Category: Uncategorized

  • Pak Suzuki announces second plant closure in less than 10 days due to parts shortage

    Pak Suzuki announces second plant closure in less than 10 days due to parts shortage

    Due to a persistent lack of imported components and accessories, Pak Suzuki Motor Company Ltd (PSMCL) has prolonged the factory shutdown from January 9 to 13 after keeping manufacturing operations paused from January 2 to 6.

    However, the business stated in a stock filing on Friday that the motorbike facility will continue to be in operation.

    The State Bank of Pakistan’s restrictions on obtaining prior approval for imports, including completely knocked-down (CKD) kits, have prevented PSMCL from opening its production facilities for 30 days since August 2022. This has negatively impacted the clearance of shipments from the port and resulted in shortages of parts and accessories.

    On the fate of employees because of persistent plant closure and plummeting sales of vehicles, a PSMCL official claimed that “so far no company’s employees have been terminated.”

    In 5MFY23, Pak Suzuki’s sales decreased by 35 per cent to 37,042 units from 57,200 in the same time the previous fiscal year.

    On Friday, the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) and the Pakistan Association of Automotive Parts and Accessories Manufacturers (PAAPAM) both voiced their concerns regarding Millat Tractors’ decision to cease operations for an indefinite period of time due to declining sales and delayed sales tax refunds.

    In a joint statement, PAAPAM Senior Vice Chairman Usman Aslam Malik and LCCI President Kashif Anwar observed that “we should save Pakistan first, then politics, before we reach the point of no return.”

    Both leaders urged the administration and the opposition parties to get together and talk about how to resolve the nation’s crisis.

    They pointed out localization as the long-term answer to economic issues. The removal of imports must be given first priority, followed by the removal of export.

  • UN condemns attack on police van guarding polio workers in DI Khan

    UN condemns attack on police van guarding polio workers in DI Khan

    The United Nations has condemned the attack on a police van guarding polio workers in Dera Ismail Khan in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.
    “It’s not the first time that we’ve seen attacks on health workers; It’s not the first time we’ve seen attacks on people trying to do polio vaccination in Pakistan and other places in the world,” UN Secretary-General’s spokesman, Stephane Dujarric said.

    He added, “Sometimes we’re faced with a situation where you really run out of words, but it is despicable to target and attack people who are going out in communities in extremely challenging circumstances, trying to protect the lives of infants and babies from a preventable disease that is almost wiped out; except for a handful of countries, and that all too often is due to a security situation where people actively work against health workers.”

    Terrorists opened fire on five police officers on Thursday who were guarding polio workers in Dera Ismail Khan, injuring all of them.
    As per the details, the incident happened on Thursday afternoon. The policemen were shifted to a local hospital for treatment.

  • Revealed: What did censor board remove from SRK’s ‘Pathaan’?

    Revealed: What did censor board remove from SRK’s ‘Pathaan’?

    Bollywood film Pathaan starring Deepika Padukone, Shah Rukh Khan, and John Abraham, is nearing its release, and before that, it has already gotten itself in a pool of trouble now the last jibe has been taken by the Censor Board as they have asked for more than ten cuts in the film. The film has been directed by Siddharth Anand and is helmed under the banner of Yash Raj Productions. But with time, instead of the problems getting resolved, things are becoming harder for the makers.

    When the first song of the film, Besharam Rang, came out things started to go down south, people protested against the film, especially Deepika’s outfit from that song. And now, when the film is all set to release, there have been reports of several changes had been suggested by the board.

    According to a report in ETimes, the Censor Board has asked for more than ten cuts in Pathaan, including the song Besharam Rang. The makers have been asked to make changes in dialogues and shots. As per reports, some of the changes are the word ‘RAW’ has been replaced with ‘Hamare’, ‘Langde Lulle’ by ‘Toote Foote’, then ‘PM’ has been replaced by ‘President or Minister’, and not just that the term ‘PMO’ was replaced in 13 places.

    As the report stated, the ‘Ashok Chakra’ got replaced by ‘Veer Purashkar’, ‘ex-KGB’ with ‘ex-SBU’, ‘Mrs Bharatmata’ by ‘Hamari Bharatmata’, and ‘Scotch’ by ‘drink’. Then there was a text, ‘Black Prison, Russia’, which got replaced by ‘Black Prison’ only, and not to forget the song, several shots have been asked to remove from it as well. As per the report, the closeup shots of b*tts, ‘side pose’ [partial nudity] and the visuals of the steamy dance movements were also replaced with ‘suitable shots’ [during the lyrics ‘Bahut Tang Kiya’ in the song Besharam Rang]. Although, there has been no mention of Deepika Padukone’s ‘saffron bikini’ getting censored from the song.

