Current Final

Author: News Desk

  • SC orders action against officials who issued permits for Nasla Tower construction

    The Supreme Court (SC) has given orders to authorities to take strict action against those officials who issued construction permits to build the illegal 15-storeyed Nasla Tower on Monday.

    A two-judge bench comprising Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed and Justice Qazi Mohammad Amin ordered the anti-corruption department to register a case against those who are responsible for the issuance of construction permits. They also directed the police to file a separate case against them.

    The Deputy Inspector General (DIG) West has been given instructions to take immediate action against the officials who had approved the Nasla Tower building plan and present a report to the Supreme Court.

    The Supreme court also ordered to seize the 780 square yards of the land the tower was constructed upon and directed the official assignee of Sindh High Court (SHC) to take possession of the land and prohibit its sale.

    The Chief Justice also expressed his anger over the slow pace of the demolition procedure of the Nasla Tower. He asked Karachi Commissioner Iqbal Memon, “Such a building is torn down within one hour in the world. What are you people doing?”

    The Karachi Commissioner replied that five floors have been demolished so far and currently 400 labourers are working on the given task.

  • ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ becomes first pandemic-era movie to smash global $1 billion

    ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ becomes first pandemic-era movie to smash global $1 billion

    Hollywood’s young star Tom Holland’s ‘Spider-Man No Way Home’ has become the first pandemic-era movie to cross $1 billion at the global box office.

    Sony’s comic-book epic has eclipsed that milestone in a near-record 12 days, tying with 2015’s ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ as the third-fastest film to reach the billion-dollar benchmark. Only 2018’s ‘Avengers: Infinity War’ and 2019’s ‘Avengers: Endgame’ were quicker, smashing the coveted tally in 11 and five days, respectively.

    The movie managed to blow past $1 billion in ticket sales worldwide given the rapidly spreading omicron variant of Covid-19. It makes Tom’s Marvel superhero adventure the only film since 2019’s ‘Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker’ to surpass $1 billion globally. No other Hollywood film has come close to nearing those box office revenues in the last two years.

    Prior to Spidey’s reign, MGM’s ‘James Bond sequel No Time to Die’, which grossed $774 million globally, stood as the highest-grossing Hollywood film of 2021 (and the pandemic). As the first film to reach $1 billion worldwide, ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ took the earthly throne from another box-office behemoth, China’s ‘The Battle at Lake Changjin’ ($902 million), to officially cement its place as the year’s highest-grossing film worldwide. It’s also notable that ‘No Way Home’ surpassed that high-watermark without playing in China, which is currently the world’s biggest filmgoing market.

    At the US box office, ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ had another dominating weekend, soaring high above the competition during a crowded Christmas corridor.

    As per Reuters, the newest Spider-Man adventure collected $81 million from 4,336 North American theaters over the weekend. To put that figure in perspective, only select Covid-era releases have managed to generate that kind of coinage in their entire cinematic runs, much less in their second weekend of release. ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ also managed to do so at a time when several new films — ‘The Matrix Resurrections,’ ‘Sing 2’ and ‘The King’s Man’, among others — opened nationwide to decent (and not-so-decent) ticket sales.

    It brings the film’s ten-day total to a mammoth $467 million at the US box office. That tally is more than double the next highest-grossing film in Disney and Marvel’s ‘Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings’, which earned a mighty $224 million domestically.

    At the international box office, ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ added $121.4 million over the weekend and has made $587 million to date, bringing its global revenues to $1.05 billion.

  • Law implemented against corporal punishment, schools told to be vigilant

    The Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) gave the direction to heads of all educational institutions to be watchful against corporal punishment as the new law against hitting students is implemented across the federal capital schools. The President of Pakistan, Dr Arif Alvi approved the Act on December 1.

    The bill on banning corporal punishment was approved in the National Assembly on February 2021.

    The new law states the teachers who commit corporal punishment will face serious consequences including compulsory retirement and dismissal from services.

    A letter was submitted on December 22 by the FDE to 423 heads of institutes that come under them to ensure strict compliance with the new regulations. A huge penalty will be imposed on the individuals who are proven to be guilty.

    The spokesperson of FDE, Abdul Waheed said: “We will ensure complete implementation of the Islamabad Capital Territory Prohibition of Corporal Punishment Act 2021. All heads have been informed about the new law and in case of its violation, the FDE will take action.”

    According to the letter, there are two categories of penalties that are minor and major which will apply to the individuals.

    A minor penalty includes withholding increment in salary or promotion for some specified time period, censuring. Halting from promotion and recovery from pay are included in this category.

    On the other side, if a teacher is found guilty then they will face demotion to a lower position, compulsory retirement, removal, and dismissal from service come under major penalties.

    The FDE also directed all institutions to hold orientation for staff members on the Act within one week of the issuance of the letter.

    The law also explains that corporal punishment is such a physical force in which a student receives some degree of pain or discomfort, no matter how light it could be. Hitting (smacking, slapping, spanking) a child or with the use of the stick, belt, whip, shoe, wooden spoon, etc.

