Category: Uncategorized

  • Rs93bn on education, Rs25bn on health, Rs1,289bn on defence: How govt is spending in ‘Naya Pakistan’

    Rs93bn on education, Rs25bn on health, Rs1,289bn on defence: How govt is spending in ‘Naya Pakistan’

    Public sector universities are facing a financial crunch due to budget cuts and the coronavirus pandemic. Despite tall claims, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government didn’t allocate much for the higher education and the budget for the Higher Education Commission (HEC) remains nominal.

    Pakistan has at least 135 public-sector higher education institutions that cater to at least 1.8 million students, says a report in The News. But how much the country spends on its education? Not a lot when compared to other expenditures, such as defence and development.

    Education:

    The government had allocated Rs93 billion — Rs29.4bn is development budget — for the HEC for 2020-21 for development and non-development expenditures in the education sector. The HEC, however, had asked the government for a budget of Rs104bn, reported Dawn at the time.

    The decision to keep the education budget static amid a pandemic has proved expensive, as a number of universities are struggling to make ends meet. According to The News, the University of Engineering and Technology (UET) Lahore, the University of Peshawar, Shah Abdul Latif University Khairpur, Quaid-e-Azam University (QAU) Islamabad and others are facing issues regarding finances.

    Health:

    Pakistan is one of the countries that do not spend a lot on health. In 2019-20, the federal government had budgeted Rs11 billion for the current expenditure on health, reported Express Tribune. However, the government funneled Rs1bn more into the budget to counter the coronavirus threat. In the current financial year, Pakistan more than doubled the health budget to Rs25.5 billion due to COVID-19.

    However, the decision was still criticised as the country’s healthcare needed more than that to battle the deadly pandemic.

    Defence:

    The government spends a major chunk of its money on defence-related expenditures. In financial year 20-21, the allocations to the defence sector saw an 11 per cent increase from the previous year. Rs1,289 billion was allocated to the military.

    According to Ayesha Siddiqa, the author of Military Inc., “major acquisitions by the armed forces, spending on the public sector development programme (PSDP), expenditure on the nuclear programme and para-military forces, payments for military pensions, a newly set-up national security division and a few other military expenditures are not reflected in the budget. If these were to be added to it, Pakistan’s defence spending would be even higher — at around $11bn”.

     Development budget:

    Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and a lull in economic activity, the government could increase its public-sector development spending. It had been budgeted at Rs1,324bn, 18pc below than last year’s budget.

    Of this, federal PSDP had been allocated Rs650 billion, while Rs676 billion had been allocated to provinces, as per Dawn.

  • Class and privilege

    Class and privilege

    A video of two women, who are the owners of Cannoli by Café Soul in Islamabad, mocking the café’s manager for not being fluent in English went viral on the internet this week.

    #BoycottCannoli trended online and even Prime Minister Imran Khan weighed in on the issue when he said on Thursday that he doesn’t use English phrases in public because it would be disrespectful to the majority of Pakistani citizens who don’t speak or understand the language.

    The elitist and classist owners were criticised on social media as well as mainstream media, but it seems that they remain unfazed by all the backlash. An ‘apology’ was posted by them on the café’s social media pages but it was anything but an apology. It said that this was just a banter with a team member.

    “We are not required to prove or defend ourselves as kind employers. Our team has been with us for a decade, that should speak for itself,” it said further. This non-apology led to more outrage and rightly so. There was no remorse in the apology, no acknowledgment that they did anything wrong, no sincerity. The thing that the owners need to realise is that not just their video but their so-called apology reeks of elitism, classism and workplace harassment.

    Unfortunately, these two women are not the only ones who are elitist but that as a class-based society, which is very conscious of status, many of us are very much part of the problem. We forget that we have no control over where we are born and being born in a privileged family is just an accident of birth.

    We have complexes about speaking in English, how being fluent in the English language opens up a lot of doors for us in the job market as well as society, how a certain accent would show that we come from a privileged background because we went to the ‘right’ schools and colleges.

