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Author: News Desk

  • TW: mentally challenged girl gang-raped by six men in Kasur

    TW: mentally challenged girl gang-raped by six men in Kasur

    On Wednesday, the police in Kasur arrested six men for the brutal gang rape of a mentally challenged teenaged girl found unconscious by her mother in the basement of a private restaurant.

    In the case filed at the Kot Radha Kishan police station, the mother revealed that her daughter had gone out of the house, however, she was later found unconscious, and was rushed to Tehsil Headquarters hospital. After the girl was denied medical treatment, she was taken to Jinnah Hospital, where again she was denied healthcare. Then, the survivor was taken to Services Hospital, where after a medical examination, it was determined that she had been gang raped.

    After the mother questioned locals, it was revealed that two men Sahil and Khalil along with three to four other unidentified men, had taken the girl with them to the basement of a private restaurant where they had gang-raped her.

    After the case was filed, the DPO took speedy action to file a case against main accused Sahil, and arrested him.

    On Wednesday, the police arrested six men for the brutal gang rape of a mentally challenged teenage girl in the basement of a private restaurant and was found unconscious by her mother, according to Express Tribune.

    In the case filed at the Kot Radha Kishan polcie station, the mother revealed that her daughter had gone out and was later found unconscious, and was immediately taken to THQ hospital, where after she was denied medical treatment, was taken to Jinnah Hospital, where again she was denied medical treatment. Then, the survivor was taken to Services Hospital, where after a medical examination it was that she had been gang raped.

    After the mother had questioned the locals, it was revealed that the men Sahil, Khalil and three to four other unidentified men had taken the girl with them to the basement of a private hospital where they had gang-raped her.

    After the case was filed, the DPO took speedy action the main accused Sahil.

  • Federal govt contemplating strict law to counter social media ‘propaganda’

    Federal govt contemplating strict law to counter social media ‘propaganda’

    The outgoing federal government is contemplating strict laws to counter social media disinformation and propaganda, geo.tv had reported.

    The government is mulling amending the 2016 Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) so that “fake news targeting the reputation and image of a particular person or group of people, organisation, or other entity will be checked by all available means,” a source told Saleh Zafar.

    The authority of Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA) and Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) will be increased to keep a check on social media, while an ‘e-safety’ law will be introduced to protect official portals.

    The report also claims that a new section will be added to PECA to ensure “stringent” action against culprits. Officials say that FIA is powerless even in instances of fake news.

  • All projects put on hold as Hollywood actors go on strike

    All projects put on hold as Hollywood actors go on strike

    In an unprecedent move, 160,000 Hollywood actors represented by the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) joined writers in strike against Hollywood after negotiations between the union and major studio networks failed.

    Much of Hollywood had shut down in May after writers went on strike, protesting against low pay as studios shifted to streaming, and the incorporation of A.I into writing scripts.

    The demands made by the actors union include fairer working conditions, and protection of actors against digital replicas like A.I and computer generated faces and voices will not be used to replace actors. Another demand was that actors should receive better pay base and residuals- which are payments made to actors in television and films they have starred in.


    During the negotiations, network studios had offered what they called a ‘ground-breaking proposal’ that actors would be asked for consent when their digital replicas would be used in films, while background actors would be scanned and give one day’s pay for their digital image to be used on screen without their consent, which SAG said was unnacceptable:


    “They propose that our background performers should be able to be scanned, get paid for one day’s pay, and their company should own that scan of their image, their likeness, and should be able to use it for the rest of eternity,” the SAG chief negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland said. “If you think that’s a ground-breaking proposal, I suggest you think again.”

    https://twitter.com/DiscussingFilm/status/1679575964601180162?s=20

    The cast of Christopher Nolan’s ‘Oppenheimer’ walked off the red carpet at the London premiere on Thursday, including A-list actors like Cillian Murphy, Florence Pugh, Emily Blunt and Matt Damon, when the strikes were announced in the US.

    Addressing the strike during a red carpet interview, Damon defended fellow actors who were protesting for studios to provide better pay, sharing that royalty payments are a way for working actors to survive:

    “We got to protect the people who are kind of on the margins. 26,000 bucks a year is what you have to make to get your health insurance. And there are a lot of people (for) who residual payments carry them across that threshold. If those residual payments dry up, so does their healthcare, and that’s absolutely unacceptable.”

    Announcing the SAG-AFTRA strike, President of the union Fran Drescher, called this a sad decision, which will greatly impact both writers and actors.

    “We are the victims here. We are being victimized by a very greedy entity. You are systematically trying to figure out ways to carve us out of what is due us. Shame on you!”

