Current Final

Author: News Desk

  • Asian Games 2022 in China postponed due to Covid

    Asian Games 2022 in China postponed due to Covid

    This year’s Asian Games have been postponed for an indefinite period as China tries to stamp out a large resurgence in Covid infections in several parts of the country. The event was scheduled to be held in Hangzhou, China, from September 10-25, 2022.

    According to the official statement by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), the new dates will be agreed between the OCA, the Chinese Olympic Committee (COC) and the Hangzhou Asian Games Organising Committee (HAGOC) and will be announced in the near future.

    “HAGOC has been very well prepared to deliver the games on time despite global challenges. However, the above decision was taken by all the stakeholders after carefully considering the pandemic situation and the size of the games,” the statement further reads.

    However, last month the organisers of the games said that Hangzhou has completed constructing some 56 competition venues for the Asian Games and Asian Para Games.

    It is pertinent to mention that more than 11,000 athletes from 44 countries were to take part in the 19th Asian Games in September 2022.

    It has also been confirmed by the OCA that the 3rd Asian Youth Games 2021, originally scheduled to be held last year but was rescheduled for this year, are now officially cancelled.

    Most international sporting events in China have been postponed or cancelled since the start of the pandemic, with the notable exception of the Winter Olympics, which went ahead in Beijing under strict health controls in February.

  • Honda announces third price hike, Honda 125 is now priced at Rs163,500

    Honda announces third price hike, Honda 125 is now priced at Rs163,500

    Pakistan’s top two-wheeler manufacturer, Atlas Honda has announced another significant price hike for its motorcycles which is Honda’s third price increase in less than five months.

    Honda CD70, the country’s most popular two-wheeler, is now priced at Rs102,900, after an increase of Rs3000. The 100cc Honda Pridor following the increase will be sold for 139,000 after an increase of Rs3000 in its old price of Rs136,900, while the iconic Honda 125 is now priced at Rs163,500 after a hike of Rs4000 in its prior cost.

    The price of the Honda CB 150 SE increased by Rs8,000, bringing the total price to Rs303,900, up from Rs295,900 previously.

    Pakistan’s two-wheeler industry has achieved over 90 per cent localization, according to the Ministry of Industries and Production’s (MOIP) latest report. This means that the majority of a motorbike’s structural and mechanical components are manufactured in Pakistan, with only a few foreign parts.

    Read more: Honda Atlas announces price hike instead of fixing delivery issues

    Despite this, all companies continue to raise their bike pricing without introducing or incorporating any advancement, putting them out of reach for the majority of local consumers.

  • Pakistani mountaineer climbs world’s third-highest peak

    Pakistani mountaineer climbs world’s third-highest peak

    Pakistani mountaineer Shehroze Kashif has made history by climbing the world’s third-highest peak Kanchenjunga in Nepal. Shehroze is the third youngest in the world and the first from Pakistan to climb “Kangchenjunga”.

    Shehroze, said in a post on his official Twitter account, that he had climbed Kangchenjunga 8586m in Nepal at 3:05 pm PST. Youngest in the World! First-ever #Pakistani to raise Green Flag Ma Sha Allah.”

    Shehroze has already made two other world records. He is the youngest mountaineer in the world as he has conquered three highest peaks of the world including Everest (8849m), K2 (8611m) and Kanchenjunga.

  • Imran Khan meets accused sexual abuser Zia Chishti at Bani Gala

    Imran Khan meets accused sexual abuser Zia Chishti at Bani Gala

    Former Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan met Sitara-i-Imtiaz (third-highest honour and civilian award in Pakistan) holder and founder of a software company “Afiniti” Zia Chishti at Bani Gala. Chishti was accused of sexually abusing Tatiana Spottiswoode, a former Afiniti employee, and Zia’s friend’s daughter last year.

    Chishti stepped down from his position as Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and Director of Afiniti, effective immediately following the allegations of sexual assault by a 23-year-old against him.

    The news of the meeting between the two came to the surface when the official Twitter handle of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) tweeted a picture of the meeting at Khan’s residence.

    Zia Chishti along with former Special Assistant to the prime minister Sayed Zulfi Bukhari were seen meeting Khan.

    However, the party’s Twitter account later deleted the tweet.

    https://twitter.com/nighatdad/status/1522285606323343365?s=20&t=zJMlQrBuFW8XDNk-2jySIQ
  • ‘Rana, rethink decision’, PPP tells govt not to lodge case on Masjid-e-Nabwi incident

    ‘Rana, rethink decision’, PPP tells govt not to lodge case on Masjid-e-Nabwi incident

    Federal Minister for Water Resources Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah has said that cases against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) should not have been lodged in Pakistan.

