Tag: Fawad Chaudhry

  • Pakistan to get its own version of Netflix

    Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry has announced that his ministry is all set to launch Pakistan’s first OTT (over-the-top) platform. An OTT media service is a streaming media service offered directly to viewers via the Internet. OTT bypasses cable, broadcast, and satellite television platforms, the companies that traditionally act as a controller or distributor of such content.

    In a tweet, the Minister said: “We at the Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST) are all set to launch Pakistan’s Version of Netflix,” adding that the technology part of the initiative is complete.

    Chaudhry further said that he has directed PEMRA to “prepare a guideline on content” following which the platform will be launched in PPP (public private partnership) mode.

    Speaking exclusively to The Current, Fawad said that his ministry will provide content creators with the technical support – such as compression technology – they need.

    As far as the content on the platform is concerned, the Minister said that PEMRA has been directed to classify content keeping in mind international standards.

    “Our aim is to put Pakistani content on the map and PEMRA has been asked to prepare guidelines keeping in mind the international market,” said Fawad, adding that with internet freedom, censorship is unlikely.

    He also said that content on the platform will be different from what we usually see on television.

    When asked what the payment process will be like given that the majority of Pakistani don’t have credit cards, Fawad said that the payment process will be simple and viewers will be able to pay through their mobile phones.

    A new streaming platform will open new doors for Pakistani filmmakers and content creators giving them creative space and liberty. According to a recent report, Netflix has over 180 million subscribers worldwide, but only 100,000 in Pakistan as most Pakistanis do not have credits cards to pay for the service. This is one of the primary reasons why Netflix has not attempted to commission original Pakistani content, besides “weak storytelling, flawed screenplays and scripts that don’t meet international standards”.

    India, on the other hand, has about 40 providers of OTT media services including Netflix, Amazon Prime and Disney Plus.

    Pakistan forayed into the digital world just recently with Churails, that was released on Indian streaming platform Zee5.

    Senior PTI leader Senator Faisal Javed Khan, who is also the Chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Information Broadcasting and Heritage, lauded Fawad for his initiative.

    Read more – Hamza Ali Abbasi cancels Netflix subscription over movie sexualising young girls

    Meanwhile, noted actors including Shaan Shahid, Humayun Saeed and Asad Siddiqui thanked the Minister for taking the initiative and introducing such platforms in Pakistan.

    “It’s time we make our presence in the entertainment arena of the world,” said Shaan, while Humayun said this will “open doors of opportunities for many many talented people and eventually help Pakistan reach a truly global audience.”

    However, Osman Khalid Butt remarked that PEMRA should not be allowed to prepare a content guideline for the platform.

  • ‘IG kidnapping’: Fawad mocks Bilawal for approaching Gen Bajwa instead of PM

    ‘IG kidnapping’: Fawad mocks Bilawal for approaching Gen Bajwa instead of PM

    Science and Technology Minister Fawad Chaudhry has criticised Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari for seeking the intervention of army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa over the alleged involvement of the Sindh Rangers in the “kidnapping” of the provincial police chief, Mushtaq Mahar.

    In a Geo News show with Shahzeb Khanzada, the federal minister said the PPP chief talks about civilian supremacy all the time, but instead of approaching the prime minister — the chief executive of the country — Bilawal approached the military chief with his reservations.

    The minister said the appeal to the army chief was in contrast to the views propagated by the PPP chief. “If you are such a champion of democracy, then you shouldn’t drag state institutions in politics,” Fawad said.

    When asked whether the federal government would help the provincial government in the matter, Fawad said it was an “internal matter” of the Sindh government, but the Centre would be more than willing to help if approached.

    Earlier,  Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari had requested Gen Bajwa take notice of the treatment meted out to the Sindh police chief by the Rangers. Bilawal said that every police officer in Sindh, from a station house officer to senior police officers, were wondering who had “surrounded IG Sindh Mushtaq Mahar’s office at 2am on Sunday night”. “Who were the two persons who went inside the IG’s house at 2am and where was our IG taken at 4am in the morning?” he asked.

