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Author: News Desk

  • Meri Zindagi Hai Tu: When bad writing meets unavoidable chemistry

    Meri Zindagi Hai Tu: When bad writing meets unavoidable chemistry

    Another episode of Meri Zindagi Hai Tu and another twist of twists without any depth. The storyline is weak and repetitive and just plain boring, even though it tries so hard. But we can’t stop watching it because the chemistry between Ayra (Hania Aamir) and Kamyar (Bilal Abbas) is really so hot. So let’s be honest: we only watch it because it’s soapy, dramatic and just so bad.

     

    It’s like Emily in Paris isn’t it? Mindless, with no social messaging, just love and fighting for love, scheming and betrayal that makes it so spicy to watch. If this drama did not have a superstar cast, it would be termed as being one of the worst dramas of the year. So here we are again, accepting that we like a drama that sucks and will keep watching it to the end because it’s mindless fun.

     

    Come on, surprise surprise. Kamyar goes back to his bad boy ways, Fariha (Vardah Aziz) feels like her plan with Khawar (Ali Rehman Khan) is now successful and randomly she’ll get Kamyar and Khawar will get Ayra. But no, Kamyar is in Devdas mode and Ayra is grieving her loss of falling for the wrong guy. 

     

    Fariha and Khawar keep scheming as Kamyar says he doesnt remember the girl he was with in the video and then miraculously the girl lands up in Ayra’s hospital after a suicide attempt and Ayra helps her out because obviously, the girl goes into a coma. And can we please talk about how in all of this, Ayra is a doctor?

     

    Kamyar pops by with Fariha just in time to see Khawar with Ayra (obviously pre-planned by the evil F&K duo) and when Ayra’s dad finds out that Ayra and Kamyar have met over the suicide video girl, he announces that Ayra will no longer focus on her studies and marry Khawar. 

     

    Taking a breath here because wow, what a show and what really wild twists. It’s almost as if the writer got a few people together and said let’s think of the craziest story and then put them all together in one show. And that’s exactly what happened.

     

    And that’s it. We’ve written Meri Zindagi Hai Tu as a show that has any storyline worth following and it’s now a guilty pleasure you can have playing on in the background as you do your lanes and think about what a great couple Kamyar and Ayra make. 

  • Here’s what BBL’s designated batter rule next season could mean

    Here’s what BBL’s designated batter rule next season could mean

    The Big Bash League(BBL) will introduce a new designated batter rule from season 16, adding greater flexibility and tactical depth to the competition. 

    The rule allows teams to make changes within their playing XI without using substitutions, giving more options to manage players during a match.

    Under the new rule, teams can nominate one player as a designated batter before the toss. 

    This player will be allowed to bat but will not be permitted to bowl or field. If a designated batter is named, teams must also nominate a designated fielder. The designated fielder can field and may act as the wicketkeeper, but will not be allowed to bowl.

    For example, if a team has a specialist batter who struggles in the field, they can name him as the designated batter so he only bats. A separate player is then used purely for fielding when the team is bowling. This allows the team to strengthen its batting without weakening its fielding.

    The rule is optional, meaning teams can choose to play with a traditional playing XI if they do not wish to use the designated batter option. 

    The change will apply only to the men’s Big Bash League and will not be used in the Women’s Big Bash League for now.

    The designated batter rule is a modified version of the X-factor player rule that was previously used in the Big Bash. Unlike the X-factor, which allowed substitutions during the match, the new rule works within the selected XI and is designed to maintain the core structure of the game while adding strategic variety.

  • Smuggled vehicles, electronics worth Rs412 million confiscated in Islamabad

    Smuggled vehicles, electronics worth Rs412 million confiscated in Islamabad

    The Collectorate of Customs Enforcement, Islamabad, has seized a large consignment of smuggled and non-duty-paid goods, including luxury vehicles, heavy bikes, and electronic items, with a total estimated value of Rs412.2 million. 

    The seizures were carried out during intelligence-based operations conducted late at night in Islamabad and surrounding areas.

    Acting on credible intelligence regarding the movement and concealment of illicit goods, Customs Enforcement teams conducted multiple targeted operations as part of an ongoing effort to curb smuggling, protect the national economy, and ensure compliance with customs laws.

    During the operations, officials recovered one Rolls-Royce, nineteen heavy Suzuki and Kawasaki bikes, and a significant quantity of laptops along with other electronic devices. Investigations confirmed that the seized items were non-duty-paid and had entered the country in violation of customs regulations.