    Shah Rukh Khan's 'Pathaan' set to revive Indian box office; advance  bookings to commence from Sankranti | Hindi Movie News - Times of India

    The song Besharam Rang (roughly translates to shameless colour) from the upcoming Shah Rukh Khan movie ‘Pathaan’ has garnered controversy since its release. Now India’s Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has advised the makers of the film to implement changes to the song.
    Since the song’s release, costumes worn in the music video have been the subject of criticism, with certain Hindu clerics stating that the lyrics are an insult to their religion.

    Pathan' row: 'Watch this film with your daughter', says MP Speaker to SRK

    Narottam Mishra, a minister from the state of Madhya Pradesh, held a press conference on December 14 about the costumes in the music video, calling them insulting to Hindu practices, and warned the makers of the movie that ‘Pathaan’ would be banned in the state on its release.
    ‘Pathaan’ was submitted by Yash Raj Film to the CBFC for certification prior to being shown in cinemas. On Thursday, the chairman Prasoon Joshi released a statement requesting the makers to implement changes in the song ‘Besharam Rang’ to prevent controversy. The full statement read:

  • Bilal Abbas Khan opens up about falling in love

    Bilal Abbas Khan opens up about falling in love

    Actor Bilal Abbas candidly opened up with Fuchsia Magazine about his experience of falling in love. He said, “So far I am not seeing anyone but I do believe in love, I do believe in marriage but I think if something has to happen it eventually happens, I don’t know why I am fumbling, I am getting confused while talking about love but it will happen when it is meant to be. Also, I will deal with such a situation despite my confusion.

    The Dobara star elaborated on the concept of a soul mate, Bilal said, “I do believe in a soul mate, for me, love is about honesty, respect, loyalty, companionship, and mutual admiration with each other, if you claim that you love someone then these essentials are important, if there is nothing like that then you are just talking with each other and not in love, currently, I am not seeing anyone.

    Last year the Dunk star got candid about his co-stars Sajal Aly, Yumna Zaidi, Sarah Khan, and Hadiqa Kiani.

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    AJ Vector  on Twitter:
    Bilal Abbas FC в Twitter:
  • ‘Divorce is the last resort’: Mansha Pasha opens up about her first marriage

    ‘Divorce is the last resort’: Mansha Pasha opens up about her first marriage

    Actor Mansha Pasha recently spoke about her first marriage in an interview. Pasha stated on Momina’s Mixed Plate, “Yes I was married before but I don’t speak much about it, yes, he was from industry, probably more behind the camera. I mean, I think a lot of people have the feeling that if their marriage doesn’t work they still think that it is the only thing in life, it’s not like that, marriage is the union of two people who are in it, it can’t be defined, it’s different, it’s not same I can’t do comparisons. The two people in a relationship are different and they can’t be compared.”

    Mansha Pasha opens up about her first marriage
    Mansha Pasha Discusses About Her First Marriage & Divorce

    “Definitely divorce is a last resort, sometimes people go into marriage without any idea, sometimes they just get into a relationship without any thought process, no one marries to take a divorce. I got married quite young, in our society people married at a young age, so my personality wasn’t developed and I’m taking up a relationship, in most marriages, you are not mature enough to handle things, if you two are different, then you should take a chance to move on, also I believe that you are not marrying a person but you are marrying a family, it’s a desi statement but I agree to it,” she concluded.

    The Zindagi Gulzar Hai star is currently married to activist Jibran Nasir.

    Change your name after marriage is not required in Islam: Mansha Pasha –  The Odd Onee
  • Sajal Aly, Mehwish Hayat and Kubra Khan address malicious allegations

    Sajal Aly, Mehwish Hayat and Kubra Khan address malicious allegations

    Actor Kubra Khan has announced she would take legal action against fugitive military officer Major (retd) Adil Raja for allegedly leveling false allegations against her.

    In a statement issued on Monday, she said she would take legal action against him if he fails to retract his allegations and does not apologize to her within three days.

    Kubra Khan asked Adil Raja to come up with proof to corroborate his claims or be prepared to face legal action.

