Current Final

Category: Lifestyle

  • FBR suggests Rs10 health tax on pack of cigarettes

    The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has proposed a Rs10 health levy on each packet of cigarettes. The proposal has the potential to encourage current smokers to quit, FBR believes.

    Before devising policy formulation, FBR has sent its proposal to the Law Ministry seeking legal advice if the suggestion falls into the jurisdiction of the federal government or not in the aftermath of the 18th Amendment.

    FBR officials say they are awaiting the response of the ministry and after receiving the advice, they would move forward accordingly.

    Read more – Over 1,200 children start smoking every day in Pakistan

    Last year, an approval was granted for the same tax by the cabinet. The anti-tobacco lobby has been advocating imposition of the levy as the price increase would discourage consumption, especially among children and youth.

    Tobacco companies, on the other hand, say this could cause a revenue loss worth Rs20 to Rs24 billion to the national exchequer per year.

  • Looking back at Princess Diana visit to Pakistan

    Looking back at Princess Diana visit to Pakistan

    Twenty-five years ago, Princess Diana’s controversial BBC interview sent shockwaves through the royal family, in which she confessed that “there were three in the marriage”. That interview is now back in focus as season four of the hit series “The Crown” has everyone talking about the princess and her marriage. The series is featured on Diana’s character and the love triangle is one of the main storylines in the new season and the love for Diana is now renewed. Everyone wants more of the princess and for Pakistanis, how can we forget her visit to Pakistan?

    She visited Pakistan more than once in her short life period – once in 1991, and then again in 1996 and 1997. 

    Princess Diana in Pakistan: Throwback shots of Prince William's mother visiting the country in the 1990s | London Evening Standard
    Princess Diana Visiting Kinnaird College For Women In Lahore, Pakistan in September 1991

    In 1991, she made her first official solo trip to Pakistan. Her bodyguard at the time, Ken Wharfe, released a book about his experiences working for the Princess, in which he described her Pakistan tour as hugely positive.

    “The headlines screamed that Diana had taken Pakistan by storm, that her visit had been a resounding success,” wrote Wharfe, “the tabloids predictably hailed her vociferously as the jewel in the royal family’s crown”.

    Princess Diana in traditional attire during her visit to Pakistan

    Her first visit lasted four days, in which she dined with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and visited various places including Badshahi Mosque and Kinnaird College, a family welfare center in Islamabad and Khyber Rifles in Khyber Pakhtunkhua.

    Five years later, she returned to Pakistan at Imran Khan’s invitation for the fund-raising of Pakistan’s first charity cancer hospital, Shaukat Khanum. Diana was accompanied by Lady Annabel Goldsmith, the mother of Khan’s wife at the time, Jemima Khan. Diana spent the rest of her trip visiting sick children and attending other fundraising events.

    Princess Diana with Imran Khan and Jemima Khan, infront of Shaukat Khanum Memorial Hospital in Lahore

    As a focal person in the construction of Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital, she visited Pakistan again to attend the opening ceremony of the hospital. This was her final trip to Pakistan, before her death in a tragic car crash in Paris.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-m3HjYUyKA&feature=youtu.be&ab_channel=TheCurrent
    Watch the previous royal visits to Pakistan
  • Shafqat Mehmood becomes the new hero for Pakistani students

    Shafqat Mehmood becomes the new hero for Pakistani students

    Soon after Federal Minister for Education, Shafqat Mehmood announced that educational institutes across the country will be closed from November 26 to January 1 in a bid to control the COVID-19 spread, Pakistani social media was filled with memes as students rejoiced over the decision.

    Read more – A new meme trend is breaking the internet

    https://twitter.com/Abyy_chal/status/1330783745452990466?s=20
  • IN PICTURES: Pakistan goes blue to celebrate Children’s Day

    IN PICTURES: Pakistan goes blue to celebrate Children’s Day

    As part of the initiative launched by UNICEF Pakistan and the Human Rights Ministry of Pakistan, 30 monuments across the country turned blue to commemorate World Children’s Day on November 20, 2020.

