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  • ‘Fake pilot licences’: UN staffers asked to avoid Pakistani airlines

    ‘Fake pilot licences’: UN staffers asked to avoid Pakistani airlines

    The Pakistani aviation industry is still suffering from the fallout of a controversial statement made by the aviation minister last year wherein he had accused the Pakistani pilots of having fake credentials.

    In the latest blow to the aviation sector, the United Nations has asked its staffers to avoid travelling on the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and other airlines registered in Pakistan.

    Ghulam Sarwar, the aviation minister, had made the controversial statement in parliament in the aftermath of a deadly aircraft crash in Karachi that had resulted in the death of at least 98 people. Following the crash, the minister had blamed the pilot for the crash and said most pilots in the PIA didn’t even a required qualification to fly the planes.

    His statement created an uproar, resulting in a ban on Pakistani pilots. The ban in Europe still persists.

    A report in Geo News quoted an advisory issued by the UN Security Management System asking its employees to stop using the Pakistani airlines for travelling.

    “Due to an ongoing investigation of the CAA [Civil Aviation Authority] Pakistan…due to dubious licenses caution is advised on the use of Pakistan-registered air operators,” said the statement.

    The advisory has been issued for all Pakistan-registered carriers and has been recommended to all the UN agencies, including the UN Development Programme, World Health Organization, UN High Commission for Refugees, Food and Agriculture Organization, UN Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization and others.

    The advisory by the UN also drew flak by a journalist who covers the aviation beat. Tahir Imran said that the advisory was “created by some dumb official at the UN” because it includes “cargo airlines” as well.

    “Unless there are heavyweights working with the UN Pakistan who needs cargo aircraft to travel around,” he said while taking a jibe at the UN.

  • Has State Bank really restricted ATM withdrawal limit to Rs1,000?

    Has State Bank really restricted ATM withdrawal limit to Rs1,000?

    People are receiving an alleged message from the State Bank of Pakistan about restrictions on ATM cash withdrawals till the end of the month.

    The peculiar message that you may receive from ‘8182’ or ‘8832’ will read: “Dear Customer, as per State Bank of Pakistan directions, ATM cash withdrawal limit is restricted to 1000 PKR ” till Jan 31.

    However, the central bank has distanced itself from these messages. It said the decision to set withdrawal limit is taken by the banks, not the SBP.

    Meanwhile, the SBP also sent a message to the banks, asking them to “send appropriately worded messages” to their consumers to curb the flow of misinformation.

    In a the message to the banks, the SBP said that it has received “multiple reports…that customers are receiving messages with the context that SBP has put some kind of restrictions on ATM cash withdrawals”.

    “The SBP has not given any such instructions to the financial institutions,” the statement clarified.

    “In this regard, kindly make sure to send appropriately worded messages to your customers on urgent basis, reassuring them regarding this false spread of messages,” the SBP clarification read.

  • 10-year-old girl dies trying TikTok’s ‘blackout challenge’

    A 10-year-old girl has reportedly died after allegedly trying TikTok’s viral ‘Blackout Challenge” on TikTok. As per details, the girl was found dead in her washroom by her younger sister.

    Initial investigation has suggested that the girl named Antonella had placed a belt around her neck to prevent herself from breathing to try the challenge. However, she ended up killing herself. When she was later taken to a hospital in Palermo, Italy, the doctors declared her brain dead.

    “Blackout challenge” is also known as “pass out challenge” and “the fainting game”. In this challenge, individuals try to temporarily suffocate themselves in order to get a feeling of euphoria.

    The girl’s parents said that they had no idea Antonella was participating in this game.

    “We knew our daughter went on TikTok for dances and to look at videos, but could we imagine this atrocity?,” they said.

    Speaking to an international publican, a TikTok spokesperson said: “The safety of the TikTok community is our absolute priority, for this motive we do not allow any content that encourages, promotes or glorifies behavior that could be dangerous.”

    Italian authorities have also ordered the social media platform to block all accounts where the user’s age could not be verified.

    Meanwhile, a boy in Rawalpindi also lost his life trying to shoot a stunt in front of a train for a TikTok video.

    Actor, Adnan Siddiqui took to Twitter to express his sorrow over the incident.

    “No number of likes or social media followers is greater than your life. Entertainment doesn’t mean putting yourself in harms way,” he wrote.

