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  • ‘Sindh police want to kidnap me, husband’: The Minor

    ‘Sindh police want to kidnap me, husband’: The Minor

    The Minor, an alleged 14-year-old girl, who claims she is 18-years-old, went missing in Karachi in April. She later revealed that she ran away from home to marry Zaheer Ahmed, 21. She has now stated that the couple’s lives are in danger.

    The Minor revealed in a video message that she had eloped with her husband and travelled to Lahore to marry him. “While the Constitution and the law of this country allow me to marry whomever I want and I can live wherever I want under the law, my life is in danger,” she said.

    The Minor went on to say that she is “happy married and lives a quiet life in Lahore,” and that her in-laws treat her well. “People on social media are calling my in-laws part of some gang, but that is a baseless allegation. They are respectable people and are even better than my parents,” she added.

    The Minor also revealed that before eloping, she wrote her parents a letter in which she “clearly stated the reasons for leaving her home.”

    The Minor, who went missing last month was found by the police. Her parents claim that their daughter has been forced into this marriage.

  • Pakistan’s textile exports surge by 30 per cent

    Pakistan’s textile exports surge by 30 per cent

    Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) reported that Pakistan’s textile group exports in July-April 2021-2022 reached a new high of $15.981 billion, up from $12.688 billion in the same period last year, a 25.96 per cent rise.

    Exports of the textile group climbed by 7.01 per cent month over month to $1.739 billion in April 2022, compared to $1.625 billion in March 2022. Textile group exports increased by 30.50 per cent year over year in April 2022, compared to $1.332 billion in April 2021.

    Cotton yarn exports increased by 22.11 per cent from July to April 2021-22 to $1.006 billion, compared to $823.952 million in the same period the previous year, and declined by 4.95 per cent in April 2022 to $97.655 million, compared to $102.736 million in the same month the previous year.

    The country’s overall exports from July to April 2021-22 were $26.247 billion, up from $20.905 billion in the same time last year, a 25.55 per cent rise. Pakistan’s exports in the last month (April 2022) were $2.897 billion, up 4.32 per cent from $2.777 billion in March 2022 and up 30.61 per cent from $2.218 billion in April 2021.

    Major export goods

    Knitwear: Rs90,096 million

    Readymade garments: Rs64,669 million

    Bed wear: Rs51,398 million

    Cotton cloth: Rs38,763 million

    Towels: Rs19,974 million

    Cotton yarn: Rs18,016 million

    Made-up articles: Rs15,277 million (excluding towels and bedwear)

  • ‘Flat of 26 crores, Audi worth 1.5 crore, diamond jewelry’: Wedding gifts of Ranbir-Alia revealed

    ‘Flat of 26 crores, Audi worth 1.5 crore, diamond jewelry’: Wedding gifts of Ranbir-Alia revealed

    On 14th April 2022, the Brahmastra pair got married in the presence of their family and close friends in Mumbai. As many celebrities were not seen at the magnum-opus wedding events, they decided to show their love and wishes in their own ways.

    Ranbir’s ex-girlfriend Katrina Kaif sent her former best friend Alia Bhatt a platinum bracelet worth a whopping 14.5 lakh.

    Baywatch star Priyanka Chopra gifted the new bride a diamond necklace costing Rs. 9 lakh. 

    Kapoor’s mother Neetu Singh gifted a mammoth 6 BHK flat to the couple worth Rs. 26 crores in a plush area of Mumbai.

    Brahmastra’s director and Ranbir’s BFF, Ayan Mukherji went all out when it came to showering the newlyweds with high-budgeted gifts, as he bought an Audi Q8 for his bestie. Can you believe that? He also sent them branded chocolates.

    The Bajirao Mastani star Deepika Padukone who was Ranbir’s first girlfriend in Bollywood, picked Chopard watches worth Rs 15 lakh for the duo.

    Deepika’s superstar husband Ranveer Singh gifted a Kawasaki Ninja H2 R to the groom valued at 80 Lakh.

    Alia’s ex-flame Sidharth Malhotra picked an expensive handbag from Italian luxury fashion company Versace costing Rs 3 lakh for his former ladylove.

    RK’s cousin Kareena Kapoor welcomed Alia to the Kapoor family with a diamond set reportedly worth Rs 3.1 lakh.

    Raazi star’s close friend and special co-star, Varun Dhawan gifted the bride a pair of stunning shoes from Gucci. The heels cost around Rs 4 lakh.

    Alia’s mentor Karan Johar gifted them an expensive champagne worth a lakh and designer outfits costing over 5 lakh. 

