Tag: Pakistan

  • Military dismisses ‘unwarranted criticism’ of Azm-e-Istehkam

    Military dismisses ‘unwarranted criticism’ of Azm-e-Istehkam

    On Friday, the military leadership condemned the “unwarranted criticism” of the newly launched anti-terrorism operation Azm-e-Istehkam, stating that the initiative was being “deliberately misrepresented.”

    According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the statement came after the 265th Corps Commanders’ Conference (CCC), which was held at the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi with Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir in the chair.

    The military wing stated that the new operation is aimed at re-invigorating national counter-terrorism efforts in a synchronized manner to eradicate terrorism in Pakistan.

    The statement by ISPR read, “Forum noted with concern the unwarranted criticism by some quarters and deliberate misrepresentation of the vision, only for furthering their vested interests.”

  • Pakistani cinemas struggle as ‘Jatt & Juliet 3’ takes over

    Pakistani cinemas struggle as ‘Jatt & Juliet 3’ takes over

    Pakistan’s film industry is struggling as many movies with weak stories are not doing well at the box office. Even star-studded releases like Umro Ayar and Abhi this Eid Ul Azha haven’t stopped the decline in cinema attendance. Recently, the Indian Punjabi film Jatt & Juliet 3, starring Diljit Dosanjh and Neeru Bajwa, has become hugely popular among fans. Pakistani actors also part of the film that include Nasir Chinnioti and Akram Udas.

    The film released on June 27, has already earned a remarkable Rs. 5.1 crore at the box office within just four days. The movie’s success can be attributed to its previous two seasons’ popularity, as well as the massive fan following of lead actors Diljit Dosanjh and Neeru Bajwa in Pakistan.

    In contrast, Pakistani films are being taken down by cinema owners due to low ticket sales. According to infotainment journalist Moeen Zubair, the buying ratio of Pakistani tickets has decreased significantly, with audiences preferring the Indian Punjabi film instead. ‘Jatt & Juliet 3’ has gone from having just three shows daily to nine shows, leaving local films in the behind.
    The success of ‘Jatt & Juliet 3’ has proven that Punjabi films still have a massive fan following in Pakistan.

  • Shazia Manzoor shares unique tip to reduce electricity bills

    Shazia Manzoor shares unique tip to reduce electricity bills

    In a move that’s leaving Pakistani citizens frustrated due to rising electricity rates, renowned singer Shazia Manzoor has revealed that her electricity bill has come out reasonable.
    Not only the general public but also prominent figures from the showbiz industry are protesting against the exorbitant electricity bills.

    Recently, veteran Rashid Mehmood received an electricity bill of Rs 45,000.
    A funny video of Shazia Manzoor is going viral on social media, in which she is responding to a question regarding her electricity bill.
    Shazia said, “I didn’t get a high bill. If you want, you can play my song for inspiration, light a lamp, turn off the lights, and there will be no other way.”

    Shazia Manzoor also sang her song ‘Batiyan Bujhai Rakhdi’.
    The new basic rate is set at Rs 48.84 per unit, which will rise to Rs 57.63 per unit after adding sales tax. With other adjustments and taxes, the highest electricity rate will exceed Rs 65 per unit. For consumers, this means a considerable jump in their monthly bills, with those using 401 to 500 units facing the highest cost at Rs 41.36 per unit.

  • Shehryar Afridi says ‘Fauj meri ghairat, izzat aur mera imaan hai’

    Shehryar Afridi says ‘Fauj meri ghairat, izzat aur mera imaan hai’

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Shehryar Afridi has said in a political talk show on ARY News last night, “Army is my honour, respect, and my faith.”

    Journalist Waseem Badami reminded the PTI leader about his past statements from 2019 when Afridi said that the “Chief of Army Staff (COAS) is akin to my father.”

    Badami asked Afridi whether his views had evolved, to which the former Minister of State replied that, “The head of the state – General is like a father. There is no doubt about it, though no person is above the law.”

    He also remarked, “My leader Imran Khan says that the army is worth more than his life. And those unfit people who want to pitch PTI in front of the Army will fail.”

  • How much was Justin Bieber paid to perform in Ambani wedding?

    How much was Justin Bieber paid to perform in Ambani wedding?

    Canadian pop star Justin Bieber has arrived in India to perform at the wedding of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant.

    Bieber landed in Mumbai on Thursday morning and will perform at the couple’s Sangeet ceremony on Friday, alongside Indian rappers Badshah and Karan Aujla, according to Indian media.

    A video shared online shows Bieber’s car in Mumbai.

    The Ambani family, known for paying big money to performers at their events, reportedly offered Bieber $10 million for his performance. Other famous artists like Adele, Drake, and Lana Del Rey might also perform at the wedding next week.

    The three-day wedding event for Anant and Radhika will take place from July 12 to 14. It will start with ‘Shubh Vivaah,’ followed by ‘Shubh Aashirwad’ and ‘Mangal Utsav.’ The celebrations began with a mameru ceremony, a Gujarati tradition where the bride’s maternal uncle brings her sweets and gifts. Next is a dandiya and garba night hosted by Kokilaben Dhirubai Ambani on July 4.

    In March and June, India’s richest man Mukesh Ambani and his family hosted two pre-wedding events for their youngest son and his fiancée before the grand wedding.

  • Khan says PTI to participate in APC to hear what govt says about Azm-e-Istehkam

    Khan says PTI to participate in APC to hear what govt says about Azm-e-Istehkam

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan stated on Friday that PTI will participate in the All-Parties Conference (APC), during which the government will take all the political parties into confidence over the newly launched military operation Azm-e-Istehkam.

    Speaking to reporters in Adiala jail during a hearing, Khan said, “My party will participate in the All-Parties Conference and hear what the government has to say.”

