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  • Why did Mahenur Haider turn off her phone after ‘Khaie’ success?

    Why did Mahenur Haider turn off her phone after ‘Khaie’ success?

    You know that feeling when you successfully finish a big project and then want NOTHING to do with anyone in order to recuperate?

    Actress and model Mahenur Haider certainly knows what we are talking about.

    She recently appeared as a guest on Ahmed Ali Butt’s show ‘Mind Na Karna’ where she talked about her success after ‘Khaie’.

    The host asked, “Mahenur, you’ve had back-to-back hits with dramas like ‘ Khaie’ and ‘Jhok Sarkar.’ Often, when an actor has a hit, they quickly take on another project. But you do only one drama a year and then seem to disappear. Is this because you don’t get role offers, or are you very selective about your projects?”

    The star replied, “I’m exhausted after doing Khaie I switched off my phone. But then people start complaining that I’m not responding, and I don’t know what to do. I’m getting too much work, and it’s causing me tension and stress.”

    The actress started her career with ‘Teefa In Trouble’ and also worked in ‘Parchi’. She played Apanna in ‘Khaie’ drama.

  • PTI ready for talks or not – The puzzle no one can solve

    The story of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) holding talks with other stakeholders in power corridors has turned into a roller coaster with plenty of twists and turns.

    PTI senator Shibli Faraz, considered a close aide to party’s defacto head Imran Khan, said on April 28, 2024, that the party is always ready to talk but only with those who have real power, hinting towards the willingness to talk to the establishment.

    He then stated that the current atmosphere is not suitable for dialouge.

    A week after Shibli Faraz’s remarks, incarcerated former Prime Minister Imran Khan told journalists at Adiala jail on May 4 that his party will only be ready to talk with its toughest opponent- the security establishment.

    Both these statements were enough to establish that PTI definitely did want dialogue, but only with the army.

    In contrast, PTI Chairman, Barrister Gohar Khan had said on April 2024 that his party is ready to talk with everyone, including political forces, adding that a committee had been formed to negotiate with other political parties on multiple issues.

    During a press conference held on April 29, Gohar said that PTI is not negotiating with anyone through the backdoor.

    However, on June 12, multiple media outlets reported that former Prime Minister Imran Khan is ready to talk with the government for the sake of the country’s development.

    Moreover, PTI decided to choose Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party’s chief Mahmood Khan Achakzai to negotiate with President Asif Ali Zardari and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) president Nawaz Sharif to reduce political tension in the country.

    Analysts say that either PTI has decided to include politicians in its sphere of powers that need to be talked to, or the security establishment did not agree to talking to PTI, leading the party back towards political powers.

  • Fans should offer support during bad times: Shaheen Afridi

    Fans should offer support during bad times: Shaheen Afridi

    Pakistan cricket team’s fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi has argued that everyone supports the team during good times, but fans should offer support in bad times too.

    During an interview on Thursday on YouTube channel ‘CrickWick’, the fast bowler said, “We are your team, not a street cricket team, or a team where players are selected based on recommendation. If you don’t support the team, you will be like the media.”

    He revealed, “I have taken a lot of help from [father-in-law] Shahid Afridi and worked a lot on my batting at the Moeen Khan Academy. My role is to hit boundaries in the last overs, so that’s what I practice mostly.”

    Shaheen is part of the national cricket team’s squad and is currently playing in the T20 World Cup in the USA and West Indies.

  • LEAs stop TTP from establishing footprint in Balochistan

    LEAs stop TTP from establishing footprint in Balochistan

    Law enforcement agencies have foiled a Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) attempt to establish a foothold in Balochistan by arresting a most wanted commander and several other members of the banned outfit in different areas of the province.

    The security situation in Pakistan has been deteriorating since the past few months, especially in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces.

    “With the arrest of the TTP commander and other terrorists, their efforts to establish centres in the province have been foiled,” stated a spokesman for the Counter Terrorism Department on Thursday.

    The CTD, along with other law enforcement agencies, conducted operations and arrested several militants, including the wanted TTP commander.

    He also said, “The arrested commander was involved in various terrorist activities in different areas of the country.”

  • Govt expected to reduce petrol price again for second half of June

    Govt expected to reduce petrol price again for second half of June

    The government is expected to reduce petrol price by an additional Rs9 per liter for the latter half of June 2024, offering some relief to the public amidst soaring inflation.

    This anticipated reduction marks the fourth consecutive decrease, accumulating to a total relief of over Rs34 per litre.

    In tandem with the petrol price cut, the government is also likely to lower the price of high-speed diesel (HSD) by approximately Rs5 per liter, reflecting the downturn in international market prices.

    It is important to highlight that one more session remains before the final pricing update, which means that the exact figures will depend on fluctuations in global markets and the prevailing exchange rate.

    The new prices will be officially announced at midnight on 15th June 2024 and will be effective for the subsequent 15 days.

    In the most recent fortnightly adjustment, the government had reduced petrol and HSD prices for the third consecutive time by Rs4.74 and Rs3.86 respectively, bringing their prices to Rs268.36 and Rs270.22 per liter.

    This series of price reductions aims to provide some economic respite to consumers amid a challenging economic environment.

  • Bollywood’s Lalit Pandit admits 90s smash hit music was plagiarized from Pakistan

    Bollywood’s Lalit Pandit admits 90s smash hit music was plagiarized from Pakistan

    In a shocking revelation, renowned Bollywood composer Lalit Pandit admitted that the iconic soundtrack of the 1990s film ‘Aashiqui’ was plagiarized from Pakistani songs.
    Recently he gave an interview to Bollywood Hungama, where he discussed Bollywood’s music culture, how important it was for him to stay true to their beats, and how Nadeem and Sharavan, the composers of ‘Aashqui’ copied Pakistani music.

