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  • Govt bans import of ‘luxury items’ to fight economic crisis

    Govt bans import of ‘luxury items’ to fight economic crisis

    For the first time in Pakistan, luxury or non-essential commodities have been completely banned in the country to help the nation emerge from its financial crisis. Minister of Information Marriyum Aurangzeb confirmed the economic strategy established by the federal government on Thursday.

    The Information Minister stated that this is an emergency situation and Pakistanis will have to make sacrifices under the economic plan. This will have a quick impact on foreign reserves. The ban will have an impact of $6 billion.

    Aurangzeb went on to say that the government’s priority was to cut imports, thus it was going to implement an export-oriented policy that would help local industry and producers.

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif is working “day and night” to stabilise the economy, according to the information minister, and has decided to ban the import of all commodities that are not in common use.

    Food, decorating, and luxury automobiles were among the imports, according to Aurangzeb, who emphasised that the country was in a “difficult economic condition” as a result of the previous government’s policies.

    Here’s a detailed list of banned goods:

    1. Cars
    2. Mobile phones
    3. Home appliances
    4. Private weapons and ammunition
    5. Fruits and dry fruits (except Afghanistan)
    6. Crockery
    7. Shoes
    8. Chandeliers and lighting (except energy savers)
    9. Headphones and loudspeakers
    10. Sauces, ketchup etc.
    11. Doors and window frames
    12. Travelling bags and suitcases
    13. Sanitary ware
    14. Fish and frozen fish
    15. Carpets (except Afghanistan)
    16. Preserved fruits
    17. Tissue paper
    18. Furniture
    19. Shampoos
    20. Confectionary
    21. Luxury mattresses and sleeping bags
    22. Jams and jelly
    23. Cornflakes
    24. Bathroom ware/toiletries
    25. Heaters/blowers
    26. Sunglasses
    27. Kitchenware
    28. Aerated water
    29. Frozen meat
    30. Juices
    31. Pasta etc
    32. Ice cream
    33. Cigarettes
    34. Shaving goods
    35. Luxury leather apparel
    36. Musical instruments
    37. Saloon items like hairdryers etc.
    38. Chocolates

    The declaration, according to the information minister, is part of the present government’s fiscal plan to combat the PTI’s incompetent policies.

    Aurangzeb chastised the PTI for criticising the incumbent administration over the country’s economic woes, claiming that the Imran Khan-led government had raised inflation, taken historic debts, committed “economic terrorism,” and manipulated the economy by subsidising gasoline prices.

    By subsidising the price of petroleum goods, the PTI administration broke its agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), according to the Information Minister.

    Via: Geo

  • Gucci, Adidas’s three lakh rupee umbrella doesn’t stop rain

    Gucci, Adidas’s three lakh rupee umbrella doesn’t stop rain

    Luxury label Gucci and sportswear firm Adidas AG are receiving a barrage of criticism in China for selling an umbrella which roughly costs Rs 3 lakh ($1,644) and it isn’t even waterproof.

    On the Chinese social media network, Weibo, criticism of the item dubbed a “sun umbrella” has gone viral.

    The umbrella is not made for water, according to Gucci’s website. It is “not waterproof and is suitable for sun protection or decorative use,” according to Gucci’s website.

    On Weibo, a hashtag stating that “the collaborative umbrella being sold for 11,100 yuan is not waterproof” received over 140 million views.

    A Gucci spokesperson told Beijing-based magazine Caijing that the product was “not recommended for use as an everyday umbrella”.

    They added that it had “good collector’s value and is suitable for use as a daily accessory”.

  • Supreme Court bars transfers, appointments in high-profile cases

    Supreme Court bars transfers, appointments in high-profile cases

    The Supreme Court of Pakistan (SCP) is barring authorities from making new appointments and transferring officials involved in “high-profile” and National Accountability Bureau (NAB) cases as well as those cases which are being heard by special courts, reports Dawn.

    The Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) observed that special courts in Karachi and Lahore lack judges while three accountability courts in Islamabad are also empty.

    The court issued notices to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) director general, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) chairman and the interior secretary. The court asked the parties concerned to give an explanation as to why there was “interference” in criminal cases, and stopped the NAB and FIA from withdrawing cases till further orders.

    The court also asked to be informed about the steps being taken to protect the record of criminal cases and directed for the record of high-profile cases to be checked and sealed. When Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) Ashtar Ausaf protested against this, the CJP said that the record of ongoing cases would not be sealed, only that of the prosecution.

    During the hearing, the CJP also observed that there should be “no interference in the prosecution process or the prosecution wing”.

    The CJP also noticed that FIA’s former director Mohammad Rizwan, who was probing money laundering charges against Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif and his son Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Hamza Shahbaz, was also transferred and later died of a heart attack.

