Tag: trending

  • Pakistan ranks 99th in Global Hunger Index 2022, faces serious hunger levels

    Pakistan ranks 99th in Global Hunger Index 2022, faces serious hunger levels

    In the recently published Global Hunger Index (GHI-2022), Pakistan has been ranked 99th out of 121 countries assessed for their hunger levels.

    The GHI report, launched in Islamabad on Tuesday, revealed a drop in Pakistan’s score from 38.1 in 2006 to 26.1 in 2022, but the hunger level is still considered serious, reported Dawn.

    The Global Hunger Index is an annual pre-reviewed report jointly published by Welthungerhilfe and Concern Worldwide. Its primary objective is to raise awareness and understanding of the challenges faced in the fight against hunger worldwide.

    According to the report, the combination of armed conflicts, climate change, and the coronavirus pandemic has exacerbated hunger issues, forcing approximately 828 million people into hunger globally. Moreover, it highlights that 46 countries are not on track to achieve even a low level of hunger by 2030, signaling the need for urgent action.

    The regions most affected by hunger are Africa, specifically South of the Sahara, and South Asia, with the latter being the worst-hit. Notably, South Asia has the highest child stunting rate and the highest child wasting rate among all world regions.

    Pakistan, with a serious level of hunger, faces significant challenges in eradicating this issue. As the nation strives to address this pressing problem, stakeholders are urged to collaborate and implement solutions that involve local communities and diverse voices in shaping effective policies for food security.

    The Global Hunger Index serves as a vital tool in identifying and tackling hunger-related problems, and it is hoped that with collective efforts, progress will be made towards achieving a hunger-free world.

  • PML-N convinces allies to grant extra powers to caretaker PM

    PML-N convinces allies to grant extra powers to caretaker PM

    The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has convinced other allies in the government on the matter of granting extra powers to the caretaker set-up.

    The matter was discussed during a meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on Electoral Reforms, headed by PML-N’s Sardar Ayaz Sadiq. Article 230, which relates to the functions of the caretaker government, also came under discussion.

    According to the proposed bill, the caretaker government will be given unrestricted powers, but allied parties opposed the bill, and the matter was deferred.

    After the discussion in today’s meeting, PML-N agreed to make minor changes to the bill. After these changes, the caretaker government will only engage with bilateral donors and multilateral institutions.

    After the new changes, the caretaker government will have the powers under clause 2A of Section 230. The caretaker government will not be able to reach a new agreement after these changes in the bill. But the caretaker government can use its powers on ongoing projects.

    Ahmed Bilal Mehboob also told The Current that “Unelected Prime Minister should not have extra powers, and it is totally opposite to the democratic system”.

  • Indian bride Anju’s cross-border love story earns her a year-long stay in Pakistan

    Indian bride Anju’s cross-border love story earns her a year-long stay in Pakistan

    Anju, now known as Fatime, a 35-year-old Indian woman, has been granted a one-year visa extension by Pakistani authorities to stay in the country, reported Geo News on Wednesday.

    Anju made waves both domestically and internationally for her decision to cross borders out of love, converting from Hinduism to Islam, and marrying Nasrullah, a resident of Upper Dir in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The couple’s union took place last month in a local court overseen by a district and sessions judge.

    In a recent statement, Nasrullah expressed gratitude towards the interior ministry for the one-year visa extension granted to his wife. He confirmed that all necessary documentation has been shared with the relevant authorities and appreciated the cooperation and assistance they’ve received from various Pakistani departments and institutions.

    Anju’s decision to cross borders for love has not only captured hearts but also led to heartwarming gestures of hospitality from the Pakistani community. Last month, Anju was presented with a parcel of land and monetary gifts as an appreciation of her embracing Islam.

    Mohsin Khan Abbasi, the CEO of a prominent real estate company in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, gifted Fatima Rs50,000 and a 10 marla housing plot. A video circulated on social media showed Abbasi visiting the newlywed couple, Anju and Nasrullah, at their home.

