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  • Filling tanks and pockets: Pump owners anticipate PKR 3.95 petrol price hike

    Filling tanks and pockets: Pump owners anticipate PKR 3.95 petrol price hike

    With fuel prices anticipated to rise, travel buses and apps like Uber may see a hike in their fare, too. As PSO (Pakistan state oil) drafts up price revisions, fuel suppliers prepare to celebrate. This is because the expected price increases will boost profit margins to PKR 9.22 for oil companies and PKR 10.04 for petrol dealers, respectively.

    Reportedly, petrol prices are expected to be revised by PKR 3.95 per litre, kerosene oil by PKR 7.85 per litre, and LDO (light diesel oil) by PKR 8.33 per litre and the most significant of all, HSD (High-speed diesel) by PKR 10.

    It is to be noted that fuel is a good that is inelastic in demand. Simply put, any hikes in fuel prices are not likely to cause a reduction in consumption as it is considered a necessity. Moreover, it is unlikely that vehicles are utilising multiple fuel sources (barring the age-old combination of Petrol-CNG), which makes it impossible to switch to a cheaper alternative.

    It is this very principle that will allow business owners involved in the trade of fuel to benefit from the expected rise in prices.

    However, these profits will come at the cost of the rest of the economy. People will still have to consume petrol and other such products regularly. The higher prices will result in a decline in the purchasing power of customers. This would spell bad news for non-fuel businesses, as a higher proportion of the consumer budget would be allocated towards the purchase of fuel, which would mean fewer revenues for non-fuel businesses.

    This is likely to cause businesses to suffer as their customers will have less money to spend on their products.

    Moreover, businesses are expected to suffer as transport costs of goods from warehouses to stores will rise. Businesses will either have to absorb these extra costs, resulting in a drop in profits, or this additional cost will have to be passed onto consumers in the form of higher prices, resulting in a rise in inflation.

    Nevertheless, it’s not a win either for businesses or customers. However, it’s great news for businesses trading fuel.

  • Divya Khosla accuses Alia Bhatt of faking box office collections

    Divya Khosla accuses Alia Bhatt of faking box office collections

    Bollywood actress Divya Khosla has recently made some strong claims against fellow actress Alia Bhatt.

    Divya shared a story on her Instagram on Saturday, saying, “Went to Citi Mall PVR for Jigra show. Theatre was totally empty, all theatres going empty everywhere.”

    She continued, stating, “Alia Bhatt me sach mein Bahut Jigra hai.. khud hi tickets karide aur fake collections announce kar diye. Wonder why paid media is silent.”

    The official Instagram account of Dharma Movies posted a picture of Jigra’s box office collection during its opening weekend, which was 16.64 crore Indian rupees.

    Jigra has been produced by Karan Johar and written and directed by Vasan Bala.

    Divya’s comments have sparked significant discussion among fans and people in the film industry, but Alia Bhatt has not yet responded to these claims. However, this situation has definitely caught the public’s attention.

    The film Jigra was released in cinemas on October 11, 2024.

    The film’s cast includes Vedang Raina, Akansha Ranjan Kapoor, Yuvraj Vijan, Manoj Pahwa, Dheer Hira, and Jasan Shah.

    Here is the story of Divya Khosla:

    Here is the teaser of the film:

  • Syed Mohammad Ahmed reveals his favorite death scene

    Syed Mohammad Ahmed reveals his favorite death scene

    In Pakistani dramas, some actors seem to die in almost every role. Actor and writer Syed Mohammad Ahmed is one of them.

    Recently Syed Mohammed Ahmed appeared as a guest on ‘Hasna Mana Hai’ where he shared his favorite death scene.

    A fan in the audience asked, “Sir, like you appear in almost all Pakistani dramas, and coincidentally, you often die in them as well. So, which is your favorite death scene?”

    Syed Ahmed replied, “The best one was in Sabaat, and the funniest death was in Neeli Zinda Hai. I was hit on the head. The third one, which will be a good death, is coming soon. It’s in the drama Sunn Mere Dil. I’m going to die in a different way, and the camera angle was different too.”

    The host asked, “If you had to write your own death scene, how would you write it?”

    “I would write it so that there’s just a mention that I’ve passed away quietly in the background, without showing any dramatic scene or anyone crying over it,” The Meray Pass Tum ho actor replied.

    He has starred in dramas such as Shaista Shaista, Durr-e-Shehwar, Suno Chanda 2, Sinf-e-Aahan and Radd.

    Currently Syed Ahmed is starring in Sunn Mere Dil, written by controversial writer Khalil-Ur Rehman Qamar and directed by Haseeb Hassan.

