Tag: Pakistan

  • ‘Daku’ bnaya ishq nay

    ‘Daku’ bnaya ishq nay

    Love can make a daku out of a normal guy.

    A private bank’s cash van carrying Rs 6 crore and 35 lacs was robbed on September 19 in Karachi’s Korangi area.

    The suspect, Zohaib, has not been arrested yet.

    According to investigative authorities, Zohaib was the employee of a private security company, and had been working in Karachi since the past 10 months. He left his job two months ago to get married to his love.

    Officials revealed that after reaching his wedding destination in Okara, Zohaib found out that the girl he was interested in had already gotten married elsewhere.

    In a statement provided by relatives to investigative authorities, it was mentioned that the suspect was distressed due to the failed love affair and became a robber.

    Investigative authorities further revealed that Zohaib returned to Karachi and rejoined the same security company. He robbed a bank’s cash van in September and is still on the run.

  • ‘Overwhelmed with the love’: Pakistani cricket team thanks Indian fans for Hyderabad welcome

    ‘Overwhelmed with the love’: Pakistani cricket team thanks Indian fans for Hyderabad welcome

    Pakistani Twitter users were howling in delight on Wednesday when viral videos showed the glowing reception the Pakistani cricket team received in India. Tweeps were delighted with hilarious Indian paparazzi who seem to have adopted Babar Azam, calling him ‘Babar bhai’. Now, Pakistani cricketers have responded to the warm welcome they received from Indian fans, thanking all those who showed up to support them.

    Captain Babar Azam shared a picture of the reception, and wrote: “Overwhelmed with the love and support here in India.”

    Batsman Mohammad Rizwan thanked fans for the welcome, and said he was looking forward to the next month as the competition begins.

    Prodigious fast bowler Shaheen Afridi said he was happy with the welcome the cricket team had recieved

    Batsman Imam ul Haq shared a picture of his arrival in Hyderabad on Instagram, writing: “Thankyou for the warm welcome Hyderabad.”

    The ICC ODI World Cup will begin in India in October 5, with the first match to be played between defending champions England and finalists New Zealand in Ahmedabad. Pakistan’s first match will be against the Netherlands on October 6.

  • Gen Munir urges women to take part in KP’s ‘progress, development

    Gen Munir urges women to take part in KP’s ‘progress, development

    Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir on Wednesday urged women to take part in the “progress and development” of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and its newly-merged districts, the military’s media wing has said.

    The army chief passed the remarks during a visit to Peshawar where he held an “interactive session” at the KPK Women Symposium – 2023.

    While addressing the participants, Gen Munir highlighted that women had played “an important role in the progress of the country throughout the history of Pakistan”. He also emphasised the role of women in “Pakistan’s progress and development is quintessential and most important”.

    “Women of KP have continued to face multi-faceted challenges due to prolonged fight against terrorism, however, they have proven their resilience, commitment and bravery at the face of all odds,” Gen Munir was quoted by the ISPR.

    During the day-long visit, the army chief also attended a meeting of the Provincial Apex Committee along with Caretaker KP Chief Minister Muhammad Azam Khan.

    The meeting was briefed about the “overall security situation including initiatives against smuggling, hoarding and drug trafficking”.
    The moot affirmed that the state and the people were “united for the protection of life and property of citizens”. They also paid rich tribute to the martyrs and their families.

    “We have to synergise our efforts for the peace and prosperity of our beloved country. The Pakistan Army will continue to play its role in ensuring peace and stability in KP to provide a secure environment for economic development,” Gen Munir said.

  • Inventory challenges lead Indus Motor Company to halt Toyota car production in Pakistan

    Inventory challenges lead Indus Motor Company to halt Toyota car production in Pakistan

    Indus Motor Company Limited, the firm responsible for the assembly of Toyota vehicles in Pakistan, has recently announced a temporary suspension of its production operations until October 9. This significant decision was formally communicated through a notice submitted to the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX).

    The rationale behind this temporary cessation of production is primarily linked to the company’s current vehicle inventory status. Indus Motor Company Limited has set the production plant’s closure period from September 28 through October 9 to address these concerns.

    This pause in production is the latest in a series of similar actions undertaken by the company. Previously, Indus Motor Company Limited had temporarily halted production from August 25 to September 6, attributing it to reduced demand and inventory challenges. Additionally, the company faced a production plant shutdown from July 21 to August 3, driven by complications in the importation of raw materials, logistical hurdles in clearing consignments, and disruptions in the supply chain from select international vendors.

