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Author: News Desk

  • Khan dedicates song to Ali Bilal, calls out elite for being cruel, ruthless and corrupt

    Khan dedicates song to Ali Bilal, calls out elite for being cruel, ruthless and corrupt

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has dedicated a song to party worker Ali Bilal, who was killed during Wednesday’s standoff at Zaman Park.

    Taking to Twitter, Khan wrote, “Dedicating this song to Shaheed Ali Bilal, known affectionately as Zille Shah. He loved his country in a very special way.”

    “His violent death through custodial torture shows the depths to which the corrupt, ruthless & cruel ruling elite has sunk,” wrote Khan.

    The song is an Indian song titled “Teri Mitti,” an ode to the sacrifices a soldier makes for his homeland. Wahab Bugti, known for his song Kana Yari from Coke Studio, has sung the version shared by the PTI chief.

    PTI has claimed that Punjab police killed Ali Bilal in custody in Lahore.

    Taking to Twitter, PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry tweeted, “According to Insaf Lawyers Wing, Ali Bilal Shaheed’s father has been kidnapped yesterday after the funeral and he and his family members are in police custody. And now we will see a video which will say that we forgave Mohsin Naqvi [sitting interim Chief Minister Punjab] and the police, but this country will not forgive them.”

    Bilal’s autopsy report revealed 26 injuries and that grave physical violence was the cause of death.

    Meanwhile, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senior Vice President Maryam Nawaz has condemned the death of Ali Bilal.

    Maryam extended her condolences to the deceased’s family, saying, “Aik siyaasi kaarkun ki jaan gayi, mujhe is cheez ka behaad afsos hai aur dili afsos hai” (I feel grief that a political worker lost his life).

  • Fawad Khan, Sanam Saeed’s drama ‘Barzakh’ to premiere worldwide on March 18

    Fawad Khan, Sanam Saeed’s drama ‘Barzakh’ to premiere worldwide on March 18

    Maula Jatt fans are in for a feast, because the heartthrob of our dreams is coming back to the big screen once more with a film and a drama!


    Fawad Khan’s film ‘Money Back Guarantee’ is set to release on April 21, while the highly anticipated drama ‘Barzakh’ is set to have a world premiere on March 18 at the Series Mania Festival in France.


    This will be the second time Khan and Saeed will share the screen after their popular drama ‘Zindagi Gulzaar Hai’.


    Production company Zindagi shared the announcement on their social media pages where the caption read:
    “And here we go! Barzakh is to have its World Premiere at International Panorama Series Mania 2023 on 18th March 2023. Let’s spread the word, shall we?”

    Director of this web series Asim Abbasi, who had previously partnered with Zindagi to produce the popular series ‘Churails’, spoke to Variety in Febuary about what ‘Bazarkh’ will be all about:


    “What does it mean to be human? What does it mean to have a soul, and does it survive us? How does one find hope and joy in a perpetual state of limbo? These are the central concerns of ‘Barzakh’.”


    Abbasi also revealed to Variety that the inspiration for the series came from the aftermath of his father’s passing:


    “In the aftermath of my father’s passing, and witnessing my son grow into a young boy, I found myself consumed with nostalgia, and memories of times gone and loves lost. And I began to think about my fears – the end of consciousness, the end of imagination, the end of love. And from these fears, grew a story where love was indeed eternal. Where it survived us – making it the ultimate human legacy,”

  • Who would be Shahid Khaqan Abbasi’s pick for Finance Minister? Not Ishaq Dar

    Former Prime Minister (PM) Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has said that if he had been the premier of the country, his finance minister would have been Miftah Ismail and not Ishaq Dar.

    In an interview with a web channel, Abbasi said that Miftah Ismail had fulfilled the responsibility given to him by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif after the coalition government took charge.

    Abbasi was asked if the current Finance Minister, Ishaq Dar, was running the country’s economy satisfactorily. Abbasi responded by saying that history will decide the success of Ishaq Dar.

    “Whatever responsibility the Prime Minister gave to Miftah Ismail, he did it. Ministers work on the authority of the Prime Minister. He decided that Ishaq Dar should be the one to lead the finance ministry, so he brought him in. Now it is the responsibility of the Premier and the Finance Minister to play their part in fixing the country’s economy. Only history will tell how far they will succeed,” said Abbasi.

