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  • Pakistanis to soon experience AI-powered smart grocery carts in supermarkets

    Pakistanis to soon experience AI-powered smart grocery carts in supermarkets

    CalCart Technologies has revolutionised the shopping experience by launching Pakistan’s first smart grocery cart designed for supermarkets and hypermarkets. This innovative AI-powered product aims to seamlessly blend the convenience of online shopping with the traditional in-store experience.

    With CalCart, shoppers can effortlessly scan items in their cart for quick and easy billing while also checking real-time prices. The cart’s built-in navigation system helps customers navigate through the store effortlessly, saving time and reducing stress.

    One of the standout features is the personalised aisle-based promotions, where CalCart tailors exclusive deals based on individual preferences, ensuring a more rewarding shopping experience. Additionally, shoppers can access digital catalogues to find desired items and explore new products conveniently.

    According to ProPakistani, the recent collaboration with Carrefour, a major global supermarket chain, marks a significant milestone in the digitization of conventional brick-and-mortar retail. This partnership demonstrates the potential impact of integrating technology into the retail sector, offering customers an enhanced and futuristic shopping journey.

  • Alia Bhatt, Suhana taught how to lip-sync by Shah Rukh Khan himself

    Alia Bhatt, Suhana taught how to lip-sync by Shah Rukh Khan himself

    To masterfully execute romantic lip-syncing song for the first time in her career, actress Alia Bhatt sought tuitions from the King of Romance himself, Shah Rukh Khan.

    At a special event held for the release of ‘Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani’, the actress said director Karan Johar encouraged her to reach out to Shah Rukh Khan, because she was nervous about shooting the song ‘Tum Kya Millay’.

    When she called up the Bollywood Badshah, the actor decided to give her and his daughter, Suhana, tuitions on the complicated art of lip-syncing.

    “I was going back to shoot after a couple of months. First time I was doing a full lip-sync song after Ishq Wala Love. There was nervousness in me. I was discussing with Karan and he said, ‘Why don’t you call Shah Rukh up, maybe he will give you some tips.’ So I called him up to talk on the phone. I just wanted to understand because nobody lip-syncs like him.

    “He said, ‘Tu ghar aaja.’ Suhana also was wanting to learn this toh dono saath mein tution kareinge. I went and I was there for 2-3 hours,” the actor said.

    The ‘Gangubai’ actress hilariously recalled how at the actor’s Mannat house, the trio kept going over the song over and over again to get the lip-sync right. By the end, even Shah Rukh himself knew the lyrics to ‘Tum Kya Millay’.

    “There’s this whole lip sync portion which Shreya Ghoshal has sung beautifully. The video of that extended version we will release shortly. It was quite fast and I was getting quite hyper. But the way he (Shah Rukh Khan) broke it down. He made me download some app. He said, ‘Baar baar karo.’ He had also learnt the song by the end of it. It just shows how generous and large-hearted a man he is. He is so wonderful, always willing to help.”

  • TW: New York based Pakistani man arrested for murdering wife, baby daughter

    TW: New York based Pakistani man arrested for murdering wife, baby daughter

    Trigger warning: murder, domestic violence, abuse

    A Pakistani-American cab driver, Zanoor Jaffari, has been arrested in New York city on charges of murdering his wife and two-year-old daughter, with their five year old son present during the slaughter.

    According to the Suffolk County Police, the wife, Misbah Batool, 33, and the couple’s toddler Izziah, were found dead in the bedroom of the family’s home in Brentwood at 4:40 pm. Other relatives also lived in the house, and it was Jaffari’s mom who reported the stabbing.

    Suffolk County Police Chief of Detectives John Rowan said the couple’s boy was unharmed, and is currently under the custody of relatives.

    The murderer was initially hospitalised after the cops reported he showed signs of overdosing, before being held on murder charges. Jaffari has pled not guilty to the charges and has been remanded without bail.

    Prosecuters have alleged that Jaffari has a history of abusing his wife, before the family shifted to a new home in Long Island City.

