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  • Can you guess which film is Mahira Khan’s ‘most special’?

    Can you guess which film is Mahira Khan’s ‘most special’?

    Not her debut film Bol, nor her Bollywood film opposite Shah Rukh Khan Raees but Mahira Khan’s ‘most special’ film is Superstar.

    The superstar in an Instagram post shared that Superstar “is and will always be the most special film of my life”.

    Reason being: “Not only because it gave me so much, but also because it taught me lots. I lived it for years. It was enough for me to have just seen it getting made.”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B8x5Xx5hKSy/?utm_source=ig_embed

    In a separate post, Mahira thanked her fans, stylists, my makeup artists, hairstylists and designers for helping her win the Most Stylish Film Actress.

    “If it was up to me I’d live in my white shalwar kameez,” she wrote.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B8xzzquhEaa/
  • ‘It’s not funny anymore’: Ahmed Godil responds to the trolling

    ‘It’s not funny anymore’: Ahmed Godil responds to the trolling

    The opening ceremony of the fifth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) failed to impress the audiences. Apart from the lukewarm performances, the one thing which the audiences hated was Ahmed Godil, the host of the ceremony. Following his act on stage, netizens took to social media to troll Godil. Memes on him were plenty and people left no stone unturned to bash him.

    Following the immense backlash and hate, Ahmed while talking to a private news channel said,”Meri ghalti kya hai? I was doing my job. Meri maa behan ko to bakhsh do yaar. Main ne kya ghalti ki hai. (What is my mistake? I was just doing my job. At least leave my mother and sisters out of this).

    https://twitter.com/VJGodil/status/1230835348542021632?s=20

    Godil explained that all he did was try to warm up the crowd before the ceremony officially commenced.

    “I was asked to go on stage to get the audience excited before the opening ceremony,” he said. “I was not even the host of the event. Fakhre Alam was always the host. I didn’t even know the broadcast had begun because I had the slot before the show itself.”

    Godil further shared that he had not slept after the ceremony as people wouldn’t stop harassing him and his family. He added that his private number was leaked because of which he had to shut down his phone.

    “Pichli do raton se main soya nahi hoon. Hum subah 5 bajay ghar aaty thay or phir 10 bajay hamain wapis report karna hota tha. Where did I go wrong? Kya main ne stage pe koi badtameezi ki? Kya main ne kisi ko gaali di? Ap log chahaty kya hain?
    (I haven’t slept since the past two nights. We had to report at 10 am every morning and would work till 5 in the morning. Where did I go wrong? Did I misbehave on stage? Did I abuse anyone? What do you all want? I am so hurt”).

    Ahmed then proceeded to show his phone to the audiences and said, “This phone is on flight mode since last night. Someone leaked my contact number on Facebook.”

    “Aap ne kya expect kia tha mujhse. Main aik host hoon. Main yahan pe aa k kapray utar k nachoon ga. Main ganay gaoonga. Main America gaya or Atif Aslam or Sonu Nigam ke shows ko host kiya. I am the only Pakistani host jisne Indian artist ka show host kia hai. Aap koi host dikha dein mujhay utha k. There is no one. (“I am just a host. What was I supposed to do? Take off my clothes and dance? I’ve been a host for a long time. I’ve hosted shows for Atif Aslam in America. I’ve done this before, I didn’t just come out of nowhere. But what did I do so wrong?)” he said.

    Godil shared that since the PSL ceremony he has replayed his performance multiple times to try to find out where he went wrong. He shared that he is under severe mental pressure and fears that his career could end because of the trolling.

    https://twitter.com/VJGodil/status/1230752637475151873?s=20

    Earlier, when the trolling had just begun, Godil had tweeted that people are jealous of him.

    https://twitter.com/VJGodil/status/1230609016629399553?s=20

    Godil is a host, VJ, RJ, actor and model. He did his Bachelor’s from Iqra University and Master’s from SZABIST. Before hosting PSL V, he also hosted the FebFest and Karachi Eat.

  • Quiz – Which book should you be reading?

