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  • Faisal Qureshi, Adnan Siddiqui, Nadeem Baig team up for a skit on coronavirus awareness

    Faisal Qureshi, Adnan Siddiqui, Nadeem Baig team up for a skit on coronavirus awareness

    After releasing a short film – featuring major celebrities – on coronavirus awareness, Faisal Qureshi is back with a new mini-drama on the same topic. Titled Dastak Na Do, the drama has been directed by Nadeem Baig and features Adnan Siddiqui, Saba Hameed, Sami Khan, Arjumand Rahim and Emaan Khan.

    Speaking exclusively to The Current over the phone, producer Faisal Qureshi shared that the three-episode drama series aims to use light comedy and realistic situations to create awareness on the pandemic. He said that through the drama they hope to use entertainment to educate the masses on the topic.

    Sharing details, Qureshi said that he had conceived the idea before the lockdown and had discussed it with director Nadeem Baig.

    “Much of the pre-production work had been completed before the lockdown,” Qureshi said, adding that the rest of the work on it was done over the phone and internet, except the shoot that took place under strict precautionary measures.

    Qureshi said that the production team went through great lengths to ensure everyone’s safety.

    “Our team followed all the SOPs very strictly. Everyone’s temperature was checked and they were sanitised when they entered and exited the set,” said Qureshi. He said that the team and people working on the set were given proper protective gear and that the sets were also disinfected.

    A BTS video, which has been shared, also shows that precautions were in place.

    The first episode of the drama has been released. It shows Adnan and Arjumand as a couple with two children. While they are trying to protect themselves from COVID-19 by following the advice of the government and health experts, their Khala (Saba Hameed) unexpectedly shows up and dismisses the virus and the government’s warnings. The episode is well-written and boasts of great production value.

    Apart from being shared on social media, Dastak na Do, which has been produced by Qureshi’s Game Over Productions, will also be aired on various TV channels.

    Watch it online here:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUMy71e1xGc
  • Coronavirus: Pakistan to get 153 million euros

    Coronavirus: Pakistan to get 153 million euros

    Ambassador of the European Union (EU) to Pakistan Androulla Kaminara has called on Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan and announced that the EU had allocated 153 million euros to support Pakistan in its war against the new coronavirus — COVID-19.

    She briefed the premier on measures by the EU to strengthen Pakistan’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, over which PM Imran expressed satisfaction on the growing momentum in Pakistan-EU bilateral relations.

    Further steps to deepen the Pakistan-EU partnership in all its dimensions were also discussed during the meeting.

    This is not the first relief effort aimed at supporting cash-stripped Pakistan as it fights the global pandemic.

    Earlier, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) had announced to provide around $1.4 billion to help the country address the economic fallout of the coronavirus outbreak.

    “IMF Executive Board approves a US$1.386 billion disbursement to Pakistan to address the COVID-19 pandemic,” the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) had said in a statement last month.

    The announcement had come after the global lender said the disbursement under its Rapid Financing Instrument would enable Pakistan “to meet the urgent balance of payment needs stemming from the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic”.

    “The outbreak of COVID-19 is having a significant impact on the Pakistani economy. The domestic containment measures, coupled with the global downturn, are severely affecting growth and straining external financing. This has created an urgent balance of payments need,” said Geoffrey Okamoto, acting chair of the IMF Executive Board, in a statement.

    “In this context of heightened uncertainty, IMF emergency financing under the Rapid Financing Instrument provides strong support to the authorities’ emergency policy response, preserving fiscal space for essential health spending, shoring up confidence, and catalysing additional donor support.”

    He also acknowledged the country’s “swift action” to curb the spread of the virus and other measures to support citizens.

    The total number of infections in Pakistan, by the time this report was filed, stood at 24,954 with 593 deaths.

  • Fahad Mustafa says ‘Quaid-e-Azam Zindabad’ will have ‘Mission Impossible type stunts’

    Last weekend, Nabeel Qureshi, the director of Fahad Mustafa and Mahira Khan’s upcoming film Quaid-e-Azam Zindabad, teased fans with a sneak peek of the film sending fans into a frenzy.

    The director shared behind-the-scenes pictures of Fahad suspended mid-air on a crane and wrote: “Preparing for some action-packed sequence with Fahad and Mahira”.

    In response, Fahad tweeted, “What was I thinking?”

    Later while speaking to a local media outlet, Fahad shared that the film will have some “very dangerous action bike sequences”.

    He said: “Action sequences in movies are either stylish or realistic. We have tried to be as realistic as we can with the action sequences in Quaid-e-Azam Zindabad.”

    WATCH: Fahad Mustafa practices his action stunts for ‘Quaid-e-Azam Zindabad’

    Fahad further said that the film will feature action sequences that have never been tried before in Pakistan and that he performed all the stunts himself.

