The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has recently granted Pakistan a $3 billion loan, subject to certain conditions that require a second review.
According to reports, the Washington-based institution has asked the Pakistani government to devise a plan for implementing taxes on the real estate and agricultural sectors, with the aim of bolstering the country’s revenue generation.
The IMF perceives a potential for Pakistan to enhance its revenue through taxation of these two sectors.
Should the plan devised by the Federal Bureau of Revenue (FBR) gain approval from the IMF, it will result in the release of a mini-budget. However, the decision to impose taxes on the property and agriculture sectors ultimately rests with the new government.
Additionally, sources indicate that assistance will be sought from the World Bank to facilitate the taxation of these sectors.
It is worth noting that Pakistan recently received the initial disbursement of $1.2 billion from the IMF.
IMF officials emphasise that Pakistan must fulfill the conditions outlined in the agreement to achieve economic stability.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has also assured the IMF Managing Director of the government’s commitment to implementing the agreement in its entirety.
A statement made by Taliban government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid, stating that the Afghan rulers signed the Doha deal with USA and not Pakistan, has proved worrisome for Islamabad.
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Farhatullah Baba expressed concern, while Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, a stalwart of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), also agreed with the concerns of the PPP leader. In an interview with BBC Pashto, the Taliban spokesperson had stressed that they didn’t sign a peace accord with Islamabad. However, he also mentioned that Afghan soil was not being used for terrorism in Pakistan, as the nation was “a Muslim and brother country”. “Taliban signed the Doha agreement with the US, not with Pakistan and its policy towards Pakistan is different.”
Last week, in an unusual statement, Pakistan Army said that it is also very concerned that militants of the banned terrorist organisation Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) have found safe havens in Afghanistan. “It is expected that interim Afghan Government would not allow the use of its soil to perpetrate terror against any country, in the real sense and in line with commitments made in Doha Agreement,” the statement said. Pakistan Army also said that terrorist attacks in Pakistan are intolerable and the country’s security forces have the ability to give effective response to these attacks.
Farhatullah Babar raised the question that, “Does it mean the Doha agreement binds the Taliban to rein in only some militants, not all?” Khawaja Asif meanwhile said that irrespective of Afghanistan stance, Pakistan will wipe out terrorism from the country.
Islamabad police have on Sunday arrested the suspect involved in the alleged rape of a woman that took place on trail 3 of the capital’s Margalla Hills.
Last week Friday, the Islamabad police registered a first information report (FIR) after a woman complained that a man had lured her with a job prospect before raping her at gunpoint on Thursday afternoon.
According to the FIR, the complainant had been looking for a job and received a message via WhatsApp from a person around two months ago, Dawn reports.
“He told me he was an accountant in the education department, where some vacancies were available,” the victim is quoted as saying in the FIR. In return for a job, the man asked for Rs50,000.
After some correspondence, where the victim met the suspect and provided him with her curriculum vitae and Rs30,000, saying she would pay the remaining 20,000 once she received a written order of employment.
Under the guise of picking up the victim for a job interview, the suspect drove her to Margalla Hills’ trail 3, where the victim said she was taken to the jungle and raped at gunpoint around 3pm.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the Islamabad Police said it was successful in arresting the suspect after a three-day effort, adding that they arrested the man on ‘technical bases’, claiming the victim was not assisting the police in the investigation.
ٹریل تھری جنسی زیادتی کے وقوعہ کی تفتیش میرٹ پر عمل میں لائی جارہی ہے۔
مدعیہ کی میڈیکل رپورٹ کے مطابق زیادتی کے شواہد نہیں پائے گئے۔ مدعیہ اور ملزم کے مابین دوستی تھی ۔
مدعیہ پولیس سے تعاون کرنے سے گریزاں ہے اور ملزم کی تفصیلات مہیا نہیں کی ہیں۔ مارگلہ ٹریلز محفوظ ہیں جن کی…
Moreover, they said that the investigation is taking place ‘on merit’, citing the victim’s medical report in which apparently no evidence of abuse was found.
Furthermore, the statement reveals the complainant and the accused knew each other. However, Islamabad Police asserted that all aspects of the case will be investigated.
Journalist Mohsin Biag on Sunday has denied rumors in Saleem Safi’s programme Jirga that he will be the next caretaker Prime Minister of Pakistan, stating that he would not assume the coveted position.
Rumours of Baig becoming caretaker Prime Minister had been circulating in media and political circles for the past few weeks.
