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  • IMF team to visit Pakistan in 2-3 days to finalise ninth review

    IMF team to visit Pakistan in 2-3 days to finalise ninth review

    A delegation from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) will visit Pakistan in two to three days to “undertake and complete” the key ninth review, according to Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif.

    PM Shehbaz said that he spoke to IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva and stressed that Pakistan will complete the IMF bailout programme.

    “I told her to ease the terms of the deal because I cannot burden the common man any further. We have imposed taxes on the rich strata of the society. I requested her to send a delegation for the ninth review and she replied that a team will visit Pakistan in 2-3 days.”

    “After inquiring about Pakistan’s relations with China and Saudi Arabia, she also told me that China had urged IMF to support Pakistan,” he said.

    The IMF programme is currently stalled, with experts suggesting that the government is reluctant to implement some of the lender’s conditions over their effect on political capital in a year when elections are scheduled to take place.

    PM Shehbaz said that Pakistan was trying to mend its ties with friendly countries as well. “We should appreciate friendly countries for supporting Pakistan over the past few years but the previous government slapped allegations of corruption on Chinese firms and jeopardised the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).”

    He stated that the former leadership “had angered friendly nations”, adding that the contribution of Saudi Arabia, UAE and China to Pakistan’s economy is priceless.

    Pakistan needs the IMF programme to restart due to its declining rupee, shrinking reserves, and worse macroeconomic indices.

    The State Bank of Pakistan’s (SBP) foreign exchange holdings dropped by another $245 million on Thursday, down to a critically low level of $5.58 billion. Since April 2014, SBP-held reserves have never been this low.

    At the same time, the government has also been unable in obtaining crucial support from allies.

    The challenge has left Pakistani authorities scurrying to set up foreign exchange amid increased concerns over the country’s capacity to pay its debts and fund imports.

    Additionally, there are market rumours that Pakistan could possibly default, but the Pakistani government is still confident that Saudi Arabia would provide essential assistance for the country’s foreign exchange reserves.

  • Price chicken can increase to Rs1,000 per kg: Chairman Pakistan Poultry Association

    Price chicken can increase to Rs1,000 per kg: Chairman Pakistan Poultry Association

    Chaudhry Muhammad Ashraf, the chairman of the Pakistan Poultry Association (PPA), has cautioned on Friday that a scarcity of feed could cause the price of chicken, a staple food, to rise to Rs1,000 per kilogramme in the near future.

    While talking to Aaj News, Ashraf said that around a dozen containers carrying 0.75 million tons of soybean and canola are also stuck at the port.
    “In the poultry industry, we can stock supply for 15 days or a month. This has been consumed. We do not have soybean available anymore,” said the official.

    “If the two items are not available, this creates problems for feed makers who have already told the farmers that they do not have the product available,” he said.
    Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research (MoFS&R) Tariq Bashir Cheema earlier advised people to stop eating chicken.

    Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, Cheema said that non genetically modified organisms (GMO) oilseeds would be imported into Pakistan from now on.
    The minister continued by stating that since chicken is being fed diets produced from GMO oilseeds, people should cease eating it because it is unhealthy. He claimed that GMO soybeans are dangerous and might cause cancer and other ailments.

  • Passenger banned for 30 days from airline after urinating on woman during flight

    Passenger banned for 30 days from airline after urinating on woman during flight

    A drunk male passenger in business class on an Air India flight from New York to Delhi allegedly unzipped his pants and urinated on a female co-passenger, earning a ban from the airline for 30 days.

    The incident took place in late November, however, the airline took notice on Wednesday after the woman wrote to the group chairman of Air India, N Chandrasekaran. She described the episode as the “most traumatic flight I have ever experienced”.

    According to the female passenger who is in her 70s, after urinating, the man allegedly kept exposing himself and didn’t move until another passenger asked him to return to his seat.

    The woman complained to the crew and told them her clothes, shoes, and bag were soaked in urine. The crew allegedly gave her a set of pajamas and slippers and told her to return to her seat which was covered in sheets but still reeked of urine

    The airline has also filed a police complaint against the man and constituted an internal committee to investigate the matter.

  • Revealed: What did censor board remove from SRK’s ‘Pathaan’?

    Revealed: What did censor board remove from SRK’s ‘Pathaan’?

    Bollywood film Pathaan starring Deepika Padukone, Shah Rukh Khan, and John Abraham, is nearing its release, and before that, it has already gotten itself in a pool of trouble now the last jibe has been taken by the Censor Board as they have asked for more than ten cuts in the film. The film has been directed by Siddharth Anand and is helmed under the banner of Yash Raj Productions. But with time, instead of the problems getting resolved, things are becoming harder for the makers.

    When the first song of the film, Besharam Rang, came out things started to go down south, people protested against the film, especially Deepika’s outfit from that song. And now, when the film is all set to release, there have been reports of several changes had been suggested by the board.