    According to Shah, action should only be taken against the people who took the law into their hands in Pakistan. He added that if somebody had shown disrespect to the sacred place, only Allah and His Prophet (PBUH) would punish him for that.

    Shah further said that Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah should rethink the issue seriously. However, the interior minister defended the registration of cases against PTI leaders.

    In a tweet, Sanaullah said that there was no justification to not register a case against those who violate the sanctity of Roza-e-Rasool.

    Pilgrims were instigated under a plan, the minister said, adding that some of the people had travelled to Saudi Arabia from Britain. “There can be no forgiveness for what these people have done,” he said.

    Talking about the ongoing protest led by PTI Chairperson Imran Khan, Shah said that we will never object to Khan’s democratic right to protest.

    “Whoever wishes to bring millions of people in long march should not be barred and protesters should not be arrested for taking part in a peaceful protest. The government should be careful while issuing statements about PTI’s long march. It should take decisions with consensus as we are their partners in the coalition government,” added Shah.

    Last week, Faisalabad police registered a case under ‘blasphemy laws’ against the PTI chairman and over 150 others following the Masjid-e-Nabwi incident.

    Top leaders of the PTI and Imran’s close associates, including Fawad Chaudhry, Shahbaz Gill, Qasim Suri, Sahibzada Jahangir, Aneel Musarrat as well as Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed and his nephew Sheikh Rasheed Shafiq were nominated.

  • Pakistan starts oil and gas production from Dhok Sultan DS X-1

    Pakistan starts oil and gas production from Dhok Sultan DS X-1

    Pakistan’s state-owned natural gas and petroleum products supplier Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) has started production from the recently installed Oil Handling Facilities (OHF) in the Dhok Sultan Block in Punjab province.

    The business claimed in a filing on May 6 that it is the operator of the Dhok Sultan Block and owns 75 per cent of the working interest, while Government Holdings (Private) Limited (GHPL) owns 25 per cent.

    As per the filing, The present production figures from DS X-1 are 5 MMscfd gas, 3000 bbls/day oil, and 25 M.Ton/day LPG. The Dhok Sultan OHF is in charge of oil production, while the Meyal Gas Processing Facilities (MGPF) of Pakistan Oilfields Limited (POL) in District Attock is in charge of gas processing.

    The gas production from this facility will go to Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited, while the oil will go to Attock Refinery Limited, according to the business.

    This finding is currently in the Extended Well Testing (EWT) production phase, and the data obtained during this phase will aid in its continued development. Through indigenous hydrocarbon production, the start of production from DS X-1 will contribute to increasing energy security and saving significant foreign cash for the country, according to the company.

    Considering the high demand, Pakistan’s economy is significantly reliant on fossil fuels, with petroleum products and other fuels accounting for a large portion of the country’s import bill.

    Read more: Pakistan’s foreign currency reserves down by $328 million

    Due to its surge in the global market, Pakistan’s oil imports have increased dramatically in recent months. The overall petroleum group’s imports were $14.812 billion in the first nine months of the current fiscal year (2021-22), up from $7.553 billion in the same time in 2021.

  • ‘Lies’: Afridi responds to allegations of forcing Danish Kaneria to convert to Islam

    ‘Lies’: Afridi responds to allegations of forcing Danish Kaneria to convert to Islam

    Shahid Afridi has responded to the allegations of forcing former Pakistan leg-spinner Danish Kaneria to convert to Islam. Talking exclusively to The Current, Shahid Afridi said he does not want to dignify such baseless allegations by responding to a man who has tarnished Pakistan’s name in the cricketing world. Kaneria was banned for life for spot-fixing after being found guilty of corruption.

    “You can imagine what sort of a man is Kaneria. He has brought disrepute to Pakistan, our cricket team, his family and colleagues,” said Afridi.

    Afridi added that he was quite young at the time mentioned by Kaneria and wasn’t too religious himself back then. “He is an attention-seeker. That’s the reason for his lies.”

    Danish had accused Shahid Afridi of attempting to force him to convert to Islam. Kaneria said that Shahid Afridi “bullied” him and that the two were never friends during his tenure.

