Tag: Top News

  • ‘Become better’; Saheefa Jabbar speaks up after facing backlash for defending Dananeer

    ‘Become better’; Saheefa Jabbar speaks up after facing backlash for defending Dananeer

    Actor and model Saheefa Jabbar Khattak has talked about how artists in the entertainment industry often face tough criticism. She shared a heartfelt message on Instagram, explaining the challenges and pressures that content creators deal with. She asked for empathy and understanding from everyone in the community.

    In her message, the actress from ‘Beti’ talked about how some artists face judgment and negativity because they quickly become famous or make certain artistic choices. “Even if I don’t like the work of many content creators, I believe that when God gives someone fame and wealth, I shouldn’t question why they have it.”

    Saheefa talked about her own experiences defending another artist who was criticized for becoming successful quickly and charging high fees. She said, “I got many direct messages from people worried about quick fame, not being a real artist, asking for too much money, and getting everything too easily.”

    Saheefa talked about how the entertainment industry changed, especially in marketing and branding after COVID-19. She said, “Influencers and content creators now have big roles in building brand images and increasing sales. We’ve seen a change where influencers are now being invited to major award shows and screenings, something that wasn’t common before.”

    The actor also said it’s important to stick to your values and respect other artists. “I may not always agree with the content someone makes. But I think every artist, YouTuber, or influencer should be honest in what they create,” Saheefa said. She also talked about the need for artists to support and respect each other, “As an artist, it’s my duty to respect other artists and help them as much as I can.”

    She added, “When you say bad things about other artists or criticize them in your posts, it’s not good.” Saheefa talked about feeling envious and frustrated when she sees others succeed. “Sometimes I feel frustrated too when I don’t get as much work as others, when I don’t see myself as successful as them, or when I don’t earn as much money. But each time, I remind myself that as a person, I can only work hard, pray, and hope for better things to come,” she said.

    The 35-year-old ended her post by telling her followers and friends to try to improve themselves instead of feeling jealous. She said, “When we see someone succeed, we can feel jealous and want what they have, and that’s normal. It’s tough to watch someone achieve what you wanted for yourself; that’s true.”

    “But let me finish by saying that as a person, you can only do your best, and you should work to improve yourself.” Her message has connected with many in the industry, leading to talks about the importance of supporting different forms of artistic expression without being judgmental.

  • ‘Views my own about Saudi’s role in IK’s removal’; Marwat tries damage control for PTI

    ‘Views my own about Saudi’s role in IK’s removal’; Marwat tries damage control for PTI

    Sher Afzal Marwat has offered clarification on his allegation that Saudi Arabia was involved in the ouster of former Prime Minister Imran Khan in 2022.

    Taking to X (formerly Twitter), he wrote, “The statement made by me in live show was based on my personal views. I never claimed in my interview that the stance had any official backing of the PTI.”

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has ‘criticised’ its maverick member Sher Afzal Marwat for alleging that Saudi Arabia played a role in the ouster of former Prime Minister Imran Khan.

    PTI’s official X (formerly Twitter) account posted a statement which read, “Marwat’s views do not undermine the strategy or position of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf in any way, nor do they consider them as factual statements. This may be his personal opinion which is not supported or approved by the leadership or workers of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf at any level.”

    Moreover, the post said that Saudi Arabia is one of Pakistan’s closest and most trusted Islamic brotherhood countries and Imran Khan had a relationship of mutual respect and trust with Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman (MBS).

    Meanwhile, Imran Khan’s close aide Zulfi Bukhari also clarified on X, “Neither Imran Khan nor PTI holds any such opinion about the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. KSA has ALWAYS been & will be our closest brotherly country.”

    He also said that the recent visit by the Saudi delegation is a testament to Pakistan’s brotherly relations with KSA.

    Moonis Elahi also said his piece on X, “I think Sher Afzal Marwat Sahib is mistaken. His recent statement against Saudi Arabia is also not correct because PM Imran Khan never mentioned Saudi Arabia in the regime change plan. As far as I remember, Khan Sahib has always used good words for the Saudi government.”

    Earlier, Sher Afzal Marwat, the popular Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) member, in a talk show on GTV, gave a new twist to the alleged ‘regime change’ of 2022 when he remarked that Saudi Arabia was directly involved in the ouster of former prime minister Imran Khan.

    “This regime change operation took place due to cooperation between the two countries Saudi Arabia and America. Saudis played the role of a conduit in the regime change,” said the PTI member.

    When anchorperson Gharida Farooqi said to Marwat that this is a very serious allegation because Saudi Arabia is a brotherly country of Pakistan, he replied that his allegations are a reality because KSA makes policies on the whims of the USA.

    “Someone made an allegation on Imran Khan that he did mimicry of Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman (MBS) and he got to know about it so that could also be the reason for this,”, said Marwat after being questioned by the journalist about Saudia’s motivation for it.

