Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan has misquoted Bengali poet Rabindranath Tagore — tweeting his words while crediting Lebanese-American writer and poet Khalil Gibran instead, journalist Gharidah Farooqi pointed out Wednesday.
“Those who discover and get to understand the wisdom of Gibran’s words, cited below, get to live a life of contentment [sic],” the premier had tweeted earlier in the day.
Those who discover and get to understand the wisdom of Gibran’s words, cited below, get to live a life of contentment. pic.twitter.com/BdmIdqGxeL
While the tweet was liked and retweeted by thousands of PM Imran’s follower, journalist Gharidah Farooqi pointed out what was wrong with it.
Retweeting, she wrote: “Sir, these are Rabindranath Tagore’s words, not Khalil Gibran’s. I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and saw that life was service. I acted and behold, service was joy.”
Sir, these are Rabindranath Tagore’s words, not Khalil Jibran’s.
I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and saw that life was service. I acted and behold, service was joy. https://t.co/OVIkBdxh9c
Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Sardar Usman Buzdar has beaten his predecessor Shehbaz Sharif in reforming the social sector, as an amount of Rs89.8 billion has been earmarked for the provincial education sector.
As per the details, presenting the provincial budget on Friday, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government enhanced the education budget, which under the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) rule stood at Rs52.35 billion.
In its last provincial budget for the fiscal year 2017-18, the outgoing PML-N government had allocated Rs52.35 billion for school education and Rs28 billion for providing basic facilities at government schools.
An amount of Rs6.03 billion had been fixed for the construction of new classrooms in Punjab schools.
According to the budget presented by the Buzdar administration, health stands second in the social sector with Rs47.5 billion. Water supply & sanitation will gain Rs22.4 billion, local governments Rs6.3 billion, social welfare Rs1 billion and women development Rs0.8 billion.
Meanwhile, Rs350 billion have been allocated for the Annual Development Programme (ADP) 2019-20, which stood at Rs635bn under the Shehbaz administration in 2017-18.
After months of struggle, parents have secured a win over private schools with their owners being barred from increasing fees by more than 5 per cent a year, a private media outlet reported.
According to reports, the Supreme Court (SC) delivered the verdict on Wednesday while hearing a case filed by owners of private schools. They had sought legal approval to increase fees by 15 per cent to 20 per cent every year.
Justice Ijazul Ahsan read out the reserved verdict.
The top court upheld the verdict of the Sindh High Court (SHC) and overturned the Lahore High Court (LHC) decision in favour of the private schools.
The schools have been ordered to return or adjust the extra amount they charged parents since the first ruling in the case.
The week has been pretty lit as far as Pakistani politics is concerned with three high-profile arrests, including those of former President Asif Ali Zardari, Altaf Hussain and Hamza Shehbaz, and the 2019-20 budget being presented.
Bakhtawar Bhutto-Zardari, who often expresses her political thoughts on Twitter, took to the social media to defend her father and in the process, got into a Twitter feud with State Minister for Climate Change Zartaj Gul, who is also no stranger to controversy.
It all started when Gul tweeted a picture of the arrested politicians crying, referring to Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan, who in his election campaign, had vowed to “make his opponents cry”.
Bakhtawar responded to Gul in a tweet she later deleted. But, Zartaj had already taken a screenshot. She shared the tweet, calling Bakhtawar “disoriented”, “timid” and a “coward” and referred to Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari as her “sister”.
Disorientated and timid Bakhtawar deleted her tweet after a smashing and humiliating response I gave! Cowards! pic.twitter.com/U36be9AcUF
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government on Tuesday announced its first federal budget for the fiscal year 2019-20, which received mixed reactions from people.
It was presented by Federal Minister for Revenue Hammad Azhar, who delivered his speech while opposition members protested against Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan and his government.
Amid all the confusion over the increase in prices of different products, which may follow the budget, here is a list of stuff The Current suggests you stock up on before an inflation bomb is dropped.
Rooh Afza
That was exactly our reaction. But, a new health tax has been proposed on sugary drinks, which will make it costlier to buy sharbat. It’s not just that though…
Soft Drinks
You heard that right. Those little soft drink breaks during summers will be costing you more now as the health tax will also be jacking up soda prices. The excise tax on soft drinks has been increased from 11.25 per cent to 13 per cent, which is not too much, but will ultimately affect you.
The good part? The money will reportedly be used to provide free medical treatment to people using Sehat Cards that offer treatment up to Rs720,000 from a private or government hospital.
Cooking Oil/Ghee
Branded cooking oil and ghee prices will also be rising as a 17 per cent sales tax will be imposed. You must be thinking that it doesn’t really affect you much, but you never know how it may or may not affect food prices.
The good news, however, remains no increase in General Sales Tax (GST) in case you’re planning to dine out.
Sugar
The price of sugar is expected to increase by Rs3.60/kg since the government is unhappy with the tax collection from the sector. The new budget recommends increasing sales tax on sugar from 8 per cent to 17 per cent.
We don’t endorse the next thing you need to stock up on, but let’s be honest, we know a lot of people who smoke.
Cigarettes
The budget has also recommended a federal excise duty of Rs5,200 on every 10,000 cigarettes be imposed, which means every pack of 20 cigarettes you buy will cost you at least Rs10 more.
Just so you know, tobacco consumption kills nearly 160,000 Pakistanis every year, and a lot of people are supporting the move.
Can’t figure out where to spend your summer break this year? Been to all the popular tourist spots? We have you covered. Take a break from your regular routine and plan a trip to one of these offbeat places in Pakistan:
Kumrat Valley
Naran, Kaghan aur Hunza toh sab hee jaatay hain garmion ki chution main. But if you truly want to enjoy natural beauty, Kumrat Valley is the place to go. This area is not as well known as the rest which means it is still untouched. The location is perfect for those who don’t like the rush. Visit this place before its natural beauty is replaced by architectural infrastructure.
