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Author: News Desk

  • Bushra Ansari takes stand against media double standards on Shoaib Malik’s wedding

    Bushra Ansari takes stand against media double standards on Shoaib Malik’s wedding

    Veteran actress Bushra Ansari is upset with people on social media after reactions to the news of Shoaib Malik’s wedding. Ansari said that the country has been buzzing since morning.


    She was annoyed with mainstream media too. Bushra shared that after Shoaib Malik’s second wedding, she received many calls from media channels.

    Expressing her anger, she said, “Did I study with Shoaib in school? Was he my classmate? Did Sana Javed play with me as a child? Am I part of their family? Who are you to speak about someone’s private life? Why should I answer stupid questions? I am very angry at these things, do you fear God or not? They both got married, that’s good, be happy, who are you and I to question someone’s private life?”
    Bushra Ansari pointed out that while there are serious issues in the world, the media is focused on Shoaib Malik’s marriage and how his first marriage ended. She mentioned actor Talat Hussain Ali and the world’s problems, but the media seemed more interested in sensational news about Shoaib Malik and Sana Javed.


    Expressing her frustration, Bushra Ansari warned that people who invade others’ lives for sensational news on social media will face the most punishment from Allah.
    She advised Shoaib Malik and Sana Javed to stay away from social media, where people are talking nonsense about them.

  • Election vacations around the corner for educational institutions

    Election vacations around the corner for educational institutions

    There will be eight holidays in educational institutions during general elections across the country, Geo reported.


    According to the report, the polling for the general elections across the country will be held on February 8, 2024, and on this occasion, the educational institutions will be closed for eight days.


    The eight-day holiday spans from February 4-10. February 4 is a Sunday, February 5 is Kashmir Day, and February 6 to 10 will be a general election holidays.


    11th February will be a Sunday and thus schools colleges and universities will open on 12th February after eight holidays.

  • Pakistan hockey team fails to qualify for Olympics for third consecutive time

    Pakistan hockey team fails to qualify for Olympics for third consecutive time

    Three-time Olympic gold medalist Pakistan failed to qualify for the Olympics for the third time.

    In the third-place match of the qualifiers played in Muscat, Pakistan failed to take the lead against New Zealand by 2-1.

    To get a place in the Paris Olympics, the team had to get the third position in the Olympics qualifier, but in the third-position match, Pakistan was defeated by New Zealand 2-3.

    The first quarter of the third-place match played in Muscat was scoreless, but at the beginning of the second quarter, Abubakar Mahmood converted a penalty corner into a goal to give Pakistan the lead.

    However, six minutes later Scott Boyd of New Zealand leveled the match.

    In the next moment, Pakistan got a penalty stroke on which Abu Bakr Mehmood scored to give Pakistan the lead again.

    Pakistan’s 1-2 lead was maintained until the last few minutes of the last quarter, but New Zealand’s Hugo Engels scored eight minutes before the final whistle to make it 2-2, and then Scott Boyd scored a goal in the 58th minute to give New Zealand a lead of 2-3 which remained till the end of the match.

  • Pakistan informs IMF of preparedness to address near-term challenges

    Pakistan informs IMF of preparedness to address near-term challenges

    In a recent communication to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the government has underscored its preparedness to address potential near-term challenges, signalling a commitment to maintaining economic stability.

    The disclosure comes as part of the IMF’s first review under the stand-by arrangement.

    The government, as revealed in the report, stands ready to respond decisively should near-term price pressures reemerge. This includes addressing stronger-than-expected second-round effects on core inflation and potential pressures on the exchange rate amid the normalisation of the current account.

    Amid signs of weaker demand, positive supply developments, and decreasing pressures on the exchange rate, the government anticipates a notable decline in inflation in the coming months.

    As a result, the policy rate was maintained at 22 per cent during the latest Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting held on October 30. However, the government reiterated its readiness to respond promptly if there is a resurgence of near-term price pressures.

    The primary objective is to ensure a clear downward trajectory for inflation and inflation expectations. The pace of future adjustments will be contingent on various factors, including inflation data, exchange rate developments, external position strength, and the fiscal-monetary policy mix.

    The government aims to keep the real policy rate in positive territory on a forward-looking basis, signalling a commitment to bringing inflation within the target band by fiscal year 2026.

    To enhance monetary policy transmission, the interest rate on major refinancing schemes, specifically the EFS and LTFF, will continue to be linked to the policy rate, with a spread of no more than 3 per centage points, as per the announcement by Pakistani authorities.

    The report emphasised the importance of vigilance, highlighting that despite the return of the forward-looking real policy rate to positive territory, caution is necessary due to near-term risks.