    “We have tried to pull off Mission Impossible type stuff in Pakistan with Quaid-e-Azam Zindabad,” said the actor. “I endured multiple injuries while performing these stunts. My heel was injured throughout the course of filming and I couldn’t even walk properly but still, I did all the stunts myself and no double was used.”

    “I hope everyone will like the film,” he added.

    Read more – ‘Quaid-e-Azam Zindabad’: What will Mahira & Fahad’s film be about?

    The shoot for the film has wrapped up and it is currently in the post-processing phase. Director Nabeel Qureshi, while speaking to various media outlets, shared that the team of the film is working on the film from home and they hope to release it as per schedule i.e. on Eid ul Azha.

  • All board exams cancelled, all students to be promoted, university admissions on first year results

    All board exams cancelled, all students to be promoted, university admissions on first year results

    Federal Education Minister Shafqat Mehmood has announced the cancellation of all board exams across the country as the coronavirus outbreak continues to worsen.

    Speaking after the National Coordination Committee (NCC) meeting in Islamabad Thursday, Mehmood said that all provinces have decided to keep schools closed till July 15, whereas all students of grades 9 and 10, besides those of intermediate parts I and II, will be promoted on the basis of their results from the previous class.

    “All board exams have been cancelled and students of class 9, 10, 11 and 12 will be promoted for the next class on the basis of results obtained in the previous class,” he said, adding that student can seek admissions to universities on the basis of their results from the 11th grade.

    The minister further said that the decision was taken with the consensus of all provinces and students will be able to enroll in the next class as soon as schools reopen in July.

    Meanwhile, the government has decided to begin lifting lockdown restrictions from Saturday (May 9), Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan has announced.

  • Pakistan is now manufacturing oxygenators

    Pakistan is now manufacturing oxygenators

    In a first, Pakistan has started manufacturing oxygenators that are imperative for the treatment of 80 per cent of COVID-19 patients, Minister of Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry has reportedly said.

    Oxygenators are a simple form of ventilators that help patients who have breathing difficulties.

    Furthermore, Pakistan is also making ventilators and N95 masks by using indigenous technology. For the manufacturing of ventilators, the Pakistan Engineering Council received 53 ventilator designs out of which 13 have been shortlisted. Seven have been approved and they are in the last stage of licensing following the European Union (EU) benchmarks.

    “In six to seven months, Pakistan will not just have sufficient ventilators to meet local demand but will be in a position to export these lifesaving machines,” the minister has said.  

    He said that the moment of crisis had made it clear that the role of scientific research and development was underrated in Pakistan during the last decade, adding that it was the only country in the world to cut funding for research and development after 2007 from 0.67 per cent of the GDP to 0.24p per cent.

    “Cities ran short of hand sanitiser, disinfectants and masks immediately after the first two cases of COVID-19 were detected in Pakistan, between Feb 26 and March 5″, the minister said.

    “Since Pakistan is a major exporter of raw ethanol, an important ingredient in sanitisers and sprays, the Pakistan Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR) was tasked to produce sanitisers and disinfectant sprays.

    “In two months, Pakistan is not just self-sufficient but is in a position to export these products. The PCSIR now has the capacity to produce 1,000 litres of sanitiser a day, which is available at Utility Stores.” Ziaur Rehman from the PCSIR said.

    The School of Biomedical and Engineering and Sciences and Attaur Rehman School of Applied Biosciences, both constituent colleges of the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), have also started working on eye-protection shields, personal protection equipment (PPE) and Covid-19 testing equipment according to World Health Organization (WHO) standards.

    In addition, NUST is in the final stages of introducing Covid-19 test kits and they will be available in the market within a week. The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) has run clinical trials of the kits and they’re in the last stage of approval.

  • VIDEO: Mufti Qavi says ‘alcohol is halal’

    VIDEO: Mufti Qavi says ‘alcohol is halal’

    A cleric who is not new to controversy, Mufti Abdul Qavi, has now said that drinks with less than 40% alcohol by volume are 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 said during an interview.

    WATCH VIDEO:

    “If chewing tobacco that our religious scholars consume is halal, then I’ll have to say that drinks of today are also halal,” he added.

    This is not the first time that Mufti Qavi has made his way to the limelight for his controversial remarks or actions.

    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.

    READ: MPTH fever: Video shows Mufti Qavi praying for Danish to be granted Jannah

    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.

    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.

  • Fans are furious with Adnan Siddiqui for mocking Sarfaraz Ahmed

    Fans are furious with Adnan Siddiqui for mocking Sarfaraz Ahmed

    Another day, another controversy.

    A week after he criticised Aamir Liaquat for being callous with his remarks, Adnan Siddiqui has found himself in hot water after a clip of him mocking former captain Sarfaraz Ahmed went viral on social media. The clip which is from an episode of Jeeto Pakistan which aired on May 4, shows Adnan ridiculing Sarfaraz’s speech as they compete with each other on the show.

