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  • Government to reopen tourism after eid

    Government to reopen tourism after eid

    The National Tourism Coordination Board (NTCB) will submit a proposal for the reopening of tourism to the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) after Eidul Azha holidays.

    According to media reports, a consultative meeting in this regard was held with all provincial and regional governments to discuss the appropriate time.

    Adviser to Punjab Chief Minister (CM) on Tourism Asif Mehmood, Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) Managing Director Syed Intikhab Alam and NTCB and PTDC board member Aftabur Rehman Rana were among those present on the occasion.

    The participants discussed various options on reopening but collectively agreed that any decision on this matter should be taken by the NCOC after monitoring and evaluating the pandemic situation.

    Matters regarding safety and preparedness were discussed and the regional governments informed the NTCB chairman that tourism-related guidelines for operators, hotels, restaurants and tourist places were ready to operate.

    The officials on both sides believed that the time was right for the tourism sector to restart as the COVID-19 curve had started flattening across the country.

    The provincial and regional heads of tourism were told that necessary preparations and awareness should be undertaken so that opening of controlled tourism under standard operating procedures (SOPs) could be made possible after the final decision of NCOC.

    Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) Sayed Zulfi Abbas Bukhari appreciated the support extended by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government to tourism businesses in terms of renewal of licences and registration fees.

    He urged other provincial governments to consider similar support initiatives for tourism businesses that had suffered during the prevailing situation.

  • PTA unbans PUBG after company assures ‘complete control mechanism’

    Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has decided to unban popular online multiplayer game PlayerUnknown’s BattleGrounds (PUBG) after getting assurance from the company for a comprehensive control mechanism.

    As per the details, a meeting was held between PTA officials and the legal representatives of Proxima Beta (PB), the company behind the development of the game.

    PB representatives briefed the authority on the concerns and queries raised by PTA regarding the misuse of the gaming platform.

    After the interaction between PTA and BP, the authorities expressed satisfaction on the commitments made by PB.

    They also emphasised on proactive engagement and a profound detailed control mechanism.

    The PB representatives welcomed PTA’s feedback on the issue and assured that the concerns would be taken seriously.

    While the game has been unbanned, further negotiations are reportedly underway with PUBG for registration in Pakistan.

  • Pakistani woman creates board game to help girls ‘escape’ an arranged marriage

    Pakistani woman creates board game to help girls ‘escape’ an arranged marriage

    When Nashra Balagamwala’s Pakistani family started pressuring her into an arranged marriage, she decided to get creative to avoid the myriad of suitors being foisted upon her.

    Nashra Balagamwala

    Like many young women in South Asia, she was targeted by older women, nicknamed ‘Rishta aunties’, who wanted to pair her up with eligible men. Arranged marriages — where a couple are matched by family members — are common in South Asia. Netflix’s recent series Indian Matchmaking shed light on the topic and became an instant hit trending in both Pakistan and India.

    Read more – ‘Indian Matchmaking’: Who is Sima Taparia from Mumbai?

    Speaking of her own experience, Nashra said, “It truly started when I was 18, right as my sister got married … literally, the day of the wedding, all the aunties started coming up to me and saying, ‘You’re next, you’re next.”

    “I’d wear the fake engagement rings, or whenever an auntie was looking I’d pour an extra helping of food on my plate,” she said, as the matchmakers considered women who didn’t watch their figure to be less desirable brides.

    Those real-life strategies inspired her to create the board game “Arranged!” where players take the role of teenage girls trying to escape an ‘auntie’, which features in Gamemaster, a documentary about aspiring game designers released this month.

    Wanting a different life, Balagamwala convinced her family to allow her to wait until she was 21 — and as she reached the deadline as a student at Rhode Island School of Design in the United States, she came up with the idea for the game.

    “When I was going back for the winter break, my parents had a boy lined up for me to meet,” she said.

    “So to de-stress from that I started creating this list of all the crazy things I used to do, or that my cousins used to do, to try to discourage the Rishta aunties.”

    In “Arranged!,” the girls attempt to deter auntie by drawing cards with commands like getting a tattoo, wearing a sleeveless shirt, talking about pursuing a career, or being seen hugging a male friend.

    But cards like being able to make a perfectly round roti flat bread, or having a sister who is known to be very obedient to her in-laws, move auntie closer to a player.

    When the board game was released in 2017, it drew anger from some acquaintances in Pakistan — but the media attention also made Balagamwala an undesirable wife in the eyes of the aunties and convinced her family to stop pressing her to marry.

