Author: News Desk

  • FA, FSc examination fees increased across Pakistan

    FA, FSc examination fees increased across Pakistan

    Education boards across Pakistan have announced a rise in admission fees for annual Intermediate examinations for FA (Faculty of Arts) and FSC (Faculty of Science), expected to begin from the next academic year on April 22, 2025.


    The rise is expected to affect both regular and private students, requiring online submission of admission fees along with the admission form.


    Revised fee structure


    As per an official notification, the revised fee structure for students in the science and arts practical groups is as follows: 


    Single fee- Rs5,830 
    Double fee- Rs7,630
    Triple fee: Rs 9,430. 


    For students of FA without practical subjects, the fees are:


    Single – Rs5,730
    Double fee- Rs7,430
    Triple fee- Rs9,130.


    Revised fee structure for regular students


    Regular students in the science and arts practical groups will pay a single fee of Rs4,730, a double fee of Rs6,430, and a triple fee of Rs8,130. 


    Regular arts students without practical subjects will pay a single fee of Rs4,630, a double fee of Rs6,230, and a triple fee of Rs7,830. 


    Notably, an additional registration fee of Rs1,000 will also be charged.


    Meanwhile, the last date to submit online admissions with single fee is January 24, 2025. 


    After this date, students are still eligible to apply but will have to pay a double fee from January 25 to February 3 and a triple fee from February 4 to February 12. 


    Students can submit their admission with a triple fee and a daily fine of Rs500 up to 10 days before the exams.


    However, the sudden hike in fees has raised concerns and disappointment among the masses.


    Talking to The Express Tribune, the President of the All Pakistan Private Schools Management Association (APPSMA), Abrar Ahmed Khan, opposed the increase in fees and called for a revision.

    He criticised the fee hike, stating the deteriorating situation of the economy in the country: “The earlier increase in matriculation fees had already placed a financial burden on students, and this additional hike in the FA fees is excessive.”


    He also warned that the fee rise could discourage private students, particularly female students from remote areas, from continuing their education and appearing for the intermediate exams despite restrictions.

  • Chahat is back with Bado Badi 2

    Chahat is back with Bado Badi 2

    Rejoice, social media users, Chahat Fateh Ali Khan is back with a bang! The singer rose to stardom with his viral rendition of Noor Jahan’s classic song, ‘Bado Badi,’ last year.

    Bado Badi 2 Out Now

    Chahat promised his fans a sequel to his hit song. ‘Bado Badi 2’ is now out, just in time for Christmas and the winter holidays. The video, which appears to have been shot in a low-budget setting, has been shared with his fans.

    Chahat is seen dancing with dancers, creating a lively atmosphere that resembles a mix of a bar and a concert. He sings with enthusiasm, trying to captivate the audience.

    The much-awaited Bado Badi 2 is here to bring some festive cheer. Check out the video below:

  • Khawaja Saad Rafique hits back at Richard Grenell over silence on Gaza

    Khawaja Saad Rafique hits back at Richard Grenell over silence on Gaza

    Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) leader Khawaja Saad Rafique has hit back at United States (US) President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for Envoy for Special Missions, Richard Grenell, over his persistent social media posts advocating for the release of the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan.

    In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday, Rafique called out Grenell over his hypocrisy, saying, “His [Richard Grenell] conscience has been sleeping since the 2018 election theft to the dark period of political revenge and long imprisonment of opposition leaders.”

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    The PML-N leader, who remained imprisoned during Imran Khan’s tenure, reminded Grenell that the elected government of former Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif in Pakistan was overthrown by the “collusion of the establishment, the judiciary and Imran Khan’s party.”

    Former Railways and Aviation Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique lambasted the Special Envoy over his stance on the carnage of Palestinians. “His [Grenell] dead conscience on the genocide of the Palestinians is still with the usurper and aggressive Zionists. Their conscious wakes up only to fulfill imperial ambitions. It has nothing to do with humanity, justice, democracy and the rule of law,” he added.

    Doubting Grenell’s demand to release former premier Imran Khan, Rafique pointed out that the close confidant of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump had some other goals.

    “We know very well that you will try to put pressure on Pakistan to break the China bloc and surround Iran. You have done this before, but the Lord of the Universe has kept us safe and strong. May Allah be with us,” he wrote. 

    Following the crackdown of Pakistan security forces on PTI demonstrators on November 26 in Islamabad, former US ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell initially posted on his account on X in favour of Imran Khan, writing, “Free Imran Khan!”. However, he did not receive much attention at that time.

    Grenell was discussed in Pakistan politics on December 15, when Trump appointed him as his Special Envoy for Global Missions in his administration. His social media posts then were amplified by PTI supporters.