    Quiz – Which book should you be reading?

    Edit quiz
  • Wasim Akram is getting a biopic

    Wasim Akram is getting a biopic

    Sultan of Swing Wasim Akram’s life is being made into a movie.

    The film titled Akram: An Era was announced at the opening ceremony of the fifth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) at the National Stadium in Karachi.

    According to the press release, the film will go on floors at the end of this year. The cast and release date has not yet been locked.

    Akram: An Era will be produced under the banners of 502 Productions and Pomelo Films with Executive Producers Adeel Niazi and Arsalan H. Shah steering the project. Niazi will also be directing the film.

    Sharing his thoughts on the film, Akram said, “The fact that films are being made on cricket and, more importantly, sports stars is not only a good sign for the film industry but for the sport as well. Movies are a unique portal to engage a whole new generation, I am looking forward to participating in the production and cannot wait to see how this pans out.”

    https://twitter.com/wasimakramlive/status/1230498484035506181?s=20

    The movie is said to not only highlight Wasim Akram’s many accomplishments but also shed light on his personal life and endeavours outside the stadium.

    Akram: An Era is currently in its preliminary stages of pre-filming and the production house will be commencing with auditions and screen tests soon after PSL 2020.

    Previously, a film was made on the life of Shahid Afridi. The film starred Humayun Saeed and Hamza Ali Abbasi in key roles.

  • ‘Worst clampdown on freedom of expression,’ rights groups regret PTI’s social media laws

    ‘Worst clampdown on freedom of expression,’ rights groups regret PTI’s social media laws

    Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFU), lawyers and civil society members have decided to launch a nationwide movement for getting trashed the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government’s Citizens Protection (Against Online Harm) Rules, DAWN reported.

    Addressing a press conference at the National Press Club on Thursday, the journalists’ union, lawyers, and civil society termed the government’s notified rules unacceptable, and demanded that the government revoked them.

    READ: PM House’s conversion into university to cost taxpayers over Rs35 billion

    Members of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), the Islamabad High Court Bar Association (IHCBA) and Media Matters for Democracy attended the presser.

    READ: Pakistan secures four-months to comply with FATF agenda

    Many prominent journalists were of the view that these rules exceeded the mandate given by the 2016 Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act. In addition, they all said the regulation was a clampdown on online content as the final extreme in the series of restrictions on freedom of expression as well as press freedom in the country.

    READ: Here is everything that happened at the opening ceremony of PSL V

    They, however, appreciated Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s statement regarding having consultation with all stakeholders before enforcing the rules.

  • ‘Bilawal wants to overthrow Imran’s govt, but doesn’t know how to’

    ‘Bilawal wants to overthrow Imran’s govt, but doesn’t know how to’

    Senior journalist Asha’ar Rehman has said that Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) chief and heir of the late former prime ministers (PM) Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto’s political dynasty, Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, wants to overthrow the PM Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government, but doesn’t really know how to.

    In his column for Dawn, Rehman wrote:

    “Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has his task cut out for him. In Lahore, on one of his ‘I am around’ visits, he made no secret of his express desire to get rid of the Imran Khan setup. Only he did not know the objective could be achieved. The resultant frustr­ation had him asking the journalists he came across in the most imaginative old Punjab capital about ways and means to dislodge the target. Seriously? Is it the journalists’ job to decide who should stay in power and who should be removed and how?”

    He went on to say that the PPP chief “was on a planet of his own” and thought he was justified in exploring avenues that would fast-track the “unwanted PM and his equally suspect team out of power”.

    “He [Bilawal] does hasten to add that his methods will ultimately have to be within the democratic ambit, but besides this, the PPP chairman has little by way of a plan which will free his countrymen from the yoke of the current rulers,” Rehman stated.

    Adventurous, unprofessional souls among journalists who might be enticed to advise Bilawal on ways and means to remove this government might be inclined to suggest an opposition alliance, he wrote, adding that the pundits insist that so long as a comprehensive alliance is missing, PM Imran “has no one to fear — not himself”.

    “Obviously, this is one reality that BBZ [Bilawal] or his guru in practical politics, Asif Ali Zardari, would be aware of. Then why would the PPP chairman try and act so frank at the risk of sounding so empty?” Rehman stated further as he wrote about the PPP’s failure to make up its mind regarding the alliances it should or should not form in order to survive outside Sindh and send the PTI government packing.

    The write-up by the veteran journalist comes after Bilawal, while speaking to a group of senior media persons on Wednesday, made it clear that his party would not become part of any undemocratic move to oust the PTI government.

    Bilawal had said he would continue to fight economic injustices in the country, and expressed hope that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Shehbaz Sharif would soon return and play his part as the opposition leader.

    He had maintained that “elected, not selected, representatives” could resolve issues of the people, and the PPP would continue to highlight the “economic slaughter of the poor” under the PTI government.

  • Weekend events in your city

    Weekend events in your city

    Lahore

    Lahore Literary Festival

    Date: 21-23 Feb, Fri-Sun

    Time: 11am – 5pm

    Venue: Alhamra Hall, Mall Road, Lahore.

    Sahir Ali Bagga Concert

    Date: 21Feb, Friday.

    Time: 3 PM – 7 PM

    Venue: 51-B, Mian Mehmood Qasoori Road, Hussain Chowk, Gulberg III

    All Breed Dog Show

    Date: 23rd Feb, Sunday.

    Time: 10 AM – 6 PM

    Venue: DHA Phase 12, EME, Multan Road.

    Islamabad

    Pet Show 2020

    Date: 22nd Feb, Saturday.

    Time: 6 PM – 10 PM

    Venue: GIGA MALL, Main GT Road, DHA Phase II, Islamabad.

    Concert by Hadiqa Kiani

    Date: 23rd Feb, Sunday.

    Time: 8 PM – 10 PM

    Venue: Pakistan National Council of the Arts – PNCA F-5/1, Islamabad.

    Karachi

    Itsy Bitsy Tales: Ten Red Apples by Pat Hutchins

    Date: 23 Feb, Sunday.

    Time:  2 PM – 3 PM

    Venue: British Council Karachi.

    Karachi Kings vs Peshawar Zalmi

    Date: 21 Feb, Friday.

    Time: 6 PM – 9 PM

    Venue: National Stadium, Karachi.

  • Here is everything that happened at the opening ceremony of PSL V

    Here is everything that happened at the opening ceremony of PSL V

    After a long wait, cricket, in particular, PSL has officially returned to Pakistan. The fifth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) will be played entirely here and it goes without saying that excitement levels are high.

    The opening ceremony was promised to be a glittering affair with more than 350 artists expected to perform. However, Pakistanis were not impressed with the final product.

    Here’s everything that happened at the opening ceremony of PSL 5 at the National Stadium Karachi.

    The National Stadium was lit

    The ceremony was opened by Karachi-based VJ Ahmed Godil who instantly became meme material.

    Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah and Chairman Pakistan Cricket Board Ehsan Mani said a few words before the performances began

    Whirling dervishes performed to the Sufi serenades of Sanam Marvi, Abu Mohammad, Fareed Ayaz, and rock band Soch

    Sajjad Ali, Abrar ul Haq, Aima Baig and Rahat Fateh Ali Khan were among those who performed at the event. However, fans did not appreciate them lip-syncing instead of performing live. Ali Azmat, Arif Lohar, Asim Azhar and Haroon sang the PSL V anthem ‘Tayyar Hain‘.

    The opening ceremony concluded with a spectacular display of fireworks which was also possibly the best part of the ceremony

    It was Islamabad United vs Quetta Gladiators. Quetta won the toss and opted to bowl

    Azam Khan won hearts with his performance on the field

    People were not happy with Ramiz Raja for ‘fat-shaming’ Azam

    The first day of the PSL 5 ended with Quetta Gladiators winning the match

  • Pakistan secures four-months to comply with FATF agenda

    To exit the grey list of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), Pakistan has been given another four months (until June 2020) to achieve a 27-point action plan, DAWN reported.

