Blog

  • VIDEO: Pakistan Women’s Cricket Team takes the viral ‘Don’t Rush Challenge’

    VIDEO: Pakistan Women’s Cricket Team takes the viral ‘Don’t Rush Challenge’

    Ever since the world went into lockdown, people are coming up with fun ideas to lift up their spirits and of those around them. Several social media challenges have also gone viral including the ‘Oh Na Na’ Dance Challenge, ‘Don’t Rush’ Makeup Challenge and the Pillow Challenge, in which you have to dress up using pillows. Celebrities all over the world are also participating in these challenges and the latest to join the bandwagon is the Pakistan Women’s Cricket Team who took the Don’t Rush Challenge with a twist.

    Instead of doing their makeup, the girls in the video changed into their team jerseys. Those who participated in the challenge include Kainat Imtiaz, Omaima Sohail, Maham Tariq, Syeda Nain Abidi, Sidra Nawaz, Ayesha Zafar, Muneeba Ali, Aiman Anwar, Iram Javed and Sidra Ameen.

    https://twitter.com/kainatimtiaz16/status/1253652912691167232?s=20

    People loved their take on their challenge.

    https://twitter.com/AleemDarUmpire/status/1253776541907070977?s=20

  • Hospital employee tests positive for coronavirus during PM’s visit

    After Edhi Foundation head Faisal Edhi tested positive for the new coronavirus less than a week following his meeting with Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan, who, however, has tested negative for the same, concerns have been raised over another health risk that the premier may be facing as an employee of Coronavirus Care Hospital of Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS) in Rawalpindi tested positive for COVID-19 the same day Imran visited the facility.

    As per the details, Khaleeq Abbasi, who works at the Logistics Department, had been deputed at the hospital to take care of the logistics and was also involved in logistics provision for PM Imran’s visit along with other staff.

    “Abbasi was not feeling well for quite a few days. He tested for coronavirus on Monday which came positive on Wednesday,” reports quoted an official as saying.

    “After testing positive, Abbasi has been directed by the PRCS management to self-isolate,” they said, adding that as a follow-up measure, the management had also isolated the entire logistics department and sent samples of all of the department’s employees among a number of other persons for testing.

    According to a press statement issued by PM House, the premier during his visit was briefed in detail by PRCS Chairman Abrarul Haq on the measures taken by the organisation in the wake of the situation arising out of the COVID-19 outbreak and the facilities at the hospital.

    A video doing rounds over the internet also showed PM Imran and his delegation at the facility without any specific protective measures.

    Minister for Railways Sheikh Rasheed Ahmad, PM’s special assistants Dr Sania Nishtar, Dr Zafar Mirza and Member National Assembly (MNA) Amir Mehmood Kiyani were among those who accompanied Imran.

    PRCS spokesperson Rehal Ali has confirmed that an employee named Khaleeq Abbasi tested positive for COVID-19 the same day the premier visited the hospital. “Actually, Abbasi’s test sample had been sent on Monday and the confirmation came on Wednesday,” said the spokesperson, adding that Abbasi and all other staff members had been isolated at their homes as a safety measure.

    “We have tracked back around 10 people who had been in contact with Abbasi and isolated them at their homes. Their samples have also been taken and sent for tests,” he said, adding that all measures identified by the National Institute of Health (NIH) were being followed at the hospital as well as the national headquarters of the PRCS.

  • VIDEO: Tariq Jamil apologises for calling journalists ‘liars’, doesn’t break silence on his ‘misogynist’ remarks

    Prominent preacher Maulana Tariq Jamil’s statements from Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s Ehsaas Telethon to raise money for the government’s coronavirus relief fund on Thursday have received mixed reactions, which were followed by the religious scholar also apologising as he drew the ire of several netizens, including senior journalists and rights activists, who called him out for “targetting women” and calling media personalities “liars”.

    “I apologise if someone has misconstrued my words. It was not a sweeping statement and I was referring to certain journalists when I said they lie,” Jamil said while appearing on a private media outlet’s show hosted senior journalist Javed Chaudhry, who was seen making the religious scholar realise that his words had not been very well-received by many.

