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  • Look up tonight: It’s Supermoon time in Pakistan

    Look up tonight: It’s Supermoon time in Pakistan

    Pakistan is getting ready for a stunning sight as the third supermoon of the year 2024, light up the sky tonight, Thursday.

    The super moon will be visible after sunset, it will visible starting at 4.26 PM, allowing everyone to witness the moon its brightest and biggest.  

    A supermoon happens when the moon is closet to earth about 226,000kilometer away, during this time, it shine 14 % brighter and appears 7% larger than usual.

      Astronomers says that when the distance between the moon and Earth decreases, it creates a mesmerizing view that captures everyone’s attention.

    People in Pakistan, as well as those in New Zealand, Japan, and Australia can see this beautiful supermooon.Gazing the supermoon creates a delightful experience, bringing wonder and excitement to everyone who takes the time to look up at the night sky. 

    If you miss this supermoon, don’t worry, the next one will brighten our skies on November 15, 2024.Earlier, the first super blue moon of the year was seen in Pakistan at 11:26 PM tonight (Monday).

    Pakistan’s space research agency SUPARCO has announced that the next three super moons will be seen on September 18, October 17 and November 15.A blue moon does not mean that the moon will turn blue. The name is rooted in an incident that happened centuries ago.

    A volcanic eruption in the 19th century caused a change in the colour of the sky, causing the full moon to appear blue, known as the Blue Moon.

    Types of Blue moon

    There are 2 types of blue moon, one is seasonal blue moon and the other is monthly blue moon.A seasonal blue moon is the third of four full moons in a season, and a similar blue moon will appear on the horizon on August 19 in Pakistan.The occurrence of the second full moon in a month of the Gregorian calendar is called the Monthly Blue Moon.

    Blue Moon in Pakistan The moon that will rise in the sky on August 19 will be at a distance of 226,000 miles from the Earth, which will appear 14 percent larger and 30 percent brighter than usual.

    This month’s seasonal super blue moon is also special because it will take until 2037 to see one after that, but the seasonal blue moon will happen much sooner.

  • Iran-Pakistan trade talks could yield sugar exporters a 500 million dollar sweet deal

    Iran-Pakistan trade talks could yield sugar exporters a 500 million dollar sweet deal

    Businessmen across Pakistan watched the developments of the meeting between Iran’s Minister of Trade, Mohammad Atabak, and Pakistan’s Commerce Minister, Jam Kamal Khan.

    The meeting ended with an agreement to remove the existing barriers to trade that could greatly increase trade and business activities on both sides of the border.

    The meeting in Islamabad sparked hope for future trade with Iran as the delegation from Tehran invited Pakistan to attend further talks regarding the improvement of economic ties.

    Pakistani sugar exporters would benefit enormously if talks between Islamabad and Tehran led to trade deals. This is because Iran currently spends over half a billion dollars annually to meet its sugar demand – a potential market for Pakistani exporters.

    This is prime time for sugar producers to capture lucrative export deals as the ECC (Economic Coordination Committee) has already directed banks to facilitate the export of an additional half a million tons of sugar.

    Currently, Iran imports sugar from as far away as Belgium and Brazil, a process that can take a staggering 40 days. The Pakistani market, however, could supply sugar to Iran within just 3-4 days due to the fact that the two countries are neighbours. 

    Pakistani businessmen in the agricultural sector will also reap a lot from this potential partnership, just like sugar producers. That’s because in 2023 alone, Pakistan imported nearly half a billion dollars worth of fertilisers, and Iran is a net exporter, so a trade deal between the two neighbours is possible.

    If realised, the import of Iranian fertilisers is likely to drive down fertiliser prices locally, which would benefit farmers. The lower production costs would help increase profitability for farmers and could also make Pakistani agricultural exports even more competitive than they already are in the global market.

    Perhaps the most exciting possibility, however, is the potential for the export of Iranian petroleum to Pakistan. With petrol prices sitting at an uneasy PKR 247 per litre, importing oil from Iran at special rates due to “special clauses” in trade deals could provide relief to both businesses and consumers.

    Atabak has extended an invitation to Jam Kamal Khan for further talks in Tehran, sparking speculation that a trade deal could soon become a reality, which would mark a major step forward in bilateral relations.

    If the discussions result in trade agreements, businesses from both nations will benefit. Industries and citizens are expected to enjoy lower costs and shorter delivery times for imports. The future could very well see Iranian fertilisers being used to grow Pakistani sugarcane, only for that same sugar to make its way back to Iran – a sweet cycle of trade.

  • Sarwat Gilani has marriage advice for youth

    Sarwat Gilani has marriage advice for youth

    Marriage can be a big decision, and actress Sarwat Gilani has a piece of practical advice for young people who are trying to figure life out.

    Recently, she appeared on the Rukhsat podcast and shared her thoughts on when to get married and what to consider.

    Sarwat said, “When it comes to your relationship, you’ve seen growing up, that familiarity will make her realize that she will agree to that marriage or that man if she has seen her mother be there for her father. I would say, please get married in your 30s, not in your 20s in your 20s, you are still very confused, especially in your late 20s because society changes. You need to understand that a lot of things are changing. First, see what values click with you.”

