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  • PTI protest causes 240 million in damages

    PTI protest causes 240 million in damages

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) recent protests in the federal capital devastated 240 million rupees of private and public property.

    The Islamabad Inspector General’s office submitted a report to the Islamabad chief commissioner, which claimed that the federal capital’s 441 safe city cameras worth 140 million rupees were damaged, Geo News reported.

    One policeman was martyred, and 31 were injured, the report maintained.

    Chief Minister (CM) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Ali Amin Gandapur had led the protest that was staged in Islamabad in a disorganised manner.

    Ali Amin Gandapur did not show up at D-Chowk. He instead went to KP House Islamabad and then disappeared . Surprisingly, he reappeared in the provincial assembly after one day.

    Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday, while condemning the PTI’s recent protests, stated, “Such incidents are a replica of 2014-15 incidents when a sit-in was staged for months and was not called off despite the announcement of the Chinese president’s visit to Pakistan without bothering about its impact on the country’s image and national economy.”

    Addressing the federal cabinet, he further claimed, “We will not allow it to be repeated. We will not tolerate it at any rate, at any cost. This is my promise. I will not let it happen.”

  • ‘I think Humsafar was initially offered to me’: Shan Shahid

    ‘I think Humsafar was initially offered to me’: Shan Shahid

     
    Imagine Humsafar without Fawad Khan. Well, it turns out that the role of Ashar was initially offered to none other than Shaan Shahid. 
     
    Recently, Shaan appeared as a guest on Coffee with Samaa, hosted by Naeem Hanif and Bushra Khan.
     
     
    The host asked, “Have you ever thought about working on the small screen or doing a major serial role in the future?”
     
    Shaan Shahid replied, “All these channels make dramas… I think Humsafar was initially offered to me, but at that time, I was very busy. I couldn’t do it.”
     
    Talking about the character he said:
     
    “The role Fawad played. I didn’t take it because I had already worked with Fawad before in Khuda Ke Liye. At that time, I had just come into the industry, and there was a band called EP. He used to make shows like Jutt and Bond. Then I met Shoiab Mansoor sahib on the set. Anyway, I felt that there is still a lot to be done in this field. We have already divided ourselves. If we don’t unite our strength and start listening to each other, it will become difficult to understand one another.” Shahid added.
     
     
    The War actor also expressed his views on the importance of bringing Pakistani content to digital platforms.

    He stated, “I believe that right now, although there are many dramas being produced on television. I would definitely do a good play if something truly inspirational comes along. So far, I haven’t come across anything that inspires me to excel. In fact, I’m surprised that we still don’t have our own OTT platforms.”
     
     
    Shaan emphasized the need for better scripts that explore untold stories in our society, saying, “I think that right now, the scripts we need are those that can explore the hidden stories in our society. A war has many tales, there are love stories too. It’s all about searching and finding what’s hidden in a particular area.”
     

  • Bangladeshi senior player announces retirement from T20 cricket

    Bangladeshi senior player announces retirement from T20 cricket

    Mahmudullah, a senior player on the Bangladesh cricket team, has announced his retirement from T20 cricket, stating that the series against India will be his last, but he will continue to play in ODI cricket.

    In a press conference, Mahmudullah said, “I am retiring from T20 cricket after the last match of this series. I had made this decision before coming here. I also spoke to my family, coach, captain, chief selector and the president of the board. I think it is the right time to leave the format, especially with the World Cup coming up in less than two years. I will now focus on ODI cricket.”

    Mahmudullah retired from Test cricket three years ago. He has played 139 T20 matches for Bangladesh, and if he plays the last two matches of this series, he will become the third most-capped player in T20 with 141 matches.

    He mentioned changing his batting style during the 2016 T20 World Cup, which was held in India. “I batted at number six or number seven, so I changed my batting style and strategy. It was a finisher role for the team, which was a tough job. You can’t always finish the game,” he said. “

    The second T20 match of the series between India and Bangladesh will be played on October 9 in Delhi. India is leading the series 1-0, winning the first match by seven wickets.

  • YouTuber Ducky Bhai, wife Aroob Jatoi have been arrested

    YouTuber Ducky Bhai, wife Aroob Jatoi have been arrested

    Pakistani famous YouTuber Ducky Bhai (Saad Ur Rehman) and his wife Aroob Jatoi have been arrested for displaying weapons on social media.

    According to the details, Aroob posted pictures on her Instagram account displaying illegal weapons, after which police arrested the couple from Bahria Town. The famous social media couple has also been accused of promoting Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) slogans against the government.

    According to Samaa News, the couple blamed each other during the investigation. Aroob posted a picture on her Instagram and accused Ducky of being responsible.

    Ducky has over eight million subscribers on YouTube, while his daily viewership is in the millions.

    Earlier, police arrested TikToker Nadeem Mubarak, famously known as Nadeem Nani Wala, in Lahore for using a fake number plate, ‘IK 804’.

