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  • Turkish scholarships open for Pakistani students

    Turkish scholarships open for Pakistani students

    Students who want to study abroad, particularly in Turkey, can now pursue their education as Ankara-based TED University officials is offering significant scholarships in 23 undergraduate and 17 graduate programmes for Pakistanis, enrolling for the Fall 2024 semester.

    TED University announced that new enrollees will receive scholarships ranging from 25 percent to 100 percent, determined by their academic achievements and other credentials.

    No GRE required

    Pakistani students will not be required to undergo GRE or English language tests.

    TED is one of the top universities in Ankara with highly educated professional faculty members.

    Free of cost housing

    The university houses many facilities to support students’ education, health and recreation free of cost.

    Courses offered

    Undergraduate courses offered in the five faculties are architecture, city and regional planning, industrial design, interior architecture and environmental design, visual communication design, psychology, sociology, mathematics, English language and literature, business administration, economics, political science and international relations, early childhood education, primary education, guidance and psychological counseling, English language education, mathematics education, computer engineering, electrical and electronics engineering, industrial engineering, civil engineering, mechanical engineering, and software engineering.

    Graduate courses

    Graduate programmes include applied data science, architecture and urban studies, civil engineering, computer engineering, developmental focused clinical child and adolescent psychology, economics, economics and finance, mechanical engineering, mechatronics engineering, engineering management, English language education, industrial engineering, interactive computing and information systems, management in educational institutions, migration studies, and psychological counseling and guidance.

    Students to teachers ratio

    5,000 students were currently studying at the TED university at the moment while the faculty to student Ratio is 24:1 that provides guidance to the students.
    So far, the students have taken part in 84 research projects, 44 nationally funded projects, 23 internationally funded projects, and curated 100 industry projects.

  • Hazim Bangwar claps back

    Hazim Bangwar claps back

    Hazim Bangwar, Assistant Commissioner for North Nazimabad, Karachi, has responded to criticism on his unconventional attire at the Hum Style Awards.

    He asserted that he has carried his office “with respect and dignity and always dressed appropriately”, adding that no doctor or officer wears their uniforms outside their office.

    Background

    Hazim Bangwar, has often been the subject of attention on social media — but this time he is in the spotlight for a very ludicrous reason.

    He is not an average Pakistani Commissioner.

    In a world full of stereotypes, he is a gritty fashion icon with a unique sense of style. He has a passion for singing and has released a few songs too. He is often attending events including the red carpet premiere of Money Heist, Korea.

    And only recently, he made an appearance at the red carpet of Hum Style Awards in an all-black, sleek costume-like attire with a long, pleated neck piece.

    His edgy look was criticised on social media by one account— and former Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry.

    However, many people jumped in to support Hazim Bangwar.

    In all this debate, the question is: does one’s attire matter? Does wearing a crisp, white shalwar kameez with a waistcoat, or the finest of suits make one more diligent in their job?

    By all accounts, Hazim is doing a good job as Commissioner. Why then should we be bothered by his clothing choices, worn at a private event?

    Trolls really need to come to a grip with trying to dictate their choices onto public servants.

  • Maryam Nawaz announces Rs 3 crore prize for hockey team

    Maryam Nawaz announces Rs 3 crore prize for hockey team

    Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz announced a prize of Rs 3 crore for the national hockey team for their performance in the Azlan Shah Hockey Tournament.

    The Government of Punjab had earlier announced Rs 20 lakh for the national hockey team but later the prize was increased from to three crores.

    The national hockey team met Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz in Lahore on Tuesday.

    “Hockey is not only a sport, it is national pride, the current team has reminded of the past, they will not only provide full support for the improvement of hockey but will also give ownership,” she said.

    Maryam added that the players have revived the national game.

    The captain of the hockey team, Imad Butt, expressed hope that the national game will achieve more heights with the support of the government.

  • PCB appoints mental performance coach for first time

    PCB appoints mental performance coach for first time

    Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has appointed Australia’s David Reid as the national team’s mental performance coach for the World Cup and series against England on May 22.

    David Reid previously worked for the Indian Premier League (IPL) team Chennai Super Kings, Big Bash team Melbourne Stars and Australian Olympic athletes. He is famous for guiding athletes to stay focused on their goals. He will join the Pakistan cricket team on May 20.

    PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi said, “Paying attention to the mental health of the players is not only the priority of the PCB but also its main commitment because the performance of the ground is directly related to the mental state of the players.”

    Mohsin Naqvi added, “The presence of an experienced expert like David Reed would benefit Pakistani players both on and off the field.”

    Pakistan will play the T20 series against England from May 22 to May 30, and then participate in the T20 World Cup which is scheduled in America and West Indies from June 1 to June 30.

  • Pakistan defeats Ireland in 3rd T20 to clinch series

    Pakistan defeats Ireland in 3rd T20 to clinch series

    Pakistan cricket team defeated Ireland in the third T20 match clinching the series by 2-1.

    Pakistan skipper Babar Azam won the toss and decided to bowl first against Ireland in Dublin, Ireland.

    Ireland inning:

    Lorcan Tucker of Ireland played an innings of 73 runs off 41 balls, his innings was decorated with 13 fours and one six.

    Andy Balburnie 35 and Harry Teck Toure 30 were among the other players to score 178 for 7 in 20 overs.

    On the side of green shirts, Shaheen Afridi pick 3, Abbas Afridi 2 while Muhammad Amir and Imad Wasim took 1 wicket each.

    Pakistan inning:

    Pakistan acheived this target in the 17th over. Babar Azam and Muhammad Rizwan put up a century partnership for the 10th time.

    National team captain Babar Azam played a brillient inning of 75 runs which included 6 fours and 5 towering sixes. Mohammad Rizwan scored 56 runs off 38 balls. Saim Ayub was dismissed for 14 runs while Azam Khan was not out for 18 runs.

    Ireland’s Mark Adair dismissed 3 players.

  • Dubai Loaded: names of politicians, army officials with property, money in Dubai leaked

    Dubai Loaded: names of politicians, army officials with property, money in Dubai leaked

    Thousands of Pakistani citizens including more than a dozen retired military officials and their families own properties in upscale Dubai areas, according to data revealed by the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) Dubai Unlocked project.

    The leaked data provides a detailed overview of hundreds of thousands of properties in Dubai and information about their ownership or usage, largely from 2020 and 2022.

    Pakistan, a country going through a severe economic crisis, came out prominent among the countries with massive properties in Dubai.

    Among the thousands of Pakistanis who own these properties are around a dozen retired military generals, two retired air vice-marshals of the Pakistan Air Force, a serving inspector general of police (IGP), a retired president of the National Bank of Pakistan (NBP), a former chairman of the Oil and Gas Development Company (OGDCL), and a serving chairman of the Pakistan Council for Science and Technology.

    Politicians

    President Asif Ali Zardari’s three children, Hussain Nawaz Sharif, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi’s wife, Sharjeel Memon and his family members, Senator Faisal Vawda, four MNAs and half a dozen MPAs from the Sindh and Balochistan assemblies. Former Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz also appears on the list.

    The Property Leaks have also revealed that Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi’s wife owns a property in Dubai which he didn’t declare in the nomination papers he submitted in March this year for the Senate election.

    Per the Property Leaks data, Naqvi’s wife owns a five-bedroom villa in the Arabian Ranches. She received a rental income of AED600,000 (Rs45m) from this villa, which was purchased in August 2017 for AED4,347,888 (Rs329m) according to the record seen by The News. The villa remained in her ownership till April 2023 when it was sold for AED4,550,000 (Rs344m) as per the record.

    Military officials

    Late Gen (r) Pervez Musharraf and his wife’s name appear in the leaked data as owners of three properties in the areas of Dubai Marina, Burj Khalifa and Al Thanyah Fifth.

    Musharraf’s former military secretary Lt-Gen Shafaat Ullah Shah, who goes by the username @infantry28, is also included in the list. It should be noted his name appeared in Pandora Papers too.

    Former DG Counter Intelligence Maj Gen (r) Ehtasham Zameer, his son and other children are also on the list as owners of properties in the Al Warsan First, Marina Arcade Marsa areas.

    Also on the list is the son of Lt-Gen Afzal Muzaffar of the NLC scandal fame.

    Lt-Gen (r) Muhammad Akram owns a property in Elite Residences 4. In addition, Lt-Gen Alam Jan Mehsud and his spouse own a five-bedroom apartment in the Al Hamri Palm Jumeirah area.

    Maj Gen (r) Ghazanfar Ali Khan also owns a property in S15 Building Al Warsan First.

    Major Gen (r) Raja Muhammad Arif Nazir also appears in the leaked data for owning a property in Golf Promenade 2-A, Al Hebiah third area.

    Air Vice Marshal (r) Saleem Tariq also appears to own property. As does Air Vice Marshal (r) Khalid Masood Rajput.

    Also included in the list are Major Gen (r) Muhammad Farooq, Major Gen (r) Anis Bajwa’s spouse, and Maj Gen (r) Najam-ul-Hassan Shah.

    Businessmen

    Chief Financial Officer of Omni Group Aslam Masood along with his wife is also shown as a listed owner of several properties in the data. The News checked the value of one of them and found out that it was purchased at AED1,060,626 (Rs80m) in March 2013.

    Sohrab Dinshaw is also a property owner in Dubai. A villa he purchased in 2015 carried a purchase price of AED 1271888 (Rs 96m).

    Former president of the NBP Arif Usmani also features on the list as the owner of a penthouse.

    Bureaucrats

    IGP Azad Jammu and Kashmir Dr Sohail Habib Tajik is also on the list for owning property in Al Dafrah First Al Thanyah Third.

    The list and details will be updated.

  • Return rate adjustments implemented for National Savings Schemes

    Return rate adjustments implemented for National Savings Schemes

    The Central Directorate of National Savings (CDNS) has implemented adjustments in the rates of return across several National Savings Schemes, marking the fifth revision in the past five months.

    According to Topline Securities, notable alterations include a reduction in rates for the Special Savings Certificates (SSC), which now stand at 15.70 per cent, down by 10 basis points (bps) from the previous 15.8 per cent.

    Similarly, the Regular Income Certificates (RIC) will yield a return of 14.64 per cent, reflecting a decrease of 12 bps from the prior 14.76 per cent.

    Conversely, rates for Bahbood Savings Certificates (BSC), Pensioners Benefit Account (PBA), and Shuhada Family Welfare Account (SFWA) have been adjusted to 15.36 per cent, following a decrease of 24 bps.

    Meanwhile, the Defence Savings Certificate saw a minor decrease of 1 bps, now offering a return of 14.39 per cent.

    In contrast, Short Term Savings Certificates (STSC) experienced an increase of 24 bps, with rates elevated to 19.24 per cent.

    Additionally, the Sarwa Islamic Term Account (SITA) will provide a return of 19.1 per cent, marking a significant increase of 56 bps.

    The profit rates for Saving Account and Sarwa Islamic Saving Account (SISA) remain steady at 20.5 per cent each.

    These adjustments, effective from May 14, 2024, indicate a strategic move by CDNS to align returns with prevailing market conditions and investment dynamics.

  • Why Zahid’s Ahmed initially said no to ‘Jaan Se Pyara Juni’

    Why Zahid’s Ahmed initially said no to ‘Jaan Se Pyara Juni’

    Actor and model Zahid Ahmed is currently working on two dramas titled ‘Jaan Se Pyara Juni’ on Hum TV and ‘Gentleman’ on Green TV.
    In an interview with VOA Urdu, he said, “I rejected the role of ‘Juni in Jaan Se Pyara’ several times. I like playing complex characters like the ones in ‘Besharam’ and ‘Ishq Zah e Naseeb’ because there’s a lot to discover. Roles like Juni are difficult because they’re very realistic, without any added drama. Even though I said no many times, director Meer Sikandar persuaded me to take on the challenge.”

    In ‘Jaan Se Puara Juni’ Zahid plays a very straightforward and simple role.The drama cast includes The Hira Mani, Mamya Shajaffar, Faiq Khan Faiza Hassan and Omer Shehzad.

  • Not just acting: Fahad Mustafa on his cop character in ‘Quaid e Azam Zindabad’

    Not just acting: Fahad Mustafa on his cop character in ‘Quaid e Azam Zindabad’

    Actor Fahad Mustafa took a trip down memory lane in a recent Instagram post. He reminisced about his role as a cop in the 2022 film ‘Quaid e Azam Zindabad’ directed by Nabeel Qureshi. Fahad shared a picture from the movie where he portrayed a determined law enforcer.

    Fahad Mustafa said, “Playing a cop wasn’t just acting – It was about embodying honor and duty. Grateful for the life-changing experience in Quaid e Azam Zindabad.” With Mahira Khan playing the lead next to Fahad, the film marked the first time the two celebs starred opposite each other on the silver screen.

    In ‘Quaid e Azam Zindabad,’ Fahad plays Inspector Gulab, a cop in Karachi who battles crime while dealing with bribery on the side. His life takes a turn when he meets Mahira’s character, Jia, an animal rights activist. As Gulab tries to win her affection by aiding her cause, Jinnah’s image mysteriously disappears from currency notes, leading him on a journey of redemption and love.

  • Gold price declines to Rs241,100 per tola in Pakistan

    Gold price declines to Rs241,100 per tola in Pakistan

    Gold prices in Pakistan experienced a decline on Tuesday, with 24-karat gold witnessing a drop of Rs1,200 to reach Rs241,100 per tola.

    Notably, this price is maintained Rs3,000 lower than its actual value today.

    The association overseeing these fluctuations attributed this adjustment to the substantial decrease in purchasing power, opting to keep the price Rs3,000 below its actual cost.

    Contrastingly, in the previous week, 24-karat gold had observed an increase of Rs5,500 per tola.

    According to the Karachi Sarafa Association, the current price of 24-karat gold stands at Rs207,733 per 10 grammes, marking a decrease of Rs943.

    Similarly, the price of 22-karat gold has been quoted at Rs189,479 per 10 grammes, depicting a downward trend.

    Internationally, the spot gold market showed resilience, hovering around $2,338.4 an ounce, following a 1% decline observed yesterday.

    Meanwhile, silver prices remained stable in the domestic market, with 24-karat silver being traded at Rs2,650 per tola and Rs2,271.94 per 10 grammes.