Category: Uncategorized

  • LUMS is back to being LUMS

    LUMS is back to being LUMS

    After brutal social media trolling and protest by students and alumni, the Lahore University of Management Sciences which became LUMS University aka LUMSU is back to being LUMS.

    In an email sent out to the faculty, staff and students, LUMS VC Dr Arshad Ahmad said that the earlier email was sent out in good faith and “to reflect the reality of our five schools that comprise our university.” He said that the message was not intended to change the university’s name and that there is no change in the formal name of the university.

    On Monday, LUMS announced that it was renaming itself Lums University as part of a recent overhaul. Soon after the email was sent out to students, professors and staff, the news made its way to social media and people started poking fun at the university’s new name. So much so, that LUMSU is currently trending on Pakistani Twitter at number 2.

    https://twitter.com/raasnabeel/status/1214099934875701248?s=20

    https://twitter.com/45623584/status/1214173454884323333?s=20

    Alumni were not having it.

    https://twitter.com/wingsforus/status/1214081225553534976?s=20

    Meanwhile, others called out users for directing their energy onto frivolous matters.

  • Nida Yasir reveals why she doesn’t allow male fans to take pictures with her

    Nida Yasir reveals why she doesn’t allow male fans to take pictures with her

    Pakistan’s number one morning show host Nida Yasir is anything but shy. She is full of energy, spunk and sass and is loved by millions of viewers across the world.

    While Nida loves her audiences and is always willing to interact with them, in an exclusive interview with The Current revealed that she doesn’t allow male fans to take selfies with her.

    When asked what is the worst thing about hosting a morning show, Nida, “You’re not left with any privacy. No matter where you go, to the bazaar or anywhere – I like to meet them [my fans] – but when I’m out with my guests and they have to stop and wait while I click pictures with my fans, I don’t like that,” adding that she can’t even say no.

    Nida then shared that she never gets photographed by her male fans.

    “It’s a rule,” she said. “The reason is because I have seen photographs of a lot of actresses on random pages with captions. They [other actresses] must’ve posed considering them their fans but the captions on Facebook etc say ‘Meet my friend, [XYZ].’”

    “I don’t judge anyone ever since, but I’ll get photographed with families, with female friends, but not with male fans,” she remarked.

    Watch the full interview here:

  • VIDEO: Hollywood star says ‘Allahu Akbar’ while receiving Golden Globe award

    VIDEO: Hollywood star says ‘Allahu Akbar’ while receiving Golden Globe award

    Arab-American actor Ramy Youssef who won a Golden Globe Award for best comedy actor for his role in the comedy series Ramy sent fans in frenzy after he thanked God and said ‘Allahu Akhbar’ while accepting the award.

    Starting his acceptance speech with Allahu Akbar and thanking Allah, Ramy said, “We made a very specific show about an Arab Muslim family living in New Jersey and this means a lot to be recognised on this level.”

    He then revealed that his mom was actually rooting for Michael Douglas, who was nominated in the category for his role Netflix’s The Kominsky Method.

    “Egyptians love Michael Douglas,” Youssef remarked.

    Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon presented the award to Youssef.

    Speaking to reporters after the event, Youssef said, “I was going to say it anyway. I’m very thankful to God, and my show is about someone who believes in their faith, so I naturally don’t always feel like I’m on the same page with the comedic styles of Ricky Gervais on that subject.”

    He also joked on how he is unknown compared to his fellow nominees.

    “Look, I know you guys haven’t seen my show. Everyone’s like, ‘Is this an editor?’ We made a very specific show about an Arab Muslim family living in New Jersey, and this means a lot to be recognised on this level” he said.

    Ramy explores the experience of a young Egyptian-American Muslim man living in New Jersey, who believes in God and embraces his heritage, while blending them with his American life. The comedy is loosely based on Youssef’s life and his experiences as a stand-up comedian.

  • Finland’s PM proposes four-day, six-hour workweek

    Finland’s PM proposes four-day, six-hour workweek

    Finland’s 34-year-old Prime Minister Sanna Marin has proposed cutting down the workweek and reducing it to four days consisting of six-hour workdays in a bid to transition the country to what she called “the next step for us in working life.”

    According to CNBC, the PM said, “I believe people deserve to spend more time with their families, loved ones, hobbies and other aspects of life, such as culture. This could be the next step for us in working life.”

    Specific details of Marin’s proposal are yet to be announced.

    Finland has long been advocating flexible work schedules. In 1996, the government introduced a law that gave employees the right to shift their hours up to three hours earlier or later than their employers’ typical requirements.

