Pakistani star-singer Atif Aslam was invited to Sanjay Kapoor’s birthday bash in Dubai. Atif attended the event with his wife Sara Bharwana.
Both Pakistani artists posed for pictures with Bollywood actors and their family members. Cricketer Shoaib Malik’s better half Sania Mirza also graced the event with her presence.
Actor Sami Khan also met Anil in the Dubai and shared the moment on social media.
Lahore on Monday topped the list of the most polluted cities in the world with the worst air quality levels on the globe.
Karachi is second on the list while India’s New Delhi is third on IQAir.
Lahore was measured to have 172 Unhealthy particulate matter and Karachi had 106 particulate matter, according to the air quality index.
The numbers keep changing.
As per United States Environmental protection agency, a hazardous category indicates an AQI of 301–500. The ‘good’ category is 0–50, which is followed by ‘moderate’ at 51–100 while anything in the 101–301 AQI range is considered unhealthy.
Pakistan is expected to leave the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list on October 21 after topping the dreaded chart for over four years.
According to Dawn, a 15-member team of the money-laundering watchdog concluded its onsite visit to Pakistan on September 2, with the final decision on the country’s grey list status now expected at its next meeting set to take place in Paris this week.
According to an official statement, panellists from 206 Global Network members and observer organisations, including the International Monetary Fund, the United Nations, the World Bank, Interpol, and the Egmont Group of Financial Intelligence Units, will attend the Working Group and Plenary meetings in Paris.
The outcome of the two-day deliberations on Pakistan’s status would be announced. The FATF Onsite team’s report on Pakistan is scheduled to be reviewed at the plenary meetings.
Pakistani authorities believe that after four years of hard effort, the country has achieved not just a high level of technical compliance with FATF standards, but also a high degree of efficacy through the implementation of two comprehensive FATF action plans.
It is worth noting that the FATF found Pakistan generally compliant on all 34 issues in June of this year and opted to send an onsite team to verify it on the ground before formally declaring the country’s removal from the grey list in August and September.
Pakistan was rated “compliant or generally compliant” with FATF criteria in 38 of 40 recommendations, putting the country among the top FATF-compliant countries in the world.
Pakistan was officially placed on the FATF grey list for the third time on June 28, 2018, and has been working to remove itself off the list ever since.
The country was originally placed on the FATF grey list in 2008 after failing to meet international anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorism financing (CFT) requirements. Pakistan was removed from the list in 2010 after upgrading its AML/CFT regime. However, Pakistan was placed on the grey list again in 2012 and remained there until 2015.
The government has increased the Petroleum Levy (PL) on petrol by Rs14.84 to Rs47.26 per litre, while decreasing it on diesel, with immediate effect from October 16, 2022, maintaining the prices at Rs224.80 and Rs235.30 per litre, respectively. From October 1, 2022, the PL for petrol was Rs32.42.
The rise in the petroleum levy on Mogas was enforced in response to the IMF’s concerns after the finance ministry lowered the levy on petrol by Rs5 to Rs32.42 per litre on October 1, 2022, from Rs37.42.
According to Geo, Pakistan has to raise Rs850 billion in income during the current fiscal year by increasing the Petroleum Levy to Rs50 per litre on petrol and diesel.
However, it has lowered the diesel levy by Rs5.44 to Rs7.14 per litre beginning October 16, 2022. From October 1, 2022, the petroleum levy on diesel was Rs12.58 per litre.
Currently, the petroleum duty on HOBC is Rs30 per litre, kerosene oil is Rs8.90 per litre, light diesel oil is Rs1.59, and E-10 gasoline is Rs23.21 per litre.
The inland freight equalisation margin (IFEM) on gasoline was cut by Re0.52 to Rs2 per litre from Rs2.53.
The district margin, which includes the extra margin on petrol, is Rs3.68 per litre, while the dealer margin is Rs7 per litre.
IFEM on diesel has risen by Re0.07 per litre to Rs1.83 from Rs1.76 per litre. The dealer margin on diesel is similarly Rs7 per litre, while the district margin, including extra margin, is Rs3.68 per litre.
An eight-year old girl was allegedly gang-raped by six men in Chiniot, reports ARY. As per the details, all six perpetrators fled away from the scene.
The rape survivor has been shifted to the hospital for medical treatment and tests.
According to the police, the father of the rape survivor filed the complaint. The police have also said that further action would be taken in light of the girl’s medical report.
Almost 21,900 women were reported to have been raped in Pakistan from 2017 to 2021, Zahid Gishkori reported for Samaa. The data has been complied by SAMAA TV Investigation Unit (SIU) from the Punjab Home Department and Ministry of Human Rights (MoHRs).
