Director Marketing of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Usman Waheed, has resigned after failing to achieve goals set by PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi.
Sources indicate that Naqvi had set specific targets for the Champions events. Waheed, however, fell short, resulting in setbacks for the PCB in selling both local and international rights.
Previously, the PCB sold its broadcast rights for matches to be played in Pakistan from August 2024 to December 2026 for just 1.06 billion rupees, compared to the allocated 3.02 billion rupees—1.48 billion rupees less than the expected amount.
Actor and model Babrik Shah is known for being outspoken and true to form, he had another opinion that may ruffle a few feathers.
During an appearance on Desi Book, Babrik Shah shared his thoughts on the blockbuster film ‘The Legend of Maula Jatt.’
Host Junaid Saleem asked, “I was reading your statement in an interview, where you said about Maula Jatt that Hamza Ali Abbasi and Fawad Khan are like a ‘burger family’ and that Maula Jatt and Noori Natt are not like that.”
Shah replied, “They are a burger family, now, just imagine a guy from a burger family trying to speak Punjabi. Where will he even get that deep, commanding voice like Noori Natt? And then there’s Sultan Rahi, he had that manly vibe, that power in his delivery, which is just not there anymore. It doesn’t have that same feeling. And the way they’re speaking Punjabi nowadays, it’s like they’ve just learned it or someone taught them how to speak it. That’s why I said it had a very ‘mummy daddy’ style, lacking that true masculine essence.”
Talking about the remake the outspoken model said,“Maula Jatt was a masterpiece of its time, a true classic that stood the test of time. It should never have been remade.”
Gold prices in Pakistan soared to unprecedented levels on Saturday, reflecting a continued upward trend driven by rising international rates.
In the local market, the price of gold per tola (approximately 11.66 grammes) surged by Rs1,700, reaching a new record high of Rs263,700.
This significant increase underscores the precious metal’s enduring appeal as a safe haven amid global economic uncertainties.
The price of 10-gramme gold, a popular metric among consumers, also saw a substantial rise, climbing by Rs1,457 to settle at Rs226,080, according to the latest data released by the All-Pakistan Gems and Jewellers Sarafa Association (APGJSA).
These sharp increases come on the back of a minor gain of Rs200 recorded on Friday, when the price per tola stood at Rs262,000.
The surge in domestic gold prices is largely attributed to a parallel increase in international rates. On Saturday, the international price of gold rose by $20 (PKR 5,526), bringing it to $2,512 (PKR 694,169) per ounce, inclusive of a premium of $20.
The upward trajectory of gold prices on the global stage is driven by a combination of factors, including persistent inflation concerns, geopolitical tensions, and fluctuating currency values.
As investors seek refuge in the stability of gold, demand for the precious metal continues to push prices higher, with ripple effects felt across markets worldwide, including Pakistan.
Silver rate in Pakistan
While gold prices surged, silver remained stable in the local market. The price of silver per tola held firm at Rs2,950, showing no change from the previous sessions.
Despite its status as a precious metal, silver has not experienced the same level of price volatility as gold, largely due to differing market dynamics and industrial demand.
Week in review: Gold’s record-breaking streak
Day
Price per tola (Rs)
Price change (Rs)
Details
Monday
260,000
-200
Slight decrease after a record high in the previous session.
Tuesday
260,700
+700
New record high reflecting an uptick in international rates.
Wednesday
261,000
+300
Continued upward trend, marking the third record in a month.
Thursday
261,800
+800
All-time high, still Rs3,000 below market value.
Friday
262,000
+200
Highest price ever recorded in Pakistan until Saturday.
Saturday
263,700
+1,700
New record high, significant rise.
Gold price history (trade week ending: August 24)
This week has been particularly eventful for gold prices in Pakistan, marked by consistent daily increases that have culminated in Saturday’s record-breaking levels.
Monday: The week began with a slight dip in gold prices, following a record high in the previous session. The price of 24-karat gold fell by Rs200, settling at Rs260,000 per tola. Interestingly, even with this decrease, the price remained Rs4,000 below its actual market value, indicating underlying bullish sentiment.
Tuesday: Gold prices rebounded sharply on Tuesday, reaching a new record high. The price per tola increased by Rs700, bringing it to Rs260,700. This surge mirrored an uptick in international rates, reinforcing the connection between local and global market trends.
Wednesday: The upward momentum continued on Wednesday, with gold prices in Pakistan reaching another new record. The price of 24-karat gold per tola rose by Rs300, setting a new high at Rs261,000.
This marked the third record-breaking price level within the month, highlighting the sustained demand for gold.