    Adnan added, “Sad a young life was lost to foolishness. Others should heed this as a lesson and act wisely.”

  • Urdu mushaira to be held outside Cannoli in Islamabad

    Urdu mushaira to be held outside Cannoli in Islamabad

    Limo Soda Show creators have announced an Urdu mushaira (a poetry recital) outside Cannoli by Café Soul. The two content creators from Islamabad have asked people to participate in the event in response to a video of Cannoli owners ridiculing their manager for his English speaking skills.

    According to details, the event will be held outside the restaurant in Islamabad on Saturday (January 23). 18,900 people have responded to the invitation till the filing of this report, with 1,600 indicating they are going and 9,400 saying they are interested.

    The event’s guidelines have been stated as follows:

    IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTZ

    1.) All Shayrs has 2 b in punjabi or urdu.

    2.) Most criative shayar wins Jalahowapenus BURGER

    3.) NO gup shup or banter against restoraan ownrse

    5.) Siraikiz NOT allowedz

    6.) Free entries 4 beeconhoes studantz?!

    7.) NO Ahmed Faraz sasti shayri

    8.) Studie whole Wren nd Martin English graamer bookz for suprise english quiz

    9.) Alcohol, Drugs and JF-17 Thunder Naswar is strcitly prohitbited. (only for sale incide restoraan)”

    Though the owners of the café later issued an apology, netizens did not buy it saying the apology sounded ‘arrogant’.

    Read more – Adnan Siddiqui, Sheheryar Munawar lambast Cannoli owners for mocking manager’s ‘English’

    Meanwhile, responding to the video, Shaniera Akram challenged the ladies to an English competition.

    “I’m bored too so I challenge you ladies to an English competition,” said Shaniera.

  • Everything you need to know about ‘Bridgerton’ Season 2

    Everything you need to know about ‘Bridgerton’ Season 2

    Netflix has officially announced that their trending period drama Bridgerton will be returning for a second season. While the announcement was not unexpected given the show’s popularity, we admit that it did bring us great joy.

    The renewal announcement came from none other than Lady Whistledown, who in a message posted to social media said: “Dearest Readers, The ton are abuzz with the latest gossip, and so it is my honour to impart to you: Bridgerton shall officially return for a second season.”

    According to Lady Whistledown’s announcement, production will resume in Spring 2021, and the second season will focus on the “romantic activities” of Lord Anthony Bridgerton (Jonathan Bailey).

    Bridgerton creator Chris Van Dusen, while talking about the second season, said: “We have a bunch of new characters we are going to be introducing. Anthony is going to have a love interest and it’s going to be as sweeping and as beautiful as viewers have come to expect from the show.”

    He further shared that casting is currently underway for several new roles, most notably the female romantic lead opposite Anthony Bridgerton in The Viscount Who Loved Me, Kate Sheffield. It is also being reported that the actor who will play Sheffield will likely be an actress of color, likely of South Asian/Indian descent.

    The series which is based on Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton romance novel series featured a different sibling in each of the eight books and from what we understand, it is now Anthony’s turn. The first season followed Daphne Bridgerton (Phoebe Dynevor) as she made her debut in Regency London, seeking a husband.

    Bridgerton debuted on Netflix in December 2020 and has continued to win audiences trending worldwide even a month after its release. Netflix earlier said that the series was on course to watched by more than 63 million households in the four weeks from its Christmas Day premiere.

    The buzzy Regency romance comes from Grey’s Anatomy creator Shonda Rhimes and puts a modern twist on the books about an upper-class family in early 19th-century England, introducing colour-blind casting and strong feminist themes.

    Read more – ‘Bridgerton’ is the arranged marriage we all want

    While a release date for the second season has not yet been announced, it is being speculated that the show will either release on Christmas 2021 or 2022.

  • Qavi stripped of ‘mufti’ title, isolated by family after getting slapped

    Qavi stripped of ‘mufti’ title, isolated by family after getting slapped

    Abdul Qavi, who has remained in the limelight for his controversial actions and alleged involvement in the Qandeel Baloch murder case, has been stripped of his ‘mufti’ title by the family that says Qavi is being hospitalised in a “mental institution because his thoughts are not in control”.

    In a press conference, Qavi’s uncle Wahid Nadeem announced that the cleric has been isolated in his house. “Abdul Qavi has been used by different people over the years for media attention,” the uncle said, referring to the recent controversies that the cleric had embroiled himself in.