    The host Aghlab Shair asked, “How important is it for us to choose our own partner rather than arranged marriages, or do you think arranged marriages are fine?”

    “Look, I think it’s a bit of both, to be honest, I mean, I am in a marriage, but I believe in this day and age, marriage is a very failed institution. Because there is so much out there, there is so much variety, there is so much opportunity, and there is easy access.

    “So, it all boils down to understanding yourself. It’s a bit of an iffy situation in both. The only difference is in an arranged marriage, the chances are that because you don’t know the person, there is zero expectation, so you build on those expectations living together; you build on those boundaries living together”, Gilani added.

    Fahad Mirza and Sarwat Gilani tied the knot on 14 August 2014.

  • 24-karat gold price hits fresh record high in Pakistani market

    24-karat gold price hits fresh record high in Pakistani market

    After increasing in the international markets, gold prices climbed in Pakistan and were seen at their highest-ever level on Thursday.

    The All-Pakistan Gems and Jewellers Sarafa Association (APGJSA), which shares gold rates on a daily basis, reported that the price for 24-karat gold recorded a single-day surge of Rs900 per tola, which pushed the precious metal’s rate to a new all-time high of Rs277,900 per tola in Pakistani gold markets.

    The previous all-time high was recorded on Wednesday, when gold’s price in Pakistan was recorded at a then-high of Rs277,200 per tola, after witnessing a massive single-day increase of Rs2,200 per tola.

    It is worth adding here that the latest surge follows a notable increase in the price of gold in international markets. According to the APGJSA, the price for one ounce of gold was recorded at $2,682. This price also includes a premium of $20.

    The total surge the yellow metal witnessed in the global market was $7 per ounce.

    Despite gold surging to its highest-ever level in the history of Pakistan, silver prices remained unchanged and were recorded at Rs3,050 per tola.

  • Constitutional Amendment: Key points of JUI-F draft revealed

    Constitutional Amendment: Key points of JUI-F draft revealed

    In an interesting development, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) has disclosed its key suggestions for the 26th Constitutional Amendment, suggesting the establishment of a constitutional bench at the Supreme Court (SC) of Pakistan as well as at high courts, reports said.

    According to reports, all political parties, including the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), have reached a consensus on the formation of a constitutional bench at the top court, and no party has objected to this suggestion.

    Meanwhile, the JUI-F has also suggested in its draft that a constitutional bench should be established at the apex court and include the chief justice, besides the five senior-most judges of the SC, who will decide on disputes regarding the Constitution and its interpretation.

    “The constitutional bench at high courts should comprise of the respective chief justice as well as three senior judges of the court,” the draft added.

    The party also demanded to restore parts of the 18th Amendment to the extent of appointment of judges and amendment in article 175-A.

    JUI-F also demanded the repeal of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution.

    The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), however, have so far not agreed to most points proposed in the JUI-F draft, reports added.

    The coalition government remained unsuccessful last month when it tried to pass the constitutional package, but since then it has been aggressively championed, in a campaign led by PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto, to get the required votes.

    Meanwhile, to pass the constitutional amendment, the government is reportedly short of 13 votes in the National Assembly (NA) and nine in the Upper House (Senate).

  • ‘India made horrific mistake by violating Canada’s sovereignty,’ warns furious Justin Trudeau

    ‘India made horrific mistake by violating Canada’s sovereignty,’ warns furious Justin Trudeau

    Canadian Prime Minister (PM) Justin Trudeau has accused India of making a “horrific mistake” by violating his country’s sovereignty by killing Canadian citizens.

    Testifying at a public inquiry into foreign interference on Wednesday, Justin Trudeau angrily remarked, “The Indian government made a horrific mistake in thinking that they could interfere as aggressively as they did in the safety and sovereignty of Canada. We need to respond in order to ensure Canadians’ safety.”

    Lambasting New Delhi for disdaining Canada’s efforts to cooperate on the matter of India’s involvement in killing Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar, he said, “We had clear -and certainly now ever clearer indications- that India had violated Canada’s sovereignty.”

    Justin Trudeau maintained that his country is not looking to provoke or initiate a fight with India.

    He further said that Canadian officials privately shared evidence with their Indian counterparts.

    Meanwhile, rejecting the Canadian claim of India’s involvement, a spokesperson for India’s Ministry of External Affairs declared, “Canada has presented us no evidence whatsoever in support of the serious allegations that it has chosen to level against India and Indian diplomats.”

    Previously, the Canadian government expelled six Indian diplomats, including a High Commissioner, from Canada, citing New Delhi’s refusal to cooperate in criminal investigations.

  • Policeman kills daughter in name of honour

    Policeman kills daughter in name of honour

    A police official gunned down his 16-year-old daughter in a graveyard near Bagan Shah Bukhari’s tomb in Qambar-Shahdadkot.

    Safeer Buriro’s honour killing of his own daughter was reported in the early hours of Wednesday.

