Category: Uncategorized

  • Flood relief: Malala fund commits emergency grants to local organisations

    Flood relief: Malala fund commits emergency grants to local organisations

    Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai recently visited flood-affected areas of Pakistan. In an Instagram post Malala said that Malala fund has committed emergency grants to local organisations in Pakistan to support flood relief.

    “This week, I returned to Pakistan to visit communities and hear from young women and educators impacted by this summer’s devastating floods that destroyed an estimated 24,000 schools. Half of those were in Sindh,” she wrote in the instagram post.

    “The destruction is astounding. Some villages are still sunk under water. People are waiting for their homes, schools, hospitals and shops to be repaired and reconstructed. And the psychosocial and economic impact, especially women and girls, cannot be overstated. Governments — federal and provisional — need to accelerate response and ensure people get the resources they need to survive, and to return to their lives and education. @malalafund has committed emergency grants to local organisations in Pakistan to support flood relief.”

    “Sohaila, 16, was in grade 10. “I want to go to school, but there is so much water. If there was less water, I’d even go through it. Now we are hearing that the flood waters will stay for five months,” she said. She wants to be a doctor but worries she may never go back to school. I hope leaders will listen to Sohaila and every girl like her.”

    “And I hope the international community and country leaders can continue to provide emergency aid and ensure girls can safely return to school soon.”

    As many as 33 million people of the 220 million South Asian nation have been affected in some way by the floods that swept away houses, roads, railways and bridges and submerged around 4 million acres of farmland.

  • ‘Shameful,’ Imran slams Azam Swati’s torture

    ‘Shameful,’ Imran slams Azam Swati’s torture

    Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan, reacting to party Senator Azam Swati’s arrest has said, “The custodial torture of Azam Swati over a tweet regarding NRO-2 is another shameful incident in our history.”

    “Can people be forced to respect an individual or institution through bullying and violence,” he asked in his tweet.

    “All those who not only escaped from accountability but allowed biggest criminals to come to power once again after defrauding the national treasury of billions, disgrace has been written in their destiny,” he declared.

    PTI Senator Azam Swati was arrested in the early hours of Thursday morning for tweeting against Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa.

    Speaking to reporters outside a sessions court later in the day, Swati said that he was arrested for “taking one name — of Bajwa — and that is the violation”.

    Swati tweeted, “Mr Bajwa congratulations to you and few with you. Your plan is really working and all criminals are getting free at cost of this country. With these thugs getting free, you have legitimised corruption. How you predict now the future of this country (sic).”

  • Rupee resumes downward trend against US dollar

    Rupee resumes downward trend against US dollar

    Pakistani rupee suffered a marginal loss of Rs0.50 against the US dollar in the interbank market, extending its losses for a second straight session.

    State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) reports that the local currency lost Rs0.50 against the dollar in the interbank market and ended the day at Rs218.38.

    The Forex Association of Pakistan (FAP) said that banks were trading US dollars for Rs218.78 at the time. The exchange rate for the dollar in the open market was between Rs220 and Rs222.

    This is the second time, the rupee has registered a loss in its value after Federal Finance Minister Ishaq Dar’s return to office. The local currency appreciated by almost Rs22, or 10.1 per cent, against the greenback in the last 13 sessions.

    Earlier, Federal Minister For Finance and Revenue Ishaq Dar vowed to bring back Pakistani rupee at its original value which is less than 200 against US dollar. “I can genuinely prove that dollar’s actual value is below Rs200,” he added.

  • Hira Mani reacts to her viral meme with Naseem Shah

    Hira Mani reacts to her viral meme with Naseem Shah

    Actor Hira Mani recently garnered praise for doing fundraising events in America for the flood victims of Pakistan. However there is more that keeps her trending, including several memes by her fans and admirers.

    A netizen recently made a meme of Hira which also featured the acclaimed cricketer Naseem Shah. The meme read, “Naseem Shah please instead of this ball, throw me nearby Hira Mani.”

    The Sun Yaara diva was quick to respond to the meme on her Instagram story, “Wow wow, you guys should keep being creative like this.”