    Since taking office and becoming the world’s youngest prime minister in December, Marin has advanced that agenda. Marin sits at the helm of Finland’s Social Democratic Party and leads the country’s five-party, all-woman center-left coalition government.

    However, Finland is not the first country to propose this. In 2015, Sweden tested out the six-hour workweek in Gothenburg. Results revealed that though happiness levels included it put a burden on public coffers.

    Meanwhile, in November 2019, Microsoft Japan revealed that a trial four-day workweek boosted productivity by 40%.

  • Meera took a trip down the memory lane and we’re not ready for this

    Meera took a trip down the memory lane and we’re not ready for this

    Meera Jee seems to be using the beginning of the new year and decade as an excuse to take a trip down the memory lane and share with her fans and followers some unseen pictures of her early years in the Pakistan film industry. Take a look.

    Spoiler – You’ll be shocked to see some of our favourite actors from their younger days.

    Let’s start with this picture of Meera and Humayun Saeed from their drama. Not sure what shocks us more – Humayun Saeed or Meera’s makeup.

    Meera with Moammar Rana

    Attending weddings with Sheikh Rasheed

    Having tea with former President Pervez Musharraf

    Meera on the sets of her various projects

    With superstars from the 90s: Reema, Resham and Juhi Chawla

    Cross-border love – Meera with critically acclaimed director Mahesh Bhatt

    Spot the three-year-old Meera

    A little narcissism hurt no one.

    Meera rocking yellow before it became a trend

    Vacationing

    And that wraps up Meera’s album.

  • Extension almost here for Gen Bajwa as PTI, PML-N, PPP join hands in NA

    Extension almost here for Gen Bajwa as PTI, PML-N, PPP join hands in NA

    In a first, both the government and major opposition parties on Tuesday joined hands to approve in the National Assembly all three bills formalising the tenure of the three services chiefs, including Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa.

    According to Geo News, Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan made a rare appearance in the Lower House of the parliament as the assembly voted on three bills that will formalise the tenures of the army, navy and air force chiefs.

    Before the voting started, Defence Minister Pervaiz Khattak took the floor to request the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) that it take back amendments it had suggested to the bills, saying he was making the request “keeping in mind the regional and national situation”.

    Naveed Qamar, who spoke on behalf of the PPP in response to Khattak’s request, said that the amendments had been suggested to improve the bills but, after being approached by a government delegation and consulting with the rest of the opposition, the party had decided to withdraw them.

    With voting commencing shortly after the dialogue, Speaker Asad Qaiser asked legislators to express their assent or dissent. The bills were voted on clause by clause.

    Some opposition lawmakers, including those from Jamaate Islami (JI), the Jamiat Ulema Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) and Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM), walked out in protest over the bills. They had earlier announced they would not be supporting the bills on principle. All the major parties had, however, lent near unquestioning assent to the same.

    After voting on the bills concluded, the National Assembly session was adjourned till 4 pm on Wednesday.

    The bills will now be sent for approval to the Senate Standing Committee on Defence before they are voted on in the Senate, and become law once signed by the president.

  • Pakistan among Forbes’ ‘best under-the-radar’ tourist spots in 2020

    Pakistan among Forbes’ ‘best under-the-radar’ tourist spots in 2020

    American business magazine Forbes has listed Pakistan as one of the ten must-visit destinations for those who’re looking for something offbeat. Other countries on the list include Armenia, Chad, Eritrea, Guatemala, Mongolia and Saudi Arabia.

    “Closed countries are opening up. Savvy luxury agencies are making remote destinations accessible to travelers who don’t want to rough it or risk much,” read the magazine.

    It is pertinent to mention here that Pakistan also topped Conde Nast Traveler’s list of best holiday destinations for 2020. Pakistan is undoubtedly full of natural beauty and its diverse culture attracts local as well as international tourists.

  • PM Imran praises Buzdar for project launched by Shehbaz

    PM Imran praises Buzdar for project launched by Shehbaz

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan has admired Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Usman Buzdar for initiating the 115-kilometre (km) long Jalalpur Irrigation Project worth $360 million after a delay of 120 years, not knowing that the project was actually conceived, planned, negotiated and approved by his arch-rival and former chief executive of Punjab, Shehbaz Sharif, The News reported.

    “I congratulate you all. Today, I admire Punjab CM Usman Buzdar for initiating this project. This project has been delayed for the past 120 years. I am thankful that you started this project because these projects change the lives of the people,” the premier had said at the inauguration ceremony held in Jhelum in the last week of December 2019.

    However, official documents revealed that the project was entirely planned, initiated and negotiated by the Shehbaz administration back in 2009 when the then CM had ordered its construction.

