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  • ‘There will be no place in hell to hide’: Feroze Khan grills Miftah Ismail for his recent remarks

    ‘There will be no place in hell to hide’: Feroze Khan grills Miftah Ismail for his recent remarks

    Actor Feroze Khan took to his Instagram stories to grill Finance Minister (FM) Miftah Ismail for his recent statement amidst the petrol hike. Khan is appalled at the comic remarks by Miftah Ismail on the recent inflation hikes.

    The Finance Minister recently mentioned in a speech that citizens rush to petrol stations whenever he appears on television. The Khaani hero feels his humorous remarks are insensitive and grilled the politician by saying that he will get no place in hell to hide.”

    Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Saturday tweeted in support of Ismail. He further revealed that Ismail was facing immense criticism from within the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) because of the continuous increase in petrol prices.

    The Khuda Aur Mohabbat 3 star recently responded to a fan who termed his smile as ‘poison’. Feroze laughed it off and responded that “where does such phrases come from?”

    He recently appeared on Tabish Hashmi’s show TBH (To Be Honest) and he talked about his one insane female fan. The Khaani star recently hit back a troll who commented a derogatory remark on his picture.

    The Ishqiya star said that while he was the VJ for a show, he had an experience with a female fan when he had to use the washroom in the middle of the show.

    The Dil Tera Hogaya actor added: “I was going to the washroom with my team, they were escorting me to the place , later on, I sent the team back and went to the washroom, while I got back , I noticed the sound of someone walking behind me, when I saw around, it was the girl’s face whom I was watching for many months, the face was already fixed in my mind because I saw her a lot on my sets, she just used to come & watch me.”

    He kept on saying, “I asked to her, Yes ?, she said that she needs my number, she grabbed me from my collar and asked for it “, “I then gave my uncle’s number because I was stuck in a weird situation at that time, also I thought how can someone be so aggressive for the number”, said Feroze.

    “My uncle then called me and said someone called and asked about you, uncle smiled too”. Feroze further said that then another day he called and said “please settle this thing, it’s getting out of hands, she is desperately asking for your number from me.”

    Feroze stated that he loves the appreciation that his followers shower him with, but that devotion may be dangerous.

  • Video: Man marries alligator, kisses it after wedding

    Video: Man marries alligator, kisses it after wedding

    A man in Mexico has tied the knot with an alligator, Reuters has reported. In a vibrant wedding that took place in June, a Mexican mayor of a tiny town married his alligator bride.

    In video and pictures that have gone viral on social media, the man can be seen kissing the alligator. The seven-year-old alligator is referred to as ‘little princess’. It is thought to be a goddess who represents mother earth; her union with the local leader represents the union of people and the divine.

    “We ask nature for enough rain, for enough food, that we have fish in the river,” said Sosa, mayor of the small fishing village on Oaxaca’s steamy Pacific coast.

    “It gives me so much happiness and makes me proud of my roots,” said Elia Edith Aguilar, known as the godmother who organised the wedding.

    “It’s a very beautiful tradition,” she added.

  • ‘Miftah is facing immense criticism from within PML-N’: Khawaja Asif

    ‘Miftah is facing immense criticism from within PML-N’: Khawaja Asif

    Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Saturday tweeted in support of Finance Minister (FM) Miftah Ismail. He further revealed that Ismail was facing immense criticism from within the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) because of the continuous increase in petrol prices.

    “FM Miftah is among the hardest working members of PM’s team, accessible to all stakeholders,” tweeted Khawaja Asif.

    “He is performing v. well under difficult circumstances, with immense criticism from vested interests – including, and unfortunately, from within PMLN. Time to show solidarity with Miftah.”

    Miftah Ismail had recently said that he was “not supposed” to appear on national television to announce an increase in the cost of petroleum products, but that he did so in response to a directive from Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif.

    It is pertinent to mention here that PML-N’s supremo Nawaz Sharif’s close aide and former Finance Minister Ishaq Dar confirmed his return to Pakistan in July. He said that he is coming back on the directions of Nawaz and the decision was taken after the consent of PM Shehbaz.

    There was news circulating of Dar taking the charge of the finance ministry, to which he said he cannot decide this matter. “My party will decide.”

    Ismail is under pressure since the government announced multiple hikes in petroleum products and the delay in the revival of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout programme.

  • ‘Will get fresh tear gas if needed,’ Rana Sanaullah warns PTI

    ‘Will get fresh tear gas if needed,’ Rana Sanaullah warns PTI

    Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said if the need arises, fresh, effective and updated tear gas will be used against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporters who are ready to hold a rally at Islamabad’s Parade Ground today.

    Meanwhile, it has been reported that a pistol was recovered from a man who was present at the rally venue.

    The police have arrested the man and he is now being investigated.

