Blog

  • Kiara Advani learned how to make an unusual dish to win over Sidharth’s mother

    Kiara Advani learned how to make an unusual dish to win over Sidharth’s mother

    Desi mothers-in-law have to be impressed by prospective bahus, and being a Bollywood A-list actress won’t spare you from the ordeal.

    While doing press rounds for promoting her film ‘Satyaprem Ki Katha’, Kiara Advani told Mirchi Puls about how she bonded with her mother-in-law, Sidharth Malhotra’s mother, with the help of an unusual dish.

    Advani, well known for her love of pani-puri, known in Pakistan as gol gappay, said that she learned how to make the dish for the first day she visited Mumbai:

     “Of course. Meri mother-in-law jo hain, unko pani puri itna pasand hai! Woh abhi humare saath reh rahi hain, Mumbai mein aayi hui hain Delhi se. So, on her first day, mujhe pata hai ki unko pani puri kitna pasand hai, I said aaj ghar mein hum pani puri banayenge. Jo maska lagaya… I knew she will love me to another level. She was so happy.”

    Sidharth and Kiara, who starred together in ‘Shershaah’ in 2021, got married in February in a star-studded wedding with celebrities like Karan Johar, Juhi Chawla and Shahid Kapoor in attendance. In a previous interview, Advani spoke about how happy she was in her bride era, and called Sidharth her home:

    “I got married recently, and it was a love marriage. So naturally, I believe in true love. A home is made by two people and I feel incredibly lucky that my partner, the man I have chosen, my husband is also my best friend. He is my everything, my home. Wherever I am, he is my family, my home.”

  • State Bank of Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves surge to $4.46 billion with $393 million increase

    State Bank of Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves surge to $4.46 billion with $393 million increase

    The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has announced an increase of $393 million in its foreign exchange reserves, bringing the total to $4.46 billion. In an official statement, the central bank stated that this rise occurred on June 30, 2023. The boost in reserves is seen as a positive development for the country’s economy.

    At the same time, the overall liquid foreign reserves held by Pakistan now stand at $9.74 billion, with commercial banks accounting for $5.28 billion of that amount. These figures reflect the country’s efforts to stabilise its foreign reserves and strengthen its financial position.

    This increase in foreign exchange reserves is largely attributed to Pakistan’s recent agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The country signed a staff-level agreement with the IMF, amounting to $3 billion, for a duration of 9 months. The IMF’s “Stand-By Arrangement” with Pakistan has been successfully concluded, signaling a positive outlook for the nation’s economic stability.

    Nathan Porter, the IMF Mission Chief, commended Pakistan for its commitment to achieving its economic goals and acknowledged the parliament’s crucial role in this accomplishment. He emphasised that the staff-level agreement under the Stand-By Arrangement is a significant milestone.

    The agreement is now awaiting final approval from the IMF’s executive board, which is anticipated to occur in mid-July. Once approved, Pakistan will be eligible to receive the $3 billion loan from the IMF.

    In his remarks, Porter highlighted the parliament’s efforts to enhance tax revenues, an essential component of Pakistan’s economic growth. The parliament has taken noteworthy steps to increase funds allocated to the Benazir Income Support Programme and has also limited tax exemptions.

    These measures are expected to lead to an increase in tax revenues, which, in turn, could result in a primary surplus of 0.4 per cent for Pakistan’s economy. The additional funds generated through these increased tax revenues can then be directed towards crucial social sectors.

    Overall, the increase in foreign exchange reserves for the State Bank of Pakistan is an encouraging sign for the country’s economic stability. With the IMF agreement on the horizon and the parliament’s dedication to boosting tax revenues, Pakistan is poised to make significant strides in its economic development.

    The final approval of the agreement by the IMF’s executive board will mark a crucial milestone in Pakistan’s journey towards a more prosperous future.

  • Woman forced to drink acid by husband, father-in-law

    Woman forced to drink acid by husband, father-in-law

    Trigger Warning: Acid attack

    A woman in Islamabad was forced to drink acid by her husband and father-in-law over a trivial issue.