    Monuments in six cities including Islamabad, Peshawar, Quetta, Ziarat, Karachi and Lahore were illuminated with blue lights. Minar-e-Pakistan, the Ministry of Human Rights, Prime Minister’s Office, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Saudi-Pak Tower in Islamabad were among the buildings that turned blue.

    Minar-e-Pakistan, Lahore
    Delhi Gate, Lahore
    Quaid-e-Azam House, Karachi
    Ziarat
    Quaid-e-Azam Library, Lahore
    Karachi Port
    National Assembly
    Prime Minister office, Islamabad
    Islamia College, Peshawar
    Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly
    Khyber Pass, Peshawar
    Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, Islamabad
    Punjab Assembly, Lahore.
    Saudi Pak Tower, Islamabad

    This the third year in a row that buildings across the country and globe were lit up to call for a world in which the vision of the CRC of the Child becomes a reality. World Children’s Day marks the adoption of the Convention on Nov 20, 1989. Pakistan ratified the convention the following year.

    Meanwhile, Prime Minister Imran Khan, while commemorating Children’s Day said: “Children are the most precious resource of any nation and the sole guarantee for its future.”

  • 1,300-year-old Hindu temple discovered in KP

    1,300-year-old Hindu temple discovered in KP

    A Hindu temple, believed to be 1,300 years ago, has been discovered by Pakistani and Italian archaeological experts at a mountain in Swat district. The discovery was reportedly made during an excavation at Barikot Ghundai.

    According to Fazle Khaliq of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Department of Archaeology, the temple discovered is of Lord Vishnu. It was built by the Hindus 1,300 years ago during the Hindu Shahi period, he said.

    The Hindu Shahis or Kabul Shahis (850-1026 CE) was a Hindu dynasty that ruled the Kabul Valley (eastern Afghanistan), Gandhara (modern-day Pakistan), and present-day northwestern India.

    During their excavation, archaeologists also found traces of a cantonment and watchtowers near the temple site. Experts also found a water tank near the temple site which they assume was used by the Hindus for bathing before worship.

    Khaliq said that the Swat district is home to numerous ancient archaeological sites, some of which are thousands of years old, but traces of the Hindu Shahi period have been found for the first time in the area.

    Dr Luka, the head of the Italian archaeological mission, said this was the first temple of the Ghandhara Civilisation discovered in Swat district.

    Swat district is among the top 20 sites in Pakistan which is home to every kind of tourism such as natural beauty, religious tourism, cultural tourism and archaeological sites.

    Several places of worship of Buddhism are also situated in Swat district.

    Read more – KP Police arrest offenders involved in vandalising ancient Buddha statue

    Last year in October, archaeologists and historians discovered another temple, reportedly built in the 7th century, during the Turki Shahi period, on the top of Ghwandai mount at Bazira in Barikot Swat.

  • Guess who is Pakistan’s favourite anchor, Tiktoker

    Guess who is Pakistan’s favourite anchor, Tiktoker

    The Current starts its day with a morning mood to engage followers and find out what they are interested in. This is done via a ‘This or That’ poll and the winner has to compete in the same category the next day. It is mostly done over a week’s time and we found out a lot about our followers – and Pakistanis – based on what they vote for.

    The Current has compiled a few fun polls it did on its Instagram account.

    Professor VS Berlin: What would you like to be?

    Professor wins with 67%.

    Who is your favourite female anchor?

    We put this poll the whole week and got our winner. Can you guess who that was?

    ARY’s Maria Memon won the vote beating the likes of Sana Bucha, Meher Bokhari and Asma Shirazi.

    Favourite male anchor

    Waseem Badami is clearly the winner beating all prominent news anchors of Pakistan.

    Your favourite TikToker

    Again this one was not surprising.

  • ‘Radio Schools’ launched to facilitate distance learning amid COVID-19 pandemic

    ‘Radio Schools’ launched to facilitate distance learning amid COVID-19 pandemic

    The Federal Ministry for Education has launched a ‘radio school’ for distance learning amid the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns.