    It is pertinent to mention that Miftah resigned from the position of finance minister in September last year after Ishaq Dar returned from London and took over.

  • Video of man adding more oil to salan has Twitter in tears

    Video of man adding more oil to salan has Twitter in tears

    Chahe kuch bhi ho, tufan ajaye, bijli kat jaye, mulk mein nokri na mile, leiken Lahoriyon ki khaanay kay saath love story kabhi khatam nahi honi.

    A video of a man in a restaurant adding a bucket of ghee that could last a month for a family, into a cooking pot, is driving Twitter to tears.

    Exactly how much ghee is too much for Lahoris? Seems like the number doesn’t exist.

    Ever since this video went viral, users have been in fits on how seriously Lahoris take their food.

    And I oop

    https://twitter.com/sher_bangla/status/1633679595638497282?s=20

    How to tell someone isn’t Lahori without telling they’re not Lahori? This

    https://twitter.com/saram_rana/status/1633607981030932481?s=20

    Wheezing

    *cricket noises*

  • State Bank of Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves rise to $4.3 billion after Chinese loan

    State Bank of Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves rise to $4.3 billion after Chinese loan

    Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves held by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) have exceeded $4 billion after the country received a $500 million loan from the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC).

    In a weekly bulletin, the SBP reported a rise in foreign exchange reserves by $487 million, boosting the total to $4,301 million as of 3 March, providing an import cover of around a month. This was part of the ICBC’s $1.3 billion facility, which followed another loan of $700 million from the China Development Bank.

    These loans were essential as Pakistan has not received funds from any other country, except China, while the $350 billion economy struggles to revive its stalled International Monetary Fund (IMF) program.

    There are $7 billion of repayments due in the coming months, including a Chinese loan of $2 billion due in March. According to Geo, experts believe that the Pakistan rupee, which has fallen to a historic low of Rs282.30 against the dollar in the interbank market, can only recover to Rs265 if the situation improves.

    Meanwhile, the government has imposed restrictions on imports due to a shortage of dollars, which has resulted in the partial closure of textile and automobile manufacturers, raising fears of unemployment.

  • After Imran Khan, Maryam Nawaz too recommends ‘The Forty Rules of Love’

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senior Vice President Maryam Nawaz has revealed her favourite books, writers, poets and thinkers in a recent interview.

    In an interview with a web channel, Maryam Nawaz said that her favourite reading genre is Fiction and History. She went on to name her favourite writers who’s books she enjoyed reading while she was incarcerated.

    “A few fiction writers are close to reality; I read them a lot, like Paulo Coelho. I really like his Alchemist and Warrior of Light. Elif Shafak is another writer whom I enjoy reading. One of my most favourite books is The Forty Rules of Love. There is a book called, The Seat of the Soul and Twilight in Delhi; I have really enjoyed reading them,” said Maryam.

    She stated that she preferred books with a historical background.

    Moving on to poetry, Maryam said she loves reading the work of Irish poet Seamus Heaney, especially his work on freedom. Recalling her time in jail, Maryam said that was the first time she could read Urdu novels and poetry.

    “One has a lot of time in jail, so I miss how I used to read there. I read the work of Ahmad Faraz, Sahir Ludhianvi, Parveen Shakir and Amjad Islam Amjad. Apart from this, I have enjoyed reading the work of thinkers and even implemented their philosophies in my life. I have really enjoyed the work of Francis Bacon and Friedrich Nietzsche.”

  • Man behind viral Aurat March poster shares inspiring story about his mother

    Man behind viral Aurat March poster shares inspiring story about his mother

    ‘I march for my mom who was not allowed to go to school’; so stated a placard at the Aurat March, pictures of which went viral on Twitter.

    Now Ehtesham Hassan, the man behind the poster, has taken to Twitter to share the inspiring story of his mother.

    Hassan revealed that since the age of 10, his mother was fond of reading and writing and had wanted to go to school like her brothers did.

