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  • Atif Aslam recites the 99 names of Allah for a ‘Coke Studio’ special

    Atif Aslam recites the 99 names of Allah for a ‘Coke Studio’ special

    Atif Aslam has joined hands with Coke Studio to release a special track in which the singer recites the 99 names of Allah.

    Read more – Coronavirus: Atif Aslam, Mahira Khan appreciate PM Khan for his efforts

    Titled Asma-Ul-Husna (which translates to the 99 attributes of Allah), the three and a half minute track has been produced by Zulfiqar “Xulfi” Jabbar Khan, while the video has been directed by Asim Raza.

    Though Asma-Ul-Husna has multiple renditions, Coke Studio’s version “manifests a multilayer soundscape, beginning with the actual sounds of black hole collision, followed by the echoes of “Allah” from the iconic Azaan of Makkah”.

    According to a press release, the “recitation borrows 24 voices from across the country to build a large vocal acapella personality”. Some of those voices include Abdullah Qureshi, Adnan Dhool, Xulfi, Mujeeb Rizvi, Bilawal Lahooti and Samya Gohar.

    “To further enhance the grandeur of the acapella, Melvin Arthur, a virtuoso musician from Quetta Pakistan, worked on crafting the choir arrangement using vocals from around the world. The track also demonstrates a unique arrangement of duffs as their grand ensemble reverberates in a large space,” the press release further said, adding that Atif brought together the whole composition with his powerful recitation.

    “Asma-Ul-Husna is an ode to the unwavering human spirit, an expression of spiritual healing and nourishment, and reassurance of better times ahead.”

    Listen to it below:

    Meanwhile, social media is full of praises for the singer.

    https://twitter.com/ABilalErfan/status/1261038045190553603?s=20
  • Meera tests negative for coronavirus

    Meera tests negative for coronavirus

    Meera, who recently returned from virus-hit New York after being stranded there for a couple of weeks has tested negative for COVID-19.

    In a video posted to Instagram, Meera along with some other Pakistani students shared that they have tested negative for COVID-19 and are back home safe and sound. They said that they are ecstatic to be home, even though their journey took almost two days. They were quarantined at a local hotel in Lahore while they waited for their tests.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CAKXAtvnNxc/

    Meera returned from United States on May 12 via a special flight arranged by the Government of Pakistan to repatriate stranded Pakistanis in the US.

    Read more – Meera is back in Pakistan

    In a video message posted to Instagram, the actor has shared that she is back in Pakistan and gave a special shoutout to the Pakistan Embassy in Washington and the New York Consulate for assisting her. Meera appreciated the work of the Pakistan Embassy and Consulate in the US and said that they facilitated her – and all other stranded passengers – at every step.

  • Historic first: No cars sold in Pakistan in a month

    Historic first: No cars sold in Pakistan in a month

    In a historic first, not even a single car was sold in Pakistan during April 2020 as countrywide lockdowns due to the coronavirus continued to take a toll on the economy, and consequently, the automobile sector, SAMAA quoted analysts as saying.

    According to data from Pakistan Automotive Manufacturers Association, the lockdowns resulted in the closure of plant operations along with car dealerships across the country. Car sales in the last 10 months ending April dropped by 52% compared to the same period of the preceding financial year, Topline Securities said in a report, adding that motorcycle sales were also affected.

    “The auto industry sold 39 units in April, which only included trucks and buses,” Inter Market Securities (IMS) said in a separate report, noting there were no passenger car sales due to the lockdown that came into force on March 24.

    Tractor sales were down 30% in April compared to the same month of 2019. “The decline in [tractor] sales was probably because of a partial lockdown, which was later eased for the tractor industry given its links to the agriculture sector amid harvesting season,” it said.

    READ MORE: Coronavirus may never go away, WHO says

    “With the easing of lockdowns in the country effective May 11, we expect sales to resume for the last two weeks of May,” IMS said. It, however, added the sales are expected to pick up in the first half of 2021. This is because Indus Motor Company, the makers of Toyota in Pakistan, and Honda Car Pakistan Limited increased prices recently and Pak Suzuki Motor Company is likely to follow suit. But analysts at IMS also said the reduction of more than 4% in interest rates may help auto-financing pick up earlier than expected.