  • Are India’s matches in Champions Trophy shifting to Dubai? Report claims shocking details

    Are India’s matches in Champions Trophy shifting to Dubai? Report claims shocking details

    The Champions Trophy is scheduled to be played in Pakistan in February and March of 2025.

    Reports now claim that the matches of the Indian cricket team, including the final of the event, will be shifted from Lahore to Dubai in case of India qualify for the final.

    A total of three venues, including Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi, are scheduled to host 15 games for the mega event.

    UK publication ‘The Telegraph’ has reported that the International Cricket Council (ICC) is considering differnt venues for India’s matches, including the final of the trophy. The final could be shifted from Lahore to Dubai. The final is scheduled to be played in Gadafi Stadium in Lahore on March 9, 2025.

    Abu Dhabi and Sharjah are likely to host India’s matches if needed, The Telegraph has reported.

    Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has expressed confidence and said that the ICC Champions Trophy will be held in Pakistan, and all the teams, including traditional rivals India, will participate in the tournament.

    He said that all the work in the stadiums will be done before the matches, and if any work is left, it will be completed after the tournament. By February-March, the stadiums will definitely be in a much better shape than before to host the matches.

    On the other hand, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has not yet confirmed their participation in the champions trophy. BCCI’s vice president, Rajeev Shukla, said that they would visit Pakistan if the government allowed them. The last time India visited Pakistan was in 2008.

  • Global oil prices drop more than 3% as fears of supply disruptions ease

    Global oil prices drop more than 3% as fears of supply disruptions ease

    Global oil prices dropped more than 3 per cent as the surge driven by increasing geopolitical tensions paused, with the market anticipating a response from Israel against Iran.

    Tamas Varga, an analyst at oil broker PVM, remarked in a Tuesday report, “Oil can only continue to rise for so long based on perceptions rather than actual disruptions in supply.”

    Following Iran’s launch of approximately 180 ballistic missiles at Israel last week, oil prices had climbed nearly 13 per cent by Monday’s close, sparking concerns that Israel could retaliate by targeting Iran’s oil sector.

    President Joe Biden has openly advised Israel against targeting Iran’s oil infrastructure. According to officials speaking to The New York Times, Israel is anticipated to prioritise strikes on military and intelligence sites in Iran.

    Similarly, The Jerusalem Post has reported that Israel’s efforts will likely concentrate on these military and intelligence facilities.

    Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant is set to meet with US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin at the Pentagon on Wednesday to discuss ongoing security developments in the Middle East, as stated by press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder during a briefing on Monday.

  • Inside the government meeting with Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman

    Inside the government meeting with Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman

    A high-profile meeting took place yesterday at the President’s House in Islamabad between the government and Chief Jamiat-e-Ulema Islam Fazl (JUI-F) Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman, in which the proposed constitutional amendments were the focus.

    After the All Parties Conference (APC) held at the President’s house to show solidarity with Palestine, In a meeting with government officials, Chief JUI-F reportedly said that since the central leadership of his party was not present in the meeting, except for him and Senator Abdul Ghafoor Haidri, no decisions could be made.

    Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman claimed that his party had prepared an 80 per cent draft of the constitutional amendments and would soon hand it over to the government’s negotiated team.

    It was stressed that a draft with common proposed constitutional amendments would be preferred.

    The Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan People Party (PPP) negotiated team would again engage with the JUI-F team in the upcoming week.

    President Asif Ali Zardari and former Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif assured their support to Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman and praised his efforts in promoting democracy.

  • Exchange rates: PKR drops over two paisa against US dollar

    Exchange rates: PKR drops over two paisa against US dollar

    The Pakistani rupee (PKR), on second trading day of the week, dropped by 2.78 paisa against the US dollar (USD) in Tuesday’s interbank session to settle the trade at Rs277.67 against the greenback.

    Today’s closing takes PKR 0.01 per cent higher compared to Monday’s closing rate of Rs277.64.

    PKR, during the trading session, saw an intraday high of Rs277.80 and a low of Rs277.70 per dollar.

    Exchange companies were buying the American dollar for Rs278.3 and selling it at Rs279.69.

    It is worth mentioning that, in the current financial year, Pakistani currency has gained against the US dollar about 67.11 paisa or 0.24 per cent. The current calendar year has witnessed rupee rise by Rs4.19 or 1.51 per cent.

    Here’s a comparison of the closing rates for today and those from the previous session:

    Currency Change Today’s closing Previous rate
    Euro 72.47 paisa 305.20 304.48
    British Pound 40.78 paisa 363.48 363.89
    Swiss Franc Rs1.43 325.12 323.69
    Japanese Yen 0.8 paisa 1.8807 1.8727
    UAE Dirham 1.17 paisa 75.59 75.60
    Chinese Yuan 17.39 paisa 39.38 39.56
    Saudi Riyal 2.51 paisa 73.94 73.92
    Exchange rates for today

    As compared to other foreign currencies, PKR lost 72.47 paisa against the Euro, closing at Rs305.2 compared to the Monday’s rate of Rs304.48.

