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.

  • Board exams to be held after June 15, announces Shafqat Mahmood

    Federal Minister for Education Shafqat Mahmood has announced that board exams will start after June 15 with priority for Grade 12 and 10 so that they can take admissions in universities without any delay.

    The minister said the decision was taken in an Interprovincial Education Ministers Conference (IPEMC) that took place on Wednesday.

    “Intermediate and Matric exams would be given priority so that results can come in before university admissions,” said Mahmood, adding that respective boards will announce the exact date of the exams later.

    In lieu of rising cases of COVID-19, Shafqat Mehmood earlier announced that no examinations will take place in the country until June 15. The decision came after increased pressure by students for the cancellation of exams.

    However, after the cancellation of exams, students are now demanding Teacher and School Assessed Grades, arguing that their study schedules have been disrupted because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

  • Crystal artist Sara Shakeel makes it to ‘British Vogue’

    Crystal artist Sara Shakeel, who has been making waves with her artwork in Pakistan, has been featured in British Vogue. Sara’s crystal magic on Billie Eilish’s pictures caught the attention of the bestselling magazine, which then interviewed Sara about her work and process.

    “Little did I know, my love and mad respect for Billie Eilish would land me an interview with one of my favourite magazines British Vogue,” said Sara, while sharing a screengrab of her interview in Vogue.

    Speaking to the publication about her Eilish artwork, Shakeel said: “It’s the first time we have seen Billie in this way, so I wanted to create something new for her.”

    “I don’t care who the person is, as long as they inspire me,” said Sara further, adding: “No matter how ordinary someone or something is, I try to make it extraordinary.”

    Talking about the love and appreciation she receives, Sara said: “I’m a happy-go-lucky person who never dreamt of being famous, but now I’m so humbled; my work exists because of them.”

    Meanwhile, this is not the first time Sara made waves internationally. In December 2020, she collaborated with French luxury brand Lancôme for their digital Christmas campaign, which featured Hollywood celebrities Julia Roberts and Amanda Seyfried. 

  • EXCLUSIVE: A lookback at Fawad Chaudhry’s shocking fitness routine

    EXCLUSIVE: A lookback at Fawad Chaudhry’s shocking fitness routine

    “It was like training someone who was utterly determined to be the best and he did get there.” This is what the owner of the gym Eleven, Waleed Saigol had to say about the time when Minister of Information Fawad Chaudhry used to regularly attend his gym in Lahore.

    Traveling when fit

    “Fawad Chaudhry was the focal point of people’s attention at the gym,” Waleed added, “and we really miss him and wish he would come back. When he first came it was difficult for him to walk at pace on the treadmill and at the height of his training, he was boxing like he was beating the opposition.”

    The Current reached out to Fawad after a video of him boxing like a champion went viral on social media.

    watch the viral boxing video

    “It was all because of Waleed Saigol’s perseverance that I managed to get to where I did,” the minister said, “I really want to get back on schedule. I’ve gained 15 KGs in three years and it’s terrible.”

    Hiking and timing the workout

    It’s no wonder that Fawad doesn’t have the time to be regular at the gym. After heading the ministry of science and technology and managing to take it from a defunct ministry to a cool one, he then was re-appointed as the Minister for Information. He remembers his workout days fondly and says he can’t wait to get back to the gym.

    Fitness days

    “The bigger issue is sleep,” Fawad told us, “I don’t get enough sleep and because of that my exercise routine is suffering.”

    It isn’t just the Information Minister who can’t focus on his fitness goals. A report in February stated that Prime Minister Imran Khan was also gaining weight because of the workload.

  • Pakistan to receive first shipment of Oxford-Astrazeneca vaccine this week

    Pakistan is expected to receive its first shipment of the Oxford-Astrazeneca coronavirus vaccine by the end of this week under the COVAX program, Arab News has reported. The COVAX program is a global initiative to provide vaccines to countries lacking resources to procure or manufacture the vaccines on their own. 

    Quoting a top government official, the report said that Pakistan will receive the first shipment of 1.2 million doses of Oxford-Astrazeneca coronavirus vaccine on Friday.

    Through the COVAX vaccine facility, Pakistan has planned to vaccinate 20% of its population free of charge.

    As per, Rana Muhammad Safdar, director-general health at the Ministry of National Health Services, the first shipment will arrive from South Korea on May 7.

    “We are committed to vaccinating our maximum population as quickly as possible,” asserted Safdar.

    Pakistan’s vaccination drive began on March 10 with priority given to healthcare workers and senior citizens above 60. Later, vaccinations for those aged 50-59 were started on April 21. Meanwhile, registration for ages 40-49 started on April 27. You can register yourself by sending your CNIC number to 1166. Walk-in vaccinations are available for those aged 50 and above. As per the National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC), more than 2.5 million people have been vaccinated till now.

