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  • FBR sends notice to Mohammad Hafeez

    Pakistan’s star cricketer Mohammad Hafeez has reportedly gotten a notice from the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) for not revealing his properties and assets. Hafeez has, however, denied receiving a show-cause notice from the board.

    Speaking to a private media outlet, Hafeez said, “I am unaware of any notice from the FBR. I have no idea why such news is being spread.”

    Hafeez asserted that he has always paid his taxes and has never dodged the law.

    “I file my tax returns every year without fail,” he said.

    Meanwhile, media reports said that the FBR will do an audit of Hafeez’s properties for the last five years, from 2014 to 2018. The revenue board has also collected data related to the cricketer’s bank accounts.

    As per the allegations, Hafeez has failed to declare assets worth Rs170 million, for which he has been asked to present a response.

  • Fawad Chaudhry offers to help India handle smog

    Fawad Chaudhry offers to help India handle smog

    Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry has offered to help India combat the smog problem engulfing both countries.

    Taking to Twitter, the minister suggested using a scientific solution to handle the smog.

    Fawad in his tweet said that the burning of crops in the Indian city of Jalandhar was causing chaos on both sides of the border adding to the toxicity in the air making it difficult to breathe in.

    He then offered a machine-based solution to turn the crop residue into a source of energy rather than burning it.

    A thick layer of smog has descended again on Punjab, especially hitting Lahore.

    According to the Air Visual, the Air Quality Index (AQI) in Lahore is hazardous. The toxic smog in Lahore also forced the government and private schools to remain closed on Thursday.

    Meanwhile, experts in India argue that current levels of air pollution represent a public health emergency requiring full emergency mode response from local and national authorities.

  • VIDEO: Atif Aslam has the funniest take on the ‘Do takay ki aurat’ dialogue

    VIDEO: Atif Aslam has the funniest take on the ‘Do takay ki aurat’ dialogue

    Who knew that the singing sensation Atif Aslam has a funny side to him?

    In a recent video shared by Adnan Siddiqui, Atif made a guest appearance and we got a glimpse of the singer’s funny side and it left us laughing.

    While updating his fans about his whereabouts, Adnan said that he has a surprise for them.

    The camera then turns to Atif who says, “Adnan, aap bohot barey businessman hain. Aap nay iss 2 takkay ki flight kay liye, 50 million ki video bana di, [Adnan, you are a successful businessman, you made a video worth 50 million for a flight worth two pennies].”

    The two start laughing and Adnan remarks, “Dekh rahe hain aap sab?”

    Watch the video here:

    The video shared by Adnan was shot while the two were killing time during transit at the Dubai Airport. Atif and Adnan are on their way to the United States of America.

    The ‘Do takay ki larki‘ dialogue from the superhit Pakistani drama Meray Paas Tum Ho has gone viral, especially among social media users.

  • Navjot Singh Sidhu to join for Kartarpur opening ceremony

    India’s Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu has confirmed his participation in the inauguration ceremony of the Kartarpur Corridor on November 9.

    According to reports, Sidhu spoke to Senator Faisal Javed on the phone and confirmed his attendance. He also thanked the Pakistan government, especially Prime Minister Imran Khan, for opening the corridor to mark the 550th Birth Anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak Devji.

    The Indian leader expressed that he along with millions of Sikhs across the globe are eagerly awaiting the inauguration ceremony.

    Read More: Kartarpur Corridor is ready to welcome Sikh pilgrims

    Meanwhile, Senator Faisal congratulated Sidhu and the entire Sikh community on the occasion. He said that Pakistan will warmly welcome the former cricketer-turned-politician and the other pilgrims who will come to Kartarpur from around the world.

    PM Imran Khan will participate in the ceremony on November 9 as the chief guest.

  • Lahore restaurant management thrashes family for asking Sales Tax Number

    Lahore restaurant management thrashes family for asking Sales Tax Number

    A restaurant, located in Lahore, thrashed a man and his family when they asked the restaurant management for the Sales Tax Number (STN) number. 

    According to reports, a family’s dinner at Bashir Dar ul Mahi, Hussain Chowk, turned into a nightmare when they asked the restaurant’s management for the STN number to confirm if they pay their taxes. Not only did the restaurant manager deny the request, but he also turned to humiliate the family by beating up a male member while harassing the rest of the family.

    The management reportedly admitted to not paying taxes which is why they couldn’t entertain the request of the family. They allegedly further added that law enforcement agencies cannot bring them accountable.

    The victim family has demanded immediate action against the restaurant management.

    Meanwhile, it is pertinent to mention here that a branch of Bashir Dar ul Mahi in Mozang was previously sealed by the Punjab Food Authority for having ‘a record-breaking level of unhygienic conditions’.

  • VIDEO: Pakistani flags hoisted in India’s Jalandhar ahead of Kartarpur opening

    VIDEO: Pakistani flags hoisted in India’s Jalandhar ahead of Kartarpur opening

    The Sikh community in India has hoisted Pakistani flags on their houses in Jalandhar for opening Kartarpur Corridor, Duniya News reported.

    According to the details, the flags can be seen waving in the air in India’s Vijay Colony as millions of Sikhs thank Pakistan for Kartarpur project. They said that this facility will provide them relief in traveling to the neighboring country for the celebrations of 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev.

    The video of flags has gone viral a day after posters honoring Prime Minister Imran Khan on the occasion of the opening of Kartarpur Corridor surfaced in Amritsar, India.

    The poster’s displayed, “PM Imran Khan and Navjot Singh Sidhu are the real heroes for opening Kartarpur Corridor”.

    The Sikh minority in India has long sought easier access to the temple, which is just over the border in Pakistan.