    According to a report in ETimes, the Censor Board has asked for more than ten cuts in Pathaan, including the song Besharam Rang. The makers have been asked to make changes in dialogues and shots. As per reports, some of the changes are the word ‘RAW’ has been replaced with ‘Hamare’, ‘Langde Lulle’ by ‘Toote Foote’, then ‘PM’ has been replaced by ‘President or Minister’, and not just that the term ‘PMO’ was replaced in 13 places.

    As the report stated, the ‘Ashok Chakra’ got replaced by ‘Veer Purashkar’, ‘ex-KGB’ with ‘ex-SBU’, ‘Mrs Bharatmata’ by ‘Hamari Bharatmata’, and ‘Scotch’ by ‘drink’. Then there was a text, ‘Black Prison, Russia’, which got replaced by ‘Black Prison’ only, and not to forget the song, several shots have been asked to remove from it as well. As per the report, the closeup shots of b*tts, ‘side pose’ [partial nudity] and the visuals of the steamy dance movements were also replaced with ‘suitable shots’ [during the lyrics ‘Bahut Tang Kiya’ in the song Besharam Rang]. Although, there has been no mention of Deepika Padukone’s ‘saffron bikini’ getting censored from the song.

    Shah Rukh Khan's 'Pathaan' set to revive Indian box office; advance bookings to commence from Sankranti | Hindi Movie News - Times of India

    The song Besharam Rang (roughly translates to shameless colour) from the upcoming Shah Rukh Khan movie ‘Pathaan’ has garnered controversy since its release. Now India’s Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has advised the makers of the film to implement changes to the song.
    Since the song’s release, costumes worn in the music video have been the subject of criticism, with certain Hindu clerics stating that the lyrics are an insult to their religion.

    Pathan' row: 'Watch this film with your daughter', says MP Speaker to SRK

    Narottam Mishra, a minister from the state of Madhya Pradesh, held a press conference on December 14 about the costumes in the music video, calling them insulting to Hindu practices, and warned the makers of the movie that ‘Pathaan’ would be banned in the state on its release.
    ‘Pathaan’ was submitted by Yash Raj Film to the CBFC for certification prior to being shown in cinemas. On Thursday, the chairman Prasoon Joshi released a statement requesting the makers to implement changes in the song ‘Besharam Rang’ to prevent controversy. The full statement read:

  • Bilal Abbas Khan opens up about falling in love

    Bilal Abbas Khan opens up about falling in love

    Actor Bilal Abbas candidly opened up with Fuchsia Magazine about his experience of falling in love. He said, “So far I am not seeing anyone but I do believe in love, I do believe in marriage but I think if something has to happen it eventually happens, I don’t know why I am fumbling, I am getting confused while talking about love but it will happen when it is meant to be. Also, I will deal with such a situation despite my confusion.

    The Dobara star elaborated on the concept of a soul mate, Bilal said, “I do believe in a soul mate, for me, love is about honesty, respect, loyalty, companionship, and mutual admiration with each other, if you claim that you love someone then these essentials are important, if there is nothing like that then you are just talking with each other and not in love, currently, I am not seeing anyone.

    Last year the Dunk star got candid about his co-stars Sajal Aly, Yumna Zaidi, Sarah Khan, and Hadiqa Kiani.

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    AJ Vector on Twitter:
    Bilal Abbas FC в Twitter:
  • ‘Divorce is the last resort’: Mansha Pasha opens up about her first marriage

    ‘Divorce is the last resort’: Mansha Pasha opens up about her first marriage

    Actor Mansha Pasha recently spoke about her first marriage in an interview. Pasha stated on Momina’s Mixed Plate, “Yes I was married before but I don’t speak much about it, yes, he was from industry, probably more behind the camera. I mean, I think a lot of people have the feeling that if their marriage doesn’t work they still think that it is the only thing in life, it’s not like that, marriage is the union of two people who are in it, it can’t be defined, it’s different, it’s not same I can’t do comparisons. The two people in a relationship are different and they can’t be compared.”

    Mansha Pasha opens up about her first marriage
    Mansha Pasha Discusses About Her First Marriage & Divorce

    “Definitely divorce is a last resort, sometimes people go into marriage without any idea, sometimes they just get into a relationship without any thought process, no one marries to take a divorce. I got married quite young, in our society people married at a young age, so my personality wasn’t developed and I’m taking up a relationship, in most marriages, you are not mature enough to handle things, if you two are different, then you should take a chance to move on, also I believe that you are not marrying a person but you are marrying a family, it’s a desi statement but I agree to it,” she concluded.

    The Zindagi Gulzar Hai star is currently married to activist Jibran Nasir.

