universities.

    There are 343 nominees for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2022, including 251 individuals and 92 organisations from

  • Acquittal by High Court: SC dismisses customs appeal against Czech model in drug case

    Acquittal by High Court: SC dismisses customs appeal against Czech model in drug case

    A Supreme Court bench on Wednesday dismissed the Customs appeal in drug smuggling case against Czech model Tereza Hluskova after summary hearing, reported ARY News.

    “Did the customs had sent samples of heroin recovered from the accused to lab according to the law,” Justice Ijazul Ahsan questioned while hearing the case. “The trial court had declared dispatch of the samples lawful,” Customs lawyer replied. “The accused destined to fly out to Czech Republic on April 23,” the lawyer further said.

    “The name of the accused can be added to the ‘stop list’ if the case have substantial grounds,” Justice Ahsan remarked.

    The apex court bench upheld the high court’s acquittal decision of Czech model Tereza Hluskova.

    The Supreme Court of Pakistan had yesterday stopped Hluskova from travelling abroad in drug smuggling case.

    The Czech national was sentenced to eight years and eight months in jail by a sessions court in April 2019. She was arrested at Lahore airport for attempting to smuggle heroin from Pakistan to Abu Dhabi on January 10, 2018.

    The high court acquitted her last year in November and was released from prison the same month.

  • Woman caught smuggling dollars at Karachi airport

    The Customs officials on Wednesday claimed to have foiled a foreign currency smuggling bid at Jinnah International Airport Karachi.

    The officials claimed that 65,000 US dollars (around Rs12 million) were recovered from the baggage of a woman passenger who was travelling to Doha.

    The officials said the currency was seized and the passenger was allowed to board the flight.

    In Jan 2022, a money laundering bid was foiled at Jinnah International Airport Karachi after siblings were apprehended with a huge amount of foreign currency worth over Rs120 million.

  • ‘Affects their behaviour’: Women University Swabi bans smartphones on campus

    ‘Affects their behaviour’: Women University Swabi bans smartphones on campus

    Students at the Women University Swabi (WUS) have been prohibited from using smartphones and tablets on campus, with a severe warning about disciplinary action and a fine in case of violation of the ban.

    As per a circular of the university, the copy of which is available with Dawn reads.: “It is notified for information of all the students that smartphones/touch screen mobiles or tablets will not be allowed on the premises of Women University Swabi with immediate effect.”

    “It has been observed that students extensively use social media applications during the university timings, which affects their education, behaviour and performance,” the circular noted.

    As per the circular, the authorities would initiate a stern disciplinary action against those students violating the ban including cellphones and tablets confiscation and a fine of Rs5,000.

    Deans and heads of all departments have been directed to relay the instructions to the students after the vice-chancellor of the university signed the notification.

  • Gen Z is more likely to buy products promoted by influencers, celebrities

    Gen Z is more likely to buy products promoted by influencers, celebrities

    People born between 1997 and 2012 are known as Generation Z. They are not just digitally aware, but real digital natives who have grown up immersed in digital networking.

    Gen Z has been identified as being nimble, active, and bold. Every generational shift leads to a transformation in demand and expectations.

    A research study conducted by Meta reveals how Gen Zers interact with marketers and invest their online time.

    Social media – more than a picture uploading platform

    Over two-thirds of Gen Zers are surveyed on Facebook and Instagram, according to Comscore research. By time spent on mobile and desktop, these two applications list third among the top ten digital sites.

    For many people, social media is more than a basic way to keep in touch with friends and loved ones. It’s where people can spend time discovering their passions and interacting with the brands they care about. Gen Zers are delighted to see advertisers on Meta platforms, according to a Meta-commissioned study. In fact, 60 per cent of those questioned claimed they follow a company on social media.

    Gen Zers crave engagement with favourite brand

    Gen Z craves a genuine engagement with the brands they adore. According to a Meta study, 41 per cent of Gen Zers surveyed stated they feel more personally connected when brands share content that makes them feel like they’re a member of the brand’s group.

    The yearning to be a part of something and to know what’s going on can go a long way: According to the survey, 29 per cent of respondents feel a stronger bond to businesses that provide an inside glimpse into their activities. Gen Zers also highly value real chats with brands, with more than a quarter of those polled expressing a desire to be able to ask product experts questions directly through social networks.

    Gen Zers fancy writing feedback

    Following a brand on social media is a method for 60 per cent of Gen Zers surveyed to engage more deeply with their interests. One of the most common methods for people to engage with their passions is through stories shared on social media by companies and influencers, according to 43 per cent of those polled.

    They do, however, want a more engaging experience: As a way to communicate with brands, 38 per cent of respondents love completing product feedback questionnaires. 

    Impact of involving celebrities, influencers

    The key to establishing a stronger bond between businesses and Gen Z is through influencers and artists. According to Meta data, 79 per cent of Gen Zers have made a purchase as a result of watching a creator’s content. Influencers let customer feels more attached to and satisfied with the businesses, products, and services they offer.

    Read more: Pakistanis will get slow Internet on Thursday

    Luckily for marketers, 35 per cent of those polled indicated that creator material caused them to promote a brand, product, or service.

    Role of social justice

    Advocating for social justice and ethnic diversity is critical for Gen Zers. According to a second Meta research of interactional analytics, Gen Zers used Instagram to express their views on social justice issues, with discussion volume increasing by 300 per cent year over year since May 2020. However, deeds speak louder than speech for this age.