    Subsequently, Gen Bajwa ordered a probe into the alleged abduction of IG Mahar. According to a statement shared by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Gen Bajwa has directed Karachi Corps commander to “immediately inquire into the circumstances to determine the facts and report back as soon as possible”.

  • VIDEO: ‘PTI should fear the day when Fawad Chaudhry writes a book’

    VIDEO: ‘PTI should fear the day when Fawad Chaudhry writes a book’

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) stalwart Rana Sanaullah has said that the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) should fear the day when the incumbent federal minister for science and technology, Fawad Chaudhry, writes a book.

    Speaking to a private media outlet, Sanaullah, who was appearing on the show with Fawad, was asked what he had to say about the explosive viral excerpts from Railways Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmad’s upcoming book.

    “These claims support our stance and these questions should be asked to people whose stances are being contradicted,” he said in response.

    Sanaullah maintained that most people state the truth while writing a book or try to do so because humans are mortal but books live on for hundreds of years even after the author’s demise.

    “So I think PTI should fear the day when Fawad Chaudhry writes a book. It would be more dangerous than this one.”

    WATCH VIDEO:

    Earlier, the railways minister had announced that he wrote a book during the coronavirus lockdown, which will be released on September 6.

  • Federal cabinet approves first-ever licence for cannabis use; seized drugs to no longer be destroyed

    Federal cabinet approves first-ever licence for cannabis use; seized drugs to no longer be destroyed

    In what has been termed a “landmark decision” by Federal Minister for Science & Technology Fawad Chaudhry, the federal cabinet has approved the first-ever licence for the Science & Tech Ministry and Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR) to use hemp — cannabis plant — for industrial and medical purposes.

    After the approval, confiscated drugs will no longer be destroyed and instead be used to make medicines, reports said.

    The development was confirmed by Fawad, who took to Twitter and wrote:

    The federal cabinet’s decision comes months after it was reported that Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan wanted the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) to stop burning charas [hashish form of cannabis] and other seized drugs, and instead set up a factory where they can be utilised to make medicines.

    In a video doing rounds over the internet in February, Narcotics Control Minister Shehryar Afridi could be heard as saying that his department was working to set up a factory on the premier’s orders. This factory would manufacture medicines solely from seized drugs, thousands of kilogrammes of which are set ablaze every year at a drug-burning ceremony held by the ANF.

    “We are setting up a factory… we burn a huge cache of heroin, charas and afeem [opium] every year, but other countries use them to make medicines. Now, on PM Imran Khan’s instructions, a factory will be established in Tirah [Valley] so that lives of locals can be improved,” he had said.

    According to research conducted by many reliable sources over the years, cannabis, marijuana or hashish has long been known to provide pain relief from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, nausea, and can also minimise some symptoms of glaucoma and Crohn’s disease.

    Similarly, a study at Hannover Medical School found that opiate addicts — usually people addicted to painkillers like Vicodin, Percocet, Oxycontin, or Demerol — were able to better kick their opiate addiction after taking small dosages of heroin.

  • Ruete Hilal Committee to be restructured, Mufti Muneeb likely to be replaced

    Ruete Hilal Committee to be restructured, Mufti Muneeb likely to be replaced

    The federal government has reportedly decided to restructure and empower the country’s premium moon-sighting body, the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee (RHC), by replacing its Chairman Mufti Muneebur Rehman and most of his peers.

    The RHC was established in 1974 under a resolution passed by the National Assembly (NA) but no rules and regulations for the functioning of the committee have been drafted to date.

    Reports by multiple media outlets quoted sources in the Ministry of Religious Affairs as saying that a summary has been prepared along with a new bill seeking to reconstitute the moon sighting body and its Terms of Reference (ToRs).