    All recovered goods have been shifted to the designated Customs warehouse for detailed examination and safe custody. The consignments have been seized under the relevant provisions of the Customs Act, 1969, and further legal proceedings have been initiated. 

    The FBR remains committed to combating smuggling, curbing illicit trade, and safeguarding national revenue through sustained vigilance, intelligence-led enforcement, and strict implementation of customs laws.

    According to the FBR, Customs Enforcement Peshawar has also carried out intelligence-based operations over the past week, seizing smuggled foreign-origin cloth, cigarettes, and other contraband goods, along with vehicles involved in smuggling attempts. The total estimated value of goods seized in Peshawar during this period stands at Rs101.91 million.

  • Pakistan hopes US immigrant visa processing to resume soon, says FO

    Pakistan hopes US immigrant visa processing to resume soon, says FO

    Pakistan said on Thursday it expects the United States to resume immigrant visa processing shortly, viewing the recent suspension as part of an internal review.


    The US announced on Wednesday that it is suspening immigrant visa processing for Pakistan and 74 other countries, effective January 21, citing concerns that immigrants from these nations often rely on public welfare programmes.


    In a statement, the State Department said the “freeze will remain active until the US can ensure that new immigrants will not extract wealth from the American people.”


    Responding to questions about the move, despite Pakistan’s improved ties with Washington in recent months, Foreign Office (FO) spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi said the ministry had acknowleged the “reports.”


    “Basically, it was a brief statement by the US State Department on their social media account about the internal review of processing immigrant visas that they are in the process of,” he said.


    He added, “We are in touch with US authorities to ascertain further details. This is evolving news that we are following. We understand that this is an internal ongoing process of review of US immigration policies and systems, and hope that the routine processing of immigrant visas will resume soon.”

    The suspension could affect travel, study, and work plans for thousands of Pakistanis who seek US visas each year. Pakistani consulates in the US are expected to provide guidance to applicants affected by the freeze in the coming days.


    The freeze is linked to the US public-charge rule, which evaluates whether immigrants are likely to rely on government assistance. While temporary suspensions of visa services have occurred in the past, officials described the scope of this action as unprecedented.


    No timeline has been provided for resuming services, but the State Department has assured that countries will be notified once the review is complete.

  • Babar Azam reveals toughest bowler he has faced

    Babar Azam reveals toughest bowler he has faced

    Pakistani star batter Babar Azam has revealed the names of toughest bowlers he has faced in his career, naming former South African pacer Dale Steyn as his biggest challenge.

    The former Pakistan captain appeared in a challenge video on former England cricketer Kevin Pietersen’s YouTube channel ‘The Switch’ where he took up a short-ball challenge.

    During the interview, Pietersen asked Babar about his toughest battles against fast bowlers. 

    “Nowadays, almost every team has pacers who can bowl at speeds above 150 kilometres per hour,” Babar responded, going on to recall his first tour of South Africa where he faced Steyn.

    Babar described the experience as demanding, saying Steyn’s deliveries were both fast and difficult to play. “Playing that innings gave me a lot of confidence,” Babar said.

    “After facing Dale Steyn, one of the fastest bowlers in the world, I felt I could face any bowler.”

    He also praised South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada, saying, “Kagiso Rabada is one of the finest bowlers across all formats.”

    Babar is the all-time leading run-scorer in T20 Internationals with 4,429 runs in 136 matches at an average of 39.54 and a strike rate of 128.45. 

    He also shares the record for the most half-centuries in T20Is with India’s Virat Kohli, having scored 38 fifties.

    Babar is currently playing for Sydney Sixers in the Big Bash League and has so far scored 154 runs in eight matches with two fifties, maintaining a strike rate of 104.05 and an average of 25.66.

    He is also expected to return to the national T20 side for the 2026 World Cup next month.

  • Stage actor Qaiser Piya looted in Lahore

    Stage actor Qaiser Piya looted in Lahore

    Well-known stage actor Qaiser Piya fell victim to a robbery in Lahore’s Garden Town area, when thieves snatched his expensive mobile phone from him. 

    The incident occurred on Monday evening, when Piya was driving his car from Kalma Chowk towards Barkat Market. 

    As per the First Information Report (FIR) filed at Garden Town Police Station, the robbery took place in front of Melano Marriage Hall when traffic came to a standstill.