The journalist criticised former Prime Minister Imran Khan by accusing him of being corrupt, alleging that Europe and Israel are behind the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman and are using him against Pakistan.
The well-known journalist said that the attacks on military installations on May 9 were planned by Imran Khan to weaken the state.
He also mentioned that Imran Khan didn’t give PTI tickets to eligible candidates and made a lot of money in this way
The last episode of Kuch Ankahi aired on Saturday night, receiving high ratings from audiences for a satisfying wrap up to its gorgeous story telling and moving performances by Sajal Aly, Bilal Abbas and Qudsia Ali. The build up to this spectacular finale was besieged with questions about who would Aliya finally pick: Salman or Azfar? Would Sofia phupoo give in and marry uncle Thanvi? Would Samiya abandon her husband and his toxic mother to start being independent on her own? But in the final episode, Kuch Ankahi wrapped up all these questions, leaving all of us hoping that this is the show that should be getting a season 2.
We finally see Aliya and Salman put aside their differences, a win for fans of the show who had shipped the cat-and-mouse duo from the very first episode. Many were left heart broken by how Azfar was rejected, despite the love he had for Aliya. But hopefully, there are better things in store for him?
We also got a beautiful wedding as Sophia Phupoo and Uncle Thanvi wed, a satisfying resolution to her reluctance of letting go of her first love and husband who had passed away quickly. But then their heart tugging meeting at the train station, when Thanvi promises to prove his love to Sophia, just proved the show made a breakthrough by focusing on two aged people getting married.
Clearly, we’re not over the episode, and neither is social media. As since yesterday, users sobbing over the ending of a gorgeous drama that gave us everything we’ve been asking Pakistani dramas to provide us.
Kuch Ankahi is a huge upgrade to Pakistani TV! No glamorous houses, no conniving saas, or evil puphos, or crying bahoos, heck not even confused cheating men…#kuchAnkahi is a huge step away from the horrible tv content that we have! You want quality content – watch this show!
My fav part about #KuchAnkahi was Sophia Phupho and Thanvi uncle.
Not only did it give a former supermodel and a former film superstar a chance to shine again but we as viewers also got lucky to experience a beautifully done mature middle age romance 💓 pic.twitter.com/j5cYrEiQf4
appreciation post for @bilalabbas_khan for playing salman flawlessly thank u sm for giving me my new comfort character i will cherish #KuchAnkahi forever
Among the recent stream of K-dramas that have arrived on Netflix, we highly recommend that you check out ‘See You In My 19th Life’. Based on the popular webtoon comic by the same name, the series follows Ban Ji Eum (played by Mr Queen’s Shin Hye Sun) as a woman who has a secret: she has had at least 19 past lives, remembering all of them even though she doesn’t know why and how it started. In her 18th life, she meets a young boy Moon Seo Ha (played by Yumi’s Cells Ahn Bo Hyun) when they are children, but her life is quickly cut off because of a horrifying car accident. Now reborn with a new face in her 19th life, Ji Eum is determined to trace down Seo Ha, and also meet others in her journey to understand her ability.
With its gorgeous story telling and moving performances of Hye Sun and Bo Hyun, we should give our followers a list of reasons why they must absolutely check out this drama.
1. Heart tugging and gorgeous story telling
The series really activates your tear ducts from the first episode when it touches upon themes like childhood abuse, trauma and loneliness, while exploring the lives of both Seo Ha and Ji Eum as they navigate dealing with adulthood while overcoming the abuses they suffered as children.
2. Perfect for all those who love Korean fantasy dramas, especially the mortal x immortal relationship
If you’re a fan of Korean fantasy dramas like ‘Goblin’, ‘The Legend Of The Blue Sea’ and ‘Doom At Your Service’, which all revolved around a relationship between an immortal being with magical powers who falls in love with a human being, then this is definately your kind of drama. The trope is reversed where this time, the woman is the one with magical powers, doing all in her power to make the mortal man, her long lost lover, come back to her and fix their torn relationship. With their undeniable chemistry and how they help each other heal from past wounds when they were tragically torn apart, will definitely keep you hooked to this drama.
3. Shin Hye Sun is captivating as a free-spirited and confident female lead
Hye Sun has outshined in several dramas in the past like Mr Queen but this is the drama where she proves that her talent is unmatchable. The female lead Ji Eum is a headstrong and fearless woman, whose many talents compel her to becoming a cash cow for her leecherous father, who keeps coming to her for money despite abandoning her. But most importantly, how Ji Eum connects and eventually consols the loved ones she had abandoned when she died in her past life, and how she unabashedly seeks to protect and heal Seo Ha, is what makes her a compelling female lead.