    Pakistan is experiencing a deadly third wave of Covid-19, with the positivity rate at an all-time high. According to the National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC), 3377 cases and 161 deaths were recorded in the country in the last 24 hours.

  • Nasa Earth releases satellite images of Hingol National Park

    Nasa Earth releases satellite images of Hingol National Park

    The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has shared satellite images of the Hingol National Park, located 120 miles from Karachi. The image was acquired in February this year.

    Read more – NASA shares picture of snow-covered Himalayan ranges from space

    Nasa Earth observatory describes Hingol Park with its “rocky terrain, mountain caves, and beautiful beaches” as “one of the natural wonders of Pakistan”.

    Hingol spans around 6,200 square kilometres (2,400 square miles) across three districts of the Balochistan Province: Lasbela, Awaran, and Gwadar,.

    The park is named after the Hingol River, which flows through this dry region year-round and is the longest in Balochistan. Before emptying into the Arabian Sea, the Hingol flows into an estuary that supports threatened fish, birds, and crocodiles. It is part of the largest national park for the protection of endangered species in the country. The park is also home to wild Sindh Ibex, Balochistan Urial, and Chinkara Gazelle.

    Located approximately 200 kilometers (120 miles) northwest of Karachi, Hingol National Park features several distinct ecosystems. In the north, it includes an arid subtropical forest, while dry, mountainous terrain covers the western portion.

    In the east, the park is renowned for a group of mud volcanoes that spew methane and mud instead of lava. Along the coast, Hingol includes caves, beaches, and a marine ecological zone that is home to dolphins, sea turtles, and mangroves. The water body in the image above is an ephemeral lake near Sapat Beach.

    The park also holds a significance amount for Hindu community because of the Hinglaj Mata Mandar located there.

  • Man caught torturing lion cub on camera

    Man caught torturing lion cub on camera

    A man has been caught beating a lion cub on camera. In a video that is being widely circulated on social media, the man named Saad can be seen beating the young cub while dragging him with a chain. The cub’s heartwrenching cries can also be heard in the video.

    The video sparked outrage on social media with several prominent personalities including Fatima Bhutto demanding the cub be rescued by authorities. Lahore-based JFK Animal Rescue And Shelter has also urged the government to stop licensing wild animals to individuals privately, saying that every third person in Pakistan now owns a lion as a pet.

    The animal rescue service also initiated an online petition for this purpose and urged people to raise their voices for these animals. According to JFK, by owning a licence in Pakistan you can buy, sell or import lions and tigers and do whatever you want to do to them. In the recent past, multiple cases of animal abuse and violation have been reported.

    Read more – Wildlife dept recovers two lions from bathroom in a residential area in Multan

    The animal rights organisation also explained that lion and tiger owners, declaw them, beat them, cage them, take their teeth out and later use them for breeding where they open entire breeding farms and then sell the cubs for money.

    “Once anybody gets the license there is no check and balance, and every other person is allowed to do all sorts of evil things to these wild animals behind closed walls. Many also torture them for TikTok and social media videos,” reads the petition.

    “Many times lions are used as props and kept as slaves. People deprive them of their natural habitats and give them a miserable life. We have seen multiple cases of this abuse in a single year and now we want to deal with the root cause which is these licences, these licenses should be cancelled and there should be a complete ban on owning wild animals as pets,” it adds.

    Read more – Lion manhandled during Maryam Nawaz’s rally rescued by Punjab Wildlife Dept

    JFK also alleged that this is not the first time Saad tortured a lion. They claimed that there are other videos of his abusing his lions also.

    Fatima Bhutto also requested her followers to sign the petition and urged the government to rescue such wild animals from captivity.

    Meanwhile, lawyers Ahmad Pansota and Hassaan Khan Niazi have taken up the case and have promised to file a petition before the court on the matter.

  • VIDEO: Two officers escape firing from robbers

    VIDEO: Two officers escape firing from robbers

    In a horrific video doing the rounds on social media, the dashcam footage shows the intense moment of survival of two private security members who escaped straight gunshots from gang members attempting to loot a cash-in-transit van.

    The event took place in South Africa, and the members of the private security company survived because of the bulletproofing of the van.

    As per details, they were transporting money in a truck in the northern city of Pretoria on April 22 when they were attacked by robbers.

    In the three-minute-long video, a security officer is driving with a colleague and both are wearing bulletproof vests. Suddenly, a round of gunshots was fired and the window on the driver’s side partially shattered from the bullet’s impact.

    The officers remained calmed and composed, and the one on the driving seat carefully manoeuvred the car out from the traffic. When he got the chance, he ramped up the van into the robber’s car.

    Meanwhile, the officer can be heard saying: “They’re going to shoot.” He then instructs his colleague in the passenger seat to pull out his rifle.

    The officers attempt to reach out to their colleagues for help, with the driver saying: “Phone Robbie, phone Josh, ask them where they are.”

