PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG) has hit one billion downloads worldwide since 2018, making it one of the most successful smartphone games.
The latest download figures defeated other popular games like Kiloo, Subway Surfers and Candy Crush Saga.
Unlike PUBG mobile, the other games were not as sophisticated and have vast appeal for audiences.
PUBG Mobile publisher Tencent is currently one of the biggest game companies by revenue. The company said that it aims to gain half of its video game revenue from outside its home market of China.
Several of its game studios like LightSpeed, Quantum and Timi have already started working in the United States (US) to create original content for the global audience.
Last year, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) had temporarilybanned the game by stating that it is harmful to user’s health after some segments of society had claimed the same.
Later on, after getting assurance from the company for a comprehensive control mechanism, PTA had unbanned the game.
Pakistan Television (PTV)’s first female anchor, newscaster and announcer Kanwal Naseer has passed away at the age of 73. The departed soul was hospitalised for the past couple of days, as reported by Radio Pakistan.
پاکستان ٹیلی ویژن کی پہلی خاتون اناؤنسر، ڈرامہ آرٹسٹ محترمہ کنول نصیر انتقال کر گئیں۔ انا للہ وانا الیہ راجعون۔ pic.twitter.com/MO7tqmQHB7
Born in 1948 in Lahore, Naseer entered media at the young age of 17 and remained associated with PTV and Radio Pakistan for over five decades. Naseer made her first announcement at the PTV on November 26, 1964.
Naseer has been awarded the Pride of Performance and many other national awards in recognition of her services. She was the daughter of legendary actor Mohini Hameed.
Meanwhile, several notable personalities including Fawad Chaudhry and Humayun Saeed expressed their condolences over her death on social media.
Deeply saddened to learn about the passing of Kanwal Naseer sahiba. She was an icon and will always remain one. Heartfelt condolences to her family. May Allah bless her soul pic.twitter.com/YWuDNr3T1D
Pioneer of TV anchoring Kanwal Naseer is no more. She was a legend. Her urdu dialect was unmatchable. May Allah bless her with maghfirat and highest ranks in jannah tul firdous. Aameen#ptv#kanwalnaseerpic.twitter.com/03jpC2e4OF
إِنَّا لِلّهِ وَإِنَّـا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ RIP #KanwalNaseer & #HaseenaMoin. Two trailblazing role models and amazingly graceful and gracious mentors to so many. In their own different ways, both made so much possible for so many; quietly and always with a smile. Thank you,both. pic.twitter.com/c5o5CPFnCx
As both the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) reportedly pour in efforts to save the sinking ship of the opposition alliance amid growing differences, a statement by PML-N’s Capt (r) Muhammad Safdar has left netizens in fits of laughter.
Speaking to journalists on Thursday, Safdar said the media shouldn’t expect him to comment over the straining relations between the PPP and the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM).
“[PPP chief] Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari is like a brother to me while his father [and PPP co-chairperson] Asif Ali Zardari is the life-long president of the son-in-law’s union. I am the general secretary,” said the son-in-law of former prime minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif.
صفدر صاحب کی اس غیر جمہوری حرکت کی بھرپور مذمت کرتے ہیں۔دامادوں کی یونین کا قیام 2004 میں ہوا تو کیپٹن صاحب کو اسکا تاحیات چئیرمین اور مجھے تا حیات جنرل سیکرٹری نامزد کیا گیا تھا۔آج بغیر کسی نوٹس یا الیکشن کیپٹن صاحب نے زرداری صاحب کو چئیرمین اور خود کو جنرل سیکریٹری بنا ڈالا 😁 pic.twitter.com/Q9chNO20p6
So, Safdar went on to say, he shared a lot of relations with the PPP leadership and wouldn’t give any statement.
Earlier, his wife and PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz also refused to answer a journalist’s query regarding reports of the PPP backstabbing the opposition alliance.
ZARDARI & SAFDAR:
The son of Hakim Ali Zardari, a landowner from Sindh, Zardari rose to prominence after his 1987 marriage to PPP founder Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s daughter Benazir Bhutto, who became the PM of Pakistan after her election in 1988.
After his wife’s assassination in 2007, Zardari, the new co-chairperson, led the PPP to victory in the 2008 general election.
Safdar, on the other hand, married Maryam Nawaz in 1992 while he was serving as a captain in the Pakistan Army and had been the military secretary to then PM Nawaz Sharif.
After retiring from the military, he joined the civil service. He joined politics after returning to Pakistan from exile in 2007 along with the Sharif family and is now a key PML-N leader.