    Naseem is not new to the world of memes, earlier this year, netizens flooded social media after his morphed clip with Bollywood actor Urvashi Rautela surfaced on the web.

    Internet on fire after Urvashi posted edited video with Naseem
  • 21,900 women raped in Pakistan in four years

    21,900 women raped in Pakistan in four years

    Almost 21,900 women were reported to have been raped in Pakistan from 2017 to 2021, Zahid Gishkori has reported for Samaa. The data has been complied by SAMAA TV Investigation Unit (SIU) from the Punjab home department and Ministry of Human Rights (MoHRs).

    This meant that approximately 12 women were raped every day, or one every two hours, throughout the country.

    As many as 305 rape cases were reported nationwide in 2022, in media, while 57 cases were reported in May, June (91), July (86) and August (71).

    According to media reports, approximately 350 rape instances were recorded in Punjab, between May 2022 and August 2022, however there was no information available for the first four months of the year.

    The Current records the tally of rape cases that are reported in news outlets on a daily basis to highlight the alarming situation. We have used many different sources as listed. When will it stop?

  • Woman gets share in inheritance 46-year-long legal battle

    After 46 years of legal battle, the Supreme Court on Tuesday recognised a woman’s lawful inheritance, giving her a share of her father’s property.

    According to details, the Supreme Court of Pakistan (SCP) quashed the appeal of the woman’s brothers against the earlier decision of the Peshawar High Court (PHC).

    In 1976, the brothers had taken possession of the inheritance portion that belonged to their sister. In 2005, she filed a civil lawsuit against her brothers, and in 2012 she filed a session court lawsuit. She visited PHC in 2017 and was given a favourable ruling.

    A petition contesting the decision in Zaitoon Bibi’s favour by the high court was considered by a bench presided over by Justice Ijazul Ahsan.

    Judge Ijaz-ul-Ahsan questioned how a young girl could give away her property. Justice Ijaz noted that the arrangement was opaque because the woman was a minor when she supposedly gifted the property, rejecting the brothers’ appeal and awarding the woman her rightful part of the inherited property.

  • ‘Aap mehengayi kam karain, meri tabiat behtar hojayegi’: Chaudhry Shujaat to PM Shehbaz

    ‘Aap mehengayi kam karain, meri tabiat behtar hojayegi’: Chaudhry Shujaat to PM Shehbaz

    Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain met Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday. According to reports, Shujaat advised Shehbaz to follow the constitution while appointing the next army chief and not listen to anyone on this matter.

    About the appointment of General Qamar Javed Bajwa’s successor, the PML-Q chief reportedly advised the premier to follow the book, remarking that “This is a sensitive matter and a national responsibility.”

    According to the details of the meeting, PM Shehbaz Sharif inquired about Shujaat’s health to which he responded smilingly by saying, “Aap mehengai kam karain, meri tabiat behtar hojayegi [You bring down inflation and my health will improve automatically].”

    Shujaat said that they are standing with the government but it should provide relief to the masses.

  • Pakistani rupee finally snaps 13-day winning streak versus US dollar

    Pakistani rupee finally snaps 13-day winning streak versus US dollar

    The Pakistani rupee (PKR) on Wednesday finally stopped rising against the US dollar after 13 sessions as it dropped by 0.04 per cent in the inter-bank market.

    It dropped nine paisas in today’s interbank market to settle at Rs217.88, depreciating by 0.04 per cent against the USD. During today’s open market session, the local currency was quoted at a day low of Rs217.65 against the US dollar.

    The recent increase in the value of the rupee is linked to a change in sentiment and the central bank’s operations against participants in currency speculation.

    On Wednesday, as traders prepared for US inflation data and its implications for future Federal Reserve rate hikes, the dollar reached new 24-year highs internationally.

    After the International Monetary Fund (IMF) predicted that Pakistan’s inflation rate will be 19.9 per cent in 2023 as opposed to 12.1 per cent in 2022, the rupee halted its 13-day winning run.

    The lender predicted Pakistan’s GDP growth rate would be 3.5 per cent in 2023 compared to 6 per cent in 2022, however this does not take the current floods into account.