  • PTI to hold public rallies across country before by-elections

    PTI to hold public rallies across country before by-elections

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) announced on Wednesday that it will hold public rallies across the country, especially in Punjab, before the upcoming by-elections set to take place on April 21st.

    PTI chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, along with party leader Sher Afzal Marwat, talked to journalists in front of Adiala jail about their meeting with party founder Imran Khan.

    The former Prime Minister asked Barrister Gohar Ali Khan to announce the party’s plan about public rallies in the country before by-polls. Imran Khan specifically assigned Sher Afzal Marwat to lead public rallies in Punjab.

    Furthermore, it was noted that Imran Khan instructed the party’s leadership to revamp the party’s activities nationwide, particularly in Punjab.

    Barrister Gohar, Omar Ayub, and Sher Afzal Marwat were given the responsibility to mobilize the party in Punjab and KP for upcoming by-elections. They were also tasked with organizing rallies before the elections. The party’s founder specifically assigned Sher Afzal Marwat to visit constituencies where the by-elections were happening.

  • Largest black hole discovered in Milky Way

    Largest black hole discovered in Milky Way

    PARIS: Astronomers identified the largest stellar black hole yet discovered in the Milky Way, with a mass 33 times that of the Sun, according to a study published on Tuesday.

    The black hole, named Gaia BH3, was discovered “by chance” from data collected by the European Space Agency’s Gaia mission, said an astronomer from the National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) at the Observatoire de Paris, Pasquale Panuzzo.

    Gaia, which is dedicated to mapping the Milky Way galaxy, located BH3 2,000 light years away from Earth in the Aquila constellation.

    As Gaia’s telescope can give a precise position of stars in the sky, astronomers were able to characterise their orbits and measure the mass of the star’s invisible companion — 33 times that of the Sun.

    Further observations from on-the-ground telescopes confirmed that it was a black hole with a mass far greater than the stellar black holes already in the Milky Way.

    “No one was expecting to find a high-mass black hole lurking nearby, undetected so far. This is the kind of discovery you make once in your research life,” Panuzzo said in a press release.

    The stellar black hole was discovered when scientists spotted a “wobbling” motion on the companion star that was orbiting it.

    Stellar black holes are created from the collapse of massive stars at the end of their lives and are smaller than supermassive black holes whose creation is still unknown.

    Such giants have already been detected in distant galaxies via gravitational waves. But “never in ours”, said Panuzzo.

    BH3 is a “dormant” black hole and is too far away from its companion star to strip it of its matter and therefore emits no X-rays — making it difficult to detect.

    Gaia’s telescope identified the first two inactive black holes (Gaia BH1 and Gaia BH2) in the Milky Way.

    Gaia has been operating 1.5 million kilometres from Earth for the past 10 years and in 2022 delivered a 3D map of the positions and motions of more than 1.8 billion stars.

  • US reaffirms support to Pakistan in managing economic crisis

    US reaffirms support to Pakistan in managing economic crisis

    As Pakistan, yet again, seeks a fresh International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout package, United States Department of State Spokesperson Matthew Miller has remarked that America fully supports Pakistan in managing its debt crisis.

    “Pakistan has made progress to stabilise its economy, and we support its efforts to manage its daunting debt burden. We encourage the government to prioritise and expand economic reforms to address its economic challenges,” he said addressing a press briefing in Washington.

    He welcomed the recent staff-level agreement reached between the IMF and Pakistan on the second and final review under the $3 billion Stand-By Arrangement, which, if cleared by the IMF’s board, will release about $1.1 billion to the indebted country.

    Finance Minister of Pakistan, Muhammad Aurangzeb, is currently in the US to hold meetings with the IMF for the recent lending package.

    The News reported that Pakistan intends to make a request for augmenting the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) through climate finance, so there is a possibility of securing $6 to $8 billion SBA.

  • Is Saudi Arabia going to invest $1billion in Balochistan mines?

    Is Saudi Arabia going to invest $1billion in Balochistan mines?

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said on Tuesday that the current visit of Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan to Islamabad will mark the beginning of a fresh era of strategic and commercial partnerships between the two long-standing allies.

    The Saudi foreign minister came to Islamabad for a two-day visit to boost economic cooperation between the two countries and advance investment deals that were agreed upon earlier.

    “The visit is the beginning of a new era of strategic and commercial partnership between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia,” Sharif was quoted as saying in a statement from his office after he met Prince Faisal. “Pakistan wants to further promote cooperation in the fields of trade and investment between the two countries.”

    The PM stated that Pakistan is actively promoting foreign investment and making partnerships mutually beneficial for allies. He added that Islamabad appreciates the Saudi leadership for increasing investment.

    In a statement shared with media on Monday, the Pakistan information ministry said the Saudi delegation would consult with Pakistani officials “on the next stages of investment and implementation issues.”

