Category: Uncategorized

  • Will Bilawal Bhutto become the next foreign minister?

    Will Bilawal Bhutto become the next foreign minister?

    Amidst all the political crisis in the country, all eyes are on the National Assembly (NA) where the fate of Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan is going to be decided today. As everyone anticipates a decision today, people are speculating who will get the top positions in the new government.

    The positions which holds the most importance is that of prime minister and president, which is reportedly going to PMLN’s Shehbaz Sharif and JUIF’s Maulana Fazalur Rehman respectively, the question of who will be the foreign minister under the new government is also important.

    According to rumours, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari is likely to be appointed as the Minister of Foreign Affairs. However, the PPP leader while giving an interview to Independent Urdu said that the decision regarding the ministership will be taken by his party.

    Bilawal said that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has made the foreign ministry and National Security Committee (NSC) controversial.

    The present Foreign Minister of Pakistan is Shah Mahmood Qureshi.

  • Fruit and Vegetable prices getting out of control in Quetta

    Fruit and Vegetable prices getting out of control in Quetta

    During the holy month of Ramzan, the price of vegetables and fruits in Quetta rocketed instead of decreasing. Tomatoes, which were previously selling for Rs120 per kilogramme in the vegetable market are now being sold at Rs160.

    Some other reports even suggest that a few shopkeepers were selling tomatoes for up to Rs190, minting money directly in front of the district administration’s eyes.

    Ladyfinger which was sold at Rs240, is now available for Rs280, potatoes, and onions after getting a hike of Rs10 are being sold at Rs50 and Rs60, respectively. Ginger, lemon, and garlic are now priced between Rs300 to Rs320.

    The government of Balochistan has not set up any Ramzan or ‘Sasta bazaar’ this year to facilitate citizens during the holy month of fasting. Formerly, district governments held Ramazan bazaars on the orders of provincial governments to assist the people.

    Previously, the Quetta administration had issued shops with a detailed list of commodities and their pricing. The shop owners, on the other hand, are not obeying the administration’s directives and selling items at their desired rate. These artificial rates have multiplied the problems of the common man.

  • ‘I don’t accept any other party other than PTI’: Zara Noor will only accept Imran Khan as PM after elections

    ‘I don’t accept any other party other than PTI’: Zara Noor will only accept Imran Khan as PM after elections

    Actor Zara Noor Abbas took to her Instagram stories to state that she will only accept PTI’s government and Imran Khan as the Prime Minister of Pakistan after re-elections.

    Last year the Khamoshi star questioned Special Assistant to the Punjab Chief Minister Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan’s misconduct and getting into a physical altercation with the PPP MNA Qadir Khan Mandokhail.

    Raising a very important question on Twitter, Zara said: “And had this been a man slapping a woman and abusing her on a talk show. What would have we done to him?”

    Zara further wrote: “But now it’s a man! What will we do now? Please don’t let the abuser get by. Man or woman!”

    The incident occurred when the two appeared on Express News’ talk show, Kal Tak, hosted by Javed Chaudhry. What started as a discussion about the government’s performance and excessive load shedding in parts of the country, turned into a shouting match between the two over the recent train collision in Sindh’s Ghotki district which claimed the lives of more than 60 people.

  • Couple gets petrol, diesel as wedding gift

    Couple gets petrol, diesel as wedding gift

    A newly-wed couple in Tamil Nadu received petrol and diesel as gifts at their wedding ceremony, Indian media has reported. Girish Kumar and Keerthana the knot at Cheyyur in Tamil Nadu’s Chengalpattu district.

    In the video being widely shared on social media, the married couple can be seen accepting the gifts with a smile on their face.

    As per reported by Indian media, the country saw 14 price hikes in the price of petrol and diesel in 14 days.

    This is not the first time that a couple has received such gift. In August 2021 a newly-married couple in India received five litres of petrol as a gift at their wedding reception.

    As per reports, a Tamil comedian named Mayilsamy gave an unusual gift to the couple. The images of the wedding ceremony and the gift have gone viral on social media platforms.