    Imran Khan also voiced concerns over the operation, saying it would “only lead to further instability” in the country.

    The federal cabinet approved a new anti-militant operation last week following the Apex Committee’s recommendations to take down terrorists across the country.

    However, opposition parties including the PTI, Jamiat-e-Ulema Islam Fazl (JUI-F), Awami National Party (ANP), and others have voiced concerns over the military operation, demanding that parliament must be taken into confidence before taking any such decision.

  • Students tayyar raho, Matric result just few days away

    Students tayyar raho, Matric result just few days away

    The matric results of all nine educational boards in Punjab will be announced on Tuesday, July 9, at 10 a.m.

    All the Boards in Punjab will establish results through two channels:

    Students with internet access are advised to check their results online on the respective Board’s website. Those without internet access can check their results through their mobile phones by sending their roll numbers via message to a specific “board code.”

    The code of all the boards are given as follows:

    Faisalabad’s code is 800240.
    The code for Dera Ghazi Khan is 800295
    Gujranwala: 800299.
    Rawalpindi’s code number is 800296.
    Lahore: 800291
    Bahawalpur: 800298.
    Sargodha’s code number is 800290.
    Sahiwal is at 800292.
    The code number for Multan is 800293

    There are nine Boards of Intermediate and Secondary Education, each covering a different district

  • Petroleum dealers strike as OGRA directs oil companies to keep pumps open

    Petroleum dealers strike as OGRA directs oil companies to keep pumps open

    The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) and the Petroleum Division have issued a joint statement following the strike announced by the Petroleum Dealers Association, stating that petroleum products will be available nationwide.

    The statement directed oil marketing companies to keep pumps open and ensure continuous supply.

    According to the joint statement, the country has abundant petroleum products, and they will remain available throughout the nation.

    Earlier, the Petroleum Dealers Association had declared a nationwide strike starting on July 5.

    Abdul Sami Khan, Chairman of the Petroleum Dealers Association, announced the strike, emphasising that businesses cannot sustain operations with such high taxes. He warned that pumps across the country will begin to run dry tonight and stated that negotiations will not resume until the government accepts their demands.

  • Mathira’s struggles: How society judges single mothers

    Mathira’s struggles: How society judges single mothers

    In a recent interview with Samaa, television host Mathira talked about her difficulties as a single parent after her 2018 divorce, sharing details of how her children have been her biggest source of strength.

    Mathira said that her three sons have been her main support, and she had to take on both roles of a mother and father while raising them. “When the father is no longer around, the mother has to take on his role. It’s not a woman’s job to be a man, but when she does, she becomes stronger than a man,” she said.

    The host pointed out unfairness in society, noting differences in how single mothers and fathers are treated. “When a single mother does something, people wonder who helped her instead of praising her. When a man does something good, we appreciate him, but when a woman runs a household, she faces many accusations,” Mathira lamented. She added that it gets very tough, and then she can’t be a good mother or take on the role of a father.

    The television star spoke about the severe depression she went through after her third pregnancy, a struggle that society mostly ignores, sometimes shames and dismisses as unimportant. “I think now people are learning that depression, including postpartum depression and hormonal changes, is real,” she noted, stressing the need for better understanding of mental health issues.

  • “Change begins now,” Labour’s Keir Starmer on winning UK elections

    “Change begins now,” Labour’s Keir Starmer on winning UK elections

    Keir Starmer from Britain’s Labour has pledged to change UK as the next Prime Minister after his party won big in parliamentary elections on Friday, putting an end to 14 years of Conservative rule in the country.

    “The Labour Party has won this general election, and I have called Sir Keir Starmer to congratulate him on his victory,” a sombre-looking Rishi Sunak said in his speech after the results came out.

    Rishi called the results “sobering” as he took responsibility for the defeat.

    “Change begins now,” Starmer said in a victory speech.

    “We said we would end the chaos, and we will, we said we would turn the page, and we have. Today, we start the next chapter, begin the work of change, the mission of national renewal and start to rebuild our country.”

    At a triumphant party rally in central London, Starmer, 61, cautioned that change would not come overnight, even as Labour snatched a great number of Tory seats around the country, including from nine Cabinet members, and former prime minister Liz Truss. Truss lost in her rural constituency by a slim margin of 630 votes.

    How did the elections go?

    Labour raced past the 326 seats needed to secure an overall majority in the 650-seat parliament.

    An exit poll for UK broadcasters published after polls closed on Thursday put Labour on course for a return to power for the first time since 2010, with 410 seats and a 170-seat majority.

    The Tories will get only 131 seats in the House of Commons—a record low—with the right-wing vote apparently spliced by Nigel Farage’s anti-immigration Reform UK party.

    Esteemed journalist in an article for his platform Zeteo wrote, “Goodbye to the party that helped unleash shameful levels of racism and hate against both migrants and minorities, with not just Brexit but “Go Home” vans and the Rwanda plan; bigoted rhetoric about “swarms” of migrants and citizens of nowhere.”

    What will happen to the government?

    Sunak will tender his resignation to head of state King Charles III, with the monarch then asking Starmer, as the leader of the largest party in parliament, to form a government.

    To-do list for next government

    Starmer took over the party post-Brexit in 2020 and had aimed to bring it to the centre again.

    Starmer is facing a daunting to-do list, with economic growth anaemic, public services overstretched and underfunded due to swinging cuts, and households squeezed financially.

    When it comes to Gaza, he is on the same page as Rishi Sunak, emphasising support for Israel’s right to defend itself while maintaining the recognition of a two-state solution. However, Starmer has said he would review arms sales to Israel but has also not made a pledge to suspend any.

    Additionally, Starmer has shown its determination to scrap the UK’s Controversial Rwanda Bill for asylum seekers that was introduced to deport illegal asylum seekers to Rwanda.