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Author: News Desk

  • Multan Sultans partners with Gym Armour for PSL 9

    Multan Sultans partners with Gym Armour for PSL 9

    Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise Multan Sultans has partnered with clothing brand Gym ArmourPK for PSL season 9.

    Gym Armour will manufacture the playing (home and away), training, and travel apparel for Multan Sultans and will also be the official merchandise distributors.

    In a press release, Multan Sultans General Manager Hijab Zahid said, “We are delighted to be signing Gym Armour as our official merchandise partner. It is only befitting that the leading brands of the two industries have come together.

    “Our home and away kits, training gear, and travel equipment are in the final stage of production and I am very much confident that the fans of Multan Sultans and HBL PSL will love them.”

    Gym Armour Director Muhammad Hassan Sattar said “It gives us immense pleasure to be partnering with the most successful franchise of the HBL PSL.

    “As Multan Sultans are the innovators in the game of cricket with their exceptional strategies and brilliant tactics, Gym Armour has been the pioneer when it comes to sportswear manufacturing in Pakistan.

    “We look forward to this partnership and providing excellent customer service experience to the fans eager to buy the Multan Sultans merchandise.”

  • How much did Aamir Khan’s first marriage cost? You will be shocked at the amount

    How much did Aamir Khan’s first marriage cost? You will be shocked at the amount

    Aamir Khan is now one of the biggest names in Bollywood, charging huge amounts to do films, but once upon a time, he was just another broke newcomer in the industry.

    The method actor recently shared an interesting fact about his first wedding with ex-wife Reena Dutta, revealing that their wedding only cost Rs 10 (Indian Rupees). Aamir and Reena got married in 1986 through a court marriage, keeping the ceremony simple and affordable. Only three witnesses were present. The marriage took place just before Aamir’s debut film Qayamat Say Qayamat Tak turned into a smash hit, launching him into the A-List category.

    Aamir explained that he proposed to Reena, but she initially rejected him. Later, they started dating and eventually decided to tie the knot. For their wedding, Aamir took a bus to the registrar’s office, and the ticket cost only 50 paisa. After a short walk from Bandra station, they reached the registrar’s office. In total, their wedding expenses were less than 10 rupees.
    Talking about their separation in 2002 after 16 years of marriage, the actor said that the decision was challenging not only for them but also for family members.

    Aamir Khan and Reena Dutta have two children, daughter Ayra Khan and son Junaid Khan.

  • Indian bowler Muhammad Shami honoured with Arjuna Award

    Indian bowler Muhammad Shami honoured with Arjuna Award

    Team India’s star fast bowler Muhammad Shami has been given the Arjuna Award, the 9th Indian male cricketer to receive the coveted honour. Shami’s performance in World Cup 2023 was outstanding, with the most wickets in the tournament, 24 scalps in seven matches.

    President Droupadi Murmu presented the Arjuna Award to Mohammad Shami.

    Talking to ANI, the bowler said, “This award is like a dream for me. Life goes by and people don’t win this award. I am happy that I got it. Receiving this award is like a dream come true for me as I have seen many people getting this award in my life”.

    For Mohammad Shami, World Cup 2023 was nothing short of a dream come true. Shami wreaked havoc with the ball and was the highest wicket-taker in the tournament.

  • Bilawal predicts a ‘coalition government’, addresses rumoured rift with father

    Bilawal predicts a ‘coalition government’, addresses rumoured rift with father

    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto on Monday predicted the formation of a coalition government after the upcoming election set to take place on February 8, 2024.

    In an interview with Kashif Abbasi of ARY News, the former Foreign Minister said: “Whether it is led by PML-N [Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz] or any other party, the next government will be a coalition [regime].”

    Last year, in November, PPP Co-Chairman Asif Zardari also anticipated the formation of a “national unity government” after elections. He believed that no single party will be able to get a two-thirds majority in the upcoming polls.

    When asked by Abbasi about the rumoured rift with his father, Bilawal Bhutto said that he is not angry and has no disagreements with his father. “I am not contesting elections against Zardari Sahib,” he said, smiling.

    The former foreign minister also said that every father including politicians, train their sons, stressing that he will never speak against his father.

    “The PPP and my father himself nominated me as a candidate for the slot of prime minister,” Bilawal added.

    He also said that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif will take revenge on those who ousted him from government, if he returns to power.

  • Heinrich Klaasen is retiring from Test cricket

    Heinrich Klaasen is retiring from Test cricket

    South African wicketkeeper-batsman Heinrich Klaasen announced on Monday that he is retiring from Test cricket.