    Police said the incident was reported on Thursday at Malot area of the capital city. The dispute started during a discussion related to milk for a child, upon which the husband Wahab, along with his father Abid Ali, tortured the woman and attempted to kill her.

    The officials further said Abid Ali grabbed her while Wahab brought acid from the washroom and forced it down her throat. The suspects escaped afterwards. The woman was shifted to a hospital as her condition worsened.

    A case has been filed by the acid attack survivor at the Police Station Bani Gala.

  • PAC orders investigation into data leak of military officials

    PAC orders investigation into data leak of military officials

    The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has on Thursday expressed apprehensions over the data leak of citizens and of military officials from the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA).

    PAC ordered the Ministry of Interior to conduct a joint investigation into the data leak. Pakistan Tele-communication Authority (PTA), Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), and Military Intelligence (MI) should be included in the investigation team, PAC Chairman Noor Alam Khan said.

    Noor Alam Khan also asked PTA to block the data online, stating, “Everyone’s personal data is available on the internet. Data of military authorities has also been leaked. How was it leaked from NADRA?”

  • Drop everything now: Taylor Swift releases Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)

    Drop everything now: Taylor Swift releases Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)

    This night is sparkling as at long last, Taylor Swift finally released her third rerecorded album Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) which also features six previously unreleased songs from the vault tracks.

    “It’s an album I wrote alone about the whims, fantasies, heartaches, dramas and tragedies I lived out as a young woman between 18 and 20. I remember making tracklist after tracklist, obsessing over the right way to tell the story. I had to be ruthless with my choices, and I left behind some songs I am still unfailingly proud of now,” Taylor wrote in a statement announcing the album’s release.

    The rerecorded album follows Fearless and Red as Taylor attempts to take back control of her musical legacy when she was denied the opportunity to own her original masters by her record label Big Machine Records in 2019, a decision she detailed on a Tumblr post as the “worst case scenario” when news spread that the masters were sold to Scooter Braun:

    “This is my worst case scenario. This is what happens when you sign a deal at fifteen to someone for whom the term ‘loyalty’ is clearly just a contractual concept. And when that man says ‘Music has value’, he means its value is beholden to men who had no part in creating it. 

    When I left my masters in Scott’s hands, I made peace with the fact that eventually he would sell them. Never in my worst nightmares did I imagine the buyer would be Scooter. Any time Scott Borchetta has heard the words ‘Scooter Braun’ escape my lips, it was when I was either crying or trying not to. He knew what he was doing; they both did. Controlling a woman who didn’t want to be associated with them. In perpetuity. That means forever.”

    The updated album features six previously unreleased songs including  ‘Electric Touch’ featuring Fall Out Boy and ‘Castles Crumbling’ with Paramore’s Hayley Williams. The others ‘From the Vault’ tracks are titled ‘When Emma Falls in Love,’ ‘I Can See You’, ‘Foolish One’, and ‘Timeless’.

    Listen to the album here:

  • Justice Musarrat Hilali becomes second woman to take oath as Supreme Court Judge

    Justice Musarrat Hilali becomes second woman to take oath as Supreme Court Judge

    Justice Musarrat Hilali on Friday took oath as a judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, with Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial administering the oath to the former Peshawar High Court head.

    She has become the second female judge to be appointed to the Supreme Court. After Hilali’s appointment the SC now has 16 judges in total.

    Earlier, a parliamentary committee had approved Justice Musarrat Hilali’s appointment as a justice of the apex court.

    Justice Ayesha Malik, appointed in January 2022 to the apex court, was the first female to become a judge of the Supreme Court. Mussarat Hilali was also the first female Chief Justice of PHC. She is the only woman on the bench since 2013.

    Justice Hilali also holds the honour of getting elected as the first woman executive member of Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) from 2007-2009.

  • Gold market bounces back with second consecutive price increase of Rs1,800 to Rs207,800 per tola

    Gold market bounces back with second consecutive price increase of Rs1,800 to Rs207,800 per tola

    The price of gold in Pakistan has experienced a notable increase for the second consecutive session, following a prolonged period of decline subsequent to the $3 billion deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

    Data provided by the All-Pakistan Sarafa Gems and Jewellers Association (APSGJA) reveals that the price of 24-carat gold rose by Rs1,800 per tola and Rs1,543 per 10 grammes, reaching Rs207,800 and Rs178,155 respectively.