  • ‘PTI to continue protesting till Imran Khan’s release’

    ‘PTI to continue protesting till Imran Khan’s release’

    Information Advisor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif has said that his party’s protests will continue until the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan, is released and charges against him are dropped.

    Express News reported that the Advisor declared that peaceful protest is their democratic and constitutional right.

    Lambasting the incumbent government, he states that an illegitimate government is trying to extend its rule by turning PTI protests into something like the Model Town incident of 2014.

    He emphasised that the country’s economic progress is impossible under authoritarianism and declared the national economy at a standstill mode.

    Earlier, Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal, in a press conference in Islamabad said that the terrorism in Karachi and the ‘political terrorism’ of PTI are similar.

    Meanwhile, PTI has set conditions for calling off its protest on October 15, asking that their leaders should be allowed a meeting Imran Khan, and his personal physician should be allowed to check up on him.

  • Pakistani rupee closes at Rs277.64 against US dollar, Rs362.79 versus Pound

    Pakistani rupee closes at Rs277.64 against US dollar, Rs362.79 versus Pound

    The Pakistani rupee dropped more than two paisa or 0.01 per cent against the US dollar (USD) in Monday’s interbank session to settle the trade at PKR 277.66 per USD, compared to previous closing of Rs277.64.

    During the day, the Pakistani currency saw an intraday high of Rs277.75 and low of Rs277.50.

    US dollar to Pakistani rupee exchange rate today

    Speaking of the open market, local exchange companies quoted greenback value at Rs278 for buying and Rs279.5 for selling.

    During the ongoing fiscal year, PKR appreciated against the USD by 68.06 paisa or 0.25 per cent. While the current calendar year has seen PKR appreciate by Rs4.2 or somewhat around 1.5 per cent.

    In comparison to major foreign currencies, the home unit gained 47.48 paisa against the Euro, closing at 303.47 compared to the previous value of 303.94 on the last trading day (Friday).

    Dirham in PKR: The UAE Dirham surged in value by 0.41 paisa from 75.59 a day ago to 75.59.

    Pound in PKR: The British Pound was seen in red as it became cheaper by 26.18 paisa closing at 362.79 compared to 363.05 from a day ago.

    Franc in PKR: The Swiss franc saw losses of 93.52 paisa, closing at 323.12 compared to 324.06 from the previous session.

    Yen in PKR: Against the Japanese Yen, PKR gained 0.6 paisa, closing at 1.8589 versus 1.8649 a day ago.

    Yuan in PKR: The Chinese Yuan lost 6.62 paisa, closing at 39.22 against 39.28 from the previous session.

    Saudi Riyal in PKR: Lastly, the Saudi currency ended at 73.94 with gaining 0.41 paisa in its previous value of 73.94.

  • Every curly haired girl will identify with Hajra Yamin’s struggles

    Every curly haired girl will identify with Hajra Yamin’s struggles

    Actress Hajra Yamin has revealed that she was stopped from straightening her hair by several drama makers who told her, “You look good like that, and you will be portrayed like that.”

    She recently appeared on Ahmad Ali Butt’s podcast, where she spoke candidly about various issues.

    During the program, she admitted that although settling in Karachi was difficult, she is fortunate to have made good friends there.

    She said, “I started acting in theater. I was born in Multan, Punjab, but I also spent part of my life in Saudi Arabia, Rawalpindi, and other cities. However, because of acting, I settled in Karachi.”

    She added, “Although I was criticized for sharing fitness videos and pictures on social media, I never paid attention to such criticism.”

    Being active on social media is a full-time job that I cannot do, but I appreciate the work and hard effort of those who are active on social media.”

    After shooting for 10 to 12 hours, she doesn’t have the energy to use social media, which is why she’s not very active there, but she respects those who are.

    Talking about beauty standards in showbiz, the actress admitted, “While there have been some changes in the industry, I haven’t faced much discrimination.

    A couple of times, drama makers didn’t cast me due to certain reasons, and I was advised to ‘enhance’ my beauty, but I didn’t follow their instructions.”

    Instead, she explained, “I was cast by other drama makers.”

    Hajra Yameen said, “I never took anyone’s advice seriously and did not follow it. However, I was forbidden to straighten my hair.”

    She added, “I wanted my hair to be straightened, but the drama makers forbade me, saying they cast me because of my natural hair—they said it looks so good on me.”

    She pointed out that fame on social media is considered more important than beauty. “Those who have more followers are cast,” she explained.

    Earlier, actress Naima Butt had revealed that she was advised several times to cut her hair short, and a drama producer even refused to cast her because she didn’t cut her hair.

  • 27 Palestinian medical students arrive in Pakistan from Gaza

    27 Palestinian medical students arrive in Pakistan from Gaza

    27 Palestinian students from Gaza have arrived in Pakistan to continue their medical education. They were welcomed by the President of the Al-Khidmat Foundation, Dr. Hafeez ur Rahman, and a few other government officials.

