Tag: home-life

  • Organisers modify speakers for upcoming panel on feminism after backlash

    Organisers modify speakers for upcoming panel on feminism after backlash

    Following the immense backlash on social media, The Arts Council of Pakistan has modified their upcoming panel on feminism and have added three women to it.

    According to an updated shared by Chairperson Electronic Media and Aesthetic Committee Uzma Alkarim, the panel of speakers now includes two women: senior journalist Quatrina Hosain and senior politician Mehtab Akbar Rashidi. Meanwhile the title of the talk has also been changed to Understanding Feminism. Meanwhile, Uzma, another female, will act as moderator. Filmmaker Nabeel Qureshi (Actor-in-Law, Load Wedding) has been removed from the speaker’s list.

    On Monday, a poster for a panel discussion hosted by The Arts Council of Pakistan started circulating on social media. The panel discussion titled Feminism: The Other Perspective featured five speakers and interestingly they were all men. The men on the panel included Duraid Qureshi, Jibran Nasir, Mohsin Sayeed, Muaaz Ahsan and Nabeel Qureshi.

    Needless to say the panel given the topic of conversation received immense backlash from the public who took to express their frustration on Twitter.

    Jibran Nasir was first to respond to the controversy.

    Uzma had also issued a statement and explanation on the matter.

  • Govt contemplating ban on WhatsApp, social media in government offices

    The federal government is reportedly contemplating imposing a complete ban on the use of social media by government servants during work hours.

    According to reports in the local media, this suggestion was put forth by the National Information Technology Board (NITB) officials during a meeting of National Assembly (NA) standing committee on Information and Technology.

    Reports stated that not only would the use of social media applications or pages including Facebook and Whatsapp be banned during the office timings but officials would also be barred from bringing storage devices-USBs- to the offices. This recommendation was put forth to address concerns related to data theft. Recently, a spate of leaked notifications from government offices has sparked anger in power circles.

    It has even led to the circulation of fake notifications on social media to discredit a particular governmental agency or official. The technology board has urged the government to act against this threat.

    The committee was informed that a new local social network, modeled on WhatsApp, would be introduced into government offices to streamline communications.

    E-offices will be established at every ministry, which will be interconnected.

    “Any official information would be shared on the server after prior approval of the federal authorities.”

    Moreso, it was recommended that government employees be barred from indulging in any part-time businesses.

    Meanwhile, the board also advised that a separate authority be set up to combat the spread of fake news across the country.

  • Google Maps get an Indian arrested in Pakistan

    Google Maps get an Indian arrested in Pakistan

    Two Indian nationals were arrested by the Pakistani police for illegally entering the country last week.

    Prashant Maidam, a software engineer from Hyderabad, and Durmi Lal, a farmer from Madhya Pradesh, were arrested in the Cholistan desert area in Bahawalpur on November 14th as per an FIR.

    The Bahawalpur police registered an FIR against them under the Pakistan (Control of Entry) Act.

    They had crossed the border without any identification papers and proper documents, such as a valid visa and passport, police sources told The Hindu.

    Police sources said Prashant told them that he was in love with a woman in Turkey and was going there through Pakistan and Afghanistan. Prashant was reportedly on foot and following Google Maps route.

    Bahawalpur Judicial Magistrate Yazman asked the local police to travel to Multan and hand over the two Indians to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA). Bahawalpur police sources said that the two Indian nationals were thoroughly investigated and were sent back from Multan as the FIA doesn’t think this case falls under its jurisdiction.

    The two are now back in the custody of the Bahawalpur police.

    “Prashant is lucky he was arrested here. We don’t know what would have happened if he had gone to Afghanistan via Pakistan,” said one police officer.

    Police sources said the two will most likely be repatriated after due process is followed. The Indian High Commission will have to get in touch with the police and initiate the process of repatriation.

  • Karachi’s new picnic spot offers a lot in one place

    Karachiites have another beautiful spot for a picnic that has a waterfall and a lake and also offers boating. The Safari Park administration opened the newly built ‘Kashmir Point’ to provide a pleasant atmosphere to visitors.

    As per reports, KMC authorities had planned to set up a
    particularly beautiful, pleasant and calm spot at a hilly site of the park. A 200-feet waterfall is created from which the water flows down
    into a lake spanning 4 acres. It also offers a boating facility to visitors.

    “We have upgraded the lake at all points and built beautiful
    fences around it,” the Safari Park director said.

    Flying birds in the park make the scene quite attractive. People can visit the point and the boating costs for Rs100. The
    boating facility is available from 11 am to 9 pm with proper lighting in the
    evenings.

    Karachi Mayor Wasim Akhtar inaugurated the Kashmir Point on
    Sunday. He urged the people to visit the place as it’s a good initiative and a
    great addition to the recreational park in the city.

  • Man murders neighbours for using his WiFi

    Man murders neighbours for using his WiFi

    Harris, a student at the University of Karachi, and his father were shot dead by their neighbour for using his wifi without his permission.

    According to reports, the suspect identified as Qasim is currently in police custody. He was arrested by the police after a raid was conducted in the Shah Latif area of Karachi.

    Speaking to the media, SSP Malir revealed that “investigation with accused is underway.”

    The victims Farooq and his younger son, Haris were threatened by Qasim over alleged theft of his WiFi password and internet service.

    Relatives of the deceased said that a case was registered against Qasim for giving life threats to Adnan who is another son of Farooq and brother of the murdered Haris. After the case was registered, Qasim had gone into hiding.

