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  • Sheikh Rashid to be formally charged on March 2 in Zardari allegations case

    Awami Muslim League (AML) chief and former Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid will be formally charged on March 2 by a district and sessions court in Islamabad for accusing former President Asif Ali Zardari of plotting an assassination attempt on Imran Khan, the chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

    The court has also ordered that the former interior minister’s appears before the judge on the said date.

    Rashid requested the court to set March 15 as the date for indictment. However, the judge said that the high court has given its orders and the date cannot be extended.

    Court grants bail to Sheikh Rasheed in Zardari remarks case

    On Thursday, Rashid was granted bail in this case by Islamabad High Court (IHC).

    The high court approved his application and passed an order to submit surety bonds worth Rs50,000.

    Earlier, a district and sessions court of Islamabad rejected his bail, after which he approached the high court.

    In the early hours of February 2, Rashid was arrested from his home in Islamabad and was later handed over to police on a two-day physical remand.

    Rashid was also booked in another case in Karachi for allegedly using inappropriate language against Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman and Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari.

  • President, PM condemn Karachi police chief office attack

    President, PM condemn Karachi police chief office attack

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Arif Alvi have condemned Friday’s terrorist attack on the office of the police chief in Karachi.

    The building came under attack around 7:10pm, triggering an operation initiated by law enforcement agencies immediately after, with cops and soldiers of the Pakistan Army and Rangers taking on the terrorists together.

    Three persons, including security personnel, were martyred, while 18 people sustained injuries. Five terrorists were also killed in the attack.

    As the operation to clear the attackers out from the building has finally concluded, people from across the country, including officials and celebrities, have come together to condemn the attack.

    President Dr Arif Alvi sent out a message of support through the President House Twitter account, stating: “The entire nation stands with its security forces against terrorists. Efforts will continue to eradicate the menace of terrorism.”

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemning the attack, tweeted, ” I strongly condemn the terrorist attack on the police in Karachi and salute the brave police and law enforcement personnel who foiled the attack. Terrorists may have forgotten that Pakistan is the nation which defeated terrorism with its bravery and courage.”

    Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari took to Twitter and tweeted, “Sindh police have bravely faced and crushed terrorism before. We have full faith they will do so again, such cowardly attacks will not deter us.”

    Security forces cleared a five-storey police compound on the port city’s main thoroughfare in an hours-long operation during which three militants of the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) were killed while two policemen, one Rangers official and a citizen embraced martyrdom.

    At least 19 men, mostly police and Rangers officials, sustained injuries in the exchange of fire with militants who stormed the heavily guarded Karachi Police Office after lobbing a hand grenade at its main entrance, police and hospital officials said.

    The outlawed TTP has claimed responsibility for the latest ambush.

  • Pakistan will never shut down social media sites again, IT Minister promises

    Pakistan will never shut down social media sites again, IT Minister promises

    Speaking at the ‘Accelerating US Investments in Pakistan’ event in Karachi, Federal IT and Telecommunication Minister Aminul Haq said that closing social media sites and applications is not the solution to the problem, and Pakistan has decided that no website or app will be closed in any case.

    Pakistan has a history of banning social media platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and most recently, Wikipedia. However, Haq emphasized that “banning can never be a solution.” Haq’s statement is a significant departure from Pakistan’s previous actions, and he promised that any such action would go through the IT ministry, where there will be no ban from now on.

    Despite bureaucratic hurdles at the Finance Division, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), and the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), Haq’s ministry has been persistent and able to get many things done, such as allowing IT export companies to retain 35% of dollars in their accounts.

    During the event, Haq praised Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for supporting the Digital Pakistan vision despite all the bureaucratic hurdles.

  • Pakistan’s export market takes a hit: Textile group exports down 14.83% in January

    Pakistan’s export market takes a hit: Textile group exports down 14.83% in January

    According to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), the country’s textile group exports declined by approximately 8.17 per cent during the first seven months (July-January) of fiscal year 2022-23, totaling $10.039 billion as compared to $10.933 billion during the same period of the previous year.

    The data also showed that textile group exports witnessed a year-on-year decline of 14.83 per cent in January 2023, amounting to $1.321 billion, compared to $1.551 billion during the same month in the previous year. Additionally, on a month-on-month basis, the textile group registered a negative growth of 2.53 per cent compared to $1.356 billion in December 2022.