    Grenell’s posts have veered towards what can be called trolling, social media behaviour not usually displayed by diplomats. He has been retweeting PTI’s Shehbaz Gill, and many of his talking points seem to have much in common with the party. 

    However, Khawaja Saad Rafique was not the only political leader who reacted to Grenell’s social media post focusing on Imran Khan’s release.

    Advisor to PM Rana Sanaullah, while appearing in the Geo News programme Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Saath, said, “We will not work under pressure of Donald Trump […] if any intervention is made then we would consider it as interference in our sovereignty.”

    Grenell talked to US media outlet Newsmax on Wednesday, stating, “There are a lot of the same allegations just like President Trump, where the ruling party put him in prison and created some sort of corruption allegations and false allegations.”

    Meanwhile, many of Pakistan’s biggest opposition party leaders, including Zartaj Gul and Aliya Hamza, welcomed the statements from Richard Grenell.

  • Beerbiceps Ranveer Allahbadia saved from drowning with girlfriend

    Beerbiceps Ranveer Allahbadia saved from drowning with girlfriend

    What was meant to be a fun Christmas in Goa quickly turned into a life-threatening situation for YouTuber Ranveer Allahbadia, also known as BeerBiceps, who says he almost drowned along with his girlfriend.

    Taking to Instagram, Ranveer revealed how he and his girlfriend were caught in a powerful underwater current while swimming in the ocean.

    The YouTuber, who has been swimming in the ocean since childhood, explained that while he has encountered such currents before, it was the first time he was in this situation with a companion. 

    “We both love swimming in the open ocean. I’ve been doing this since I was a kid. But yesterday we got swept away by an underwater current. This has happened to me before but I’ve never been alongside a companion,” he said.

    Despite being good swimmers, Ranveer said, it was much harder to pull someone out of the water than to swim out alone. 

    “After a 5-10 minute struggle, we called for help and were promptly rescued by a family of five swimming nearby.”

    He expressed his deep gratitude to the family, which included an Indian Police Service (IPS) officer and an Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer, for their quick response and efforts. He also reflected on how the terrifying ordeal made him realise the limits of nature’s fury. 

    “There was a point during the ordeal where I swallowed a lot of water and started fading away a little bit. That’s when I decided to shout for help,” he said. 

    In the post, Ranveer also thanked God for protecting his girlfriend and him and said that it was a humbling experience.   

    “This experience left us feeling […] grateful. We felt the protection of God throughout the incident.”

    Looking back at the incident from Christmas Eve, he shared how it made him value life more deeply.

    “We’re simply full of gratitude for being alive, almost feel like this one life experience has changed my perspective towards living.”

    “Last evening, I decided to call my brother @brother.salvador to convey the Christmas Eve incident. He performed a prayer for us where we thanked Lord Jesus Christ as well as the God above us [sic],” he revealed. 

    He ended his post with a message of thanks to his fans and followers, as he acknowledged the impact the near-drowning had on his perspective towards life. 

    “I guess 2025 is going to be more blessed than ever, we lived for a reason! Merry Christmas to you all and to your families. Thank you, God, for life! ♥.”

  • WhatsApp will stop working on these devices from January 1

    WhatsApp will stop working on these devices from January 1

    Popular messaging app WhatsApp will be stop working on all Android phones running the KitKat operating system from January 1, 2025, it has emerged.

    Under the development, all devices released over nine years ago will no longer be able to run the app.

    The main reason for this move by the Meta sub-platform is to include new features for users and ensure compatibility with modern technology, performance and security.

    The company has also released a list of Android phones that will no longer be able to run the app.

    Samsung Galaxy S3
    Motorola Moto G
    HTC One X
    Sony Xperia Z
    Samsung Galaxy S3
    Samsung Galaxy Note 2, Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini
    Motorola Moto G (1st Gen)
    Motorola Razr HD
    Moto E 2014
    HTC One X
    HTC One X+
    HTC Desire 500
    HTC Desire 601
    LG Optimus G
    LG Nexus 4
    LG G2 Mini
    LG L90
    Sony Xperia Z
    Sony Xperia SP
    Sony Xperia T
    Sony Xperia V

  • Sheheryar Munawar, Maheen Siddiqui’s joyous haldi ceremony

    Sheheryar Munawar, Maheen Siddiqui’s joyous haldi ceremony

    Sheheryar Munawar, one of Pakistan’s most beloved actors, is stepping into a new chapter of his life as he gets ready to marry fellow actress Maheen Siddiqui, known for the lead role in Dobara.The couple hosted a small and intimate Haldi ceremony on December 25, surrounded by close friends and family.


