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  • No more advantage points for Hafiz-e-Quran in medical admissions

    No more advantage points for Hafiz-e-Quran in medical admissions

    As per the new policy, Hafiz-e-Quran candidates applying to medical colleges will no longer be given additional marks in their application process.

    Concurring with Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC), Punjab Health Department confirmed that the policy has been revoked.

    According to the previous policy, Hafiz-e-Quran candidates were given an addition of 20 marks in merit calculation during the admissions process

    The marks remained a part of the admission procedure till it came to Supreme Court’s notice in April under a six-member bench, led by Justice Ijazul Ahsan.

    The PMDC’s lawyer, Afnan Kundi, stated during the proceedings that the policy had already been revoked.

    With no conflict over the matter raised, Justice Ijazul Ahsan closed the suo motu case.

    Eliminating advantage points is considered to be a fair move in creating an equal opportunity and chances for candidates to qualify through a merit-based system.

  • Hassan Ali’s close relative is eagerly waiting for Pak-India match

    Hassan Ali’s close relative is eagerly waiting for Pak-India match

    Ahead of the ICC World Cup, Liaqat Khan, father-in-law of national fast bowler Hasan Ali, is eager for the Pakistan-India match in Ahmedabad.

    Hasan Ali’s father-in-law Liaqat Khan is looking forward to meeting his granddaughter at the match. Liaqat Khan is eagerly waiting for the match to hold his granddaughter for the first time.

    He belongs to Noh District of Haryana, a retired Block Development Officer. Hasan Ali and Samea Khan got married in Dubai in 2019 but Samea has not gone to India till now.

    In a conversation with Indian media, Liaqat Khan said, “My wife went to Pakistan in 2021 on the occasion of the birth of my granddaughter, we hope that we will all meet in Ahmedabad. I can’t wait to hold my granddaughter.”

    He further said that he did not doubt his daughter’s decision to marry Hasan Ali. “I told my daughter that if you are happy then it does not matter who you are marrying,” he commented.

    Read More: Pakistan team’s menu in Hyderabad is fit for a king

    Liaqat Khan said that there is no day when he does not pray for good relations between Pakistan and India. “I pray to Allah that the relations between the two countries improve and we can live in peace as brothers,” he said.

  • ‘I’m not bothered’: Bipasha Basu responds to body shamers on post-pregnancy weight gain

    ‘I’m not bothered’: Bipasha Basu responds to body shamers on post-pregnancy weight gain

    Bipasha being the diva she is will continue to remain unbothered by nay-sayers trying to dim her light.

    The 2000’s IT girl and her husband Karan Singh Groven recently announced they became parents for the first time to a baby girl. But ever since the actress made public appearances after the birth of her child, she was ruthlessly criticised by social media trolls due to the weight gained.

    Now in an interview with News 18, the ‘Jism’ actress had responded to the bullying with a smirk: “I would like to tell them to please keep trolling. It’s completely fine because I’m not bothered.” Her husband Karan chimed in saying: “As long as they’re watching us, it is okay.”

    Bipasha’s daughter Devi, was born through an IVF procedure, and the actress gave a heart tugging revelation three days later that her daughter was born with three holes in her heart. She spoke about how her priorities had completely changed after her daughter’s birth, and was only concerned with Devi’s health:

    “Devi’s my number one when it comes to everything and anything. Whether my eyes are open or shut, it’s always her. Every time I step out, I just want to run back home and be with her. Everything in my life now revolves around her… Karan is number three, I’m number two and Devi is number one. As for Karan, not much has changed. Prod him further and he jokes, ‘I’m a slave who used to have one master. Now I’ve two masters and I’m still a slave.’ So, nothing much has changed for me.”

    Speaking about her experience of motherhood, the ‘Race’ actress acknowledged that her journey was different from any other normal parent, and said in sharing her experience she hoped other women out there stop shaming themselves to think they’re bad mothers:

    “Our journey has been very different from any normal mother-father, it has been a lot tougher than the smile that I have on my face right now. I would not wish this to happen to any mother. For a new mother, when you get to know that… I got to know on the third day of my having a baby that our baby is born with two holes in her heart. I thought I’ll not share this, but I’m sharing this because I feel that there are a lot of mothers, who helped me in this journey, and it was very difficult to find those mothers…”

  • ‘The story starts here’; American MMA fighter converts to Islam

    ‘The story starts here’; American MMA fighter converts to Islam

    An American MMA fighter, Amber Leibrock, has converted to Islam, believing it has made her life better.