    We all make fun of Meera jee’s English, we criticise our cricketers for not speaking proper English (remember Inzi’s ‘boys did well’?), we don’t treat the English language as just a medium of communication but as a status symbol.

    We hope that all of us have learned something from this unfortunate incident, which is to treat our employees with kindness and compassion and also not insult someone for not knowing the English language. Our society needs to break the barriers of class and be more tolerant and less judgmental.

  • Do Hareem Farooq and SRK think alike?

    Do Hareem Farooq and SRK think alike?

    Shah Rukh Khan recently posted a picture of himself playing pool on Instagram, captioning it: “As long as there is pink in the world, it will always be a better place.”

    The actor was seen sporting long locks in the picture, reportedly his look for his upcoming action-thriller Pathan.

    Hours after SRK’s post, Hareem Farooq shared a picture with a caption similar to the Bollywood star’s.

    “As long as there’s pink in the world it will always be a better place,” Hareem wrote alongside a picture of herself wearing a pink dress.

    When a follower asked Hareem if she had copied SRK’s caption, the actor said that she “had no idea” King Khan had posted the same caption.

    “I guess we think alike,” remarked Hareem.

    In response to Hareem’s comments, the user replied: “No doubt you think like a superstar.”

    Meanwhile, another Instagram user commented: “We all copy the captions from somewhere.”

  • انگریزی کا ہیضہ

    انگریزی کا ہیضہ

    کہنے دیجئے کہ  ہمیں بطور قوم انگریزی کا ہیضہ ہو گیا ہے  ۔ جی چاہ رہا ہے کہ    ملک کے   انگریزی سے نابلد عوام کو بتاؤں کہ تم کیا  اردو  یا کسی اور زبان میں خیالات کی چڑیا اڑاتے رہتے ہو انگریزی زبان کے در پر اپنا ماتھا ٹیک دو گیان وہیں سے ملے گا۔    کینولی والی خواتین  کی تحقیر آمیز ہنسی ، مینیجر اویس کی واضح بے چینی  معاشرے میں زبان کی بنیاد پر پائی جانے والی ایک نا محسوس لسانی تقسیم    کی طرف اشارہ کرتی ہے  جو باقاعدہ طبقاتی تقسیم میں ڈھل گئی ہے۔  تقسیم در تقسیم کے شکار  معاشرے میں اگر کوئی کمی رہ گئی تھی تو  اس پر   انگریزی زبان  کی بنیاد پر پائے جانے والے احساس کمتری نے  چار چاند  لگا د ئیے ہیں۔

    اس واقعہ نے اور کچھ نہیں کیا سوائے اسکے کہ ہمارے روز مرہ کے معاشرتی رویوں کی ایک جھلک دکھا دی ہے جہاں    انگریزی بولنے  پر اگلے کے دل میں ویسے ہی ایک رعب پڑ جاتا ہے کئی در تو صرف دو فقرے بولنے سے ہی کھل جاتے ہیں چاہے سامنے والا زیادہ عقلمند اور صاحب علم کیوں نہ ہو اسکی ساری قابلیت انگریزی زبان نہ جاننے کی بنا پر ٹھس ہو جاتی ہے۔ بھائی انگریزی ایک زبان ہے جیسے باقی زبانیں ہوتی  ہیں اس میں کون سا سرخاب کے پر  لگے ہوئے ہیں  ہاں اسے  بولنا سیکھنا ایک مہارت یا اہلیت تو گردانا جا سکتا ہے  فوقیت نہیں ۔ ہاں اگر انگریزی زبان کی وجہ سے زیادہ ارفع و اعلیٰ خیالات آتے ہوتے تو بات بھی تھی لیکن افسوس سوائے اسکے مجھے تو کوئی ایسی خوبی نظر نہ آئی کہ انگریزی زبان دنیا میں رابطے کی بڑی زبانوں میں سے ایک ہے اور شاید مختلف بولیاں بولنے والوں کے درمیان پل کا کام کرتی ہے۔  اس  میں  میسر علمی مواد  بھی اچھا خاصا ہے لیکن روسی ،چینی ، ہسپانوی اور دیگر زبانوں میں بھی اسی پائے کی چیزیں پائی جاتی ہیں بلکہ بعض زبانوں کے ادب ، فصاحت و بلاغت کے سامنے تو انگریزی زبان پانی بھرتی ہے۔

