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Author: News Desk

  • Pakistan to get another royal visit

    Pakistan to get another royal visit

    Just a month after Prince William and Kate Middleton’s tour of Pakistan, the country is all set for another royal visit.

    Queen Máxima of the Netherlands will be coming to Pakistan on November 25 for a three-day visit as the special advocate to the UN Secretary-General’s Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development.

    According to a statement issued by the Pakistan Embassy of the Netherlands, the Dutch royal will discuss the progress of financial services to improve the economic situation of Pakistan.

    During her visit, the queen will hold talks with international development partners, representatives of the fintech sector, State Bank Governor Reza Baqir, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Finance Abdul Hafeez Shaikh and NADRA Chairman Usman Mubin.

    The Dutch queen is also expected to meet President Dr Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Imran Khan.

    Queen Máxima will also be present at the launch of the Micropayments Gateway, a central bank initiative to reduce the cost of small payments in order to stimulate digital payments, in particular for people in poverty situations.

    In Lahore, Queen Máxima will visit a number of projects that focus on digital financial services that, among other things, contribute to the development of entrepreneurs.

    “Since 2009, Queen Máxima, as a UN special advocate, has been committed to making financial services accessible to all, including low-income groups and small and medium-sized businesses, and thus increasing their chances of economic and social development,” the statement said.

    Who is Queen Máxima of the Netherlands?

    Queen Maxima of the Netherlands is the wife of King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands. An Argentinian born, the Queen attained a degree in Economics from the Pontifical Catholic University of Argentina followed by a master’s degree in the US. She has worked in the finance industry for over a decade including her position as the vice president of institutional sales in Latin America for HSBC and Deutsche Bank’s Brussels branch.

    King Willem-Alexander & Queen Maxima with Prince Charles, Prince William and Kate Middleton at the Royal Ascot

    On April 30, 2013, Maxima became the first queen consort of the Netherlands since Emma of Waldeck and Pyrmont in the late 1800s.

    According to The Sun, Maxima met Willem-Alexander during a spring fair in Spain in April 1999. In later interviews, the pair explained that at first the prince simply introduced himself as Alexander, so she didn’t know he was a prince until later.

    After the fair, they agreed to meet again in New York where Maxima was working, which is when their relationship began. The couple tied the knot in February 2002 in a civil ceremony.

    The couple have three daughters. The Queen is well-known for her fashion statements.

  • Court directs educational boards to develop plan to curb cheating

    Court directs educational boards to develop plan to curb cheating

    The Sindh High Court (SHC) has directed all educational boards of Sindh to design a mechanism to control cheating during examinations.

    As per reports, a single bench comprising Justice Salahuddin Panhwar directed the boards to take into account the suggestions made by experts while hearing the case pertaining to cheating during examinations.

    Institute of Business Administration’s (IBA) registrar said that they have a standard mechanism for making the question paper for exams in Sindh, suggesting that the papers should be audited and monitored by a third party while checking and marking should be made foolproof by surveillance through CCTV cameras.

    While experts have advised that exam centres should be monitored through CCTV cameras and Rangers officials should also be placed there.

    Justice Panhwar while giving his remarks said, “It is the fundamental right of every citizen to gain quality education under Article 25 of the constitution. It has become difficult to survive without higher education”.

    The court has now summoned the chairpersons of the educational boards, Sindh Text Book Board chairperson, the managing director of the Sindh education foundation and the boards and universities secretary in a personal capacity, seeking a report from the parties and other relevant institutions by December 11.

  • ‘Buying-Shopping Disorder’: check symptoms

    ‘Buying-Shopping Disorder’: check symptoms

    Are you an online shopping addict? Well, it has now been recognised as a mental health condition. Psychotherapists say it is an actual mental disorder, called the ‘Buying-Shopping Disorder’ (BSD).

    “It really is time to recognise BSD as separate mental health condition and to accumulate further knowledge about BSD on the Internet,” says Dr Astrid Müller, a psychotherapist at Hannover Medical School in Germany. Her colleagues say the condition had gone unrecognised for too long.

    In a study they looked at evidence from 122 patients seeking help for their online shopping addictions and found they had higher than usual rates of depression and anxiety. They argue the rise of online stores, apps and home delivery have added an entirely new dimension to the concept of a shopaholic. The research was published in the journal Comprehensive Psychiatry.

    The internet has made shopping more available, anonymous, accessible and affordable. You can purchase things through Facebook or Instagram pages or websites. Cash on Delivery (CoD) option or online bank deposits has also made online shopping quite easy without stepping out of the comfort of your house.

    Currently, BSD is not classified as a disorder on its own but is part of a category named ‘other specified impulse control disorder’. Online shopping can cause a loop of extreme cravings for buying things and satisfaction when spending money. This can then lead to a breakdown in self-control, ‘extreme distress’, other psychiatric problems, relationship difficulties and physical clutter and debt.

