National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has issued tourist guidelines for people visiting popular holiday destinations such as Murree, Galiyat, Abbottabad, Gilgit-Baltistan, Naran, Kaghan and other northern areas.
Tourists have been advised to regularly check weather forecasts on Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) and NDMA’s website for updated weather information.
In addition the authority has advised tourists to check with National Highways & Motorway Police (NH&MP) on their website or helpline for the status / road condition of the intended route.
“Ensure proper checking and maintenance of vehicles from a mechanic. Also carry a spare tire (checked and filled with required air pressure), radiator fluids and lubricants, as advised by the mechanic,” reads the advisory.
“Keep passage for fresh air circulation through the air conditioning mechanism or keep a window slightly ajar,” it added. Earlier this year in January, a traffic jam in Murree turned deadly after 23 people, including children, were killed by carbon monoxide poisoning as they waited for roads to clear in their cars with engines running.
Popular TikToker Jannat Mirza is generating negative comments for her series of posts about her relationship with TikToker fiance Umer Butt.
The Tere Bajray Di Raakhi recently announced that she has ended her relationship with Butt. In an Instagarm story, she stated, “I am not in a relationship anymore, I am single, don’t ask me why?”
This generated a lot of attention on social media. Here are both her post and her fiance’s posts.
When people were on the verge of accepting the rumor, Jannat and Umer corrected it and said that the status was made in jest because Jannat had rejected Umer Butt’s decision to go clean-shaven, which led to the sarcastic status.
Mirza further clarified her relationship with Umer.
Netizens trolled the duo for their ‘immature’ gimmick.
Former Senator of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Faisal Vawda has said that his party’s ongoing long march is sparsely attended, remarking that, “Long march mein aanay walay logon se ziada mere mulaazim hain,” (I have more employees than the number of people who attend the long march).
During Samaa News‘ show ‘Nadeem Malik Live’, Vawda criticised his former party members without naming them, calling them “snakes”. He said that these leaders claimed that there would be hundreds of thousands of people participating in the long march. “Jitny log long march main a rahy hain is se zyada toh school ke bachay assembly mei hotay hain,” (More children attend school assembly than the number of people attending the long march).
Vawda confirmed the meeting between PTI Chief Imran Khan and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Qamar Javed Bajwa at the President’s House.
“I helped in arranging that meeting. There were misunderstandings between the two parties but the meeting went well.”
He claimed that PTI is popular among the people right now, however, he raised questions about why the party is carrying out the long march.
Last month, Vawda had predicted that PTI’s march would be a bloody one. After that, the former ruling party terminated Vawda’s basic membership.
PTI said that he would not be allowed to hold any party office or represent the party in the media as he had “grossly violated discipline by giving statements against party policies and guidelines”.
Senior leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Fawad Chaudhry, landed in hot water on Wednesday night after Geo News‘ Shahzeb Khanzada revealed WhatsApp conversations the former minister had with Dubai-based businessman Umar Farooq Zahoor.
پبلک میں اس کو فراڈیا اور انٹرنیشنل مجرم کہتے اور ذاتی پیغام رسانی میں دوستیوں کے ناطے پیار سے درخواستیں کرتے ہیں۔ 2 ملین ڈالر کی گھڑی کے خریدار عمر فاروق سے فواد کے بات چیت کے بعد بھی اگر کسی کو اصلیت پتا نہ چلے تو پھر دعا ہی کی جا سکتی ہے۔ فواد عمر فاروق کا مہمان بھی بنا رہا۔ pic.twitter.com/LgxdbiUGKo
The alleged Whatsapp conversations show that Fawad Chaudhry was in contact with Zahoor who claimed this week that former Prime Minister Imran Khan sold him a precious Graff set gifted to him by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in 2019. Fawad, who had called Zahoor a “liar” after his explosive claims about the sale of the state gift, refers to the businessman as “brother”.
When Zahoor revealed that he had bought state gifts from Imran Khan, Chaudhry denied the allegations. However, he acknowledged that the gift was “legally” sold in the market.
In the chats, Fawad said to Zahoor that “It seems the watch alleged to be of IK is not the same”. He also requested him not to take Khan’s name.
During the show, Khanzada said Chaudhry also promised to help Zahoor get contracts from the Government of Pakistan.
On Tuesday, Zahoor revealed to Shahzeb Khanzada how that he had bought the Graff set from Khan. Immediately afterward, Chaudhry contacted him and asked what had happened. “[Taking the name of] Shahzad Akbar is understandable, but why Imran Khan?” Chaudhry asked the businessman.
Zahoor and Chaudhry met in Dubai several times. During the PTI government, the two also exchanged messages.
Zahoor claimed that he had bought the branded set through former accountability minister Shahzad Akbar and Farah Khan, a close aide of Imran’s wife Bushra Bibi. He said that he had paid the equivalent of $2 million in cash for the set.
The government of Pakistan banned Saim Sadiq’s Oscar contender “Joyland” for containing “highly objectionable” material, earlier this month.