    Similar situations have been reported across the globe as COVID-19 continues to affect global economy and spell misery for consumers.

    According to BBC, the United Kingdom’s (UK) motor industry has been in suspended animation for weeks. Showrooms have been closed while vast factories, which normally produce hundreds of cars every day for sale here and abroad, have been standing idle.

  • GUYS, FREE GIVEAWAY! Fill it out NOW!

    GUYS, FREE GIVEAWAY! Fill it out NOW!

    So, as we announced earlier, the Google News Innovation Fund is funding The Current to start Pakistan’s first membership program. What does that mean? That means that while everything we do for you will always be free, IF you want something more from us, we can now make that happen! This is so exciting guys! But obviously we need to know from you…what do you want? Fill out this survey and we will start working on what to do for you. And to make it more fun, we are sending GIVEAWAYS to FIVE PEOPLE who fully complete the survey! Thank you so much for supporting us! Means a lot! And we can’t wait to do more!

    Check out this link to fill the survey

  • Coronavirus: Twitter allows staff to work from home ‘forever’

    Coronavirus: Twitter allows staff to work from home ‘forever’

    Twitter has told staff that they can work from home “forever” if they wish as the company assesses its future after the coronavirus pandemic.

    The decision came as the social media giant said its work-from-home measures during the lockdown had been a success. But it also said it would allow workers to return to the office if they want to when it reopens.

    Earlier this month, Google and Facebook said their staff can work from home until the end of the year.

    Twitter said: “The past few months have proven we can make that work. So if our employees are in a role and situation that enables them to work from home and they want to continue to do so forever, we will make that happen.”

    Twitter’s blog added that for those who want to return to Twitter’s office the company “will be their warm and welcoming selves, with some additional precautions”.

    The San Francisco-based company employs more than 4,000 people across its global offices. It has allowed employees to work from home since March and have decided to reopen its offices probably in September.

  • Amazon owner likely to become world’s first trillionaire

    Amazon owner likely to become world’s first trillionaire

    While the coronavirus pandemic has racked the global economy with uncertainty, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is on track to become the world’s first trillionaire by the year 2026.

    The business software comparison site used data collected from the last five years of the Forbes Rich List to calculate the yearly wealth growth rate of the world’s richest billionaires.

    The results concluded that Bezos, whose wealth is over $140bn, could become the world’s first trillionaire in 2026, by then he will be 62 years old.

    The study also says that Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Facebook, could become the youngest trillionaire in the world in 2036 when he will be 51 years old.

    Physical shopping is not a thing at the moment, therefore, Amazon is doing well at the moment because the demand for online is very high.

    Last month Jeff Bezos donated $100 million to US food banks which are struggling to feed a growing number of Americans who have lost their jobs due to the coronavirus crisis.

    According to the Billionaires Index, Bezos is one of the world’s five richest people who hasn’t lost money in 2020 as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Amazon has reported $75.5 billion in revenue for the first quarter of 2020.

  • Reema backs Shaan, says ‘Ertuğrul’ should not be aired on ‘our national channel’

    Reema backs Shaan, says ‘Ertuğrul’ should not be aired on ‘our national channel’

    And the debate on Diriliş: Ertuğrul continues.

    While Pakistanis enjoy the Turkish series in Urdu on their TV screens, Reema has voiced her criticism against the government’s decision to air the drama on PTV. The actor supported her colleague Shaan’s comments and said that the Turkish series should not be aired on “our national channel”. Shaan had earlier remarked that the state-owned channel should we working towards uplifting the local entertainment industry and should not be spending money on imports. In response to Shaan’s comments, Senator Faisal Javed Khan had clarified that Ertuğrul was a gift to Pakistan from the President of Turkey.

    Read more – Shaan is disappointed with PTV for airing ‘Diriliş: Ertuğrul’

    While speaking on her Ramzan transmission, the actor said, “Our artists have raised their voice [against its airing]. Why is foreign content being aired on national television?”