    Physical force could be kicking, shaking, or throwing a child, scratching, pinching, biting, pulling hair, or boxing ears. Forcing a child to stay in uncomfortable positions, burning, scalding, or forced ingestion, for example, washing a child’s mouth out with soap or forcing him to swallow hot species, including mental abuse.

    The court of the magistrate shall take the case when the complaint of physical punishment is registered either by a student to whom a physical force is inflicted, his parents, or next of kin.

    The law will also be enforced in private schools. The federal government shall formulate a comprehensive system for the enforcement and monitoring of this law in private institutions whether registered or unregistered. It shall devise a system for complaints to address any corporal punishment.

  • Sindh announces to pass all matric, intermediate students in practical exams

    Sindh announces to pass all matric, intermediate students in practical exams

    The Sindh Board Committee of Chairmen has announced to pass all matric and intermediate students who could not appear in their practical exams, reports Geo News.

    The notification was issued on Sunday in which another change has been introduced: those students who wish to reappear in a paper for the purpose of improvement can now do it four times. Previously students were only allowed to retake the exam only once.

    The Chairman of the provincial board, Professor Saeed Uddin said that the decision has been taken in line with the system in place for federal board students.

    He also said that special examinations will be conducted for students in February 2022.

  • Free App for Matriculation preparation – Here’s all you need to know about “Prep by PGC”

    Free App for Matriculation preparation – Here’s all you need to know about “Prep by PGC”

    As the pandemic led to the government closing educational institutions – The Punjab Group of Colleges (PGC) launched a Free Matriculation Preparation Portal with the sole objective of facilitating students. The response was so encouraging and overwhelming that PGC has decided to continue this initiative in the post-pandemic era, too. They have now launched an app and we’re here to walk you through all the details!

    Download the app here: https://bit.ly/PGCprepCURRENT

    Mobile App – Prep By PGC


    The app is available on both App Store (for iOS users) and the Play Store (for Android users) for mobile with the title “Prep By PGC”.

    Just like the web portal, the mobile app is absolutely free and comes with a user-friendly interface. All you need to do is to go to the App Store or Play Store, type Prep By PGC in the search box, click on the download tab, and install it. Bingo! Now you have free access to 1500+ Video Lectures, 5000+ MCQs, 1000+ Long Questions, and 4000+ Short Questions.

    User-Friendly Interface


    As the sole purpose of the portal is to facilitate matric students, the interface — both of the website and app — is extremely user-friendly. Even a novice user can handle the portal without any difficulty as the interface is straightforward (yet striking and eye-catching), gives easy and quick access to all features, and it is extremely easy to locate different tools and options. With tech support from PGC tech experts, the portal is fully reliable and is accessible 24/7. 

    Get Rid of Hefty Academy Fees 


    What makes PGC Free Matric Preparation Portal a praise-worthy initiative is its restriction-free feature. It means anyone can access it from anywhere in Pakistan, irrespective of the institution he/she is studying in. If utilized properly, you can get the most out of it and permanently get rid of hefty academy fees. 

    Caters to Needs of All Boards


    PGC Free Matriculation Portal contains matric exams resources for all the educational boards of the country. The portal covers courses of all the boards, including Lahore Board, Rawalpindi Board, Faisalabad Board, Multan Board, Karachi Board, Hyderabad Board, among several others. 

    PGC’s Free Matric Preparation Portal is a one-of-its-kind initiative. By getting the most out of it, you can secure top grades and also get admission to the country’s top colleges. If you need any further information, you can reach out to PGC’s support team at info@pgc.edu. 

    Self-Paced Learning 


    Being able to pace things as they arrive, and when you have time to do them can be a godsend. PGC Free Matric Preparation Portal gives you the luxury of learning courses at your own pace. You can select the time for learning that most suits you and when your mind is at complete peace. The flexibility of self-paced learning saves you from the constant stress build-up, and when the mind is stress-free, learning abilities are at their peak. 

    It’s Free


    Yes, you heard it right! The online matric preparation portal is free, and there are no hidden charges as well. It won’t cost you a single penny. All you need to access online resources is a device and internet connection. All you need is a laptop or PC to access the Free Matric Preparation Portal through the website and a smartphone to access the Prep By PGC app.

    All Resources at Single Platform


    Free Matriculation Portal grants you access to complete, exam-oriented, and updated resources required to secure top grades in matric exams. The portal contains 1500+ Video Lectures, 5000+ MCQs, 1000+ Long Questions, and 4000+ Short Questions. You can also access the Past Papers and create your self-assessment tests with the Matric Preparation Portal. Voila!

    Lectures Prepared by PGC’s Expert Educationists


    The best thing about the Free Matriculation Portal is that expert educationists of PGC have compiled all resources. Besides, these resources are updated regularly as per guidelines of the concerning bodies. 

  • Naveen-ul-Haq opts out of PSL 7 for personal reasons

    Naveen-ul-Haq opts out of PSL 7 for personal reasons

    Afghan pacer Naveen-ul-Haq opted out of the seventh edition of Pakistan Super League (PSL) for his personal reasons.