    35-year-old Leibrock is a renowned MMA fighter who competes in the Featherweight division in Professional Fighters League (PFL) and has bagged many victories during her career.

    Her personal life, however, has been rocky.

    In an Instagram post, Leibrock wrote, “This year so far has been life changing. The last two months have been even more life changing. There’s been ups and downs but at the end of the day I know I’m exactly where I’m suppose to be. As much as I wanted things to go differently you’ll never here me say “Im not blessed.” Because im beyond blessed. The good, the bad, doesn’t matter “I’m blessed.”
    I’ve shared this year, these experience and memories with the ppl I love most and those are things that no one can ever take from me. The story starts here! ✨  “Alhamdulillah

  • CJP Isa hints at winding up ‘Practice and Procedure’ Act case today

    CJP Isa hints at winding up ‘Practice and Procedure’ Act case today

    A full court bench comprising 14 judges headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa has resumed hearing  petitions challenging the SC (Practice and Procedure) Act on Tuesday.

    State-run PTV is live-streaming the court’s proceedings.

    The full court bench includes CJP Isa, Justice Sardar Tariq Masood, Justice Ijaz Ul Ahsan, Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, Justice Munib Akhtar, Justice Yahya Afridi, Justice Aminuddin Khan, Justice Sayyed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi, Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhel, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, Justice Ayesha A. Malik, Justice Athar Minallah, Justice Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi, Justice Shahid Waheed, and Justice Musarrat Hilali.

    At the previous court hearing, the full panel of judges in the apex court had requested responses from all involved parties by September 25th.

    At the beginning of the hearing, Faez Isa said that the court will try to wind up hearings on the case today (Tuesday).

    There are many cases already pending in the court, CJP added.

    CJP Isa also directed the petitioner’s lawyer to end his arguments in 10 minutes.

    The CJP stated that this legislation does not diminish the authority of the chief justice; instead, it distributes these powers among the judges.

    He commented that this law will have a specific impact on the chief justice and the two most senior judges.

    “When martial law is imposed, everyone surrenders their weapons. There are many pictures [of judges] in this room who forgot their oath after the imposition of martial law,” CJP Isa remarked after the lawyer read out the judges oath in the court.

  • Sheikhupura woman beaten by father-in-law for serving food late

    Sheikhupura woman beaten by father-in-law for serving food late

    A video has been making rounds on X (formerly Twitter) in which an old man can be seen beating his daughter-in-law while three children try to protect her. It is being claimed that the daughter-in-law delayed serving food to the man, resulting in the beating.

    The incident happened in Sheikhupura. In the video, the man can be seen hitting the woman with an item resembling a wooden rolling pin and then he proceeds to pull her arm and kick her in the face as she struggles to protect herself. All the while, three little children can be seen defending the daughter-in-law (we do not have the confirmation if they are her children or not).

    After the video got attention, Sheikhupura police replied to the post, stating that an FIR has been registered against the man seen in the video and that a police team is conducting raids to arrest him.

    Additionally, as per claims, the police got in touch with the daughter-in-law who was brutally beaten.

    “Justice will be served”, the police replied.

    However, later, in a video message posted on X, the daughter-in-law addresses the incident stating, “I misbehaved which is why he hit me”, adding that it is a personal, domestic matter which has now been resolved and that she does not intend to take any action against her father-in-law.

  • PCB appoints first woman as Media and Communication Director

    PCB appoints first woman as Media and Communication Director

    The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has on Monday appointed senior journalist Aalia Rasheed as Director of Mass and Communication. Aalia became the first woman to hold the position.

    She has 35 years of experience in sports journalism which brings a wealth of expertise and experience for her new role. Her extensive knowledge in sports journalism and remarkable track record is a valuable addition to PCB’s leadership team.

    She was a prominent Cricket analyst in Geo News before being appointed to PCB.

    Read More: Ashwin can not forget Shahid Afridi’s two sixes in Asia Cup 2014

  • Geniuses behind mRNA covid vaccines to receive Nobel Prize

    Geniuses behind mRNA covid vaccines to receive Nobel Prize

    Katalin Kariko from Hungary and American-born Drew Weissman have won the 2023 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their research that paved the way for the first mRNA vaccines against COVID-19, made by Pfizer and Moderna.