    In his FIR, Piya described how the coordinated robbery unfolded. While his vehicle stopped in a traffic jam, an unknown man aged approximately 25 to 27 years collided with his car from behind.

    When Piya lowered his window on the driver’s side to ask what happened, a second accomplice appeared on the opposite side of the vehicle and began knocking loudly on the car door.

    The second suspect raised further distraction by yelling that the car had run over a someone.

    As Piya rolled down the window on that side to inquire about the situation, the first suspect quietly snatched his iPhone 17 Pro Max from the front side of the car and fled the scene. His accomplice immediately followed.

    Piya has requested police to take legal action against the unknown suspects and recover his mobile phone.

  • Pakistan passport rises five places to 98th in global ranking

    Pakistan passport rises five places to 98th in global ranking

    Pakistan’s passport has improved its standing in the Henley Passport Index 2026, moving up to 98th place from 103rd last year, reflecting enhanced diplomatic engagement and recent international agreements that are gradually expanding travel opportunities for Pakistani citizens. 


    The ranking, tied with Yemen, highlights measurable progress in global mobility and access.

    It ranked higher than Iraq (99), Syria (100) and Afghanistan (101).


    According to the Henley Passport Index, compiled by London-based Henley & Partners using International Air Transport Association data, Pakistani passport holders can now travel to 31 countries across Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, and Oceania with visa-free, visa-on-arrival (VOA), or electronic travel authorisation (eTA), making leisure, business, and short-term trips significantly more convenient.


    Visa-free destinations include Barbados, Dominica, Haiti, Micronesia, Montserrat, Rwanda, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, and Vanuatu. 



    Countries offering VOA access include Burundi, Cambodia, Cape Verde Islands, Comoro Islands, Cook Islands, Djibouti, Guinea-Bissau, Madagascar, Maldives, Mozambique, Nepal, Niue, Palau Islands, Qatar, Samoa, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Timor-Leste, and Tuvalu, while eTA access is available for Kenya, Seychelles, and Sri Lanka. 


    These options provide travellers with diverse experiences, ranging from tropical Caribbean island and African safaris to South Asian cultural destinations and Pacific retreats, without the traditional visa hurdles.

    Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi welcomed the progress, saying in a post on X: “Pakistan’s passport ranking improving from 126th to 98th is a strong achievement, and this momentum will continue, InshaAllah.”



    To streamline this growing travel freedom, Pakistan launched a Digital Integrated Dashboard last year, which allows real-time monitoring of passport applications, printing, and deliveries, enhancing efficiency both within the country and at overseas missions.

  • ‘Made to feel I was no longer needed’: Ishrat Fatima reveals why she left Radio Pakistan

    ‘Made to feel I was no longer needed’: Ishrat Fatima reveals why she left Radio Pakistan

    Veteran news broadcaster Ishrat Fatima has opened up about the circumstances that led to her departure from Radio Pakistan after 45 years of service, describing a heartbreaking end to a career she once considered her greatest passion.

    In an emotional video message shared on social media on Thursday, Fatima revealed that her decision to leave was driven by systematic marginalisation despite continued professional excellence on her part.

    “What hurts me most today is that my voice is still strong, my eyesight is clear, my pronunciation is good, I reach work on time, and I still love my work deeply,” Fatima said in the video.

    The broadcaster, who began her journey with radio and television in 1983 and started reading news in 1984, described her work as more than just a profession. “News reading was not just my profession; it was my biggest passion. For nearly forty-five years, I only read news. This work was not just a job for me, it was my passion, my obsession, my love, and my madness. And it still is,” she explained.

    Fatima had hoped to continue working as long as her abilities remained intact. “I always wished that as long as my voice supports me, as long as my breath stays with me, as long as my pronunciation remains clear, and as long as my face is presentable enough for viewers to watch me with ease, I would continue reading news,” she continued. 

    However, she pointed to unfair treatment that ultimately pushed her out. “Unfortunately, this seems to be a pattern in our society, and perhaps elsewhere too, that when people cannot compete with you through work, they resort to unfair methods. Instead of competing professionally, they try to take away your space, your breath, your platform,” Fatima stated.

    Despite being frequently called a “legend”, the industry icon pointed out that those titles never translated into actual respect or opportunity. 

    “I was often told that I am a ‘legend’ and a ‘senior,’ but those words were never translated into respect, opportunity, or space. Again and again, I was made to feel that I was no longer needed,” she revealed.