    When his mother expressed her desire to her grandmother, she purchased a takhti for her because of which the mother was able to go two school for two days. Hassan revealed that every night, his mother would clean the takhti with mud so that she could use it again the next day.

    However, Hassan said it was Maulana Fazal Rehman heard about his mother going to school and forbade her family from sending her because this way the girl would write letters to the men and violate the honor of her family.

    Hassan narrated that his mother was restricted from going to school, a fact that she is sorrowful about to this day. Hassan said that being deprived of her fundamental right to receive an education, and not being supported by her family is the reason why he choose to march today so that no other woman would be treated this way.

    Since the story was posted yesterday, women on Twitter have praised Hassan for pasionately defending the right of women to receive education, calling his thread a moving tribute to his mother.

    Many women said they had witnessed the same in their families.

    “This is the story of both my maternal & paternal grandmothers. They were both not allowed to go to school after 8th grade. They made sure their daughters were highly educated – they advocated for them against hell or high water,” this user wrote.

    Another user wrote: “Mother’s carried the burden of thier broken dreams and planted seeds of hope for future generations. She might not have gone to school but her son’s daughter would! Women have been forebearers of a silent revolution for generations.”

    We hope that more men out there step out of their bubble and follow the lead of Hassan to empower the women of their lives to never stop reaching for their dreams.

  • SSAT – Become One of 3000 Top Scorers & Get Free Entry Test Preparation From STEP

    ……………..

    Are you going to attempt the medical and engineering colleges’ Entry Test in 2023? If yes, now is the right time to gauge the level of your preparation, and become one of the 3,000 top scorers who will be able to get free entry test preparation from STEP.

    The STEP Scholarship-based Self-Assessment Test (SSAT) 2023 is now available, offering students a chance to assess their current standing and gain valuable insights into their Entry Test preparation.

    A Bit About STEP

    As the largest Entry Test preparatory network in Pakistan, STEP has a well-established reputation for providing high-quality education and equipping students with the necessary skills to excel in their academic pursuits. The SSAT is an excellent opportunity for students to experience the Entry Test environment and understand the test’s mechanics before taking the actual test.

    In addition to providing a comprehensive self-assessment, SSAT also presents students with an opportunity to win free Entry Test preparation from STEP. Being part of the largest educational group in Pakistan, STEP is dedicated to offering students the resources necessary to ace MDCAT & ECAT exams and achieve their academic goals.

    Identify Your Weaknesses & Strengths

    Students often struggle with determining their current level of preparedness for the Entry Test. Here at STEP, we understand that the competition can be fierce, and every mark counts. This is why we developed the SSAT, a comprehensive self-assessment test that can help you identify your areas of strength and weakness.

    Through this free self-assessment test, you will receive an experience that is similar to the actual Entry Test environment. This will help you to familiarize yourself with the test format, the level of difficulty, and the time constraints. Additionally, the SSAT will provide you with a detailed report on your performance, including a breakdown of your score by topic and question type. This information will allow you to pinpoint your weaknesses accurately and focus your efforts on areas where you need to improve.

    Eligibility Criteria For SSAT

    Anyone from Intermediate Part-II or repeater students who are aspiring to get admission in Medical & Engineering Institutions can show up for STEP Self-Assessment Test 2023.

    All students, from the Punjab Group of Colleges and Hadaf Group of Colleges or students from any other institution, can appear in this scholarship-based test.

    Note: ICS Students having combinations of statistics and economics are not eligible for SSAT 2023

    Register for SSAT For Free

    At STEP, we understand that time is of the essence for students, and we strive to make the process of registering for the Self-Assessment Test (SSAT-23) as easy as possible.

    You can now become a part of the SSAT-23 by registering online or by visiting your nearest Punjab College or Hadaf College Campuses. The registration process is entirely free of charge, and we encourage all students to take advantage of this opportunity.

    Why STEP for MDCAT & ECAT Preparation?

    Proven track record of top positions: Our track record speaks for itself. Over the years, STEP has helped countless students achieve top positions in the MDCAT and ECAT exams. In 2022 alone, 1497 students secured admissions to medical colleges and 2216 to engineering colleges. Our students have consistently outperformed their peers, and we are proud to have played a part in their success.

