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  • ‘I’m the one who wrote this, not you’: Shiraz Uppal calls out Aima Baig for misinformation

    ‘I’m the one who wrote this, not you’: Shiraz Uppal calls out Aima Baig for misinformation

    Aima Baig recently gave an interview to Dawn Images where she spoke about the creative process behind her new song ‘Funkari’. Speaking on how the the song was created, the singer revealed:

    “It took us like three years to make this song and I’m not joking, I’m not kidding… and the reason why because the song was made but I was too scared to let a solo single out. Because in these past six years of my career, I have never released a solo track on which I had worked on my own day and night. I had never made a song like this. This is the first track where three years ago during Ramzan we had started writing this song together. Shakeel bhai, may he rest in peace, this was the last song he had written with me ‘Funkari’ and then after that he died.”

    However, Pakistani singer and songwriter Shiraz Uppal took to Instagram to call out Baig for spreading misinformation, revealing that it was not Baig and Shakeel Sohail who wrote the song, but it was him, pointing out that Youtube credits mention him as the writer and composer of the song.

    Taking to Instagram stories, Uppal slammed Images and Aima Baig for misquoting and spreading misinformation

    “Recent statement given by Aima Baig to Dawn Images about the fact that she and (late) Shakeel Sohial has written a song Funkari, has been misquoted by her. She forgot to give due credit that already mentioned by Universal Music India in her youtube credits.”

    Uppal pointed out that the late lyricist passed away six months prior to when the song was written, and had only written ‘Faraq Faraq” for Aima:

    “Get your facts right lady. Shakeel Sohail passed away 6 months prior to writing this song and the last he co-wrote with me was another single for you named ‘Faraq Faraq’. So Funkari was written, composed and produced by me and you just came to sing it that only took three hours.

    Dear dawn_images,- kindly double check facts before posting false statements.”

  • IMF wants Pakistan to implement property and agriculture tax

    IMF wants Pakistan to implement property and agriculture tax

    The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has recently granted Pakistan a $3 billion loan, subject to certain conditions that require a second review.

    According to reports, the Washington-based institution has asked the Pakistani government to devise a plan for implementing taxes on the real estate and agricultural sectors, with the aim of bolstering the country’s revenue generation.

    The IMF perceives a potential for Pakistan to enhance its revenue through taxation of these two sectors.

    Should the plan devised by the Federal Bureau of Revenue (FBR) gain approval from the IMF, it will result in the release of a mini-budget. However, the decision to impose taxes on the property and agriculture sectors ultimately rests with the new government.

    Additionally, sources indicate that assistance will be sought from the World Bank to facilitate the taxation of these sectors.

    It is worth noting that Pakistan recently received the initial disbursement of $1.2 billion from the IMF.

    IMF officials emphasise that Pakistan must fulfill the conditions outlined in the agreement to achieve economic stability.

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has also assured the IMF Managing Director of the government’s commitment to implementing the agreement in its entirety.

  • Afghan Taliban’s Doha deal statement ‘disturbing’ for Pakistani leaders

    Afghan Taliban’s Doha deal statement ‘disturbing’ for Pakistani leaders

    A statement made by Taliban government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid, stating that the Afghan rulers signed the Doha deal with USA and not Pakistan, has proved worrisome for Islamabad.

    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Farhatullah Baba expressed concern, while
    Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, a stalwart of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), also agreed with the concerns of the PPP leader.
    In an interview with BBC Pashto, the Taliban spokesperson had stressed that they didn’t sign a peace accord with Islamabad. However, he also mentioned that Afghan soil was not being used for terrorism in Pakistan, as the nation was “a Muslim and brother country”.
    “Taliban signed the Doha agreement with the US, not with Pakistan and its policy towards Pakistan is different.”

    Last week, in an unusual statement, Pakistan Army said that it is also very concerned that militants of the banned terrorist organisation Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) have found safe havens in Afghanistan. “It is expected that in­terim Afghan Govern­ment would not allow the use of its soil to per­petrate terror against any country, in the real sense and in line with commitments made in Doha Agreement,” the statement said.
    Pakistan Army also said that terrorist attacks in Pakistan are intolerable and the country’s security forces have the ability to give effective response to these attacks.

    Farhatullah Babar raised the question that, “Does it mean the Doha agreement binds the Taliban to rein in only some militants, not all?”
    Khawaja Asif meanwhile said that irrespective of Afghanistan stance, Pakistan will wipe out terrorism from the country.