    Are you addicted to shopping? Buying-Shopping Disorder (BSD) often happens alongside other mood, anxiety or eating disorders. It often appears in the late teens or early 20s, and usually gets worse over time. 

    Symptoms may include:  

    • Accumulating debt 
    • Hiding purchases from loved ones 
    • Tensions or breakdowns in relationships between friends and family 
    • Compensating for negative feelings by buying things 
    • Trying to stop shopping but unable to 

  • VIDEO: JUI-F leader claims Azadi March ruined Israel’s 40 years of investment in Pakistan

    The Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) leader Rashid Mehmood Soomro has claimed that Israel has said that JUI-F’s Azadi March has ruined their 40 years investment in Pakistan.

    Rashid Somroo made these claims in a talk show with journalist Hamid Mir when the Azadi March protest was still active, the video of which has now gone viral over the internet.

    JUI-F leader said, “The Israeli newspapers have reported this that Azadi March has managed to ruin their 40 years investment in Pakistan”, adding that the protest also suppressed the talks about Pakistan accepting Israel as a state.

    Hamir Mir on this claim made by Rashid remarked that no government official had made any statement regarding the acceptance of Israel.

    To which JUI-F leader claimed that “top government officials were engaged in backdoor talks with Israel and were ready to accept it, but JUI-F successfully managed to stop these talks”.

    Watch Video:

    The protests, led by JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, began with the ‘Azadi March’ on October 27 from Karachi. Thousands of supporters reached Islamabad on October 31, holding a two-week sit-in on the city’s main highway.

    On November 13, Fazl ordered his supporters to disperse across the country to block roads, in what he termed as ‘Plan B’ to topple Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan.

    On Thursday protesters blocked the Grand Trunk Road between Islamabad and Afghanistan’s capital Kabul, causing lengthy delays. Similar disruptions were reported in Jacobabad — a city in Sindh linking the province with Balochistan and Punjab.

  • On TV Tonight: Mahira Khan in Verna

    On TV Tonight: Mahira Khan in Verna

    Shoaib Mansoor’s Verna didn’t do too well at the box office, but the movie is an important step towards discussing issues that plague our society. Pakistan’s superstar Mahira Khan takes the lead in the film, Hamza Ali Abbasi’s wife and a great actor in her own right, Naimal Khawar is also in the film, as well as Haroon Shahid and Zarrar Khan.

    Mahira Khan plays a rape survivor

    The film revolves around a couple Aami (Haroon) and Sara (Mahira) and how their lives change after Sara is raped by a governor’s son (Zarrar Khan). After she is raped, she vows to fight for justice.

    Aami and Sara are a happy couple before their lives are ruined

    The film was directed by Shoaib Mansoor, who had two super hits before, Khuda Kay Liye and Bol but Verna didn’t receive a similar response. Criticism revolved around a disjointed script, bad audio and weak storytelling.

    The film was made in 2017 but will air tonight, Saturday November 16th, on HUM T.V. at 9:10PM.

  • I hold no grudge against Nawaz, his health more important than politics: Imran

    I hold no grudge against Nawaz, his health more important than politics: Imran

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan has said that he holds no grudge against Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif and that the ailing former premier’s health is more important than politics.

    According to The Express Tribune, presiding over a meeting of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) core committee on Friday, PM Imran said his government had facilitated the Sharif family patriarch at every forum on humanitarian grounds and had also come up with a legal option to strike his name off the Exit Control List (ECL).

    The statement came a day after PML-N chief Shehbaz Sharif warned that he would hold Imran responsible if anything happened to his brother as his administration was “dilly-dallying on the removal of Nawaz’s name from the no-fly list”.

    The premier has now said the government had no issues if the Sharif family opted to approach the court instead of furnishing an indemnity bond for the removal of Nawaz’s name from the ECL. However, he regretted that the Sharif family was “playing politics” on the 69-year-old politician’s health.

    He noted that Nawaz’s health was deteriorating and his family’s first priority should be to take him abroad for treatment instead of wrangling over the issue of the indemnity bond.

    Participants of the PTI’s core committee meeting also decided to take legal action against Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman for criticising state institutions during his 14-day-long sit-in in the federal capital.

  • Just friends or more? Aima Baig & Shahbaz Shigri

    Just friends or more? Aima Baig & Shahbaz Shigri

    Speculations are rife that Aima Baig and Shahbaz Shigri are more than friends after the two were spotted hanging out more than usual.

    The rumours began after Aima and Shabaz posted the same picture at the same time. The picture of them was from the PFDC Bridal Week which took place last month in Lahore where Aima walked the ramp for Fahad Hussayn while Shahbaz was in the crowds to cheer for her. Aima also performed a song during the show.