An order dated Nov. 11 from Pakistan’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting says that the country’s censor board had granted a censor certificate to the film on Aug. 17. But it has since reversed the decision.
“Written complaints were received that the film contains highly objectionable material which do not conform with the social values and moral standards of our society and is clearly repugnant to the norms of ‘decency and morality’ as laid down in Section 9 of the Motion Picture Ordinance, 1979,” the order states. “Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by Section 9(2) (a) of the said Ordinance and after conducting a comprehensive inquiry, the Federal Government declares the feature film titled ‘Joyland’ as an uncertified film for the whole of Pakistan in the cinemas which fall under the jurisdiction of CBFC with immediate effect.”
Head of Prime Minister of Pakistan’s Strategic Reforms, Salman Sufi publicly requested the current federal minister of Information & Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb to review the ban and meet the film’s team.
PM @CMShehbaz has constituted a high level committee to assess #Joyland and review its ban.
The committee will assess the complaints as well as merits to decide on its release in Pakistan.
— Salman Sufi (Get New Covid Booster Today) (@SalmanSufi7) November 14, 2022
Sufi later revealed that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has constituted a committee to assess Joyland and review its ban.
Latest Update (Ban Reversed)
The globally acclaimed and multiple award-winning Pakistani film Joyland has been given green signal by the censor board of Pakistan after reviewing it on the Prime Minister’s directions.
The full board has allowed the local screening of Joyland after deleting some parts. The film was initially set to have a commercial release in Pakistan on November 18.
PM Shehbaz Sharif formed a cabinet committee to look into the matter after some schools of thought had objected to the movie.
Release Stopped By Punjab Government
Following yesterday’s clearance by the censor board, Joyland’s theatrical release has once again been halted, this time by the government of Punjab.
The Government of Punjab has retracted its No Objection Certificate (NOC) issued to the movie Joyland. The notification issued by Information and Culture Department reads that Punjab government, in the wake of complaints, has decided to ‘recall’ the movie by “exercising powers conferred under Section-9 (1 and 2) Motion Pictures Ordinance, 1979.” “You are therefore directed not to exhibit above titled film in the jurisdiction of Punjab province till further orders of the Govt,” reads the notification.
Reactions On The Ban
Saim and his team members raised their voices against the ban imposed by the government. Terming the ban a “grave injustice,” Sadiq, in an Instagram post, says that the ban is “absolutely unconstitutional and illegal” and has urged the country’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to review the decision.
Apart from the film’s team, A-list celebrities and media personalities also reacted to the news and expressed their support for the film.
#ReleaseJoyland ! There is no reason not to. Be proud of the work that our artists create not afraid! Give your own people the respect they get in foreign lands. Support us, stand by us and we as Pakistani artists will make this country proud! https://t.co/6jQizg0Xbx
Set in Lahore, the film revolves around Haider, the youngest son of the middle-class, patriarchal Rana family. As the Ranas yearn for the birth of a baby boy, Haider secretly joins an erotic dance theater and finds himself falling for a fiercely ambitious trans starlet. Their love story illuminates the secrets and desires of the entire Rana family.
The film debuted at the Un Certain Regard strand at Cannes earlier this year, where it won the jury prize. Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai later joined the project as an executive producer. It is Pakistan’s entry in the Oscars’ international feature category.
Recently it also won the Asia Pacific Screen Awards’ young cinema award, given in partnership with critics’ association NETPAC and the Griffith Film School.
After hearing of the ban, APSA said in a written statement: “ ‘Joyland’ represents a significant new cinematic talent in Saim Sadiq from Pakistan, who has crafted a moving and entertaining drama about family in his debut feature film. The Young Cinema Award Jury commends Saim Sadiq for his brave and joyous celebration of community diversity and the universality of love.”
More than 300 scammers have been arrested in Faisalabad by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) after more than 150 cases of internet fraud were reported to the agency, Samaa has reported.
The scammers made phone calls to consumers through a software, pretending to be bank employees and obtaining account details or offering to change ATM cards.
According to FIA officials, internet conmen are targeting the industrial city of Faisalabad with the number of fraud cases increasing daily. More than 1,100 Faisalabad citizens fell prey to online fraud in 2022, losing millions of rupees from their bank accounts. In 2021, cyber criminals defrauded more than 900 victims out of their money.
The Pakistani rupee (PKR) lost 0.12 per cent on Thursday in the inter-bank market, continuing its downward trend against the US dollar.
The rupee dropped by Rs0.26 and ended the day at Rs222.67. The rupee has decreased by Rs1.25, or 0.56 per cent, over the last five trading sessions.
PKR continued to lose value against the US dollar on Wednesday, falling Rs0.50 (0.22 per cent) to settle at Rs222.41.
In a significant breakthrough on Wednesday, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) promised the Standing Committee on Finance of the National Assembly that action would be taken against banks by the end of the month for allegedly overcharging importers when establishing Letters of Credit.
The SBP informed the banks in person about the practise and counselled them to rationalise the margins they were charging customers, according to information provided to the committee.