    Adil Raja claimed that some Pakistani actresses and models were working in cahoots with General (retd) Bajwa and former ISI honcho Faiz Hameed to trap politicians.

    Although he shared the initials of the actresses instead of full names, it became obvious to netizens who he was referring to.

    Soon after his vlog surfaced online, a large number of social media users were seen spreading a collage of pictures featuring Mehwish Hayat, Mahira Khan, Kubra Khan, and Sajal Aly.

    Shortly after Kubra’s strong response, Raja replied on Twitter by saying that he never took her name. He elaborated on his stance in a vlog. Adil in fact alleged Kubra of defaming him in her post.

    Adil Raja’s Apology

    Major Adil took to his Twitter handle to apologise to Kubra Khan.

    He also stated that he never intended to target any woman, when he posted his controversial video.

    https://twitter.com/soldierspeaks/status/1611292792445358081

    Raja also stated that he apologised because his younger sister asked him to.

    Amidst the ongoing controversy, Sajal Aly tweeted a cryptic message, “It is very sad that our country is becoming morally debased and ugly; character assassination is the worst form of humanity and sin.”

    After Kubra and Sajal, Mehwish Hayat also lashed out at the person responsible for spreading false news about her. Hayat wrote, “Some people stoop down to an inhumane level to get cheap publicity. Hope you’re enjoying your two mins of fame. Just because I am an actress doesn’t mean my name can be dragged through the mud. Shame on you for spreading baseless allegations and insinuations about someone you know nothing about & even bigger shame on people who believe this bullshit. This just shows the sickness of our society that laps up this gutter journalism without any thought. But this stops & it stops now!I won’t allow anyone to defame my name.”

    A few notable celebrities extended support to these leading ladies on social media. Actors Muneeeb Butt and Zara Noor Abbas took to their Instagram stories to condemn the defamation of female stars.

    Muneeb wrote, “Same 90s filthy and graceless politics is back, throwing fake nudes to accusing someone falsely, we haven’t learned anything! I strongly protest and condemn the allegations made by @soldierspeaks. We actors are not vulnerable. We stand firm with our female colleagues.”

    Zara also condemned the misuse of freedom of speech.

    Sister duo Aiman and Minal Khan also shared their stance on the matter in heartfelt Instagram stories.

    Mansha Pasha took to Twitter to condemn the rise of hateful content targeted toward powerful women who are succeeding in their game.

    “Women even at the top of their game; independent, outspoken, and fearless are considered easy prey by small men. It is literally the last refuge of the desperate and is the most cowardly thing one can do.”

    Actor Syeda Tuba Anwar condemned how models and actresses become easy targets for petty politics, and sent her support to Sajal Aly.

    Instagram blogger and wife of actor Usman Mukhtar, Zunaira Inam expressed her rage on social media on how easy it was to character assasinate women without any proper proof.

    ‘So anyone can record a video putting all sorts of allegations on another person and people will hop on the bandwagon? It shouldn’t be this easy to character-assassinate women without any proof. Especially to distract from the dismal security and economic condition of the country.’

    In her next tweet, she called out the blogger for allowing powerful women to be slut shamed based on their own assumptions.

    ‘It’s not “just initials”. You’re allowing ppl to shame women based off nothing but their own assumptions. What did that allegation prove anyway? That generals are corrupt? Have low morals? Is anyone talking about that? Most people are too busy slutshaming.’

  • ‘Imran se mil ke dosti ka ailaan kareinge’: Gen Faiz convinced Modi to visit Pakistan in 2021, claims Javed Chaudhry

    Journalist Javed Chaudhry continues with bringing inside details of the working of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) led government in his column. In the fourth part of the series published today, Chaudhry alleges that in 2020 the establishment had convinced Indian Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi to visit Pakistan, and former Bahawalpur corps commander Lt Gen (retd) Faiz Hameed played a significant role in arranging the proposed trip.

    The journalist writes that in this regard Lt Gen (retd) Faiz Hameed, who was then the head of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) met Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and both agreed upon Modi visiting Pakistan on April 9, 2021.

    All the details of the trip had been planned out. Modi would have first visited the Hinglaj Mata Mandir in Balochistan and on his way back home he would have met Imran Khan who was Prime Minister. Chaudhry said that it was planned that “Modi would shake hands with Khan and declare peace between the two countries and opening of trade”.

