Current Final

Author: News Desk

  • Imported mobiles priced above $500 to become more expensive under proposed GST of 25%

    Imported mobiles priced above $500 to become more expensive under proposed GST of 25%

    The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has put forward a proposal to significantly augment the sales tax on imported mobile phones.

    This proposal is part of the Finance (Supplementary) Bill, 2023, which incorporates amendments to the Ninth Schedule of the Sales Tax Act 1990, specifically focusing on mobile phones.

    As per the proposed bill, a sales tax of 25 per cent would be applicable on premium mobile phones that are imported and have a value of more than Rs132,000 ($500).

    The proposed amendment entails an increase in sales tax from 17 per cent to 18 per cent for imported mobile phones with an import value ranging from Rs53,000 ($200) to Rs132,000 ($500).

    It is noteworthy that this range includes two distinct categories within the Ninth Schedule, namely $200-$350 and $350-$500.

    It has been announced that the sales tax rate for imported mobile phones with a value up to $200 will remain unchanged. No proposed changes have been put forward for this import value category.

  • Hasan Raheem’s downtime activity is reading about SRK-and we approve.

    Hasan Raheem’s downtime activity is reading about SRK-and we approve.

    It looks like aside from singing, Hasan Raheem has superior reading taste which got approval from an Indian author herself!
    Shrayana Bhattacharya, the author of “Desperately Seeking Shah Rukh Khan”, tweeted a few days ago about her fondness for singer Hasan Raheem and his song Peanut Butter. She also hoped that he would perform at a concert in India some day.

    “Never thought I’d be listening to a song titled “Peanut Butter” on loop. But here we are. After an accident on the internet introduced me to the musical smarts of @hasanraheeem , I’ll hope he’ll be in concert in India someday. #peechayhutt“

    Yesterday, Bhattacharya tweeted a picture of Raheem holding up her book, and wrote about how much this had moved her.

    “Amidst many reasons offered by the news cycle and social media to frown, this photo moved me so very much. When #DesperatelySeekingShahRukh reached the amazing artist @hasanraheeem.”

    On her Instagram stories, the author also shared the special note she had sent to Raheem:

    “Your music has helped me write and has been the soundtrack to my life recently. So much admiration. Hope you will perform in India soon.”

    Raheem later sent Shrayana a message, thanking her for the wholesome gift and promised that he would definitely perform in India some day!

    “Just got the book Shrayana, this meant a lot me. The heartwarming note that you left moved me completely. Hoping I come to India to perform for you and all my people there. Have a blessed life and meri dua hai upar wala apki har takleef door karay”

    Seriously who is cutting onions here?

    Social media users are also moved by this exchange, and witnessing their two kings in the same picture

  • Shahid Khaqan Abbasi confirms Gen Bajwa wanted an extension

    Shahid Khaqan Abbasi confirms Gen Bajwa wanted an extension

    Former Prime Minister and leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has confirmed that former Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa did indeed ask for an extension from the incumbent government.

    Talking on Geo News’ programme ‘Capital Talk’, Abbasi told senior journalist Hamid Mir that he met former Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Bajwa twice in November 2022. “I met him twice. He knows what I said,” the PML-N leader said in reply to Mir asking him if he was campaigning for an extension for the former army head.

    “I can say that other than Nawaz Sharif, I was the one man who was openly against giving an extension,” he categorically said, adding that he even told his party to leave the government if it was being pressurised to grant the extension.

    He said that in 2018, one year before General Bajwa got an extension in his tenure of service, he told the COAS that he will destroy his own reputation and mar the image of the institution he represents. “I said the same thing in 2022, that this extension will completely destroy the country’s systems,” he stated.

    Hamid Mir then said, “So this means he was trying to get an extension.”

    “He absolutely was,” Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said in reply, adding that General Bajwa had sent a “clear message” for an extension.

    When asked whether his government was threatened with a martial law, the PML-N leader said that he has no knowledge of such a threat. “But, a lot of people from a lot of parties were in favour of this,” he said, emphasizing that only one man was very clear about not granting an extension. “That was Nawaz Sharif,” he said.

