Blog

  • ‘After the sun sets, terrorists rule the area’: ANP’s Mian Iftikhar Hussain

    ‘After the sun sets, terrorists rule the area’: ANP’s Mian Iftikhar Hussain

    In an interview with Aaj News, President of the Awami National Party Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mian Iftikhar Hussain sounded alarm bells over the precarious security situation in KP province, saying, “In southern districts, terrorists rule once the sun goes down.”

    He stressed that the government has no writ in the areas. “Police hide in their stations in the evening. They [militants] come out openly on the roads as the sun goes down and prove to people that they’re the ones ruling.”

    The ANP leader stressed that the security environment of the province was deteriorating with increasing cases of target killings, extortion, and religious extremism.

    “They do whatever they want to do at night. As the sun rises, the writ of state comes back,” criticised Hussain.

  • Khana dair say kyon pakaya; Woman killed by in-laws over late dinner

    Khana dair say kyon pakaya; Woman killed by in-laws over late dinner

    A woman was beaten to death by her in-laws when she took a long time to cook food in Kot Sultan village Korywali, Layyah, reports Dawn.

    Parveen Bibi’s husband, Muhammad Yusuf, along with his brothers Muhammad Ejaz, Muhammad Younis, and Nadar, allegedly assaulted her for the delay in the preparation of food.

    Local police in Kot Sultan have registered a murder case on the complaint of Abdul Majeed, the uncle of the victim, Parveen.

    FIR states that the suspects severely beat Parveen Bibi with sticks until she fell unconscious. Seeing the gravity of injuries, she was shifted from the tehsil headquarters hospital to the district headquarters hospital and then to Nishtar Hospital in Multan, where she succumbed to her injuries.

    Complainant Majeed said an autopsy was conducted after her death.

    Layyah District Police Officer Asadur Rehman claimed that the suspects would be arrested, saying violence against women will not be tolerated and a special team has been formed to investigate the case.

  • Babar Ali wants these two heartthrobs for his next film

    Babar Ali wants these two heartthrobs for his next film

    Babar Ali wants these two heartthrobs for his next film

    Veteran actor Babar Ali is has returned to the drama industry after staring in ‘Kuch Ankahi’, ‘Zebaish’ and ‘Namak Haram’
     
    Recently, Babar Ali appeared as a guest on ‘Subh Ka Samaa Madeha Kay Sath’ where an audience member asked, “If you ever make a film, who would you include in the lead cast?”
     
    Babar Ali said, “If I ever make a film, I really like Feroze Khan, I’ll take him. I also like Wahaj, my heart wants to work with him. Among the ladies, I really like Sajal, I’ve worked with her before, and she’s done some great work. Iqra also does excellent work, so if I ever make a film, I’d like to work with these talented individuals.”

    These talented actors have been making waves in the entertainment industry with their recent projects; Feroze Khan was last seen in ‘Jodi Ban Gayi’ , Wahaj Ali’s last drama was ‘Tere Bin’ Iqra Aziz’s recent project was ‘Burns Road Ki Romeo and Juliet’ and Sajal Aly’s currently starring in ‘Zard Patton Ka Bun’

  • ‘Everyone looks literally the same’: HSY slams celebs for facial procedures

    ‘Everyone looks literally the same’: HSY slams celebs for facial procedures

    Fashion ace Hassan Sheheryar Yasin, also known as HSY, recently criticized celebrities for undergoing beauty procedures that make them look the same.

    In a podcast with actor-host Ahmad Ali Butt called ‘Excuse Me,’ HSY was asked what he didn’t like. “Fakeness. People in our industry are so fake – they would say something to your face and then talk behind your back. The truth always comes out, and the person who said it ends up looking foolish,” HSY replied immediately.

    He then said that Pakistanis are hypocrites.

    Talking about the trend of cosmetic procedures, HSY noted, “These days, men or women, everyone is just pretty, with poufy hair and the same kind of beard. Everyone has their jawlines chiseled, chins fixed, nose jobs done, and eyebrows lifted. Everyone has the same face, with fillers.”

