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  • Feroze Khan criticises Khalil ur Rehman Qamar for being arrogant

    Feroze Khan, who recently announced that he will be quitting the entertainment industry, appeared on Waseem Badami’s show and criticised Meray Paas Tum Ho writer, Khalilur Rehman Qamar for being too arrogant.

    “I am not a very big fan of Khalil Sahab because I think he is very arrogant,” said Feroze. “He has said some inappropriate words for my mentors, or in human capacity, that I have turned such kings into beggars. It doesn’t suit any person to say such things.”

    He also revealed why he was not considered for the role of Danish in Meray Paas Tum Ho.

    The Khaani actor told that he couldn’t be a part of the project due to money issues. “I lost the show because I asked to be paid.”

    When the host Waseem Badami asked how much did Humayun Saeed earn then, Feroze replied: “I am not sure to what extent it suited Humayun to cast me in his production – that angle I am not aware of, but I do think Khalil sahib didn’t like the idea of an actor demanding money for performing on a script written by him.”

    Humayun had earlier revealed that the role of ‘Danish‘ in MPTH was meant to be played by Adeel Hussain and then Feroze Khan. Yet both actors did not play the role, leaving it for Humayun.

    Talking about the actor’s decision to quit showbiz, Khan said that he’s completely satisfied with his decision.

    Read More: Feroze Khan quits showbiz

    Watch the interview here:

  • DC Hafizabad is winning the internet with his coronavirus song

    DC Hafizabad is winning the internet with his coronavirus song

    While some of us are freaking out about the coronavirus outbreak, others are using this as an opportunity to bring out their creative side.

    Deputy Commissioner Hafizabad Naveed Shahzad recently released an song in which he attempts to create awareness about the coronavirus and the necessary precautions to take. Shahzad has won desi Twitter with his song.

    While we all enjoyed DC Sahab’s song, it seems a tad bit inspired by an Indian singer Tejas Gambhir.

  • SBP waives off online transaction charges amid coronavirus outbreak

    SBP waives off online transaction charges amid coronavirus outbreak

    The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on Wednesday waived all charges on fund transfers through online banking channels to avoid the use of cash. The national bank’s decision comes after health experts urge the public to practise social distancing in order to prevent the virus from spreading.

    As per reports, the SBP made this move to minimize the use of cash to contain the spread of virus amongst bank staff and customers.

    Furthermore, under the guidelines issued by the central bank, customers using ATMs or visiting bank branches for transferring large amounts will not incur any charges.

    The state bank further advised the financial sector “to immediately facilitate education fee and loan repayments through internet banking or mobile devices.”

    The SBP in a statement said, “The objective of these measures is to reduce the need for visiting bank branches or the ATMs and to promote the use of Digital Payment Services such as internet banking, mobile phone banking, etc”.

    For this, the SBP has advised all banks to ensure availability of the alternate delivery platforms including ATMs, POS, payment gateways, internet banking, mobile banking and call centers for customers at all times.

  • Maya Ali opens up about being tested for COVID-19

    Maya Ali opens up about being tested for COVID-19

    With cases of coronavirus on the rise around the globe, governments and people are stepping up their efforts to control the spread of the virus as much as possible.

    Maya Ali, who was recently in the United States for charity events, took to social media to share that she recently took the coronavirus test and thankfully it was negative. She shared that while she waited for her results, she was filled with stress and anxiety and urged people to take the threat seriously and take all the necessary precautions.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B94WNnxiHIw/

    Earlier Humayun Saeed and Adnan Siddiqui also shared that they were going into self-isolation after they returned from their trip to the US.

    Read more – Humayun Saeed and Adnan Siddiqui are going into self-isolation together

    Meanwhile, celebrities are requesting their fans and followers to practise self-isolation in order to prevent the virus from spreading.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B9538C2nlZk/
    https://www.instagram.com/p/B96gGeyJZb-/
  • Coronavirus: Provinces asked to convert top hotels into quarantine centres

    Coronavirus: Provinces asked to convert top hotels into quarantine centres

    The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has asked provinces to convert all 3 and 4-star hotels into quarantine centres in the fight against the new coronavirus, ARY reported.

    According to reports, the NDMA has written a letter to the federal interior secretary and all four provincial chief secretaries in this regard.

    The move comes after Pakistan witnessed an increase in COVID-19 cases over the ongoing week.

    In the letter, the NDMA has said it is necessary to take preventative measures against the coronavirus as per World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines.

    The hotels will be made into quarantine centres with one person in one room, the report said.

    It merits a mention here that the number of novel coronavirus cases in Pakistan has surged to 341 with two confirmed deaths in Mardan and Hangu.

    Meanwhile, the number of recovered patients in Pakistan stands at three.

  • Humayun Saeed and Adnan Siddiqui are going into self-isolation together

    Humayun Saeed and Adnan Siddiqui are going into self-isolation together

    Humayun Saeed and Adnan Siddiqui, who were recently in the United States of America for Meray Paas Tum Ho ‘Meet and Greets’, are self-quarantining themselves upon their return home.

    In a Twitter exchange with Vasay Chaudhry, Humayun said that instead of going home, he and Adnan [Siddiqui] will self-isolate for a few days.

    Vasay wished his friend luck.

    With more than 300 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Pakistan, the government and health experts are requesting people to practise social distancing and self-isolation in order to control the spread of the highly contagious virus. Many companies have allowed their staff to work from home and large gatherings have been strictly prohibited.

  • VIDEO: President wants a ‘volunteer force’ to fight coronavirus in Pakistan

    VIDEO: President wants a ‘volunteer force’ to fight coronavirus in Pakistan

    Urging the nation to show unity in the persisting difficult time, President Dr Arif Alvi has stressed the need to form a China-like volunteer force in Pakistan to fight the new coronavirus.