    With inflation expectations not yet firmly anchored, the Monetary Policy Committee is urged to respond robustly and promptly should inflationary pressures resurface.

    Maintaining a positive real policy rate during a period of easing inflation and promptly addressing signs of new demand pressures or rising inflation expectations is seen as crucial.

    This strategy aims to re-anchor inflation expectations and guide down core inflation from the second half of fiscal year 2024 onwards, contingent on the absence of a resumption in administrative import compression.

    The report projects a significant decline in headline inflation through fiscal years 2025–26, aligning within the targeted 5–7 per cent range by fiscal year 2026. This outlook is supported by fiscal consolidation efforts and the normalization of global commodity prices.

    While the IMF staff views the current stance as broadly appropriate given weak domestic demand, the report suggests that the MPC should remain prepared to respond resolutely if near-term price pressures reemerge, including second-round effects.

  • IMF forecasts improved inflation, slower economic growth for Pakistan in FY24

    IMF forecasts improved inflation, slower economic growth for Pakistan in FY24

    The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has adjusted its economic projections for Pakistan, providing a comprehensive review in its latest report. The key highlights include a downward revision of inflation forecasts and a moderated economic growth projection for the fiscal year 2024 (FY24).

    According to the IMF’s first review report, the inflation forecast for Pakistan has been revised down to an average of 24 per cent in FY24, showing a decline from the earlier projection of 25.9 per cent.

    This adjustment is attributed to the easing of food and energy prices, although the November gas tariff increase is expected to contribute to headline inflation in the coming months. Despite this, gradual declines are anticipated due to lower core inflation and recent movements in commodity prices.

    The year-end inflation is projected to be 18.5 per cent in FY24 and further decrease to 9 per cent in FY25, as outlined in the report.

    Conversely, the IMF has lowered its economic growth projection for Pakistan to 2 per cent in FY24, down from the initial estimate of 2.5 per cent. The revision reflects weaker domestic demand despite positive base effects from flood recovery, particularly in agriculture and the textile sector.

    The report emphasised that continued external challenges, along with tight fiscal and monetary policies, are expected to dampen consumption and private investment.

    The current account deficit (CAD) for FY24 is forecasted at $5.6 billion (1.6 per cent of GDP), below the previously projected $6.5 billion in the SBA Request. The import rebound is expected to be more restrained due to weakened domestic demand, while exports and remittances are also anticipated to be subdued.

    IMF staff anticipates the CAD to remain around 1.5 per cent of GDP over the medium term, reflecting efforts to rebuild reserves and a market-determined exchange rate consistent with sustainability.

    Despite a notable improvement in market sentiment since June, the IMF pointed out that risks to debt sustainability remain acute. Large gross financing needs and limited external financing pose challenges, and the global lender stressed that any policy slippages or insufficient financing could jeopardise the path to debt sustainability.

    Furthermore, the IMF highlighted that external financing risks are exceptionally high, and delays in the disbursement of planned financing from international financial institutions or bilateral partners could pose significant threats to the government’s programme, given limited buffers. This could lead to an increased reliance on expensive domestic financing, potentially crowding out private credit.

    In addition to economic concerns, the IMF warned that political tensions ahead of the upcoming elections may impact policy decisions and reform implementation, adding another layer of uncertainty to Pakistan’s economic outlook.

    The IMF concluded that while public debt could remain sustainable with decisive programme implementation and adequate financing, downside risks remain exceptionally high for the country, necessitating careful attention to policy measures and external support.

  • Pakistan’s winning start in Under-19 cricket World Cup

    Pakistan’s winning start in Under-19 cricket World Cup

    Pakistan defeated Afghanistan by a huge margin of 181 runs in the first match of the Under-19 cricket World Cup.

    Pakistan won the toss and decided to bat first against Afghanistan and scored 284 runs for the loss of 9 wickets in the allotted 50 overs, Shahzaib Khan scored a brilliant century and Saad Baig scored a half century.

    On behalf of Pakistan, Shahzeb Khan was the top scorer by scoring 106 runs off 126 balls, Saad Baig scored 55 runs and Riazullah scored 46 runs.

    On behalf of Afghanistan, Khalil Ahmed dismissed 4 players, Bashir Ahmed 2, Ghazanfar and Naseer Khan took one each.

    Chasing the target of 285 runs, the entire team of Afghanistan collapsed on only 103 runs, 7 players could not even enter double figures, Noman Shah scored 26, Sohail Zarmatni and Rahimullah Zarmati scored 20, 20 runs.

    On behalf of Pakistan, Obaid Shah took four wickets and Mohammad Zeeshan dismissed three players, Aamir Hasan and Ahmed Hussain took one wicket each.