    According to Meta study, Gen Z consumers expect brands to work with influencers from a variety of racial and cultural backgrounds. The study also found that more than half of Gen Zers polled learn about new businesses through content from influencers from multiple origins.

  • [VIDEO] Man hangs from balcony after fight with wife in India

    A man attempted to commit suicide by hanging from a balcony of his house after a fight with his wife in Ghaziabad, a city in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh (UP). A video of the incident went viral across social media in which his family can be seen trying to pull him up from the first floor of the house.

    According to police, the incident took place in the Ghaziabad area of Uttar Pradesh. The wife of the hanging man immediately called in Indian cops to rescue her husband.

    Indian Police officer shared the video on Twitter, “It’s serious… After a quarrel with his wife, a man tried to commit suicide by hanging himself from the balcony. Meanwhile, people pulled him up and saved him.”

    However, his family rescued him with help of some neighbours.

    Hilarious reactions from Twitter users were seen on the viral video

    One user wrote, “Ghar main ghuste hi ek rehpat pada hai 100%.” Another user suggested not to get married.

  • Pakistanis can now stay for 60 days in Dubai on a tourist visa

    United Arab Emirates (UAE) has now allowed Pakistanis to stay for 60 days on a tourist visa as a standard policy from September. It will facilitate people who intend to stay for a long break in the country.

    The country also provides another visa type for job seekers that is called ‘ a job exploration entry visa ‘ which allows people to explore job opportunities in the region.

    The UAE government media office said, “Major improvements include facilitating the entry requirements for all visa types, offering flexible visa durations that meet the needs of the visitors and the purpose of the visit,” will be implemented.

    “In addition, all entry visas are available for single or multiple entry, can be renewed for similar periods, and are valid for 60 days from their issuance date.”

    In the past, UAE had a standard 30-days visa on arrival for many nations including Britain, America, and Australia. People who overstayed were given a nine-day grace period to return to their countries. Otherwise, they were subjected to fines that amounted to 200 dirhams for the first day and 100 dirhams for each consecutive day.

    Nations that do not have a visa on arrival policy such as India and Pakistan have to arrange for a visa through a travel agency before arrival in the UAE.

  • Egypt court cuts TikTok influencer’s sentence to three years

    Egypt court cuts TikTok influencer’s sentence to three years

    An Egyptian court has reduced TikTok influencer Haneen Hossam’s 10-year “human trafficking” sentence to three years, a judicial source has said.

    The source told the AFP news agency on Monday that despite Hossam’s jail time being cut, she was also fined 200,000 Egyptian pounds ($10,740) by the Cairo Criminal Court.

    The targeting of female influencers has rekindled a heated debate in Egypt over what constitutes individual freedoms and social values.

    Hossam was first arrested in 2020 and, along with another influencer named Mawada al-Adham, was sentenced to two years for “attacking society’s values” in online videos. She was detained after posting a video on Instagram explaining how women could earn up to $3,000 by broadcasting videos using the video creation platform Likee, which authorities interpreted as promoting women selling sex online.

    An appeals court acquitted the pair in January last year, but they were later charged with “human trafficking” – a charge Hossam reportedly incurred for telling her 1.3 million followers that girls can make money by working with her on social media.

    Then aged 19, she was sentenced in absentia and arrested last June.

    Adham received a six-year sentence and a 200,000-pound fine. She is still behind bars.

    Hossam’s lawyer Hussein al-Baqar confirmed to AFP that the sentence had been reduced. As she has already served 21 months including time under investigation, “she can be released in June or July”, Baqar said, adding the latest sentence could still be appealed.

  • Two govt officers killed in DI Khan gun attack

    Two govt officers killed in DI Khan gun attack

    Two government officers have been killed in a gun attack carried out by unidentified men in Dera Ismail Khan city of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).

    According to a report by ARY News on Monday, the police officials told the media that unidentified assailants have killed two officers of KP’s excise and narcotics control department at Darazanda Bypass of Dera Ismail Khan city.

    They added that the slain officers included Inspector Rukhsar and ASI Waseem who were targeted in the gun attack during duty hours.

    Earlier in the month, five policemen had been martyred in a rocket attack carried out by terrorists in Dera Ismail Khan.

  • Six sentenced to death in Sialkot Sri Lankan’s mob lynching

    Six sentenced to death in Sialkot Sri Lankan’s mob lynching

    An anti-terrorism court on Monday sentenced to death six accused involved in Priyantha Kumara, a Sri Lankan national working in Pakistan who was lynched by a mob in Sialkot on Dec 3, 2021 .

    The ATC also handed down life imprisonment to nine co-accused persons each, jailed one co-accused for five years and sentenced to two years in prison each 72 other co-accused persons.

    “The prosecution team testified a total of 43 witnesses in the court to prove the crime against the suspects,” Punjab Prosecution Department Secretary Nadeem Sarwar informed media persons during a press conference.

    “In less than a month, the prosecution completed the testimonies of witnesses. After that, the court gave them a full chance to defend themselves. Today, the ATC Gujranwala, upon the crime being proven, has punished 88 accused while one has been acquitted”, he informed.

    Read more- Priyantha Kumara lynching trial case shifts to Lahore Kot Lakhpat Jail

    In December, last year, 49-year-old Priyantha Kumara was tortured to death on the alleged charges of blasphemy by an angry mob. He was working as a manager at a private sportswear manufacturing factory in Sialkot.