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.

  • Supreme Court fines Punjab govt Rs10 Lacs for wasting its time

    Supreme Court fines Punjab govt Rs10 Lacs for wasting its time

    The Supreme Court of Pakistan has imposed a fine of ten lacs (Rs1 million) on the Punjab government for wasting its time by filing a frivolous case, ordering the administration to pay the money to the owner of the land they used without permission.

    The three-membered bench headed by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa dismissed the provincial government’s appeal filed against the verdicts of an appellate court along with the high court in favour of the land owner.

    The case was about a piece of land that the Punjab government constructed a road on in Gujranwala in 2007. The nine-marlas were never paid for. Liaqat Ali, the affected man, took to court, challenging the government and both lower courts decided in his favour.

    In the hearing on Monday, the Chief Justice questioned how the state built a road on the land without the permission of its owner and without paying him. “Neither the owner had gifted his land for construction of the road nor the state had acquired the said land,” Justice Qazi Faez Isa remarked and asked the Additional Advocate General Punjab as to why he had filed such a frivolous application in the court. “Is it our job to teach the provincial law officer the constitution,” the CJP reproached.

  • ‘Do you condemn Monday to Thursday?’: Twitter in fits over Israeli propaganda in Gaza hospital

    ‘Do you condemn Monday to Thursday?’: Twitter in fits over Israeli propaganda in Gaza hospital

    Yesterday, Israeli forces invaded Rantisi Children’s Hospital in Gaza and claimed to have found evidence of Hamas hiding in the basement by showing a chart paper with Arabic written on it. Israel’s propaganda team said the chart paper carried names of Hamas members. However , the internet was quick to point out, the paper was actually a calendar with days of the week written in Arabic. Even we’re chuckling at the tomfoolery.

    X (formerly Twitter) users were driven to fits over the spectacular debunking, with several coming up with hilarious memes.

    Seriously how much does Jungkook’s Seven terrify them?

    New Zionist fear unlocked: days of the week.

    The racism at display is astounding

  • Boy who killed six of a family in accident says he was going to have McDonald’s

    Boy who killed six of a family in accident says he was going to have McDonald’s

    Update: Lahore Traffic Police has decided to register an FIR in light of the incident that took place on Saturday night. This is done to discourage minors from driving because a registered FIR will have life-long consequences. Previously, young drivers were issued traffic violation ticket or a challan as a sign of reproach but the latest incident of the loss of six lives because of a minor has provoked them to take stern actions against this issue.

    Lahore Traffic Police has released a video of the teenage boy who killed six people of a family in a road accident on Saturday. The boy named Afnan Shafqat, a resident of Askari 11 and a student of A2, can be seen in the video -posted on X- answering the questions of the policeman about the details of the accident.

    The boy learned driving from his cousins and has been driving for less than a year in his own words.

    On the weekend night, the boy, along with a group of cousins was on his way to McDonalds in DHA, Phase 7. Afnan explains that while they were crossing the barrier, driving at the speed of 110 km/hour, a car emerged from the right, driving at the speed of 10-20 km/hour, his car collided with the incoming one. The boy states that because of the barriers on both sides, the “driver had no choice but to hit the car.” However, he later on added that his parents did ask him to take the driver along but he said no.

    The police claim that the purpose of the video is that “parents and kids learn from this mistake” while on the other hand, netizens are criticising the police for showing the face of the boy, as yet a minor, citing a breach of privacy. Journalist Faraz Saeed said, “The loss of life is great, indeed, but young people should not be made subject of public humiliation and exposed to possible attacks, by posting such videos. The defendant has the right to privacy.”

    Section 21 of PECA laws says that the use of electronic means that may result in reputational damage or breach of privacy shall be punishable with imprisonment of up to seven years which may extend up to five million rupees or both.

    Criminal Laws (Amendment) Act, 2023 also has moved a step ahead with section 30-C, which states that the trial of offences against minors shall be conducted in-camera. Moreover, section 31-A says that, whether or not a specific complaint has been made against the content, the NR3C, the FIA is in charge of gathering information before the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority blocks or removes it.

  • Lahore court orders closure of schools on Saturday, work-from-home twice a week

    Lahore court orders closure of schools on Saturday, work-from-home twice a week

    Justice Shahid Kareem of the Lahore High Court on Monday ordered the caretaker provincial government to close all educational institutions on Saturdays across the province. The judge also ordered that work-from-home-policy be enforced two days a week for offices. 