    On the contrary, she was contacted by dozens of young women, mostly from India, who said the game helped them to start conversations with their families and opened their eyes to the stress they felt.

    “Now they’re like, ‘You do you, find your own guy,” laughed Balagamwala, who is currently studying for a master’s degree exploring the links between design and social justice at Harvard University.

    “There is still a little bit of that stress in their hearts and minds where they are like, ‘Oh my God, she’s 27 and there’s no boy on the horizon’ so I think that stresses them out,” she added.

  • Naya Pakistan: Matric pass PTI MPA becomes new chairperson of Punjab Education Foundation

    The recent “election” of the new chairperson of the Punjab Education Foundation (PEF) has attracted widespread social media attention after it was revealed that he himself holds only a matriculation or secondary school certificate.

    Established in 1991, PEF is an autonomous statutory body to encourage and promote education on non-commercial/non-profit basis. Since then, it has come a long way to arrange free quality education for the deserving children at their doorsteps.

    On July 27, the first meeting of the newly-constituted Board of Governors (BoG) of the PEF was held in which the members, through consensus, elected Sardar Aftab Akbar as the new chairperson.

    According to the Punjab Assembly’s official website, the academic qualification of Akbar, a Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MPA from PP-23 (Chakwal-III), is matriculation. He has served as the tehsil nazim in Chakwal from 2005 to 2010, while still serves as a member of the Primary and Secondary Healthcare as well as Committee on Privileges of the Punjab Assembly.

    It is pertinent to mention here that the PEF has been in the limelight these days for non-payment to its partner schools across Punjab. The owners and teaching and non-teaching staff of PEF partner schools had protested recently outside the Punjab Assembly and the Governor House. They had even tried to reach Zaman Park over the non-payment issue that has made them unable to pay salaries to teaching and non-teaching staff besides clearing building rents and utility bills etc.

    Punjab School Education Minister Dr Murad Raas, with regard to non-payments, says that PEF had already paid 50 per cent of the payment to the schools and remaining payment would be made only after verification of the students enrolled in these schools. He said previously some 250,000 fake enrolments were detected at many PEF partner schools and since millions of rupees were to be paid to the schools, verification of students was a must.

    The minister said many PEF partner schools were in fact beneficiaries of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the government would not waste public money on fake enrolments. He said the PEF initiative was aimed to bring out of school children into schools and not to financially support fake enrolments. Dr Muard Raas further said he had also apprised Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan about the issue in a recent meeting who had assured full support.

  • Fact Check: Notification asking barbers’ not to style customers’ beards is fake

    Fact Check: Notification asking barbers’ not to style customers’ beards is fake

    Claim: A notification has been issued claiming that the barbers are now forbidden from styling their customers’ beard

    Fact: This was a fake notification according to the Balochistan Government spokesperson Liaquat Shahwani

    A notification stating that barbers who style their customer’s beards will be charged with blasphemy is doing the rounds on social media.

    However, Spokesperson of the Balochistan Government, Liaquat Shahwani said that the notification is fake.

    “Balochistan Govt has got nothing to do with personal matters of citizens”, wrote Shahwani on Twitter.

    Earlier, Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) MPA Rukhsana Kausar had tabled a resolution in the provincial house of Punjab seeking a ban on beard styling and action against men with fashionable beards as well as their barbers. However, it was never implemented.

    VERDICT: FALSE

  • IN PICTURES: Hajj 2020

    IN PICTURES: Hajj 2020

    The five-day annual Hajj pilgrimage began in Makkah, Saudi Arabia on Wednesday with strict measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus.

    A downsized Hajj, this year the number of pilgrims have been drastically reduced to 10,000 from last year’s 2.5 million making it perhaps the safest Hajj ever. In past years, pilgrims have faced a host of viral illnesses, with some falling sick and developing respiratory diseases after mingling with large crowds and staying in cramped pilgrim camps where social distancing was unheard of.

    The kingdom has put strict safety protocols in place with a mandatory quarantine that began on Tuesday. According to details, pilgrims had to undergo COVID-19 tests before arriving in Mecca. They are required to wear masks and maintain social distance at all times. Attendees were also given elaborate amenity kits that included sterilised pebbles for the ritual Stoning of the Devil (rami), disinfectant, masks and a prayer rug, according to the Hajj ministry.

    Several health facilities, mobile clinics and ambulances are also available on hand while workers continuously clean and disinfect the holy site, in uniforms resembling those of hospital staff.