    The students from Gaza will receive medical and dental education with the support of Al-Khidmat Foundation Pakistan and Global Relief Trust, as per the President.

    Flight GF 764 arrived at Lahore Airport carrying Palestinian students, who had earlier been dispatched from Cairo by the Pakistani ambassador to Egypt, Sajid Bilal and Al-Khidmat representatives.

    In the first phase, 198 Palestinian medical students from war-torn Gaza reached Pakistan through different flights.

    Al-Khidmat Foundation expressed gratitude to the Government of Pakistan, the Palestinian Embassy, ​​and the Pakistani Embassy in Egypt for their support in this cause of helping students of Gaza to continue their studies.

    The Palestinian students will be provided with education, accommodation and other requirements with the help of medical colleges and universities, Dr Hafeez ur Rehman informed the media.

    Al-Khidmat Foundation Pakistan has been active in the rescue and relief operations in Gaza since the first day.

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also shared a welcome post on X (Twitter) for the students.

  • Why is Babar Azam a Popular Cricketer?

    Why is Babar Azam a Popular Cricketer?

    Babar Azam is a famous cricketer in the Pakistani cricket team. His move from an average child in Pakistan to becoming a cricket superstar is worth mentioning. Here, we want to discuss his life, accomplishments, and how he has shaped the game. Read this article to know everything about the shining star of the Pakistan cricket team, Babar Azam.

    Babr Azam grew up in Lahore. He belonged to a cricketing family and had been interested in learning the game since childhood. Babar began especially addressing cricket at the neighborhood level. He was remarkably talented from a tender age.

    He sensed affection for sports and joined Wai Cricket Academy. There, he complimented what he had acquired at home with the fundamentals of the game. Babar put in the effort and almost immediately began to attract the selectors. His efforts paid off as he played his first game for the Under-19 side.

    Babar Azam’s Rise to Fame

    He played his first international match in the one-day format against Bangladesh. It was an impressive performance. He scored 50 runs, which later proved to be a real fortune for him. Therefore, Babar gained a central role in the Pakistani national team. His finesse and devotion made him a roaring success. He made a name for himself and had the ability to score runs when things got tough.

    The Pakistan Cricket Board recently announced that Babar Azam was excluded from the test series. The PCB spokesperson stated that Babar Azam is regarded as a world-class player. Therefore, he will be given rest. He and Naseem Shah, Sarfaraz Ahmed, and Shaheen Afridi will miss the following two tests against England. The board intends to implement a strategy to allow the young players to shine in the series.

    Babar Azam Centuries

    Babar Azam centuries are the highlights of his career. He has hit several centuries in one-day internationals and T20 formats. Babar is good at constructing innings. His first century in one-day internationals came against the West Indies in 2017. He made 117 runs. That innings marked the advent of many more to come. Since then, Babar Azam centuries count has increased in limited-over matches.

    Babar Azam has stayed caught up in T20 cricket, either. He hit his first T20 hundred against Bangladesh in 2019, which is very useful for the side in T20 cricket. Babar Azam’s century count is 15 for the one-day international format and many for the T20. Every hundred tells a story of labor and determination. Often, it is Babar’s centuries that help Pakistan emerge victorious.

    Babar Azam

    Babar Azam’s Records

    Babar Azam is a current player with several records in international cricket. His very high batting average places him among the best players in the world. Babar’s consistency has earned him the top-most rankings in Batsman.

    Babar has also become the quickest cricketer to complete 1000 runs in T20 internationals. This proves his ability to use the shortest format of the game. Even his supporters and experts recognize that he is in charge of changing the course of history.

    Babar Azam Net Worth

    Babar Azam has made it big in Kuwat’s arena and on any game field. He has also gone off the field into the Zillionaire’s club. Babar Azam net worth is $4 million. His earnings come from cricket contracts, content contributors’ endowments, and sponsors.

    Babar, the Pakistani cricket team captain, receives quite a high salary. He is also a brand ambassador for several companies. So great is his popularity that he has become the hottest cake in the advertising industry.

    For his fans, searching for “Babar Azam pic” to view a photograph of their favorite sportsperson is common. Fans are attracted not only to his performance but also to his down-to-earth demeanor. You can find beautiful Babar Azam pic on social media platforms.

    Leadership Role

    The Pakistani team elected Babar Azam as captain in 2019. This was a challenging yet equally rewarding role. Under his guidance, the team performed well. Babar’s style of leadership is all about composure. He does not want people behind him; instead, he leads from the front and evolves their ideals into hard work.

    Impact on Young Players

    Many young cricket players in Pakistan and worldwide look up to Babar Azam. He has clarified that any dream can be realized with perseverance and hard work. Thus, he has many young supporters striving to walk in his path.