    These issues collectively hampered the company’s supply chain, leading to insufficient inventory levels to sustain uninterrupted production. Furthermore, a similar production hiatus had occurred earlier, from June 26 to June 27, with the same underlying reasons.

  • In celebration of Mawra Hocane’s birthday, here are her three performances we loved

    In celebration of Mawra Hocane’s birthday, here are her three performances we loved

    It was actress Mawra Hocane’s birthday yesterday, and what better way to celebrate the occasion than to highlight some of her best work? Within the short time we’ve seen her on screen, the actress has delivered a range of powerful performances in serials about marital rape, domestic abuse and the pressures of social media. Let’s take a jog down memory lane to highlight some of the actress’s best performances over her career.

    1 Qissa Meharbano Ka

    The drama is celebrated as a milestone in discussing marital rape. It explores the story of Meharbano, a wife stuck in an abusive marriage with her husband Muraad (Ahsan Khan). Social media users still remember how the actress took a defiant stance to ensure that the issue of marital rape is tackled in a sensitive manner, and in no way is her character’s abusive relationship is romanticised in the show. Mawra was applauded when she revealed in an interview that she requested director Iqbal Hussain and producer Momina Duraid to rewrite the script to ensure that such a toxic relationship is not justified.

     “I said that we can’t let it pass. How can a project backed by her and me – women who have voices – let a marital rape scene just pass. Because a lot of projects let it pass. And we are angry about that. So what are we doing differently?”

    2 Nauroz

    We are just twelve episodes in the drama, but audiences have already declared that this is the project that will cement Mawra Hocane as the actress no body can compete with. The drama follows the story of a sheltered girl Rishtina, who is thrust out into a new world after facing a threat, and resorts to living in slums after she is discovered by an influencer who introduces her to the world of social media. Mawra’s powerful performance has fans raving. The actress revealed in a recent interview that the shoot took a toll on her body to the point that she lost 6 kgs because of the trauma she underwent while filming some of the scenes.

    3 Sabaat

    Mawra’s ability to pick dramas with complex, powerful female characters shone through in this drama, which is still celebrated as one of the few feminist dramas made in Pakistan. She plays Anaya, a headstrong college girl who speaks out against harassment, and clashes with Hassan (placed by Ameer Gilani) after she defeats him in an engineering competition. As the two begin developing feelings for each other, their class backgrounds and opposing mindsets threaten to tear them apart.

  • Afghan Taliban capture 200 anti-Pakistan militants

    Afghan Taliban capture 200 anti-Pakistan militants

    The Afghan Taliban claim to have arrested 200 suspected militants for carrying out cross-border attacks against Pakistan.

    The news was reported as a delegation from Islamabad visited Kabul where the Afghan government hosted bilateral talks last week.

    They expounded on the crackdown against the proscribed Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

    Earlier this month, heavily armed militants attacked two Pakistani security posts in Chitral. The raid of September 6th killed four soldiers and 12 assailants for which TTP claimed responsibility.

    VoA spoke with Pakistani officials who said that Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada has “forbidden his forces from launching cross-border attacks against Pakistan, calling them haram or un-Islamic”.

    Moreover, he has also “ordered Afghans not to collaborate with or give donations to the TTP for its so-called jihad against Pakistan and barred the militants from running donation collection campaigns in Afghanistan”.

    The Pakistani officials claimed that according to their assessment, the Taliban are “consciously distancing” themselves from groups they were previously with at the time of insurgency. These groups are now involved in criminal activities in Afghanistan — extortion, kidnapping for ransom, and terrorism.

    The officials highlighted that Taliban leaders are now in control and responsible for the country and must show the world that they do not function like an insurgent group.

  • Pakistani team’s wholesome welcome in India is winning the internet

    Pakistani team’s wholesome welcome in India is winning the internet

    The Pakistani cricket team landed in Hyderabad, India on Wednesday to play in World Cup 2023. Videos of the overwhelming crowds that came to greet the team have set the internet on fire. Fans can be seen shouting the names of Babar, Haris Rauf and Shaheen Afridi. In some pictures, police men can be seen trying to take selfies with the cricket stars. This display of love for our boys in green on the other side of the border has moved social media to tears.