    Cotton yarn exports experienced a negative growth of 34.66 per cent during July-January, totaling $449.419 million compared to $687.857 million during the same period in the previous year. On a year-on-year basis, cotton yarn exports registered a negative growth of 12.34 per cent, while on a month-on-month basis, it registered a growth of 27.22 per cent.

    Rice exports declined by 15.82 per cent during the first seven months of fiscal year 2022-23, totaling $1.083 billion compared to $1.286 billion during the same period in the previous fiscal year. Overall, the country’s exports during July-January 2022-23 totaled $16.499 billion (provisional) compared to $17.739 billion during the corresponding period of the previous year, showing a decrease of 6.99 per cent.

    In January 2023, the country’s exports amounted to $2.244 billion (provisional) compared to $2.313 billion in December 2022, reflecting a decrease of 2.98 per cent and a decline of 14.15 per cent compared to $2.614 billion in January 2022. The primary commodities of exports during January 2023 were knitwear, readymade garments, bed wear, cotton cloth, rice others, towels, cotton yarn, made-up articles (excluding towels and bedwear), rice basmati, and surgical goods and medical instruments.

  • Honda Atlas passes on sales tax burden to customers with another massive price hike

    Honda Atlas passes on sales tax burden to customers with another massive price hike

    Honda Atlas Cars announced on Friday that it would be increasing the prices of its completely knocked down (CKD) models in response to a rise in sales tax.

    The car manufacturer cited several reasons for this decision, including the devaluation of the Pakistani rupee against the US dollar, a volatile business environment, and the increase in sales tax.

    As a result, the company will raise the prices of its CKD models by up to Rs550,000, marking the third hike.

    The new retail sale price (RSP) will be effective for all new orders placed from February 18 onwards.

    Here are the new prices of all Honda cars:

    Model Od price New price Hike
    City MT 1.2L Rs4,329,000 Rs4,579,000 Rs250,000
    City CVT 1.2L  Rs4,469,000 Rs4,729,000 Rs260,000
    City CVT 1.5L  Rs4,739,000 Rs5,019,000 Rs280,000
    City Asp MT 1.5L Rs4,939,000 Rs5,229,000 Rs290,000
    City Asp CVT 1.5L Rs5,119,000 Rs5,419,000 Rs300,000
    BR-V CVT S Rs5,649,000 Rs5,949,000 Rs300,000
    HR-V VTI Rs6,799,000 Rs7,199,000 Rs400,000
    HR-V-VTI S Rs6,999,000 Rs7,399,000 Rs400,000
    Civic 1.5L M CVT Rs7,299,000 Rs7,779,000 Rs480,000
    Civic 1.5L Oriel M CVT Rs7,599,000 Rs8,099,000 Rs500,000
    Civic RS 1.5LL CVT Rs8,649,000 Rs9,199,000 Rs550,000
    Honda Cars Latest Prices in Pakistan – February 18, 2023

    Customers who have existing back orders as of February 17 will also be subject to the new retail sale price. Additionally, a 1 per cent additional sales tax will be applied to all back orders that have been paid in full as of the previous price increase letter, dated February 6.

    Honda Atlas Cars stated that any unclear back orders, with the exception of the Civic model, that are due up until March 23 can be invoiced if full payment (February 6 price + 1 per cent additional sales tax) is received by February 27 (with an instrument date of February 27). However, the automaker noted that the prices are subject to change and that the prices prevailing at the time of delivery will be final. Any changes in government levies or taxes will be borne by the customers.

    Furthermore, Honda Atlas announced an increase in the rates of its motorcycles the day before.

  • ‘I don’t feel comfortable with slapping scenes’: Bushra Ansari

    ‘I don’t feel comfortable with slapping scenes’: Bushra Ansari

    Bushra Ansari’s currently winning hearts as the strict mother-in-law on the ARY drama ‘Tere Bin’, however it seems like the actor isn’t too comfortable with the character’s cold, selfish nature. Especially in a particular scene where her character Maa Begum slaps Meerab for dancing.
    In a behind the scenes interiew, Ansari confessed that she finds slapping scenes quite difficult to perform:
    “The one thing that I don’t like is slapping people, and I get incredibly upset over it. Not just girls, but with boys as well I have to give a lot of re-takes. In a lot of previous dramas I had to slap actors like my own son. I slapped Wahaj, Ahsan Khan and then Mikaal Zulfiqar…Just one thing I would change about her character is how much she slaps people. Because it breaks my heart. Allah karay I never have to come across such a situation.”
    Ansari also explained the mindset and personality of Maa Begam, and elaborated on how when Meerab began dancing at her wedding, she challenged this mindset which is why she was slapped.
    “I (my character) have a set of rules like ‘this is my house, this is my family and these are my rules, and this isn’t right that my daughter-in-law is dancing at wedding. But no one would find this to be proper, as this is a part of our own culture… I see women now days are dancing at their wedding and wearing full makeup. Back in our days we had a tradition that a bride would wear no makeup so that her face would glow.”