    Safeer is a resident of Dalil Buriro village located in the jurisdiction of Drigh police station.

    Karo-kari

    Dawn reports that the cop took his daughter to the graveyard and brutally killed her under the practice of ‘karo-kari’- an indigenous term for honour killing.

    Whether the suspect used a service rifle or another weapon is still not clear.

    However, Dawn’s sources claim that the suspect fired at her face.

    The was shifted to the nearby district headquarters hospital right after the incident before being handed over to the girl’s maternal uncle, Mumtaz Ali Buriro.

    No FIR has been registered as yet.

    Karo-kari is a common practice in Sindh where women are alienated or, worse, killed by people for dishonouring the so-called honour of the family.

    Earlier, a polio worker was denied entry into her home by her husband which was described as kari after he found out she was sexually assaulted while on duty.

  • Saba Qamar urges everyone to support women, children in Sindh

    Saba Qamar urges everyone to support women, children in Sindh

    Actress Saba Qamar was recently appointed UNICEF’s first national ambassador for child rights in Pakistan on October 11 2024.

    On her Instagram Qamar shared a message with her followers with a video of her visit to Sujawal, and wrote: “As a national ambassador, I recently spent time with children and women in Sindh, listening to their stories, sharing smiles and seeing both their strength and struggles. It was an eye-opening experience. While there is so much beauty in their spirit, they still need so much more, basic necessities and support that many of us take for granted. I’m reaching out to you because together, we can make a difference. I need your help, your ideas and your voice to bring hope to these communities. Let’s work together to create real change for them.”

    While speaking to Independent Urdu, Saba said, “I have been in Karachi for three days now, and I visited a place where I met young girls, children, and women. I was happy to see that UNICEF has done a lot of work there, providing proper medicine and education. However, I still feel that these children need clean water and a safe environment. For this, I need the support of my nation and my people. When we work together, we can bring about change.”

    The Pagal Khaana actress narrated an incident: “I met a girl named Anam who told me she was about to get married, there was a fire in her eyes, and I was so impressed by how UNICEF is raising awareness and educating these children. They are providing education centers, medicine, and teaching about good touch and bad touch, among other things.”

    However, Qamar acknowledged that many more areas in Pakistan need support and change.

    “I am happy to see how many girls are coming forward. Each girl represents a society, a family. When we educate one child, imagine how much change we can bring to society. I have seen a group of girls who had confidence, a fire in their eyes, and a desire to bring about change. They understood the difference between right and wrong, good and bad touch, and even spoke English. I was impressed that such positive change could happen in a small area like Sujawal,” the Baaghi star added.

  • Seven ruling MNAs to vote against constitutional amendments: Barrister Gohar

    Seven ruling MNAs to vote against constitutional amendments: Barrister Gohar

    Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Barrister Gohar Khan on Thursday claimed that seven Members of National Assembly (MNAs) from the ruling coalition will vote against the twenty-sixth constitutional amendment.

    “The government’s numbers are only complete in their books. The government neither consulted its members nor answered them out of fear,” Barrister Gohar Khan told Geo News.

    He claimed Chairman of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto Zardari may also know that his parliamentary members are not going to vote in favour of the government’s proposed amendments, adding, “Government members said they will not vote even if they are disqualified.

    The twenty-sixth constitutional amendments aim to establish a new Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) and fix judges’ tenure to three years.

    To pass the constitutional amendment, the government is reportedly short of 13 votes in the National Assembly (NA) and nine in the Upper House (Senate).

  • Hania Aamir wows fans with latest London photos

    Hania Aamir wows fans with latest London photos

    Actress Hania Aamir is one of the most followed celebrities on Instagram from Pakistan, with about 15.9 million followers. She is currently winning hearts as Sharjeena in the popular drama Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum.

    Recently, Hania enjoyed a vacation in London, where she visited famous sights like Piccadilly Circus, Big Ben, and Camden Town with her friends.

    She shared photos of her trip on social media.

    One fan couldn’t help but leave a funny comment on Hania’s Instagram post, saying, “Ab agar isay ghoomnay phirnay ka shouq hain to Mustafa ko paisay kamanay ki tension tou hogi na!”

    Check the pictures below:

    Earlier, Punjabi singer Diljit Dosanjh is currently on his Duluminati Tour, and actress Hania Amir and her friends attended his recent concert in London.

    He invited the Pakistani superstar on stage. Various videos of that moment have since gone viral on social media.

    Diljit expressed his admiration for Hania Aamir, calling her a superstar.

    He affectionately insisted when Hania initially refused to come up on stage, saying in Punjabi, “When a superstar is among us, and she’s just standing in the audience, it cannot happen that she doesn’t come on stage.”

    After much encouragement and loud cheers from the singer and the audience, Hania Aamir finally came on stage, where Diljit performed a few lines of his famous song ‘Lover’ for her.

    From Hania’s facial expressions, it was clear that this was a fan moment for her, and she was at a loss for words to express her feelings.

    She sincerely thanked the Indian singer for the gesture.