Current Final

Author: News Desk

  • 57% Pakistanis losing confidence in PM Khan overcoming economic crisis: Survey

    According to the quarterly survey by Pulse Consultants, almost six out of 10 people have no confidence in Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s claim of coming out of the economic crisis, reports The News.

    The survey is based on 1,809 respondents’ opinions who were interviewed from October 04, 2021 to October 10, 2021. It covered 60+ cities from all provinces of Pakistan.

    According to the survey, the number of people losing faith in PM’s economic policies is around 57 per cent coupled with a drop in those who were confident that the prime minister will be able to turn the tide.

    In July, 17 per cent respondents expressed confidence in PM’s policies, which in the current survey has dropped to seven percent. Regarding questions about the direction of the economic policies, 56 per cent respondents in July found them to be in the wrong direction, but three months later it has risen by 19 per cent to 77 per cent. On the contrary, those perceiving them to be on the right track have dropped to 24 per cent from 43 per cent in July.

    Anxiety about the wrong direction is high is in the main political battleground provinces Punjab (79 percent) and Sindh (73 percent), as per the survey.

    Since November 19, 2018 more than 95 per cent believe that inflation has increased after every three months.

    Furthermore, the survey states that 68 per cent of people do not have savings and most of them have reduced their expenditures to make ends meet.

    When the respondents were asked about the country’s major concern, 77 per cent complained about inflation whereas 35 per cent found corruption, 25 per cent unemployment, 11 per cent load shedding, while 10 per cent termed inability to meet expenses as their biggest problem.

    The Pulse Consultant also asked the respondents about the performance of PM’s Adviser on Finance and Revenues, Shaukat Tarin, which showed that 53 per cent were dissatisfied with him.

    The survey was conducted through CATI (Computer assisted telephonic interviews), a state-of-the-art technology where all calls are recorded.

    The country is Heading Towards Wrong Economical Direction

    • Three amongst four Pakistanis believe that country is heading towards a wrong economic direction
    • In July 2021 there were 56% have that opinion but in October 2021 with an increase of 19%, 75% have that opinion
    • Anxiety about the wrong direction is high in Punjab (79%) & Sindh (73%) – the main political battleground followed by KP – PTI’s hometown (67%)

    PM Claim About Restoration of Country Economic Outlook

    • In July 2021, 6 out of 10 respondents (62%) had overall belief on PM IK’s claim that “country is out of economic crisis”
    • Now in October 2021, wave condition is vice versa – almost 6 out of 10 (57%) have opposite opinion and have no belief in PM IK’s narrative (In July 38% had no believe now by the increase of  19% -57% have no belief)

    Satisfaction with Shaukat Tarin

    • Dissatisfaction increased 15% (from 38% to 53%)
    • Satisfaction decreased 22% (from 35% to just 13%)

    Inflation Trend

    • Almost every Pakistani hit by inflation and 98% are reporting that ‘Inflation increased in past three months’

    Price Hike – Major Cause of Dissatisfaction

    • Like previous wave, in July Y2021 ‘Inflation’ is once again ranked as the gravest issue by (with the increase of 5%) 77% of the respondents.
    • If we read it with the answer “Expenses Not Meet” (اخراجات پورے نہیں ہوتے),of 10% – then it will reach to 87% – Ever highest in past three years
    • This is followed by & ‘Corruption’ (35%) & ‘Unemployment’ (25%), in  this wave ‘Corruption’ – overtake the ‘Unemployment’

    Expenses

    We asked the same questions about “Monthly Expenses Management” back in July 2020, in July 2020, 41% had the opinion that – their monthly expenses are according to their income – but with the decline of 9% , now 32% have the same opinion

    • Jul-20 Oct-21Monthly Expenses Meet 41% 32%
    • Monthly Expenses Not Meet 59% 68%
    • Punjab & KPK – where #PTI is holding the provincial Govt. unrest increase significantly – specially in KP
    • If we compare the results of July 2020 & October 2021 (after 13 months) – Upper Socio Economic Class is also complaining that their monthly expenses are not meeting
    • Those who claimed that – their monthly income meet expenses – 31% amongst them claimed that they save any money
    • On the other hand – those who complained that their household expenses are not meet – 37% amongst them reduced their expenses, 30% borrow money and 30% do some extra job/work other than regular

  • Pakistan Navy thwarts Indian submarine’s attempt to enter Pak waters: ISPR

    Pakistan Navy thwarts Indian submarine’s attempt to enter Pak waters: ISPR

    Pakistan Navy has once again thwarted an attempt by an Indian submarine to enter into Pakistani waters.