    Simultaneously, the international market witnessed a decrease in the price of gold by $23, resulting in a settlement at $1,905 per ounce.

    The gold market in Pakistan has exhibited volatility recently due to persistent political and economic uncertainty, along with high inflation. Consequently, individuals seek to invest in this valuable commodity as a means of safeguarding their assets and hedging against market fluctuations.

    The APSGJA’s data also indicates that the price of silver has remained unchanged at Rs2,380 per tola and Rs2,126.20 per 10 grammes. Notably, the previous day witnessed a Rs1,000 increase in the price of gold.

    Furthermore, the Pakistani rupee displayed a marginal recovery of 0.13 per cent against the US dollar on Thursday. The interbank market, as reported by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), recorded the local currency closing at Rs277.04 in relation to the greenback.

  • Pakistan Stock Exchange rises above 44,000 points after 14 months

    Pakistan Stock Exchange rises above 44,000 points after 14 months

    On Thursday, the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) benchmark index surpassed the 44,000 milestone after 14 months, experiencing a substantial surge of over 600 points after a two-day decline. The PSX website reported the KSE-100 index closing at 44,178.85 points, reflecting a commendable rise of 1.44 per cent or 626.02 points.

    Market analysts attribute this rally to several pivotal factors. Firstly, the standby agreement reached with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) played a crucial role in bolstering investor confidence. This agreement significantly alleviated uncertainties, particularly the risk of default, providing Pakistan with the opportunity to focus on its fiscal policies.

    Additionally, the disbursement of payments to independent power producers (IPP) contributed to the positive momentum in the market. The government allocated around Rs140 billion to the IPPs, allowing them to distribute higher dividends. Consequently, this development led to a surge in the shares of these companies.

    Moreover, the cement sector experienced a notable upturn due to a decline in international coal prices. Lower coal prices benefit the cement industry as coal is a primary fuel for cement production.

    Prominent market experts, such as Salman Naqvi, the head of research at Aba Ali Habib Securities, express optimism about the market’s potential. Naqvi anticipates that the index could potentially reach a range of 45,000 to 46,000 points. However, he cautions that the rise may not be consistently linear, considering the recent slump following a historic bull run on Monday.

    On Monday, the stock market witnessed significant gains as Pakistan secured a $3 billion short-term financial package from the IMF. This package provided significant relief to the struggling economy, which was facing a severe balance of payments crisis and diminishing foreign exchange reserves.

    The funding, allocated over nine months, surpassed expectations and provided respite as Pakistan awaited the release of the remaining funds from a previous bailout package agreed upon in 2019. The IMF board is scheduled to approve the deal in July.

  • Is McDonald’s closing operations in Pakistan? We have the real story

    Is McDonald’s closing operations in Pakistan? We have the real story

    McDonald’s Pakistan’s recent social media posts triggered rumors of the company shutting down its operations in the country.

    The first post in question read: “It’s time to pause for a while.”

    The Second post which was done 20 hours after first post read, “Pause to indulge.”

    Here’s how social media reacted to the possible shutdown of McDonald’s:

    https://twitter.com/daactarrsaab/status/1676922233393156097

    However, The Current’s sources have revealed that McDonald’s is not shutting its operations in Pakistan and the posts are a part of an upcoming campaign.

  • 50-year-old chokes to death while swallowing goat’s eyeball

    50-year-old chokes to death while swallowing goat’s eyeball

    A man choked to death while trying to swallow the eyeball of a goat at a small village in India on Thursday.

    A 50-year-old man known as Bagar Sai, who belonged to Chhattisgarh region of Surajpur, travelled to Khopa Dham with other people of Madanpur hamlet to sacrifice a goat at a temple after having his desire granted.

    After the sacrificial ritual, they all gathered to enjoy a meal. Bagar Sai excitedly picked up one of the goat’s eyeballs from the cooked flesh and as he tried to swallow it, the eyeball got stuck in his throat.

    The 50-year-old was rushed to a nearby hospital but he could not survive.