Thursday: On Thursday, gold prices soared to an all-time high of Rs261,800 per tola, following an increase of Rs800. Despite this, the price was still Rs3,000 below its estimated market value, suggesting that the metal’s true worth is yet to be fully reflected in the market.
Friday: The upward trajectory of gold prices continued for the fourth consecutive day on Friday, with the price per tola reaching Rs262,000 after a modest increase of Rs200. This marked the highest price ever recorded for gold in Pakistan, setting the stage for Saturday’s further escalation.
Implications for consumers and investors
The relentless rise in gold prices has significant implications for both consumers and investors in Pakistan. For those who have invested in gold, the ongoing price surge represents a substantial return on investment, particularly for those who purchased the metal when prices were lower.
However, for consumers looking to buy gold for personal use, such as jewellery or gifts, the soaring prices are increasingly prohibitive. The current levels have made gold almost out of reach for many, particularly in a country where gold is deeply embedded in cultural traditions and ceremonies.
This price hike is a double-edged sword—beneficial for investors but challenging for those with other intentions. The persistent rise in gold prices may push consumers to explore alternative options, while investors continue to benefit from the metal’s role as a hedge against economic instability.
Gold’s record-breaking streak in Pakistan, fuelled by global market dynamics, highlights the precious metal’s enduring value and the challenges it poses for local consumers.
As the international market remains volatile, the question remains whether gold prices will continue to rise or if a correction is on the horizon. For now, the allure of gold remains as strong as ever, both as an investment and a symbol of wealth.
Tamasha Season 3 began with a bang, but unfortunately, it has failed to capture the audience’s attention like its predecessors, Season 1 and Season 2, both of which created a sensation.
With the previous two seasons, I used to run home to watch the episodes. This season, the house has a younger crowd of contestants, with a plethora of actors and actresses, but despite being 15 days in, the show is dragging.
The main reason for this is the contestants’ friendly dynamics and the simplicity of the tasks assigned to them. Initially, Saima and Dania were in top form, entertaining the audience, but now it seems like they too have lost steam after 16 days. The season has become dull, and with today being elimination day, one or more contestants will bid farewell to the house. The question remains: will the remaining contestants be able to win back the audience’s hearts?
Or will the makers be able to make the game more interesting? Only time will tell if the show can regain its charm.
With many days still to go, the fate of Tamasha Season 3 hangs in the balance. Will the contestants be able to create a buzz, or will the show continue to lose its appeal? The answer lies in the hands of the makers and the contestants.
Four members of the same family were found dead in a car parked on the motorway near Bhera staypoint in Sargodha on Friday. A fifth person in the car, the driver, was taken to the hospital unconscious.
After noting that the car was parked on the highway for a long time, highway police called Rescue 1122, broke the glass windows of the car and pulled out the bodies, rescue officials confirmed.
Rescue authorities informed Geo News that the bodies of a man, two women and a child have been recovered from the car. The driver was shifted to the hospital in a state of unconsciousness.
However, Express Tribune reported that the National Highways and Motorway Police (NHMP) North Zone found the car’s five occupants in a semi-conscious state and shifted them to the Tehsil Headquarters Hospital (THQ) in Bhera for urgent medical treatment.
Despite the hospital staff’s efforts, all succumbed to the suspected poisoning. They have been identified as Romila 60, Mahwish 30, Samar 28, and four-year-old Aun.
The family lived on McLeod Road in Lahore.
Initial investigation suggests that food poisoning may have caused the deaths. Two boxes of juice have been found in the vehicle, one of which was expired, says the police. The actual cause of death will only be known only after the autopsy, the police asserted.
A trailer promoting Francis Ford Coppola’s new film “Megalopolis” has been withdrawn after it was found to have incorporated fake movie reviews, reportedly generated by artificial intelligence.
Coppola’s wildly ambitious, decades-in-the-making movie, which hits theaters next month and stars Adam Driver, has starkly divided critics.
A trailer released this week drew parallels to earlier works by the revered Hollywood director that also initially left some professional reviewers cold before going on to become classics — suggesting “Megalopolis” can do the same.
“True genius is often misunderstood,” a voiceover began, before quotes from famous critics calling “The Godfather” a “sloppily self-indulgent movie” and “Apocalypse Now” a “spectacular failure” were presented on the screen.
The problem? None of those quotes were real.
Instead, the trailer appears to have used AI-generated imitations of the type of withering put-downs associated with renowned reviewers such as Pauline Kael.
In at least one case, a criticism appears to have been lifted from a review of an entirely different film
The trailer was quickly recalled, with Hollywood studio Lionsgate offering “our sincere apologies to the critics involved and to Francis Ford Coppola” for an “inexcusable error in our vetting process.”
“We screwed up. We are sorry,” said a statement.