    The veteran broadcaster expressed deep disappointment with the institutional response to her departure. 

    “I do not wish to say much against the institution that fed me and gave me respect. But this institution does not feel anything. It has no emotions, no love. It is just walls, corridors, cameras, and ceilings that echo our voices but do not hear them,” she said.

    Fatima emphasized that financial gain was never her motivation. “Money was never my priority. Doing my work in the best possible way mattered more to me,” she noted, adding that what truly matters is “being allowed to work with dignity and fairness.”

    Despite the pain of her departure, Fatima expressed no bitterness toward the institutions that shaped her career. “I am not angry with these institutions. They are my first love. But destiny has its own path,” she said.

    She ended her message by requesting prayers from her audience, asking that “this painful time does not turn my love for this art into resentment.”

    Fatima promised to stay connected with her viewers through social media and share memories from her decades-long career in broadcasting.

    It merits a mention that officials at Radio Pakistan have not yet commented on the matter.

  • Saudi Arabia will not allow use of its airspace or land for attack on Iran

    Saudi Arabia will not allow use of its airspace or land for attack on Iran

    Saudi Arabia has informed Iran that its land and airspace will not be used for any military action against Tehran, sources close to the Kingdom’s government said on Wednesday, as tensions continue to rise between Iran and the United States.

    According to two sources cited by an international news agency, the message was conveyed directly to Tehran amid warnings from US that it could respond to Iran’s handling of protests. Iranian officials have previously said they would target US military and shipping assets if any new attack was launched against the country.

    “Saudi Arabia has informed Tehran directly that it will not be part of any military action taken against it, and that its territory and airspace will not be used for that purpose,” a source close to the Saudi military has said.  

    A second source close to the government confirmed that the message had been communicated to Iranian authorities.

    The United States maintains military assets across the Gulf region, including in Saudi Arabia and Qatar. 

    Meanwhile, the US embassy in the kingdom urged its personnel to exercise “increased caution” due to the evolving regional situation.

    Earlier, Qatar said the removal of some personnel from Al Udeid Air Base was linked to what it described as “current regional tensions.” In a statement, Qatar’s International Media Office said the country “continues to implement all necessary measures to safeguard the security and safety of its citizens and residents as a top priority.”

    The statement added that steps were being taken to ensure the protection of critical infrastructure and military facilities.

  • Here’s how you can buy Pak-Australia T20I tickets, and how much they’ll cost…

    Here’s how you can buy Pak-Australia T20I tickets, and how much they’ll cost…

    The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced that tickets for the three-match T20I series between Pakistan and Australia will go on sale from Friday, January 16, at pcb.tcs.com.pk. 

    Fans can also purchase physical tickets starting Monday, January 19, from TCS Express Centres 10 am onwards.

    The announcement comes as Pakistan gears up to host Australia for three T20Is on January 29, 31 and February 1 at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. All three matches will begin at 6 pm.

    The PCB has set different pricing for the opening match as compared to the second and third games.

    First T20I (January 29)

    VIP enclosures (Fazal Mahmood and Imran Khan) will cost PKR 800 while Premium seats (Raja and Saeed Anwar) are priced at PKR 600. First Class enclosures (Abdul Hafeez Kardar, Abdul Qadir, Javed Miandad and Sarfaraz Nawaz) will cost PKR 500 whereas General Stands (Hanif Mohammad, Imtiaz Ahmed, Inzamam-ul-Haq and Saeed Ahmed) will be available for PKR 400.

    For premium viewing areas, VIP enclosures at Iqbal End (Waqar Younis and Wasim Akram) will cost PKR 1,500, while Jinnah End seats (Majid Khan and Zaheer Abbas) are priced at PKR 2,000. Hospitality gallery tickets will cost PKR 5,000.

    Second and third T20Is (January 31 and February 1)

    The PCB has increased prices for the final two matches as VIP enclosures will cost PKR 1,000, Premium seats will cost PKR 700, First Class PKR 600 and General Stands PKR 500.

    Iqbal End VIP tickets are priced at PKR 2,000, while Jinnah End VIP enclosures will cost PKR 2,500. Hospitality gallery tickets for these matches will be available for PKR 6,000 each.

    The PCB has also made 24-seat hospitality boxes available at Iqbal End, priced at PKR 20,000 per seat for the first match and PKR 25,000 per seat for the second and third.