    Babar frequently shares suggestive ways to excel and grow networks with upcoming aspirant cricketers. He is not distant and offers wisdom whenever he gets a chance. The narrative inspires numerous people to take cricket more seriously.

  • Nine cops suspended for assaulting Karachi protesters

    Nine cops suspended for assaulting Karachi protesters

    Nine officials, including Eid Gah Station House Officer (SHO) Zaheer Ahmad, have been suspended on Monday after violent baton charges against peaceful protesters, journalists and civil society members at Karachi Press Club (KPC).

    A notification issued by Deputy Inspector General (DIG) South Syed Asad Raza stated that police officials were aggressive toward protestors upon which they were suspended, as proven by CCTV footage evidence, Geo News has reported.

    The notification further read, “They are also shifted to suspended men’s Coy: Headquarter Garden, South Zone Karachi, where they shall attend daily roll call/parade. They shall draw pay and allowances as admissible under the rules.”

    Police on Sunday confronted protesters for defying section 144 during a demonstration against the extra-judicial killing of blasphemy suspect Dr Shahnawaz Kunbhar and “extremism in Sindh.”

    As videos of Sindh police’s brutality against protestors surfaced on social media, big-wig politicians condemned the incident, including leaders from the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).

    Senator Sherry Rehman wrote on X (formerly Twitter), “I apologise on behalf of the party. Am told that TLP was advancing from the other side and the police were on hair trigger alert after the recent attacks on foreigners and the advise to not protest until SCO is over, but still, the situation could have been handled differently.”

    “We are a democratic party, and the rights of citizens have to be protected and respected even if they were in violation of today’s 144. I have spoken on the phone from Islamabad to many who were mistreated, and I apologised and appreciate their understanding. Because this is important. Many of us are sorry and shamed. Will inform the leadership as well,” Sherry Rehman further noted.

    PPP leader Shazia Atta Marri was disheartened by the incident that took place outside Karachi Press Club.

    She claimed on X (formerly Twitter), “Deeply hurt by Yesterday’s events. The images are haunting. The young girl could be any one of our daughters. Surely this was too high a price to pay for raising your voice for peace. Yes 144 was imposed & yes it’s is important to maintain order but this was no way to disperse ppl.”

    Bakhtawar Bhutto Zardari noted, “We all condemn & we are all disgusted and ashamed of the violent treatment against peaceful protesters. Home Minister has ensured probe & action will be taken against all those involved in such unprovoked, inexcusable & unjustifiable brutality.”

  • Here’s why The Legend of Maula Jatt left Babar Ali disappointed

    Here’s why The Legend of Maula Jatt left Babar Ali disappointed

    The Legend of Maula Jatt made a huge impact on the entertainment industry, turning into a money making blockbuster with over 600 crores minted at the box office. However, one of the film’s stars, Babar Ali, was disappointed over a powerful scene that was cut from the final version.

    During an appearance on After Hours, host Ushna Shah asked Babar, “You mentioned a dialogue that was cut, why was it cut out?”

    Babar Ali replied, “To make a long story short, he would say, ‘Remember one thing ‘Maulay Nu Maula Na Maray Te Maula Nahin Marda’.The way I was supposed to deliver that line was very loud, as blood was flowing through me and I was on my last breath. My wife had died, and my son was in danger with a thousand people attacking him. I was supposed to throw him away at that moment. The scene was supposed to be so intense that it was written in blood, and Maula Jatt has made 600 crores and risen above.”

    Babar still feel disappointed about missing that powerful scene that was cut from the final version.

    “Now, I feel very happy hearing that, that’s enough for me, however, there is still pain in my heart that the scene they had narrated should have been included. I think it’s a beautiful film, and the job done is commendable. I believe it should not have been cut from the audience’s perspective because you have a legendary film star delivering legendary lines. It should have been kept in, it was just crazy,” Ali added.

    Babar acknowledged Bilal Lashari’s skills, stating, “I always wanted to see how well that film was directed, and there’s no doubt about that. I’m not saying this because I’m a part of that film, it’s a source of pride for Pakistan. I think if that line had been delivered, it would have been a beautiful moment. The son carries the legacy of the father.”

    “For me, it was important to work with the director, and I told him not to cut that line,the director also acts very well, and when he says ‘action,’ I remember it. ‘If Maula does not die, then Maula does not die.’ That was supposed to be very loud; I delivered it at fifty percent of the intensity. Oh my God, at that moment, there was blood, arrows, and it was intense,” Babar added.

    The Legend of Maula Jatt, released on October 13 2022 in Pakistan.

    The film is written by Nasir Adeeb and directed by Bilal Lashari.