    Nadeem said that Qavi shouldn’t be addressed as a ‘mufti’ because he brought shame to the family. “We have seized his mobile phones and now he is under treatment for mental illness he is suffering from,” he added.

    Dr Hafiz Abdul Kadir, personal physician of the scholar, reportedly said that Qavi will be kept away from the public eye.

    Recently, Qavi was reportedly slapped by TikTok star Hareem Shah after he passed “inappropriate comments and was rude” to her. The video of the incident was also shared by Hareem on her Instagram.

    In May 2020, Qavi had said that drinks with less than 40% alcohol by volume were halal. “Whichever drink contains alcohol below 40 per cent… that drink is halal. It means we can drink it. In my opinion, even the drinks that contain 100 per cent alcohol but are extracted from minerals… are also halal,” he had said during an interview.

    Earlier in 2018, the mufti was among five suspects, who were indicted in the case pertaining to the murder of social media celebrity Qandeel Baloch.

    The murdered social media star had posted selfies and a video with Qavi on social media weeks before her death.

    It was alleged that he had incited Waseem Baloch, brother of Qandeel, to get rid of his sister in the name of honour after he received flack for his pictures with the girl. Qavi was also removed from the Ruet-e-Hilal Committee after his pictures with Qandeel went viral.

    Some of his endeavours include, brazenly flirting with transgender Almas Bobby during a television show in 2015, and being accused of sexual harassment by a female reporter in 2017. He has also time and again been spotted in several videos on social media featuring various showbiz stars and internet celebrities.

  • Sana Fakhar receives flak for PDA-filled picture with husband

    Sana Fakhar receives flak for PDA-filled picture with husband

    Sana Fakhar is at the receiving end of criticism for sharing a PDA-filled picture with her husband on his birthday.

    Sharing photos on Instagram of herself with her husband indulging in PDA, Sana wrote: “Thank you for reminding me how butterflies feel like.”

    “Many happy returns of the day,” she added.

    Sana’s post was enough to irk the moral brigade who heavily criticised the veteran actor, forcing her to limit the comments section on her post.

    Sana’s pictures are a reminder of the time when Sarwat Gilani and Fahad Mirza were at the receiving end of hate for publicly displaying their affection. Addressing the outrage, Sarwat, in an exclusive interview with The Current had said that she had expected such a reaction and hate that followed.

    “Watching domestic abuse in dramas is fine by them,” said Sarwat. “Your TRPs shoot up. Excellent. But if a husband and his wife are appreciating each other, if they are expressing their love for each other, it’s a problem.”

    “But it’s okay,” she continued. “InshAllah in due time, they will learn to digest love and acceptance too.”

    Sana and Fakhar tied the knot in 2008 and have two sons together.

  • Newsletter- 22nd January 2021, Friday

    Newsletter- 22nd January 2021, Friday









    *|MC:SUBJECT|*

    The Current Insider
    Friday, 22nd January 2021

    I am actually incredibly angry today. The two owners of a restaurant in Islamabad called Cannoli ridiculed their manager, who has been working for them for nine years, forcing him to speak in English and making fun of him when he couldn’t. Their apology is an elitist non-apology, reflecting the rot in our so-called elite society. And everyone is pissed including actors like Adnan Siddiqui and Shehreyar Munawar who have lambasted the owners on social media. 

    Next up, writer Khalil-Ur-Rehman Qamar, who is known for his smash super hit dramas and incredibly derogatory behaviour towards women, has been given a current affairs program. What? How is this even possible? A man who writes dramas for entertainment, treats and speaks about women like they’re trash, is hosting a show on politics? 

    Wait, it hasn’t ended yet. A man in Faisalabad was gunned down by the police for not stopping at a checkpoint. Yes, you read that right. 

    The United States, on the other hand, elected its first female Vice President who is also of South Asian and Black heritage. Let’s be clear here. Her mother migrated from India to the US and raised her to be proud and strong. But do we all have to leave our country to be able to do that? To have that space to grow and breathe? All isn’t well in India either. Seems like they are also taking a page out of Pakistan’s ‘censor entertainment’ handbook and expressing their outrage over the depiction of Hindus in fictional series like Tandav and Mirzapur. Tandav starring Saif Ali Khan is supposed to be a binge-worthy watch but why does it have a 3.7 IMDb rating? Read Saman’s review on Tandav to find out if it’s worth the watch despite the rating.  Can anything make me feel happy today? 