    “We are concerned over these developments,” the CJP said. Justice Bandial, indirectly pointing out at Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) also stated that according to news reports, “thousands” of people had benefitted after their names were removed from the no-fly list.

    At one point, CJP Bandial remarked that the court was only concerned with ensuring justice and adjourned the hearing till May 27.

  • Bush mistakenly described the invasion of Iraq by ‘one man’ as ‘brutal and unjustified’

    Bush mistakenly described the invasion of Iraq by ‘one man’ as ‘brutal and unjustified’

    Former United States (US) President George W. Bush mistakenly described the invasion of Iraq by “one man” as “brutal” and “unjustified” before correcting himself to say he meant to refer to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

    “The result is an absence of checks and balances in Russia, and the decision of one man to launch a wholly unjustified and brutal invasion of Iraq,” Bush said, before correcting himself and shaking his head. “I mean, of Ukraine.”

    He jokingly blamed the mistake on his age as the audience burst into laughter.

    In 2003, when Bush was president, the United States led an invasion of Iraq over weapons of mass destruction that were never found. The prolonged conflict killed hundreds of thousands of people and displaced many more.

    Bush’s remarks quickly went viral on social media, gathering over three million views on Twitter alone after the clip was tweeted by a Dallas News reporter.

  • Most common women harassment platforms are WhatsApp, Facebook: Research

    Most common women harassment platforms are WhatsApp, Facebook: Research

    A Pakistani research-focused NGO, Digital Rights Foundation (DRF) revealed its annual report on the five-year cyber harassment helpline.

    According to the DRF, WhatsApp and Facebook were the most commonly utilised apps in Pakistan to harass women. Its helpline for combating online abuse and harassment will reach a five-year milestone this year.

    In the last five years, the online harassment helpline has received over 11,681 cases. In 2021, there were 4,441 cases received, with an average of 370 instances each month. The months of March and September saw a spike in reports, while the remainder of the year was quite constant.

    About 68 per cent of the calls were from women, 30 per cent were from males, and the remaining 2 per cent were from gender minorities. WhatsApp was the most widely mentioned platform for harassment, followed by Facebook.

    In 2021, 893 complaints were related to blackmail, and 727 incidents on the helpline involved the use of non-consensual photos, according to the research.

    Executive Director of DRF Nighat Dad stated that “the pace at which the cases of cyber harassment are increasing is alarming and must serve as a wake-up call for us to take appropriate action to make the internet a safe and equal space for everyone”.

    Pakistan’s first specialised helpline against cyber violence and harassment, the cyber-harassment helpline, was opened in December 2016. The toll-free number (0800-39393) is available Monday through Sunday, 9 AM to 5 PM, and includes email and social media help.

    Via: Geo

  • Shoaib Akhtar reveals he used to pull a truck to train as a fast bowler

    Shoaib Akhtar reveals he used to pull a truck to train as a fast bowler

    Pakistan’s former fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has disclosed the training methods that helped him improve his bowling speed and eventually break the 160kmph barrier in the ICC World Cup 2003.

    In an chat with Sportskeeda, Rawalpindi Express said he started pulling light vehicles on the roads of Islamabad before moving on to pulling a truck for at least 4-5 miles.

    “I use to bowl 157 and 158kmph consistently but somehow I was unable to click 160kph. I started planning to train in order to cross the 160kmph barrier,” said Akhtar.

    “Initially, I tied up myself to a tyre and pulled it but the tyre was too light to build my muscles. Later, during nighttime in Islamabad, I tied myself to a small car and pulled it but this also turned out to be light training for my body.”

    Shoaib Akhtar said he intended to tie himself to a truck and pull it afterwards. This worked out since he began training and was able to pull a truck for nearly 5 kilometres.

    “I doubled my weight training for the sake of building muscles in the gym. This started changing my biomechanics,” he added.

    Shoaib Akhtar made the ICC World Cup bowling record with 161.3 kmph against England in 2003.

  • ‘Khan wants to destroy Pakistan for his ego’: CM Hamza Shehbaz

    ‘Khan wants to destroy Pakistan for his ego’: CM Hamza Shehbaz

    Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Hamza Shehbaz on Thursday said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan was “trying to divide the army”.

    “I want to tell you today that what Imran Khan Niazi is doing is not politics. He is spreading hatred in the name of politics,” said Hamza, addressing a press conference in Lahore. “What does he want to do with this country? I, as a Pakistani, want to warn the nation: don’t be misled with his fake demeanour.”

    He urged people and the institutions to “keep an eye” on Imran and his tactics.

    “He is trying to destroy Pakistan for his ego, just like he trampled upon the Constitution and the law for his ego. Keep politics aside. First decide what this man is trying to do with the nation. The people and institutions will have to take notice.”

