Current Final

Author: News Desk

  • Instagram harmful for teenage users, report reveals

    A report published in the Wall Street Journal on Tuesday has revealed that Instagram is harmful for teenage users. The report is based on Facebook studies over the past three years that examined how Instagram affects its young user base, with teenage girls being most notably harmed.

    As per the WSJ report, among teenagers who reported suicidal thoughts, about 6 per cent in the US and 13 per cent in the UK traced them back to Instagram. 

    The researchers noted that many of these problems are unique to Instagram because it focuses heavily on body and lifestyle, meaning “social comparison is worse on Instagram”. 

    “Thirty-two percent of teen girls said that when they felt bad about their bodies, Instagram made them feel worse,” the researchers reportedly wrote, as per CNBC.

    The research also found “teens blame Instagram for increases in the rate of anxiety and depression”, a reaction researchers described as “unprompted and consistent across all groups”.

  • Fifth-lowest growth rate in South Asia as inflation continues to rise in Pakistan: Asian Development Bank

    Fifth-lowest growth rate in South Asia as inflation continues to rise in Pakistan: Asian Development Bank

    The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Wednesday projected that inflation in Pakistan would remain the highest in the region at 7.5 per cent, and the economy would grow by 4 per cent – the fifth-lowest growth rate among seven South Asian nations, contradicting the government’s claim of lowest prices in the country, reported Shahbaz Rana for The Express Tribune.

    Pakistan’s “economy is expected to continue recovering in the fiscal year 2021-22, with real GDP projected to rise by 4 per cent”, according to the ADB report.

    It was the fifth-lowest economic growth rate in the region as the economic growth rate in the Maldives (15 per cent) and India (7.5 per cent) remain the highest in the region. Bangladesh is projected to grow at 6.8 per cent and Nepal at 4.1 per cent in 2022, according to the ADB.

    The ADB said that the 4 per cent growth rate was contingent on the resumption of structural reforms later in the year in an ongoing programme under the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Extended Fund Facility.

    “The economic outlook is clouded, however, by high uncertainty because it is closely tied to the course of the pandemic in Pakistan and globally.”

    The ADB has also cautioned about a further increase in prices in Pakistan, provided the Pakistan-IMF deal collapses.

    “Risk of inflation higher than forecast derives from any unusual increase in oil prices or from potential currency depreciation in the wake of any early winding down of the ongoing IMF programme,” said the ADB.

  • #MostBeautifulFaces2021: Twitter nominates Imran Khan, Shahid Afridi and Shehnaz Gill

    Most Beautiful Faces of 2021 was trending on Pakistani Twitter after social media users nominated different personalities including Shahid Afridi, Prime Minister Imran Khan, a Big Boss contestant Shehnaz Gill and many other personalities.

    Here are a few nominations by social media users:

    https://twitter.com/_waleedzafar/status/1440873714719944707?s=20
    https://twitter.com/bint_e_asif18/status/1440630164941987840?s=20
  • PM Imran Khan summoned by Lahore court in Shehbaz Sharif’s defamation case

    PM Imran Khan summoned by Lahore court in Shehbaz Sharif’s defamation case

    A Sessions Court in Lahore summoned Prime Minister Imran Khan over a defamation lawsuit filed by the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly, Shehbaz Sharif.

    Additional District and Sessions Judge Mudassar Farid Khokhar fixed October 6 for the appearance of the parties personally or through their counsel for further proceedings in the suit filed in 2017.

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) president has claimed in his petition that the premier has “falsely accused him of offering money to him to stay silent in the Panama Papers case.”

    Sharif’s petition pleads that the baseless and defamatory statements by PM Khan, which were widely circulated by the media, lowered the integrity of Shehbaz and caused him extreme mental torture, agony, and anxiety. The court has been requested to issue a decree for recovery of Rs 10 billion as compensation for the publication of defamatory content in favour of the plaintiff.

    “PM Imran Khan’s allegation damaged my reputation,” stated Shehbaz in the petition.

    In his written statement, Prime Minister Khan states that one of his friends told him that someone known to him and also the Sharif family approached him with an offer to pay billions of rupees if he could convince him (Khan) to stop pursuing the Panama case.