  • Police arrest suspect behind rape at Islamabad’s Margalla hill hiking trail 

    Police arrest suspect behind rape at Islamabad’s Margalla hill hiking trail 

    Islamabad police have on Sunday arrested the suspect involved in the alleged rape of a woman that took place on trail 3 of the capital’s Margalla Hills.

    Last week Friday, the Islamabad police registered a first information report (FIR) after a woman complained that a man had lured her with a job prospect before raping her at gunpoint on Thursday afternoon. 

    According to the FIR, the complainant had been looking for a job and received a message via WhatsApp from a person around two months ago, Dawn reports.

    “He told me he was an accountant in the education department, where some vacancies were available,” the victim is quoted as saying in the FIR. In return for a job, the man asked for Rs50,000. 

    After some correspondence, where the victim met the suspect and provided him with her curriculum vitae and Rs30,000, saying she would pay the remaining 20,000 once she received a written order of employment.

    Under the guise of picking up the victim for a job interview, the suspect drove her to Margalla Hills’ trail 3, where the victim said she was taken to the jungle and raped at gunpoint around 3pm. 

    In a statement issued on Sunday, the Islamabad Police said it was successful in arresting the suspect after a three-day effort, adding that they arrested the man on ‘technical bases’, claiming the victim was not assisting the police in the investigation. 

    Statement issued by Islamabad Police via Twitter.

    Moreover, they said that the investigation is taking place ‘on merit’, citing the victim’s medical report in which apparently no evidence of abuse was found. 

    Furthermore, the statement reveals the complainant and the accused knew each other. However, Islamabad Police asserted that all aspects of the case will be investigated.

  • Birds outsmart humans, incorporate anti-bird spikes into nests

    Birds of the Corvidae type, including magpies and crows, have been observed incorporating anti-bird spikes into their nests in Scotland, Holland and Belgium, effectively repurposing the hostile architecture designed to prevent them from perching.

    A recent study published by Auke-Florian Hiemstra, the lead author of the study, highlights the remarkable behavior.

    The metal spikes provide structural support to the nests, creating dome-like roofs, and also serve as a defense mechanism against predators. Hiemstra’s study, featured in the online journal Deinsea, suggests that birds may be seeking evolutionary advantages by utilizing human-made objects for nest construction.

    The findings have astounded researchers and shed light on the cognitive abilities of the clever birds.

    While anti-bird spikes are commonly used in various urban settings to deter birds from perching, it appears that birds are turning the tables on humans and repurposing these materials to their advantage. Jim Reynolds, an ornithology and animal conservation expert, believes that this adaptive behavior is an effective strategy for birds that inhabit urban environments.

    Furthermore, the presence of shiny and spiky nest materials may serve as a signal to potential mates, indicating the quality of the nest and the suitability of the bird as a partner.

  • I will not be the caretaker prime minister: Mohsin Baig

    I will not be the caretaker prime minister: Mohsin Baig

    Journalist Mohsin Biag on Sunday has denied rumors in Saleem Safi’s programme Jirga that he will be the next caretaker Prime Minister of Pakistan, stating that he would not assume the coveted position.

    Rumours of Baig becoming caretaker Prime Minister had been circulating in media and political circles for the past few weeks.

    The journalist criticised former Prime Minister Imran Khan by accusing him of being corrupt, alleging that Europe and Israel are behind the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman and are using him against Pakistan.

    The well-known journalist said that the attacks on military installations on May 9 were planned by Imran Khan to weaken the state.

    He also mentioned that Imran Khan didn’t give PTI tickets to eligible candidates and made a lot of money in this way

  • Alcaraz beats Djokovic to claim first Wimbledon title in five-set final

    Alcaraz beats Djokovic to claim first Wimbledon title in five-set final

    In a thrilling five-set men’s final on Sunday, World No 1 Carlos Alcaraz defeated reigning champion Novak Djokovic to claim his first Wimbledon title.

    After nearly five hours on Centre Court, the Spaniard emerged victorious with a score of 1-6 7-6 (8-6) 6-1 3-6 6-4. Alcaraz tumbled to the court in celebration and volleyed a tennis ball into the crowd.

    At just 20 years old, Alcaraz becomes the third-youngest Wimbledon champion in the Open Era and adds a second major title to his record, having won the US Open last year. Despite facing the formidable challenge of an in-form Djokovic, widely regarded as one of the greatest tennis players in history, Alcaraz fought back from a set down.

    As Djokovic’s attempted return failed to clear the net, a new Wimbledon champion was crowned, solidifying Alcaraz’s position as a leader among the sport’s next generation.