    The ruling was passed during a hearing of a petition pertaining to the measures taken by the Punjab government to control air pollution. “Commissioner Lahore has failed completely in controlling smog. He talks big but nothing happens on the ground. Just a notification is issued to shut everything,” he reprimanded the authorities of Lahore. 

    “Videos of crop residual burning being shared are very disappointing,” Justice Karim said, ordering the instant removal of deputy commissionaires in Sheikhupura, Jhang, Hafizabad, Khanewal, Nankana and Bahawalnagar, citing the deteriorating situation of smog in these districts. He ordered the Chief Secretary to immediately issue a notification to transfer the aforementioned officers. 

  • Rare fungal infection Histoplasmosis claims one life in Islamabad 

    Rare fungal infection Histoplasmosis claims one life in Islamabad 

    Head of the Infection and Disease department Dr Nasim Akhtar in the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) has cautioned that the rare and potentially fatal fungal infection Histoplasmosis may spread in Islamabad. Two cases have been reported in the capital city, with one patient dying of the fungal disease. The other is recovering slowly.

    It was previously believed that the fungus did not exist in Pakistan but the diagnosis has been confirmed after a detailed examination of the two patients. The deceased young man was admitted to the hospital six months ago, while medical staff managed to save the other patient by giving him anti-fungal medication. Professor Nasim stated that histoplasmosis, a fungal infection, thrives in soil with high levels of bird or bat droppings.

    No other case has been reported across the country but the presence of the fungus itself is worrisome, Dr.Nasim has said. Citing the lack of confirmed diagnosis, many patients remain untested, he added, stressing the need for the facility of Urinary Histoplasma Antigen Test to be made available in PIMS, Pakistan. 

    Histoplasmosis is a fungus commonly found in the soil. Although it may not afflict most people, those with compromised immune systems may suffer from fever, fatigue, and a cough, leading to severe complications like that of lung infection. 

  • British Home Secretary dismissed over remarks about pro-Palestine March

    British Home Secretary dismissed over remarks about pro-Palestine March

    British Home Secretary Suella Braverman has been asked to leave the job by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Monday morning. This is the second time Braverman has been removed from her post. She resigned from Liz Truss’s government after she broke the ministerial code. She got restored by Rishi Sunak a week later, as he took over the government. 

    Braverman ignited a public storm by criticising pro-Palestine marches as “hate marches”, triggering backlash for what critics are calling dog-whistles to Britain’s far-right for taking on the marches on Armistice Day. Last week, Ms. Baverman wrote a piece in a newspaper where she accused the police of “playing favorites”, criticising the Metropolitan Police’s handling of what she called a “pro-Pleastine mob”.

    Critics, from both opposition parties and fellow Tory MPs, called Ms. Braverman’s comments “offensive” and “inflammatory”.

    Her dismissal was met with an over joyous response on social media. 

    A user celebrated her dismissal with words like, “Long Live Palestine.”

    Another claimed it to be “good riddance Cruella”

    Someone appreciated the fact that “what a great way to start the week”.

    Former cabinet minister and member of the House of Lords, Saeeda Warsi posted “Hoping and praying this morning for the appointment of a sane set of Cabinet ministers – our country desperately needs some grown-ups back in charge.”

    A rather British response was centered around her demeaning the British police as her biggest mistake.

     

     Others see the decision as a big blow to Sunak’s PMship. 

  • Small business Amaltas Studio accuses Khaadi of plagiarism

    Small business Amaltas Studio accuses Khaadi of plagiarism

    A small business by the name of Amaltas Studio took to their Instagram account to accuse Pakistani fashion giant Khaadi of plagiarising their artwork. The page posted photos of the two mirrors side by side to point out the similarities, writing in the caption:

    “Appalled to share Khaadi Home’s shameless act of plagiarism our unique mirrors! We were informed by one of our clients that our whimsical mirrors, which we submitted for the Kreate Your Mark project, were imitated instead of appreciated. Shame on them for disregarding originality and betraying the spirit of supporting women entrepreneurs.”

    In the comments section, a user claimed the designs by Khaadi were inspired, rather than plagiarised, to which Amaltas Studio responded:

    “Hi, this is not inspired, this is blatantly plagiarism. These copied our product, technique and aesthetic.

    Please note that, we specialise in exclusively making these printed whimsical mirrors, whereas Khaadi is a giant corporation. Inviting small business to apply to their programs to support women entrepreneurs and stealing their ideas is not a good look. Thank you.”