  • Load shedding and unbearable hike in electricity prices hit Pakistani homes and businesses

    Load shedding and unbearable hike in electricity prices hit Pakistani homes and businesses

    Pakistan is facing an ongoing and unbearable increase in electricity tariffs, causing hardships for the majority of the population. The government justifies these price hikes by claiming they are under pressure from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to generate more revenue. However, the tariff increase is mainly due to fuel price adjustments and high taxes imposed by the government.

    Consumers, especially low- to middle-class households, are struggling to pay their electricity bills, which have more than doubled. The rise in fuel price adjustments and government taxes further exacerbates the burden on consumers. The government’s commitment to the IMF to implement a fifty per cent increase in the base tariff from July to October contributes to the escalating bills.

    Unfortunately, the increase in electricity prices is expected to continue, and there is no progress in essential power sector reforms to reduce system losses, corruption, power theft, and reliance on imported fuels. As a result, the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has raised the average tariff to ensure funds for loss-making power distribution companies, putting additional financial strain on consumers.

    The government claims that the tariff increase is necessary to meet the IMF’s requirements and support energy sector viability. However, the business community also suffers, fearing a loss of competitiveness and increased costs. Industries have cut down production due to high energy prices and inflation, affecting economic growth and job creation.

    Many argue that successive governments have failed to implement essential structural reforms, leading to Pakistan’s economic predicament. The solution proposed by economists involves fixing the energy sector’s deep-rooted issues, taxing sectors adequately, and implementing a credible privatization plan to reduce pressure on the budget.

    In conclusion, Pakistan’s never-ending increase in electricity tariffs has become a major burden for the population, and without significant reforms, the situation is unlikely to improve. The government’s need to meet IMF requirements clashes with the urgency of boosting industrial activity and economic growth, leaving the country in a challenging economic predicament.

  • Bye bye National Assembly; Lower House to be dissolved on August 9

    At a dinner hosted for allies, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has revealed that the National Assembly will be dissolved on August 9, three days before the end of its tenure, DAWN has reported.

    The dinner, held at the Prime Minister House on Thursday, was in honour of the parties that were allies in the ruling coalition.

    If the National Assembly is dissolved before the end of its tenure, general elections will be held in 90 days.

    Shehbaz Sharif informed his guests that a final round of consultation with other members of the ruling alliance on Friday to finalize the caretaker setup.

    A source has revealed to DAWN that Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) head and current Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari held a long meeting with the Prime Minister on Thursday to discuss the interim setup.

    The reception was attended by Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani, Speaker National Assembly Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, PPP leaders Yousuf Raza Gilani, MQM Convener Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, JUI-F leader Asad Mehmood, Balochistan Awami Party leaders Khalid Magsi and Senator Ahmed Khan, Jamhoori Watan Party (JWP) Chairman Shahzain Bugti, Aslam Bhootani, Mohsin Dawar and others.

  • Influencer who ate only fruits died of malnutrition, friends say

    Influencer who ate only fruits died of malnutrition, friends say

    Zhanna Samsonova, a vegan social media influencer who touted her diet of just “fruits, sunflower seed sprouts, fruit smoothies and juice,” has passed away, her mother has confirmed.

    The 39-years-old, who used the same surname D’Art on social media, was based in Phuket, Thailand, however media reports have said that she was touring South East Asia at the time of her death. She passed away on July 21 in Malaysia after seeking medical help for an unknown condition.

    Her friends have alleged that she died of malnutrition as a result of her only-fruit diet. “You don’t need to be a doctor to understand where this will lead,” a friend was quoted by Newsflash.

    Another of her friends also recalled seeing her “exhausted, with swollen legs,” a few months before her death. “They sent her home to seek treatment. However, she ran away again. When I saw her in Phuket, I was horrified,” they said.

    On her social media pages, Zhanna would promote a raw consisting mainly of fruit and seeds. Her mother has said that the family is waiting for the death certificate for an official cause of death, however, she suspects Zhanna died of a “cholera-like infection”.