    Change your name after marriage is not required in Islam: Mansha Pasha – The Odd Onee

  • Resign, Khan tells his Punjab MPAs, if Punjab Assembly dissolution doesn’t go his way

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has given instructions that if his desired dissolution of the Punjab Assembly (PA) is halted, all of his party’s Members of the Provincial Assembly (MPAs) will resign, reports Geo News.

    According to news outlet sources, PTI has prepared a new strategy to deal with the political crisis in Punjab.

    Khan has also directed all party members to ensure the trust vote for Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Pervaiz Elahi.

    Earlier, a session of the Punjab Assembly was called on January 11, but later the date was changed to January 9.

    While it seems like PTI is gearing up for the no-confidence motion, on the contrary, Khan-backed CM Elahi said that he will not take orders from Punjab Governor Muhammad Baligur Rehman, hence he will not take a vote of confidence.

  • Sajal Aly, Mehwish Hayat and Kubra Khan address malicious allegations

    Sajal Aly, Mehwish Hayat and Kubra Khan address malicious allegations

    Actor Kubra Khan has announced she would take legal action against fugitive military officer Major (retd) Adil Raja for allegedly leveling false allegations against her.

    In a statement issued on Monday, she said she would take legal action against him if he fails to retract his allegations and does not apologize to her within three days.

    Kubra Khan asked Adil Raja to come up with proof to corroborate his claims or be prepared to face legal action.

    Adil Raja claimed that some Pakistani actresses and models were working in cahoots with General (retd) Bajwa and former ISI honcho Faiz Hameed to trap politicians.

    Although he shared the initials of the actresses instead of full names, it became obvious to netizens who he was referring to.

    Soon after his vlog surfaced online, a large number of social media users were seen spreading a collage of pictures featuring Mehwish Hayat, Mahira Khan, Kubra Khan, and Sajal Aly.

    Shortly after Kubra’s strong response, Raja replied on Twitter by saying that he never took her name. He elaborated on his stance in a vlog. Adil in fact alleged Kubra of defaming him in her post.

    Adil Raja’s Apology

    Major Adil took to his Twitter handle to apologise to Kubra Khan.

    He also stated that he never intended to target any woman, when he posted his controversial video.

    https://twitter.com/soldierspeaks/status/1611292792445358081

    Raja also stated that he apologised because his younger sister asked him to.

    Amidst the ongoing controversy, Sajal Aly tweeted a cryptic message, “It is very sad that our country is becoming morally debased and ugly; character assassination is the worst form of humanity and sin.”

    After Kubra and Sajal, Mehwish Hayat also lashed out at the person responsible for spreading false news about her. Hayat wrote, “Some people stoop down to an inhumane level to get cheap publicity. Hope you’re enjoying your two mins of fame. Just because I am an actress doesn’t mean my name can be dragged through the mud. Shame on you for spreading baseless allegations and insinuations about someone you know nothing about & even bigger shame on people who believe this bullshit. This just shows the sickness of our society that laps up this gutter journalism without any thought. But this stops & it stops now!I won’t allow anyone to defame my name.”

    A few notable celebrities extended support to these leading ladies on social media. Actors Muneeeb Butt and Zara Noor Abbas took to their Instagram stories to condemn the defamation of female stars.

    Muneeb wrote, “Same 90s filthy and graceless politics is back, throwing fake nudes to accusing someone falsely, we haven’t learned anything! I strongly protest and condemn the allegations made by @soldierspeaks. We actors are not vulnerable. We stand firm with our female colleagues.”

    Zara also condemned the misuse of freedom of speech.

    Sister duo Aiman and Minal Khan also shared their stance on the matter in heartfelt Instagram stories.

    Mansha Pasha took to Twitter to condemn the rise of hateful content targeted toward powerful women who are succeeding in their game.

    “Women even at the top of their game; independent, outspoken, and fearless are considered easy prey by small men. It is literally the last refuge of the desperate and is the most cowardly thing one can do.”

    Actor Syeda Tuba Anwar condemned how models and actresses become easy targets for petty politics, and sent her support to Sajal Aly.

    Instagram blogger and wife of actor Usman Mukhtar, Zunaira Inam expressed her rage on social media on how easy it was to character assasinate women without any proper proof.

    ‘So anyone can record a video putting all sorts of allegations on another person and people will hop on the bandwagon? It shouldn’t be this easy to character-assassinate women without any proof. Especially to distract from the dismal security and economic condition of the country.’

    In her next tweet, she called out the blogger for allowing powerful women to be slut shamed based on their own assumptions.

    ‘It’s not “just initials”. You’re allowing ppl to shame women based off nothing but their own assumptions. What did that allegation prove anyway? That generals are corrupt? Have low morals? Is anyone talking about that? Most people are too busy slutshaming.’