    “Just imagine how much money he offered me to be silent — Rs10 billion! If he can offer me this much money, just imagine how much he could offer to others. That is why if we don’t maintain public pressure on this issue, then after two months it will be dragged to the next year,” Khan had claimed.

    In an interview televised following the statement, Khan had refused to reveal the name of the person who made the offer but did state that this person was close to the then Punjab chief minister.

  • ‘I love my wife’: Muneeb Butt issues a clarification on viral video, calls out media portals

    ‘I love my wife’: Muneeb Butt issues a clarification on viral video, calls out media portals

    Actor Muneeb Butt has opened up on a viral video clip, which he believes is being presented out of context by media publications.

    The Daldal star can be seen joking about a man’s right of second marriage and how a woman should pamper her spouse to keep him intact.

    Earlier the Baandi actor voiced his opinion on the slap scene showcased in the drama serial Laapata. In the video, husband (Danyal) slaps wife (Falak) and she slaps him back with a warning to break his hands if he’ll think of doing that again.

    This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is WhatsApp-Image-2021-09-13-at-1.45.10-PM.jpeg

    Read More: ‘Jaan lenge kya hamari?’: Nida Yasir breaks her silence on trolling

  • Azaan Sami Khan hits back at troll for referring to father Adnan Sami as ‘Ghadaar baap’

    Azaan Sami Khan hits back at troll for referring to father Adnan Sami as ‘Ghadaar baap’

    Musician and actor Azaan Sami Khan has responded to a troll for referring to his father as ‘Ghadaar’ under his Instagram post. The Superstar fame composer replied back with a dignified response to the netizen.

    In July 2021, supermodel Sabeeka Imam questioned Azaan’s casting in drama serial Ishq-e-Laa co-starring Sajal Aly and Yumna Zaidi.

    Sabeeka Imam questions Azaan Sami's casting in Sajal-Yumna starrer despite 'zero acting experience'

    “So it seems like you need zero onscreen acting experience and you could also debut with both the AMAZING Yumna and Sajal,” she wrote.

    “Mujhe bhi itni hi achi LUCK chahiye where I don’t have to earn it or prove myself first & it just gets handed to me on a plate,” she added.

    Earlier actor Muneeb Butt also claimed that he thinks, the Tu singer is a product of nepotism.

    Muneeb Butt thinks that Azaan Sami Khan is a product of Nepotism - The Current

    It is pertinent to mention here that Azaan will make his acting debut alongside Yumna Zaidi and Sajal Aly in Ishq-E-Laa. Directed by Amin Iqbal, the script is penned by the veteran writer, Qaisera Hayat of Alif Allah Aur Insaan fame.

  • Punjab CM’s office denies giving information about vehicles under Buzdar’s use

    Punjab CM’s office denies giving information about vehicles under Buzdar’s use

    The Punjab Chief Minister’s (CM) office has denied giving out the information about the vehicles under the use of CM Usman Buzdar, claiming it ‘legitimate privacy’.

    Under the transparency law, such information cannot be shared, the office said in a reply to a query submitted by a lawyer.

    Abdullah Malik, a lawyer, had sent the query to the CM office earlier this year invoking the rights to the citizens under the law.

    The office took nine months to answer him and refused to share copies of the logbooks (containing details of the official vehicles’ use).
    Section 13 (i)(b) of Punjab Transparency & Right to Information Act 2013 reads, “A public information officer may refuse an application for access to information where disclosure of the information shall or is likely to cause harm to a legitimate privacy interest unless the person concerned has consented to disclosure of the information.”

    According to Dawn, Advocate Usama Khawar Ghumman revealed that Buzdar was using vehicles that were funded by taxes. Moreover, he said the logbooks could reveal misuse of the official vehicles by government officer’s families. These logbooks can also reveal if the vehicles used by the officials fall under their name or not. The denial of information about the vehicles is plainly illegal and unconstitutional.

    Earlier, the federal government denied giving out information about the exchange of gifts between Prime Minister Imran Khan and other heads of state.

    In the notice, it is mentioned that the matter is reflective of inter-state relations and the disclosure of such information potentially damages the interest of Pakistan in the context of international relations.