    According to a report by the International Cricket Council (ICC), South African wicketkeeper-batsman Klaasen will remain available for white-ball formats.

    Klaasen played four Tests during his career, making his debut against India in Ranchi in 2019 and last representing his team against West Indies in 2023.

    He scored 104 runs at an average of 13 in his four matches, with his highest score being 35 against Australia in Sydney.

    In a statement, Klaasen said, “After a lot of thought as to whether I am making the right decision I have decided to retire from Red Ball Cricket, it is a difficult decision that I have taken as it is by far my favorite format of the game. It’s been a great journey and I’m happy that I could represent my country, my Test cap is the most valuable ever.”

  • ‘Idiots in my country’; Wasim Akram slams Pakistani on Instagram

    ‘Idiots in my country’; Wasim Akram slams Pakistani on Instagram

    Former Pakistan bowling great Wasim Akram has slammed a Pakistani user on Instagram for a personal comment on his post.

    Wasim Akram is having a fun-filled trip to Australia where he also commented during the Pakistan Test Series. After being part of a critically acclaimed show shot in a Pakistani studio during the 2023 ODI World Cup, the former captain of Pakistan provided commentary for Pakistan’s three-match Test series against Australia while he was there with his wife Sheneira. He keeps posting happy shots on social media.

    His latest photo is a selfie in a sleeveless shirt during a walk. A user posted an odd remark on Akram’s photo, taking a dig at the legend’s personal appearance. Akram, seen in other photos with Waugh, Ravi Shastri, and Michael Vaughan, was quick to shut down the troll.

    Returning it to the Pakistani user, the legend from Pakistan wrote: “Idiots in my country are talking about armpit hair, but the world has reached the moon.”

    We love how the witty Lahori refuses to let internet grumps rain on his parade.

  • Govt’s bank borrowings jump 3.15x in six months

    Govt’s bank borrowings jump 3.15x in six months

    The government’s reliance on bank borrowings has displayed a concerning upward trajectory, intensifying the nation’s debt burden and raising doubts about its optimistic economic outlook. 

    Recent data for the six months ending December 2023 reveals a substantial increase in borrowing through banks, soaring to Rs3.214 trillion compared to Rs1.019 trillion during the same period last year—an alarming surge of 3.15 times.

    Notably, this surge occurs amid a caretaker government’s administration, signalling that within six months, the government has amassed a level of debt equivalent to the entire fiscal year 2023. 

    While governments commonly borrow from banks to address financial gaps, refinance debts, and fund public projects, the scale of the borrowing indicates a matter of heightened concern.

    Despite the Federal Board of Revenue’s commendable performance in tax collections, with historic achievements of over Rs1 trillion in December and Rs4.468 trillion in 6MFY24, these impressive figures clash with the substantial reliance on bank borrowings.

     Economic apprehensions grow as these borrowing patterns contradict the government’s objective of optimising the allocation and expenditure of public funds.

    The caretaker government’s limited authorisation of Rs300.904 billion for development funds, out of a total allocation of Rs950 billion for ongoing and new social sector uplift projects, contrasts starkly with the escalating borrowing figures, hinting at the possibility of an expanding Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP).

    Furthermore, this escalating trend in government borrowings raises concerns among economists and financial experts who emphasise the importance of fiscal discipline. 

    The growing debt levels may not only impact the country’s creditworthiness but also strain future budgetary allocations, potentially limiting the government’s capacity to respond to unforeseen economic challenges. 

    As stakeholders closely monitor these developments, there is a pressing need for transparent fiscal policies and strategic measures to ensure a sustainable and resilient economic future for the nation.

  • JN.1 : New Covid variant spreading in Pakistan

    JN.1 : New Covid variant spreading in Pakistan

    The emergence of a new coronavirus variant, JN1, a subvariant of Omicron, has raised concerns as four cases were confirmed on Sunday in Pakistan.

    A spokesperson for the Ministry of Health confirmed that all four patients had recovered without encountering any complications, reports the Express Tribune.

    Amid global attention on the new strain, the World Health Organization (WHO) has classified JN1 as a “variant of interest.” Presently, WHO assesses the risk to public health from this strain as low based on existing evidence.

    Dr Nadeem Jan, the caretaker health minister, has said that authorities are closely monitoring the situation, adding that approximately 90 per cent of Pakistan’s population has received vaccination against Covid-19, a critical measure in combatting the spread of such variants.