    Fahad has done a tech review, telling me about how cryptocurrency works and I’m glad I know how and why it exists, But you know what might lift my — and your — spirits? Nepali climbers made history by becoming the first to summit K2. After they made it to the top, a Pakistan Army helicopter picked them up and flew them to the Shigar Valley.  Imagine how amazing that would’ve looked and how fantastic the climbers must feel. Must feel pretty great. It’s also mostly sunny today in Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad and Quetta – with a shower here and there in Peshawar. 

    What’s making you happy today? Let me know!

    Marium 

    P.S. We’ve gone back to our previous format of giving you just the news on weekdays, with a note from me on Friday and Sunday. We figured that you guys like it better that way and hey, we are here for you!

    Current Baba’s Prediction 

    You’ve made yourself a promise. You will not eat at restaurants whose owners are derogatory towards others and you will call them out when you see it happen. That’s the deal you’ve made with yourself and you should be super proud of it.

    Twitterati slam Cannoli owners for ‘non-apology’

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  • Bakhtawar Bhutto-Zardari to tie the knot on January 29

    Bakhtawar Bhutto-Zardari to tie the knot on January 29

    Bakhtawar Bhutto-Zardari and fiancé Mahmood Choudhry will be tying the knot on January 29 at Bilawal House in Karachi.

    According to reports, a spokesperson of Bilawal House has revealed the wedding festivities will begin with a Milad function on January 24. This will be followed by a simple mehndi ceremony on January 27.

    The nikkah will take place on January 29 while the baarat is scheduled for January 30. All events are expected to take place at the bride’s residence in Karachi.

    The spokesman said that PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari will be suspending his political activities for a week to participate in sister’s wedding. He was unable to attend her engagement as he was in isolation after testing positive for COVID-19.

    The spokesperson further added that close to a thousand guests have been invited to the wedding. Invitations have reportedly also been sent to important political leaders of the country including military leaders and judicial heads.

    Bakhtawar and Mahmood got engaged on November 27, 2020, in an intimate ceremony at the Bilawal House Karachi.

    Read more – Bakhtawar Bhutto-Zardari’s engagement outfit details revealed

    Meanwhile, earlier the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) in an official statement, had shared that Bakhtawar’s husband-to-be “Mahmood Choudhry is the son of Mohammad Younas and Begum Suraiya Choudhry who hail from the old town of Lahore.”

    “Mahmood, the last born of five siblings was born on July 28, 1988, in the city of Abu Dhabi. He completed his primary schooling in Abu Dhabi and secondary schooling in the United Kingdom. Mahmood further went on to read Law at the University of Durham.”

    “The family’s primary country of residence remains the United Arab Emirates (UAE) where Mahmood continues to run his businesses in construction, finance and tech,” added the statement.

  • ‘Ghissi Pitti Mohabbat’ ends on a positive, happy note

    ‘Ghissi Pitti Mohabbat’ ends on a positive, happy note

    Ghissi Pitti Mohabbat has turned out to be one of those rare dramas which concluded on a positive and satisfying note and viewers couldn’t be happier.

    The drama, which had audiences hooked from the first couple of episodes, ended with Samia (Ramsha Khan) choosing the single life after a string of failed relationships and marriages. She decided that she has had enough of societal pressures and dealing with workplace issues and set up her own restaurant where she employed transgender staff. The ending was refreshing and remarkably different from what we are used to seeing on Pakistani television.

    Writer Fasih Bari Khan brilliantly used satire and sarcasm to send across social messages and presented a solid script and story. That coupled with brilliant performances from the lead cast including Khan, Wahaj Ali, Ali Abbas, Shahood Alvi, Saba Faisal, and Sajeeruddin made the drama a winner.

    Read more – Did you know Ali Abbas and Ramsha Khan are cousins?

    Audiences have lauded the show for showing a positive and empowered woman in the form of Samia. Check out some reactions below:

    https://twitter.com/BingNorah/status/1352529566305112064?s=20
    https://twitter.com/grizzzbear_/status/1352534341897871360?s=20

    Meanwhile, Ramsha, said the drama was “the greatest experience [of her] career”.

    In a note posted to social media, the actor said: “Thank you Samia Anwar for teaching me the things I never thought I needed to change in me.”

    “Goodbye Samia…you’ll always be with me,” she added.