  • ‘I want all daughters of Pakistan to stay safe,’ Noor’s father demands justice

    A protest took place today outside the Islamabad Press Club to seek justice for Noor Mukadam. The protest was co-hosted by Noor’s sister Sara Mukadam. Noor’s father Shaukat Ali Mukadam addressed the gathering at the protest and appealed to the authorities to award exemplary punishment to the the prime suspect of his daughte’s murderer, Zahir Jaffer.

    “I want all daughters of Pakistan to stay safe. May they never see these days. My mission in life is to get justice for Noor so that Pakistan’s women to feel safe in their homes, their offices and on the streets. May they never go through things like this, nor their parents.”

    Noor Mukadam’s sister recited a poem at the protest. “You were my better half, my better version, my soulmate and now I will have to live incomplete without you for the rest of my life,” she said.

    People came to the protest to support Noor Mukadam and her family in Islamabad today.

    Actor Osman Khalid Butt also came forward to show his support.

  • T20 World Cup squad meets premier Imran Khan at PM House

    T20 World Cup squad meets premier Imran Khan at PM House

    The national squad for the T20 World Cup met premier Imran Khan at Prime Minister (PM) House.

    The meeting started with the introduction of the national cricket team. PM Khan also gave cricket tips to the players and shared his experience as a sportsman with the players.

    “The path to success is the path of truth and honesty, one way is of honour and the other is of wealth. You have to break the idol of wealth,” advised PM Khan.

    “You have to play for the team and your nation. The eyes of the nation are on you and we want to see you succeed,” said the premier.

    Prime Minister Imran with T20 World Cup squad

    PM Khan reaffirmed that the Pakistani cricket team is extremely talented and the whole world recognises the talent of Pakistan.

    “When you step on the field, play with confidence and a winning spirit, because a team which avoids defeats never really wins,” said PM Khan, adding, “Play aggressively, a team that plays with a defensive approach never wins.”

    The prime minister said, “Be a strong and hard-working team. The entire nation is banking on you.”

    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
  • 
		
		
    
			
    ‘Rich gori, stop this horrible trolling’: Shaniera Akram opens up on cyber-bullying
    
			
    ‘Rich gori, stop this horrible trolling’: Shaniera Akram opens up on cyber-bullying
    
			
    

    Shaniera Akram has expressed her distress over people constantly demeaning all the blood and sweat she has shed for Pakistan over the past 10 years.
    




    She took to her Instagram and bashed the keyboard warriors for calling her “rich gori”, “privileged” and “celebrity’s wife”.
    




    “Sick of being called a random white woman, rich gori, privileged, white person, someone of occasionally lives in Pakistan and a celebrity’s wife,” she wrote displeasingly.
    




    “Do you not know I have spent 10 years in Pakistan, fighting for the rights of our people, caring for those who are underprivileged and standing up for the country I have grown to love,” she questioned.
    




    




    “Yes, I am a white. Yes I am an Australiam woman. I can’t help that and I don’t want to be ashamed of it, I am proud of my heritage and for who I am,” added Akram.
    




    “Yes, I am married to an incredible Pakistani man, who happens to be a national hero, But I have never used that in vain. I have never lauded that over anyone.”
    




    




    




    




    




    Shaniera further added, clearing that she is also a part of this country and has earned her own recognition, “Like me or not. Red my words and let them sink in. I am no random, I am Shaniera Akram. I have earned every bit of my name and I am here to stay!”
    




    




    “Let’s stop this horrible trolling, I am a part of Pakistan whether you like it or not. I have earned my position here,” she said adding: “So let’s put our differences aside and work together and get on with making our country even better than it is, for all who love it as much as I do.”
    




    




    “I am a human, I will make mistakes, but my intentions are good and there is always method to my madness, just trust in me and know, even if I make you feel uncomfortable for what ever the reason, I will always have best interests at hear”, she concluded.
    




    




    




    




    Earlier, Shaniera said that she feels safe in Pakistan and took to Twitter after receiving backlash on it.
    




    She wrote : “I stand by my words. In terms of national security, I do feel completely safe in Pakistan. I know where we have come from and I have seen how hard we have worked to promote a peaceful nation. And it’s a safe feeling when you’re with 200million people who all want the same thing – PEACE!”