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Author: News Desk

  • Mattel introduces Barbie doll with Down’s syndrome

    Mattel introduces Barbie doll with Down’s syndrome

    On Tuesday, powerhouse toy producer Mattel unveiled their first-ever Barbie doll that represents an individual with Down’s syndrome. The doll was developed in collaboration with the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) to ensure that it accurately depicts a person who has the genetic disorder. Mattel consulted with the NDSS to incorporate specific design features and clothing that carry significance to represent the community.


    “Barbie plays an important role in a child’s early experiences, and we are dedicated to doing our part to counter social stigma through play,” said Lisa McKnight, executive vice president and global head of Barbie and dolls at Mattel.


    “Our goal is to enable all children to see themselves in Barbie, while also encouraging children to play with dolls who do not look like themselves,” she added in a statement.


    Down’s syndrome is a genetic condition that results in the presence of an additional chromosome, leading to differences in physical and cognitive development. Mattel had previously introduced a range of Barbie dolls that honored feminists and other inspiring figures. With the introduction of the new Down syndrome Barbie, the total number of different looks available in the Barbie collection is 175, according to Mattel.

  • PTI wants general elections in July, amendment in constitution and much more

    PTI wants general elections in July, amendment in constitution and much more

    The Pakistan Democratic Movement-led government and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) finally sat together to discuss the matter of elections on Thursday.

    According to Geo News, the former ruling party PTI has put forward three conditions for reaching a consensus. One of them is that they want general elections in July instead of October.

    Other than this, PTI has asked the government to dissolve Balochistan and Sindh Assembly as well as National Assembly (NA) in May. Thirdly, the party wants an amendment in the constitution for simultaneous elections and for that, the resignations of their Member of National Assembly (MNA) have to be withdrawn.

    The first round of the negotiations lasted for two hours while the second round will be held today.

    It is important to mention that Supreme Cout (SC) gave May 14 as the date for polls in Punjab and KP, but later asked the political parties to negotiate with each other to reach a conclusion.

  • Pakistan’s economic stability remains fragile despite increase in forex reserves

    Pakistan’s economic stability remains fragile despite increase in forex reserves

    As the country tries to find ways to secure external financing and keep itself afloat, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP)-held foreign exchange reserves recorded a meagre rise. The SBP, in its weekly bulletin, mentioned its reserves have jumped by $30 million to $4.46 billion as of April 20, which will provide an import cover of less than a month — a position that has been the same for several months now.


    The net foreign reserves held by commercial banks stand at $5.56 billion, $1.1 billion more than the SBP, taking the total liquid foreign reserves to $10.02 billion. Although the central bank did not specify the reason behind the increase, there was a $300 million rise in the reserves last week — which was due to the loan provided by the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China.


    The $350 billion economy is in turmoil amid financial woes and the delay in an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that would release much-needed funding crucial to avoid the risk of default.


    The government has been in talks with the Washington-based lender since end-January to resume the $1.1 billion loan tranche that has been on hold since November, part of a $6.5 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF) agreed upon in 2019. A deal with the IMF will also unlock other bilateral and multilateral financing avenues for Pakistan to shore up its foreign exchange reserves.


    Finance Minister Ishaq Dar said earlier this week that Pakistan has “fulfilled all the conditions” of the IMF and hoped that the Fund would soon sign the staff-level agreement. Speaking to Geo News, Dar said both Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have informed the IMF about their commitments to provide $3 billion to Pakistan.


    Riyadh will provide $2 billion while Abu Dhabi has promised $1 billion to Pakistan, Dar said, adding that the Washington-based lender has also been informed in this regard.


    The finance minister said all the conditions for the staff-level agreement between Pakistan and IMF have been fulfilled. “Pakistan is hopeful that IMF will soon sign the SLA and get it approved by its Executive Board,” Ishaq Dar added.

  • Pakistan set to receive cheap Russian oil, says PM Shehbaz

    During a National Assembly session on Thursday, Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, announced that the country is set to receive cheap oil from Russia.

    Minister of State for Petroleum, Musadik Malik, had previously confirmed that the government had made its first purchase of Russian crude oil, and a shipment is expected to arrive at Karachi port in May.

    Malik also revealed that the country aims to import 100,000 barrels of Russian crude oil per day, subject to the success of the first transaction.

    In the initial stages, Pakistan Refinery Limited will conduct a trial run to refine the crude oil, with other refineries, including Pak-Arab Refinery Limited, set to follow suit.

    This move marks a significant step forward for Pakistan’s oil industry, which has traditionally relied on imports from the Middle East.

  • Pakistan’s first female architect Yasmeen Lari receives Royal Gold Medal from King Charles

    Pakistan’s first female architect Yasmeen Lari has been granted the prestigious Royal Gold Medal for architecture from King Charles, making it the first architecture medal of his reign.

    The renowned Lari received the award in recognition for her role in designing homes for Pakistan’s vulnerable and poverty striken community, after retirement from her practice:

    “Whilst recognising the importance of her role in practice, as a symbol of change in Pakistan, it is the work she has undertaken since her retirement in 2000 that the Royal Gold Medal celebrates.”

    “In the last 23 years Lari and The Heritage Foundation of Pakistan, which she founded with her husband, have reacted imaginatively and creatively to the physical and psychological damage that a number of major natural disasters, earthquakes, floods and conflicts have inflicted on the people of Pakistan.”