    Anushka Sharma gifted Alia a dress designed by celebrity favourite fashion designer Manish Malhotra, Arjun Kapoor opted for a Gucci jacket for his friend Ranbir. Both these gifts cost almost Rs 1.5 lakh. 

    RaLia’s wedding seems to surpass the list of lucrative gifts that Katrina and Vicky Kaushal received in December 2021. 

    Their wedding gift list included a 3 crore Range Rover by Kat’s former lover and colleague Salman Khan, a diamond necklace worth 2.7 crore by Ranbir, painting valued at 1.5 lakh rupees by Shah Rukh Khan and a BMW G310 R bike worth 3 lakh rupees by Hrithik Roshan.

  • Pasoori’: What do the lyrics of the Coke Studio song mean?

    Pasoori’: What do the lyrics of the Coke Studio song mean?

    If there’s one thing you need to see on the internet, it’s Coke Studio’s season 14’s song ‘Pasoori’. The song has over 113 million views on YouTube since its release three months ago and is playing on the radio everywhere, from the United Arab Emirates to Canada. All seem fully captivated by song sung by Ali Sethi and Shae Gill.

    Before we dwell on the magical journey of the Punjabi lyrical composition, let’s first understand what the word ‘pasoori’ means.

    ‘Pasoori’ is a Punjabi word loosely translated in two ways in Urdu as ‘kashmakash‘ and ‘jaldbazi/teezi’ meaning difficulty/conflict and impatience/hasty.

    Punjabi speakers casually use this word as “Enu bari pasoori pai hoi ay [This person is facing some difficult situation or this person is very impatient]”

    Majestic words written by Ali Sethi and Fazal Abbas, definitely have taken everyone on a listening spree. ‘Pasoori’ turns all angst into art, with its lyrics signifying the need to celebrate artistic self-expression.

    Here is what the lyrics of Pasoori mean.

    [Verse 1: Ali Sethi]
    Agg lavan majboori nu
    Set fire to your worries

    Aan jaan di pasoori nu
    To waiting and to hurries

    Zehar bane haan teri
    If your love is poison

    Pee jaavan main poori nu
    I will drink it in a flurry

    Aana si o nai aaya
    He said he’d come, he never did

    Dil baang baang mera takraya
    My heart lurched and slid

    Kaga bol ke dus jaavein
    Let the crow tell me why

    Paavan gheyo dee choori nu
    And feast on sweet supply

    [Pre-Chorus: Ali Sethi]
    Raawaan ch baawan ch o nu lukawaan
    I will hide him and bide him in loving embraces

    Koi mainu naa roke
    No one makes me stop

    [Chorus: Ali Sethi]
    Mere dhol judaiyaan di, tenu khabar kivein hove
    My love how can you know what happens when we part

    Aa jaave dil tera, poora vi na hove
    I hope you fall in love, I hope it breaks your heart

    Haan baniyan banaiyaan di, gal baat kivein hove
    How will the willing, communicate

    Aa jaave dil tera, poora vi na hove
    I hope you fall in love, I hope it breaks your heart

    [Verse 2: Shae Gill]
    Bhul gayi majboori nu
    I forgot about my chains

    Duniya di dastoori nu
    and people refrain

    Saath tera hai bathera
    You are enough for me

    Poora kar zaroori nu
    Fulfil my destiny

    Aana si o nai aaya
    He said he will come but he never did

    Raasta na dikhlaaya
    I could not see the way was hidden

    Dil humara de sahara
    My heart gives solace

    Khaahishaat adhoori nu
    to wishes unfulfilled

    [Pre-Chorus: Shae Gill]
    Waari main jaavan, main tenu bulavaan
    I dote on you, I call out you name

    Gal saari taan hove
    Let’s have it out, for shame

    [Chorus: Shae Gill]
    Mere dhol judaiyaan di, tenu khabar kivein hove
    My love, how can you know what happens when we part

    Aa jaave dil tera, poora vi na hove
    I hope you fall in love, I hope it breaks your heart

    Haan baniyan banaiyaan di, gal baat kivein hove
    How will the willing communicate?

    Aa jaave dil tera, poora vi na hove
    I hope you fall in love, I hope it breaks your heart

    [Bridge: Shae Gill & Ali Sethi]
    Mere dhol judaiyaan di, sardaari na hove
    My love, don’t let this distance reign

    Mere dhol judaiyaan di
    My love, what of this distance

    Ahhhhaaaaaaa

    Mere dhol judaiyaan di, sardaari na hove
    My love, don’t let this distance reign

    Dildaaran di, sab yaaaran di, aazaari na hove
    Don’t let these lovers be in pain

    Dildaaran di, sab yaaaran di, aazaari na hove
    Don’t let these lovers be in pain

    Aa chalein le ke tujhe
    Come let’s go away

    Hai jahaan silsilay
    where all the lovers meet

    Tu hai wahi, hai teri kami
    You are the one, it’s you I need

    Bana de, saza de, panah de hume
    Give me life, give me love, take me in your arms

    Bana de, saza de, panah de hume
    Give me life, give me love, take me in your arms

    Agg lavan majboori nu
    Set fire to your worries

    Aan jaan di pasoori nu
    To waiting and to hurries

    Zehar bane haan teri
    If your love is poison

    Pee jaavan main poori nu
    I will drink it in a flurry

    [Chorus: Ali Sethi & Shae Gill]
    Mere dhol judaiyaan di, tenu khabar kivein hove
    My love, how can you know what happens when we part

    Aa jaave dil tera, poora vi na hove
    I hope you fall in love, I hope it breaks your heart

    Haan baniyan banaiyaan di, gal baat kivein hove
    How will the willing communicate

    Aa jaave dil tera, poora vi na hove
    I hope you fall in love, I hope it breaks your heart

    [Outro: Shae Gill & Ali Sethi]
    Poora vi na hove
    I hope it breaks your heart

    Poora vi na hove
    I hope it breaks your heart

  • PM Shehbaz condemns the killing of Sikh citizens in Peshawar

    PM Shehbaz condemns the killing of Sikh citizens in Peshawar

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the killing of two Sikh citizens in Peshawar.

    “Strongly condemn the killing of our Sikh citizens in Peshawar, KP. Pakistan belongs to all its people. Have ordered a high level inquiry to ascertain facts. The killers will be arrested & meted out exemplary punishment. My most sincere sympathies to the bereaved families,” PM said in a tweet.

    Unknown assailants killed two persons of the Sikh community at Sarband area in Peshawar. According to the police, two persons riding on motorbike opened fire on two shopkeepers of the Sikh community selling spices at Bata Tal Bazaar. They succumbed to their injuries on the spot.

    The deceased were identified as Kanwaljeet Sigh and Ranjeet Singh. According to journalist Iftikhar Firdous, the Islamic States Khurasan (ISKP) chapter says it carried out the attack targeting two Sikhs. In October 2021, ISKP also claimed another such attack in Peshawar.

    The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan also condemned the killing of Sikh citizens.

  • Cricket fraternity mourns the death of former Australian cricketer Andrew Symonds

    Cricket fraternity mourns the death of former Australian cricketer Andrew Symonds

    Former Australia cricketer Andrew Symonds died in a car crash in Queensland today (May 15) at the age of 46.

    “We are shocked and saddened by the loss of the loveable Queenslander, who has tragically passed away at the age of 46,” Cricket Australia announced his death in a poignant message.

    The all-rounder played 26 Tests, 198 One-Day internationals and 14 Twenty20s for Australia between 1998 and 2009.

    Cricketers expressed their shock and paid glowing tributes to Symonds.

    Former Pakistani fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar said he was devastated to hear the news. “We shared a great relationship on & off the field.”

    Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting said, “If Roy shook your hand you had his word, that’s the sort of bloke he was and that’s why I always wanted him on my team.”

    Former Indian captain Sachin Tendulkar tweeted: “Not only was he a brilliant all-rounder, but also a live-wire on the field.”

    https://twitter.com/SAfridiOfficial/status/1525771814575677440

    Symonds’ death has shocked the cricketing world. His tragic demise follows the death of former Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne, who died at the age of 52 earlier this year in March.

  • Why give Aamir Liaquat so much attention?

    Why give Aamir Liaquat so much attention?

    Aamir Liaquat is a public personality known for being in the limelight for all the wrong reasons. The man, nearing his 50s, is revered by one segment of Pakistani society and utterly despised by the other. Liaquat has recently been a hot topic of discussion for his third possible divorce with Dania Malik, who allegedly leaked two videos of Liaquat: one, where he can be seen roaming stark naked around in his room, and another where he is allegedly taking drugs. The two viral videos surfaced days after Aamir’s allegedly underage wife, Dania Shah, claimed that the televangelist takes illegal substances. The recent turn of events has clearly sparked a debate around a society glorifying child-and-adult unions. Dania claims she is 15, and Aamir knew it but still forged documents to get married. There can be no defence for a predatory act that takes advantage of class difference, age gap, and fame to trap a young teenage girl from a small city. Similarly, there can be no defence against revenge porn, even when it is against a person who has repeatedly aggravated public sentiment with impunity while disrespecting the institution of marriage, and religion.

    Liaquat has announced to leave Pakistan for good, but what still remains a question is why Liaquat or men like him are given so much limelight or attention. Where are we heading as a society? What examples are we setting for younger boys? We can expect no less in a country where misogyny is peddled as soon as children are born, and underage marriage is glorified as some invaluable social norm. This is the sad reality of Pakistani discourse.

    We can only hope that our society learns for the better and rather than giving so much limelight to people who are habitual of committing such acts with no remorse. We need to make people aware of the legal age of marriage, the exploitation of impressionable young girls, of the absence of justice, law, and order, which have led to a glorification of such vile acts of abuse in our society.

  • ‘Please don’t go out in the heat to get tanks filled’: Miftah Ismail

    ‘Please don’t go out in the heat to get tanks filled’: Miftah Ismail

    Finance Minister Miftah Ismail said on Sunday that the government has no plans to raise the price of petroleum goods for the time being.

    Addressing a press conference, the finance minister said that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had rejected the proposal of increasing petroleum prices today, adding that the government could not burden the people any further.

    “We are not increasing prices today. Please do not go out in this heat to get your tanks filled,” said Miftah Ismail.

    However, Miftah later tweeted, “But due to changing circumstances and international oil prices, we may have to revisit our decision soon.”

    The finance minister stated that he will be part of a delegation travelling to Qatar for talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) next week and he hoped the negotiations would be productive for the country.

  • Lahore ranks first in reporting most traffic accidents

    Lahore ranks first in reporting most traffic accidents

    During the last 24 hours, the Punjab Emergency Service Department (PESD) dealt with 1,115 accidents across the province. 11 persons died and 1,161 were injured in these car accidents.

    As per the data, there were 272 road accidents in Lahore, impacting 280 people, putting the Provincial Capital at the top of the list, followed by 98 in Faisalabad, with 111 victims, and 79 in Multan, with 83 victims.

    664 people were critically hurt and were taken to nearby hospitals. Rescue medical teams treated 497 minor injured people at the scene of the accident. Around 69 per cent of traffic accidents involved motorcycles.

    Moreover, 561 drivers, 46 underage drivers, 113 pedestrians, and 498 passengers were among the sufferers of these road traffic collisions, according to the report.

    Read more: Lahore Police officials will now wear ‘body cams’ to fight crime

    The figures also indicated that 1,172 people were impacted in road traffic accidents, comprising 979 men and 183 women, with 256 of the deceased being under the age of 18 and 605 being between the ages of 18 and 40, and the remaining 311 being above the age of 40.

    In the aforementioned road accidents, 989 motorcycles, 77 auto-rickshaws, 145 automobiles, 26 vans, 10 passenger buses, 37 trucks, and 109 other types of cars and sluggish carts were involved.

  • ‘If something happens to me, a tell-all video will be released’: Imran Khan

    ‘If something happens to me, a tell-all video will be released’: Imran Khan

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman and Former Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan said that he has recorded a video, in which he has mentioned each and every character behind the “conspiracy” against his government, and if something happens to him, it will be released.

    Addressing a rally in Sialkot on Saturday, Khan claimed that his life is in danger and a “conspiracy” is being hatched to take his life. According to him, the video is stored in a “safe place.”

    “I have recorded this video as I don’t consider what I do as politics, this is jihad to me,” the PTI chairman added.

    The former PM said, through this video, he will expose everyone who went “against the country’s interest. He urged people to come out against the current government and support PTI and if they do not do this, the “public will have no future”.

    Khan praised the judiciary and said they took a good initiative by taking a suo motu on the night of the no-confidence vote and opened the gates of the courts.

    The PTI chairman told the judiciary that Rs24 billion corruption cases were filed against the current PM Shehbaz Sharif, Chief Minister (CM) Hamza Shahbaz, and his brother, Suleman Shahbaz.

    He said that the former Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) director Dr Rizwan, was bold enough to continue investigating corruption cases against the “Sharif mafia”.

    Reacting to a police crackdown at the party’s venue, Khan said that when PTI was in power, it did not stop the then-Opposition from holding long marches, rallies, or sit-ins.

    On Saturday, police got the PTI’s rally venue vacated after they tried to hold a public meeting at the CTI ground, a property belonging to the Christian community, without their consent. However, the party changed the venue to the public VIP Ground in Sialkot.

    Khan claimed that his party has always remained peaceful, but warned Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah and the government, that if they resort to violence, then they would “not get any place to hide”.