    He expressed his intentions during this visit, emphasizing that such gifts were to ensure Anju felt welcome and at home in her new country.

    Anju’s heartwarming journey began on July 22 when she entered Pakistan through the Wagah border, with her beloved Nasrullah waiting for her in Rawalpindi. Originally granted a month-long visa, that have now been extended to one year.

    Under strict security measures, the couple was brought to the district courts, where a judge recorded Anju’s statement and performed the nikkah ceremony. In her statement, Anju asserted that her visit to Nasrullah, aged 29, was entirely of her own free will, and she expressed happiness in marrying him.

    After the nikah, the couple swiftly departed the court premises without interacting with the media, as reported by locals. They later visited the picturesque Lowari Top area, capturing moments of their journey in a video that subsequently went viral on social media.

    According to Indian media reports, Anju was previously married to Arvind Kumar in 2007. The couple are parents to a 15-year-old daughter and a six-year-old son.

    A day prior to her court marriage, Anju released a 40-second video message, urging the media not to disturb or harass her relatives and children in India, as she was in the process of returning home, which she expected to complete within two or three days.

    Anju clarified that her travel to Pakistan was entirely legal and well-planned, emphasizing that she had taken time to make the decision.

    In an interview with Indian media, Anju’s father announced that he was breaking all ties with his daughter. He told media that the family had no idea that Anju was planning to travel to the neighbouring country and marry a Pakistani man.

    In answer to a question, he said that Nasrullah, who is now his son-in-law, had messaged him and shared videos of the engagement, to which he told Nasrullah that he has nothing to do with it. He was very clear that if his daughter was getting married to someone by her own will, what could he have done about it. It’s her choice, he said.

  • ‘Our tolerance is much higher’: Adnan Siddiqui thinks Pakistanis are more accepting than Indian audiences

    ‘Our tolerance is much higher’: Adnan Siddiqui thinks Pakistanis are more accepting than Indian audiences

    Pakistani actor Adnan Siddiqui spoke with The Indian Express about his 2019 hit drama ‘Mere Pass Tum Ho’ which is set to appear on the Indian channel ‘Zee Zindagi’ which has also aired previous Pakistani dramas like ‘Qissa MeherBano Ka’ and ‘Hum Kahan Kay Sachay Thay’.

    Touching upon the topic of the ban on Pakistani music and films in India and vice versa, the actor said that there should be a healthy cultural exchange between the two countries as he feels Pakistanis are more tolerant in comparison to Indian audiences:

    “Art has no boundaries, but artistes have a certain boundary, which shouldn’t be there. There should be healthy cultural exchange. I believe that the kind of tolerance–pardon me for being so blunt–but our tolerance, in comparison to Indian audience is much higher. We accept Indian artistes, Indian cricketers, we accept everything good about India. But when this thing goes across the border, it becomes very political. I don’t know why.”

    Adnan, who starred in Bollywood film ‘Mom’ in 2017 which starred the late veteran Bollywood actress Sri Devi and our very own Sajal Aly, and was met with applause by audiences both in India and Pakistan. But the actor recalled how after the Fawad Khan controversy, the filming had to be kept quiet.

    “I remember when I was filming Mom, it was kept very hush-hush, because the whole Fawad Khan controversy had happened. Boney was saying that we can’t do interviews, public appearances. This shouldn’t be happening; the responsibility should be taken by both the governments and the political parties, to at least be a little lenient when there is art involved somewhere.”

    Speaking further on the ban and his dissapointment on not being able to establish a career in Bollywood, Siddiqui revealed that it was actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s manager who reached out to him with some jobs, but it eventually didn’t work out.

    “I was thinking to have my career over there, Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s manager was in touch with me, he was offering me some work over there and I was looking at those also, but then it didn’t happen. No regrets, really.”

  • SC refuses Khan’s plea to pause trial court proceedings in the Toshakhana case

    SC refuses Khan’s plea to pause trial court proceedings in the Toshakhana case

    The Supreme Court (SC) rejected former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s petition on Wednesday to pause trial court proceedings in the Toshakhana case.