  • PM Shehbaz has huge announcement for youth

    PM Shehbaz has huge announcement for youth

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s Digital Youth Hub Portal’ has been launched on Thursday.

    The portal unites all of the initiatives the government has initiated to support the youth’s development.

    At the ceremony, Sharif gave his word that the government will use all of its resources and try everything in its power to empower young people.

    He claimed that through the initiative, easy-to-repay loans are given to high-achieving girls and boys so that they may support themselves. To date, 30 billion rupees in loans have been given to deserving, talented youth.

    The Premier pointed out that the government is also providing laptops to deserving students as part of the scheme, while millions of rupees worth of computers have already been handed to young people so they can pursue higher education.

    The current administration has allotted 80 billion rupees for youth development throughout the course of the current fiscal year.

    Shehbaz Sharif stated that young people can register on the Digital Youth Hub Portal to receive financial aid and benefit from government initiatives aimed at improving their well-being.

    Shaza Fatima Khawaja, the Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Youth Affairs, said that the portal
    will integrate all the steps and programmes launched across the country for youth development.

  • If you loved ‘Fairy Tale’ then watch the classical drama ‘Tum Se Kehna Tha’

    If you loved ‘Fairy Tale’ then watch the classical drama ‘Tum Se Kehna Tha’

    Since ‘Fairy Tale’ is set to arrive back this month with another incredible new season, we get that fans are rewatching the episodes over and over again. For the first time, a Pakistani drama managed to actually enrapture women, with a non-problematic male-lead as well as a fun-loving, well written female lead. Yes its true that there is nothing good to watch out there that won’t make you cringe in the first 15 minutes. But plenty of our followers need to discover classical dramas, their incredible story lines about powerful, hilarious women not abiding by toxic patriarchy, and one of them is Syed Muhammad Ahmed’s ‘Tum Se Kehna Tha’.

    Directed by Sahria Kazmi, the five episode drama starred Marina Khan as Hira, a witty and fearless woman whose crush on a stranger accidently leads her to be mistaken as the fiance of a man in coma. Many Twitter users even began drawing a comparison between Hira, and the protagonist of ‘Fairy Tale’ Umeed Pasha, played by Marina Khan, as a viral tweet showed.

    And honestly, we’ve been waiting for the public to realize this so we could write another piece to praise this classical drama and just to write about how brilliant Fairy Tale is for catering to an audience nostalgic about the brilliant dramas of the 90’s. So if, like us, you’re patiently waiting till August 5 arrives when Season 2 of Fairy Tale drops, watch ‘Tum Se Kehna Tha’

    1. Brilliant, hilarious and talented female leads

    It’s no shocker that Umeed won the hearts of Pakistani women because of how similar she was to the women from dramas like ‘Tanhaiyaan’ and ‘Dhoop Kinare’, stories of head-strong, independent women who were complex and completely unlike the wailing women trope we see in dramas these days. Hira Muzzaffar from ‘Tum Se Kehna Tha’ is a wonderful example of how progressive 90s dramas were. She lived alone, was independent and fearless about pursuing what she loved. She didn’t hide away her love, and expressed it bluntly. And she didn’t adhere to the crazy tropes our dramas today think all women want, like being slapped by useless men, or engaging in some cold war with her saas.

    1. Wholesome family dynamics

    If you loved the crazy family dynamics of family members like Aghoo Jaan, Pasha Saab, Mimi and Nigo aunty from ‘Fairy Tale’, then ‘Tum Se Kehna Tha’ will draw you in without any haste because of how every single character has a hilarious role, there is no part where it feels like the episodes are dragging. Every character, like Hira’s boss Sajjad, has a special part in the episodes, even if a small one.

