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  • PTA grants manufacturing license to Select Technologies for the manufacturing of Xiaomi mobile phones in Pakistan

    Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has granted manufacturing license to Select Technologies Pvt. Ltd (a wholly owned subsidiary of Air Link Communication Ltd.) for the manufacturing of Xiaomi mobile phones in Pakistan. Air Link Communication Limited is consolidating its position as one of the leading mobile phone distributors and manufacturing company of the country.

    Air Link Group already has license to manufacture mobile phones of Transsion Holding’s major brands i.e. Tecno & iTel. This license makes Air Link Communication Ltd, the only company in Pakistan having manufacturing contracts and license for two leading mobile phone companies in the world.

    Earlier this month, Xiaomi, the global consumer electronics and smartphone giant, joined hands with Select Technologies (Pvt) Limited (SELECT), as its manufacturing partner for Xiaomi mobile phones in Pakistan targeting a production of initially around 2.5 million to 3 million handsets annually.

    This is a significant milestone for the economy as it will reduce the import bill and create jobs for the local population. This a result of Government’s policies to enhance localization and stimulate the industrial growth of the country.

  • Manish Malhotra uses Parizaad’s OST for latest campaign, Ahmad Ali Akbar reacts

    Manish Malhotra uses Parizaad’s OST for latest campaign, Ahmad Ali Akbar reacts

    HUM TV’s drama serial Parizaad starring Ahmed Ali Akbar as the titular character has been making headlines ever since the drama went on-air.

    Recently, Indian designer Manish Malhotra used the OST of the hit drama for his promotional video proving that Parizaad is not only loved in Pakistan but has a strong following across the border as well.

    This is what the video looks like when you open the Reels

    The highlight of the video became the background music. which the Laal Kabootar star was quick to notice, “I like the music,” shared Ahmed on his Instagram story.

    He also commented under the original post. “Well doesn’t that sound familiar.”

    Netizens mentioned that the best thing about the shoot is the soundtrack from the Pakistani drama.

    The ace designer used an instrumental version of the OST.

    The feature gave credit to Waqar Ali, the song’s composer.

    The story has been penned by Hashim Nadeem and is based on his novel by the same name.

    Apart from the stellar performances and great narrative, the OST in itself has a separate fanbase; it is sung in Asrar’s powerful voice which gives more depth to the heartbreaking lyrics.

  • Video: Hania Aamir dances at Asim Azhar’s concert, netizens express shock

    Video: Hania Aamir dances at Asim Azhar’s concert, netizens express shock

    Singer Asim Azhar and actor Hania Aamir had a public break-up in 2020. The Tum Tum duo indulged in a cyber war earlier this year in June.

    The Tera Woh Pyaar crooner took to his Twitter account to post a GIF that people assumed was directed towards Hania, who was trending on social media and received a lot of backlash from her fans on posting a video with the Wajahat brothers.

    The GIF posted by Asim siad, “Bal Bal Bach Gaya.”

    Now a video is circulating on social media in which the Janaan diva can be seen grooving to Asim’s songs at his concert.

    Netizens expressed a polarizing response to the viral video.

  • New Zealand MP rides a bicycle to hospital to give birth

    New Zealand MP rides a bicycle to hospital to give birth

    A New Zealand lawmaker, MP Julie Anne Genter rode to the hospital while in labour last night to give birth, reports The Guardian.

    She wrote on her Facebook, “Big news! At 3.04 am this morning we welcomed the newest member of our family. I genuinely wasn’t planning to cycle in labour, but it did end up happening. My contractions weren’t that bad when we left at 2 am to go to the hospital – though they were 2-3 min apart and picking up in intensity by the time we arrived 10 minutes later.”

    Ms Genter, an advocate for cycling, was a minister three years ago when she took a similar trip to deliver her first child in 2018.

    Netizens have given mixed reactions on Twitter.

    In 2018, The Prime Minister of New Zealand, Jacinda Ardern also made history for the first time, bringing her infant to attend the United Nations General Assembly. She received appreciation from the world for setting an example for women’s empowerment.

  • ‘Doesn’t mean now I’m babe’: Anoushey Ashraf blasts colleague

    ‘Doesn’t mean now I’m babe’: Anoushey Ashraf blasts colleague

    Spending a big chunk of her life in this industry, Anoushey Ashraf often shares the wisdom she’s gathered all these years. Recently, she blasted a man who thought if “they’ve worked together, he could hold her from her waist and call her babe”.

