Tag: Pakistan

  • Maulana urges PTI to revamp anti-government campaign

    Maulana urges PTI to revamp anti-government campaign

    Jamiat Ulma-e-Islam – Fazal (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has said that he will join the opposition alliance only when the fresh movement against the government starts on a new platform. The development came during a consultative meeting between Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders and JUI-F members on Wednesday.

    As per the report of The Express Tribune, Maulana demanded support from the PTI, specifically from its founding chairman and former prime minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan, for his party.

    The JUI-F chief also demanded from PTI during Wednesday’s meeting that PTI form a committee with the authority to negotiate for the protest movement.

    Maulana has also asked the PTI delegation to discuss the “authorised” committee with Imran Khan and present the names of the committee members.

    However, a PTI insider told The Express Tribune that the party delegation will meet Maulana Fazlur Rehman again next week to discuss further about re-launching the protest movement against the government.

  • Governor Punjab urges provincial government to review defamation bill 2024  

    Governor Punjab urges provincial government to review defamation bill 2024  

    Punjab Governor Sardar Salim Khan has called on the provincial government on Thursday to review the controversial Defamation Bill 2024 that the Punjab Assembly approved recently.

    While talking on the Geo News programme Capital Talk, the Governor said that the recently approved bill is not the final word and the provincial government needs to reconsider it.

    He also urged the Punjab government to remove objectionable clauses from the bill.

    Khan stated that he is ready to sit with all stakeholders to solve the issues regarding the bill, as it has sparked a storm in the entire country.

    On Monday, the Punjab Assembly passed the Punjab Defamation Bill 2024 amid a strong and noisy protest by the opposition after it was tabled by Punjab’s Finance and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mujtaba Mian Shuja-ur-Rehman despite media bodies’ requests to defer the legislation.

    As per the constitution, the governor can send this bill back to the Punjab Assembly for reconsideration, and if the provincial government approves it again, it becomes law after a specific period of time, even if the governor doesn’t approve it.

  • UAE allocates $10 billion to expand investment in Pakistan

    UAE allocates $10 billion to expand investment in Pakistan

    The Prime Minister’s office announced on Thursday that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has allocated $10 billion to expand investment in Pakistan as the financially challenged country seeks foreign aid to maintain economic stability.

    The development came after yesterday’s meeting between UAE president Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and PM Shehbaz Sharif in Abu Dhabi, during the Pakistani Premier’s day-long visit to the UAE.

    The decision has been taken “to strengthen the Pakistani economy, support it, and enhance cooperation between the two countries”, UAE’s WAM news agency reported.

    In a statement, the government said: “President of the UAE, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, made a commitment of investing US $10 billion in multiple sectors in Pakistan.”

    The government led by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) is actively seeking investment from brotherly countries to deal with inflation and enhance the country’s financial stability.

  • ‘I refused anti-state roles’; Sajid Hasan on Bollywood offers

    ‘I refused anti-state roles’; Sajid Hasan on Bollywood offers

    Veteran actor Sajid Hasan was invited as a guest on Ahmed Ali Butt’s podcast ‘Excuse Me’.

    During the recording, Sajid discussed his relationship with Sahira and Rahat Kazmi on the ground-breaking series ‘Dhoop Kinare’, which was a major turning point in his career.

    He also discussed declining parts that would have encouraged an anti-Indian attitude.
    Speaking about the reasons behind his dislike of actors portraying anti-state roles, he said, “I’m disappointed with Tiger 3, which I’m currently watching, as it contains harmful stereotypes and biased content against Pakistan. I strongly dislike this approach and believe it’s unfair to actors. Even when I was new to the industry and faced pressure to play such roles, I’ve always rejected them. I believe our relationships with people from other countries should be respectful and positive, even if we disagree with their views. Moreover, I urge Pakistanis to appreciate the freedom we have, which was fought for by Quaid E Azam, and recognize the value of living without oppression, as I personally experienced suffocation during my time in India.”

  • CDA demolishes PTI central secretariat in Islamabad over ‘violation’

    CDA demolishes PTI central secretariat in Islamabad over ‘violation’

    The Capital Development Authority (CDA) in a Thursday late-night raid demolished a portion of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) Central Secretariat in Islamabad over a “violation of building rules”.

    According to CDA, an anti-encroachment operation was launched around 11:30 PM last night and lasted around an hour.

    The CDA stated illegal construction was incorporated into the building and an additional floor was also constructed on the plot in violation of the building rules.

    As the operation was underway last night, PTI leadership called upon its workers to immediately arrive at the location, stating that the government’s actions were “illegal”.

    The CDA claimed it had sent reminders to the party previously, however, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan shot down the claims and said that they did not receive any orders from the CDA.

    PTI leadership strongly condemned the actions by the CDA and even drew parallels to the onslaught taking place in Gaza by Israel.

  • Suzuki eyes biogas plant in Karachi to strengthen its presence in Pakistan

    Suzuki eyes biogas plant in Karachi to strengthen its presence in Pakistan

    Suzuki Motor Corporation is poised to bolster its footprint in Pakistan with plans to establish a biogas plant in Karachi.