    Many were happy to witness politics and rivalry being set aside for the love of cricket that had united India and Pakistan. And soon the viral videos got a lot of appreciation from social media users.

  • 21 million more voters registered since 2018: ECP

    21 million more voters registered since 2018: ECP

    Compared to the statistics of the 2018 general elections, the number of voters in Pakistan has increased by 21 million 24 thousand and 863 voters.

    The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has said that the total number of voters has reached 126,980,272, while the total number of voters in the country in the 2018 general elections was 105,955,409.

    The number of male voters in 2023 has increased to 68,508,258; while the number of female voters has increased to 58,472,014.

    This means that the number of male voters is 10,036,244 more than women.

    Province-wise increase in voters

    Punjab

    Voters in Punjab have increased by one crore 16 lakh 37 thousand (11,637,811).

    2018: 60,672,771

    2023: 72,310,582

    Sindh

    In total, an increase of 42 lakh 59 thousand (4,259,917) voters has been recorded in Sindh.

    2018: 22,391,244

    2023: 26,651,161

    Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

    In total, 63 lakh 78 thousand (6,378,212) voters have increased in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

    2018: 15,314,169

    2023: 21,692,381

    Balochistan

    The number of voters in the province has increased by 9 lakh 58 thousand (985,100) voters.

    2018: 4,299,494

    2023: 5,284,594 

    Islamabad

    Number of voters in the federal capital has increased by 2 lakh 76 thousand (276,107) voters.

    2018: 765,447

    2023: 1,041,554

    Age-wise voter statistcis:

  • 55 percent of polling stations ‘sensitive’, what does that mean?

    55 percent of polling stations ‘sensitive’, what does that mean?

    According to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), 55 percent of polling stations have been termed ‘sensitive’ for the upcoming general elections next year.

    ECP Secretary Omar Hamid Khan said, while briefing the Senate Standing Committee, that around 55 percent of polling stations to be established are sensitive.

    A ‘sensitive polling station’ usually refers to a voting site that is disputatious or requires more attention due to specific circumstances or factors that could become hurdles in a free and fair voting process. 

    A sensitive polling station could be one located in an area with a history of political unrest, violence, or security threats. In such cases, the voting process can be made free and fair by providing extra security by the caretaker government.

    If a polling station is located in an area with a history of political unrest, violence, or security threats, it can be considered a sensitive polling station. On the other hand, if a polling station serves a vulnerable population, like elderly citizens or people with disabilities, it could also be counted as a sensitive polling station.

    Similarly, if any polling station is located in remote or difficult-to-reach areas, it can also be considered sensitive because of logistical challenges.

    “A total 91,809 polling stations will be established, of which 49,919 have been designated as sensitive or highly sensitive,” Omar Hamid Khan said.

    The ECP secretary stated that 17,411 polling stations are highly sensitive, 32,508 are justly sensitive, and 41,809 are designated as ‘normal’.

    Omar Hamid Khan also told the senate standing committee that there are 266 National Assembly constituencies and 593 provincial assemblies. He also observed that one million polling staff would be required for the general election next year.

  • Over 80,000 errors in medical prescriptions reported

    Over 80,000 errors in medical prescriptions reported

    On World Pharmacists Day 2023 on Tuesday, The News highlighted that 80,000 prescription errors have been reported in the past year at major health centres in Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi.

    Prescription errors means that doctors either prescribed wrong medicine, incorrect dosage, or did not take into consideration the interaction between drugs, a potentially fatal error.

    “Of these 80,000 prescription errors, 96% errors were accepted and recognized by the prescribing physicians and surgeons and they rectified their prescriptions in consultation with clinical pharmacists to ensure patient safety”, Sardar Shabbir Ahmed, President of Pakistan Pharmacists Association (PPA), told a ceremony to mark the World Pharmacists Day 2023.

    He also highlighted that prescription error is the sixth leading cause of death in developed countries like America as 7000-9000 people die every year due to this mistake.

    He urged that there is an urgent need to “introduce clinical pharmacy services at all the public and private health facilities to prevent deaths and disabilities due to medication errors and adverse drug reactions”.

    A solution for that, as Shabir Ahmed provided, is pharmacovigilance centers across the country that will keep the prescription procedure in check by detecting, monitoring and preventing “adverse drug reactions” and keep patients safe.