    Read more – Adnan Siddiqui regrets being on Aamir Liaquat’s show

    Adnan’s actions enraged fans who took to social media to call out the actor and remind him that just a few days ago he was condemning Liaquat for being rude.

    https://twitter.com/SarmadWaqas1/status/1258286859790270466?s=20

    However, some defended the actor saying that the two were just having fun.

    https://twitter.com/SheikhAhmer5/status/1257604390644584450?s=20

    Both Sarfaraz and Adnan are team captains in the Jeeto Pakistan League. While Sarfaraz is the captain of Quetta Knights, Adnan is the captain of Lahore Falcons. Adnan, Sarfaraz nor the team of Jeeto Pakistan have responded to the controversy as yet.

    Watch the full episode below. For the interaction between Adnan and Sarfaraz, watch 1:20:00 onwards. It is pertinent to add here that Adnan’s actions sent Sarfaraz into a fit of laughter and the cricketer did not seem offended by Adnan’s actions.

  • Pakistani artists set to perform for virtual Covid-19 fundraiser

    Pakistani artists set to perform for virtual Covid-19 fundraiser

    Pakisani artists are set to perform for a virtual sufi concert aimed to raise funds for COVID-19 victims. The event is scheduled to take place live on Sunday, May 10, 2020.

    According to the fundraising website, the initiative is called the Hamd-O-Naat and Sufi programme. Several popular Pakistani artists like Rafaqat Ali Khan, Ali Sethi, Haroon Rashid and Ustad Shafqat Amanat Ali will perform in the session.

    Other performances will feature Khurram Iqbal, Junaid Younus and Ali Sher.

    The portal suggests that these artists would be donating their time to help raise funds and the video link of the performances will be shared after a subscription of $10 per family.

    VIGA is a project of Akhuwat which is registered in the US as a non-profit organisation.

  • Govt gives ISI Rs1.66 billion for upgradation of agency’s telecom project

    Govt gives ISI Rs1.66 billion for upgradation of agency’s telecom project

    The government’s Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) has approved a “supplementary grant” of Rs1.66 billion for the upgradation of Special Telecom Monitoring Project at the directorate of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).

    According to a press release issued by the Press Information Department (PID), the ECC has also approved a supplementary grant of Rs500 million for the construction of Special Education School at the Defence Complex in Islamabad.

    The proposals for “technical supplementary grants” were moved by the defence division, the press release said.

    The committee has also instructed the ministry of national security and research to ensure procurement of wheat as per 8.25 million tonnes target set for the public sector this year.

    The ISI is the premier intelligence agency of Pakistan, operationally responsible for gathering, processing and analysing national security information from around the world.

    It is currently headed by General Faiz Hameed.

  • Nabila says that she will not be bullied

    Nabila says that she will not be bullied

    One of Pakistan’s leading salons, which has branches in major cities of Pakistan, Nabila’s Salon, recently announced that they would open up the salon for business after taking all the necessary precautions.

    Nabila, in a video, said that the service industry is suffering the most due to the pandemic but that “we all have a choice”.

    “We all have a choice. We can either live in the circle of concern, freak out, watch the news or wait for things to happen, or we can live in the circle of influence and take full charge,” said Nabila.

    She then went onto say that because she is an optimist, she would choose the latter option and make decisions regarding her personal and professional life by ‘Raising the Bar’.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B_pgjS8he47/

    The salon, in a video, stated that it will be “a safe space with a superior level of hygiene combined with best practices and medical level sanitisation to ensure the health and well being of everyone who walks through our doors.”

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

    Read more – ‘Barber on Wheels’ offers haircuts at home with all safety measures

    The salon’s announcement to open was met with immense backlash and Nabila took to personally respond to them and defend her decision. While comments have now been disabled on the post, screenshots are being widely circulated on social media.

    Later while speaking to various media outlets, Nabila said that she will not be bullied. She said that she has not opened the salon as yet but will wait for the government to give the green signal. She said the videos the salon had posted were to tell their clients of the precautions they will be taking once they open and to also let the government know that they are fully equipped to provide services. Nabila shared that she consulted doctors and experts before making her decisions.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B_1Y9MSJiG2/

    The entrepreneur further added that as the President of Pakistan’s Hair and Beauty Association, it is her duty to ensure that her industry, which employs thousands of workers, is also looked after. She said that she spoke to several salon owners who were also feeling the brunt of the pandemic as they have workers and staff to pay and they decided that they will prepare themselves and then approach the government to allow them to provide services with the necessary SOPs and precautions in place.

    On the question of wasting PPEs, Nabila said that the country is now producing a surplus of protective equipment and that a friend of her’s who has a garment factory lent her kits for the promotional videos. She said that if needed, she will place an order with him for the salon.

    Nabila stood her ground and said that she is being responsible and proactive. She said that she also has employees to pay and that for the past two months, she has been paying them from her own pocket.

    Nabila added: “We are responsible for the bread and butter of hundreds of families. How can we not think of ways to fall in line with this new norm? Should we not be considering the possibilities on how the world would work post-corona?”