Lionsgate has since parted company with the marketing consultant behind the trailer, trade outlet Variety said Friday. Meanwhile Deadline reported that the quotes were generated by AI.
The furor comes at a time when Hollywood is roiled by the encroaching impact of AI. Fears the technology could replace entertainment industry jobs — from actors to writers — were central to last summer’s devastating strikes.
The trailer episode is just the latest controversy to hit “Megalopolis,” an already hugely divisive epic.
Legendary director Coppola has said he spent $120 million of his own money to make the film, selling a stake in his California vineyard.
But its much-hyped world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival left the industry confounded.
Critics’ responses ranged from “a true modern masterwork” to a “catastrophe.”
Driver stars as a seemingly magical architect whose efforts to rebuild a decaying city into a futuristic utopia are thwarted by its resentful mayor (Giancarlo Esposito).
The movie also stars Aubrey Plaza, Shia LaBeouf and Dustin Hoffman.
It receives its North American premiere at the Toronto film festival next month, before being released in US theaters on September 27.
The controversy has provoked theories among some Hollywood observers that the entire unseemly debacle could have been staged to provoke headlines.
Lionsgate did not respond to an AFP request for comment.
But a source familiar with the marketing plan told AFP the studio did not deliberately fabricate the quotes, and removed the trailer as soon as it became aware of the situation.
Renowned actor Faysal Quraishi is hosting his podcast, Pressure Buhat Hey, on his YouTube channel, Faysal Quraishi Official. In a recent episode, he talked about how producers often bargain hard when signing actors for dramas. He also shared his thoughts on Fahad Mustafa’s drama Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum.
On Fahad Mustafa, Faysal Quraishi said, “I enjoyed his performance and encouraged him to keep doing television, but let’s see what he decides. I think he enjoys films the most, but we’re all happy to see him back on TV.” Faizan Sheikh added, “Now that Fahad Mustafa has done a drama, I think he should do it more often. I’m enjoying it, and I think he must have enjoyed the process too, but I’m not sure.”
Speaking about producers, Faysal Quraishi said, “I have 30 years of experience, and I’ve never heard a producer say they have a big budget and that actors will be paid well. Producers always say, ‘We’re just getting by, the budget is too low, please consider this role.’ And I’m the one who usually agrees to whatever they say. I’m the person who gets convinced by any good character; most of the time, I accept their offer because I’m drawn to a good character.”
The aircraft of the Prime Minister (PM) of India, Narendra Modi, has used Pakistani airspace while coming back home from Poland, Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) sources have disclosed, as reported by Geo News.
A CAA source said that the aircraft carrying Modi entered Pakistani airspace at 10:15 AM and left at 11:01 AM, a total of 46 minutes, en route to New Delhi.
CAA sources said that the Indian PM plane entered Pakistan from around Chitral and went through the Islamabad and Lahore air control areas.
CAA source further said that the Indian PM plane entered Amritsar after leaving Lahore.
In 2021, Narendra Modi flew over Pakistan while travelling to Italy for the G20 Summit. The aircraft had used Pakistani airspace after getting formal permission from Islamabad.
Music icon Hadiqa Kiani has been mesmerizing people with her soulful voice since decades. She has now collaborated on the song ‘Baari Thaani’ with superstar Humayun Saeed.
Hadiqa Kiani is not only a singer but an actress too. The dramas she has worked such as, Raqeeb Se, Dobara, Pinjra, and Hadsa, she is also a philanthropist.
In August 2022, Kiani launched her initiative called ‘Vaseela-e-Raah’ for the support of the 2022 Pakistan floods victims in Balochistan and in South Punjab where Hadiya Kiani led humanitarian efforts through her flood relief campaign and provided food, tents, and medical supplies, including anti-snake venoms, in flood-affected areas.
In 2006 Hadiqa Kiani was awarded with Tamgha –e- Imitaz by the Government of Pakistan.
Here are some pictures from the music video Baari Thaani:
A WhatsApp chat between Aleema Khan, sister of founder Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan, and party spokesperson, Rauf Hassan, concerning a statement by Bushra Bibi, has been leaked.
On June 23, 2023, Aleema Khan sent a message to Rauf Hassan, claiming that Bibi’s claim of meeting Khan in jail and crying is fake.
Earlier, narrating the meeting, Bushra Bibi had said, “He (Imran Khan) knows that there is pressure on the jailer to kill him. If he gets killed, the public would not spare the jailer.”
“He (Imran Khan) knows that Army Chief General Asim Munir is listening to his conversation right now.” Bushra Bibi added.
Aleema Khan told Rauf Hassan that Bushra Bibi’s message was not true and her disinformation cell is inciting people.
Aleema Khan advised Rauf Hassan not to publicise this message.