    Saudi authorities initially said only around 1,000 pilgrims residing in the kingdom would be permitted for Hajj however, local media later reported that as many as 10,000 will be allowed to take part.

    Some 70% of the pilgrims are foreigners residing in the kingdom, while the rest will be Saudi citizens.

    Check out pictures from this year’s first-ever ‘socially distant’ Hajj below:

    The first group of female pilgrims praying in the Grand mosque in the holy city of Makkah at the start of the annual Hajj pilgrimage
    Saudi labourers put the new Kiswa, the protective cover that engulfs the Kaaba, made from black silk and gold thread and embroidered with Holy Quran verses
    The first group of pilgrims enter the Kaaba at the centre of the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Makkah at the start of the annual Hajj pilgrimage
    Pilgrims perform Zuhr and Asr Prayers at Arafat
    A Muslim pilgrim gets his temperature checked before boarding a bus heading towards Makkah on the first day of the annual Hajj pilgrimage
    Workers disinfect the ground outside the Grand Mosque
    https://www.instagram.com/p/CDOUEukpK5R/
  • KYA BOLA? (Jul 30): ‘Sciencedaan Fawad Chaudhry’ to ‘Imran Khan k aglay 6 maah ki ahmeeyat’

    KYA BOLA? (Jul 30): ‘Sciencedaan Fawad Chaudhry’ to ‘Imran Khan k aglay 6 maah ki ahmeeyat’

    Following are some snippets that stood out from Urdu newspapers on July 30, 2020, which The Current takes no responsibility for.

    ‘Sciencedaan Fawad Chaudhry’

    It was reported by Daily Jang that Ruete Hilal [Moon-Sighting] Committee Chairman Mufti Muneebur Rehman has said, “Fawad Chaudhry ko calendar banaa kr denay walay humaray members hain. Hum 25 saal se Ruet chalaa rahay hain, Fawad Chaudhary kahaan se sciencedaan aa gaye?”

    The statement comes days after yet another war of words erupted between the cleric and the science and technology minister over moon-sighting, this time for the Islamic month of Zil Hajj.

    ‘Tania Aidrus aur Zafar Mirza’

    According to Daily Jang, Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry has said, “Wazire Azam shayad Zafar Mirza k kaam say mutmayin nahi thay. Dono isteefo’n ka dual nationality se koi taaluq nahi tha.”

    A day earlier, special assistant to the prime minister on health, Dr Zafar Mirza, and on digital Pakistan, Tania Aidrus, had announced having submitted their resignations, saying it was over criticism following the assets and dual nationality report of PM’s aides. Pundits had, however, hinted at possible trouble in Islamabad and said that there was more to the resignations.

    ‘Imran Khan k aglay 6 maah ki ahmeeyat’

    Senior journalist and analyst Hamid Mir, in his column for Daily Jang, has said,“Imran Khan ne 2 saal tou jaisay taisay mukamal kr liye lekin Eid k bad inka asal imtehaan shuru honay wala hai. Agly 6 maah in k liye aham hain aur buhat mushkil bhi… yeh 6 maah nikal gaye to Imran Khan k liye paanch saal mukammal krna asaan hojayega.”

  • Afridi says he has ‘old and strong relations’ with Yuvraj, Harbhajan

    Afridi says he has ‘old and strong relations’ with Yuvraj, Harbhajan

    Despite all the drama that followed when Indian cricketers Yuvraj Singh and Harbhajan Singh extended their support to Shahid Afridi for his coronavirus campaign, Afridi says that he has great respect for them both and that they have “old and strong relations”.

    Lala shared this while responding to a Twitter user during an #AskAfridi session on the microblogging website.

    In April, Yuvraj and Harbhajan had extended their support to Afridi’s foundation, the Shahid Afridi Foundation, in its fight against the coronavirus pandemic, following which they received scathing criticism from triggered Indian social media users.

    Following the hate, Singh clarified that his intention was not to hurt anyone’s feelings and that he remains a true patriot and will always “bleed blue.” Singh’s note was retweeted by Harbhajan.

    Meanwhile, Harbhajan’s wife Geeta Basra responding to the trolling had said: “Harbhajan knows what his country means to him and doesn’t want to explain an act of humanity. He lives for India and will die for India. His country will always come first. Whenever he has played cricket, he did it with his heart. And everyone knows what India means to him.”

    She continued, “This goodwill gesture was to help Afridi, with whom they have played cricket and have years of friendship. Afridi is doing his bit for his country. They tried spreading the word to their fans all over the world, inspiring more people to support his good work.”