    The British Pound became cheaper by 40.78 paisa closing at Rs363.48 compared to Rs363.89 from a day ago.

    The Swiss franc saw a gain of Rs1.43, closing at Rs325.12 compared to 323.69 from the previous session.

    Against the Japanese Yen, PKR lost 0.8 paisa, closing at Rs1.8807.

    The UAE Dirham increased by 1.17 paisa from Rs75.6 a day ago to Rs75.59.

    The Chinese Yuan lost 17.39 paisa, closing at Rs39.38.

    Lastly, the Saudi Riyal closed at Rs73.94 with a gain of 2.51 paisa from its value of Rs73.92 a day ago.

  • Pakistani rice exports: A booming sector that needs government support

    Pakistani rice exports: A booming sector that needs government support

    Pakistani rice is serving a purpose far greater than tasting good in Biryani: it’s turning into a lifeline for the country’s economy, bringing in nearly $4 billion annually.

    In July and August alone, exporters managed to export a staggering 620,000 metric tons of rice. That’s a huge deal, especially considering they did it without enjoying government perks like minimum support prices or energy subsidies.

    What’s even more impressive is how Pakistani rice is standing out globally. Compared to its counterpart India, Pakistan had 74 alerts, while India had a staggering 264 alerts. The result is that Pakistan is building a reputation for quality rice, especially in Europe.

    And with production ramping up significantly in the past year, Pakistan has been able to beat India in price, too. As such, Pakistan now has a 25 per cent share of Europe’s rice market while India is behind with 17 per cent. However, India isn’t sitting quietly – they’ve come out firing by lifting bans on certain rice varieties to regain their market share.

    Rice exports could be the key to pulling Pakistan out of its economic troubles. At the close of FY 2023, Pakistan’s current account deficit was a worrying $3.275 billion.

    But the Minister of Commerce, Jam Kamal Khan’s new vision might change that.

    He wants to boost rice exports by $3 billion, which could nearly wipe out the deficit and inject much-needed dollars into the economy. Moreover, the minister expressed interest in educating farmers to improve the quality of rice harvests to reduce the chances of getting flagged with a health alert by foreign authorities.

    However, the catch is that to jump from $4 billion in exports to $7 billion, a 75% increase, Pakistan’s rice industry needs help. But what could be the solution here? The solution: Government subsidies to rice exporters.

    While exporters are doing well, they could meet the minister of commerce’s goal with the right support. Access to state-of-the-art rice milling machines and government-improved irrigation systems is necessary. Rice is a water intensive crop, and any disruption in water supply wipes out a year’s worth of yields.

    But even low-cost milling machines can cost small farmers around PKR 3 million – a price many can’t afford on their own.

    If Jam Kamal wants to take rice exports to the next level, the government needs to step in. Supporting farmers and exporters with subsidies could be the difference between a negative and positive balance of trade in the coming years.

    Is rice the new saviour of the economy? Time will tell.

  • ‘Who are we to judge someone else’s career choices’: Sadiq Saleem defends Fawad Khan

    ‘Who are we to judge someone else’s career choices’: Sadiq Saleem defends Fawad Khan

     
     Working across borders in South Asia always leads to heated debates. Despite his bonafide superstar status, Fawad Khan too is not immune to criticism on working in rival industries.
     
     
    Entertainment journalist Khaleej Time, Sadiq Saleem, defended Fawad Khan, who has faced criticism for taking on an international project.
     
     
     Saleem took to his Instagram account to support Fawad, emphasizing the bigger picture of artistic growth and global opportunities:

     “To everyone saying Fawad Khan chose an international project over Pakistan’s A-list offerings, maybe check in with your siblings working abroad. Who are we to judge someone else’s career choices? We preach about freedom and art having no boundaries, yet we complain when a major Indian banner decides to cast our star. Despite the risks, Fawad still holds major appeal in India, and the makers think that he is truly worth the risk. And let’s be real, what masterpieces have we produced lately?”
     
     
     Sadiq Saleem pointed out that while many have criticized the choice to work on Heeramandi under an Indian filmmaker, we must reflect on what our own industry has achieved over the years, “Actors can’t just sit around collecting dust. Forget him, if you were offered an international opportunity at work, wouldn’t you take it? Would you really think that if you left, your country would lose your taxes?”
     
     
    “You’d consider the bigger picture. And no one creates a ‘bigger picture’ better than YRF. Let our boy be and do his magic. We have Neelofar and Jo Bichad Gaye… if you’re craving his presence so much”, Saleem wrote.
     
    Fawad Khan is making a comeback in Bollywood projects, starring opposite Vaani Kapoor in a new film tilted ‘Abir Gulaal.’ The film is directed by Aarti S. Bagdi and produced by Indian Stories, A Richer Lens, and Aarjay Pictures.