    Continuing with the sensational claims, the journalist writes that both leaders would announce that there will be no interference or terrorist activities from both countries. At the time, Modi was of the view that both countries would sit together after 20 years to decide about the future of India-occupied Kashmir.

    However, this tour was cancelled because Khan—on the advice of his foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi—backed out. Chaudhry writes that Qureshi scared Khan by telling him it would give a perception to the masses that he [Khan] has compromised on Kashmir.

    Lt Gen (retd) Faiz Hameed helped Khan in confidence motion

    According to the journalist, the establishment helped Khan throughout the confidence motion that Imran voluntarily announced he will take, right after Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) candidate Yousaf Raza Gillani defeated PTI’s Hafeez Sheikh in the senate elections. Lt Gen (retd) Faiz Hameed ensured full numbers for PTI so Khan could win the motion. Calls and visits were made to ensure that disgruntled MNAs voted in favour of Khan.

    Moreover, the journalist writes that as per his sources, Khan advised showing leniency towards former President and co-chairman of PPP, Asif Ali Zardari, from National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and the court.

    LNG deal was ruined by Khan

    In the column, another detailed passage says that former army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa admits that former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz signed the best LNG deal with Qatar to ensure supplies for Pakistan during winters but it was ruined by Imran Khan.

    Chaudhry said that then-Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Petroleum, Nadeem Babar, asked for just three gas shipments from Qatar despite a one-time generous offer to take ‘as much as required’ amidst a looming gas crisis at home, so he could sell his own furnace oil.

    In another episode, Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) caught a ship loaded with cheaply bought Iranian petrol. It was for none other than Babar. According to him, Khan was informed about it but chose to stay quiet.

    Also, prior to Nadeem’s appointment, Khan was warned by the establishment but he didnt listen.

    Babar isn’t in the country anymore but Pakistan is still paying the price of his decisions to serve his own interests, all because Imran wanted to retain him as his aide, writes Chaudhry in his column.

  • ‘Kya baat hai Lahore ki thand ki’: Junaid Safdar returns to Pakistan, talks about future plans

    ‘Kya baat hai Lahore ki thand ki’: Junaid Safdar returns to Pakistan, talks about future plans

    Junaid Safdar, the son of Senior Vice President of Pakistan Muslim League- Nawaz (PML-N) Maryam Nawaz, has reached Lahore on Thursday night.

    It was reported earlier this week that Junaid was shifting permanently to Pakistan to assist his mother in her party’s political activities.

    Taking to Instagram, Junaid wrote, “I am not interested in Pakistani politics, for now. I have only moved to Pakistan to fulfil the responsibilities owed to my mother and family. I will be assisting my mother in her work and family matters but I will not be taking part in politics,” he added.

    “Side note: Kya baat hai Lahore ki thand ki [Nothing can come close to Lahore winters]. Have really missed this!” added Junaid.

    On January 2, Maryam Nawaz was appointed the Senior Vice President of PML-N. She will also take on the responsibility of reorganising the party.

    According to news reports, PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz on Wednesday left London for a week-long trip to Geneva.

  • ‘I told them about the Nazi uniform to William and Kate and they had a laugh’; here are some revelations from Prince Harry’s memoir ‘Spare’

    ‘I told them about the Nazi uniform to William and Kate and they had a laugh’; here are some revelations from Prince Harry’s memoir ‘Spare’

    Since the bombshell revelation that Prince William had sworn at and physically attacked Prince Harry, anticipation regarding the release of the former Princer’s memoir ‘Spare’ has gone sky high with many media outlets now carrying other excerpts from the book. Here are some of the more juicy bits from the memoir.

    1. Prince William and Kate Middleton were huge fans of the show ‘Suits’ before they had met Meghan Markle

    Prior to her marriage to the former Duke of Sussex, Meghan Markle starred as paralegal Rachel in the popular drama ‘Suits’ which centered around a powerful law firm in Manhattan. Prince Harry writes that around the time he had told his brother and sister-in-law about his relationship, Meghan had already retired from acting.

    He writes that when he announced he was dating Meghan, the two starred at him in complete shock.

    “Willy turned to me and said ‘F—k off?’” Harry said.

    I was baffled, until Willy and Kate explained that they were regular — nay, religious — viewers of ‘Suits,’” he continued.

    Harry recalled being amused by his brother and sister’s excited responses, as they kept badgering him for details but he only gave them a limited description of their relationship. He further confessed that his brother’s lukewarm warning hurt him, even though he was excited to introduce Meghan to the family.