    “At this point, everyone looks the same,” he criticized. “All of them say, ‘I went to Dubai or Turkey, and it’s about the weather there’. Come on! We all know what procedures you are getting, so I don’t find that sexy. It’s about individuality. No doubt they are all pretty but not sexy; it’s an attitude,” he explained.

    HSY named Mehwish Hayat and Ayesha Omer as some of the most appealing women in the industry, praising their unique personalities.

  • Afridi says Wahab, Razzaq’s dismissal from selection committee ‘beyond comprehension’

    Afridi says Wahab, Razzaq’s dismissal from selection committee ‘beyond comprehension’

    Former cricket captain Shahid Afridi has been surprised by Wahab Riaz and Abdul Razzaq’s removal from the selection committee.

    While talking to the media after the match against South Africa in the World Championship of Legends tournament, Afridi said, “Honestly, a move that was termed as a ‘surgery’ is beyond my understanding.”

    Expressing his disappointment, Afridi continued to say, “No captain in the history of Pakistan got as many opportunities as Babar Azam, otherwise our tradition is that after poor form, the captain goes home first. I, Misbah, Younis led the Pakistani team but never got so many opportunities. Even after getting so much, Babar Azam could not prove himself.”

    The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has confirmed that former cricketers Wahab Riaz and Abdul Razzaq have been removed from the selection committee.

  • Court rejects Khan’s bail petition in May 9 cases

    Court rejects Khan’s bail petition in May 9 cases

    An anti-terrorism court has turned down the bail petition of incarcerated former Prime Minister Imran Khan in three cases related to the May 9 violent protests, GEO News reported on Tuesday.

    Judge Khalid Arshad of Lahore ATC announced the reserved verdict after hearing Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) founder bail pleas in the May 9 violent protest cases.

    The riots occurred last year after Imran Khan was arrested in a corruption case.

    Several PTI supporters attacked multiple state buildings, including Jinnah House Lahore and GHQ Pakistan Army Rawalpindi.

    The incarcerated former Prime Minister was ousted from office through a no-confidence motion in April 2022, and currently, he is in Adiala jail facing corruption and terrorism cases.  
     
    Imran Khan also secured relief in multiple cases, including a £190 million reference and the Toshakhan case. However, he will remain behind bars due to his conviction in the Iddat case.

  • ‘Sans par bhi tax ley lein,’ Sindh to tax Netflix subscriptions

    ‘Sans par bhi tax ley lein,’ Sindh to tax Netflix subscriptions

    If you’re a Netflix user in Pakistan, get ready to pay more for the streaming service. The Sindh Revenue Board (SRB) has added new taxes to your subscription fees.
    Starting now, Netflix users will have to pay a 3% sales tax on IT services. Additionally, if you’re making an international transaction to pay for your subscription and you’re a tax filer, there’s a five percent advance tax. On top of that, there’s a four percent card transaction charge when using debit or credit cards, plus a federal excise duty.

    Out of all the over-the-top (OTT) streaming services, Netflix continues to be the most well-known. It offers highly regarded TV series, films, documentaries, and other original material in various genres.
    The platform allows viewers to stream content on-demand over the internet to a variety of devices, including PCs, mobile phones, tablets, TVs, and consoles. While Pakistanis consume a lot of free content, many are happily paying for premium OTT services like Netflix.

    Recently, a new Finance Bill was introduced in 2024 that imposes tax on tech companies like Netflix that earn income in Pakistan through digital means and presence, even without a physical establishment.
    Last month The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has served a notice to Netflix for recovery of over Rs. 200 million in income tax.
    Effective immediately, subscribers will see additional charges on their Netflix subscriptions. Here’s how the new taxes will affect the current subscription rates:

    Mobile Plan: PKR 250
    Basic Plan: PKR 450
    Standard Plan: PKR 800
    Premium Plan: PKR 1,100

    Here are the Netflix subscription plans and their rates in Pakistan after the new taxes:

    Mobile Plan: PKR 324.80
    Basic Plan: PKR 584.64
    Standard Plan: PKR 1,039.36
    Premium Plan: PKR 1,429.12

    These new taxes are part of the government’s efforts to generate more revenue from digital services. So, the next time you settle down for a Netflix binge, be prepared for these extra charges on your bill.
    This new taxes significantly increase the total cost of Netflix subscriptions in Pakistan. This is something users need to be aware of when budgeting for their monthly entertainment expenses.