When President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan replaced the head of the central bank in March 2021, thousands of people rushed to convert the Turkish Lira into cryptocurrencies.
There are two largest crypto exchanges in the country, Paribu and BtcTurk, and they are trading over $1 billion worth of cryptocurrency every day. The 11 most popular crypto exchanges in the country have a $6 billionaggregate trade volume as per the local Turkish media.
The interest of Turkish people and specifically research centres has increased drastically.
“From the very beginning of Bitcoin, Turkish people have been eager for and interested in cryptocurrencies, so it is not a new thing like in Venezuela or Argentina”, said a lecturer at the Kadir Has University in Istanbul, Turkey.
In 2020, the Turkish Information Technologies and Communications Authority published a report stating that more than 2.4 million Turkish individuals trade-in cryptocurrency, making up 3% of Turkey’s population.
Note that the average daily registrations of Turkish users on the British cryptocurrency exchange CEX.IO since 14th March are 783% more than in February, according to the company’s managing director.
Since Turkey has no regulations for traditional crypto exchanges, peer-to-peer (P2P) crypto trading platforms such as Binance and Coinbase have seen traffic increase since January 2021.
It is noteworthy to mention that between 2019 and 2020, new registrations on crypto exchanges rose 10%, while in February this year, they were 3x times higher than the average month in 2020, according to CoinDesk.
Celebrated dramatist and playwright Haseena Moin has passed away at the age of 79, herfamily has confirmed. While the exact reason behind her death is still not known, the writer was a breast cancer survivor and had also penned a web-series on the topic, which is expected to release soon. Moin’s funeral prayers will be held in Karachi.
Just found out that my amazing, talented auntie Haseena Moin, who was one of the most beloved & acclaimed writers in Pakistan, passed away today. The world has lost a bright light today and I have lost a woman I truly love and admire. Inna lillahi wa inna illahi rajaoon. pic.twitter.com/ZrjcUX6s8d
One of Pakistan’s most renowned writers, Moin was born in 1941 in Kanpur, present-day India. She earned a Master of Arts in History from Karachi University in 1963. Over a career spanning more than 40 years, Moin delivered a plethora of hits.
In 1987, she was awarded the Pride of Performance award. Some of her most notable works include Tanhaiyaan,Anakhi and Dhoop Kinare. She also penned dialogues for the Bollywood film Heena which featured Zeba Bakhtiar and the late Rishi Kapoor.
Moin was last seen at Karachi Art Council’s 23rd March celebrations. She also got vaccinated for the novel coronavirus just a few days before her death.
Literary Genius Haseena Moin just got her first dose of the Covid 19 Vaccine at the Council's vaccination center and was delighted to see the professionalism of the ACP staff and the center's sanitation@Qasimsoomro#acpkhi#artscouncil#COVID_19pic.twitter.com/Dh9fHyRJab
— Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi (@ACPKHI) March 22, 2021
Moin’s death has left fans shattered, who took to social media to express their grief.
Saddened to hear of the loss of our great writer Haseena Moin Sehba! (PTI) We grew up watching her spectacular serials like Dhoop Kinaray, Aahat, Ankahi,Tanhaiyaan, Kasak, Parosi & many more. She was my late mother's favorite writer. May ALLAH rest her soul in peace. Ameen pic.twitter.com/AOTvoB1eES
What a loss…Haseena Moin who created such world class life stories is no more…She gave women a new empowered strength and made Indian Bollywood pale in comparison….Her legacy will remain and remain…#Respect#Legend#RIPpic.twitter.com/lnLyK2Jx5r
#HaseenaMoin's passing signifies an end of an era, of #PTVs exclusive drama,of wellcrafted scripts with great attention to plots& characters. Her scripts were imbued with humor& middle class ethos. Her heroines were larger than life, strong women with resolve who conquer all #RIPpic.twitter.com/xg4V0hfcAp
An icon has passed and an era has gone. Rest In Peace #HaseenaMoin Thank you for your memorable characters. You were and will be a national treasure. pic.twitter.com/9HJK3u9HzL
ممتاز مصنفہ، مکالمہ نگار اور ڈراما نویس حسینہ معین صاحبہ کے انتقال پر افسردہ ہوں وہ پاکستان کی سب سے بہترین ڈراما نگار تھیں، پرفارمنگ آرٹس کی خدمت پر تمغائے حسنِ کارکردگی سےبھی نوازا گیا۔ اللہ تعالیٰ سے مرحومہ کی مغفرت، بلند درجات اور پسماندگان کےلیے صبرِ جمیل عطافرمانے کی دعاہے۔ pic.twitter.com/fFHxelm7t5
محترمہ حسینہ معین،عظیم پاکستانی ٹیلی ویژن ڈرامہ مصنفہ آج انتقال کر گئیں۔ إِنَّا لِلَّٰهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ. پاکستانی ٹی وی ڈرامہ کی بھارتی فلموں پر سبقت اور مقبولیت میں محترمہ حسینہ معین کا کلیدی کردار تھا۔ قوم اپنی اس عظیم ڈرامہ نگار کو سدا یاد رکھے گی۔ #HaseenaMoinpic.twitter.com/KxPpV7RqIu
#HaseenaMoin’s demise has left a vioid, a sadness even within those who did not know her personally. For so many, she symbolised happy memories, TV time with families, iconic characters that will always remain with us, the benchmark that no other playwright could somehow reach.