    Likewise, 925 students of STEP made it to the University of Engineering and Technology, 987 to the National University of Sciences and Technology, 935 to FAST, 143 to PIEAS, and 42 to GIKI in 2022. The fact that so many of our students have secured admissions to Pakistan’s top medical and engineering colleges in a single year is a testament to the quality of education at STEP and the dedication of our students. We are proud to have played a part in their success, and we are committed to continuing to provide students with the resources they need to achieve their academic goals.

    Outstanding Team: Our team of experts is made up of highly qualified and experienced teachers and professionals who are dedicated to helping students succeed. They work tirelessly to create effective study materials and provide you with the support you need to achieve your academic goals.

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    Free STEP BY PGC Mobile App: We know that students are busy and need to be able to study on the go. That’s why we have created the Free STEP BY PGC mobile app, which provides students with access to our study materials and practice tests on their smartphones.

    Register for STEP self-assessment test 2023 today and become part of Pakistan’s most successful and largest entry test preparatory network to boost your prospects of getting admission to top medical and engineering universities.

  • WhatsApp refuses to compromise on end-to-end encryption despite UK pressure

    WhatsApp refuses to compromise on end-to-end encryption despite UK pressure

    Will Cathcart, the head of WhatsApp, has stated that the company will not comply with the proposed online safety bill in the United Kingdom (UK), which aims to ban end-to-end encryption. Cathcart made these remarks during a visit to the UK, where he will meet with legislators to discuss the government’s internet regulation flagship policy. He further described the bill as the most concerning piece of legislation being discussed in the western world.

    Cathcart explained that users worldwide demand security, and 98 per cent of WhatsApp’s users are outside the UK. Therefore, it would be an odd choice for the company to lower the product’s security in a way that would affect the majority of its users. He added that end-to-end encryption is essential in messaging services to prevent anyone other than the communication recipients from decrypting it. WhatsApp cannot read messages sent over its service and cannot comply with law enforcement requests to hand over messages or actively monitor communications for child protection or anti-terrorism purposes.

    Cathcart noted that the online safety bill is an expansion of the UK government’s power to demand the removal of encryption, and it poses a grey area in the legislation. He called for similar language to be inserted into the UK bill as in the EU’s digital markets act, which explicitly defends end-to-end encryption for messaging services.

    Furthermore, under the proposed bill, the UK government or Ofcom could require WhatsApp to apply content moderation policies that would be impossible to comply with without removing end-to-end encryption. If WhatsApp refused to comply, it could face fines of up to 4 per cent of its parent company Meta’s annual turnover, or it would have to withdraw entirely from the UK market.

    Cathcart argued that large communities that use end-to-end encryption, such as WhatsApp’s “communities” offering, which allows group chats of over 1,000 users to be grouped together, have slim chances of causing trouble. He suggested that one person reporting any serious issues would suffice, making it easy for investigators to gain access.

    The online safety bill is expected to return to parliament in the summer, giving Ofcom significant new powers as the internet regulator and enabling it to require effective content moderation under the penalty of large fines. WhatsApp has never received a legal demand to remove encryption from the UK government, according to Cathcart.

  • ‘Dili afsos hai’: Maryam Nawaz condemns death of PTI worker in Lahore

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senior Vice President Maryam Nawaz has condemned the death of Ali Bilal, a worker and supporter of rival party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) who lost his life allegedly at the hands of police on Wednesday when a clash took place in Lahore.

    Maryam extended her condolences to the deceased’s family, saying, “Aik siyaasi kaarkun ki jaan gayi, mujhe is cheez ka behaad afsos hai aur dili afsos hai” (I feel grief that a political worker lost his life).

    The PML-N leader also said that whatever has happened should be investigated.

    On Wednesday, on the call of PTI Chief Imran Khan, PTI workers came out on the roads, resulting in a clash between PTI workers and Lahore police at Zaman Park. PTI leaders claim that the administration is to blame for Ali Bilal’s death.

    During the interview with Adil Shahzeb, Maryam also said that now that ex-Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Faiz Hameed has confessed, the establishment should take notice of his statement.

    “General Faiz will be held accountable by the institution itself,” she said.