    “The film industry is well aware that many Pakistani songs were adapted and used in the 1990s hit film “Aashiqui,” which made Nadeem and Shravan extremely popular,” he revealed.

    He also said, “Nadeem and Shravan would travel to Dubai, buy Pakistani cassettes, and then reproduce the music as their own. This was an open secret in the industry, and ‘Aashiqui’ s’ music was no exception. The whole industry knew about this practice, but nobody spoke out against it.”

    Lalit Pandit composed many famous songs along with his brother Jatin Pandit. Here are some of their most popular ones:
    Tujhe Dekha To Yeh Jaise Kaise (Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge)
    Ho Gaya Hai Tujhko To Pyar Sajna” (Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge)
    Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (Kuch Kuch Hota Hai).

  • PSX witnesses largest single-day jump with gain of 3,410 points

    PSX witnesses largest single-day jump with gain of 3,410 points

    Pakistan’s benchmark stock index (PSX), the KSE-100, experienced an unprecedented surge on Thursday, marking its most significant gain in a year.

    This rally follows the government’s announcement of the 2024-25 budget, which alleviated concerns regarding potential increases in capital gains and dividend taxes.

    The KSE-100 index soared by 3,410.7 points, or 4.7 per cent, reaching 76,208 points. This increase represents the largest single-day jump in point terms.

    In the index’s history and the highest percentage rise since the International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout package was introduced last year.

    Investor sentiment remained overwhelmingly positive throughout the trading session. The index hit an intraday high of 76,338.15 points, an increase of 3,540.72 points, and a low of 73,329.80 points, still up by 532.37 points.

    By the end of the day, the total volume traded on the KSE-100 index was 344.98 million shares.

    Out of the 100 companies listed on the index, 87 saw their shares close higher, nine experienced declines, and four remained unchanged.

    The government’s decision to set the capital gains tax at a flat rate of 15 per cent for filers on the sale of securities acquired on or after July 1, 2024, was a significant factor contributing to the market’s positive performance.

    For non-filers, capital gains will be taxed at normal rates, with a minimum rate of 15 per cent and a maximum rate of 45 per cent.

    This decisive move by the government has been well-received by investors, bringing clarity and stability to the market and fostering an environment of confidence and growth.

  • ‘Weight doesn’t define a person’s worth’: Hina Rizvi speaks out against body shaming

    ‘Weight doesn’t define a person’s worth’: Hina Rizvi speaks out against body shaming

    Actress Hina Rizvi recently appeared as a guest along with her husband Ammar Ahmed on morning show ‘Subh Ka Samaa Madeha Kay Sath.’ where she talked about body shaming.
    Hina said, “I have been made to feel like a sinner due to my weight. I have faced criticism and trolling for my weight multiple times, and it’s been an ongoing issue.”

    “Weight doesn’t matter if one is healthy, and people should not judge others based on their appearance,” she added.
    The couple recently got married on April 21, 2024. Despite the beautiful wedding, Hina Rizvi had to deal with trolls making nasty comments about appearances and age gaps.

  • Gold price drops by Rs1,200 per tola to Rs240,700

    Gold price drops by Rs1,200 per tola to Rs240,700

    In a significant shift on Thursday, gold prices in Pakistan witnessed a notable decrease. The price of 24-karat gold fell by Rs1,200 per tola, bringing it to Rs240,700 per tola.

    This reduction reflects the ongoing challenges in purchasing power, with the price being set Rs1,500 below its actual market value.

    The Karachi Sarafa Association reported that the price for 24-karat gold was Rs206,361 per 10 grammes, a decrease of Rs1,029. Meanwhile, 22-karat gold was quoted at Rs189,165 per 10 grammes, reflecting a similar downward trend.

    In contrast, silver prices remained stable in the domestic market. The price of 24-karat silver held steady at Rs2,750 per tola and Rs2,358 per 10 grammes, indicating no change from previous rates.

    Globally, the gold market also experienced a decline. Spot gold was traded near $2,305 an ounce, marking a decrease of $15.5 or 0.67 per cent from the previous session. This downturn follows a report indicating that the US core consumer price index fell to its lowest level in over three years, suggesting a potential for faster policy easing.

    Bloomberg reported that the Federal Reserve has adjusted its expectations, now projecting just one quarter-point interest rate cut this year, down from the three cuts anticipated in March.

    Swap traders are currently pricing in a 25-basis-point rate cut by November, with a 75 per cent probability of a similar reduction by year-end.

    This is a shift from the 50 per cent chance of a second cut that was forecasted two days prior. US producer prices, expected to be released later on Thursday, may provide further indications of market trends.

    Overall, the drop in gold prices reflects both domestic economic pressures and global market adjustments, offering a complex landscape for investors and consumers alike.

  • Indian customer shocked by human finger in ice cream

    Indian customer shocked by human finger in ice cream

    An online ice cream delivery took a macabre turn in India when a doctor received an order with a human finger in the dessert.

    The incident happened in Mumbai when Brandon, a 26-year-old MBBS doctor, ordered a butterscotch ice cream cone from Yumno’s app.

    In a video statement shared by Dr Brandon on Indian media, he says that when he ate half of the ice cream, he felt something hard in his mouth, which he took out instead of swallowing.

    Brandon says that being a doctor, he soon realized that the hard object coming out of the mouth was a severed human finger with visible fingernails rather than a culinary addition to the ice cream.

    The doctor asserted that instead of throwing the ice cream away, he stored it in the freezer to give it to the police as evidence.

    An FIR has been registered against the company, while the 1.5 cm long piece of the finger recovered from the ice cream cone has been sent for forensics.