    “Let’s not bring religion or anything else into this. Even the virus isn’t making any discrimination. They would’ve done the same if anyone from any of the other teams like West Indies or England would’ve sought help,” Geeta added.

    Later in May, when Afridi while speaking to the people of Azad Kashmir, strongly criticised Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, for deploying forces in Kashmir and making it a living hell for Muslims, Yuvraj expressed his disappointment at his comments and regretted extending his support.

    Harbhajan passed similar comments, saying that he has “no relation or tie-up with Shahid Afridi from here on”.

    “This is very upsetting what Shahid Afridi has come up with, talking ill about our country and our Prime Minister. This is just not acceptable,” Harbhajan had said. “To be honest, he [Afridi] asked us to make an appeal for his charity. In good faith, we did it for humanity and for the people suffering due to the coronavirus.”

    “All I have to say is we have nothing to do with Shahid Afridi. He has no right to speak ill against our country and he should stay in his country and limits,” he added. “One person asks me to make an appeal for the sake of humanity, and I did my bit. That was it. I have no relation or tie-up with any Shahid Afridi from here on.”

    #AskAfridi

    In the interactive Twitter session, Afridi answered a variety of question from his fans during the session, ranging from his thoughts on Kashmir to his favourite players and cricket memories and how he is keeping himself busy during the pandemic. Check out some of his responses below:

    Afridi also answered some questions on whether he will be joining politics.

  • Elderly blasphemy accused shot dead in court

    Elderly blasphemy accused shot dead in court

    An elderly man was killed during the hearing of a blasphemy case against him at the Peshawar Judicial Complex on Wednesday.

    A case had been registered against the deceased under blasphemy laws. The accused was brought to court from Peshawar Central Jail.

    Tahir Ahmed Naseem, 47, a resident of Pishtakhara, appeared before the court of Judge Shaukatullah when a man barged in and opened fire on him.

    He was a US citizen and the US State Department’s Twitter account for South Asia tweeted about the incident.

    “During the hearing of the case, the complainant said that the accused was an Ahmadi and asked him to recite the Kalima-e-Tayyaba,” according to a lawyer who was present in the courtroom at the time of the incident. He added that the complainant then fired at the elderly man and killed him.

    The 24-year-old shooter, Khalid, was arrested by the police on the spot. He is said to be a resident of Board Bazaar.

    The judicial complex is situated in a high-security zone on the main Khyber Road in the cantonment area where the provincial assembly building, the Peshawar High Court, chief minister’s secretariat and Governor House are also situated. Security at the main gate and inside the judicial complex is also high.

    Peshawar Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Mohammad Ali Gandapur and SSP (Operations) Mansoor Aman visited the courtroom where the man was killed.

    “At the moment we have little information but we have started investigation into the killing,” the CCPO said. Aman added that the weapon has also been recovered.

    Police shifted the body of the deceased to the Khyber Medical University for post-mortem.

    They said a first information report (FIR) had been registered against the deceased in 2018.

    According to the FIR, the complainant alleged that the deceased belong to the Ahmadi community and “befriended him on Facebook” and in subsequent conversations, claimed that he was the “fourteenth Mujaddid”.

    “He then invited me to have a discussion with him at a mall in the city where he started talking about his belief,” the complainant said in the FIR, going on to make more allegations.

    The deceased was charged under Section 153-A (promoting enmity between different groups), Section 295-A (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs), Section 295-B (defiling etc. of the Holy Quran), Section 295-C (use of derogatory remarks against Prophet Muhammad PBUH) and Section 298 (uttering words etc., with deliberate intent to wound religious feelings) of the Pakistan Penal Code.

  • Zobia Meer Case: Mother forgives son who physically, verbally abused her

    Arsalan Qureshi’s mother, whom he physically and verbally tortured, has forgiven him for his doings. In a video posted to social media, she said that she has forgiven her son and does not want any legal action to be taken against him.

    In another video, Arsalan along with his wife apologised to his mother for his actions, adding that depression and stress was the reason behind his actions because he had faced loss in his business.

    A few days ago, a video posted by a girl, Zobia Meer went viral on social media in which her brother Arsalan Meer, could be seen verbally and physically abusing his mother.

    The incident sparked outrage on social media and many people including celebrities, journalists and social activists demanded justice for Zobia Meer and her mother. Later, Arsalan was arrested for thrashing his mother and sought forgiveness for his wrongdoings.