Blog

  • Rohail Hyatt to no longer produce Coke Studio

    Rohail Hyatt, during a Twitter exchange with a fan, has revealed that he is stepping down as Coke Studio’s (CS) producer.

    Responding to a user who asked him about this year’s CS, Rohail said: “I’m sure CS (Coke Studio) is being planned, but not by me.”

    Later, Rohail confirmed the same to a local media publication but did not share further details.

    However, Hyatt clarified that he will continue to make music and entertain his fans.

    Hyatt joined Coke Studio in 2008 with its first season and stepped down after 6 seasons. He was later brought back for the 12th season in 2019, though it failed to impress audiences. Rohail also produced the latest Season 13, which had only twelve songs due to COVID-19 restrictions and lockdowns.

  • Atif Aslam is on FBR’s radar again

    Atif Aslam has been issued a notice by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) yet again for non-payment of advance tax worth 0.60 million.

    According to reports, the deadline for filing the advance tax for the third quarter was March 15 and the singer failed to clear his dues by then.

    Earlier in January 2021, the FBR had reportedly sent Aslam a tax notice worth 58 million after the audit of his income for the year 2018. The award-winning singer was given one month’s notice to pay the tax.

    This is not the first time a member of the entertainment industry has come on FBR’s radar, few months ago the FBR had sent a notice to Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, seeking an explanation for his alleged bank accounts.

    In 2019, the FBR also launched an initiative to collect tax from the citizens and requested showbiz and media personalities to declare their assets, warning them that if they don’t they will also face disciplinary action.

    Meanwhile, Atif has not yet commented on the matter.

    Aslam is one of Pakistan’s biggest stars. Besides having millions of fans and followers across the globe, the singer also made it to the inaugural Forbes Asia’s 100 Digital Stars list, which highlights celebrities from across the Asia Pacific region who have taken the digital world by storm.

  • Lahore barber uses broken glass, hammer and butcher’s knife to cut and style hair

    Lahore barber uses broken glass, hammer and butcher’s knife to cut and style hair

    A barber from Lahore Ali Abbas has gone viral on social media for his unique method of styling and cutting hair. He uses different tools such as broken glass, hammer and butcher’s knife to cut his customer’s hair. Abbas sometimes also uses fire to style the customer’s hair.

    Talking about his unique way of styling hair, Abbas told ARY News that he wants to invent unusual techniques in his profession.

    “Meri koshish hoti hai ki har din main kuch naya se naya try karun. Today, I cut his hair with glass and styled it in layers. Kaam dil se karein toh kaamyaabi milegi zaroor (I try to do something new every day. Today, I styled his hair in layers with cut glass).”

    For one of his female customers, Ali used a butcher’s knife and she was happy with the styling.

    “I am really satisfied. During the process, I was slightly scared but it’s really good,” said the woman.

  • Babar Azam responds to harassment allegations

    Babar Azam responds to harassment allegations

    Babar Azam on Friday responded to the allegations of harassment on him and the case that has been petitioned before a local court in Lahore.

    Speaking to the media via video link, the Captain of the Pakistan Cricket Team said: “This is my personal matter and my lawyer is dealing with it in court. We face many hurdles in life and this is not the first one and I don’t want to discuss it further as I want to focus on the upcoming series of South Africa and Zimbabwe.”

    Earlier on March 18, a local court in Lahore had ordered the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to register a case against the skipper for harassing and blackmailing his former class fellow Hameeza Mukhtar.

    During the media interaction, Azam also addressed the rumors of his clashes with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) management and the selection committee regarding the selection process of the players.

    “I want to clear all rumours [of a rift] between me and the management. It is better if these things remain in the meeting rooms. Debate is good for the team, some people agree with the debate and some do not. This is a normal thing and should remain in the meeting rooms,” said Azam.

    He further said: “This is not my team, this is our team. So, I do understand the protocols of selection.”

    “The role of captaincy is given to me and I have to utilize the players according to the situation [of the match]. I welcome the new team and InshAllah the results of the tour will be good,” added the captain.

    Earlier, rumors were rife that if there is a rift among Chief Selector Mohammad Wasim, head coach Misbah-ul-Haq and captain over the player-selection criteria but later Wasim had denied reports that there were any differences on the selection matters.

    The national side will face Proteas in three ODIs and four T20Is in South Africa, starting from April 2.

  • Dale Steyn unhappy with South Africa’s T20I squad against Pakistan

    Dale Steyn unhappy with South Africa’s T20I squad against Pakistan

    Dale Steyn is unhappy with South Africa’s T20I squad for the home series against Pakistan next month.

    Read more – Dale Steyn says PSL is ‘more rewarding’ than IPL

    Reacting to the squad on Twitter, Steyn questioned selectors for dropping main players like Faf Du Plessis and David Miller from the squad.

    “I missed the reason why our big dogs aren’t playing the T20s against Pak?” questioned the renowned.

    It must be noted here that Pakistan and South Africa will play three T20Is. After Pakistan, South Africa has also announced their white-ball squads for the tour. The 17-member T20I and 22-member ODI squad will be led by Temba Bavuma.