4. Ahn Bo Hyun moves audience with his heart tugging performance as the shy and lovable male protagonist.
Bo Hyun had previously played second leads in dramas like ‘Her Private Life’ and ‘Yumi’s Cells’ but it is with ‘See You In My 19th Life’ where he really makes the audience wail with how he plays Seo Ha. A troubled man who is dealing with the grief of losing his mother and later the love of his life, a disability that makes him the brunt of bullying by his father and step mother, it is how charming and versatile Bo Hyun is with the way he plays the character, and also how he matches the powerhouse Hye Shin, truly making this Netflix’s top rated Korean dramas.
Geo Television’s serial ‘Jhoom’ has turned into a hit, with Hashim Nadeem’s writing and Ali Faizan’s direction garnering accolades.
A 7th Sky Entertainment presentation, Jhoom features the love story of a couple with a sizable age difference. Haroon Kadwani plays the character of angry young man Aryaan while Zara Noor Abbas is playing the character of the hardworking and mature Doctor Maryam. Audiences became immediate fans, with each episode of the drama garnering more than 10 million views on YouTube.
The last episode of the drama has aired and fans were in rapture, saying that the last episode made them cry with Maryam and Aryaan. Many fans were of the view that Aryaan should have not forgiven Maryam because she didn’t stand by his side when he needed her the most but mostly fans loved the happy ending.
Many fans are already demanding a second season while others were sad that the drama ended early. Read audience comments about the ending:
Hareem Shah has said in a video that she came to London to seek answers from former accountability chief government, Shehzad Akbar, about why he tried to ruin her life and why he asked Britain’s National Crime Agency (NCA) during the tenure of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf led government to arrest her in a money-laundering case.
Hareem Shah said that she will question Akbar about why he misused his power, when he was a powerful person in Pakistan in Imran Khan’s government.
The Tiktoker was referring to a 2022 video leak, in which she was seen showing thousands of pounds to the camera and claimed that she brought this money from Pakistan without facing any issue.
After that, Shehzad Akbar ordered the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to start a money-laundering case against Hareem Shah. The FIA also wrote to the NCA against the Tiktoker.
Shah said, “It’s karma that Shahzad Akbar has run away from Pakistan and is now hiding in London. I have information that he has assets in London and is hiding here to avoid corruption cases in Pakistan. Shahzad Akbar wanted me deported from London. He wrote to the UK authorities to get me arrested to put me in trouble. He did everything to ruin my life, but look what has happened to him.”
She has also said that Shehzad Akbar is an arrogant man who ruined many lives when he was working in Imran Khan’s government.
Following the suicide of Muhammad Masood, a victim of online loan sharks, his last voice note and conversations with the representative of the online loan lenders have revealed the pressure and emotional strain the deceased person was going through.
Lahore Rang has shed light on the final days of the man who borrowed money to pay his children’s school fee.
A recording of Mr Masood’s last message to his loved ones state, “I could neither be a good father, a good husband nor a good son. I’m under debt as I took loan and it’s all piled up with interest now. That’s the reason why I’ve been requesting you to sell the house, but you refused. The loan lenders have made my life miserable. I had no other option. Please forgive me. Keep my phone powered off for at least a month and then hand it over to Muneeb after throwing away the sim cards. I’m so sorry. Masood.” The 42-year-old was being incessantly harassed and threatened by the loan lenders. In one recording, a representative of the loan sharks can be heard blackmailing Masood, hurling threats, adding female members of the victim’s family to the call and insulting them along with him. In one recording he could be heard telling Masood to kill himself. His exact words were, “Get on video call with me right now and shoot yourself.” To which the poor man replied that he will. The victim’s brother has filed a complaint with the cybercrime wing of the Federal Investigation Agency, seeking justice for Muhammad Masood.
Pakistan 24 has reported that two offices of such illegal companies have been sealed by the FIA, during raids carried out in the light of the mobile records of Masood.
Aleeza Arshad, the daughter of slain journalist Arshad Sharif, has entered the field of journalism as a reporter.
Aleeza decided to enter the profession because she was inspired by her father’s passion for investigative journalism.
Her decision to choose journalism as a profession has been welcomed by admirers and colleagues of her late father, who was killed in 2022 by unknown gunmen in Kenya.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Shehbaz Gill shared Aliza’s TV report on his Twitter account and expressed best wishes for her future.
Social media users also welcomed Aliza to the realm of journalism.