  • SSP Discipline advises officials to treat every complainant as a VVIP

    SSP Discipline advises officials to treat every complainant as a VVIP

    On Wednesday, SSP Discipline Lahore Ejaz Rasheed paid a surprise visit to Nishtar Colony Police Station, inspecting the front desk, reporting and record room, prison and presence of personnel, hygiene, and other pertinent sections of the office.

    The SSP told the police officers that resolving legitimate public complaints at the police station must be their first priority. He was of the view that police stations represent the department’s image and that boosting quality and providing justice to civilians should be their main focus.

    He remarked that every complainant who comes to the police station is a VVIP and the department must treat everyone with dignity and respect.

    SSP Discipline also inquired about police station personnel’s concerns regarding their job and the resources allocated to them. He also instructed the officers to accomplish the declared offenders and professional criminals’ arrest targets.

    On this occasion, SHO Nishtar Colony, Incharge Investigation, and other relevant police officers and personnel were also present.

  • ‘Stop spreading rumours’: Farah Khan denies corruption allegations

    ‘Stop spreading rumours’: Farah Khan denies corruption allegations

    Farah Khan has denied the corruption charges against her that surfaced recently after dissenting PTI leader and former Punjab senior minister Abdul Aleem Khan  accused Farah Khan of corruption with the connivance of her “contacts in the power corridors”

    “I outrightly condemn all accusations and rumours with regards to myself and my family. I have neither involved myself in politics nor was I ever in a position to interfere in governmental affairs. “

    “Those who have attempted to tarnish my character must remember their sisters. My husband has already given his statement with regards to our business.”

    “Those who have been linked to me have denounced such allegations. My family has been in a constant state of distress and suffering.”

    “For God’s sake! Please stop spreading rumours and connecting me and my family with such hearsay,” she concluded.

    In a crowded press conference, Abdul Aleem Khan accused Farah Khan of corruption with the connivance of her “contacts in the power corridors”. Reports and rumours started making rounds suggesting that Farah Khan has left for Dubai on Sunday in the wake of the no-confidence motion.

    On the other hand, PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz dubbed Farah Khan the “mother of all scandals” and also accused her of receiving huge money for transfers and postings. “I dare to name Farah, a friend of Bushra Bibi who is involved in receiving millions of rupees in transfers and postings and these are directly connected to Banigala (residence of Prime Minister Khan),” said Maryam Nawaz.

    The News investigations reveal that Farah Khan’s fortune increased ever since the premier appointed Usman Buzdar as Chief Minister Punjab. 

  • ‘Dono ke liye’: Ahad’s mother Samra Mir breaks silence on his split with Sajal Aly

    ‘Dono ke liye’: Ahad’s mother Samra Mir breaks silence on his split with Sajal Aly

    Actor Ahad Raza Mir’s mother has replied to a ‘Sahad’ fan on Instagram after the news of her son’s divorce with Sajal Aly broke out publicly.

    Sajal and Ahad’s fans were messaging Samra regarding their split and many expressed their grief on the same. Samra replied to a fan by saying that he should pray for the two of them.

    She added that, “Thank you for your love.”

    The fan shared his chat on Instagram.

    You can get exclusive details in our new show, Maslay Aur Masala:

    'Larkiyan isko cherti hain, yeh nahi': Samra Raza Mir gets candid on son Ahad in resurfaced clip

    Earlier before Ahad’s wedding, he and Samra appeared on Nida Yasir’s morning show after the success of his romantic serial with Sajal, Yaqeen Ka Safar. A few clips from this old interview are resurfacing on social media.

    On being asked by the host that how does she react when she gets complaints about him, Nida cites the example of teasing girls, to which the Sammi star quickly responds that it has never happened.

    Sajal Ali's mother-in-law Samra Raza Mir says she will be releasing a song soon

    On being asked by the host that how does she react when she gets complaints about him, Nida cites the example of teasing girls, to which the Sammi star quickly responds that it has never happened.

    Then Samra adds that its the other way round, as girls tease him and not him. She even said that it has been happening since childhood.

    Former celebrity couple of actors Sajal Aly and Ahad Raza Mir is now legally divorced as reported by senior journalist Amna Isani. The Yaqeen Ka Safar pair parted ways after two years of marriage.

    You can get exclusive details in our new show, Maslay Aur Masala:

    Recently during the promotions of her film, Sajal indulged in an exclusive chat with The Current.