This means that approximately 12 women were raped every day, or one every two hours, throughout the country.
The people of Swat have already witnessed enough bloodshed. The people of Swat were displaced. Peace returned in 2009. In the blink of an eye, the situation turned into chaos where despite the presence of a large number of security forces, the Taliban entered, resettled, and sabotaged peace in the region.
Earlier this month, one man was killed while two students were injured when unidentified militants opened fire on a school van in Charbagh tehsil. This incident of violence gripped the valley, prompting citizens to take to the streets against the rising tide of insurgency. The incident brought back memories of the attack on the then-school girl Malala Yousafzai, on October 9, 2012, who survived a gun attack by Taliban gunmen nearly a decade ago. Though militants had been behind the attack on the Nobel Prize winner, the authorities are tight-lipped about the latest incident, while no group has claimed responsibility yet.
The outfit known as the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) is gaining ground across Swat Valley once again. The people of Swat and other areas of KP must be commended for courageously demanding their right to live in peace. They have witnessed firsthand the bloody rule of the militants, and the associated pain of conflict and dislocation. No one can say for certain how and why TTP members have now resurfaced in Swat as well as several other adjoining tribal districts. This is the main reason for the unease among the people of Swat and is sure to give many a sleepless night to officials, both in the civilian setup as well as the military. And what have the latter done to allay the fears of the people? Not much, unfortunately.
The return of TTP militants to their respective areas is part of the TTP-government negotiations being held in Kabul, Afghanistan, but no agreement has been reached to this effect. It, therefore, remains unclear who, if anyone for that matter, allowed the militants to return before a formal deal had been reached. It would not be wrong if we say the ghosts of the past are coming back to haunt the residents of Swat Valley. The valley has seen enough bloodshed, we hope and pray peace prevails in the region.
Pakistan has lost 80,000 lives in the war on terror. We fought bravely to get rid of terrorism on our soil. The return of terrorism is a bad omen for peace in the country and the region.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Saturday (October 15) unveiled the list of a star-studded commentary panel for the T20 World Cup 2022.
Bazid Khan from Pakistan is part of the panel.
Adam Gilchrist, Athar Ali Khan, Bazid Khan, Brian Murgatroyd, Carlos Brathwaite, Dale Steyn, Danny Morrison, Dirk Nannes, Eoin Morgan, Harsha Bhogle, Ian Bishop, Ian Smith, Isa Guha, Mark Howard, Mel Jones, Michael Atherton, Michael Clarke, Nasser Hussain, Natalie Germanos, Niall O’Brien, Pommie Mbangwa, Preston Mommsen, Ravi Shastri, Russell Arnold, Samuel Badree, Shane Watson, Shaun Pollock, Simon Doull, Sunil Gavaskar.
The tournament, that has started today, will end on November 13.
Google Fiber’s unexpected return will result in a significant increase in internet speeds. Google has disclosed that it will offer 5 Gbps and 8 Gbps subscriptions in early 2023.
Symmetric upload and download rates, a WiFi 6 router, and up to two mesh network extenders will be included in both levels. According to the corporation, the changes should aid in large file transfers while minimising lag and jittering.
Customers in Kansas City and Utah can test the faster plans as early as November if they sign up to become ‘trusted’ testers. If they qualify, Google will ask how they intend to use the additional bandwidth, according to The Verge.
This is a significant improvement over Google’s previous-best 2 Gbps service, which was introduced in 2020, and it might make a significant impact if you’re a gamer or rely on cloud computing. If a 150 GB Microsoft Flight Simulator download takes 11 minutes at 2 Gbps, the 8 Gbps plan might reduce that time to under three minutes under perfect conditions.
It certainly makes ordinary cable internet plans appear costly. Comcast, for example, already provides 6 Gbps service in select regions, but it costs $300 per month on contract and does not yet provide symmetric uploads.
In any case, the new plans are a statement of intent. Along with the first network additions in five years, the faster speeds indicate that Google is returning to Fiber’s beginnings. That is, it is raising expectations for truly fast internet access while also (to some extent) increasing competition among incumbent providers.
Of course, this might help Google promote its other services, but you might not mind if it offers telcos an extra incentive to push out ’10G’ and other comparable upgrades sooner than they otherwise would.
Singer and actor Hadiqa Kiani mother Khawar Kiani, who was also a renowned poetess, has passed away.
The announcement came out through Hadiqa’s personal Instagram, which read: “Mother, grandmother, and poetess Khawar Kiani passed away peacefully at her home today, surrounded by her family and friends. We ask everyone to please respect the family’s privacy during this difficult time.”