  • In Pictures: Animals walk the ramp at Rajan festival

    In Pictures: Animals walk the ramp at Rajan festival

    Horses and camels dancing on the music were the most interesting part of an animal festival in Rajanpur. 

    People from across the country took their animals to the festival and showed them off. Camels, sheep, horses, cows, buffaloes were seen walking the ramp with their owners as the crowd clapped and hooted for them cheerfully. It was a three-day festival that ended on Saturday.

    Communications Director Dr. Asif said
    that such festivals are an opportunity for people to show different breeds of
    domestic animals.

    While the owners said that they look forward to attending the festival and meeting up with people who love animals as much as them.

  • Common lipstick mistakes to avoid

    Common lipstick mistakes to avoid

    No matter how low-key you are, lipstick is one product that almost every girl carries in her handbag. A lot of us think that applying lipstick is easy but…it’s NOT! Many of us make these five common mistakes. Read on to find out what they are and how to avoid them.

    Hello, chapped lips

    Applying lipstick on chapped lips make your lip colour look patchy and it gives an uneven finish. Keep yourself hydrated and always use a lip balm or oil to keep your lips smooth.

    We recommend CoNatural’s lip balms for chapped lips. They have three different flavours: lavender, peppermint and sweet orange. They are also easy on the pocket.

    Exfoliate your lips

    Don’t forget to exfoliate your regularly. It is as important as using face scrubs. A good lip scrub will get rid of dead skin on your lips.

    We recommend Scoop O Scrub’s lip scrubs. We love ‘Very Very Strawberry’ lip scrub but they have other flavours as well. They are not that expensive either.

    You
    are wearing the wrong shade

    A lipstick shade is as important as your foundation. Your lip colour should suit your skin tone as a wrong shade will spoil your look.

    Too
    much lipstick

    Do not apply too much lipstick. If you do, it will not just smear on glasses or clothes but even your teeth will have lipstick all over them. Blot lipstick with a tissue paper after applying it.

    Remove
    lipstick

    Properly remove your lipstick before going to bed. It is as important as brushing your teeth and removing makeup from your face. If you don’t remove it properly, it will make your lips rough and dry.

  • Daachi Exhibition: The Current’s top picks

    Daachi Exhibition: The Current’s top picks

    The Daachi Exhibition is being held in Lahore this weekend at the Model Town Community Centre. The exhibition showcases arts and crafts from across Pakistan “aimed to empower our local talent and reinvigorate our love for our country and culture.”

    Exhibition timings are 10 am-8 pm and the entry ticket is Rs 250 per person.

    Here are a few other things to keep in mind also:

    The Current attended the ongoing exhibition and here are our top picks:

    Indoor plants from Grey Scale Pk – Rs 5000

    The pots were brilliantly creative.

    Colourful trays by Custom Creation – Rs 4500/-

    Love these beautiful and intricately designed trays.

    Cartoon Embroidered Clothes by Sassy Sews

    Something for the kids – so funky.

  • Pakistan’s air traffic controller saves Indian flight from major disaster

    Pakistan’s air traffic controller saves Indian flight from major disaster

    An air traffic controller from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) in Pakistan on Thursday saved a plane flying from the Jaipur, India to Muscat in Oman by guiding it during an emergency.

    According to the details, the air plane, carrying 150 passengers, was flying over the Karachi region when it was caught in the middle of a weather pattern with lots of lightning that could have resulted in a major tragedy.

    Following the lightning strikes, the plane dropped down from
    an altitude of 36,000 feet to 34,000 feet almost immediately and the pilot
    initiated emergency protocol and broadcast ‘Mayday’ to nearby stations.

    The air traffic controller from Pakistan responded to the
    call of the captain of the Indian plane and directed it through the dense air
    traffic in the vicinity for the remainder of the journey in Pakistani airspace.

    Sources in the aviation authority have said that the
    aircraft had encountered abnormal weather conditions near the Chor area of the
    southern province of Sindh, Pakistan.

    It is pertinent to mention that at least 18 people were
    killed earlier in freak accidents as lightning struck various parts of Sindh.

    Islamabad has, for more than a month, restricted access of Pakistani airspace to Indian planes as its protest to the curfew in held Kashmir. Recent requests by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to travel over Pakistani airspace have been rejected twice.

  • PM Imran’s weekend break: what should he be doing?

    PM Imran’s weekend break: what should he be doing?

    Prime Minister Imran Khan has decided to take a mini-break for the first time since he assumed office.

    According to reports, the PM has suspended his official and party engagements for two days, (Saturday and Sunday) and will be spending the weekend with his family members at his Bani Gala residence in Islamabad.

    The PM will take a break from his work and no government official or party members will meet the premier, neither will he chair any meeting this weekend. PM Imran often chairs Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) meetings at his Bani Gala residence on the weekends as well as receives the party leaders and government officials there.

    Considering that PM Imran is taking the weekend off, here are five things The Current recommends he does to make the most of his time off:

    1. Sleep – Is a weekend off really a weekend off unless you sleep at least 16 hours?
    2. Skype with his sons who are in London
    3. Catch up on Pakistani dramas – He must binge-watch Meray Paas Tum Ho and Alif, which starres his fav actor Hamza Ali Abbasi. After all they are creating quite a stir.
    4. Eat – We’ve heard that the PM is quite fond of haleem. The cooks in Banigala should get going on making his fav dish.
    5. Reading – What better way to spend the weekend morning soaking up the winter sun and reading That Will Never Work by Marc Randolph.