Tag: Pakistan

  • Naseem Shah tests positive for Covid-19

    Naseem Shah tests positive for Covid-19

    Before the crucial seven-match T20I series against England at home, fast bowler Naseem Shah has tested positive for COVID-19, according to Geo Super.

    The bowler is presently receiving treatment at a nearby hospital, and will not be available for the final two Twenty20 internationals against England.

    Shah was recently admitted to a hospital for treatment after experiencing a high fever, where his dengue test was also done, but it was later discovered that he has a chest infection, which has led to further problems.

    Yesterday, it was reported that the right-arm pacer was diagnosed with pneumonia, and he may miss the remainder of the ongoing series, while also casting doubts on his participation in the forthcoming tri-nation series in New Zealand and the T20 World Cup in Australia.

    “Naseem Shah’s participation in the upcoming matches and departure to New Zealand with the squad will be decided after seeing his medical reports,” a cricket board official said in a statement.

    The management decided that Naseem should recuperate ahead of the tri-nation series in New Zealand and the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia, therefore he has only participated in one of the four games.

    In the just-finished Asia Cup 2022 in the UAE, Naseem Shah made his T20I debut. There, he put up an amazing bowling performance, capturing seven wickets in five games with an economy rate of 7.66.

  • Pakistan’s big cities likely to get 5G coverage in 2023

    Pakistan’s big cities likely to get 5G coverage in 2023

    In 2023, Pakistan intends to launch 5G service in three of its major cities.

    The government has predicted that by 2025, 4 per cent of Pakistan’s internet users will be able to use 5G technology, while 65 per cent of the connections will be enabled on 4G technology, according to an official document of the Ministry of Information and Telecommunication (MOITT), a copy of which is available with WealthPK.

    According to The Nation, the Global System of Mobile Communications (GSMA) predicted that by the end of 2022, more than 50 per cent of consumers in Pakistan would have a 4G connection. Although accurate, these predictions are still three years behind the trend of the global average.

    Although Pakistan’s percentage of 4G connections is substantially lower than that of the rest of the area when compared to the global average, it is predicted to increase more quickly. The adoption of 5G is expected to increase starting in 2023, although it will still only represent a relatively small part of connections in the years that follow.

    Although mobile broadband in Pakistan is constantly expanding, there is still much space for improvement. Mobile penetration and subscription rates are rising steadily. Total mobile and mobile broadband (MBB) customers was at 195 million as of August 2022 and 123 million as of that same month.

    The penetration of mobile and MBB has reached 84 per cent and 51 per cent, respectively. Over the previous few years, MBB users have become a larger percentage of all mobile subscribers.

  • Need to know how to deal with misogyny? Just watch Sherry Rehman

    Need to know how to deal with misogyny? Just watch Sherry Rehman

    If you want a guide or need tips on how to deal with the misogyny that exists even in Pakistan’s Senate, you need to watch Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Climate Change, Senator Sherry Rehman. Here is she at her wittiest best.

    An incident took place in Senate Pakistan on Tuesday where the House Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani called Rehman the “Senate’s dadi (grandmother)” when he asked a house member to keep the questions specific so that Sherry Rehman can answer the questions.

    “I would advise you to only ask specific questions so that Sherry Rehman, who is the dadi of this House, can give you the right answers,” Sanjrani said, adding that members should keep the environment of the House calm.

    However, Rehman snapped back immediately and said: “Kyunke mei apki dadi lagti hoon, meri koshish ye hogi kay kisi ki dadageeri na ho“. (Because I am your grandmother, i will try to ensure that no one is bullied.)

    The Upper House then burst out with laughter.

    Following this, Senator Rehman shared a clip of the incident with a caption saying, “How to deal with misogyny 101 without giving it the oxygen it seeks”.

  • Malala Yousafzai is all set to produce Hollywood films

    Malala Yousafzai is all set to produce Hollywood films

    Pakistan’s youngest Nobel Prize Laureate Malala Yousafzai is all set to produce Hollywood films after signing a three-film deal with Apple Inc, Variety magazine has revealed.

    Yousafzai is among creative leaders honoured for Variety’s 2022 Power of Women presented by Lifetime.

    Her production company Extracurricular has partnered with the indie studio A24 for a still-untitled feature documentary on the legendary “Haenyeo” society of fisherwomen, who live on South Korea’s Jeju Island.

    The second project is a scripted series based on Asha Lemmie’s coming-of-age novel “Fifty Words for Rain,” about a woman’s search for acceptance in post-World War II Japan

    The third is a feature film with “Don’t Look Up” director Adam McKay, based on Elaine Hsieh Chou’s book “Disorientation” — a satire about a college student’s revealing dissertation about a young poet.

    “What I hope to bring to the table are the voices of women of color and debut writers and Muslim directors and writers. I hope we can have a wide range of perspectives and that we challenge some of the stereotypes we hold in our societies. And I also hope that the content is entertaining and that people fall in love with the characters and have the best time together,” she said.