    The Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) said the incident took place on October 16, adding that the Indian naval submarine has been prematurely detected and tracked by the PN Long Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft.

    “During the prevailing security milieu, a strict monitoring watch has been kept by Pakistan Navy to safeguard maritime frontiers of Pakistan,” says the ISPR statement.

    The ISPR pointed out that this is the third incident of its kind wherein an Indian submarine has been “prematurely detected and tracked by PN Long Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft”.

    “The recent incident reflects the deplorable Indian machinations vis-à-vis the commitment and resolve of the Pakistan Navy to defend maritime frontiers of the motherland,” said the ISPR. 

  • Hiba Bukhari gets candid about her relationship status

    Hiba Bukhari gets candid about her relationship status

    Hiba Bukhari despite being a private person opened up about her relationship status in a recent Instagram ‘Question and Answer’ session with her fans. The Haara Dil star promised fans to reveal the identity of her fiancé soon.

    Although she dropped hints that he is a known figure and is approximately 6 feet tall.

    Later on, the Fitoor star received multiple questions regarding her fiance and she replied to most of the questions. According to her, fans already know about her fiance but she will disclose it before getting married.

    Netizens are speculating that the Deewangi diva might be engaged to her friend and co-star Arez Ahmed.

    Earlier on Ahsan Khan’s show she mentioned that people have a misconception about her that she is married which is contrary to the reality.

    On the work front, Hiba is currently being highly praised for her performance in drama serials Berukhi and Inteha-e-Ishq.

  • ‘Over make-up, old, meatball’: Ali Azmat’s derogatory remarks on Noor Jehan

    ‘Over make-up, old, meatball’: Ali Azmat’s derogatory remarks on Noor Jehan

    Pakistan’s pop singer Ali Azmat recently appeared on Ahmad Pansota’s show and talked about Pakistani Music and Arts. He also talked about the veteran singer Noor Jehan, a musical legend who is celebrated transnationally.

    While Talking about the music industry of Pakistan’s transition over the years, the Jazba Junoon singer mentioned: “In my childhood, Noor Jehan used to sing on a show draped in Saari with big earrings and extra makeup on. We used to hate that woman.”

    https://youtu.be/JTsl7IbOLFU

    Passing ageist comments, he said: “Looked like a meatball, she was an old age woman at that time and we used to think that it’s not necessary for us to watch it.”

    “This was the time when we accepted the other culture and it became a norm later on,” he added.

    While mentioning the American society, he said that they are also not very fond of the sensationalism and forbid their children to do drugs and adopt it.

    He also said that he is entitled to reject that. “I’m not a person that if Madonna is appearing on screen and I will stick my tongue out,” said Azmat while sticking his tongue out, adding, “Yes it happened but after few minutes someone said to close it, otherwise a fly will enter in your mouth.”

    Meanwhile, the said remarks were strongly opposed by Ahmad Pansota.

  • Govt to reduce taxes on food items: reports

    The government has reportedly decided to reduce taxes on the prices of food items, Ayaz Akbar Yousafzai reported for Geo News.

    According to sources, a meeting was held in Islamabad under the chairmanship of Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan to review the rising inflation and the overall economic situation in the country. The impact of the rising prices of petroleum products was also discussed in the meeting. 

    During the meeting, PM Khan issued orders to the federal ministers to take steps for the implementation of Price Control Committees.

    The premier also directed the ministers to keep an eye on the artificial price hike in their constituencies and to take strict measures against hoarders 

    Commodity prices have gone up in recent weeks.

    Addressing a news conference on Monday, Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar said the government had decided to reduce GST rate and customs duty by half to 8.5 per cent and would abolish 2 per cent additional customs duty to cut cooking oil prices by Rs45 per kilo.