    President Alvi, in a video message, said China has fought the coronavirus pandemic on the national-level and formed a force of volunteers which was also needed in Pakistan.

    He said that people must unite to face the challenge instead of panicking, and asked clerics to raise awareness regarding COVID-19. The president also asked media houses to play their role in spreading awareness so that people adopt prevention measures.

    WATCH VIDEO:

    The president said that China was facing isolation and extreme criticism from the West over the spread of coronavirus, but, he added, the Chinese leadership has appreciated Pakistan for exhibiting full confidence in Beijing and not bringing back students.

    He admitted that the Pakistani students, who had shown concerns over not being repatriated from China, studying in 15 different universities in the virus-hit country had also now changed their opinion after being looked after by Chinese authorities in a better way.

    “I have thanked Chinese President Xi Jinping over taking good care of them [Pakistani students in Wuhan/Hubei].”

    He also said the Chinese exhibited great resilience and unity against COVID-19 pandemic and Pakistan should learn from their experience to combat the disease.

    The president added that during his trip to the erstwhile epicentre of the virus, he held hours-long discussions with the Chinese leadership over effective measures adopted by Beijing to contain COVID-19.

  • Sajjad Ali wants to bring a music revolution with online concerts

    Sajjad Ali wants to bring a music revolution with online concerts

    Renowned Pakistani singer Sajjad Ali has asked his fans to start a music revolution with online concerts after the government enforced Section 144 in the wake of coronavirus pandemic.

    The singer in a video message posted to Twitter said that keeping in view the current situation, if he and his fans remained indoors then will there be no concerts?

    Ali maintained that the concerts will be held online.

    He added, “Let’s come and bring a revolution. Small gatherings, corporate events and even commercial shows can now be held online.”

    He further said, “If a sponsor wants to become part of our revolution, they are most welcome.”

    Ali is not the first singer who has announced online concerts for his fans. International singers who are doing the same include British singer Chris Martin and American sensation John Legend. They have started live-streaming their performances while staying at home.

    Martin, earlier this week performed a full 30-minute set from his house on Instagram, performing songs including Trouble, A Sky Full of Stars and a cover of a David Bowie song.

    https://www.instagram.com/tv/B90Ft_knpuT/?utm_source=ig_embed

    Apart from Martin and John, Miley Cyrus has also started a Livestream series Bright Minded, Live with Miley. She has already performed a multiple times post-quarantine.

  • What happens when you test for coronavirus?

    What happens when you test for coronavirus?

    Thousands of people every day are being tested for coronavirus across the globe. But what does that testing entail? Do patients need to supply urine or blood samples for the diagnosis or a simple swab with suffice?

    Experts say the testing process is quite simple and quick. Patients have a swab – think of it as a long Q-tip – inserted through their nose or throat. The nose and the back of the throat are the two sites where the virus replicates. The swabs pick up those cells where the virus might be.

    Once the sample is taken, it is put into a sterile container and sent to a lab, where a chemical is used to pull the cells off the swab and turn the sample into a liquid form.

    That liquid is then put into a machine that goes through hot and cold cycles to make multiple copies of the virus’ ribonucleic acid (RNA), which carries genetic information. The machine looks to match the person’s RNA with the coronavirus RNA to determine a positive or negative result.

    Read more – Where to get yourself tested for coronavirus in Pakistan

    Who should get the test?

    Only people who have recent travel history (or contact with someone who traveled) or have symptoms like cough or fever.

    CHECKLIST: Do you have Coronavirus?

    When to get the test?

    The test turns positive 5-7 days after exposure. So if someone has travelled recently, please practise social distancing if you can’t self-quarantine. And definitely stay away from your elders who are at the highest risk from the illness. Wait a few days before getting the test.

    For live updates on the coronavirus, follow our The Current’s live blog here.

  • ‘Yeh corona kaat-ta kaisay hai?’ Dawn quotes CM Buzdar as asking experts

    ‘Yeh corona kaat-ta kaisay hai?’ Dawn quotes CM Buzdar as asking experts

    With the new coronavirus — COVID-19 — making its way to Punjab and leaving at least 33 infected, people are criticising the Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Usman Buzdar-led administration for “lagging behind other provinces” such as Sindh where strict measures are being taken by the provincial government to contain the pandemic.

    Amid accusations of what people say is the “inability” of the Punjab government to take the global pandemic seriously, Dawn has quoted CM Buzdar as asking experts that “how does coronavirus bite”.

    LIVE UPDATES: Coronavirus in Pakistan

    “A few days ago Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar received a detailed briefing on coronavirus from relevant experts and officials. The purpose was to provide him all the information he required as the chief executive of the largest province, so he could make the right decisions. At the end of the briefing, the chief minister asked a question innocently: ‘Yeh corona kaat-ta kaisay hai? (how does this corona bite)?’,” the report by the English daily’s resident editor, Fahd Husain, claimed.

    It further said that “nothing could better illustrate the state of affairs in Punjab today than this simple question asked by the head of the province about a crisis that has nothing simple about it”.

    READ MORE: Coronavirus: Is Buzdar administration failing Punjab?

    “The gap between the magnitude of the challenge that COVID-19 has thrown and the scale of the response so far is wider than anyone would like to imagine. The reasons are far more numerous than the capacity issues of one provincial chief minister,” the report said.

    While the national tally of infections for now stands at 302 with at least two fatalities, globally, 158 countries have been affected, nearly 7,000 people have died and more than 190,000 are infected by COVID-19.

    The epicentre of the outbreak has now shifted to Europe, which is recording a rapid rise in new cases every day.