  • Qari arrested for torturing child in Islamabad

    Qari arrested for torturing child in Islamabad

    Police on Friday arrested a madrassa teacher for torturing a child in Islamabad.

    A video of the suspect in which he could be seen torturing a child went viral on social media. Police registered an FIR against him and he was later taken into custody from a madrassa adjacent to the Sector I-10 center.

    The Islamabad Police shared details on Twitter, requesting people to be more mindful and aware of their child’s life and wellbeing after sending them to educational institutions and madrasas.

    “All parents are requested to stay informed about the condition of their kids in educational institutions and madrasas. Call-15 immediately in any such situation,” tweeted Police.

  • Pakistan’s major industrial production drops by 14.37% in May, marking ninth consecutive decline

    Pakistan’s major industrial production drops by 14.37% in May, marking ninth consecutive decline

    Pakistan’s Large-Scale Manufacturing (LSM) sector suffered a substantial year-on-year decline of 14.37 per cent in May, according to data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics.

    This contraction represents the ninth consecutive month of contraction for the country’s major industries during the outgoing fiscal year FY23. The primary cause behind this downturn can be attributed to a slowdown in the production of export-oriented textile and clothing sectors.

    The consequences of this decline in large industries are evident in the form of a significant number of job losses. The reduction in production capacity has unfortunately resulted in numerous individuals becoming unemployed.

    These statistics shed light on the challenges faced by Pakistan’s manufacturing sector and raise concerns about the overall economic performance of the country in the coming months.

    In May, the growth of LSM experienced a decline compared to the same month last year. The decline in April was 21 per cent, which is lower than the decline of 25 per cent in March, 11.6 per cent in February, and 7.9 per cent in January. In December 2022, there was a slight decrease of 3.51 per cent.

    In November 2022, there was a negative growth of 5.49 per cent, while in October 2022, it declined by 7.7 per cent. In September 2022, there was a decrease of 2.27 per cent compared to the same month last year. In August, there was a slight increase of 0.30 per cent after a decline of 1.67 per cent in July, which marked the first month of the current fiscal year.

    Between July and May, LSM also recorded a negative growth of 9.87 per cent on a year-on-year basis.

    In FY22, the LSM expanded by 11.7 per cent year-on-year. The production estimate for LSM industries was based on the new base year of 2015-16.

    During May, the production of 16 sectors shrank, while only four sectors experienced a marginal increase. The textile sector’s production decreased by 25.97 per cent compared to the previous year. The major negative growth was observed in yarn (29.89 per cent) and cloth (17.49 per cent), while nominal growth was reported in the production of other textile products.

    On the positive side, the production of garments grew by 12.86 per cent in May. Its performance remained positive in the first 10 months, except for February when it experienced a decline.

    In the food group, wheat and rice production decreased by 0.36 per cent and starch and its products by 2.15 per cent. However, there was an increase of 39.99 per cent in the production of blended tea, 24.45 per cent in cooking oil, and 23.80 per cent in vegetable ghee.

    In May, petroleum products witnessed a negative growth of 21.85 per cent, primarily due to a decline in the production of petrol and high-speed diesel. Almost all other petroleum products experienced a slowdown, except for jet fuel, kerosene, jute, and batching oil. The auto sector also suffered a 68.60 per cent slump in May, as the production of almost all types of vehicles declined.

    The production of iron and steel decreased by 5.83 per cent in May, mainly due to a decline of 15.09 per cent in billets/ingots, while non-metallic mineral products saw a marginal growth of 0.53 per cent. However, chemical products experienced a negative growth of 15.44 per cent in May compared to the previous year.

    In May, the production of pharmaceutical products decreased by 38.61 per cent, rubber products by 5.81 per cent, and fertilisers by 13.31 per cent compared to the previous year.

  • Our government will end on August 14 2023: Shehbaz Sharif

    Our government will end on August 14 2023: Shehbaz Sharif

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Wednesday, while addressing a ceremony in Islamabad, that the government will end on August 14 and a caretaker government will take charge.

    Shehbaz Sharif became prime minister last year in April after a vote of no-confidence in the National Assembly against former Prime Minister Imran Khan.

     “I assure you that our government will end on August 14, and whenever elections happen, the ECP will announce it, and I hope that whichever government comes, it prioritises education,” Shehbaz said while addressing an event in Islamabad.

    Shehbaz Sharif had already mentioned his plans on Thursday while addressing the nation but he also said that the country will be the responsibility of the caretaker government after the end of his tenure in August 2023.
    Earlier, a parliamentary committee sped up work on election reforms by examining 73 rectification proposals presented before it.