    WATCH VIDEO:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IE6KhNlpK7A

    Earlier, he was also called out by senior journalist and analyst Hamid Mir and his colleague Murtaza Ali Shah.

    Mir also asked Jamil to name the media owner he had alluded to in his prayer at the live telethon.

    WHAT DID MAULANA SAY?

    Other than speaking against “certain journalists”, Maulana had on Thursday also blamed “immodest women” for causing the coronavirus pandemic in Pakistan.

    According to reports, he advised people to abstain from vices like indecency, lying, fraud and illegal means of earning a livelihood, adding that pre-Islamic nations were annihilated because they transgressed the limits set by God.

    He went on to call some women “behaiya [immodest]” and talked about the indecency and mixing up of genders and leading the youth astray. In one particular sentence, he expressed remorse over women dancing. He, however, did not clarify his stance further.

    He then concluded the transmission with a special prayer asking God to end the pandemic coronavirus and save entire humanity.

    Here’s what Twitterati had to say:

    The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has also condemned Jamil’s remarks.

    Meanwhile, “#TariqJamil” continues to trend on Twitter in Pakistan.

  • Utility store workers go on countrywide strike for their demands

    Utility store workers go on countrywide strike for their demands

    The workers of Utility Stores Corporation went on across the country on Friday. The workers have stopped working to record their protest to convince the government for their demands. They want the authorities to declare them as permanent employees and increase their salaries.

    “The strike will be continued for an indefinite period as Utility Stores Corporation (USC)Umar Lodhi has not accepted their demands regarding their status and pay,” said All Pakistan Workers Unions President.

    He said that they announced countrywide strike following failed negotiations with owners and unions.

    Talking to a news outlet, USC Executive Director Umar Lodhi said that the department was not able to clear the dues of the employees because of the loss. But all the other demands were fulfilled, he said.

  • Much-awaited coronavirus drug ‘fails in first trial’

    Much-awaited coronavirus drug ‘fails in first trial’

    A potential antiviral drug for the coronavirus has reportedly failed in its first randomised clinical trial, Financial Times reported.

    According to reports, there had been widespread hope that remdesivir could treat the new coronavirus — COVID-19 — that has left at least 191,000 people dead and 2.7 million infected across the globe.

    But a Chinese trial showed that the drug had not been successful, according to draft documents accidentally published by the World Health Organization (WHO).

    The drug did not improve patients’ condition or reduce the pathogen’s presence in the bloodstream, it said.

    Researchers studied 237 patients, giving the drug to 158 and comparing their progress with the remaining 79. The drug also showed significant side effects in some, which meant 18 patients were taken off it.

    Interest in the drug, had been high as there are currently no approved treatments or preventive vaccines for COVID-19, and doctors are desperate for anything that might alter the course of the disease that attacks the lungs and can shut down other organs in extremely severe cases.

    The United States (US) firm behind the drug, Gilead Sciences, is testing it in multiple trials, and highly anticipated trial results from a study involving 400 patients hospitalised with severe cases of the illness are expected later this month.

    It says the WHO documents mischaracterised the study.

    Remdesivir, which previously failed as a treatment for Ebola, is being tried against COVID-19 because it is designed to disable the mechanism by which certain viruses, including the new coronavirus, make copies of themselves and potentially overwhelm their host’s immune system.

  • Mehwish Hayat takes the viral ‘Oh Na Na’ dance challenge

    Mehwish Hayat takes the viral ‘Oh Na Na’ dance challenge

    Ever since the world went into lockdown, people are coming up with fun ideas to lift up their spirits and of those around them. Several social media challenges have also gone viral including the ‘Oh Na Na’ Dance Challenge, Don’t Rush Makeup Challenge and the Pillow Challenge, in which you have to dress up using pillows. Celebrities all over the world are also taking part in these challenges.

    Mehwish Hayat recently did the ‘Oh Na Na’ Dance Challenge with her brother and the result is fun, groovy and full of energy.