    In a press conference today (Saturday), Sanaullah said that the expired tear gas, which he claimed was bought by his “predecessors”, had finished. “Now they [police] will get everything effective, fresh and updated if the need arises.” However, he advised participants at PTI rally not to cause chaos. “It would be better if they don’t create a situation.”

    He said that in the future, any such “seditious” rallies won’t be tolerated in the capital.

    Regarding a question about PTI Chairman Imran Khan, the federal minister said he should “correct” his matters and refrain from “creating rebellion and instability” in Pakistan.

    “All the political parties in the country at the moment are on one side, trying to solve the ongoing crises, while Imran Khan is busy abusing everyone and playing the politics of hatred,” the interior minister added.

    Prior to this, PTI alleged that the Islamabad police had used expired tear gas against them on May 25. Later, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Islamabad Dr Akbar Nasir Khan had stated that expired tear gas shells were not used.

    On Friday, the Staff Duties Directorate at the General Headquarters (GHQ) Rawalpindi permitted PTI to organise its jalsa at Parade Ground in the federal capital.

    The permission is only valid for July 2. The NOC was given on the condition that the public gathering shall not disturb or disrupt the fundamental rights of the citizens of Islamabad and adjoining areas nor shall it block Islamabad Expressway or any other road. The gathering shall end at midnight.

  • Pakistani mobile manufacturing businesses are laying off workers due to economic challenges

    Pakistani mobile manufacturing businesses are laying off workers due to economic challenges

    There has been significant upheaval in the economy as a result of the new tax structure, rising inflation, and the power shortage.

    The Samsung mobile factory, which is owned by Lucky Motors, experienced a similar situation when it had to lay off a number of employees because Pakistan was short on raw materials.

    In addition to Samsung, there have also been reports of firing close to 1,000 workers at the Vivo mobile factory.

    Lucky Motor Corporation was permitted by PTA to manufacture Samsung mobile devices in August 2021, which sounded like a great news in terms of job creation and GDP contribution, among other things.

    In various economic sectors, each economic measure can have numerous impacts. As per economic theory, a nation’s high rate of inflation discourages investment since it makes it less certain that those investments will be lucrative. Humongous unemployment is being caused by this, along with an import ban and a recently implemented “super tax” in Pakistan.

    Additionally, businesses like Careem and Airlift recently stopped operating in some sectors and let go of a number of employees.

    In the year 2020, Careem fired 31 per cent of its workforce due to a pandemic. A number of the staff members at SVWL, Airlift, and Careem Food were let go in 2022. limited their operations or nearly shut down.

  • Secretary Cabinet directed to release list of gifts received by PMs, presidents of Pakistan since 1947

    Secretary Cabinet directed to release list of gifts received by PMs, presidents of Pakistan since 1947

    The Pakistan Information Commission (PIC) has directed the secretary cabinet to release the list of all the gifts received by all the prime ministers (PMs) and presidents of Pakistan since 1947. In addition, it has directed the secretary cabinet to provide the details of the amount at which the presidents and PMs had purchased those state gifts.

    The PIC took the decision at the request of lawyer Abuzar Salman Khan Niazi.

    In a tweet, Abuzar Niazi termed the decision as a “victory”.

    Talking to The Current, Abuzar said, “It is is a landmark decision by the Information Commission of Pakistan. A right step towards transparency and accountability. Freedom of information is a fundamental right protected under Art 19 A of the Constitution. People have the right to know everything which is of public importance.”

  • Google to delete location history of users visiting abortion clinics in the US

    Google to delete location history of users visiting abortion clinics in the US

    In response to mounting concerns that their information could be used to prosecute people seeking reproductive care and other personal services, Google said that it will automatically delete records of user trips to sensitive areas, including abortion clinics in the United States (US).

    Without mentioning abortion, Google stated on Friday that it would keep fighting back against improper or excessively broad requests for data by the US government.

    “Some of the places people visit — including medical facilities like counseling centres, domestic violence shelters, abortion clinics, fertility centres, addiction treatment facilities, weight loss clinics, cosmetic surgery clinics, and others — can be particularly personal,” Google said in a post on its website. “If our systems identify that someone has visited one of these places, we will delete these entries from Location History soon after they visit.”

    Google also said that it will release updates that would let those who use its Fitbit wearables to track their periods to remove numerous logs at once.

    The development came a few days after the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade, a landmark ruling that granted the right to abortion. The court determined that there is no constitutional right to an abortion, leaving it up to the states to decide whether or not to allow abortions.

  • US embassy expands interview waiver eligibility for Pakistanis

    US embassy expands interview waiver eligibility for Pakistanis

    The United States (US) Mission in Pakistan has announced the expansion of the interview waiver for Pakistani citizens who are renewing B1/B2 tourist and business visas at the US Embassy in Islamabad and the US Consulate General in Karachi.

    In a press release, the US embassy stated that Pakistanis who are 45 and older with valid or expired B1/B2 visas within the last four years are eligible to participate.