    You can watch the complete interview here:

  • Female and male students can’t sit together at KP’s Gomal University

    Female and male students can’t sit together at KP’s Gomal University

    Gomal University in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s (KP) Dera Ismail Khan has implemented a total ban on joint gatherings of male and female students on campus “in any ground or roads”.

    The university also issued a notification in this regard on Wednesday which reads: “gathering/coupling (male and female) is totally banned in any ground, roads etc. beyond the premises of department.”

    The university also directed female students to “be careful” and limit themselves just to their classrooms and department common rooms.

    Moreover, it also warned of strict action against those students found violating the rules.

    Interestingly, the notification was issued the day after Valentine’s Day (February 14).

  • Sanam Jung debunks rumor’s about wearing fat-suit for ‘Pyari Mona’

    Sanam Jung has told iBBC Urdu that she does not wear a fat-suit in her latest drama on Hum TV ‘Pyari Mona’ in which she plays the role of a plus-sized woman.

    In the interview, Jung addressed the backlash the show was receiving that she wore a fat suit in some episodes.

    “When I first went over, they told me that I didn’t have the right look and I had to gain 20kg in order to be perfect for the role. At first I had refused, but then when I started falling in love with Mona then I thought ‘okay we have to do this’. Because we had made a body suit for Mona which was stuffed with cotton and was quite heavy, like a thick blanket. It completely covered me, and I had to shoot in the summers. So we did multiple trials, and when I wore it, my face looked small and my body looked big. Then we decided that I have to eat more for this role. At first I gained five kilos, that was not enough. Then I gained around 7 to 8 kilos, then my director was happy. He said ‘Now you are looking just like Mona!’ I stopped going to the gym because I had to stay in a character as long as the shoots were going on, so I pushed my diet plans to the side. I ate all sorts of food, because my character was even eating on set, and I couldn’t pretend like I was eating and then spit it out from the other side. I really enjoyed the process of becoming Mona.”

    Jung also opened up about the reason why she chose to do ‘Pyaari Mona’, revealing that she had also faced the same struggles that her character did. Originally, Jung had rejected the drama, but when a year later she again offered the role, she decided to do it.

    “This is my story. I have been through it. As in not literally with her family. But with society, and the people, I have gone through all of it. Other than that, I also thought there are so many people who are going through the same issue. So for them, and for myself I have found such an important story to tell… I felt it was an important message because we will keep doing ordinary plays with the boy and girl and they fall in love. But this was a different, message-oriented play. So I read it and I fell in love with Mona.”

    You can watch the full interview here:

  • ‘I have never pressurized Ayeza to spend her own money’: Danish Taimoor

    ‘I have never pressurized Ayeza to spend her own money’: Danish Taimoor

    Actor Danish Taimoor was a guest on “The Talk Talk Show” where among many things, he opened up about his relationship with wife Ayeza Khan , who is also an actor. The two have been married since 2014 and have two children.
    In the interview, Taimoor revealed that he always made sure that the couple’s household expenses would remain his responsibility, and that whatever Ayeza had earned in her career would solely belong to her, leaving her free she to do whatever she liked with it.

    “I do this because even in Islam, this is what we’ve been told to do,” said the actor. “What ever earnings your spouse makes, these are her own and for me to even use Rs1 from it is haram. If its her intention, then she may give it to me if she wishes. But anything regarding grocery or household, I tell her that it is solely my responsiblity,” he categorically said.

    Taimoor also talked about those roles that attracted a lot of public criticism in dramas like Deewangi and Kaisi Teri Khudgarzi. He said that it was not his responsibility to become a teacher, as he was an entertainer:
    “Do not connect these characters with myself…I don’t take responsibility for all of this. I am here to entertain public, otherwise I would have become a teacher.”

    You can watch the complete interview below: