Blog

  • Ali Sadpara becomes first Pakistani to summit Mont Blanc

    Ali Sadpara becomes first Pakistani to summit Mont Blanc

    Pakistani mountaineer Mohammad Ali Sadpara climbed the highest mountain in the Alps and deadliest in the world, Mont Blanc with two other hikers. 

    Mont Blanc rises 4,808 meters above sea level and is considered one of the deadliest peaks in the world. Muhammad Ali Sadpara has also climbed four of Pakistan’s five mountains above 8,000 meters high.

    Sadpara has climbed all five, 8,000-metre high peaks in
    Pakistan, including K2 (8,611m), Gasherbrum I (8,080m), Gasherbrum II (8,034m),
    Nanga Parbat (8,126m) and Broad Peak (8,051m).

    He is the first Pakistani to have climbed Nanga Parbat in
    the winter. He also climbed the 8,516-metre Lhotse peak and 8,485-metre Makalu
    peak in Nepal.

  • Coughing without covering your mouth can cost you your passport in Pakistan

    Coughing without covering your mouth can cost you your passport in Pakistan

     A Pakistani scientist was shocked when his passport was ripped by the immigration staff at the Multan airport over coughing without covering his mouth.

    The matter came to light when the victim Dr Faisal posted details of how the incident happened on social media websites to draw the attention of higher officials. Dr Faisal shared that the incident happened when he returned from Saudi Arabia after performing Umrah along with his family members. The immigration staff was angry when he had a fit of coughing and damaged his passport by ripping the visa portion and threw the passport in his face.

    He said he was unwell and couldn’t cover his mouth while coughing.

    As per reports, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has taken notice of the incident that took place last year on Dec 19. The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) launched an investigation into the case and demanded footage of the Multan Airport to check the details of the incident.

  • Rescue services received 106 pranks calls a day in 2019

    Rescue services received 106 pranks calls a day in 2019

    Rescue 1122 in Attock received 39,000 prank calls in 2019, troubling officials at the main control room who remained alert round-the-clock to fight emergency cases.

    According to reports, District Emergency Officer Ishfaq Mian revealed that emergency calls were only 16,332 while pranks calls amounted to 39,000. The officer lamented that these pranks calls wasted the precious time of rescuers.

    “The fake phone call phenomenon has troubled our human resource and sometimes leads to a tragedy because many genuine calls are then missed and not responded to on time,” he said.

    He asserted that citizens should understand the importance of emergency numbers and try not to deprive real victims of their right to be provided with emergency medical treatment. Rescue officers are directed to ensure immediate emergency care to citizens without any discrimination.

    Punjab Emergency Service (PES), Rescue 1122 Attock handled 16,332 cases in which 17,720 people were saved and given trauma services. Reports reveal that help and support was provided to 2,473 road accident victims, 11,216 medical emergencies, 297 fire incidents and 27 drowning cases.

    Rescue staff maintained their standard response time is seven minutes to emergency. He said during the year 27,000 volunteers from different schools, colleges and other educational institutions were also given rescue and emergency training.

  • Adnan Siddiqui says he was double-minded about ‘Meray Paas Tum Ho’

    Adnan Siddiqui says he was double-minded about ‘Meray Paas Tum Ho’

    With only a few episodes left, Meray Paas Tum Ho is fast approaching its end. The drama has been a superhit – the TV ratings have been hitting the roof while each episode has atleast a couple of million views on Youtube.

    Adnan Siddiqui, who played the character of the dynamic lady-killer Shahwar Ahmed, has wrapped up the shoot for the drama and took to social media to share a video of the celebrations on set.

    The video which features director Nadeem Baig, Savera Nadeem and Musadiq Awan among the rest of the crew shows everyone celebrating with cake.

    Adnan also penned an emotional note along the video in which he wrote that being part of the drama was a “thrilling and educating experience.” He shared that when the script was offered to him, he was still double-minded about the drama because he was not sure about “how the audience would react” and whether they would accept his character.”

    Adnan also praised the direction, engaging dialogues, story line and title song adding that MPTH was “one of the rare dramas that had everything going for it in the right direction.”

    The actor said that he was going to miss shooting for it and signed off by thanking his my co-stars, director, writer, producers, crew members, and “above all my fans for all the love and appreciation.”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B62AqUtnUBT/

    Episode 21 of MPTH will air tonight (Dec 4) at 8pm.

  • ‘Why not Imran?’ asks Twitter as US State secy calls Gen Bajwa on Iran tensions

    ‘Why not Imran?’ asks Twitter as US State secy calls Gen Bajwa on Iran tensions

    With United States (US) Secretary of State Mike Pompeo calling Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa to discuss heightening tensions with Tehran following the killing of top Iranian military leader Qassem Soleimani, Twitterati are wondering why did Pompeo choose the army chief over Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan or Foreign Minister (FM) Shah Mahmood Qureshi.

    The telephonic conversation came after Iran’s top security body vowed to retaliate in the “right place and time” following Revolutionary Guards commander Soleimani’s death in an airstrike ordered by US President Donald Trump on Friday.

    “America should know that its criminal attack on General Soleimani has been the country’s biggest mistake in west Asia, and America will not avoid the consequences of this wrong calculation easily,” the Supreme National Security Council said in a statement.

    The dramatic escalation and subsequent fears of “World War III” were followed by both Washington and Tehran alerting their allies.

    “#Pakistan’s Chief of Staff General Bajwa and I spoke today about U.S. defensive action to kill Qassem Soleimani. The #Iran regime’s actions in the region are destabilizing and our resolve in protecting American interests, personnel, facilities, and partners will not waver,” Pompeo tweeted on Friday.

    In another tweet, Pompeo disclosed he spoke to Afghan President Ashraf Ghani as well about Soleimani’s killing “to protect American lives at stake”.

    ‘MAXIMUM RESTRAINT’:

    Separately, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) disclosed that the army chief and the US secretary of state discussed “regional situation including possible implications” after the escalation in the Middle East. 

    “COAS received telephone call from US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Regional situation, including possible implications of recent escalation in Middle East, was discussed,” the military’s media wing tweeted.

    “COAS emphasised need for maximum restraint and constructive engagement by all concerned to de-escalate the situation in broader interest of peace and stability. COAS also reiterated the need for maintaining focus on success of Afghan Peace Process,” read another tweet.

    ‘WHY NOT IMRAN?’:

    Meanwhile, Twitterati took to Twitter to ask as to why had Pompeo not called PM Imran or FM Qureshi at such a time.

    https://twitter.com/BILAL_GHARSHEEN/status/1213341499171233792

    The tweets came as Indian journalists such as The Hindu Editor Suhasini Haider pointed out the same.

    While Pakistan’s Foreign Office (FO) has advised both the US and Iran to refrain from taking “unilateral action” against each other and abide by the United Nations (UN) Charter to respect each other’s territorial integrity, the premier has not yet made any statement.

  • Mehwish Hayat has the perfect response to a misogynist troll

    Mehwish Hayat has the perfect response to a misogynist troll

    Mehwish Hayat should just change her middle name to ‘sassy’ because the responses she gives to trolls are simple brilliant.

    In a recent tweet, Mehwish condemned the US airstrike that killed Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani in Iraq saying that the matter is not just about Iran and US but involves the entire world.

    In response to Mehwish’s tweet, a troll commented “since when did women start understanding international affairs.”

    The actor did not shy away from giving him a history lesson.

    This is not the first time, Mehwish has given such responses to trolls. Check out her sassy responses below:

  • Lahore panagahs refuse to accomodate women

    Lahore panagahs refuse to accomodate women

    A 65-year-old woman, Noreen Malangi from Rahim Yar Khan, has had to spend the cold winter nights on the streets of Lahore as shelter homes in the city did not allow her in.