    According to reports, the feasibility work for the project was completed in 2013 and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) was engaged. It takes three to four years in the processing of such projects’ planning, loan negotiation, environmental studies, population relocation plans among other.

    A mega project like the one in question needs years owing to all the necessary surveys and the completion of its designs, which were completed in 2017. All details are also documented on the ADB website.

    A copy of the loan agreement shows that it was signed by Pakistan and ADB in April 2018 by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government, ahead of which, the project agreement was signed in April 2017 by the then Punjab Irrigation Secretary Asadullah with Shehbaz’s approval.

    The Punjab Annual Development Plan (ADP) approved by the Shehbaz government in its budget for fiscal year 2017-18 also reflected the project. From 2013-2018, the Punjab government spent approximately Rs2,998 million to acquire land for this project, and the last allocation of Rs600 million was made in the ADP for 2017-18.

    At the planning stage, even alignment of canal was decided in consultation with locals through the lawmakers concerned. In 2016, a number of seminars were also held in Khushab to finalise alignment as per the needs of the farmers.

    In ADP for the year 2016-2017, the engineering designs were completed. As much as Rs70 million was spent on this project by PML-N government for engineering design in 2016-2017 and Rs230 million was allocated in 2017-2018. Total expenditure made on land acquisition by the then government was Rs3 billion. A total of 8,000 acres of land was acquired by the previous government, which was a huge administrative exercise while Rs497 million was spent on the engineering design of this project. Detail engineering design took 16 months.

    The canal will irrigate 160,000 acres of land in Pind Dadan Khan and Khushab tehsil and interestingly even the people, farmers and residents of these areas are fully aware that project was initiated by Shehbaz in 2013.

    As per the official documents, the loan agreement was signed by Shehbaz in 2017 and everything was finalised and commissioned by May 2018, but now the premier has been made to believe that incumbent Punjab CM Buzdar is behind the project.

    According to ADB documents, the project is located by the right bank of River Jhelum in Punjab. It will create new non-perennial irrigation services for enhanced agricultural production in Pind Daden Khan and Khushab districts. The project will increase kharif crop intensity by 50 per cent, improve crop yield and reduce land degradation. It will directly benefit over 200,000 rural people; mostly poor.

  • Another TikTok star died while making video on railway track

    Another TikTok star died while making video on railway track

    TikTok, a video-sharing social networking application used to create short lip-sync, comedy, and talent videos has taken another life.

    As per reports, young Tik Toker Sonu Singh was hit by a train from the back when he was shooting a TikTok video. The information was shared by Pakistani peace activist Radesh Singh Tony, whose cousin was the victim.
    Radesh Singh Tony took to twitter to share the sad incident stating that Sonu was wearing headphones while walking on the railway track when the crash happened.

    He also appealed to the youngsters not to make such dangerous videos and also advised parents to keep their children away from such apps.

  • Sharp increase in street crimes reported in Lahore

    Sharp increase in street crimes reported in Lahore

    Lahore witnessed a sharp increase in street crime as more than three dozen cases of robbery and theft were reported during the last 24 hours in several parts of the city.

    According to the reports, five houses were robbed while 15 citizens were looted in incidents of street crime. Prime Minister Imran Khan’s nephew Shershah Khan was also among those looted during a house robbery.

    While the city witnessed a surge in crime during the last one month, crimes were gradually increasing with every passing day which is evident from the fact that the criminals deprived families and citizens of valuables in 36 hits for 24 hours or so.

    The Dolphin Squad, the Police Response Unit and other units of the city police took least interest in their responsibilities because of a lack of resources including proper vehicles for patrolling.

    According to the FIR registered by Shershah, three unidentified armed men broke into his house at 3 am by scaling the boundary walls. He said his wife and daughter were alone at that time. The suspects held his wife hostage, looted an expensive mobile phone, eight gold bangles, cash and a pistol worth over Rs1.1 million and escaped the scene.

    It was further stated in the FIR that the criminals also forced his wife to issue a cheque of Rs3 million.

    In another case, three armed men went into the residence of Waqar Ahmed and robbed the valuables amounting to Rs2.1m.

    Similarly, thieves unlocked the house of Rashid Mahmood
    in Qureshi Mohallah and took away jewellery, cash and other valuables worth
    over Rs2.2m.

    Many such incidents were reported in the areas
    of Ghaziabad, Shahdara, Lower Mall, Gujjarpura, Badami Bagh, Sabzazar, Nawab
    Town, Garden Town, Nishtar Colony, Nawankot, Sanda etc.