    Haldi Ceremony Highlights


    The Haldi ceremony, a joyful pre-wedding ritual, took place last night. Sheheryar and Maheen looked stunning as they celebrated this special moment together. Their friends and family joined in the fun, making it a memorable event.


    Here are some highlights from their beautiful Haldi ceremony:


    Sheheryar Munawar: The groom looked dashing in a sky blue dress, his bright smile lighting up the ceremony.


    Maheen Siddiqui: The bride was radiant in a yellow dress, exuding joy and excitement.


    Festive Atmosphere: The ceremony was filled with laughter, love, and the vibrant colors of Haldi, making it a truly festive occasion.


    Family and Friends: Close friends and family members added to the celebrations, sharing in the happiness and fun.

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  • Babar becomes first Pakistani cricketer to score 4,000 runs in all formats

    Babar becomes first Pakistani cricketer to score 4,000 runs in all formats

    Star batsman Babar Azam has become the first Pakistani player to score 4,000 runs in all three formats of cricket.

    As per the details, although Babar was sent back to the pavilion after scoring only 4 runs against South Africa in the first Test Thursday, he completed a total of 4,000 runs in Test cricket.

    Earlier, he has played 128 T20 matches and scored a total of 4,223 runs. In ODIs, he has scored a whopping 5,957 runs since his debut in 2015.

    A year after his ODI debut, Babar was given T20I and Test caps. He led Pakistan for many years, but his performance as a captain came into question after the team’s poor performance at the 2023 World Cup. Babar resigned from captaincy of all three formats in November 2023 after Pakistan’s exit from the World Cup.

    The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) then appointed Shaheen Afridi as the T20 skipper whereas Shan Masood was handed reins of Pakistan’s Test squad. 

    In March this year, Babar was once again made captain of Pakistan’s white ball teams. Under his leadership, Pakistan played 43 ODIs, winning 26 and losing 15. Apart from this, Pakistan won 48 and lost 29 T20 International matches.

    On October 2, 2024, he resigned as white-ball captain once again. Currently, Muhammad Rizwan is leading Greenshirts in ODI and T20Is.

  • I used to drink all night, says Aamir Khan

    I used to drink all night, says Aamir Khan

    Did you know that one of Bollywood’s biggest stars once couldn’t stop drinking? Aamir Khan recently opened up about his battle with alcohol, admitting that in the past, he used to drink all night long.

    In a candid conversation with fellow actor Nana Patekar, the Dangal actor confessed that he struggled with extreme habits.   

    Nana Patekar asked Aamir Khan if he had any bad habits.

     “I have quit drinking now, but at one point, I used to drink all night. I couldn’t stop. The problem is that I am an extremist; I keep doing what I’m already doing. It’s not a good thing, and I realize that. I know it’s wrong, but I can’t stop myself,” the Taare Zameen Par actor replied.

    Standing at around 5’5, Aamir was concerned that audiences will not accept him especially when compared to his taller contemporaries

    “I was scared fans would reject me because of my height, this was my fear,” Aamir Khan shared.

    Despite these early insecurities, Aamir eventually overcame them and gained confidence.

    “Later I realized that all of this does not matter at all, what is important is how honestly you are working and how your work can enchant people, and after that, everything else is unimportant.”

    Earler, in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter India, Aamir Khan and his ex-wife Kiran Rao, discussed the emotional journey that led him to reconsider leaving films and shared how his family convinced him to stay.

     

    Aamir Khan said, “I was going through a personal journey of my own, and towards the end of COVID, I found myself sitting alone and reflecting. The time alone made me realize that I’d spent the bulk of my adult life, from the age of 18 when I first became an assistant, entirely focused on cinema and films. This made me think that maybe I hadn’t been there enough for my relationships, my kids, my siblings, my family, whether it was with Kiran when I was married to her or Reena when I was married to her. I felt I hadn’t been present enough for these people.”

     The Taare Zameen Par actor shared that he realized this during the shooting of ‘Laal Singh Chaddha, when the pandemic halted production. 



    “I felt a lot of guilt and didn’t feel good about what I had done. So, in an emotional reaction, I thought I’d done enough films in my 35 years in the industry and could now focus on my family and personal relationships”, Khan admitted.

  • ‘Fundamentally wrong’: Indian sharks mock Shark Tank Pakistan

    ‘Fundamentally wrong’: Indian sharks mock Shark Tank Pakistan

    With Shark Tank Pakistan continuing to make waves and bringing the country’s startup revolution to the global stage, two of the judges from Shark Tank India have shared how they feel about the hit show’s Pakistan edition.