    He said that the decision would be implemented on the return of Adviser to the Prime Minister on Finance and Revenue Shaukat Tarin.

  • Ayeza Khan opens up about working with Hamza, Fahad and Imran

    Ayeza Khan opens up about working with Hamza, Fahad and Imran

    Actor Ayeza Khan is currently basking in the glory of her successful serial, Laapata. An interview of the Meray Paas Tum Ho diva is resurfacing on the web in which she is spilling the beans on her favourite male co-stars.

    When the host asks her about her favourite co-star, the Chupke Chupke star stated that when she started off in the industry, she was very fond of Fahad Mustafa whom she collaborated with in ARY’s Pul Sirat.

    She added that currently Imran Abbas is her best co-star to work with and tops the list of her favourite colleagues, “Imran ke saath bohat maza aata hai, pura saal me uske saath kaam kar sakti hoon. Koi bhi project dedo mujhe Imran ke saath.”

    The Koi Chaand Rakh duo has worked together in four successful dramas so far and recently hinted at reuniting for another drama serial.

    Imran Abbas and Ayeza Khan can't stop praising each other on Instagram

    On being asked about working with Hamza Ali Abbasi by the host, the Laapata diva mentioned that, “Haan maine Hamza ke saath bhi kaam kia magar Hamza ke saath kaam karna bohat mushkil hai, wo bohat hansta hai, to uske saath jitne bhi serious scenes thay jinme gussa aana tha or wo saaray emotions to wo hansta rehta tha.”

    Ayeza Khan wishes to work with Hamza Ali Abbasi in 'Pyaare Afzal 2'

    “Yes I have worked with Hamza but its really difficult to work with him, he laughs a lot, so whenever there is a serious scene with him which requires certain emotions, he keeps on laughing.”

    Ayeza khan with hamza ali abbasi | Celebrities, Ayeza khan, Indian movies

    She added, “I once asked him kya kar rahay ho? Tum nahi dogay mujhe acting cues, tum bilkul na dena mujhe, Nadeem Bhai (director) dengien cues. So Nadeem Baig used to give me my acting cues and hence I started referring to him as Pyarey Nadeem and that’s how I did the entire serial.

    Hamza and Ayeza later on reunited for a television commercial.

    Ayeza Khan nd Hamza Abbasi | Beautiful celebrities, Celebrities, Favorite celebrities

    In the recent years, Ayeza’s on-screen chemistry has been appreciated with Humayun Saeed and Osman Khalid Butt.

    Adnan Siddiqui Responds to Criticism on 'Mere Paas Tum Ho' - Hit In Pakistan
    What's Ayeza Khan and Osman Khalid Butt doing in this viral video?
  • Zoya Nasir glams-up for birthday celebrations with Farhan Saeed and friends, Zara and Aima cheer

    Zoya Nasir glams-up for birthday celebrations with Farhan Saeed and friends, Zara and Aima cheer

    Actor and vlogger Zoya Nasir celebrated her birthday with close friends including singer-actor Farhan Saeed. The Zebaish star took to her Instagram to share glimpses from her intimate yet fancy event.

    The actor thanked all those who made her birthday special adding, “After three days it’s finally (hopefully) a wrap.”

    Have a look at the pictures:

    Fellow female celebrities Aima Baig and Zara Noor Abbas sent love to Zoya on her birthday.

    Zoya Nasir recenltly broke up with her fiance Christian after he had passed some insensitive comments on Pakistan and Islam.

  • ARY UK apologises to Ishaq Dar on air over fabricated allegations

    ARY UK apologises to Ishaq Dar on air over fabricated allegations

    A private channel New Vision TV, the broadcaster of ARY UK, has issued an apology on air to the former finance minister Ishaq Dar, who is currently residing in London.

    In an apology aired by ARY UK, the channel said, “We unconditionally apologise to Ishaq Dar for the significant distress, upset and embarrassment which these broadcasts have caused him.”

    “Dar never managed the Financial Monitoring Unit (FMU), never impeded its work, nor did he do anything to protect anybody in any case including the alleged Chaudhry Sugar Mills case”.