    Watch the video below:

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

    This is not the first time that the actor took a viral social media challenge. Earlier, Mehwish had also participated in the Bottle Cap Challenge and had blown away her fans with it.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/BzgE9CfFZD4/

  • VIDEO: Man in Waziristan celebrates recovering from COVID-19 with traditional dance

    A man in Waziristan broke into a cultural dance after he was discharged from quarantine.

    The man was quarantined in the District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital after testing positive for coronavirus. However, after being in self-isolation and taking the necessary precautions, his tests came out negative and he started dancing to celebrate his recovery. The video of his cheerful dance went viral on social media.

  • Celebrities come together for a short film on coronavirus

    Celebrities come together for a short film on coronavirus

    A host of Pakistan’s much-loved celebrities have come together for a short film titled Call To Action to raise awareness on the coronavirus pandemic.

    Among those who feature in the film includes Hamza Ali Abbasi, Humayun Saeed, Reema, Shehzad Roy, Ali Rehman Khan, Zara Noor Abbas, Maya Ali, Anwar Maqsood, Bilal Maqsood, Sheheryar Munawar, Wasim Akram, Shaniera Akram, Ayesha Omar, Iqra Aziz, Yasir Hussain and Mikaal Zulfiqar. The film follows them as they talk to each other on the phones. While the conversation appears to be like one anyone would be having with their friend or family on the phone, each dialogue has a message behind it.

    For example, Shehzad Roy talks about how important it is to keep washing our hands, while Iqra says, “Fasla rakhain, kaheen corona na ho jaye.” Ayesha Omar expresses her annoyance at unverified Whatsapp forwards. The dialogues are fun, short and witty.

    The film has been written and directed by Faisal Qureshi.

    https://www.facebook.com/99319189034/videos/332682641054551/?__xts__[0]=68.ARCUqC90EHnhYu44OAka_NzkLjp4DPNDfxreqZ-g-_0VvCS45Ba3b-bv-IRWsooBrSfOIDGlgcz3u7pwWtGlDSUt0LTpgQs4F6gJqexpQBP0IotW5eV1WDzmpvdlt8Aa0qLvWG-SubERhJqtVPUlp6nMGL1SkWb42Yo1Xas-OxDy7PV9pinB2TDABda0EOjNGLZWrJnId_jZ6Hz77caiszjYUmipE3T0Ajhw2qVjfAQUuIPsVa65EEtjWNAHI8gERPE9W2y-eaUIjz1OGquIvkE5NZw1H9QORWVeqGVjPA4RVpdXzH213FAbVC0RbXN6AUuxCTVxFHH7Bl2fMM4L7wRtWU8tDXfl93NDqM5wzCXsWNpcPEiUW9CMORhzeJC7jcvdM6rpgTOqdExvjySH6ZB4_bkPnV0xJgC3NBCBgkDDGS5NlE41VZV7Q9xam0N8pMywt_N9l6pFk99nCd59228jdERIns7LawD5z0ZVfq7KZMkYIPvlJmPTuhbn8A&__tn__=-R

  • ‘Money Heist 4’ features an Indian actor as the Pakistani hacker

    Hit Spanish TV series La Casa de Papel, popularly known as Money Heist is very popular all over the world as it released its fourth season earlier this month. The show is also a big hit among Pakistani audiences.

    One thing that made Pakistani fans more involved in the show were the inclusions of two Pakistani characters – a surgeon and a hacker. Shakir, who plays the hacker is actually from India. He was cast in the show as someone who helped the Professor and his team of robbers in robbing the Bank of Spain.

    In a recent interview, the actor, Ajay Jethi, shared how he landed the role of Shakir.

    “When I got a call for Money Heist, it was like any other project for me, a new project for me. The manager told me it is a big project and the series is famous on Netflix,” Jethi said. “But, I had not seen the series till then as I was occupied with other things. I did not give any auditions because I had worked a lot with the casting director on many projects before.”

    Though Ajay is from Patiala, India, has is currently living in Spain.