    As measures taken by Pakistan in relation to the action plan have been appreciated at the group meetings, according to the report, all members are satisfied with the progress so far and there is no case at all for Pakistan to be blacklisted.

    Pakistan has been given an eight-point action plan to comply in the foreseeable future:

    1. Demonstrate that remedial actions and sanctions are applied in cases of AML/CFT (anti-money laundering/combating the financing of terrorism) violations relating to terrorist financing (TF) risk management and TF standard obligations
    2. Demonstrate that competent authorities are cooperating and taking action to identify and take enforcement action against illegal money or value transfer services
    3. Demonstrate the implementation of cross-border currency and BNI controls at all ports of entry, including applying effective, proportionate and dissuasive sanctions,
    4. Demonstrate that law enforcement agencies (LEAs) are identifying and investigating the widest range of TF activity and that TF investigations and prosecutions target designated persons and entities and those acting on behalf or at the direction of the designated persons or entities
    5. Demonstrate that TF prosecutions result in effective, proportionate and dissuasive sanctions
    6. Demonstrate effective implementation of targeted financial sanctions (supported by a comprehensive legal obligation) against all 1,267 and 1,373 designated terrorists and those acting for or on their behalf, including preventing the raising and moving of funds, identifying and freezing assets (movable and immovable) and prohibiting access to funds and financial services
    7. demonstrate enforcement against TF standard violations, including administrative and criminal penalties, and provincial and federal authorities cooperating on enforcement cases
    8. Demonstrate that facilities and services owned or controlled by designated persons are deprived of their resources and the usage of the resources.

    To swiftly comply with the benchmarks, meetings are already being held at the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), the National Counter Terrorism Authority (Nacta) and the Ministry of Interior, and an implementation strategy has been shared with Islamabad’s delegation in Paris.

  • PM House’s conversion into university to cost taxpayers over Rs35 billion

    PM House’s conversion into university to cost taxpayers over Rs35 billion

    The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government’s plan of converting the Prime Minister (PM) House into a modern university is likely to cost over Rs35 billion as new buildings will be constructed over 50 acres of land.

    According to a report in Profit, Pakistan Science and Technology Task Force, which is looking into the proposed university project, estimated an initial cost of over Rs35 billion for the university, however, a feasibility study for the said project is yet to be conducted.

    The report quoted officials at the Ministry of Planning and Development as saying that an important meeting on the planned project was held at the ministry on Thursday, which was chaired by Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar.

    The meeting was also attended by Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry, Pakistan Science and Technology Task Force Chairperson Prof Dr Attaur Rehman, Member Science and Technology Dr Hussain Abidi and senior officials from the Higher Education Commission (HEC).

    According to the officials, Prof Dr Rehman briefed the participants about the latest developments in the establishment of the university at the PM House. The ministers were informed that the planned university will have three centres of excellence and eight departments with a special focus on innovation and technology development. The university will accommodate more than 1,000 PhDs and PostDoc fellows along with 200 faculty members.

    He also elaborated that a budget of Rs200 million was required to conduct an initial feasibility study.

    The planning minister noted that the manufacturing sector in Pakistan needs to be supported through cutting edge and latest technologies in order to make them more competitive. He directed the Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST) to form a special committee to ensure that the university focuses on relevant technologies that can support the manufacturing industry in Pakistan. He said that there should be no delay in the establishment of the University as it is a high priority project.

    The planning minister was also briefed about the scholarships that will be offered at the university.

    Sources said that since the premier wants fast-track progress on the project, the concerned ministries and authorities have expedited initial work on the proposed university. The university was among PM Imran Khan’s election promises and was also included in the manifesto of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), which was released before 2018’s general election.

    Initially, the incumbent government faced great difficulty in going ahead with the proposal because the PM House is located in a highly sensitive area and red zone of the federal capital, but the premier insisted that the university be built there.

    To build the new university, the government also needed to change the master plan of the capital for carrying out new/additional construction on the land adjacent to the PM House. To deal with this, the federal cabinet approved a specific change to the master plan of Islamabad last year.