    خلا میں روسی انگریزی زبان جاننے کی بنا پر تو پہلے نہیں پہنچ گئے تھے یا چین کی معاشی ترقی کا راز انگریزی زبان کی وجہ سے تو نہیں ہے بلکہ عظیم چینی رہنما چو این لائی سے منسوب جملے کے بقول ‘ چین گونگا نہیں ہے’۔ صاحب دوسری زبانو ں کو چھوڑئیے اپنی  اردو کوہی لیجئے  بھلا  میر غالب کے پائے کا شاعر اور داستان امیر حمزہ جیسی دیومالا  جس زبان کے پاس ہوں اسے تو بڑے چاؤ  اور ناز سے  رکھنا چاہئے۔ یہ الگ بات ہے کہ ہم نے اسے نصاب کے رٹوں تک محدود کر کے رکھ دیا ہے ۔

    خیر بات بھی کہاں سے کہاں نکل گئی دیکھنا یہ ہے کہ  اس  واقعہ سے حاصل کیا ہو گا؟ سماجی رابطوں کی ویب سائٹس پر ہر ایک نے اپنے دل کی بھڑاس نکال لی، جی بھر کر صلواتیں  سنائیں اویس صاحب کو ان لوگوں نے بھی نوکری کی پیشکش کر دی جو اپنے ملازمین کو چھ چھ ماہ تنخواہ کی مد میں  لٹکائے رکھتے ہیں  ، ہاں جو چیز ہم   بھول گئے  وہ یہ کہ  دو خواتین جو ایک زبان پر پوری طرح سے مہارت نہ رکھنے پر ایک دوسرے انسان کا مذاق اڑا رہیں تھی وہ کوئی اور نہیں میں اور آپ تھے۔ کیا  انگریزی زبان نہ جاننے یا اس پر پوری قدرت نہ رکھنے کی بنا پر ہم  بھی  کیا دوسرے کا مذاق نہیں اڑاتے ؟ کیسا لگا آئینہ میں اپنا اصل روپ دیکھ کر جس پر پتا نہیں کس کس ریا کاری کی پرت چڑھا رکھی ہے  اصل میں  ہم نے کبھی اس گٹر کے ڈھکن کو اٹھانے کی زحمت ہی نہیں کی جہاں زبان کی بنیاد پر ، رنگ اور شکل کی بنیاد پر  اور کسی دوسرے انسان  کے رہن سہن کی بنیاد پر اسے اپنے سے نیچا سمجھا جاتا ہے۔

    اگرچہ اس واقعہ میں  مظلوم اردو بن گئی ہے لیکن  کیا یہی معاملہ ہم اپنے ملک کی دیگر زبانوں کے ساتھ نہیں کرتے ؟ پشتو، پنجابی ،سندھی اور بلوچی بولنے والے کو اردو میں بات کرنی پڑ جائے تو اسکا مذاق بن جاتا ہے ۔ اسی لئے مسئلہ اردو انگریزی کا نہیں    بلکہ ، عدم برداشت، معاشرتی رویوں اور سماجی آداب کا ہے ہم سب کے اندر چھوٹی چھوٹی کینولی آنٹیاں بستی ہیں ، ان کو صلواتیں سنانے سے پہلے اپنے گریبان میں بھی جھانک لیجئے۔

  • Multiple ‘Game of Thrones’ prequels in ‘early development’

    HBO is reportedly planning several Game of Thrones (GOT) prequels with the project in the early stages of development.