    Lari was born in Dera Ghazi Khan and shifted to London with her family when she was 15, where she studied at the Oxford Brookes University, moving back to Karachi in 1964 and opening Lari Associates alongside her husband.

    The duo also founded the Heritage Foundation of Pakistan in 1980, which has been spearheading conservation projects around rural villages in Pakistan, earning it the Recognition Award from the United Nations.

    She received the Sitara-e-Imtiaz in 2006 and the Fukoka Award in 2016 for her services to arts and culture.

  • PM Shehbaz Sharif smoothly wins vote of confidence

    PM Shehbaz Sharif smoothly wins vote of confidence

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif has managed to secure a vote of confidence from the National Assembly (NA) on Thursday.

    A total of 180 lawmakers reposed confidence in the prime minister. Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari presented a resolution in the House for the prime minister to seek a vote of confidence.

    The counting of vote of confidence lasted less than 10 mins.

    After IK, PM Shehbaz to seek vote of confidence today

    Earlier, PM decided to take a vote of confidence from the NA.

    According to several media reports, the premier consulted with allies on the matter and they advised him to take a vote of confidence.

    They also affirmed their confidence in him and assured him that he can always take a vote of confidence from the House.

    Reportedly, this development is to send a message to dispell the image that the Prime Minister is weak or that the parliament is not with PM Shehbaz.

    However, reports from earlier in the week that a vote of confidence would take place were rubbished by Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb.

    PM Shehbaz isn’t seeking vote of confidence, clarifies minister

    In a tweet, she said, “The prime minister did not decide to take a vote of confidence. There were no such consultations and there is no need for the vote of confidence.”

    The minister termed Shehbaz as the “unanimous” candidate of the people, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and its coalition parties. 

    She also asked the media not to run such news stories “without verification”.

    The last time a PM took a vote of confidence was in April 2022 when Imran Khan was ousted from power, becoming the first premier to be removed from government in such a manner.

  • Sri Lanka is not sending elephants to Pakistan

    Sri Lanka’s High Commission in Pakistan has denied reports that the island nation plans to give two elephants to the country.

    Media reports had stated last week that Sri Lanka was gifting two elephants to Pakistan, after the demise of the Karachi Zoo’s Tanzanian elephant Noor Jehan. The pachyderm died after a very public battle with illness exacerbated by neglect from Zoo officials.

    The news was met with backlash from Pakistani social media users, including celebrities like Nadia Jamil, who took to Twitter to condemn the possibility, pointing out that Pakistan had no proper policy about the well-being and care of Zoo animals, which had led to Noor Jehan’s death.

    However, a tweet posted by the Sri Lankan High Commission has put the rumors to rest.

    “Sri Lanka has not taken action or discussed in providing Elephants to the Zoo’s in Karachi or Lahore, neither Government of Pakistan has made any such request. This post indicate the correct position in view of certain articles in media and discussions on going on social media.”

    The post did clarify that there was some truth to the claims, because the Sri Lankan Honorary Counsel in Lahore Yasin Joyia, had discussed the possibility of providing elephants to Pakistan, but he did not hold any authority to execute such decisions.

  • CJ Bandial admits Supreme Court can’t force govt into negotiations on election delay

    Chief Justice of Pakistan, Umar Ata Bandial has admitted on Thursday that the Supreme Court cannot force the government to hold negotiations with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on the matter of delay in polls in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Punjab.

    The three member bench, comprising of Justices Bandial, Ijazul Ahsan and Munib Akhtar, barely heard the case for an hour, calling for a sudden adjournment with the Chief Justice stating that a detailed order will be issued later.

    During last week’s hearing, the apex court had told political parties to hold dialogue on April 26 and report to the court. The coalition-led federal government, however, has held no dialogue and refused to accept the April 4 verdict, calling into question the legality of the bench.

  • Pakistan asks WHO to provide monkeypox vaccine

    Pakistan asks WHO to provide monkeypox vaccine

    According to The News, officials in the National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination (NHS,R&C) have said that Pakistan plans to ask the World Health Organization (WHO) for vaccines to prevent monkeypox (mpox).


    “During a National Command and Operation Center (NCOC) meeting held on Wednesday to discuss the monkeypox situation in the country, it was decided that WHO would be requested a sizeable quantity of vaccine to immunise healthcare providers and infectious diseases experts who would be on the frontline to deal with the confirmed and suspected cases of the infectious disease”, an official of the NHS, R&C said.


    The Ministry of National Health Services Regulations and Coordination on Tuesday confirmed the first case of monkeypox in the country.

    Monkeypox is a viral disease brought on by the monkeypox virus, a germ from the orthopox virus genus.


    Humans can contract the monkey pox virus through coming into personal contact with an infected person, contaminated objects or infected animals.

  • Sania, Shoaib Malik’s son spotted with Salman Khan

    Sania, Shoaib Malik’s son spotted with Salman Khan

    Sania Mirza’s sister Anam shared a reel of her trip to Dubai on her Instagram account, where Sania and Shoaib Malik’s son, Izhaan, was spotted posing for a picture with Bollywood superstar Salman Khan.

    His brief appearance in the video caught the attention of many fans, including Indian film director Farah Khan, who applauded Anam on her weight loss.

    According to India Today, Khan was currently in Dubai for the promotion of his upcoming film ‘Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan’. The actor has returned to Mumbai with high security after local police received an anonymous call on April 10, threatening to murder Khan at the end of the month.