    Shark Tank, the American franchise of the British TV series Dragons’ Den, shows entrepreneurs making business presentations to a panel of five venture capitalists called “sharks”, who then decide whether to invest in their companies or not. The show reached new highs after the release of its Indian franchise in 2021, which was followed by the first season of Shark Tank Pakistan that premiered earlier this year.

    As some of the deals from Shark Tank Pakistan, including the biggest investment in the history of the show around the globe, make headlines, two investors from Shark Tank India have expressed their opinions on the same.

    Appearing on influencer Sharan Hegde’s podcast, Shaadi.com founder Anupam Mittal and BoAt co-founder Aman Gupta highlighted key differences between both Shark Tank franchises, mocking some bits from the Pakistani version and explaining how it was “fundamentally wrong”.

    “Someone invested some 300 crores at the show. This is not possible,” Aman said, adding that he hadn’t been following it but did see some interesting clips going viral.

    Mittal burst out laughing when he heard the question. “What’s going on there?” he asked as the two highlighted the PKR 300 crores demand as an example of the show’s absurdity.

    Both sharks were referring to a viral clip where an elderly contestant on Shark Tank Pakistan asked for a PKR 300 crores investment in exchange for 3% equity. The request had shocked the judges, especially when the contestant had called the amount “peanuts” for them.

    Anupam said he found some of the clips hilarious because they showed a lack of understanding and how some of the things were “fundamentally and technically wrong”.

    Expressing hope that the show would improve in the years to come, the Shaadi.com founder said region’s economic growth and Pakistan’s progress was important for India too. “If Pakistan doesn’t grow economically, it will create problems that we [India] will have to face. It will slow us down,” he said.

    Anupam also expressed hope that shows like Shark Tank Pakistan would inspire economic growth and productivity in the country. “It’s in everyone’s best interest for Shark Tank Pakistan to motivate people and guide them in the right direction,” he added.

  • Yashma Gill sparks wedding buzz with this dream

    Yashma Gill sparks wedding buzz with this dream

    For a Muslim, the most desirable place to get married is in one of the two Holy cities, Makkah and Madina. 

    Renowned Pakistani actress Yashma Gill also wants to marry in the holy cities after Saudi Arabia has allowed weddings there.

    Yashma Gill announced her intention to get married soon. The actress shared her excitement on Instagram by posting a screenshot of a news story that went viral on the platform.

    She was happy with the Saudi government’s recent decision to allow marriages in Makkah and Madina. In her Instagram story, she wrote, “It’s time to get married,” indicating her eagerness to tie the knot in one of the holy cities.

    The news of Yashma’s upcoming marriage has been met with joy and well-wishes from her fans and social media users alike.

    Earlier, Actress Yashma Gill has been blown away by the overwhelming response she received on the matrimonial app Dil Ka Rishta, with over 10,000 marriage proposals pouring in from all over the world. After growing frustrated with the demands of traditional matchmaking, Yashma decided to take matters into her own hands and joined the app, where she quickly became the center of attention. Now, the question remains: who will she choose as her future partner? 

    During an interview on Mazaq Raat, Yashma shared the surprising challenges she faces in finding a suitable match, admitting that it has become quite expensive.

    “From 10:00 in the morning to 10:00 pm at shooting we’re all busy, so there’s no time to look for a husband. So what I did was, I was sitting on the set, and I looked up online marriage bureaus. I thought, let me ask them what’s going on. I asked if they could suggest any good matches, the marriage bureau asked me for a video call to see whether Yashma Gill was available or not. I was like, what’s going on. After all that, they sent me a message saying, ‘To register, we charge four lakh, and after the relationship is finalized, we ask for eight llakh,” Yashma said.

    Dil Ka Rishta is designed to help individuals find potential life partners. It allows users to create profiles, browse through matches, and connect with others seeking relationships.

    On Life Green Hai, Yashma Gill was asked what qualities should her partner have.

    In response, she said, “I want to marry someone who is a nice person, somebody who has good moral values, somebody who has good ethical values.” 


    The actress emphasized the importance of her partner having fear of God, as it helps them understand how to care for others and present themselves with good manners.


    During the conversation, the Haq Mehar actress revealed, “My mother has completely different thoughts about my marriage and nowadays, she’s asking our employee for my friend’s number so she can convince my friend to marry my cousin.”

    Yashma Gill has starred in drama serial such as, ‘Meri Saheli Meir Bhabhi’, Iltija, ‘Qurban’, ‘Ghar Titli Ka Par’, ‘Kab Mere Kehloage’, ‘Haara Dil, ‘Azmaish’, ‘Bebaak’, ‘Khel’ and ‘Haq Mehar.