    The former prime minister went to the apex court when he didn’t get relief from the Islamabad High Court (IHC) in the Toshakhana case.

    Last year, on October 21, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) disqualified Imran Khan in the Toshakhana case for making “false statements and incorrect declarations.”

    The trial court said on July 8 that ECP’s plea is defensible and further proceeded against the former Prime Minister Imran Khan. After that, Imran Khan approached the SC for relief.

    A two-member SC bench heard the case today. Justice Yahya Afridi remarked that the SC will not interfere in the matters of the trial court.

    He further said that it’s not within the SC’s jurisdiction to hear the petition while the case is already in the IHC.

    “Court’s jurisdiction is a major issue, it should be decided first,” the justice remarked.

  • ‘What even’: Sahir Lodhi’s philosophy has people scratching their heads

    ‘What even’: Sahir Lodhi’s philosophy has people scratching their heads

    Recently, a Sahir Lodhi quote featured in Tribune Lifestyle has left people scratching their head. The website quoted Lodhi’s interview with Cinevision Youtube channel where he said: “‘Sahir’ and ‘Sahir Lodhi’ are two different people. Sahir is somebody that I know. Sahir Lodhi is somebody that everyone knows. Everyone has access to Sahir Lodhi. But only Sahir Lodhi has access to Sahir.”

    Is this the plot to Inception? When the quote went viral on Twitter, users took their best shot at trying to decipher what Sahir meant. We’ll share some of the hilarious responses to Lodhi’s philosophy.

  • ‘Nothing decent to talk about’: Imran Abbas slams talk shows for insulting actors

    ‘Nothing decent to talk about’: Imran Abbas slams talk shows for insulting actors

    Actor Imran Abbas has taken to his Facebook account to discuss how entertainment talk shows have fallen in quality, after a series of controversies surrounding talk shows. The saga begun when model Ekra Faiz said Hania Amir was an overrated actress who was everywhere on television, and a resurfaced clip showed Sadaf Kanwal making demeaning comments about Mahira Khan’s appearance.

    Now, the ‘Tumharay Hussn Kay Naam’ actor has stated that he refuses to go on talk shows anymore because the conversations are focused on criticising one’s appearance, looks or deciding whether they are religious or not.

    “It’s one of the major reasons for me to refuse to go to these talk shows conducted by those fame-deprived hosts, who are known to no one, doesn’t have any claim to fame, and don’t have any acheivements under their belt, who even talk publicly about celebrities’ personal lives and at times about their religious and personal beliefs too and have the audacity to judge people and their work as well without any personal accomplishments of their own and without knowing these celebrities journey’s..”

    The actor urged talk show hosts to stop focusing on mundane, senseless issues that only seek to profit off other people’s misery, and to focus on important issues one can discuss in society:

    “Don’t you have anything decent to talk, any important issue left in our society to discuss and ponder, can’t you sit for a while for something deep and meaningful which needs our focus or anything which is humorous yet not derogatory?”

    Imran also urged other actors to join him in refusing to attend talk shows so that hosts can learn to remember their responsibility to make moral and ethical shows:

    “I request our fellow actors to discourage them by stop being a part of these ‘wanna be funny/ popular talk shows’…Please have some morals and set a precedent since we all have lots of responsibilities when we come on stage even as guests/ hosts.”

    Read his complete post here:

  • Raja Riaz rejects Dar for caretaker PM, sees no need for immediate elections

    Raja Riaz rejects Dar for caretaker PM, sees no need for immediate elections

    The leader of the opposition in the National Assembly, Raja Riaz, said on Tuesday that Finance Minister Ishaq Dar is not a suitable candidate for the position of caretaker PM. He has also said that there is no need for an immediate election in the country.

    The tenure of the National Assembly is going to expire on August 12. Members of the government are holding consultations over the matter of the interim government.