  • ‘Disgusting people’ Armeena Khan slams trolls after sharing video clip of husband with their baby

    It’s horrifying to witness how the state of victim blaming and misogyny is deeply steeped within the minds of Pakistani men, that even little children aren’t spared from the mercy of trolls. Women aren’t born as products to fulfill the needs of the patriarchy, and its not the fault of a literal child, if a grown man cannot seem to see her as anything but a sexual object.

    Armeena Khan was quick to school trolls who shamed her for simply uploading a video of her husband giving her baby a shower. Any other person would find this endearing on how fathers are adapting to taking care of children, but Pakistani men, for whom witnessing love and affection is odd and out of form, made a completly different interpretation of what was going on.

    Soon after this video was posted, Khan shared this post where the user was shaming a literal infant for not adorning pardah before her father. The actress was quick to remind the trolls that her daughter wasn’t supposed to feel insecure and terrified around her father, and called out the dirty mind who peddle this misogynist mindset.

    “Baby is literally a few days old, wtf is wrong with you disgusting people! He’s her FATHER! Dirty thoughts dirty people!”

    This is the sad result of championing misgoynist beliefs in a country like Pakistan, that even a father taking responsibility of his child is considered odd, or even could spark hateful comments. Fathers are not baby sitters, or even temporary care takers, it is their responsibility to take their of their own children. As this user reccounted to Armeena that her own husband helps their daughter around the house when she’s not around, the actress reminded the woman that this is how fathers are supposed to be.

    “He’s supposed to my love, he’s your fathers first Mehram. This is what happens when people conflate religion with culture. This culture is dirty and needs to change hoenstly.”

    It is no surprise that Pakistan landed on the fourth spot in the list of most dangerous countries for women in 2021, because even an infant that is three days old isn’t spared from moral policing and sexual objectification from trolls. This entire spectacle has really taught us how difficult it is for women to exist freely on the internet, because we need to keep fighting back against attempts to shame or sexually objectify us. But its wonderful to see Armeena Khan setting an example, and reminding the mediocre minds of Pakistani men that women do not exist for their pleasure solely.

  • ‘Imran se mil ke dosti ka ailaan kareinge’: Gen Faiz convinced Modi to visit Pakistan in 2021, claims Javed Chaudhry

    Journalist Javed Chaudhry continues with bringing inside details of the working of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) led government in his column. In the fourth part of the series published today, Chaudhry alleges that in 2020 the establishment had convinced Indian Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi to visit Pakistan, and former Bahawalpur corps commander Lt Gen (retd) Faiz Hameed played a significant role in arranging the proposed trip.

    The journalist writes that in this regard Lt Gen (retd) Faiz Hameed, who was then the head of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) met Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and both agreed upon Modi visiting Pakistan on April 9, 2021.

    All the details of the trip had been planned out. Modi would have first visited the Hinglaj Mata Mandir in Balochistan and on his way back home he would have met Imran Khan who was Prime Minister. Chaudhry said that it was planned that “Modi would shake hands with Khan and declare peace between the two countries and opening of trade”.

    Continuing with the sensational claims, the journalist writes that both leaders would announce that there will be no interference or terrorist activities from both countries. At the time, Modi was of the view that both countries would sit together after 20 years to decide about the future of India-occupied Kashmir.

    However, this tour was cancelled because Khan—on the advice of his foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi—backed out. Chaudhry writes that Qureshi scared Khan by telling him it would give a perception to the masses that he [Khan] has compromised on Kashmir.

    Lt Gen (retd) Faiz Hameed helped Khan in confidence motion

    According to the journalist, the establishment helped Khan throughout the confidence motion that Imran voluntarily announced he will take, right after Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) candidate Yousaf Raza Gillani defeated PTI’s Hafeez Sheikh in the senate elections. Lt Gen (retd) Faiz Hameed ensured full numbers for PTI so Khan could win the motion. Calls and visits were made to ensure that disgruntled MNAs voted in favour of Khan.

    Moreover, the journalist writes that as per his sources, Khan advised showing leniency towards former President and co-chairman of PPP, Asif Ali Zardari, from National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and the court.

    LNG deal was ruined by Khan

    In the column, another detailed passage says that former army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa admits that former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz signed the best LNG deal with Qatar to ensure supplies for Pakistan during winters but it was ruined by Imran Khan.

    Chaudhry said that then-Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Petroleum, Nadeem Babar, asked for just three gas shipments from Qatar despite a one-time generous offer to take ‘as much as required’ amidst a looming gas crisis at home, so he could sell his own furnace oil.

    In another episode, Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) caught a ship loaded with cheaply bought Iranian petrol. It was for none other than Babar. According to him, Khan was informed about it but chose to stay quiet.

    Also, prior to Nadeem’s appointment, Khan was warned by the establishment but he didnt listen.

    Babar isn’t in the country anymore but Pakistan is still paying the price of his decisions to serve his own interests, all because Imran wanted to retain him as his aide, writes Chaudhry in his column.