    Taking to Twitter, Anoushey wrote: “Just because we worked well on a project together doesn’t mean I’m now ‘babe’ and you can hold me by the waist to take selfies at events. We’re colleagues, NOT friends. Know the difference. Understand the concept of personal space. #rant“

    Later, Anoushey hosted a live session in which she opened up about her experience with an old colleague she met in an event where he called her ‘babe’. “Yes we have worked together but why are you calling me babe,” she said.

    “The second thing he did was, he put his hands on my waist and said let’s take a picture. Very nicely I put his hand off me and asked why you’re holding me? Do not touch me,” she added.

    She further went on to say: “I told that guy that we have a professional relationship, you and I are professional people and we are colleagues, not friends. So you are not allowed to say babe or call me at 2 O’clock in the morning and asking things like send me pics or selfies. No, this is where we draw boundaries. So, when he put his hand on my waist, I knew that touch was not right. The niyyat behind that and not a friendly sort of gesture.”

    She requested the boys that: “I just want you to know that the person should be comfortable with you. It can come after time you spend together and long-term friendships.”

    She also urged parents to train their children about their “personal space”. She said that she want people to tell their children that no one can touch them and hold them inappropriately even if that person is someone they know.

    She said when a man touches a woman, she gets the feeling that with what intention he is touching her. She said same rule applies on children, adults, introverts or even animals.

    She urged everyone to speak up whenever their personal space is attacked. “Whenever someone attacks your personal space, say it out loud, just say it,” she concluded.

  • PM Khan takes offence at Nawaz Sharif’s presence at conference

    PM Khan takes offence at Nawaz Sharif’s presence at conference

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan while talking about the Asma Jahangir (AJ) Conference that took place in Lahore last week, pointed out how the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo was allowed to address the event, reports Geo News.

    Speaking at the inauguration ceremony PM Khan further said, “Unfortunately, due to colonialism, Muslims suffered from mental slavery around the world,” he said.

    He further added that Pakistan’s youth was confused about it in today’s world and said that the young Pakistanis studied the Western culture and were misled by it.

    The premier urged universities to research the disastrous effects that Western culture was having on family life, and spoke out against how pornographic material was widely available on smartphones these days.

    PM Khan said, “A seminar happened in Lahore where Supreme Court (SC) judges were invited. But the chief guest there was an absconder, convicted by the very judges present there.”

    “This person had escaped abroad after lying,” he said while adding that if our society doesn’t consider corruption an evil, it can’t progress.

    However, the AJ Foundation in a press statement clarified the rumours surrounding Sharif’s closing speech.

    “Nawaz Sharif, has addressed gatherings previously and it is entirely regrettable not to say embarrassing, that internet cables were disabled to blackout his speech. This act in itself is an indication of the state of freedom of expression in the current regime where Pakistan is ranked as 145 out of 180 countries,” reads the statement.

    They also revealed that several prominent members of the ruling party were invited to all three conferences, many of whom spoke at all three conferences, and others declined the invitation.

    Furthermore, they argued that the “ruling regime is diverting attention from the real threat to institutions, the state of the economy and freedom of expression in the country” while adding that the platform will not follow vendettas of political parties when inviting speakers and they will remain an open and uncensored platform.

    In response to this, Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari termed the foundation’s statement “bizarre” and tweeted, “AJ Foundation claiming that convict Sharif being asked to address the conference did not show a political bias because I [Mazari] had been invited to the first conference to address closing session is absurd. I was invited as Human Rights Minister. I was not and am not a convict or a fugitive.”

     

  • Sensational Shaheen Afridi takes another fifer, stuns Bangladesh batters

    Sensational Shaheen Afridi takes another fifer, stuns Bangladesh batters

    Pakistan will need 202 runs to win the second Test match as spinner Sajid Khan and pacer Shaheen Afridi stunned the Bangladeshi batting order to dismiss the hosts for 201 runs on Day 4.

    The fourth day of the first Test match between Pakistan and Bangladesh resumed on a good note for the visitors on Monday when fast bowler Hassan Ali provided the Men in Green an early breakthrough followed by Sajid Khan’s dismissal of Mehidy Hasan.

    Bangladesh, batting to survive and give Pakistan a fighting total, were five wickets down before they reached three figures on the scoreboard.

    Earlier, Afridi in a video message, said that he wants to give his hundred per cent and he credited his fellow pacer Hassan Ali that he is enjoying the bowling spells with him. He said that we want to give our best to achieve the best for the national side.