    Pakistan’s batsman Shahzaib Khan was man of the match for his brilliant batting.

  • Social media services once again down in Pakistan

    Social media services once again down in Pakistan

    Social media services are once again down in Pakistan. Users in different parts of the country are facing difficulties in accessing Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, YouTube and X.

    Several users have complained about the lack of access to social media, but no statement or reason has been released by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA).

    It should be noted Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) has announced its virtual jalsa on social media today. Social media services were down last time on PTI virtual Jalsa and also on the fundraising program of PTI on social media a few days ago.

    The Government of Pakistan didn’t take notice of the sudden shutdown of social media from PTA.

  • In a first, man sentenced to three years in jail for marital rape

    In a first, man sentenced to three years in jail for marital rape

    In a legal first, a man has been sentenced to three years in jail after he was found guilty of having non-consensual sex with his wife, a punishable act under Section 377 (unnatural offences) of the Pakistan Penal Code, The News has reported.


    Additional Sessions Judge (South) Ashraf Hussain Khowaja announced the reserved judgment in Karachi after recording evidence and final arguments from both the defence and prosecution sides.


    He sentenced the convict named Javed to three-year rigorous imprisonment and ordered him to pay a Rs30,000 fine. If he fails to pay the fine, he would have to undergo an additional one month of simple imprisonment.


    “From a perusal of evidence brought at the trial by the prosecution, it appears that the victim has fully established a commission of sodomy with her by the accused being her husband,” the judge observed.


    “Though the victim/complainant contradicted some facts relating to the period of her stay with the accused, putting her signature on the memo of site inspection at PS, suffering from disease of piles and her age which are immaterial facts which would not be fatal to the prosecution case,” he added.
    The judge noted the medical evidence supported this version. On the other hand, he said the accused failed to establish “enmity” that her wife loved somebody else and therefore she implicated him falsely. The convict’s sisters who appeared as defence witnesses failed even to disclose the name of the alleged affair of the victim, he added.


    The victim testified that her husband would commit sodomy with her despite her attempts to stop him. About two months after their marriage, she informed her mother-in-law, who didn’t say anything to him, she said, adding that then she disclosed her ordeal to her sister and brother, after which she lodged an FIR against her husband on November 23, 2022.


    Advocate Bahzad Akbar of the Legal Aid Society, who represented the complainant, contended that sodomy falls within the definition of rape and marital rape in this case after an amendment brought to Section 375 of the Pakistan Penal Code in 2021.


    He said that the woman’s testimony and medical evidence corroborated the charges against the accused, requesting the judge to punish Javed as per the law.
    “I am not sure about other provinces but this is certainly the first such conviction over marital rape in Sindh following the amendment,” he told The News.
    He added there are no known convictions on charges of marital rape in the country. An FIR had been lodged under Section 377 of the PPC at the Chakiwara police station on the woman’s complaint.

  • ECP takes notice of attack on candidate’s election office in Lahore

    ECP takes notice of attack on candidate’s election office in Lahore

    Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja took notice of an attack on the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) candidate’s election office in Lahore’s Sattoo Katla area.

    On Friday morning, the Lahore office of Manzar Abbas Khokhar, the candidate from the PPP, was targeted in an attack involving a Molotov cocktail (petrol bomb).

    “The banners on the gate were burned after catching fire from the petrol bombs while the attackers stole the chairs and other things,” added PPP’s spokesperson.

    He added that Khokhar’s son filed an application at the Township Police Station. The police said that they would take legal action against the attackers after investigating the matter.

    At the same time, the ECP’s spokesperson stated that they have received instructions to file a First Information Report (FIR) following a complaint lodged by the PPP.

    PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari condemned the attack, saying that targeting the election office of the candidate was “open terrorism.”

  • Did cricketer Sarfaraz Ahmed leave Pakistan?

    Did cricketer Sarfaraz Ahmed leave Pakistan?

    Reports of former Pakistan cricket team captain Sarfraz Ahmed leaving Pakistan and moving to London along with his family have turned out to be false.

    According to Geo News sources, there is no truth in the news of Sarfraz Ahmed leaving Pakistan. The former Captain is currently in London for a holiday and he is returning to Pakistan soon.

    Sources say that Sarfraz Ahmed will play Pakistan Super League (PSL) and the domestic league as well. Sarfraz Ahmed’s wife is living in London while his son is also studying in London.

    Close sources say that Sarfraz Ahmed made a comeback before and now he will make a comeback in the Pakistan team again.

    The news were circulating on social media that the former captain Sarfaraz Ahmed had left Pakistan.

    Here are some false news;