    ALSO READ: ‘Very difficult decision’: Azfar Rehman opens up on Sajal-Ahad’s divorce, Saboor Aly reacts

  • Pakistani passport fourth-worst in world, Japan, Singapore on top

    Pakistani passport fourth-worst in world, Japan, Singapore on top

    The Henley Passport Index has ranked the Pakistani passport as the fourth worst to hold in the world. It evaluates different countries on the basis of international mobility enjoyed by their holders.

    According to details, the International Passport ranking authority Henley Global has issued the passport rankings for 2022, in which Japan and Singapore top the list.

    Pakistan, with a score of 31, ranked 109 on the list. Only, Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan rank lower than Pakistan on the list. Henley Global has released the ranking of 112 passports in the world in 2022.

    All the world’s passports were ranked according to the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa.

    Japan unsurprisingly, and Singapore topped the list with access to 192 destinations without a prior visa.

    It is to be noted that there are no Muslim countries in the top 10 ranking for the strongest passports in the world.

    The United Arab Emirates (UAE) with access to 175 destinations is the top-ranked Muslim country on the list.

    Ukraine, despite the military conflict with Russia, sits at 34th position while Russia, after a 3 rank decline from the last year, ranks 49th with a score of 117.

    Taliban-ruled Islamic Emirates of Afghanistan ranked last on the list as its citizens can visit only 26 destinations without a prior visa.

    Henley & Partners firm’s “Henley Passport Index” has been regularly monitoring the world’s most travel-friendly passports since 2006.

  • ‘Return to April 3’: Twitter hails Supreme court’s verdict

    ‘Return to April 3’: Twitter hails Supreme court’s verdict

    The Supreme Court of Pakistan (SCP) has declared the National Assembly (NA) Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri’s ruling on the dismissal of a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan as unconstitutional and illegal.

    The session chaired by the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial and the five-member bench has unanimously ruled that President Dr Arif Alvi’s decision to dissolve the National Assembly is “illegal” and restored Imran Khan as Prime Minister as well as his cabinet ministers. They will now face the no-confidence motion on Saturday, April 9th 2022.

    This is how Pakistani social media reacted to the decision:

  • State Bank of Pakistan hikes interest rate to 12.25% in an emergency meeting

    State Bank of Pakistan hikes interest rate to 12.25% in an emergency meeting

    Following an emergency meeting, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) raised interest rates by 250 basis points, as mounting political uncertainty and rising worldwide oil prices threaten to drive the country into a full-fledged economic catastrophe.

    The key rate is now 12.25 per cent, as per the latest statement released by the central bank on Thursday. According to the report, this makes the real rate “mildly positive” and will assist maintain external and price stability.

    The judgment came a few hours before the Supreme Court was due to rule on the constitutionality of Prime Minister Imran Khan’s disputed move to dissolve parliament and hold new elections. Pakistan may find it difficult to persuade the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to grant a much-needed loan tranche due to the political limbo.

    At the recent briefing, SBP governor, Reza Baqir, said, “We thought it’s important to take decisive action”.  He added that the body does not intend to do anything else.

    The central bank claimed that intensified domestic political turmoil contributed to the rupee’s 5 per cent loss and caused a jump in local bond rates, as well as Pakistan’s Eurobond yields and Credit Default Swap (CDS) spreads. Oil prices are likely to remain elevated, and the Federal Reserve of the United States is expected to compress sooner than expected, according to the report.

    The PKR broke all records on Thursday, selling at more than Rs189 per dollar in intraday trading in the interbank market, continuing a slump that has witnessed its decline of more than 10 per cent since March 4.

    Read more: Pakistan to import 32.7 million barrels of oil to cover petroleum needs

    Pakistan’s political instability, in addition to money from the IMF, is causing delays in a planned $1 billion green bond offering. A refinancing from China is also expected; the repayment in recent weeks caused Pakistan’s foreign-exchange reserves to plummet to their lowest level since records began in 2010.

    In a meeting last month, SBP cautioned that it might convene earlier than planned to avoid a crisis. It revised its average inflation prediction for the fiscal year ending in June from 9 per cent to little more than 11 per cent.