    According to reports, one of the projects is based on the stories of Dunk and Egg from GOT author George R.R. Martin which follow the adventures of Ser Duncan the Tall (Dunk) and a young Aegon V Targaryen (Egg). The story is set 90 years before the events of the main series.

    Martin has published three novellas in the Tales of Dunk and Egg series – The Hedge Knight, The Sworn Sword, and The Mystery Knight. All three were collectively published in 2015 with the title of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.

    Further reports have said the show will have one hour-long episode. However, no writer or talent has taken on board yet. The project is said to be on the high priority of HBO but representatives from HBO and Martin have refused to comment on the project.

    In December 2020, the first look of Game of Throne’s prequel, House of Dragon was released. House of Dragon is expected to premiere in 2020.

    As per details, House of the Dragon is based on George R.R. Martin’s House Targaryen chronicle Fire & Blood and set 300 years before Game of Thrones.

    The famed Dance of Dragons — the Targaryen civil war occasionally referenced in GoT that ripped apart Westeros — will be tackled during the series.

  • COVID-19: Sindh reopens shopping malls on weekends

    COVID-19: Sindh reopens shopping malls on weekends

    The Sindh government has allowed shopping malls in Karachi to remain open on the weekends (Saturdays and Sundays). 

    According to the notification issued by the government, shopping malls will now be allowed to operate seven days a week under the government’s COVID-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs).

    The notification added that if a shopping mall is situated in a virus hotspot within the city, then it will remain closed as only essential businesses are permitted to operate therein. 

    Meanwhile, as of January 21, the province has recorded 12 COVID-related deaths, elating the overall number to 3,855. Some 716 new cases were diagnosed taking the positivity rate to 11.2%. 

  • We have made Urdu a symbol of illiteracy, says Yasir Hussain

    We have made Urdu a symbol of illiteracy, says Yasir Hussain

    Yasir Hussain has said that “we have made Urdu a symbol of illiteracy,” and the “English language cool”.

    Sharing his thoughts on the Cannoli incident and the criticism the owners received for humiliating their manager, Yasir said: “[The] interesting fact is that owner of Cannoli made fun of their manager’s English and everyone (including my actor fraternity) raised their voice in English.”

    “Did anyone think why the manager needed to speak English?,” he questioned. “From where did this complex come into our society?”

    “We have made English cool and Urdu a symbol of illiteracy. It is something to be ashamed of,” he added.

    In the viral video, the owners of Cannoli Café Soul in Islamabad, Uzma and Diya joked that their manager, who has been working at their café for nine years, has taken three language courses until now and still cannot speak fluent English.

    The two ladies asked the manager Owais to introduce himself in English and when he struggled with speaking fluent English, they made fun of him by commenting on his salary. Owais was visibly uncomfortable in the video.

    Soon after the video was posted on social media, people started calling out the women for their elitist behaviour and though they later issued an apology, people called them out for their “arrogant non-apology”.

    Several celebrities including Sheheryar Munawar, Adnan Siddiqui, Sarah Khan and Ahsan Khan among others slammed the women for their distasteful comments and behaviour.

    Meanwhile, Ameer Gilani took to Instagram and shared details about his meeting with Owais. In a story posted to his Instagram, Gilani said that Awais is a very nice and positive man. He also urged people to focus on the good side to eradicate the wrong.

  • Has State Bank really restricted ATM withdrawal limit to Rs1,000?

    Has State Bank really restricted ATM withdrawal limit to Rs1,000?

    People are receiving an alleged message from the State Bank of Pakistan about restrictions on ATM cash withdrawals till the end of the month.

    The peculiar message that you may receive from ‘8182’ or ‘8832’ will read: “Dear Customer, as per State Bank of Pakistan directions, ATM cash withdrawal limit is restricted to 1000 PKR ” till Jan 31.