    Wednesday also saw a global decline in oil prices for the third day in a straight as investors feared the impact of increasing COVID-19 regulations in China and mounting global economic threats on fuel demand.

  • ‘I can give in writing in blood’: Janhvi Kapoor hits out at trolls over nepotism controversy

    Bollywood actor Janhvi Kapoor, the eldest daughter of Sridevi and Boney Kapoor, debuted in 2018 with Karan Johar’s Dhadak.

    Being a star kid many felt she has several privileges. However, in a recent chat, the actress has opened up about the ‘biggest misconception’ people have about her.

    During a recent interaction with GoodTimes, Kapoor reacted to people thinking she takes her position for granted. The Gunjan Saxena diva said, “People think I take my position for granted. That’s the biggest misconception they have about me. They think because I’m privileged that it makes me unaware of what it’s like to work hard.”

    She continued, “I may not be the most talented, or the most beautiful; I may not have many skills to offer; but I can promise you that I am the hardest working person on the set. And this is something I can give in writing in blood, so you don’t doubt my work ethic ever again.”

    Speaking about the films she chooses to be part of, Janhvi stated, “I can’t do the same thing over and over again because I get bored easily. I hate repeating things and have to set up challenges for myself because that’s when I know I’m growing. Otherwise, I feel like a waste of time.”

    On the work front, Janhvi will star opposite Tiger Shroff and Akshay Kumar in Ali Abbas Zafar’s Bade Miyan Chote Miyan.

  • IMF lowers growth prediction for FY23, cautions ‘the worst is yet to come’

    IMF lowers growth prediction for FY23, cautions ‘the worst is yet to come’

    The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Tuesday warned that the worst was yet to come as it further cut its projection for global economic growth to minus 2 per cent amid persistently increasing inflation.

    According to Dawn, the global lender of last resort projected Pakistan’s GDP growth rate at 3.5 per cent and inflation at about 20 per cent in its World Economic Outlook (WEO) 2023 – Countering the Cost-of-Living Crisis with the caveat that “the 2022 projections for Pakistan are based on information available as of the end of August and do not include the impact of the recent floods.”

    The fund forecasted Pakistan’s current account deficit at 2.5 per cent of GDP for the current fiscal year, down from 4.6 per cent last year, and the unemployment rate at 6.4 per cent on the same basis. Therefore, all of these projections are based on dated information that has drastically changed over the past two weeks.

    The Asian Development Bank estimated Pakistan’s growth rate to be 3.5 per cent late last month, compared to the World Bank’s projection of 2 per cent last week.

    According to the IMF, its projections call for global growth to decline from 6 per cent in 2021 to 3.2 per cent in 2022 and then further to 2.7 per cent in 2023, which is 0.2 per cent below the July forecast, with a 25 per cent chance that it will dip below 2 per cent.

    The three greatest economies—the United States, the European Union, and China—will continue to stagnate, while more than one-third of the world economy will contract this year or the following year. It said that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was still seriously destabilising the world economy and that “in short, the worst is yet to come.”

    The fund urged international decision-makers to maintain their composure while storm clouds formed. It blamed the lasting consequences of three strong forces—the Russian invasion of Ukraine, a cost-of-living crisis brought on by persistent and expanding inflation pressures, and the downturn in China—for the severe economic challenges the world economy is currently facing.

    According to the WEO, worldwide inflation would increase from 4.7 per cent in 2021 to 8.8 per cent in 2022 before falling to 6.5 per cent in 2023 and 4.1 per cent by 2024. With more variation in emerging markets and developing nations, upside inflation shocks have been most common in advanced economies.

    The fund recommended emerging market officials to batten down the hatches right away. IMF access to preventative instruments should be urgently considered by eligible nations with strong policies who want to increase their liquidity reserves.

    As too many low-income countries were in or on the verge of debt distress, the countries should also try to reduce the effects of upcoming financial instability by a combination of preventative macroprudential and capital flow measures, where appropriate.

    The IMF stated that in order to prevent a wave of sovereign debt crises, the Group of Twenty’s Common Framework’s progress toward orderly debt restructurings for the most impacted was urgently required. Time could be rapidly running out.