Gorakh Hill Station
Also known as the ‘Murree of Sindh’, the Gorakh Hills are magical. The best part is that the holiday destination is relatively inexpensive. It’s best to go there with company, unless you’re a loner, as there is not much to do there except enjoy the sunset and sunrise and camp out in the open with a bonfire.
Astola Island
Everyone is familiar with the beauty of Pakistan’s northern areas, but a few have taken the time to discover the mesmerizing charm of the country’s coastal south. Clear blue water and white sandy beaches, what’s Maldives?
Kanhatti Gardens
Soon Valley is a breathtaking vista of natural beauty comprising of lakes and springs, lush green fields and gardens. Though many people visit Soon Valley, they often miss out the Kanhatti Gardens.
Kanhatti Garden’s name is derived from ‘Kanhat’, a special rock found at natural water spring. Visit the Soon Valley and Kanhatti Gardens this summer and enjoy eating fresh almonds, apricots and pineapples there.
Rama Meadows
If you ever happen to find yourself in surrounded by clear, ice-cold water flowing in streams, sheep and cows grazing in peace and pine trees all around, then you are probably in Rama Meadows. Rama is located on the foothills of Nanga Parbat and no picture can do justice to the beauty of the place.
Take a virtual tour of these places by watching the video below and then make your decision.
When it comes to cricket we all are united. 23 years after Junoon gave us Jazba Junoon, the trio is back with a new cricket anthem. While it doesn’t quite match up to the epicness that was Jazba Junoon, Choolay Aasman is also a brilliant melody and echoes Junoon’s signature style giving their die-hard fans a wonderful treat.
The song features people from different walks of life, including minorities, differently-abled persons and members of the transgender community, celebrating their love for cricket and, in a way, being closer to each other than ever. The song finishes with a young man covering up hateful drawings and transforming it into a beautifully painted wall which says “Laga do Chakka.”
Meanwhile, Coke’s official World Cup song is set to release next week.
The Cricket World Cup 2019 will be held from May 30 to July 14 in the United Kingdom.
The World Health Organisation has for the first time recognised “burn-out” as a medical condition in its International Classification of Diseases (ICD), which is widely used as a benchmark for diagnosis and health insurers.
The decision, reached during the World Health Assembly in Geneva, could help settle decades of debate among experts over how to define burnout, and whether it should be considered a medical condition.
In the latest update of its catalogue of diseases and injuries around the world, WHO defines burn-out as “a syndrome conceptualised as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed.”
It said the syndrome was characterised by three symptoms:
1) feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion
2) increased mental distance from one’s job or feelings of negativism or cynicism related to one’s job
3) reduced professional efficacy.
The classification further stated that the burn-out diagnosis is limited to work environments, and shouldn’t be applied to other life situations.
The updated ICD list, dubbed ICD-11, was drafted last year following recommendations from health experts around the world. It will take effect in January 2022 and contains several other additions, including classification of “compulsive sexual behaviour” as a mental disorder.
It also recognises video gaming as an addiction for the first time, listing it alongside gambling and drugs like cocaine.
Watch The Current‘s video on how to tell if you workplace is toxic:
Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s nephew and reporter of a private media outlet have escaped in Lahore a gun attack “by the goons of a minister of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)”.
As per the details, lawyer Hassaan Khan Niazi and journalist Rai Saqib Kharral were attacked in the Gullo Kot area of the provincial capital, where Darul Hikmat (DuH), a Christian education centre, has been illegally occupied by land mafia.
Today 4 fires were fired at me and the neo tv anchor @RaisaqibKharal – and Punjab human rights provisional minister and his son in law Nauraiz were behind the firing. They are involved in land grabbing of charity school land. @SHABAZGIL it’s shame that we(PTI) have such ministers
“At least four shots were fired at us as we reached the charity school to meet the person in charge,” Hassaan Khan told The Current, alleging that the attackers are related to a Punjab minister.
We have filed a complaint for registration of FIR in the nishter colony thana lahore and FIR has not been lodged. @Lahorepoliceops@ICT_Police is this the Naya Pakistan we were promised. You need act. No minister is above the law https://t.co/lOpiDhvyzd
“Norez, one of the people responsible for the attack, is a provincial minister’s son-in-law,” he said further.
CM TAKES NOTICE:
Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Usman Buzdar has taken notice of the incident and illegal occupation of the school.
According to a private media outlet, CM Inspection Team Chairman Malik Asad Khokhar has sought a report from the Lahore Capital City Police Officer (CCPO).
Breaking: CM Punjab takes notice of the qabza of charity school in yuhanabad by Nauraiz with help of PTI human rights minister. There can’t be two laws. Thank you CM Punjab And CM complaint Cell pic.twitter.com/9J2iCxgDJ9
Owned by the Darul Hikmat Trust, the community school was established in 1986 and houses hostels for both boys and girl, besides multiple lawns as well as a football ground.
Relative of PTI human rights minister directly involved in turning this trust property into housing scheme in Christian community area. His people fired 4 gun shots at us today. This used to football ground. No action taken. 1500 students used to study. Within 2 years 70 Left pic.twitter.com/PsN8CVQK3B
The administrative affairs of the institute are now being run by the minister’s relatives.
Meanwhile, several deserving students from nearby localities who were studying at the institution have started leaving the school amid the catastrophic situation that’s prevailing there.
No official version of the incident had been released by the time this report was filed.
We interviewed Speaker Punjab Assembly and we were surprised to find out his favorite food. He is 73 years old and looks super fit MashAllah. Here is the simple and easy recipe of his all time favorite food.