    Naveen’s manager announced the news, saying that he pulled out of PSL 2022 for some personal reasons. “PSL is a fantastic competition and we look to be part of it in near future.”

    “Sad to be missing out from the @thePSLt20. Hopefully will play sometime in the future,” wrote Naveen on Twitter.

    The star Afghan cricketer was picked by PSL franchise Quetta Galadiators. As per reports, Gladiators will now look to pick Naveen’s replacement in the mini draft expected to take place in the first week of January.

    The tournament is set to be starting from January 27.

  • ‘Will issue visa within 24 hours and pay for Nawaz Sharif’s ticket’: Sheikh Rasheed

    ‘Will issue visa within 24 hours and pay for Nawaz Sharif’s ticket’: Sheikh Rasheed

    Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed on Sunday said that if Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif wants to return to Pakistan, he will issue a “visa” to him within 24 hours and will also “pay for his air ticket”.

    The interior minister said that Nawaz had left the country citing medical reasons but “never visited a doctor” once he reached England.

    Answering a question related to the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif, Rasheed said: “Your threats will not affect us in any way; you should look at your own conduct. No one else has been as corrupt as you, so you cannot hold us accountable for anything.”

    Rasheed went on to say, ” Both the Sharif and Zardari families, are corrupt, so Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan will continue to fight against their corruption till his last breath”.

    Reacting to Sheikh Rasheed’s statement, senior PML-N leader Rana Sanaullah said that the mere mention of Nawaz Sharif’s possible return to Pakistan “has sent alarm bells ringing” for the government, adding that once the PML-N supremo returns, “Imran Niazi, Rasheed, and their hired spokespersons will find no place to hide.”

    “The fear of Nawaz Sharif’s return is not letting him [Imran Khan] sleep,” he said. “Those responsible for causing a tsunami of inflation, incompetence, and corruption are screaming [out of fear now]. They can do whatever they want, but they will eventually have to leave.”

    “We have only one message for Imran Niazi and that is ‘bas aap ne ghabrana naheen hai’ (you must not worry),” said Sanaullah.

  • ‘Back in momentum’: Abid Ali thanks fans for ‘love’ and ‘support’

    ‘Back in momentum’: Abid Ali thanks fans for ‘love’ and ‘support’

    Pakistan’s Test opener Abid Ali has updated his fans about his health and thanked everyone for their love and support after the star cricketer’s heart procedures.

    Taking to Twitter, Abid said: “Alhumdulillah, get back in the momentum as per the doctor’s instructions.”

    The 34-year-old cricketer thanked his followers, saying: “A big thank you for immense love and support shown by my family, friends and followers.”

    The cricketer further said that he will recover soon and requested them to “keep praying”.

    Abid suffered from Acute Coronary Syndrome. While batting during the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy match, the cricketer complained of chest pain after which he was taken to the hospital. There he had angioplasty and stents were inserted. The stent was inserted for the second time last week.

    The doctors had advised him to rest for two months after which he would be re-examined.

  • ‘She would have been a grandmother for the first time’: Bakhtawar, Bilawal remember mother

    ‘She would have been a grandmother for the first time’: Bakhtawar, Bilawal remember mother

    The 14th death anniversary of Benzair Bhutto Shaheed is being observed today. Chairman Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Billwal Bhutto and Bakhtawar Bhutto took to social media to remember their mother.

    Bilawal shared a picture of his mother and wrote, “Remember, remember, the 27th of December.”

    Bakhtawar re-shared Bilawal’s post and wrote, “Our mother Shaheed Benazir Bhutto missed more now than I did when I got my grades for college or whilst graduating, even when I was planning my wedding, marriage ceremony, months of pregnancy- now with my newborn – she would have been a grandmother for the first time this year.”

    Benazir Bhutto was assassinated in a gun-and-bomb attack in Rawalpindi’s Liaquat Bagh on December 27, 2007. She was elected as prime minister of Pakistan twice. She was the first woman to lead a Muslim country.

  • No transport for women travelling without hijab, male relative: Taliban

    Afghanistan’s Taliban leadership has announced that women who seek to travel long distances should not be offered transport if they are not wearing hijab and are not accompanied by a close male relative, reports Agence France-Presse (AFP).

    The guidance was issued on Sunday by the country’s Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice. The ministry spokesman Sadeq Akif Muhajir told AFP: “Women travelling for more than 72 kilometers (km) should not be offered a ride if they are not accompanied by a close family member.”

    Previously, the government had also called on women TV journalists to wear hijabs while presenting. They also directed people to stop playing music in their vehicles.

    Taliban also banned women from acting in dramas due to which they received immense backlash.

    Since August, the Taliban have been imposing severe restrictions for women in the country despite promising the fulfillment of their rights.

    However, activists hope that the Taliban’s battle to gain international recognition and get aid flowing back into Afghanistan will lead to them making concessions to women.