    The ministry announced that they would discuss Saudi Arabia’s planned investment in the Reko Diq gold and copper mining project during the visit. The development comes after the media reported that Saudi Arabia is likely to invest $1 billion in the mine project in Balochistan.
    The investment will reportedly focus on energy, IT, minerals, defence, and agriculture sectors.

  • Singer Anuv Jain fanboys over ‘legend’ Atif Aslam

    Singer Anuv Jain fanboys over ‘legend’ Atif Aslam

    Indian singer Anuv Jain and Pakistani superstar singer Atif Aslam met after performing together in Nepal. They had a spontaneous jam session late at night. Anuv shared a photo taken after the jam on Instagram.

    In the caption, Anuv recounted the night’s events, saying, “What a night! This picture was taken at 3am, right after Atif Aslam Sir and his band turned a simple BBQ dinner into the most amazing 2.5 hour long jam session for about 20 of us.” He expressed awe and appreciation, noting, “Having a legend sitting just a few feet away from me doing his thing was probably one of the craziest things that have ever happened to me. Thank you for a beautiful night, sir, and for inspiring an entire generation.”

    After their performance in Kathmandu, Anuv Jain and Atif Aslam had a small gathering. They were part of a concert lineup that brought singers from India and Pakistan together. Fans of both singers loved the photo.

    In January, Atif, known for his soulful voice, announced his return to Bollywood. He will sing a romantic song for the movie Love Story of 90’s. The news excited fans on both sides of the border.
    The movie, produced by Haresh Sangani and Dharmesh Sangani, is directed by Amit Kasaria. It stars Adhyayan Suman and Divita Rai.

    Expressing their excitement about the momentous collab, the producers shared, “We are very ecstatic as Atif Aslam has sung the very first song in our film LSO90’s. Fans of Atif Aslam will be thrilled. He is making a return in Bollywood through our film.”

  • Shaan Shahid’s daughter ready to make mark in film industry

    Shaan Shahid’s daughter ready to make mark in film industry

    Shaan Shahid is Lollywood’s bonafide superstar, good looking, talented and star of multiple hits. He has a lovely family, including his wife Amna Bandey and four beautiful daughters. Now it seems like his oldest daughter, Bahisht Shahid, is getting ready to work in the entertainment industry.

    In a recent video circulating on YouTube, Shaan talked about how proud he is of his daughter. She recently got into NCA where she is studying film writing, direction, and acting. He believes she’ll bring her talent to the media industry soon. Shaan Shahid expressed his desire to see his daughter succeed and make him proud in the media world.

    He said, “I want my daughter to make the country proud as well,” remarked Shaan. “Actors’ children fall prey to unnecessary criticism regarding nepotism,” he added, stating that his parents were in the same field, so his children should make their way into the industry too. “I would like to see Bahisht in the media industry,” he said.

    Bahisht also shared her thoughts on joining the industry. “I feel nervous because of my elders who were superstars, but I have the guidance of my father and with him, I can conquer the world,” she said confidently. “I will be doing anything that will come my way including acting, direction and writing.”

  • Shazeal Shoukat had to learn Urdu and it wasn’t easy

    Shazeal Shoukat had to learn Urdu and it wasn’t easy

    Shazeal Shoukat is a fresh face in the drama industry, catching the audience’s attention with her performances. Having spent most of her life in Canada, she moved to Pakistan to pursue her passion for acting. With roles in various dramas, her recent one, ‘Adawat,’ received high ratings. Shazeal prefers to stay true to herself, living life on her own terms without pretending to be someone she’s not.

    Talking to BBC Urdu, she opened up about her difficulties with Urdu. “I have a problem speaking in Urdu, and I am currently working on it,” she said, emphasizing that she’s not ashamed of her lack of proficiency in the language and believes in the need to work hard to improve.
    Addressing the challenges young artists encounter in the industry, Shazeal pointed out that she personally hasn’t faced much struggle except for Urdu proficiency. “I will be okay with people who do not know English come and speak to me.”
    This is what she said:

  • Sarah Khan, Falak Shabir share adorable family photos with daughter

    Sarah Khan, Falak Shabir share adorable family photos with daughter

    The latest pictures of Sarah Khan and Falak Shabir, taken on their recent vacation in Dubai are making waves on social media.
    Sarah Khan shared adorable glimpses of their family trip on her Instagram account, treating her 11 million followers to some sweet moments. The ‘Tumhare Hain’ actor captioned the photos with “Dubai” along with a double-heart emoji. She also posted pictures of herself in a stylish outfit for the family photoshoot.

    Meanwhile, Falak Shabir, ‘Vichora’ singer and doting father, shared a series of photos featuring only his two-year-old daughter, Alyana Falak.

    The viral posts garnered love from millions of social media users, who liked and left heartwarming comments for their favorite celebrity couple.

    Sarah Khan and Falak Shabir got married in a private ceremony in July 2020. They welcomed their first child, Alyana Falak, in 2021. Speculations are rife among netizens about the couple expecting their second child.