    Speaking on the matter of the caretaker setup, Raja Riaz said that the idea of appointing Ishaq Dar as caretaker PM is not good. “Elections will not be held for two years if Ishaq Dar becomes the interim prime minister,” he said.

    Asking the PML-N to reveal a name in media, Raja Riaz said that there is no need for him to consult on it. “As the opposition leader, I have to give my three names. I will meet the Prime Minister by August 1 on the caretaker government issue,” he added.

    The leader of the opposition has also dismissed the idea of an immediate election in the country. “The problems of the country and the people are more important. The solution to the challenges faced at this time is most important”.

    Raja Riaz was appointed as the leader of the opposition in May 2022 by the speaker of the National Assembly, Raja Pervez Ashraf.

  • Khwaja Asif slammed for calling PTI women legislators ‘garbage’

    Khwaja Asif slammed for calling PTI women legislators ‘garbage’

    Federal Minister for Defence, Khwaja Asif, found himself yet again at the center of a controversy after he passed derogatory comments about female legislators of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

    After being criticized by PTI parliamentarians on the “bulldozing” of bills in the assembly, Asif spoke up and reminded the opposition of their government’s tenure when bills were similarly bulldozed through the lower House.

    “Depraved women should not lecture on chastity,” he said, then stated that if he responds, the “woman card” will be used against him.

    Asif then went on to call the women the “remains” and “ruins” of Imran Khan, pointing towards the benches where Senators Zarqa Suharwardy Taimur, Sania Nishtar, Falak Naz Chitrali and Fawzia Arshad were sitting.

    “This is the garbage that has to be cleaned,” he remarked.

    His comments were met by fierce protests by PTI female parliamentarians.

    Raja Pervez Ashraf, the Speaker of the National Assembly, then expunged the word “garbage” from the speech.

    Asif, who has in the past been accused of misogynistic comments, most notably against PTI leader Shireen Mazari, has been slammed by commentators and politicians for the speech.

  • Factcheck: Is ‘Barbie’ banned all over Lahore?

    Factcheck: Is ‘Barbie’ banned all over Lahore?

    The devastating news that the iconic film ‘Barbie’ was recalled once more from cinemas by the Punjab Government for a second review has left fans fuming. News outlets said that the film was banned over four words were circulating on social media.

    On Saturday night some social media reports said that the screening had halted midway, and cinemas like Cue and Universal replaced the movie schedule for Barbie on their website with ‘Mission Impossible’.

    After speaking to an insider from the Punjab Film Censor Board, The Current has been informed that the film had previously been cleared to play in cinemas across Lahore, but it was the Punjab Government that had halted the screening and will release it after a second review. When we asked why there uproar on Barbie, and not Oppenheimer, the insider refused to comment on it.

    Speaking to Geo Fact Check, Amir Mir, the caretaker Information and Culture Minister of Punjab revealed ‘Barbie’ was re-called because of concern of the film’s content which showed ‘homosexuality’.

    “There is a gay character in it,” Mir said. “You can Google and find out if there is any such thing in it or not.”

    Mir added that the film will be re-examined in a few days and will be released to cinemas after censoring a few dialogues.

    However, Barbie was not censored in other cities like Islamabad or in Sindh. When Mir was asked about this his response was:

    “Other provinces probably like this kind of stuff. We have a problem with it.”

    However, we can advice you to not toss away your pink outfit yet, because Barbie is still playing in Chalo Cinemas at Fortress Square Mall. We contacted the cinema and a manager confirmed to us that the film has not been banned.

    On the official Instagram page, Chalo Cinema has still posted timings of the ‘Barbie’ movie.

    On their Instagram stories, the organisation shared Galaxy Lollywood founder Momin Ali Munshi’s post on how their cinema was the only place that was allowed to play Barbie. There are three censor boards in Pakistan: Sindh, Punjab, and for Central Cantonment. Cantt has a separate censor board, which is present in all provinces, and Barbie has been cleared by their Censor Board which is why it is playing in the only cinema present inside Lahore Cantt, at Fortress Stadium.