Haseena Moin's stories was the reason I grew up thinking Pakistani women can be cool, confident, quirky – happy & successful in their own skins. She set such a high standard of storytelling for Pakistani women when male forces seemed intent to blot out any sign of femininity.
Confession: as a 10-year-old my ultimate ambition was to be a Haseena Moin heroine. I’m sure i wasn’t alone. She’s the reason I just cannot deal with the weepy, witless waifs of our current dramas (or their scheming, wily, jeans-clad counterparts).
إِنَّا لِلّهِ وَإِنَّـا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ RIP #KanwalNaseer & #HaseenaMoin. Two trailblazing role models and amazingly graceful and gracious mentors to so many. In their own different ways, both made so much possible for so many; quietly and always with a smile. Thank you,both. pic.twitter.com/c5o5CPFnCx
Let’s be honest. March 25 will be regarded as one of the saddest days in history, despite the fact that we won a cricket world cup on this day in 1992. This is because on this day Faisal Kapadia and Bilal Maqsood announced that they have parted ways and are ‘concluding’ Strings after producing music for 33 years.
Announcing the news on social media, Strings said: “This post is a bit different from the usual. We have decided that today, 25/03/2021, is the day we graciously get to conclude Strings.”
“The past 33 years have been incredible for both of us. It’s so rare to have the chance to be able to do things like this and we are infinitely grateful to all of our fans for making it possible,” read the announcement further. “We hope you found it worthwhile as well.”
Bilal and Faisal also shared the announcement on their respective social media handles.
Soon after the news broke, fans and followers of the band including Ahmed Ali Butt, Farhan Saeed, Gohar Rasheed and Haroon Shahid took to social media to express their “heartbreak” over the band’s split.
#Strings (the band) has decided to conclude their band 💔 and the world of music will not be the same anymore 😔 what a heartbreaker #TheEnd
Thank you for your service #Strings I guess all good things come to an end but for sure Faisal bhai and Bilal bhai will definitely be contributing to Pakistani music for years to come. Let the Strings tributes flow with some acoustic covers this whole week. Will share mine soon!
Strings have ended but the countless memories will remain- thank you Bilal and Faisal bhai for shaping our lives with your music – love you guys #strings#pakistanpic.twitter.com/sZEs0QmEaZ
Strings has decided to part ways and I am sad, i am just sad. THIS BAND IS EVERYTHING!!!! duur ik gaon hai, wahan thandi chhaon hai. pic.twitter.com/zgEfq15JkZ
When your "bachpan ka fav band" gets separated, Dil toots🥺🥺 Goodluck to you both Faisal & Bilal for giving us #Strings for 33 years ♥️ pic.twitter.com/ZHcxmDRReJ
An immigration officer of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has been suspended over an incident of alleged harassment at the Jinnah International Airport, Karachi.
The incident took place when an FIA immigration officer reportedly harassed a young woman arriving from Bahrain to Karachi Monday night, with the security agency’s director for Sindh, Amir Farooqi, taking notice of it Tuesday morning.
The alleged harassment incident took place when, according to the women, the FIA officer in question reportedly asked her for her number and mithai, or sweetmeat, officials said.
At Karachi Int Airport,an FIA officer harassed a lone 15-year-old girl 4m Bahrain on immigration, asked her mob No and demanded money.The girl was harassed for not giving her number.The presence of such FIA officers at the airport in a sensitive place of Pakistan is excessive. pic.twitter.com/7yK0eMKzzI
Airlink has established a state-of-the-art smartphone production facility in Lahore which was inaugurated by Federal Minister for Industries and Production Muhammad Hammad Azhar on March 20.