    This strategic move was articulated by Kenichi Ayukawa, the Global Vice President of Suzuki Motor Corporation, during a high-level meeting held in Islamabad on Thursday. The meeting convened Ayukawa and Rana Tanveer Hussain, the Federal Minister for Industries and Production.

    Hailing the delegation, Minister Hussain underscored the pivotal role of the automotive industry in Pakistan’s economic landscape. He highlighted its substantial contributions spanning employment generation, economic expansion, technology infusion, and industrial advancement.

    Notably, the government is steadfast in its commitment to fortifying the local automotive sector, extending tax exemptions and other inducements to automakers, and investing in research and development initiatives.

    Furthermore, to foster the adoption of cutting-edge technologies, incentives are being extended for Electric Vehicles (EVs) and Hybrids, encompassing duty-free import privileges for plant and machinery essential for establishing EV manufacturing facilities.

    This proactive stance has already yielded tangible results, with 43 companies securing manufacturing certificates for the local production of EV 2/3 wheelers.

    Suzuki’s envisaged biogas plant in Karachi aligns with the broader strategy to enhance sustainability and operational efficiency while contributing to the nation’s energy diversification efforts.

    This development signals a promising trajectory for Suzuki’s endeavors in Pakistan, reflecting a shared commitment to economic prosperity and environmental stewardship.

  • Prisoner allegedly raped by jail inmates in Adiala

    Prisoner allegedly raped by jail inmates in Adiala

    A prisoner in Adiala jail has allegedly been gang-raped by fellow inmates, Geo’s Shabbir Ahmad Dar has reported.

    The victim told the police that he was gang raped on May 18 at 11 o’clock in the night when two inmates forced themselves upon him together.

    The police says a case has been registered at the Sadar Baruni police station on the complaint of the victim.

  • PM Shehbaz arrives in UAE on important visit

    PM Shehbaz arrives in UAE on important visit

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif has reached the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on a one-day-long visit to hold discussions with President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan regarding the shared interests of both countries.

    The vice president and Chairman of the Presidential Court of the UAE, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, received PM Shehbaz at the airport. Multiple individuals, including Pakistani Ambassador to the UAE Faisal Niaz Tirmizi and UAE Ambassador to Pakistan Hamad Obaid, were also present at the airport.

    This is Shehbaz Sharif’s first visit to the UAE after becoming prime minister of the country. Top federal ministers, including Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ataullah Tarar, and Special Assistant to Prime Minister Tariq Fatemi, are accompanying Shehbaz on his visit

  • New schedule announced for Matric and Inter Exams in Karachi

    New schedule announced for Matric and Inter Exams in Karachi

    The Board of Secondary Education Karachi (BSEK) on Wednesday announced the new schedule for the matric and inter exams, previously postponed due to the ongoing heatwave.

    Today, the examination board released a notification including the revised exam schedule.

    The remaining exams of Class 10 will resume on May 28 as per the schedule.

    BIEK’s Chairman Professor Nasim Ahmed Memon on Wednesday said that the exams of inter classes are scheduled to take place from June 1.

    “Intermediate exams will be held from June 1 as it is not possible to conduct them from May 28,” said the chairman.

    Memon said that the Board has sought permission from the education minister to extend the exams for four days. He added that 21 higher secondary schools were set up as a centre for the exams.

    The chairman said that the Inter exams were to be held in the centres in the morning while matric exams were scheduled for the evening.
    Speaking about the matric exams, the chairman said that they were postponed due to hot weather. “Postponed papers will be taken from May 28 in the same centres,” he added.

    The BIEK chairman said that it was not possible to hold matric and intermediate exams in the same centres at the same time.

    The BSEK had postponed the remaining papers of the secondary classes which were supposed to be held between May 21-27, in light of heatwave in Sindh.

  • Why did Dr Arooba say no to Geo’s drama offer?

    Why did Dr Arooba say no to Geo’s drama offer?

    Dr. Arooba Tariq, television host, recently shared her experience of being offered a lead role in a major Geo TV drama during a podcast with Hafiz Ahmed. She revealed that despite the significant offer, she declined the opportunity due to her father’s disapproval and her own reservations about the intense scenes requiring close physical contact with co-stars.

    “In the media industry, people tend to remember you by your face, especially if you’ve previously appeared on TV shows. As a result, I received a significant offer from Geo TV to play the main lead in a big drama. They genuinely wanted me to be a part of the brilliant ensemble cast of the play.

    In an attempt to convince me to take the job, they even brought me to the studio to experience the set and recording processes. My father, on the other hand, was not into it, so I was limited to hosting. I was still thinking about going to the Shahnoor studio, though. Following this, I came to the conclusion that acting was not for me, especially in light of the dramatic sequences that required close physical contact with co-stars. I declined the opportunity since, as a novice, I would not have any creative control over altering such daring situations.