    She told the magazine that she has watched ‘Succession,’ ‘Ted Lasso’ and ‘Severance,’ and pointed out that in those shows there were a lot of white men.

    “If we can watch those shows, then I think audiences should be able to watch shows that are made by people of colour, and produced and directed by people of colour, with people of colour in the lead. That is possible, and I’m gonna make it happen,” she avowed.

    Malala disclosed that her favourite TV shows include adult animated sitcom “Rick and Morty” and Netflix comedy “Sex Education”.

    Talking to the magazine, Yousafzai said that she doesn’t want to get into British politics.

    “This activism for girls’ education and gender equality is already a form of getting involved in politics. So I’m not sure if I’ll become the prime minister of a country.” Still, she adds, “We’ll see in the future”. After a beat, she said mischievously, “Maybe that is also a political answer”.

  • Govt to conduct forensic audit of Shehbaz, Imran audios: Sanaullah

    Govt to conduct forensic audit of Shehbaz, Imran audios: Sanaullah

    Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah on Wednesday said that the federal government will conduct a forensic audit of Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif and Pakistan Tehrek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s leaked audios.

    Sanaullah — during a press conference in Islamabad — said that if Khan’s audio is real, then he should be exposed before the nation. “Khan has created a narrative of an American conspiracy to mislead the nation and divide it,” he said.

    Criticising the PTI chief, the interior minister said that Khan has caused “Irreparable damage to Pakistan and destroyed the country’s economy and political culture.”

    “I will show students Imran Khan’s awful face,” said Sanaullah with reference to Khan’s recent appearance at a university, adding that this “political fitna” (political miscreant) has to end in a political way.

    Sanaullah also said that Khan’s political narrative will be exposed.

  • Court issues notice to NAB on Dar’s plea to cancel warrants

    Court issues notice to NAB on Dar’s plea to cancel warrants

    An accountability court has served a notice to National Accountability Bureau (NAB) today (Wednesday) after newly-appointed Finance Minister Ishaq Dar surrendered himself before the court and submitted a petition pleading for the cancellation of his arrest warrants.

    The court then issued a notice to the NAB and ordered Dar to appear before the court on October 7.

    “We will hear the application for cancellation of warrants along with assets’ reference,” the judge remarked.

    In 2017, Dar was a declared a proclaimed offender in a NAB reference due to his continued absence from the proceedings.

    NAB accused Dar of possessing assets disproportionate to his known sources of income.

    The case was filed by NAB in light of the Supreme Court’s July 28 verdict in the Panama Papers case.

    The same year, Dar flew to United Kingdom due to seek medical treatment. He stayed there for almost five years until his return to Pakistan on Monday.

  • ‘Kya Imran Khan ne hum se poocha jab army chief ko extension deni thi?’ Shehbaz lambasts Khan

    ‘Kya Imran Khan ne hum se poocha jab army chief ko extension deni thi?’ Shehbaz lambasts Khan

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday, September 27, stressed that the appointment of the new army chief will be through “law and constitution” and that “everyone is going to follow it”.

    “They want to bring their own army chief… they are afraid that if a strong and patriotic army chief is appointed then he would ask them about the looted wealth,” the PTI chief had said about the government at a rally in Faisalabad earlier this month.

    Imran had also called out the incumbent government for consulting an “absconder” and “convict” — former Prime Minister and PML-N Supremo Nawaz Sharif — for the crucial decision, claiming that it was against the Constitution.

    At the press conference today, Shehbaz asked, “Did Imran Khan consult us before giving an extension to the army chief?”

    He also said that he didn’t see anything wrong in consulting Nawaz. “What’s the point of criticising my talks with Nawaz? He is my leader and I discussed Pakistan’s issues with him,” he asserted.

    The premier termed the audio leaks between key figures in the coalition government a “very serious lapse” as he announced that a high-level committee would be constituted to probe the matter.

    Shehbaz said the “audio leaks” scandal was a critical matter and he was in the process of forming a high-level committee to probe into it.

    “Who is going to visit the Pakistani prime minister from overseas now?” the PM questioned. “This scandal has put the prestige of a 220 million-strong nation at stake.”

    “I am taking notice of this and a committee will be formed and reach the depth of this matter,” PM Shehbaz said.

    Audio recordings of conversations between key government figures — including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, PML-N leader Maryam Nawaz and some members of the federal cabinet — discussing governance matters privately surfaced over the weekend, prompting concerns over the security of the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).

    Sharif said that previously several audios relating to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan were leaked but no questions were raised on that. “Have you heard the conversation about diamonds? About the piece of land that was given to them as a gift? You don’t talk about it but you are discussing this matter,” said the PM.

    “Imran Niazi brutally used his force to target opponents,” he reminded the media.