  • How can we revive dying Pakistani eSports?

    How can we revive dying Pakistani eSports?

    Pakistan’s eSports scene is struggling, while other countries like India and Nepal have a massive audience. We need to work together to revive our eSports sector.

     

    PUBG Mobile was banned in India in 2020, but the game makers made a new version called Battle Grounds Mobile India (BGMI) for the country because they have a vast audience. Their creators are consistent on social media platforms. I was watching a BGMI live streamer, Jonathan, in India on YouTube, who has more than six million subscribers, and his live stream crossed 136,000 viewers. Meanwhile, there is a maximum of seven to nine thousand live audiences on Pakistan PUBG mobile official channels.

     

    Here are some initiatives that can help us to revive eSports in Pakistan.

     

    1-Building Online Presence

    We must encourage eSports players to build their online presence on platforms like Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook. This will help them gain recognition with a broader audience.

     

    2-Supporting Local Events

    We need to support our local tournaments and events to create hype. This will attract sponsors and investors and provide a platform for gamers to showcase their skills. In Pakistan, no one is ready to invest because we have a smaller audience. A few events have been organized in the last year, like Gamekey Arena, Gamer Galaxy eSports Festival, and now the Zong Manhunt series 2024.

     

    3-Building a Strong Community

    We must develop a strong community that promotes and celebrates our eSports players. We have some minor social media pages like esportsnetworkpk, Tysonesports, Esportsguypk, Instantesport, Gamingnewspk and Soomro, who are helping to promote our eSports.

     

    4-Collaborating with Education

    We must collaborate with schools and universities to create eSports programs and teams. This will help identify new talent for the future, and eSports is a significant source of income.

     

    5-Ask the government to help with visa issues

    Pakistani eSports players face visa issues in Malaysia, Japan, Saudi Arabia, and Nepal. In the past, Pakistan’s Tekken star Arslan Ash missed a big event due to a visa issue, while Pakistan PUBG mobile teams i8 and 52 eSports didn’t go to Brazil despite qualifying for Pubg Mobile Global Open (PMGO).

     

    Reviving Pakistani eSports requires a collective effort. We need to work together to create a supportive system that encourages creators and players, attracts investors, and celebrates talent.

  • Wave of Terror: Pakistan mourns eight killed in separate attacks across KP

    Wave of Terror: Pakistan mourns eight killed in separate attacks across KP

    The security situation in Pakistan has gotten grim as eight people – five security officials and three children – lost their lives in three separate terror attacks in Lakki Marwat, North Waziristan, and South Waziristan yesterday.

    In North Waziristan, Captain Muhammad Osama Bin Arshad, 24, who belonged to Rawalpindi district, embraced martyrdom during an intense clash between forces and terrorists.

    The military’s media wing has stated that a sanitisation operation was underway to eliminate any remaining militants in the area.

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir attended the Captain’s funeral on Tuesday.

    Meanwhile, in South Waziristan, three soldiers lost their lives, and 12 others were injured in a militant attack in the district.

    A police officer and his three minor nephews lost their lives in Lakki Marwat district.

  • Matric student commits suicide in Lahore

    Matric student commits suicide in Lahore

    Unsatisfied with his academic low score, a matriculation student in Lahore committed suicide after the result was released yesterday (July 9).

    15-year-old Arsalan, a resident of the border village of Padana in Lahore, took his own life by jumping from the water tank. He suffered multiple head and neck injuries, which proved fatal, reported Dawn.

    The police said that the boy was disappointed by his low score. The forensic team and the police collected the evidence.

    Results of matriculation examinations have been announced by 9 education boards of Punjab, including the Lahore Board.