    In his on-court interview afterward, Alcaraz expressed his elation, stating, “Well, it’s a dream come true for me. For me, it’s incredible. As I said, it’s a dream come true to be able to play on this stage. It’s amazing for a 20-year-old boy. I didn’t expect to reach these kinds of situations so quickly.”

    Alcaraz also expressed pride in himself and his team for the hard work they put in every day, leading up to this momentous experience.

  • Tesla overcomes setbacks, produces first Cybertruck after two years

    Tesla overcomes setbacks, produces first Cybertruck after two years

    Tesla announced via a tweet that its inaugural Cybertruck has been successfully manufactured at the company’s Austin, Texas plant, marking the end of a two-year delay.

    Back in 2019, Tesla founder Elon Musk introduced the pickup truck during a revealing event where the vehicle’s designer unintentionally demonstrated a flaw in the supposedly indestructible “armour glass” windows.

    Since then, the production timeline has faced multiple setbacks, with Musk attributing the delays to component sourcing shortages, leading to a rescheduled Cybertruck launch in 2023.

    During a shareholder meeting in May, Musk expressed Tesla’s ambition to produce up to 250,000 Cybertrucks annually, depending on market demand.

    With the introduction of the Cybertruck, Tesla is poised to enter one of the most lucrative sectors of the U.S. market, directly competing against electric pickups from industry giants such as Ford Motor and Rivian Automotive.

    Although these competitors have already released limited numbers of their own electric truck models, Tesla’s entry into the market is highly anticipated. According to a Reuters report from last year, Tesla aims to initiate mass production of the Cybertruck by the end of 2023.

  • Kuch Ankahi goes out with a bang, leaving audiences wanting more

    Kuch Ankahi goes out with a bang, leaving audiences wanting more

    The last episode of Kuch Ankahi aired on Saturday night, receiving high ratings from audiences for a satisfying wrap up to its gorgeous story telling and moving performances by Sajal Aly, Bilal Abbas and Qudsia Ali. The build up to this spectacular finale was besieged with questions about who would Aliya finally pick: Salman or Azfar? Would Sofia phupoo give in and marry uncle Thanvi? Would Samiya abandon her husband and his toxic mother to start being independent on her own? But in the final episode, Kuch Ankahi wrapped up all these questions, leaving all of us hoping that this is the show that should be getting a season 2.

    We finally see Aliya and Salman put aside their differences, a win for fans of the show who had shipped the cat-and-mouse duo from the very first episode. Many were left heart broken by how Azfar was rejected, despite the love he had for Aliya. But hopefully, there are better things in store for him?

    We also got a beautiful wedding as Sophia Phupoo and Uncle Thanvi wed, a satisfying resolution to her reluctance of letting go of her first love and husband who had passed away quickly. But then their heart tugging meeting at the train station, when Thanvi promises to prove his love to Sophia, just proved the show made a breakthrough by focusing on two aged people getting married.

    Clearly, we’re not over the episode, and neither is social media. As since yesterday, users sobbing over the ending of a gorgeous drama that gave us everything we’ve been asking Pakistani dramas to provide us.

  • Here are the revised diesel and petrol prices effective July 16, 2023

    Here are the revised diesel and petrol prices effective July 16, 2023

    Finance Minister Ishaq Dar announced on Saturday that the prices of petrol and diesel will be reduced in the upcoming fortnightly review.

    During a televised address, the minister said that petrol prices will be reduced by Rs9 per litre, while diesel prices will see a decrease of Rs7 per litre. These adjustments were made due to changes in the international market over the past 15 days, with one petroleum product’s price increasing and the other decreasing.

    Following these revisions, the new price for petrol will be Rs253 per litre, and high-speed diesel (HSD) will be priced at Rs253.50 per litre. Minister Dar clarified that the petroleum development levy (PDL), which was previously raised to Rs60 per litre in response to the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) request, will remain unchanged.

    The new prices will take effect on July 16, Sunday. Minister Dar also highlighted that the local currency has strengthened against the US dollar in the last 15 days, following Pakistan’s successful negotiation of a $3 billion Stand-By Arrangement (SBA) with the IMF.

    Here are the new diesel and petrol prices effective from tomorrow (July 16, 2023):

    Petroleum Product Previous Price Reduction Revised Price
    Petrol Rs263 per litre Rs9 per litre Rs254 per litre
    Diesel Rs260.50 per litre Rs7 per litre Rs253.50 per litre