    The Nobel Prize committee announced the winners in Sweden on Monday.

    “The laureates contributed to the unprecedented rate of vaccine development during one of the greatest threats to human health in modern times,” the jury said in Sweden’s capital Stockholm on Monday.

    Professor at Sagan’s University in Hungary and an adjunct professor at the University of Pennsylvania, Katalin Kariko researched mRNA along with Drew Weissman at the University of Pennsylvania.

    Their prize will include a diploma, a gold medal and a $1 million cheque on December 10 in Stockholm. That day will also mark the death anniversary of Alfred Nobel, the scientist who created the prize in his last will and testament.

  • Karachi currency mafia suspected of hiding over $50 million in homes

    Karachi currency mafia suspected of hiding over $50 million in homes

    Amidst the ongoing nationwide efforts to combat currency smuggling, primarily involving US dollars, reliable sources have disclosed that over $50 million has been discreetly stored away by a network associated with illicit currency dealings in homes scattered across Karachi.

    These credible sources indicate that security agencies have meticulously compiled records from various banks and currency exchange establishments. They have meticulously assembled a comprehensive inventory of individuals engaged in the buying and selling of US dollars and other foreign currencies.

    It has come to light that individuals of considerable influence who acquired US dollars as a form of “investment” have yet to settle debts totaling more than $50 million.

    The individuals affiliated with this illicit currency network are predominantly situated in Karachi’s older districts, including Lyari, Kharadar, Mithadar, Clifton, Saddar, Bath Island, and DHA neighbourhoods.

    The authorities have already initiated targeted operations to search the residences of those involved in amassing substantial amounts of money, according to these sources.

    According to Geo News, these revelations follow a statement earlier in the day by Caretaker Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti, who reiterated the government’s unwavering commitment to combating dollar and currency smuggling. He noted that 168 first-information reports (FIRs) had been filed against individuals involved in the unlawful trade of dollars.

    Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, Bugti asserted that the state will take firm action against hawala, hundi, and other illicit activities.

    It is important to note that the caretaker government granted authority to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) last month to combat the smuggling of sugar and US dollars within the country.

    Subsequent to this government approval, the agency has been empowered to take necessary actions at all entry and exit points related to foreign currencies.

    As a result of the ongoing nationwide crackdown against hoarding and smuggling of foreign currencies, the value of the US dollar has depreciated by more than Rs18.

  • Pakistan’s imports drop sharply, leading to 42% reduction in trade deficit

    Pakistan’s imports drop sharply, leading to 42% reduction in trade deficit

    Pakistan’s trade deficit for the first three months of the fiscal year 2023–24 has notably contracted by 42.25 per cent to reach $5.29 billion. This remarkable reduction is primarily attributed to a significant decrease in imports, a direct consequence of carefully administered measures.

    Data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) reveals that the trade balance, which represents the difference between exports and imports, stood at a deficit of $5.29 billion for the period spanning July to September 2023–24. This is in stark contrast to the $9.16 billion deficit recorded during the same period in the preceding year.

    Both exports and imports experienced declines in this timeframe, with imports showing a more substantial decrease compared to exports, effectively narrowing the trade deficit. During these three months of 2023–24, Pakistan’s exports contracted by 3.8 per cent to $6.9 billion, despite facing significant currency depreciation when compared to the corresponding period in the previous year.

    Conversely, imports registered a notable decline of 25.4 per cent, totaling $12.19 billion in the July–September period, down from the $16.33 billion recorded in the same period of the previous fiscal year.

    For a more granular view, the PBS reported that in September 2023, Pakistan’s trade deficit further shrank by nearly 48 per cent to $1.489 billion, compared to $2.856 billion during the same month in the previous year. 

    Exports experienced a slight improvement of 1.1 per cent, reaching $2.47 billion in September 2023 compared to $2.44 billion in the same month the previous year, while imports significantly decreased by 25.5 per cent to $3.95 billion from $5.29 billion in the corresponding month last year.

    From a monthly perspective, the trade deficit contracted by 31.5 per cent compared to August 2023, with exports increasing by 4.2 per cent to $2.47 billion in September from $2.37 billion in the preceding month of August. Simultaneously, imports decreased by 12.9 per cent, amounting to $3.95 billion from $4.53 billion in the last month.