    “The suspects fired several shots at the CIT vehicle in an attempt to stop it during a high-speed chase,” police spokesperson Brigadier Vishnu Naidoo confirmed on Friday.

    “The driver of the CIT vehicle managed to evade the robbers for a while but later stopped in wait for the robbers. The robbers fled without taking any money. No arrests have yet been made,” added Naidoo.

    Photos of the scene show the seriously damaged white security van, which appears to have been shot from the side and the front. It is unclear whether there were any deaths or injuries.

  • COVID-19 oral pill could be ready by year-end, says Pfizer CEO

    COVID-19 oral pill could be ready by year-end, says Pfizer CEO

    US-based pharmaceutical company Pfizer’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Albert Bourla has said that the company’s anti-viral oral pill for coronavirus is in early-stage trials and could be ready by the end of the year.

    According to reports, the company, which developed the first authorised COVID-19 vaccine in the US with German drugmaker BioNTech, began an early-stage clinical trial for testing a new antiviral therapy for Covid-19 in March.

    The medication is part of a class of medicines called protease inhibitors and works by inhibiting an enzyme that the virus needs to replicate in human cells.

    Read more – Cleric believes COVID vaccine makes people ‘gay’

    “If clinical trials go well and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves it, the drug could be distributed across the US by the end of the year,” Bourla told CNBC.

    Protease inhibitors are used to treat other viral pathogens such as HIV and hepatitis C, the report said.

    Last month, the pharmaceutical giant asked the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to expand the Emergency Use Authorisation (EUA) for its Covid-19 vaccine to include children ages 12 to 15.

    The request to expand emergency use comes just days after Pfizer released data demonstrating its vaccine was 100 per cent effective and well-tolerated by the younger group.

    Pfizer is also working on its vaccine for 6-month to 11-year-old children.

    A recent study, published in the journal Science, showed that a single dose of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines against Covid may boost immunity against the Covid-19 variants, only in people who were previously infected with the deadly virus.

    In people who have not previously been infected and have so far only received one dose of vaccine, the immune response to variants of concern may be insufficient, the study indicated.

  • Fact Check: Is Maulana Tariq Jamil selling nara’s for Rs 550?

    Claim: Mualana Tariq Jamil’s company MTJ is selling nara’s for 550 per piece

    Fact: MTJ is not selling any nara’s

    Just days after Maulana Tariq Jamil’s flagship store opened its doors in Karachi, news of the brand selling nara’s (drawstrings) at a price of more than Rs 500 started circulating on social media with some people criticizing the religious scholar for selling overpriced stuff.

    However, according to a press release circulating on social media, the brand has denied the news of selling drawstrings.

    “It has come to our notice that MTJ- Tariq Jamil is being accused of selling drawstrings (nara) for Rs.550 apiece,” reads the statement.

    “We would like to clarify that the news is fake.”

    “We do not manufacture drawstrings (nara) and our stores and website have never placed such article for sale,” the statement added.

    “Please beware of spreading false news and help us report those who are involved in this malpractice.”

    Maulana Tariq Jamil was criticized for starting his own clothing brand despite being a religious cleric after which he shared a video message on his social media accounts to explain the reason for launching his own brand.

    “Since 2000, I had been thinking about starting a business for my religious activities, especially to run a madrassa. During COVID-19’s lockdown, I have the opportunity to put that idea into practice.”

    “That was my intention [to make the madrassas self sufficient] and a few of my friends collaborated with me, after which we launched a brand with my name,” he added.

    VERDICT: FALSE

  • Baby starved for two days found alive

    Baby starved for two days found alive

    A less than one-year-old baby boy was found miraculously alive on Monday, hungry and lying down with his dead mother, in Pimpri-Chinchwad, Maharashtra. The mother had reportedly been dead for two days as no one reached out.

    29-year-old Sarawasti Rajesh Kumar was suspected to have died on Saturday, which means the baby had been not fed since then.

    “The baby was lying next to her silently… he was not crying,” said an official investigating the case. Due to the alarming situation of COVID-19 in India, the neighbours were hesitant to come near the body or even hold the baby.

    Police constables, Sushila Gabhale and Rekha Waze, who arrived at the scene then fed him.

    “The child had a little fever when we showed him to the doctor. He told us to feed him well, the rest is fine” said their colleague Rekha. They also took him to hospital where he tested negative for COVID-19.

    As per details, the woman was living with her husband, who had gone to their native place in Uttar Pradesh, and their child. The family lived on rent while the owners of the house lived at a distance. Since the landlords were COVID positive, they did not check on Kumar until a stench started emanating from the room. Authorities immediately alerted the husband of his wife’s demise.

    While it is not clear how the woman died, Police Inspector Prakash Jadhav of Dighi told the Indian Express that they “found some pills next to her body.”

    “We suspect the woman committed suicide by consuming the pills. Her body has been sent for post-mortem to YCM Hospital. The viscera has been preserved…the cause of death is not known so far,” said the official.