    This is not the first time a fashion brand has been accused of plagiarism by a small business. Hussain Rehar was accused of copying designs of small business Kook Studio without giving them credit. Rehar responded in a lengthy statement, explaining the designs for his collection ‘Jugnu’ took inspiration from traditional African embroidery designs.

    “Jugnu, a project in the making for over a year, derives its inspirations from traditional African embroidery designs. While there may be similarities in using the same monochrome palette, these elements are commonly found in various art forms across cultures. In an effort to maintain transparency, we are sharing all relevant images and references.”

    READ MORE: ‘Did not draw inspiration from anyone’s work’: Hussain Rehar responds to plagiarism accusations

    We have reached out to Khaadi for a statement and will update the story with their response.

  • Underage driver kills six of a family in Lahore

    Underage driver kills six of a family in Lahore

    Six members of a family in Lahore were killed when an underage driver crashed into their vehicle late on Saturday night. The accident took place in DHA Phase 7 when a family driving back to their residence in Shadab Colony on Ferozpur Road, was rammed into another vehicle being driven by a teenage boy, Afnan Shafqat.

    The victims were quickly moved to the Lahore General Hospital in severely injured condition but they could not survive. They were identified as Rukhsana, 52; Anabia, 3; Huzaifa, four months; Muhammad Hasnain, 28; Sajjad, 26; Ayesha, 22, as reported by The Nation.

    A case has been registered against the driver. According to witnesses, he was driving rashly and his speeding car hit the victims’ car from the left side. The collision was so bad that it overturned the latter’s car altogether, resulting in their death.

    Caretaker Punjab Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi offered condolences over the incident and sought a report from senior police officers.

  • 27-feet-long Bryde’s whale found dead on seashore in Balochistan

    27-feet-long Bryde’s whale found dead on seashore in Balochistan

    A 27-feet-long whale has washed up on a remote seashore in Balochistan. The animal was identified as Bryde’s whale, a rare species present mostly in tropical waters. The carcass was found in the Pasni region, specifically in Sarbandan.

    There are signs of entrapment on its body, leading to speculation that the whale either got trapped in a fishing net or a fisherman tried to ensnare it, Deputy Director of Environment Department Abdul Raheem Baloch has said.

    Sightings of Bryde’s whale and their entrapment have become frequent in recent times. Detailed records from 2022 indicate that four such whales were entangled along the coast of Pakistan during that year, as reported by the Tribune.

    Technical advisor at WWF, Moazzam Khan, expressed concerns over the rise in the incidents and the threat the species is facing in the Arabian Sea. Solid measures need to be taken to minimise the factors contributing to the vulnerability of Bryde’s whale as well as for its conversation.

  • Have a SIM and don’t use it? PTA will charge Rs. 200 on disowned sims

    Have a SIM and don’t use it? PTA will charge Rs. 200 on disowned sims

    In an effort to ensure the responsible usage of mobile SIMs, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has announced that citizens looking to disown their SIM cards will be charged Rs. 200 apiece from next year.

    The new charge will be applicable from January 1 across the country, including Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan. It will be levied on all SIM cards under a customer’s use for less than six months. The service to return or disown the unused SIM cards is available till December 31.

    In a statement, PTA said, “With this decision, the PTA stays committed to national safety and security while ensuring uninterrupted quality services to all telecom consumers”.

    The step has been taken in light of an initiative that started in 2016, addressing the concerns of rampant distribution of free SIM cards by mobile operators and their potential misuse.

    A survey from PTA highlights that some users knowingly or unknowingly hand over their SIMs to unauthorized people, for monetary benefits. These SIMs, once abandoned by the user, lead to disconnection. Such users then frequently acquire new SIMs from different operators, hence the cycle continues.

    Mobile users can verify the status of SIMs registered under their Comput­erised National Identity Card (CNIC) by going to the web address “cnic.sims.pk” or by SMSing their CNIC number to 668.

    A one-time wai­ver will apply in cases where illegal SIMs are iss­ued without the knowledge or consent of consumers.

    PTA believes fraudsters exploit the practice of free SIM disowning, as they conveniently get new ones after disowning the old ones.

    However, PTA also stressed that mobile firms should develop a mechanism to address the concerns of consumers with illegally issued SIMs registered under their CNICs, as these customers should not bear the cost of disowning such SIMs.