    According to Dawn, the defamatory remarks were made in two news shows which were aired in 2019. A transcript of the Special Minister Prime Minister on Accountability and Interior Shahzad Akbar’s claims on the show that Dar did not allow the FMU to function.  It was also alleged that Dar had taken these steps to protect individuals involved in the Chaudhry Sugar Mills money laundering case.

    Sources told Dawn that Dar issued proceedings against the channel in July 2020 and later served a claim in the UK High Court. In 2021, ARY UK made an offer for amends — a procedure in which a defendant in an action for defamation may make a written offer to publish an apology and pay damages. Acceptance of such an offer terminates defamation proceedings and parties settle the matter between themselves.

    Dar along with a restriction and an apology had claimed damages for libel of around 200,000 pounds.

    In a statement shared with Dawn, the former minister said, “I have never been involved in corruption or any unlawful activity and never used any influence against any institution. The allegations made by the pro-government media house and Shahzad Akbar were aimed at damaging my reputation but Allah SWT has been most kind and the TV channel has accepted in the UK judicial process that the allegations were fabricated, false and untrue. The TV channel has accepted that I was maligned and nothing wrong has been done by me.”

  • Indian retailer Fabindia withdraws Diwali ad after backlash from Hindu groups

    Indian retailer Fabindia withdraws Diwali ad after backlash from Hindu groups

    Indian retailer Fabindia, which sells home furnishings, furniture, clothes and food, has withdrawn an ad about a new Diwali line after backlash from right-wing Hindu groups, reported BBC.

    Social media users accused the ad of using Urdu — a language spoken by many Muslims in India — to celebrate a collection for the Hindu festival of Diwali.

    #BoycottFabIndia trended on Twitter in India on Monday after Fabindia called Diwali “Jashn-e-Riwaaz” (celebration of tradition) in a tweet. Following the tweet, many social media users called for a boycott of the company, claiming that the Urdu phrase had been used to hurt sentiments of the Hindu community.

    A spokesperson from Fabindia told the Times of India newspaper that Jashn-e-Riwaaz was not its Diwali collection.

    The tweet, which went viral on Monday, said: “As we welcome the festival of love and light, Jashn-e-Riwaaz by Fabindia is a collection that beautifully pays homage to Indian culture.” The tweet has since been deleted and the ad has also been withdrawn.

    Fabindia’s deleted tweet

    This is not the first time an Indian brand had to withdraw ads following backlash from right-wing Hindu groups. Last year in October, popular Indian jewellery brand Tanishq had to withdraw an advertisement featuring an interfaith couple after a right-wing backlash on social media.

    A recent advert by clothing brand Manyaavar featuring Bollywood actor Alia Bhatt in a wedding attire also caused a social media furore. The ad, which appeared to question an old tradition (Kanya Daan), received widespread backlash as it was seen as an attack on Hindu wedding rituals.

  • Shahzeb Khanzada warns of December crisis, Hammad Azhar ignores question in heated debate

    Shahzeb Khanzada warns of December crisis, Hammad Azhar ignores question in heated debate

    Energy Minister Hammad Azhar appeared in Geo News’ programme Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath on Monday, during which the minister indulged in a heated debate with the host of the programme, Shahzeb Khanzada.

    During the show, Khanzada asked Azhar about the expected shortfall of gas in the winter season but the minister refused to answer the question. The minister kept refusing to answer the question about an expected gas crisis in December saying that he will appear again to talk about it.

    The federal minister said that he has only come to talk about the facts presented on Friday’s episode of the programme. The host mentioned that in Friday’s programme, he did talk about the expected shortfall of gas in the winter.

    The show on Friday, October 15, shared data from a report, compiled by Nepra, on the performance of the Ministry of Energy and asked the question: why is the ministry delaying the purchase of liquefied natural gas (LNG), which is costing the public dearly.

    Khanzada claimed earlier that he had invited the minister on his show 27 times, but the minister refused to come.

    Earlier in Friday’s show, Khanzada warned of the expected gas shortage during the winter season as Pakistan will not have the required number of LNG cargoes. He explained that during the winter season the government will only have 10 LNG cargoes. The government has the capacity to have 14 LNG cargoes but in the winter, the demand for LNG is more than 14 cargoes.