    “He called [ex-FIA DG] Bashir Memon to his office and asked him to file cases against his rivals. This is on record. Did I amend the policy, there is no question about it. You must do justice. I will apologise to the nation if I did something wrong.”

    “Imran also sold Toshakhana gifts, why aren’t those audios being leaked. The audios on the increase in sugar prices should surface […] this is a billion-rupee scam.”

    “Imran said he will form a commission. Was anyone caught, was anyone punished? Billions of dollars from Pakistan were wasted,” the prime minister pointed out, claiming that Imran’s “corruption is a long saga”.

    Shehbaz said that Imran did not spare any opportunity of “Dividing the army and institutions”, highlighting that the PTI chief was creating polarisation which could take the country towards destruction.

    “This is an alarm bell. This man is a risk to the country,” he concluded.

  • Ishaq Dar aa nahi rahay, aa gaye hain: Dar takes oath as senator

    Ishaq Dar aa nahi rahay, aa gaye hain: Dar takes oath as senator

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Ishaq Dar on Tuesday, September 27, took oath as a senator after living five years in self-imposed exile in the United Kingdom.

    Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjarani administered the oath amid ruckus created by the opposition. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) members tore copies of the agenda of the meeting to register their protest and also surrounded the dais.

    Dar touched down in Pakistan with Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif on the night of September 26. He will be sworn in as the federal finance minister tomorrow (September 28) at 10am.

    Talking to reporters at the airbase, Dar said: “I will try my best to fulfill all the responsibilities. We will try to take the country out of the economic swamp it is stuck in […] the way we did in 1998-1999 and 2013-2014.”

    President Arif Alvi will administer oath to Dar at Aiwan-e-Sadar. All arrangements for the oath-taking ceremony will be completed by tomorrow morning.

    The incumbent minister, Miftah Ismail, had resigned from his post on Sunday evening.

  • US to give $10m to Pakistan for food security

    US to give $10m to Pakistan for food security

    United States (US) Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, has said that the US government is pleased to announce another $10 million for Pakistan’s food security programme.

    Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari met Blinken at the State Department in Washington DC on Monday.

    Holding a joint press conference following the meeting, Bilawal said that diplomacy between the State Department and the foreign ministry of Pakistan is back once again.

    “It is indeed true that diplomacy is back between the US State Department and the foreign ministry of Pakistan,” he stressed.

    Blinken said this is a very difficult time for Pakistan after floods wreacked havoc in the country. Floods will have long-term repercussions if the situation is not handled immediately, he warned.

    The US top official said, “We are meeting when Pakistan’s one-third [area] is under water. We have a sense of urgency and sense of determination. We’re looking ahead to rebuild.”

    He stated that the US stands with the people of Pakistan at this crucial time and added that 17 planes carrying aid for flood victims had already left the country. Pakistan will also receive an additional $10 million for its food security programme, he noted.

    “That has an immediate impact. But unless we’re able together to deal with the challenge, it will have a long-term impact as well,” said Blinken.

    “I also urged our colleagues to engage China on some of the important issues of debt relief and restructuring so that Pakistan can more quickly recover from the floods,” Blinken said.

    China is a key economic and political partner of Pakistan, pushing ahead with a $54 billion “economic corridor” that will build infrastructure and give Beijing an outlet to the Indian Ocean, although Chinese interests have also faced attacks from separatists.

    During the press conference, Bilawal also invited Blinken to visit Pakistan.

  • Maria B wants transgender’s rights act to be called ‘khwaja sira’ act, Twitter wants her to stop ‘commenting’

    Maria B wants transgender’s rights act to be called ‘khwaja sira’ act, Twitter wants her to stop ‘commenting’

    Designer Maria B has once again landed in controversy for her transphobic comments. The designer took to Instagram stories to share her two cents about the recent debate on Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act of2018, along with her sisters Najia and Aafia.

    In the video, Maria B expresses her concern about how the said act will affect her children.

    “The first thing that one needs to do is to identify what transgender means. Who is the most famous transgender in the world? Everyone knows about Kim Kardashian and her father. He was her father first and then her mother. His name is Caitlyn Jenner” said Maria.

    Maria said the Act was “transgenders” not for ‘khwaja sira’

    “No absolutely not, this Act was designed for the khwaja sira community. They are intersex people and there’s a massive difference between them and transgenders. On the Act that represents the marginalised community, after 70 years when we’re doing something for them, and transgenders have usurped their rights,” she said.

    People are criticising the designer for sharing her opinion about a marginalized community of which she herself is not a part. Take a look at the tweets:

    The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act of2018 has come under intense criticism from some sections of society during the past few weeks with two petitions also having been filed in the Federal Shariah Court against the Act.

    The Bill was enacted in the year 2018 to guarantee transgenders equal rights to education, basic health facilities , issuance of CNICs and passport and giving them a right to vote and contest elections.

    Earlier this year in August, Maria B complained about a trans activist being on the speaker’s panel at a talk in her son’s school.