    While Aima had a simple caption, Shahbaz with the picture wrote, “Fantastic show by Fahad Hussayn and the ridiculously talented, drop-dead gorgeous Aima Baig. Pretty sure the ramp was on fire while she was on. Thanks for the kickass blazer Fahad.”

    Following the show, the two jetted off to sunny California. Which is probably the biggest sign of their relationship because all relationships start in foreign lands. Remember Iqra Aziz and Yasir Hussain’s vacay in Thailand?

    “Really can’t beat this guy when it comes to posing,” Aima captioned the picture below.

    Friends and members of the entertainment industry left some sweet comments on the picture and we will take this as a hint.

    Another picture which had a lot of hint, hint comments by friends was this one:

    Their couple hashtag was debated upon by Shahbaz’s close friend Salmaan Shaukat.

    Read more: Meera Jee is touring the world with beau Captain Naveed

    The two are also an integral part of each other’s Insta stories.

    Aima’s Insta Story from Nov 15
    Aima’s Insta Story from Nov 15

    Shahbaz also had wonderful things to say about Aima’s latest song Dhola for Coke Studio 12.

    All this aside, Aima in a recent interview said that Shahbaz and her are just good friends and people are speculating their relationship because Aima has rarely shared pictures of herself with guys on her Instagram.

    So dating or not, you decide.

  • VIDEO: PTI’s ally hits out at PM, says govt talking about humanity and asking for money

    VIDEO: PTI’s ally hits out at PM, says govt talking about humanity and asking for money

    Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, Speaker Punjab Assembly, and ally of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) government has said that the government should not talk about money if it is talking about humanity in the case of Nawaz Sharif.

    Talking in Dunya News program” Nuqta-e-Nazar,” Pervaiz Elahi said that all the properties of Nawaz have been transferred to his children and encouraged the government not to do politics on such sensitive matters and let former premier leave the country.

    Elahi said that Sharif family is also questioning why they should give any guarantee, adding that “Nawaz has been granted bail by the courts so why should he give guarantee to the government if he wants to leave for London?”

    It is pertinent to note that the federal cabinet on Tuesday granted “conditional” approval to remove Nawaz’s name from the ECL [Exit Control List].

    The government has asked the Sharif Family to pay Rs7 billion as surety bonds — equivalent to the fines imposed on him by an accountability court in two corruption cases Al-Azizia Steel Mills and Avenfield properties — in which PML-N supremo was convicted.

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) had categorically rejected the conditional offer of the government and have approached the court to seek the removal of former prime minister’s name from the no-fly list.

    Watch Video:

  • Fawad Chaudhry has asked SUPARCO to help in providing internet to Kashmiris

    Fawad Chaudhry has asked SUPARCO to help in providing internet to Kashmiris

    More than 100 days have passed since the Indian Government revoked Article 370 and imposed curfew in Indian occupied Kashmir and there is no information as to when the curfew will be lifted.

    In a recent media talk, Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry said that he has reached out to Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) to provide internet to the people of Kashmir via satellite.

    “Internet is considered a fundamental right nowadays. I have asked SUPARCO to check the feasibility of providing internet to caged citizens of Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir via satellite,” said Fawad, adding that his ministry is ready to help out SUPARCO wherever they need help.

    Fawad highlighted the plight of the Kashmiris and said that they have every right to have access to the internet.

    https://twitter.com/FawadPTIUpdates/status/1195003818125221890
  • UNESCO’s Education Commission elects Shafqat Mehmood as President

    UNESCO’s Education Commission elects Shafqat Mehmood as President

    Minister for Education and Professional Training Shafqat Mehmood has been unanimously elected as President of UNESCO’s prestigious Education Commission in Paris.

    The Minister was recently in Paris for the 40th session of UNESCO’s General Conference which he also addressed.

    Speaking at the event, Mahmood said that at least 1.5 million Kashmiri students were not able to attend schools since the “unilateral and illegal revocation” of Kashmir’s autonomy by India on 5th August.

    Mahmood called upon UNESCO to use its moral authority to persuade the Indian government to lift restrictions and restore the fundamental rights of the people of Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. He also expressed his dismay at the decision of the Babri Masjid.

    More so, the minister also shared that Pakistan is taking concrete steps to deliver universal quality education in the country.

    Speaking after the election, the Minister termed it as an honour for Pakistan and an acknowledgment of its commitment to UNESCO’s work in the field of education.

    The Minister said being the President of UNESCO’s Education Commission, he would work closely with all delegations in a constructive manner in pursuance of UNESCO’s objectives.

    Meanwhile, when a Twitter user commented that Mahmood will now direct all his energies towards working for UNESCO, the Minister told him that the position was “voluntary” and without any salary or any other perk.