  • Gold price in Pakistan increases by Rs4,000 to Rs208,000 per tola ahead of Muharram

    Gold price in Pakistan increases by Rs4,000 to Rs208,000 per tola ahead of Muharram

    In anticipation of the upcoming month of Muharram, which signifies the start of the new Islamic year, gold prices in Pakistan experienced significant gains on Thursday.

    Data provided by the All-Pakistan Sarafa Gems and Jewellers Association (APSGJA) reveals that the price of 24-carat gold rose by Rs4,000 per tola and Rs3,429 per 10 grammes, settling at Rs208,000 and Rs178,326, respectively.

    Simultaneously, the international market witnessed a surge in the price of gold, with a $13 increase, reaching $1,959 per ounce. This rise in gold rates can be attributed to prevailing political and economic uncertainties, as well as high inflation in Pakistan. During such periods, individuals often turn to gold as a safe investment and hedge against market volatility.

    As the month of Muharram approaches, there is typically an upswing in the buying and selling of this precious commodity, leading to increased demand. Supporting this trend, APSGJA data reveals that the price of silver rose by Rs50 per tola and Rs42.87 per 10 grammes, settling at Rs2,600 and Rs2,229.08, respectively. Notably, the previous day witnessed a decline in the bullion price by Rs500 per tola and Rs429 per 10 grammes.

    Furthermore, the local currency demonstrated minimal gains of 0.37 per cent against the US dollar in the interbank market today, as reported by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP). The rupee closed at Rs276.46 against the dollar.

  • Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves rise to $8.4 billion

    Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves rise to $8.4 billion

    Foreign exchange reserves held by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) have surged by over $4 billion following a deposit of $1.2 billion from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

    As per data shared by the central bank, Pakistan has also received $1 billion from the UAE and $2 billion from Saudi Arabia, resulting in a significant increase in the SBP’s foreign exchange reserves, which now stand at $8.4 billion.

    During a televised address earlier today, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar stated that Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves are projected to reach approximately $13-$14 billion by July 14.

    He emphasised that Pakistan is experiencing a resurgence in development and prosperity. Minister Dar acknowledged the instrumental role played by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in reaching an agreement with the IMF, highlighting the unwavering support provided by the economic team throughout the intricate process.

    It is noteworthy that the International Monetary Fund granted approval for a $3 billion loan to Pakistan, subsequent to the signing of a staff-level agreement last month.

  • Practise and Procedure, civilian trials in military courts cases fixed for hearing

    Practise and Procedure, civilian trials in military courts cases fixed for hearing

    The Supreme Court has fixed hearings for the Practise and Procedure bill case as well as the civilian trial cases in military courts.

    The Supreme Court will hear the Practise and Procedure bill case on July 21. There is an injunction on the implementation of the law by the court until an announcement is made.

    An eight-member bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial will hear the case.

    Moreover, a petition against the trials of civilians in military courts has also been fixed for hearing on July 18.

    During the last hearing of the case pertaining to military courts, the CJP stressed the importance of maintaining high morale in the Army. He also said that any decline in morale could only benefit the enemy.

  • Pakistan to spend Rs40 crore to display 500-foot flag in Lahore

    Pakistan to spend Rs40 crore to display 500-foot flag in Lahore

    Pakistan has an ambitious plan to raise a 500-foot flag in Lahore, with the goal of claiming the title of the country’s tallest flag. The project, which comes with a significant cost of Rs40 crore, will be showcased during a grand flag-raising ceremony on Pakistan’s Independence Day, August 14, 2023.

    This endeavor is part of an ongoing competition between Pakistan and India to erect the tallest flag. The rivalry began in 2017 when India proudly hoisted a 360-foot flag at the Attari-Wagah border in March of that year. In response, Pakistan swiftly raised a 400-foot flag at the same border on its Independence Day in August 2017. India then surpassed this height by unveiling a 418-foot flag at the Indo-Pak border in Amritsar later that October. Now, Pakistan seeks to take the lead by installing a 500-foot flag in Lahore.

    Opinions on social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook regarding this competition are varied. Some view it as a patriotic display of national pride, while others criticise it as a misuse of taxpayer money and valuable resources. Concerns have also been raised about potential environmental and security implications associated with such colossal flags, as they could pose threats to birds and aircraft.

    According to reports, the remarkable project is being funded by the Punjab government. The flag itself will be made of polyester fabric, weighing a staggering 800 kg. The flagpole, constructed with steel and concrete, will have a base diameter of 12 feet, tapering to 4 feet at the top. Equipped with LED lights and a sound system, the flag will be visible from a distance of 15 km.

    The flag-raising ceremony is scheduled for August 14, 2023, marking the 76th anniversary of Pakistan’s independence.