    Hamza said he would stay on the post of CM “as long as God wills it” and vowed to continue working for the welfare and well-being of the people of the province “without wasting any moment”.

    “The way these people are creating problems in Punjab, whether it is the former governor [Omar Sarfraz Cheema] or the president [Arif Alvi] … The way they are spreading propaganda among the public … I have decided not to waste a second in making things easier for the people.”

    “I won’t let anything hinder my resolve in working for the people of Punjab.”

    “But I want to tell you today that the government of Punjab is standing with its people,” he pledged, announcing a relief package for the province in which the price of a 10kg bag of wheat flour, which earlier cost Rs650, has been reduced to Rs490. “In 36 districts of Punjab, people will be able to buy flour at this price,” the CM said. “We are giving a relief of Rs160 under the Rs200 billion subsidy for the province.”

    Hamza also said that he will ensure that everyday medicines and especially the ones used for cancer will be given free to people.

  • Pakistan wants to ensure rights to the women of Afghanistan: Bilawal Bhutto

    Pakistan wants to ensure rights to the women of Afghanistan: Bilawal Bhutto

     Foreign Minister (FM) Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has said that Pakistan wants to ensure rights to the women of Afghanistan.

     The foreign minister in an interview with CNN’s Christiane Amanpour said, “I see women’s rights or women’s rights to education as rights granted to us in Islam. We’ll be emphasising that the Taliban keep their international commitments and ensure rights to the women of Afghanistan because these are rights guaranteed to women in Islam,” Bilawal said when he was asked if Islamabad had engaged with the Afghan Taliban on how Muslim countries can give rights to women.

    The minister said it wasn’t an issue of the West. He also said that the first word in Quran is ‘Iqra’, which means to read. “Nowhere is it written that only men should read. We are all meant to pursue our path to education.”

    FM Bilawal said that Islamabad is looking to the Taliban regime in Afghanistan to play its role in discouraging the increase in terrorist activity on Pakistan’s side of the border.

    “We continue to not only monitor this situation but work on our side to ensure that we can try to tackle the threat of terrorism and hope that the regime in Afghanistan lives up to their international commitment to not allow their soil to be used for terrorism.”

    “We must prioritise, alleviate the humanitarian crisis, ensure there’s no economic collapse and hold the Taliban regime to the international commitments. It was not Pakistan, but the United States who had direct communication with the Taliban regime before their takeover of Kabul. Pakistan and the international community believe it will not serve any of our interests if we abandon the people of Afghanistan once again,” said Bilawal.

    “We all believe, Pakistan believes and the international community believes, they will not serve any of our interests if we abandon the people of Afghanistan, once again,” said Bilawal.

  • Pakistani rupee tumbles to Rs200 versus US dollar in the interbank

    Pakistani rupee tumbles to Rs200 versus US dollar in the interbank

    The lack of clarity on both economic and political fronts worsened the Pakistani rupee’s (PKR) difficulties, as the local currency sank to Rs200 against the US dollar during intraday trading in the interbank market on Thursday, May 19.

    Pakistani currency officially breached the 200-barrier in the open market on May 18, closing at Rs198.39 after a day-on-day devaluation of Rs2.65 or 1.3 per cent.

    Investors, on the other hand, are concerned about the reactivation of the stalled $6 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF) programme due to the government’s inability to implement IMF conditions. Meanwhile, market sentiment was severely harmed by continued domestic political uncertainties.

    Pakistan and the IMF are holding talks in Doha as the South Asian country wants to revive the IMF programme. On Wednesday, Federal Minister of Finance and Revenue Miftah Ismail met virtually with IMF Mission Chief Nathan Porter.

    During the meeting, Ismail underlined the government’s resolve to implement the IMF’s reforms and meet the program’s structural goals.

    He stated that the administration recognises the need to make difficult decisions while minimising the impact of inflation on the middle and lower income groups.

  • ‘Her choice’, Social media defends girl dancing on Islamabad street

    ‘Her choice’, Social media defends girl dancing on Islamabad street

    A video of a girl dancing on the streets of Islamabad went viral two days ago. In the video, the girl is fully clothed. can be seen dancing around a parking sign and people passing her are least bothered.

    However, someone made the video of her and uploaded it on social media, after which the girl started facing a lot of backlash.

    Islamabad Police has said the girl was not “sound-minded.”

    “Dear citizen, As per the initial enquiry, The above video is three days old and eyewitnesses said that she wasn’t of sound mind,” Islamabad police wrote in a tweet.

    While some people on social media are criticising the girl, many others are of the view that there is nothing wrong with it. Social media users are asking Islamabad police to take action against those who made video with out the consent of the girl.

    https://twitter.com/7kayhan/status/1526854676787908608

    https://twitter.com/urswagymf/status/1526948391095259136?s=20&t=wX5HbJi5V-i9khrJ4Q3T7w