    5,000 pilgrims shall be permitted to visit Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib through the corridor on any given day, with an additional provision for more pilgrims on special days including Gurpurab, Baisakhi, etc.

    This corridor will help Pakistan generate revenue up to $100,000 every day and since this facility will remain open 365 days of the year, it can potentially generate a direct income of USD36.5 million i.e. about Rs5.55 billion per annum.

  • Tips to beat the toxic smog this winter

    Tips to beat the toxic smog this winter

    The thick blanket of smog is engulfing major cities and other areas. During the bad smoggy days, visibility drops to a few hundred meters, the sun looks like a dull blurry blob, lungs struggle for air while eyes itch and burn. Here are a few tips to deal with those bad days.

    Limit your time spent outdoors

     It’s bad enough that pollution badly affects people’s lungs, it’s even worse that it discourages the outdoor activities. Try to limit your time spent outdoors. Exercise indoor, enjoy food deliveries at home and play indoor games. Enjoy Home Sweet Home!

    Choose the right mask

    It might be difficult to find the right mask but avoid surgical masks as they don’t provide proper respiratory protection. Give masks to your whole household, especially those working outside. You can either buy or order online a better quality mask. Go for the one that filters the maximum amount of finer particles of dust and pollution. 

    Buy an air purifier

    Air purifiers filter out harmful particles, kill germs and removes volatile organic compounds that can harm the lungs, liver or kidneys. They aren’t cheap but worth it in the long run. Smart air canon purifier, Beurer LR 200 and Hextio air purifier are good options to buy an air purifier.

    Read more: Air purifiers that are effective and available

    Go green

    Make your home a little greener. Bring home some natural air purifiers like aloe vera, and spider plant that can suck all the pollutants. The plants will not only help with the air quality but will also help as a mood refresher.

    Spider Plant

  • Army follows govt’s orders, has nothing to do with politics: Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor

    Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General (DG) Major General Asif Ghafoor has said that Pakistan Army is not meddling in politics as it is busy in ensuring the security of the country.

    “Marches and sit-ins are a political activity and the army, as a state institution, has nothing to do with them,” he told a private media outlet and added that it had also supported the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government during the 126-day sit-in staged by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in 2014.

    “The army had followed the government’s instructions at that time and as an institution, had deployed troops for the security of important buildings and performed other tasks assigned by the government,” the military spokesperson said.

    “The army follows the government’s orders,” he said while talking about the military’s deployment during the general elections and added it was only for security reasons.

    “The work we are involved in does not allow us to become a part of any such [political] activity,” he said in an apparent response to the allegations levelled by Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman regarding the military’s involvement in politics.

    The ISPR chief further said that the army’s primary focus was ensuring national security and they would not allow any efforts to harm national stability. “We will always support the government within the ambit of the constitution.”

  • Jemima Khan reacts to being called ‘Wiki’s’ cousin

    Jemima Khan reacts to being called ‘Wiki’s’ cousin

    Former wife of Prime Minister Imran Khan, Jemima Goldsmith had a hilarious response to being called ‘Wiki of Wikileaks’ cousin by Jamiat Ulema Islam Fazl (JUI-F) leader Mufti Kifayat.

    During a debate on a private TV channel, when the anchor apprised Mufti Kifayat that as per cable leaks, Maulana Fazlur Rehman had met an American official, Mufti Kifayat interrupted him and said that ‘Wiki of Wikileaks’ is cousin of Jemima Goldsmith and that the leak [regarding Fazlur Rehman] was part of a vested agenda.

    Jemima founds the claims to be extremely amusing and took to Twitter to share her amusement.

    Jemima then even joked that “Panama Leaks” and “Vicky Pedia” are also her cousins.

    When Mufti Kifayatullah stood by his claims in another talk show, Jemima also responded to that.

    Mufti Kifayatullah, a JUI-F leader, was arrested from Islamabad the day his party began their ‘Azadi March’ for making inflammatory statements against state institutions. He was later released on bail by the Peshawar High Court.

    Meanwhile, Jemima also added that nothing “compares to the madness, vitriol & corruption of Pakistan’s elections.”

    Journalists and other Twitter users loved Jemima’s response.

    According to its website, WikiLeaks is “a multi-national media organisation and associated library. It was founded by its publisher Julian Assange in 2006.”

    WikiLeaks says it specialises in “the analysis and publication of large datasets of censored or otherwise restricted official materials involving war, spying and corruption. It has so far published more than 10 million documents and associated analyses.”

  • BBC’s list of 100 novels that shaped our world include books by Mohsin Hamid, Kamila Shamsie

    BBC’s list of 100 novels that shaped our world include books by Mohsin Hamid, Kamila Shamsie

    Pakistani authors Mohsin Hamid and Kamila Shamsie have made it to BBC’s 100 novels that shaped our world list. The list features renowned authors from across the world making it a great honour for both the authors to be featured on the list.

    BBC, as part of their year-long celebration of literature, shared a list of ‘100 novels that shaped our world,’ which have been written over the last 300 years.

    An expert panel consisting of six leading British writers, curators and critics were part of the compilation that featured books that have made a large cultural and personal impact on a global scale.

    The list features work ranging from classics to contemporary writers from around the world and has been organised into themes which are: Identity, Love, Sex and Romance, Adventure, Life, Death and Other Worlds, Politics, Power and Protest, Class and Society, Coming of Age, Family and Friendship, Crime and Conflict and Rule Breakers.

    While Kamila’s Home Fire was listed in the ‘Politics, Power & Protest’ category, Hamid’s novel The Reluctant Fundamentalist was part of the ‘Crime & Conflict’ category.

    BBC’s list ranges from classics to contemporary, with works like Jane Austin’s Pride & Prejudice and JRR Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings series making it in their own genres.