    Meanwhile, Pakistan is hopeful to defeat the hosts with Abid Ali and Abdullah Shafique’s exceptional opening partnership. The national side only need 93 runs to win the first Test on the fifth day of the match.

  • Charsadda police station set on fire by 5,000 strong mob finding alleged blasphemy suspect

    Charsadda police station set on fire by 5,000 strong mob finding alleged blasphemy suspect

    In Charsadda, a district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), a mob attacked and set Charsadda police station on fire on Sunday when an official refused to hand over an alleged blasphemy suspect who disrespected the sanctity of the Holy Quran, reports Dawn.

    KP Law Minister, Fazal Shakoor Khan told Dawn that the alleged suspect was arrested on Sunday and later transferred to the Mandani police station in Tangi Tehsil of Charsadda.

    A mob surrounded the police station and demanded to hand over the suspect to them. When the local police declined their demands, more people joined the mob and then attacked the police station. They also smashed police vehicles that were parked outside the station, according to the law minister.

    He added, “The government will not allow anyone to take the law into their own hands,” he said, “the suspect who has been arrested will be proceeded against in accordance with the law.”

    Read more- Mob attacks 100-year-old Hindu temple in Rawalpindi

    The causalities from the attack have not been confirmed by the police nor the details of the blasphemy suspect. However, the Peshawar Commissioner, Riaz Mehsud said the suspect is in safe custody. The commissioner while talking to Dawn said that around 4,000-5,000 people attacked the police station.

    Another police official confirmed that the police station is completely destroyed along with their important records. Police used aerial firing and tear gas to disperse the mob.

    After the attack, the mob also blocked the Harichand road by staging a sit-in protest but they were later dispersed after talks with local clerics accompanied by the district administration.

  • ‘Who has the capability to record the chief justice of Pakistan?’ Asks Justice Athar Minallah

    ‘Who has the capability to record the chief justice of Pakistan?’ Asks Justice Athar Minallah

    Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Athar Minallah said that the courts cannot risk “opening up of the floodgates” by ordering inquiries into “anything that goes viral on social media”, remarking that vigorous judicial activism had caused a lot of damage to the judiciary, reports Dawn.

    “Anything goes viral on social media. How many can the court order inquiries into?” the high court chief justice questioned during a hearing on Monday.

    Justice Minallah’s remarks come during a hearing of a petition asking for a Commission of Inquiry to investigate an alleged audio clip of former Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Saqib Nisar.

    The judge wondered who was behind the audio leak. “Who has the capability to record the chief justice of Pakistan? Did that person release it or someone sitting in America?”

    Questioning the petitioner,  Sindh High Court Bar Association (SHCBA) President Salahuddin Ahmed, Justice Minallah asked, “Tell [the court] how this petition is maintainable. What writ should we issue?”

    To the question asked on the writ of the state, Ahmed responded that the court’s power regarding the enforcement of fundamental rights was very extensive and it could exercise this right under Article 199-C of the Constitution.

    “The court cannot play into the hands of political entities trying to build narratives rather than approach the court themselves,” responded Justice Minallah.

    “When they do not approach the court, the court also has to see what their intentions are,” he added. “Who released the audiotape and to whom?”

    Questioning the authenticity of the audio clip, Justice Minallah remarked: “Suppose this audio is legitimate, where is the real clip? Tomorrow, anybody will bring a clip and ask for an inquiry.”

    The court subsequently issued a notice to Attorney General Khalid Jawed Khan to argue on the maintainability of the petition and adjourned the hearing till December 8.

  • Examinations will be held on time despite new covid variant: Shafqat Mahmood

    Examinations will be held on time despite new covid variant: Shafqat Mahmood

    Federal Minister for Education Shafqat Mahmood said on Monday that the government has no plans to suspend educational activities. He said that examinations will be taken on time and the full curriculum will be covered in it, reports Geo.

    When he was asked about the policy of the education department regarding precautionary measures against the Omicron variant, the federal minister said, “I don’t know about the new variant of coronavirus in detail, but the government wants to continue educational activities.”

    The new variant named Omicron, which was first discovered in South Africa is spreading drastically into various parts of Europe including Canada and Australia. On Saturday, Pakistan imposed a complete ban on direct/indirect inbound flights from six African countries and Hong Kong.

    Moreover, while talking about the smog situation in Lahore, Shafqat Mahmood said it will decrease by the closure of private and government schools thrice a week.