    As winter brings its challenges, Dr Jan reiterated the importance of preventive measures, urging the public to continue wearing masks, maintaining social distancing, and following health guidelines to curb the spread of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases.

    A few days ago, the federal government decided to secure 500,000 doses of a COVID-19 vaccine in response to the potential resurgence of the new variant observed in multiple countries.


    The procurement strategy for Pfizer vaccines from the US was devised based on recommendations from the Emergency Operation Centre’s (EOC) technical advisory group.


    Previously, the Sindh Health Department confirmed the presence of a new variant of COVID-19 in two passengers arriving from overseas at Karachi Airport. However, it had clarified that no cases of the variant have been reported within the Sindh province.

  • Enforced Disappearance Bill never went missing, claims Chairman Senate

    Enforced Disappearance Bill never went missing, claims Chairman Senate

    In response to recent speculations surrounding the Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill 2021, the Senate Secretariat has issued a statement on Monday, debunking claims of the bill on enforced disappearances going “missing.”

    The Senate Secretariat clarified that the bill was duly passed by the National Assembly (NA) and subsequently returned to the NA after receiving approval from the Senate.

    https://twitter.com/OfficeSenate/status/1744311661509382327?s=20

    The Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill 2021, designed to introduce amendments to the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) and Code of Criminal Procedure, received approval from the NA on November 8, 2021.

    Former human rights minister Shireen Mazari had previously voiced concerns about the bill’s status, suggesting that it had disappeared after being forwarded to the Senate.

    In its official statement, the Senate Secretariat refuted these claims, providing a detailed timeline of the bill’s progress. According to the Secretariat, the bill was initially introduced in the NA by the then-interior minister on January 7, 2021. After successfully passing the NA on November 8, 2021, the bill was transmitted to the Senate on November 10, 2021, adhering to constitutional and procedural requirements.

    Addressing the allegations raised by Shireen Mazari, the Senate Secretariat clarified that the bill was presented in the Senate on July 29, 2022. Subsequently, it was referred to the standing committee for a comprehensive consideration and report.

    “The Bill was passed by the Senate on 20th October, 2022 with some amendments. Accordingly, in pursuance of clause (2) of Article 70 of the Constitution of Pakistan, 1973 and rule 125 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Senate, 2012, the Bill was returned to the originating House, i.e. the National Assembly of Pakistan on 20th October, 2022,” the statement said.

    The Secretariat underscored that, by Article 70 of the Constitution of Pakistan, 1973, and Rule 125 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Senate, 2012, the bill was returned to its originating House, the National Assembly, on October 20, 2022, after securing approval in the Senate.

    The statement concluded by emphasizing that the bill was never missing, and it is not currently pending in the Senate Secretariat. Instead, it has been appropriately returned to the National Assembly after completing the required legislative process in the Senate. The Senate Secretariat reiterated its commitment to upholding constitutional and procedural standards in handling legislative matters.

  • Winning streak: Pakistani rupee appreciates 0.04% in fourth consecutive session

    Winning streak: Pakistani rupee appreciates 0.04% in fourth consecutive session

    In a resilient display, the Pakistani rupee continued its upward trajectory against the US dollar, marking gains for the fourth consecutive session in the interbank market on Monday. 

    The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) reported a noteworthy appreciation of 0.04 per cent, with the rupee settling at Rs281.28 after a rise of Re0.12.

    This positive trend extends the rupee’s recent performance, as it achieved a 0.16 per cent appreciation during the preceding week, settling at Rs281.40 against the US dollar in the inter-bank market. 

    Impressively, this marks the eighth consecutive week of the local currency advancing against the greenback.

    The momentum driving the rupee’s strength can be attributed to the recent announcement of a staff-level agreement (SLA) between Pakistan and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). 

    This agreement pertains to the first review of the $3 billion standby arrangement (SBA), reinforcing investor confidence in Pakistan’s economic stability.

    A significant development contributing to this positive outlook is the notable increase in foreign exchange reserves held by the State Bank of Pakistan. 

    According to SBP data from the previous week, the central bank’s reserves surged by $464 million on a weekly basis, reaching $8.2 billion as of December 29.

    Internationally, the US dollar maintained stability on Monday, with investors eagerly awaiting a crucial US inflation report later in the week. This report is expected to provide clarity on the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy outlook. 

    The greenback’s recent rally was supported by a rebound in US Treasury yields as traders adjusted their expectations regarding the pace and scale of potential Fed cuts this year. 

    This cautious optimism globally has complemented Pakistan’s positive economic indicators, contributing to the sustained strength of the Pakistani rupee against the US dollar.