    However, the central bank has distanced itself from these messages. It said the decision to set withdrawal limit is taken by the banks, not the SBP.

    Meanwhile, the SBP also sent a message to the banks, asking them to “send appropriately worded messages” to their consumers to curb the flow of misinformation.

    In a the message to the banks, the SBP said that it has received “multiple reports…that customers are receiving messages with the context that SBP has put some kind of restrictions on ATM cash withdrawals”.

    “The SBP has not given any such instructions to the financial institutions,” the statement clarified.

    “In this regard, kindly make sure to send appropriately worded messages to your customers on urgent basis, reassuring them regarding this false spread of messages,” the SBP clarification read.

  • 10-year-old girl dies trying TikTok’s ‘blackout challenge’

    A 10-year-old girl has reportedly died after allegedly trying TikTok’s viral ‘Blackout Challenge” on TikTok. As per details, the girl was found dead in her washroom by her younger sister.

    Initial investigation has suggested that the girl named Antonella had placed a belt around her neck to prevent herself from breathing to try the challenge. However, she ended up killing herself. When she was later taken to a hospital in Palermo, Italy, the doctors declared her brain dead.

    “Blackout challenge” is also known as “pass out challenge” and “the fainting game”. In this challenge, individuals try to temporarily suffocate themselves in order to get a feeling of euphoria.

    The girl’s parents said that they had no idea Antonella was participating in this game.

    “We knew our daughter went on TikTok for dances and to look at videos, but could we imagine this atrocity?,” they said.

    Speaking to an international publican, a TikTok spokesperson said: “The safety of the TikTok community is our absolute priority, for this motive we do not allow any content that encourages, promotes or glorifies behavior that could be dangerous.”

    Italian authorities have also ordered the social media platform to block all accounts where the user’s age could not be verified.

    Meanwhile, a boy in Rawalpindi also lost his life trying to shoot a stunt in front of a train for a TikTok video.

    Actor, Adnan Siddiqui took to Twitter to express his sorrow over the incident.

    “No number of likes or social media followers is greater than your life. Entertainment doesn’t mean putting yourself in harms way,” he wrote.

    Adnan added, “Sad a young life was lost to foolishness. Others should heed this as a lesson and act wisely.”

  • Urdu mushaira to be held outside Cannoli in Islamabad

    Urdu mushaira to be held outside Cannoli in Islamabad

    Limo Soda Show creators have announced an Urdu mushaira (a poetry recital) outside Cannoli by Café Soul. The two content creators from Islamabad have asked people to participate in the event in response to a video of Cannoli owners ridiculing their manager for his English speaking skills.

    According to details, the event will be held outside the restaurant in Islamabad on Saturday (January 23). 18,900 people have responded to the invitation till the filing of this report, with 1,600 indicating they are going and 9,400 saying they are interested.

    The event’s guidelines have been stated as follows:

    IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTZ

    1.) All Shayrs has 2 b in punjabi or urdu.

    2.) Most criative shayar wins Jalahowapenus BURGER

    3.) NO gup shup or banter against restoraan ownrse

    5.) Siraikiz NOT allowedz

    6.) Free entries 4 beeconhoes studantz?!

    7.) NO Ahmed Faraz sasti shayri

    8.) Studie whole Wren nd Martin English graamer bookz for suprise english quiz

    9.) Alcohol, Drugs and JF-17 Thunder Naswar is strcitly prohitbited. (only for sale incide restoraan)”

    Though the owners of the café later issued an apology, netizens did not buy it saying the apology sounded ‘arrogant’.

    Read more – Adnan Siddiqui, Sheheryar Munawar lambast Cannoli owners for mocking manager’s ‘English’

    Meanwhile, responding to the video, Shaniera Akram challenged the ladies to an English competition.

    “I’m bored too so I challenge you ladies to an English competition,” said Shaniera.