    “I confessed, for the umpteenth time, that this had long been my dream — to join them with an equal partner. Well, now I felt that it was going to happen and I told him so — but he still said to slow down. ‘She’s an American actress after all, Harold. Anything might happen.’ I nodded, a bit hurt.”

    2. It was Prince William and Princess Kate who had told him to wear the Nazi costume in 2005.

    One of the anecdotes in the book includes Prince Harry’s controversial choice dress up in a Nazi uniform to a Halloween party where the theme was “Native and Colonial”. Prince William was going dressed as a lion. Harry writes that when he had phoned both of his brother and Kate and told them he was going to wear a Nazi uniform, they laughed about it.

    “I phoned Willy and Kate, asked what they thought. Nazi uniform, they said. They both howled. Worse than Willy’s leotard outfit! Way more ridiculous! Which, again, was the point.”

    The former Duke had expressed remorse over his actions in the Netflix documentary ‘Harry and Meghan” and had said he ‘felt so ashamed afterwards.” However, this revelation has brought criticism for the disgruntled Duke of Sussex, with many commenting on how he’s refusing to take responsibility for his scandalous choice of costume.

    3. Prince Williams hair loss was alarming and his resemblance to their mother, the late Princess Diana, had completely faded.

    In a section discussing meeting his family at Prince Phillip’s funeral, Prince Harry recalls realizing that his elder brother’s ressemblance to their mother had completely faded with time. As he writes
    “I looked at Willy, really looked at him, perhaps for the first time since we were little,” Harry recalls, referring to his brother’s “familiar scowl” that “had always been the norm” during their interactions.

    In another section of the book, he wrote how alarmed he was by the way his brother William’s hair was fading, even though the Duke of Wales was only three years older than him.

    4. Both Prince Harry and Prince Williams had begged their father, Prince Charles, not to marry ‘wicked step mother Camila’.

    Writing about his father’s marriage to longtime lover Camila Parker-Bowles, with whom he was involved in an affair while married to Princess Diana, Harry writes that he and his brother had begged their father not to proceed with the wedding.

    “Despite Willy and me urging him not to, Pa was going ahead. We pumped his hand, wished him well. No hard feelings.
    We recognized that he was finally going to be with the woman he loved, the woman he’d always loved.”

    He also writes about his relationship with his stepmother, saying that he was always suspicous about her becoming another wicked stepmother

    “I remember wondering … if she would be cruel to me; if she would be like all the evil stepmothers in the stories. Willy had been suspicious of the Other Woman for a long time, which confused and tormented him. When those suspicions were confirmed, he felt agonizing remorse for not having done or said anything before.”

    5. What had actually happened regarding the infamous ‘Meghan had made Kate cry’ revelation

    Prince Harry opened up about Meghan’s revelation that it was Kate who had made her cry at the Sussex’s bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey, after it was widely reported that it was Markle who had made Kate cry during the preparations for the wedding.

    He wrote in the biography that during the preparation of the wedding, the now Princess of Wales had texted Markle about needing altercations to the younger Princess Charlotte’s dress, saying it was too big, too long and baggy because of which the young one began crying. She had also added that all of the younger bridesmaid’s dresses had to be remade, with only four days left for the wedding.

    When the Duchess of Sussex had agreed to visit the tailor along with Kate and her daughter Charlotte, Harry writes that he later found Meghan in tears on the floor after their meeting. The next day, Kate had sent flowers with a card apologizing for what she had said.

    ‘Spare’ will be released in bookstores worldwide from 10th January onwards.

  • Netflix drops teaser for second season of ‘Wednesday’

    Netflix drops teaser for second season of ‘Wednesday’

    Netflix dropped a teaser on their social media pages for the second season of its surprise November smash hit Wednesday. It features the titular teenager typing on a typewriter in her room. The girl is seen writing ‘THE END?” and then smirks to herself at the end of the video.

    Wednesday’s season two has been the subject of much speculation recently with some news sources claiming that the show was moving to Amazon for its second season. The specualtion was fulled by Netflix not imemdiately announcing that the show was being renewed for a second season.

    The Addams Family spin-off was created by Alfred Gough and Miles Miller, and directed by Tim Burton.

    It stars Jenna Ortega, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Luis Guzman, Gwendoline Christine, and Christina Ricci, who starred as Wednesday in the 90’s movie.