    However, some eligible visa holders may be required to appear for interviews at the US Embassy or Consulate-General after submitting their applications as it is required by US law.

    Applicants can check their eligibility for an interview waiver by visiting the website of the US Mission in Pakistan.

    This step has been taken to improve customer service and speed up the procedure of the renewal of tourist and business visas for qualified and eligible Pakistani citizens.

  • Oil sales fell by 11 per cent as prices rose to highest levels

    Oil sales fell by 11 per cent as prices rose to highest levels

    In June 2022, overall sales of petroleum and lubricants were 1.93 million tonnes, down 11 per cent from the previous month but unchanged from the previous year.

    Petrol and high-speed diesel (HSD) sales both experienced significant monthly declines, falling by 12 and 16 per cent, respectively.

    Sales of all oil products rose by 16 per cent YoY to 22.595 million tonnes during FY22 from 19.45 million tonnes during the same period in FY21.

    Analyzing the data demonstrates that expansion was seen in all categories, with offtake increasing to 8.95 million tonnes, 8.87 million tonnes, and 4.04 million tonnes, respectively, up by 9 per cent, 15 per cent, and 35 per cent on YoY compared to the same period last year.

    Ismail Iqbal Securities analyst Abdullah Umer stated, “We believe that significant rise in both diesel and petrol prices are the main reason behind the decline in retail sales.”

    According to the brokerage house, “Healthy economic activity, robust agricultural activity, upbeat automobile sales, and curb of HSD smuggling remained major drivers behind such stupendous growth.”

    Although the current government has chosen to manage petroleum product prices by levying a Petroleum Development Levy (PDL) and sales tax even if international oil prices decline, the brokerage house anticipated a further slowdown in diesel and gasoline sales going forward.

    In the coming months, retail fuel demand is likely to be further impacted by an increase in carpooling, increased use of public transportation, a change in consumer behaviour (moving from passenger cars to two-wheelers), high inflation, and a general slowdown in economic activity.

    “We expect RFO sales to remain intact due to a likely decline in RLNG & imported coal-based power generation.”

    The government announced a late-night price increase for petroleum products on Thursday, raising the ex-depot price of gasoline to Rs248.74 per liter (after an increase of Rs14.85) and diesel to Rs276.54 (after a hike of Rs13.23).

    Diesel was previously priced at Rs263.31 per litre and petrol at Rs233.89.

    The pricing structure included a Rs10 petroleum levy on gasoline. The cost of high-speed diesel, kerosene, and light diesel oil has also increased by Rs5 per litre.

    Finance Minister Miftah Ismail announced the government’s decision, stating that these prices would go into effect at midnight in order to make up for the Rs-230 billion loss experienced during the fiscal year that ended on June 30th, 2022.

    According to him, the country’s budget deficit, which reached a historic high of Rs5 trillion, made the increase in these prices inevitable.

  • Farhan Saeed opens up on equation with Hania Aamir and Iqra Aziz

    Farhan Saeed opens up on equation with Hania Aamir and Iqra Aziz

    Singer-cum-actor Farhan Saeed opened up on his professional equation with costars Hania Aamir, Iqra Aziz and wife Urwa Hocane in an interview. Saeed shared what’s most important to him when it comes to his co-stars.

    He said, “The only thing I focus on when it comes to heroines is that their vibes and energy should be positive, not only with me, but overall they should be unproblematic, then I think I’ll click.”

    Farhan added, “Until now all the heroines have been good to me, be it Iqra Aziz, Hania Aamir or even Urwa Hocane, they all are very nice people anyway but I really like unproblematic attitude, otherwise inner peace gets disrupted and I face problems in connecting with them.”

    Last month he also issued a statement on his equation with his wife Urwa in a recent interview amidst the couple’s patch-up rumours.

    The Mere Hamsafar star said, “The masses just have so much to say about everything, and some of their comments can be hurtful.”

    “We just want to keep some parts of our lives to ourselves.”

    Saeed further stated that the change came because of social media as the hate on the internet makes him panicky. 

    Earlier this year, he addressed the public speculation about his personal life and equation with Hocane.

    While getting candid about it, he stated that the constant speculation and interference in his personal life is a part of his job as when fans shower him with so much love it is understandable that they are emotionally invested and want to know more.

    “Ideally, I think to comment on the things which are shared but that’s idealism. When you are famous and in the public eye, there is always a price to pay. Criticism and praise come hand in hand. Just answer want you to want to and ignore other things.”

    The Suno Chanda star added further that he just answers what he wishes to and ignores everything else as every job comes with its advantages and disadvantages.

    Earlier last year it was reported that Farhan and Urwa have parted ways amicably, however recently some news portals informed that maybe the couple has reconciled. However the Udaari pair has never made a public statement about their split or alleged patch-up.