    The host asked Shahid Khaqan Abbasi if he used to meet General Bajwa and then fly to London to talk to his party head Nawaz Sharif. “Yes I did. It was done in the country’s interest,” he replied. Elaborating further, he said that he was outside the country when he received “suspicious” news and then went to party supremo Nawaz Sharif. “I met General Bajwa with Nawaz Sharif’s permission. Then I went back and told Mian Sb what happened, gave my option and came back.”

    He clarified that he told the army head that a smooth transition of command was his biggest responsibility and will be his legacy. “I repeated this to him again and again. He is now part of history. It is not appropriate to discuss this now,” he concluded.

  • Man murders girlfriend, marries another woman on the same day

    New Delhi police has arrested arrested 24-year-old Sahil Gahlot on February 14 for murdering his longtime girlfriend Nikki Yadav and stuffing her body in a refrigerator inside his restaurant.
    Gahlot had killed the deceased between February 9 and 10, by strangling her with the phone data cable he kept in his car.
    The murderer and Yadav had been in a relationship since 2018. After the covid-19 lockdown, they began living together in Greater Noida in a rented house. However, Gahlot’s parents were not aware of this relationship, and were pressurizing him to marry another woman. Around December 2022, Gahlot got engaged but did not inform Yadav.
    According to the police, Yadav asked Gahlot to come to her flat in Uttam Nagar where she pleaded with him not to get married to the other woman, and threatened to tell the family if he refused to listen to her.
    “She had already planned to go with him to Goa and had booked tickets for February 9. She asked him to accompany her to Goa but he refused. This led to an argument and in anger, he killed her inside his car,” the officer told Deccan Herald.
    Gahlot tied the knot with the other woman on the same day.
    Special Commissioner of Police Ravindra Singh was able to arrest Gahlot when on February 14, they received a secret tip that Sahil Gahlot murdered his girlfriend and married another woman on the same day.
    When the mobile number of the accused was found to be switched off, a police team arrived at Mitraon village, where the accused lived, but he was there. After an intensive search of the village and other areas, Gahlot was arrested at Kair Village in Delhi.
    During interogation, the officer told Deccan Herald that Gahlot had tried to mislead the police, but then later revealed to them that he had murdered Yadav.

  • Koh-i-Noor to be removed from Queen Camilla’s coronation crown

    Queen Camilla of Great Britain will wear Queen Mary’s crown at King Charles’ coronation without the Koh-i-Noor diamond.

    The Koh-i-Noor will be replaced by Queen Elizabeth II’s Cullinam III, IV and V diamonds in a tribute to the late beloved monarch.

    The famed Koh-i-Noor is being removed so that there are no reminders of England’s colonial past at the coronation ceremony. The diamond has, at various times, been claimed by Pakistan, India and Iran. The 105.6 carat diamond was seized by the East India Company from Punjab in 1849.

    It was handed over to Queen Victoria and has been part of the crown jewels since then.

    It is now at permanent display in the Tower of London where all crown jewels are kept when not in use.

  • Shehbaz Sharif to leave today for two-day visit to Turkiye

    Shehbaz Sharif to leave today for two-day visit to Turkiye

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will leave for a two-day visit to Turkiye on Thursday to convey his “heartfelt condolences” over the loss of life in the massive earthquake that struck the country on February 6.

    The Foreign Office has confirmed in a press release that the Prime Minister will meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and offer condolences on the staggering loss of life on behalf of the Pakistani people.

    He will also visit southern Turkey, which took the brunt of the damage of the 7.8 magnitude earthquake and it’s massive aftershocks. The Premier is scheduled to meet earthquake survivors and the rescue and relief teams that Pakistan has sent to aid in the area.

    On Thursday morning Shehbaz Sharif posted a message on Twitter, stating that he will convey a message of solidarity and support for the Turkish people. “True to the spirit of one nation living in two states, we consider their loss as ours.”

    Continuing in another tweet, the Prime Minister wrote, “Natural disasters as the earthquake in Türkiye & Syria are beyond the capacity of any single government to handle. No country, howsoever resourceful, can deal with devastation of this magnitude. It is time the world came forward & extended support to the suffering humanity.”

    The Pakistani government has already sent a 51-memver rescue team to Turkey along with relief goods.