    In an interview with an Indian TV channel, Kaneria accused Afridi of having a terrible attitude towards him, which hampered his chances of playing more international cricket. He went on to say that when Younis Khan was named captain of his departmental side, he finally got a chance to play regular first-class cricket. Kaneria said that he was fortunate that the rest of the squad was supportive of him and that no one else had a negative attitude towards him.

  • ‘Gadhay par lines bana kar woh zebra nahin ban jaata’, Khan on Pakistan vs England

    ‘Gadhay par lines bana kar woh zebra nahin ban jaata’, Khan on Pakistan vs England

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairperson Imran Khan revealed that he was aware that his government was in danger since July 2021 and as a result didn’t want the then Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Lt-General Faiz Hameed to be changed.

    “I wanted him to continue serving as the director-general of the ISI during the difficult winter season when the fallout of the Afghan infighting was imminent.”

    “I was aware of a possible civil war in Afghanistan last summer. I was afraid of the fallout in Pakistan as an aftermath of the possible war on Afghan soil. I didn’t want the ISI chief to be changed before winter, as it was a difficult time,” said Khan. “I was aware that the PML-N was planning to remove me. I was aware of their plans since last July so I didn’t want our intelligence chief changed.”

    Khan accused his former aides Jahangir Khan Tareen and Aleem Khan of seeking illegal benefits from him. He further revealed that the differences were developed among them when he refused to do what they asked for.

    Khan made these comments in a podcast on Thursday.

    The former prime minister said, “Aleem Khan expected me to legalise his 300-acre land near Ravi”.

    “I developed differences with Aleem after this. Their cases were in NAB and his name was in Pandora Papers as well.”

    Commenting on Tareen, Khan said that his problem was the sugar crisis.

    While responding to another question about his party’s ties with the establishment, Imran rubbished speculation that he wanted Lt-Gen Faiz Hameed to be the next army chief.

    “You don’t replace an intelligence chief during difficult circumstances,” he said.

    Khan also said that, unlike Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif, he never wanted to control the army as he had a ‘clean record’ and didn’t fear anyone.

    Khan also commented that he was welcomed in British society but he never considered England his home because he is a Pakistani. Giving an example that if one draws lines on a donkey it doesn’t become a zebra. A donkey remains a donkey.

  • 22-year-model allegedly killed by brother while visiting on Eid

    22-year-model allegedly killed by brother while visiting on Eid

    A model was killed in the name of honour in Okara, Punjab. Sidra, who was only 22, was allegedly murdered by her brother in Okara’s 51-R village. She was murdered by her brother while visiting her birthplace to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr.

    Police have registered a case on the complaint of the victim’s mother. Police have arrested the victim’s brother and have recovered the murder weapon.

    Hamza, the accused, used to forbid his sisters from modelling.

    This murder is believed to be the result of a violent argument between Sidra and her brother over the girl’s refusal to give up her modelling career.

    Qandeel Baloch, a social media star, was strangled to death in Multan in July 2016. Her brothers Waseem Azeem and Aslam Shaheen were accused of murdering her. A court in Multan sentenced her brother Wasim Azeem to life in prison for murdering his sister. Life imprisonment means 25 years in jail.

    Read more- Qandeel Baloch’s murderer released by court

    However, this year in February, the Multan Bench of the Lahore High Court (LHC) acquitted Waseem Azeem.

  • ‘Gill tried to paint Motorway accident as murder’: Police

    ‘Gill tried to paint Motorway accident as murder’: Police

    Police arrested driver Wajahat Ali, whose car hit Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Dr Shahbaz Gill on M2 Motorway, ruling out allegations of a “planned attempt to target” him.

    As per Geo News, the Motorway Police said that the incident took place due to the negligence of Wajahat Ali and added that there was no planned attempt to harm Shahbaz Gill.

    “Gill tried to paint the incident as a murder attempt and did propaganda. After the driver’s interrogation and investigation of the crash site, it can be concluded that it was an accident,” said the police.

    A day earlier, Dr Shahbaz Gill sustained injuries in a vehicle accident on Thursday on the M2 Motorway.

    The PTI leader had claimed that it was an attempt to murder him in which a vehicle chased and hit his vehicle deliberately. 

    The former special assistant to ex-prime minister Imran Khan was travelling to Islamabad from Lahore. According to reports, Motorway Police officials arrived on the scene.

    Journalist Khawar Ghumman tweeted a video of the accident vehicle: “Initial evidence suggests his vehicle had been hit deliberately. Let’s see and wait what does motorway police say about the incident.”