    “When you have plenty of local content and your artists are sitting at home, why is there a need to spend money and promote foreign content,” questioned Reema, adding, “It really hurts us. Because we’re the one paying taxes, not foreign artists.”

    “Shaan nay haq ki awaaz uthayi hai.”

    Reema’s guests Madiha Maqvi and Faisal Subzwari agreed with her comments and said that the government should promote local artists.

    Watch from 41:00:

  • Jemima reacts after Amir Mateen tries to give her parenting advice

    Jemima reacts after Amir Mateen tries to give her parenting advice

    British journalist, film producer and former wife of Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan, Jemima Goldsmith, has reacted to senior Pakistani journalist and analyst Amir Mateen trying to give her what seemed to be parenting advice.

    As per the details, Jemima recently tweeted about how her son is relieved that he can now play sports “but only with her [due to the lockdown]”, drawing reactions from Pakistani Twitterati among whom she remains immensely popular even years after her separation with cricketer-turned-politician Imran.

    Among netizens reacting to the tweet was Mateen, who said:

    “Sad. He should have [a] normal life and pursue his interests,” Mateen tweeted, which did not seem to sit very well with Jemima.

    Here’s what Mateen had to say in response:

    “It was a joke. [British PM] Boris Johnson announced this eve you can play sports but only with members of your own household,” Jemima said in a subsequent tweet.

    In response to which, Mateen made Jemima realise how “she had lived here long enough to understand that even her jokes are taken seriously in Pakistan”.

    But all’s well that ends well…

    What do you think of this discussion? Let The Current know in the comments.

  • ‘Imran’s Naya Pakistan is Gen (r) Musharraf’s Pakistan’

    ‘Imran’s Naya Pakistan is Gen (r) Musharraf’s Pakistan’

    Former president and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari has said that Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan is following the footsteps of former military ruler General (r) Pervez Musharraf, adding that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government has ruined national consensus.

    Speaking to PPP leader Qamar Zaman Kaira on the coronavirus crisis and the evolving political situation in the country, Zardari criticised the government, saying that it wants to curtail constitutional and financial powers of provinces.

    “This government is fighting the opposition instead of fighting coronavirus,” he said.

    Referring to PPP’s past tenure, the former president stated that when he came to power in 2008, the country was a victim of terrorism and division. “We conducted the Swat operation through national consensus and brought peace [throughout the country],” the former president asserted.

    The PPP and the PTI have been trading barbs over the past few weeks. On Tuesday, after being criticised for the second consecutive day by Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi in the Parliament House, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari had demanded that the foreign minister either withdraw his statement against PPP or resign from his position.

    The minister had spoken at length about PPP’s style of governance and the participation of the province in national decision-making, saying that the former ruling party was focused on only provincial politics rather than thinking of the entire country.

  • VIDEO: Allama Zameer Akhtar Naqvi allows Pakistanis to continue making memes

    VIDEO: Allama Zameer Akhtar Naqvi allows Pakistanis to continue making memes

    Controversial cleric Allama Zameer Akhtar Naqvi, who has time and again made headlines for his claims such as possessing the antidote for coronavirus, has allowed netizens to continue making memes about him.

    “Continue making memes… those who don’t listen to me seriously are able to understand my teachings by going through these funny memes,” he said in a viral video doing rounds over social media.

    WATCH VIDEO:

    He went on to say that none of his words are to be considered as something funny, but those who are able to understand them in a funnier way may continue to do so as long as they understand his teachings.

    Naqvi went on to “pretend” getting mad at those making memes about him, and later clarified that he was a “master of articulation” and his earlier viral “nahi bataoonga” rant was a prank that he played on netizens.

    “Stop making a fool out of yourself by all these comments you post. Learn the art of balance. If you follow me, you will be successful,” he maintained.

    A few days earlier, Allama Zameer Akhtar Naqvi had also claimed to possess the antidote for coronavirus. This claim was highly criticised by Pakistanis who believed that this claim showed how non-serious Pakistani clerics were in dealing with this global health crisis.