    Proteas ODI squad

    Temba Bavuma (Captain), Quinton de Kock (wk), Beuran Hendricks, Heinrich Klaasen, Janneman Malan, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Andile Phehlukwayo, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Jon-Jon Smuts, Rassie van der Dussen, Junior Dala, Lutho Sipamla, Wiaan Mulder, Sisanda Magala, Kyle Verreynne, Daryn Dupavillon, Lizaad Williams

    Proteas T20 squad

    Temba Bavuma (Captain), Bjorn Fortuin, Beuran Hendricks, Reeza Hendricks, Heinrich Klaasen, George Linde, Rassie van der Dussen, Janneman Malan, Sisanda Magala, Dwaine Pretorius, Tabraiz Shamsi, Lutho Sipamla, Kyle Verreynne (WK), Pite van Biljon, Migael Pretorius, Lizaad Williams, Wihan Lubbe.

    Pakistan Squads:

    T20I: Babar Azam (captain) (Central Punjab), Shadab Khan (vice-captain) (Northern), Arshad Iqbal (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Asif Ali (Northern), Danish Aziz (Sindh), Faheem Ashraf (Central Punjab), Haider Ali (Northern), Haris Rauf (Northern), Hasan Ali (Central Punjab), Mohammad Hafeez (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Mohammad Hasnain (Sindh), Mohammad Nawaz (Northern), Mohammad Rizwan (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Mohammad Wasim Jnr (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Sarfaraz Ahmed (Sindh), Shaheen Shah Afridi (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Sharjeel Khan (Sindh) and Usman Qadir (Central Punjab)

    ODI: Babar Azam (captain) (Central Punjab), Shadab Khan (vice-captain) (Northern), Abdullah Shafique (Central Punjab), Danish Aziz (Sindh), Faheem Ashraf (Central Punjab), Fakhar Zaman (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Haider Ali (Northern), Haris Rauf (Northern), Hasan Ali (Central Punjab), Imam-ul-Haq (Balochistan), Mohammad Hasnain (Sindh), Mohammad Nawaz (Northern), Mohammad Rizwan (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Mohammad Wasim Jnr (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Sarfaraz Ahmed (Sindh), Saud Shakeel (Sindh), Shaheen Shah Afridi (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) and Usman Qadir (Central Punjab)

    Test: Babar Azam (captain) (Central Punjab), Mohammad Rizwan (vice-captain) (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Abdullah Shafique (Central Punjab), Abid Ali (Central Punjab), Azhar Ali (Central Punjab), Faheem Ashraf (Central Punjab), Fawad Alam (Sindh), Haris Rauf (Northern), Hasan Ali (Central Punjab), Imran Butt (Balochistan), Mohammad Nawaz (Northern), Nauman Ali (Northern), Sajid Khan (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Salman Ali Agha (Southern Punjab), Sarfaraz Ahmed (Sindh), Saud Shakeel (Sindh), Shaheen Shah Afridi (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Shahnawaz Dahani (Sindh), Tabish Khan (Sindh) and Zahid Mahmood (Southern Punjab)

  • Man booked for stabbing fashion designer, sons in Karachi

    Man booked for stabbing fashion designer, sons in Karachi

    A First Information Report (FIR) has been filed against a resident of Karachi’s Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Falcon Complex for stabbing and injuring fashion designer Moazzam Khan and his two sons over a parking dispute.

    According to reports, the incident took place on Tuesday night when Moazzam was embroiled in an argument over a parking issue with the suspect identified as Ibrahim Durrani.

    https://twitter.com/MJibranNasir/status/1372507616992227333?s=20

    In the video clips, which have gone viral on social media, a man can be heard and seen exchanging hot words with Durrani over the way he reversed the car. As the argument grew intense, Ibrahim stabbed Moazzam and his two sons – Fahad Moazzam and Ata Moazzam – with a Swiss knife and fled the scene.

    In the FIR, Moazzam also said that he took his injured sons to the Aga Khan University Hospital himself despite being injured.

    “My wife informed me that Ibrahim Durrani also resorted to aerial firing,” Moazzam said in the FIR, adding that the assailant had also threatened them with “dire consequences” if the matter was reported to the police.

    Later, the Shahrah-e-Faisal Police registered a case against Durrani under Sections 324 [attempt to murder] and 337-H(II) [Whoever does any act so rashly or negligently as to endanger human life or the personal safety of other, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three months, or with fine, or with both] read with 34 [Criminal acts by several persons in furtherance of common intention] of the Pakistan Penal Code.

    Ibrahim and his father Khalid Durrani, an official of the Pakistan Air Force, have been booked in the case and the Investigation Police has been assigned the case’s probe. However, no arrests have been made so far.

    According to reports, Shahrah-e-Faisal investigation officer Israr Afridi, the police had raided the suspects’ house but they were not found there. He said the police later confronted Khalid, who was sick.

    Afridi maintained that Khalid was neither seen in the CCTV footage of the incident, nor any evidence was found against him, which was why the police did not arrest him. However, another report has said that Khalid instigated his son to “attack them more”.