    1. Wholesome, well-written male leads

    We’ll get to the meat of what made a drama like ‘Fairy Tale’ so engaging for audiences: because of the rare occasion where men aren’t toxic, worthless creatures and are actually the opposite of that. Many users loved the male lead Farjaad from ‘Fairy Tale’ because aside from the splendid acting of Hamza Sohail, this intoverted and shy man matched the fierce and loud Umeed in an amazing way. Rather than taming her fire, he encouraged her to embrace it, and kept loving her regardless of how clumsy or oppinionated she was. In the same way, Bilal from ‘TSKT’ and Hira stand out because of their hilarious banter and how he becomes the loving family she had constantly longed for.

  • Hajj pilgrims will be eligible to receive refund of up to Rs185,000, NA body told

    On Wednesday, the Ministry of Religious Affairs informed the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony that each pilgrim who attended the Hajj under the government programme would receive a reimbursement of up to Rs185,000.

    The committee applauded Hajj preparations at its meeting in Parliament House, presided over by Syed Imran Ahmad Shah.

    The committee was informed that each pilgrim who performed Hajj under the regular scheme paid Rs 1,175,000. However, before their departure for Saudi Arabia, Rs55,000 was returned to each pilgrim.

    The pilgrims who went for Hajj under the hardship quota were asked to pay a deposit of Rs 1,120,000.

    The meeting was attended by MNAs Chaudhry Faqir Ahmed, Shahnaz Saleem Malik, Pir Syed Fazal Ali Shah Jillani, Shagufta Jumani, Muhammad Anwar, and Shahida Akhtar Ali, as well as a special invitee (through a video link), Dr Ramesh Kumar Vankwani.

    Top officials from the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, including the secretary and joint secretary (Hajj), were also in the meeting.

    The committee shared an optimistic outlook, hoping that good practises and ongoing efforts would keep giving advantages to the pilgrims in the days to come.

  • Ad-free entertainment: YouTube Premium launches in Pakistan at Rs479 per month

    Ad-free entertainment: YouTube Premium launches in Pakistan at Rs479 per month

    On Wednesday, YouTube announced the much-awaited launch of its premium and music services in Pakistan, bringing an array of exciting features to its users in the country. With these new offerings, viewers can now enjoy an uninterrupted and enhanced video-watching and music-listening experience.

    YouTube Premium, the flagship service, promises an ultimate viewing experience by allowing users to watch videos without being interrupted by pesky ads. Moreover, subscribers can continue watching their favorite content even while using other apps or with the screen locked.

    The service also facilitates the option to download videos for offline play, ensuring that entertainment is accessible even in areas with limited internet connectivity. Additionally, YouTube Premium subscribers gain access to YouTube Music Premium, a music service that offers ad-free music, background play, and the ability to download music for offline listening.

    In a statement, YouTube emphasised the significance of their premium service, which sets a new standard for video-watching convenience and ad-free enjoyment.

    The pricing for YouTube Premium is set at an affordable Rs479, which also includes a membership to YouTube Music Premium. For those looking to share the perks of Premium, YouTube offers the Premium Family Plan at just Rs899, allowing up to five members of a household to access the premium features.

    For the music enthusiasts, YouTube Music Premium is available at Rs299, offering an ad-free experience, background play, and downloads for music. Similarly, the Music Premium Family Plan comes in at Rs479, allowing families to share the enjoyment of ad-free music and music video streaming.

    As part of its commitment to the student community, YouTube offers a Premium Student Plan at a discounted price of Rs329. Eligible students can access the Premium service with all its features, making their entertainment experience even better. The Music Premium Student Plan is also available at a reduced rate of Rs149 for students who love uninterrupted music streaming on the web and Android devices.

    This launch comes at a time when YouTube’s presence in Pakistan has been growing exponentially. According to Google’s country head for Pakistan, the number of YouTube channels with over one million subscribers has increased by an impressive 35 per cent, reaching a total of 400. Additionally, there are now 6,000 channels with more than 100,000 subscribers, reflecting an annual growth of over 30 per cent.

    With the introduction of YouTube Premium and Music services in Pakistan, users can now enjoy a seamless and immersive experience while exploring their favourite videos and music. The new services are expected to garner significant popularity and add to YouTube’s already robust user base in the country.