    While talking to a private news outlet she said, “I came here alone, but the management of the shelter refused to let me in. Ever since, I have been spending my nights on the streets.”

    Malangi has been sitting outside the Data Darbar shelter home
    for a week. She went there twice but was sent back both times.

    Another 62-year-old woman Aasia came to the shelter from Shahkot but was also sent back.

    “They told me they didn’t have rooms for women but allowed men to come in the shelter,” she said.

    As per reports, there is space for 750 men but just 115 women at five shelter homes across Lahore.

    According to the management of the Data Darbar shelter, women
    can’t be let in unless female staff is hired.

    “We have halls and rooms already allotted for women but we are all men here,” said Fayyaz, the in charge of the Data Darbar shelter home.

    “In case of an emergency with the women, how are we going to tackle the situation?” he asked.

    Panagahs have been set up in different cities on the direction of Prime Minister Imran Khan who had issued instructions to the Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief ministers to ensure that all people have a roof over their heads in this freezing weather.

  • 3-year old girl rescued alive from underneath debris after 21 hours

    3-year old girl rescued alive from underneath debris after 21 hours

    A three-year-old girl was rescued alive after 21 hours from underneath the debris of a multi-story building that collapsed in Sukkur.

    As per reports, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) officials along with army officers rescued the girl, who miraculously did not even have a scratch on her. She was immediately taken to the city’s Civil Hospital for a medical checkup.

    Five others were also rescued from the debris. According to Sukkur Commissioner Shafiq Ahmed Mahesar, the death toll from the collapse rose to six.

    The four-story building, located on Sukkur’s busy Station Road, was built above a few shops and had four families living there.

    Rescuers initially faced difficulties after the collapse caused a power blackout in the area.

    Commissioner Mahesar who was overseeing the rescue efforts said the building could have collapsed either because poor material was used in its construction or because it was not built according to the approved maps. An investigation will be conducted to determine the real cause behind the collapse.

  • Fawad Chaudhry requests Netflix, Amazon to invest in Pakistani content

    Fawad Chaudhry requests Netflix, Amazon to invest in Pakistani content

    Former Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry in a recent tweet requested Netflix and Amazon to look towards Pakistani content and invest in them because “we have immense talent and experience.”

    The minister asserted that Pakistani dramas have recently made a huge comeback and that he can assure the movie streaming website successful partnerships.

    Speaking exclusively to The Current, Fawad said that after observing the ratings and business done by Pakistani dramas, he was motivated to share Pakistani content with the world which is why he devised a strategy and pitched Pakistani content to Netflix and Amazon while he was the information minister. While in office, Fawad had also planned to digitise PTV and the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) as well as introduce a digital sports channel. However, his plans were shelved soon after he left office.

    Fawad further said that he had also reached out to Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Turkey to collaborate on content creation. Content from Turkey and Egypt is the highest viewed in the Arab world and Pakistan can learn a lot from it. It is pertinent to mention here that Prime Minister Imran Khan is a fan of Turkish content and has even directed PTV to dub his favourite series Diriliş: Ertuğrul in Urdu so more people can view it.

    Earlier, in an interview with The Current, Special Assistant to the PM for Overseas Pakistanis Sayed Zulfiqar Bukhari said that PM Imran has a vision to produce good quality films that showcase the culture, religion and heritage of Pakistan.

  • It was raining mobile phones at a barat in Dera Gazi Khan

    It was raining mobile phones at a barat in Dera Gazi Khan

    While most groom processions aka the baraat are welcomed with flowers and money, a baraat in Punjab’s Dera Ghazi Khan witnessed a rain of mobile phones and money.

    According to a report on ARY News, three to four persons, including the bridegroom’s brother, standing atop a truck were showering the baratis and guests with mobile phones and wads of money. The shower of phones and money sent the crowd and passersby into a frenzy and everyone gathered around the vehicle and pushed and shoved to get closer to the truck so they could get their hands on the phones. Some were even seen climbing the truck.

    Watch video: