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  • Bollywood star wishes to act in Pakistani TV shows

    Bollywood star wishes to act in Pakistani TV shows

    A viral interview clip of Isha Malviya on social media shows the famous contestant of India’s reality show ‘Big Boss 17’ expressing a wish to work in Pakistani dramas. In the interview, the host asked her, “If you were ever offered a role in a Pakistani drama where the hero is portrayed by a handsome Muslim actor, and the drama shooting takes place in Dubai, would you accept the offer?’”

    The host explained, “Because Pakistani dramas show slim, beautiful girls as heroines, I think you also-ran fulfill this demand.”
    In response to the question, Isha said that if such an opportunity arose, she would accept it. However, her first preference would be to work in India.

  • Government formation: What will kingmaker PPP do?

    Government formation: What will kingmaker PPP do?

    More than 11 days have passed since the general elections took place, yet the country is without a coherent government formation strategy.

    From every side saying they will form the government to every side saying they will sit in opposition, the situation remains unclear, except for one fact: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) is in the driving seat as the Kingmakers.

    So what will the party do? Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari revealed on Sunday during a political rally in Thatta, that his party has rejected the power-sharing formula offered to them, but stressed that his father, Asif Ali Zardari, will be the PPP’s candidate for president. “I was told [by PML-N] that let us be the prime minister for three years, and then you can take the premiership for the remaining two years,” Bilawal revealed, adding that he said no to the offer. “I said I do not want to become a prime minister like this. If I become the prime minister, it will be after the people of Pakistan elect me.”

    The PPP chairman also said, without mentioning any names, that his party will align with those who asked for their votes but will not take ministries.

    The former foreign minister also stressed that his father will play a big role in reducing the political tension in the country.

    According to The News, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and PPP are set to hold their fifth meeting today to hash out a formula for the formation of the federal government.

    On the other hand, PPP leader Sarfraz Bugti claimed on Sunday that his party will form the provincial government in Balochistan with the help of PML-N.

    “The PML-N would be our ally in Balochistan [as it has] given us a clear signal to form our government [in the province],” Bugti said while addressing a press conference in Islamabad.

  • Social media loves Chahat Fateh Ali Khan’s new PSL song

    Chahat Fateh Ali Khan is back with a bang. The singer has come up with a new anthem for Pakistan Super League, and it is causing a buzz on social media.

    While there are plenty of detractors too, many fans are loving the song’s energy and rhythm, praising Khan for capturing the spirit of cricket and unity.
    Here are some reactions from people:

  • Indian extremists angered by lions named ‘Akbar’ and ‘Sita’

    Indian extremists angered by lions named ‘Akbar’ and ‘Sita’

    Hindutva extremism has penetrated into every aspect of Indian life, including zoos.

    Extremist organisation, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), has filed a case against keeping a lion named Akbar and another named Sita in the same cage in West Bengal.

    The lions brought to the West Bengal Safari Park were named by the management.

    The Hindu organisation says that the authorities have hurt their religious sentiments by the two animals being housed together because they have names coming from different religions.

    The VHP has filed a petition against the forest department in the Kolkata High Court, which will be heard on February 20.

  • U.S. citizen hunts down markhor with license

    U.S. citizen hunts down markhor with license

    Another foreign hunter has hunted down a markhor in Pakistan with a license that preservation experts say helps in increasing the population of the endangered animal.

    During the third trophy hunt, an American citizen, Robert Myles Hall, hunted a Kashmiri Markhor at the Gahirat-Golen community game for a trophy permit of $125,000.

    The animal was reportedly about eight years old while the horns of the giant four-legged wild goat was around 38 inches.

    According to Geo news, officials have claimed that the population of Kashmir Markhor has increased during the recent years, owing to community-based conservation.

    Three hunting trophy licences are issued every year for Markhor hunting. 80 per cent of the total price is divided among local communities and 20 per cent is granted to the national exchequer.

    Markhor is kept under the protection of local as well as international law like the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites).

    In October last year, 2023, Deron James Millman won a bid of $232,000 — the highest in history.

  • ‘Taxali Gate’ is getting rave reviews on social media

    ‘Taxali Gate’ is getting rave reviews on social media

     

    The movie everyone’s been waiting for, ‘Taxali Gate’, is finally here! Directed by and written by Abu Aleeha, the film takes viewers on a journey of emotional discovery. Executive Producer Barrister Shabbir Shah, along with Producers Waqas Rizvi and Ayesha Omar, have brought the captivating story to life.

    Set in Lahore’s old city, the movie explores important issues of consent, touching on both legal and social matters.

    The film is getting rave reviews from fans on social media, with many calling it Abu Aleeha’s best work.

     

     

  • Rain, snowfall on its way

    Rain, snowfall on its way

    The Meteorological Department has predicted heavy rain and strong winds in Karachi today. In Lahore, strong winds have caused the temperature to drop.

    According to the Meteorological Department, it may drizzle at some places in Karachi, Sajawal, and Thatta today. Strong winds will continue to blow in Karachi till this evening with cloudy skies.

    There is a possibility of rain and snowfall in the mountains today in the Pothohar region, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, North Balochistan, Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan, reports Geo News. Various areas of the country including Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Kohat, Malakand, Muzaffarabad, Diamar, Chilas, and Chaman received rain while snowfall was recorded in the mountains.

    Rescue teams have been put on high alert in Rawalpindi, Attock, Jhelum, Chakwal, Talagang, and Murree due to strong winds and rain.

    Commissioner Rawalpindi said that they are monitoring the situation caused by wind and rain in Murree, the Deputy Commissioner has given specific instructions to Murree for necessary arrangements.

    On the other hand, in Azad Kashmir and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, heavy snowfall occurred in Neelum Jhelum Valley, which affected the movement of traffic due to slippage on connecting roads, the weather became colder due to snowfall in Swat, Upper and Lower Dir, Karam district.

    Abbottabad and Mansehra are experiencing rain in the plains and light snow in the upper reaches, with up to 2 inches of snow in Shogran and 4 inches in Naran.

    Additionally, the western system of rainfall entered North Balochistan after which heavy rain and hailstorms occurred in Pak-Afghan border areas including Chaman, Qila Abdullah, Muslim Bagh, Toba Kakadi, Toba Achakzai, and Sheila Bagh.

  • Israel sets Ramadan deadline for Rafah assault

    Israel sets Ramadan deadline for Rafah assault

    Israel will launch its long-threatened offensive against Rafah next month if the remaining hostages held in Gaza are not freed by the start of Ramadan, Israeli war cabinet member Benny Gantz said.

    “The world must know, and Hamas leaders must know — if by Ramadan our hostages are not home, the fighting will continue everywhere, including the Rafah area,” Gantz, a retired military chief of staff, told a conference of American Jewish leaders in Jerusalem on Sunday.

    Ramadan, the holy month, is expected to begin on March 10.

    The Israeli government has not previously specified a deadline for its planned assault on the city where the majority of the 1.7 million displaced Palestinians have sought refuge.

    Fearing the potential for mass casualties, foreign governments and aid organisations have repeatedly urged Israel to spare Rafah, the last major Gazan city not invaded by ground troops during the four-month-old war.

    Despite the mounting international pressure, including a direct appeal from US President Joe Biden, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insists the war cannot be completed without pressing into Rafah.

    Speaking at the same Jerusalem conference on Sunday, Netanyahu renewed his vow “to finish the job to get total victory” over “Hamas”, with or without a hostage deal.

    Gantz added that an offensive would be carried out in a coordinated manner and in conversation with Americans and Egyptians to facilitate an evacuation and “minimise the civilian casualties as much as possible”.

    But where civilians can safely relocate to on the besieged Gaza Strip remains unclear.

    The comments come after weeks of ceasefire talks have failed to produce a deal, with key mediator Qatar acknowledging over the weekend that the prospects are dimming.

    Washington, Israel’s key ally and military backer, has been pushing for a six-week truce in exchange for the release of the 130 hostages still estimated by Israel to be held in Gaza, including around 30 presumed dead.

    Israel has said it believes many of those hostages, as well as the Hamas leadership, are holed up in Rafah.

    The militants took about 250 people hostage during the October 7 attacks that triggered the war and resulted in the deaths of about 1,160 people in Israel, according to an AFP tally of Israeli figures.

    Israel’s retaliatory campaign has killed at least 28,858 people, mostly women and children, according to the health ministry.

  • PSL 9: Multan Sultans defeats Karachi Kings by 55 runs

    PSL 9: Multan Sultans defeats Karachi Kings by 55 runs

    In the third match of the ninth edition of Pakistan Super League, Multan Sultans easily defeated Karachi Kings by a huge margin of 55 runs.

    In the match played in Multan, Karachi Kings captain Shan Masood won the toss and invited Sultans to bat.

    Multan Sultan’s inning

    Multan Sultans scored 185 runs for the loss of 2 wickets in the allotted 20 overs, Reza Hendricks remained unbeaten with 79 runs. Apart from this, David Mallan played an innings of 52 runs off 41 balls, Mohammad Rizwan was dismissed by scoring 11 runs while Khushdil Shah was not out by scoring 28 runs.

    Mir Hamza and Daniel took one wicket each for Karachi Kings.

    Karachi King’s inning

    In pursuit of the target of 186 runs, Karachi’s batting could not show any sufficient performance, except the experienced batsman Shoaib Malik, none of the batsmen could play well.

    Karachi Kings team could only score 130 runs for 8 wickets in the allotted overs in pursuit of the target.

    Shoaib Malik scored 53, Shaun Masood scored 30 and Kieron Pollard scored 28 runs. James Vance scored 5 runs, Mohammad Nawaz scored 7 runs.

    On behalf of Multan Sultans, Muhammad Ali dismissed 3 players, David Wali and Abbas Afridi 2.

  • Pakistan’s mobile phone imports skyrocket, surpassing $987 million in first half of FY 23-24

    Pakistan’s mobile phone imports skyrocket, surpassing $987 million in first half of FY 23-24

    Pakistan has witnessed a remarkable surge in mobile phone imports, reaching $987.539 million during the first half (July–January) of the fiscal year 2023–24. 

    This marks a substantial growth of 138.08 per cent compared to the same period in the previous fiscal year, where imports totaled $414.800 million.

    The data, released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), underscores the country’s increasing reliance on imported mobile devices.

    In January 2024 alone, Pakistan’s mobile phone imports rose by 10.70 per cent on a month-on-month basis, totaling $194.928 million, compared to $176.093 million in December 2023. 

    Year-on-year comparisons reveal an even more staggering growth of 275.15 per cent in January 2024, compared to $51.960 million in January 2023.

    The overall telecom imports into Pakistan during July–January 2023–24 amounted to $1.243 billion, showcasing a robust 93.06 per cent growth compared to the same period in the previous fiscal year. 

    Year-on-year, the growth in overall telecom imports stood at an impressive 197.07 per cent, reaching $232.709 million in January 2024, compared to $78.336 million in January 2023.

    Despite challenges faced by the local manufacturing sector, including a decline of around four per cent in local manufacturing and assembling of mobile handsets during the calendar year 2023, commercial imports of mobile handsets increased. 

    Official data revealed that local manufacturing plants produced 21.28 million mobile handsets in 2023, compared to 21.94 million in 2022 and 24.66 million in 2021. However, commercial imports rose from 1.53 million in 2022 to 1.58 million in 2023.

    Moreover, of the locally manufactured and assembled mobile handsets in 2023, 13 million were 2G devices, and 8.28 million were smartphones. 

    According to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), 59 per cent of mobile devices in Pakistan are smartphones, while 41 per cent are 2G devices.

    Despite the challenges faced by the local manufacturing sector, the significant growth in mobile phone imports underscores Pakistan’s increasing reliance on imported devices, contributing to the country’s evolving telecom landscape.