The event was attended by many renowned faces of the sector, including EDB Chairman Almas Hyder and other government officials.
The organization has been primarily in the distribution business for the past 10 years working with top smartphone brands like Samsung, iPhone, Huawei, Xiaomi, Alcatel, TCL, Tecno & iTel.
The company has been a strong proponent of investment in Pakistan and has established a factory with 100% owned equity and a production capacity of six million units per annum. The facility has eight production lines, two quality lines and four packaging lines.
It is expected to bring an enormous opportunity to provide employment to 1000+ skilled and non-skilled workers.
Airlink’s new venture is a state-of-the-art smartphone production facility in Lahore. It is the most advanced mobile phone production facility with a vision of contract manufacturing in the country by meeting all international standards of quality and production.
The company has already secured contracts with TECNO, itel and TCL with all regulatory approvals.
Addressing to this historic occasion, Airlink Communication Ltd CEO Muzzaffar Hayat Piracha expressed his gratitude over the inauguration of the production plant.
“I feel honored that Airlink was able to establish this state-of-the-art facility in these unprecedented times which also resonates with the Prime Minister’s vision to promote ‘Made in Pakistan’ products that will not only create employment opportunities for people of Pakistan but also reduce the import bill, thus lessening the burden on foreign exchange reserves.”
This initiative of the government and its governing authorities will help to focus on employment generation, import substitution and technology transfer. It will also connect Pakistan to the international supply chain and will create export potential.
Hammad Azhar, while speaking on the occasion, congratulated the Airlink team for their efforts and said that in consonance with the vision of the PM, Ministry of Industries and Production was committed to bring in investment-friendly policies while ensuring ease of doing business in the country.
Airlink is a pioneer in the distribution business with a 25% share in the handset market. It is one of the fastest-growing smartphone distributors in Pakistan and has been leading a dominant number of global brands on board. It has also been declared among the top taxpayers of the country and has been awarded ‘Top tax Payer Award’ three times in a row for it in the last four years.
Pakistan’s legendary fast bowler Wasim Akram and former batsman Ramiz Raja, who were a major part of Pakistan’s World Cup winning side in 1992, recalled the turning points and surprising moments of their historic win.
Talking about the memories in a YouTube video, Raja revealed that the Pakistan side, who were the first to arrive in Australia for the tournament, had a miserable start but able leadership kept them driven towards their goal of achieving glory.
“There seemed to be a selection process when we first got to Australia because we were the first team to show up. Our captain wanted us to acclimatise to the conditions and we took several extra players. We were losing to mediocre teams there and our confidence was low. We were trying out different combinations. Then we suddenly played West Indies and lost badly. We kept losing, but one thing we had was the quality leadership of Imran Khan which kept us engaged,” said Raja.
The 57-year-old claimed that a combination of desperation and a right direction led to performances that surprised the world.
“We were thinking forward after every loss. We were battle-hardened and ready to play our best cricket because of that initial time,” said Raja. “When a team comes into desperation mode and you know that your direction is right, you take a leap that surprises everyone including yourself. Individual performances started coming out. Everyone started pinching in. If you play as one and you want to win with a noble cause [building a hospital] nothing can stop you. The desperation mode and our spirit turned everything around.”
Akram revealed that the Men in Green had even lost to an over-40 side before the tournament while the team still held on to hope even after defeats in the initial stages of the tournament.
“We even lost a game against an over-40 team. Our condition was really bad. Imran Khan still gave us confidence that we would win. We peaked at the right time. We defeated one of the favourite teams of the tournament New Zealand. We had faith that we could beat them,” said Akram. “Once we started winning, we knew that we would keep the momentum going. Ramiz in the end took the final catch which was a great moment.”
The legendary pacer stated that a newspaper article helped him bowl faster and with confidence which ended up helping the Men in Green in their pursuit of a maiden World Cup victory.
“Before the game against Australia, when I was having breakfast I saw the newspaper. I wasn’t controlling the new ball very well. The newspaper quoted Imran as saying that Wasim should be bowling fast. I think I started bowling as fast as I could after that and that helped me get wickets. My favorite moment and the highlight of my career was taking those two wickets in one over,” he concluded.
Later, interacting with the new-age cricketers, the legends including Aamer Sohail, Aqib Javed and Mushtaq Ahmed cherished the memories of 1992 World Cup with Misbah-ul-Haq, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Nida Dar, Mohammad Hafeez, Imam-ul-Haq and Haris Rauf etc.