As soon as the news broke out, many actors from the entertainment industry mourned Hadiqa’s loss. Actor Omair Rana wrote: “My deepest Deepest condolences Hadiqa Jee. I pray Allah grants you the Sabr needed at this time.” Whereas, Muniba Mazari commented: “Meri piyari Ammi! Inna Lillahi wa ilayhi raji’un!.”
Actress Sakina Samo also payed her condolences on the Instagram post.
Khawar Kiani was a well-known poetess, who wrote some very famous hit Pakistani songs including Boohey Barian, Intehai Shauq, Aas Pass and the Cricket World Cup 1999 anthem. She also wrote numerous critically acclaimed books.
Last year Hadiqa posted a long note in which she appreciated the government’s new policy related to allowing children of single mothers eligible to acquire CNIC without father’s information.
In a ruling, the Sindh High Court (SHC) has ordered the National Database Registration Authority (NADRA) to issue a Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC) to a woman who didn’t know about her father’s whereabouts, reported Samaa.
The Zindagi Gulzar Hai singer stated: “Only Allah knows the hardships a single mother faces in our country. Today I have been sent so many clips from my conversation with Sameena Peerzada regarding only the surface of those hard realities but today our country has taken one step forward. I am so grateful to the courageous men and women who fought to make this change. Let’s continue on the right path, let’s make a stronger and safer Pakistan.”
Hadiqa adopted her son Naad-E-Ali in 2005 from Edhi Foundation and has raised her child as a single mother.
Actor Syra Yousuf appeared on Pyar Zindagi Aur Karachi for Fuchsia Magazine where she and the host strolled through Karachi, talking about their earliest memories of famous landmarks, and food items as well as how life has been for both of them. As they started their mini trip, Yousuf shared a lot about Karachi’s famous food places, her life as a teen, and her routine with Nooreh.
Then came a much-pondered question about Nooreh’s bond with the latest addition to the Sabzwari family, her younger sister Zahra.
“You know all of her friends have siblings and even Alishba [Yousuf’s eldest sister], she has two kids, so she has seen siblings everywhere and she wanted one. So when Zahra was born she was on top of the world and it’s lovely to see, it makes me very happy to see her feel that way towards [her sister],” the Sinf-e-Aahan actor said.
When the host brought up videos that show Nooreh’s bond with the newborn, Yousuf added that she’s glad those videos steered clear of all forms of negativity. “I don’t think we should pollute the minds of children. They are innocent, they are pure and we should keep it that way,” Yousuf added.
Yousuf also shared that she wants to do a TV drama and is currently in the process of reading different scripts. “I’ll be very honest, I’ve come to the conclusion that dramas and films take a lot of time. There are grueling working hours, it takes a lot of time. I’m not going to pick up crappy scripts just because I have to be on screen. I’m a mother, I’d much rather spend time with my child. Till I don’t get a good script until I don’t feel like this is what I want to give my time to, I don’t see why I should pick a script.”
When asked if she’d be absent from the screen for long because of these scripts, Yousuf said people “should be able to accommodate each other” because she’s a single mother and cannot leave her daughter for days on end.
Earlier this year, the Mera Naseeb star spoke about her widely speculated divorce with Shahroz Sabzwari, the media’s insensitive coverage of the issue, and how she battled with that phase in a recent interview.
She also revealed how her personal life was sensationalised across the board, with her divorce being highlighted in the media repeatedly. Syra shared, “I don’t feel betrayed because I didn’t expect much. But I do find it very insensitive because where you are recycling a story and making connections again and again for the sake of likes and numbers, it’s very important for you to understand that someone else is actually living through what you are constantly talking about.”
She elaborated further, “For me, it was my life in real-time, and I was experiencing it already, and that kind of bombardment from the industry, I feel like it was insensitive. Personal lives should stay personal, and if you do end up finding something out from some source, there’s a way to put it out there.”
Speaking about how, initially, the media storm made her feel vulnerable, the Project Ghazi star added, “I felt very exposed. I just kept wondering when people would stop talking about it so that I could process it on my own.”
However, the actor explained how she found light at the end of the tunnel, sharing, “I feel like in shutting out the outside world, I had the opportunity to go inwards. So, sometimes uncomfortable situations can actually help you end up in a better place.”
Syra and Shahroz tied the knot in 2012 after a long on-off relationship that began in 2006. The celebrity couple separated in late 2019 and later confirmed their divorce in February 2020. The very same year later, Shahroz tied the knot with model Sadaf Kanwal.
On the work front, Syra was last seen in ARY’s Sinf-e-Aahan, written by Umera Ahmed and helmed by Nadeem Baig.