Additionally, Pakistan’s external debt and liabilities reduced by $3.282 billion from $130.196 billion as of June 30, 2022, to $126.914 billion at the end of September 2022.
The dollar recovered globally on Thursday as strong US retail data challenged the recent narrative that inflation is declining and US interest rates do not need to increase significantly more.
The US reported overnight that retail sales increased 1.3 per cent in October, exceeding economists’ expectations of 1.0 per cent, a positive sign but one that dashed expectations for a pause in rate increases.
The dollar index, which compares the value of the dollar to six important peers, increased 0.18 per cent to 106.46.
A key indicator of currency parity, oil prices fell on Thursday due to easing geopolitical tensions and worries about Chinese demand, though signs of tighter supply, such as lower US inventories, provided support.
The United States (US) has once again reiterated that there has never been any truth to former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s allegations of Washington DC orchestrating a regime change conspiracy to oust his government.
“As we’ve previously said, there has — there is not and there has never been truth to these allegations, but I don’t have anything additional to offer,” US State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel said in reply to a question during a press briefing on Wednesday.
Patel was asked about Imran Khan’s recent interview in which he has said that he no longer “blames the US” for engineering the Vote of No-Confidence that resulted in his government’s ouster, and wants “dignified” ties with the country if he comes back to power.
“The US values our longstanding cooperation with Pakistan and has always viewed a prosperous and democratic Pakistan as critical to US interests. That remains unchanged,” said Patel.
“We support peaceful upholding of democratic, constitutional, and legal principles. And ultimately, we will not let propaganda, misinformation and disinformation get in the way of any bilateral relationship, including our valued bilateral partner with Pakistan.”
Referring to the alleged conspiracy which the former Prime Minister has insisted upon since April of this year, Khan said that “it was over”, in an interview with the Financial Times.
“As far as I’m concerned, it’s over; it’s behind me. The Pakistan I want to lead must have good relationships with everyone, especially the United States,” he said.
Chinese President Xi Jinping scolded Canadian Prime Minister (PM) Justin Trudeau in an on-camera dressing down at the G20 summit.
Xi Jinping on Wednesday criticised PM Trudeau in person over alleged leaks of their closed-door meeting at the G20 summit, a rare public display of annoyance by the Chinese leader.
In video published by Canadian broadcasters, Xi and Trudeau can be seen standing close to each other and conversing via a translator at the summit on the Indonesian island of Bali.
“Everything we discussed has been leaked to the papers. That is not appropriate,” Xi remarks.
BREAKING: Chairman Xi dresses down Justin Trudeau like a junior employee for leaking their private conversation to the media. Trudeau can barely walk after pic.twitter.com/QlRtbiBSIg
Speaking evenly and wearing a slight smile, he says: “And that’s not the way (our discussion) was conducted, was it?”. As Trudeau listens in silence, the Chinese President addresses him directly, “If there is sincerity, we can have conversations based on an attitude of mutual respect. Otherwise, the results will be unpredictable.”
Xi then appears to try to walk past Trudeau, but the Canadian leader replies: “In Canada, we believe in free, open and frank dialogue, and that is what we will continue to have.
“We will continue to look to work constructively together, but there will be things we disagree on,” he tells Xi.
Raising his hands, Xi cuts him off, saying bluntly: “Create the conditions. Create the conditions.” He then broadens his smile, barely looking at Trudeau as he shakes his hand and leaves his counterpart to make his way out of the room.
Neither the Chinese foreign ministry nor state media have published anything on talks between Xi and Trudeau. The two held a 10-minute informal meeting on the sidelines of the G20 summit on Tuesday.
The murder of Shraddha Madan Walkar, a 26-year-old employee in a call-centre in Mumbai was murdered by her live-in partner Aftab Amin Poonawalla in India on May 18 has swept the country in a frenzy of outrage. Aftab Amin Poonawala had allegedly strangulated Walker to death after she demanded that he marry her and then chopped her body into 35 pieces in the Chhatarpur area of the India’s capital Delhi. Aftab has been arrested by the police.
The police said that after chopping his 26-year-old girlfriend into pieces on May 18, Aftab bought a brand new refrigerator with a large storage capacity the next day and placed the pieces in it. To counter the stench, he lit incense sticks at his home. He has been accused of dumping parts of her body in trash sites and garbage dumps across the city.
Who is Aftab Ameen Poonawalla?
Aftab Ameen Poonawalla is a food blogger. Poonawalla used to manage a culinary blog named hungrychokro_escapades account on Instagram. There are several high-resolution images of many Indian and Chinese meals on the 28,500-follower account. Many of his blogs feature foods from well-known restaurants, while others discuss delicacies made at home. He identified himself as a food photographer, food & beverage consultant, and food photographer in his biography.
One of his Facebook posts depicts support for LGBTQ+ causes. In June 2015, he changed his profile picture to celebrate pride.
Some social media users have dubbed the alleged murderer “Dahmer” after the American serial killer who used to chop up his victims into small pieces which he then stored in his house.