    The summary, along with the draft bill, has been sent to the Ministry of Law and Justice for further deliberations and legal opinions. Imprisonment of five years besides a fine of Rs50,000 to Rs200,000 has also been proposed in case of a parallel announcement in contradiction with the government committee.

    The draft mentioned that the incumbent chairman and members of the RHC would be replaced, while some existing and new religious scholars would be inducted in the committee.

    It may be noted that reshuffling in the committee is said to be occurring due to the differences in dates of moon-sighting following Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry’s criticism over old-fashioned and outdated moon-sighting techniques rather than relying upon the scientific technology.

  • Federal cabinet allows export of N-95, surgical masks

    Federal cabinet allows export of N-95, surgical masks

    The federal government has allowed the export of N-95 and surgical masks, said Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry.

    The federal minister tweeted to announce the development and said that these were the only last two items under the personal protective equipment (PPE) that was not allowed to be exported by the federal cabinet.

    “It would take a few days to get the notification out, but in the meantime please prepare to go full speed ahead &fulfill your orders,” said Abdul Razak Dawood.”

    Abdul Razak Dawood

    He further said that the federal government has done its part and exporters will benefit from the decision to capture a good share of the world market amid the COVID-19 crisis.

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  • KYA BOLA? (Aug 17): ‘Punjab chief minister k liye 300 se zaid umeedwaar’ to ‘Opposition ka flop drama’

    KYA BOLA? (Aug 17): ‘Punjab chief minister k liye 300 se zaid umeedwaar’ to ‘Opposition ka flop drama’

    Following are some snippets that stood out from Urdu newspapers on August 17, 2020, which The Current takes no responsibility for.

    ‘Punjab Chief Minister K Liye 300 Se Zaid Umeedwaar’

    Daily Jang has quoted Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry as saying, “Punjab mein tabdeali aayi tou phri poori assembly hi wazire aala ki umeedwaar hai.”

    His statement comes amid rumours that Punjab might soon get a new chief executive.

    ‘Ghulami Kya Hoti Hai’

    Prominent Journalist Hamid Mir, in his column for Daily Jang, has written, “Mein 2009 mein Gaza mein tha. Mujhe Falasteeni currency chaheye thi tou mein aik bank gya jahaan local currency jo mujhe mili woh Israeli Shekel. Mein hairaan reh gya k aik Falasteeni bank k paas Falasteeni currency nahi thi aur pehli bar ehsaas hua ghulami kya hoti hai.”

    ‘Opposition Ka Flop Drama’

    It was reported by Daily Jang that Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Usman Buzdar has said, ”Opposition jamaato ki jaanib se APC ka drama lagny se pehle he flop ho gya. Opposition rehnumao ne sirf zati mufaad k liye APC ka shosha chora.”

    CM Buzdar was referring to opposition parties’ plan of holding a joint moot to decide on the fate of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

  • VIDEO: ‘Fawad Chaudhry is jealous of my good looks,’ Federal Minister Ali Zaidi says

    VIDEO: ‘Fawad Chaudhry is jealous of my good looks,’ Federal Minister Ali Zaidi says

    Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Ali Haider Zaidi has taken a dig at his colleague, Federal Minister for Science & Technology Fawad Chaudhry, saying that the latter is jealous of his good looks.

    In an interview with The Current, Zaidi was asked if claims that he “is an expert on all ministries except his own” had any truth to them. “Fawad Chaudhry is really jealous of me. That’s why he says so,” the minister said in response, later cracking up while adding that his colleague was jealous of his good looks.

    While Fawad thought it was a “fun” interview, others, including senior journalist Hamid Mir, also reacted to Zaidi’s comment.

    Earlier, during the interview, Zaidi also spoke of the responsibilities of the Maritime Ministry, and the work that is being carried out under his supervision, such as the plans of introducing blue economy in Pakistan.

    Besides rebutting some claims made regarding him, the minister also gave a tour of his beautiful Islamabad office, shared his views on different political leaders and fellow Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) colleagues, took a look back at his cricketing career and cracked us up with his wit.

    WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW:

  • KYA BOLA? (Jul 30): ‘Sciencedaan Fawad Chaudhry’ to ‘Imran Khan k aglay 6 maah ki ahmeeyat’

    KYA BOLA? (Jul 30): ‘Sciencedaan Fawad Chaudhry’ to ‘Imran Khan k aglay 6 maah ki ahmeeyat’

    Following are some snippets that stood out from Urdu newspapers on July 30, 2020, which The Current takes no responsibility for.

    ‘Sciencedaan Fawad Chaudhry’

    It was reported by Daily Jang that Ruete Hilal [Moon-Sighting] Committee Chairman Mufti Muneebur Rehman has said, “Fawad Chaudhry ko calendar banaa kr denay walay humaray members hain. Hum 25 saal se Ruet chalaa rahay hain, Fawad Chaudhary kahaan se sciencedaan aa gaye?”

    The statement comes days after yet another war of words erupted between the cleric and the science and technology minister over moon-sighting, this time for the Islamic month of Zil Hajj.

    ‘Tania Aidrus aur Zafar Mirza’

    According to Daily Jang, Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry has said, “Wazire Azam shayad Zafar Mirza k kaam say mutmayin nahi thay. Dono isteefo’n ka dual nationality se koi taaluq nahi tha.”

    A day earlier, special assistant to the prime minister on health, Dr Zafar Mirza, and on digital Pakistan, Tania Aidrus, had announced having submitted their resignations, saying it was over criticism following the assets and dual nationality report of PM’s aides. Pundits had, however, hinted at possible trouble in Islamabad and said that there was more to the resignations.

    ‘Imran Khan k aglay 6 maah ki ahmeeyat’

    Senior journalist and analyst Hamid Mir, in his column for Daily Jang, has said,“Imran Khan ne 2 saal tou jaisay taisay mukamal kr liye lekin Eid k bad inka asal imtehaan shuru honay wala hai. Agly 6 maah in k liye aham hain aur buhat mushkil bhi… yeh 6 maah nikal gaye to Imran Khan k liye paanch saal mukammal krna asaan hojayega.”

  • KYA BOLA? (Jul 22): ‘Noon League pr aitebaar nahi’ to ‘Baadal mein chaand nahi’

    KYA BOLA? (Jul 22): ‘Noon League pr aitebaar nahi’ to ‘Baadal mein chaand nahi’

    Following are some snippets that stood out from Urdu newspapers on July 22, 2020, which The Current takes no responsibility for.

    ‘Noon League pr aitebaar nahi’

    It was reported by Daily Jang senior leader of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Aitzaz Ahsan has said, “Noon League pr aitebaar nahi, apni party ko bhi raaye doonga k in se bach kr rahein.”

    The statement comes at a time when the two largest opposition parties, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and PPP, are in talks to work out a strategy and take entire opposition on board to get rid of the current government.

    ‘Lagta hai NDMA khatam krna parrayga‘

    According to Daily Jang, Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Gulzar Ahmed, while hearing the coronavirus suo motu case, has said,“NDMA arbon rupay kaisay kharch kr raha hai? Lagta hai idaara khatam karna paray ga.”

    The Supreme Court (SC) was criticising the National Disaster Management Authority’s (NDMA) failure to ensure transparency in expenditures pertaining to the coronavirus pandemic and locust control.

    ‘Baadal aur chaand’

    It has been reported by Daily Dunya that Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad chaudhary has said, “Baadal hain tou chaand kaisay nazar aaye ga? Ruet App pr dekhein, chaand nazar ayega.”

    His statement came as the tussle between the Science & Tech Ministry and the Ruete Hilal Committee, which is now witnessed at least twice every year over moon-sighting methods, began on Tuesday. Zilhaj moon was not sighted and Eidul Azha is to be celebrated on August 1 in Pakistan.