    He said Ibrahim’s mobile had been powered off and suspected that he had deliberately switched off the phone to avoid arrest.

    Efforts are underway to trace him using his mobile phone’s location and call detail record, Afridi said, adding that he believes Durrani’s mental condition is not stable.

  • ‘Why can’t people be happy in others happiness?’ questions Hania Aamir

    Hania Aamir recently posted a lengthy note on Instagram in which she talked about self-love and urged people to be kind to each other and accept difference of opinions. In her note, Hania also questioned why people can’t be happy in others happiness.

    Read more – Hania Aamir opens up on how damaging mean comments are

    “I pride myself on being the person that I am today,” wrote Hania alongside a picture of herself. “Yes, I make the most of each day. Yes, I speak my mind. Yes, you might think I’m too much. I am. I am all of these things. I am extra. Extra. I love more. Laugh more. Feel more. Every emotion is heightened and that is the person that I am.”

    She further said: “But what I’ve been seeing on social media lately makes me not sad exactly but confused.”

    “How can people not be okay with seeing someone happy? Why can’t people be happy in others happiness? Somebody smiling can put you off? Because they’re not what you expect them to be or they don’t lead their life how you do?”

    “There are all kinds of people in this world,” said Aamir further. “Some you get some you don’t but [hate] is not even an option. At least not in 2021 when we’ve seen so much together as a world.”

    “Kindness is attractive. Being supportive is attractive. Respecting people is attractive. Coexisting with a difference of opinion is attractive.”

    “Basically I am amazing you should get to know me,” she concluded on a humourous note.

    Hania recently sparked backlash after she talked about colour shaming and flawed beauty standards. Netizens and social media users had called the actor out for using a beauty filter and not showing her own raw skin while talking about embracing flaws.

    Later, Hania took to her Instagram to respond to the criticism saying, “I was even wearing makeup that day. The point is being comfortable with who you are, doing things because you want to do them, not doing things because [of] the beauty standards that are set.”

  • PIA staffer wins hearts for calming baby on flight

    PIA staffer wins hearts for calming baby on flight

    A picture of a crew member of the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) calming a restless baby during a flight recently went viral on social media.  

    Fakhr-e-Alam shared a picture of the head purser on an Islamabad-Karachi flight holding a baby in his arms. 

    The singer shared that the PIA official had come to help an exhausted mother and soothe the crying baby to give her a break.

    “A friend onboard [a] PIA Islamabad to Karachi early morning flight yesterday shared this. A baby was crying non-stop, the mother was exhausted and stressed, she couldn’t comfort the child,” shared Alam.

    “So the head purser Mr Tauheed helped the child sleep. Now that truly is GREAT people to fly with,” added the singer.

    Soon after the singer’s post, social media users started praising the act of kindness.

    People also shared their experience of traveling with PIA.

    https://twitter.com/SSGPA1/status/1370475257849610241?s=20

    Later, in an interview with ARY’s Morning Show Bakhabar Sawera, the officer, Tauheed said that he had no idea he would go viral.

    “I had no idea someone is recording me. I don’t know who took my pictures or made me viral,” said Tauheed, adding: “It is a part of our duty to take care of our passengers. It is a part of our training to ensure their safety on a flight, and take care of their needs.”

  • 400-year-old tunnel discovered during restoration at Lahore Fort

    400-year-old tunnel discovered during restoration at Lahore Fort

    According to The Express Tribune, the tunnel discovered at the opulently designed Mughal fort — that already houses over 20 key monuments — is still firmly in place.

    The 625-feet tunnel is well ventilated and lighted, and consists of niches that have been made for lighting lamps.

    The excavation of the tunnel

    As per the opinion of experts, the tunnel was used as drainage and secret passage.

    While modern machinery and equipment are used for the restoration of historical monuments, the archaeology team has done it successfully in the traditional fashion.

    “Snakes and scorpions were also found during the excavation,” experts said, adding that traces of it were found during excavation on another restoration project.

  • Russia’s Sputnik V to be available privately in Pakistan

    The first shipment of the Russian Sputnik-V has arrived in Pakistan becoming the first privately-imported vaccine available in the country. Pakistan is the 22nd country to approve the Sputnik V vaccine.

    “Sputnik has received EUA (emergency use authorisation),” Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Services Dr Faisal Sultan said while talking about the vaccine.

    As per details, Sputnik V is to be administered in two shots, three weeks apart, has a six-month shelf life and is stored at -18 Celsius.

    While a price has not yet been announced, Dr Omer Chughtai of Chughtai Labs said the “government will hopefully decide and announce the price soon.”

    “We are in process of getting our vaccination centers registered,” he added.

    COVID-19 vaccination for seniors aged 70 and above began on March 10. According to the National Command Operation Center (NCOC) registered senior citizens aged 70 and above can get vaccinated from any health centre. Meanwhile, NCOC head Asad Umar on Wednesday announced that over 41 thousand people were vaccinated the previous day marking the highest daily vaccination rate.

    Pakistan launched its vaccination drive in early February with 500,000 doses of Sinopharm donated by longtime ally China, giving shots to frontline health workers as a priority.