  • Govt increases petrol price by Rs22 to a historic high of Rs272 per litre

    Govt increases petrol price by Rs22 to a historic high of Rs272 per litre

    In an effort to satisfy the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and secure a crucial loan tranche, the federal government has raised the price of petrol to a historic high. This move comes mere hours after the introduction of a tax-laden “mini-budget”.

    Petroleum division confirmed that the price of petrol has increased by Rs22.20 to reach Rs272 per litre, citing the devaluation of the rupee relative to the dollar as the primary reason for the surge.

    The revised petrol prices are effective from 12 am tonight.

    Following an increase of Rs17.20, the cost of high-speed diesel has risen to Rs280 per litre. Similarly, kerosene oil is now priced at Rs202.73 per litre after a hike of Rs12.90, while light diesel oil is available at Rs196.68 per litre after an increase of Rs9.68.

    It is noteworthy that the surge in the prices of petroleum products was a requirement set by the lending organization based in Washington, which could result in a further escalation of the already record-high inflation. This development is compounded by the recent implementation of new fiscal measures via the ‘mini-budget’.

  • Javed Akhtar set to appear at Faiz Festival

    Renowned Indian screenwriter and poet Javed Akhtar is set to attend the Faiz Festival in Lahore where he will be a part of two discussions with actor Adeel Hashmi, as well as a mushaira with other poets.
    The Current spoke to Hashmi about what their discussion will be about and he said:
    “Our first talk will be about his book ‘Jadunama’ which was released a few days ago, and will also be available for purchase at the event. Our second talk [taking place on Sunday, 19th Feb, is called ‘Talking Life’ which will be a discussion about life. In the next Mushaira, he will be reading out his poetry.”
    Along side Javed Akhtar, many prominent faces are expected to attend the event such as singer Shafqat Amanat Ali who will hold a performance on Friday, as well as Director and Screenwriter Sarmad Khoosat who will hold a conversation with Navid Shahzad.
    Faiz Festival is taking place from February 17 to 19 at Alhamra Center.

  • Ministers decide to give up salaries amid economic crisis

    Ministers decide to give up salaries amid economic crisis

    A total of 12 federal ministers and three state ministers have decided to give up their salaries and work on voluntary basis due to the worsening economic crisis in the country.

    The ministers themselves proposed to Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif that they will work without pay. The Premier has approved the request and appreciated their concern for the nation.

    This will be the very first time that such a large number of cabinet members will be serving without getting paid.

    It has also been reported that the Members of the National Assembly (MNAs) have decided to donate one-month salary each to the earthquake victims in Turkiye and Syria.

  • ‘Extremely moving’: Social media is in love with the Netflix documentary ‘The Romantics’

    ‘Extremely moving’: Social media is in love with the Netflix documentary ‘The Romantics’

    Netflix released the anticipated documentary ‘The Romantics’ on Tuesday, garnering praise from Bollywood fans around the world, especially those who had grown up loving Yash Chopra’s films.
    The documentary explored the life of the famous film maker, who was responsible for some of the biggest hits like Chandni, Lamhe, DDLJ, Band Baja Barat, Mohabattien and Veer Zaara etc. Prominent actors from three generations like Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Katrina Kaif. Madhuri Dixit etc, will talk about their experiences of working with the film giant.
    Pakistanis also grew up loving Chopra’s films, and didn’t hold back on praising the documentary.
    Lawyer Reema Omer had written:
    “Difficult to describe how watching #TheRomantics made me feel. It is a reminder of why Hindi films have had such a profound impact on people over the decades, and why we continue to yearn for such cinema. Fills the heart with so much love and nostalgia So, so beautiful!”

    Journalist Sabahat Zakariya commented that the documentary stirred up many childhood memories .

    The documentary especially focused on the iconic film Dilwalay Dulhania Le Jayienge, which was Chopra’s biggest ever hit with Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol in main leads. Many were moved by Khan’s comment on his relationship with the late director, and his comment that he considered Chopra a father figure.

    Khan also revealed that the reason he acted in more romantic movies is because Chopra himself told him that his stare was intense and not meant for action movies.

    Fans called ‘The Romantics’ a moving tribute to the generation that had grown up loving Yash Chopra’s films, and also said it was the perfect Valentine’s Day gift.

    Watch ‘The Romantics’ on Netflix.