    Radio Pakistan Director General Ambreen Jan and additional secretary of the Education Ministry Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani signed the MoU documents during a special ceremony, where Federal Minister for Education Shafqat Mahmood, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Shibli Faraz and senior relevant officials were also present.

    According to details, the educational programs will go on air on various medium waves and Radio Pakistan FM networks from 10 am to 12 noon. They will be repeated from 2pm to 4pm all through the week. These programmes can also be accessed through the internet and mobile app.

    Mahmood said the project was designed in line with the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan to take education to the people’s doorsteps in every corner of the country, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. He said the government would also introduce an education portal soon.

    The minister said that approximately 8 million children benefited from the Teleschool launched by Education Ministry and PTV back in April.

     “Our government is providing education to students, especially the girls, at their doorsteps,” said Shafqat.

    The minister also shared that the government is aiming to launch an e-Education Portal soon through which the programmes of Teleschool and Radioschools can be accessed through one click.

  • Punjab Govt to give Rs 2,000 per month to citizens above 65

    Punjab Govt to give Rs 2,000 per month to citizens above 65

    Punjab Chief Minister Usman Bazdar took Twitter to announce the inauguration of the Bahimat Buzurg program, under which deserving citizens above 65 years of age will get Rs 2,000 per month.

    CM Buzdar also said that the program would lead to the economic rehabilitation of deserving citizens of the society. He further added that we are moving towards the realization of the Prime Ministers’ dream of Rayaste Madina.

    According to the website of Punjab Social Protection Authority, the welfare program will benefit 125,000 people who are not in receipt of other social assistance programs. Rs. 2,000 per month will be given to the beneficiaries having a poverty score below 20.

    CM Punjab said that the program would lead to the economic rehabilitation of deserving senior citizens. In the initial run, Rs 2 billion has been allocated for the program.

  • Pakistan’s first-ever digital music festival to take place this weekend

    Pakistan’s first-ever digital music festival to take place this weekend

    Winter season in the country always means lots of food and music festivals. Unfortunately, COVID-19 has dampened all such plans this year, with health experts and the government urging people to avoid large gatherings.

    Coke Fest is one of the biggest food festivals in the country and given that this year that is a distant dream, Coca-Cola has joined hands with Patari and Tapmad to launch Pakistan’s first-ever digital music festival – ‘CokeFest 2020’.

    According to a press release, the three-day event is scheduled to run from November 20-22 and will be free for all to attend.

    Those wishing to be part of it will need to download and register on the Patari mobile app followed by signing-up for the event to receive a unique code that can be used on TapMad’s mobile app or website to enjoy the live performances virtually from any location.

    “Event attendees can expect to be mesmerized by leading names rocking the local music scene including a 9-year-old Pakistani rapper Kaky Thou$and, Natasha Baig, Sirine Jahangir, Shamoon Ismail, SomeWhatSuper, Young Stunners, ESharp, Abdullah Siddiqui, XPolymer Dar and veteran rock star Ali Noor,” stated the press release.

    Speaking about this initiative, GM Pakistan and Afghanistan at The Coca-Cola Export Corporation Fahad Ashraf said: “With CokeFest 2020, we wanted to avoid large gatherings whilst still keeping the spirit of music alive. So we brought some of the best musical talent in Pakistan together with the country’s leading tech companies, to bring you a virtual experience that feels as close as possible to attending an actual musical concert.”

  • Condoms in gutters blamed for Karachi’s sewerage problems

    Disposal of used contraceptives, such as condoms, in gutters has been causing sewerage problems in Karachi, the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) has said.

    According to reports, KWSB recovered a massive amount of used condoms while clearing a sewerage line on Thursday, which were affecting the flow of sewage and causing serious blockage problems.

    A KWSB official said the huge quantity of used contraceptives was found while a team was cleaning a sewerage line in Clifton Block 2. But this isn’t an isolated incident: the KWSB often finds items like these in sewer lines across the city.

    Water inflates the condoms up to 400 times their size, which blocks manholes and sewerage lines, the KWSB spokesperson explained. Such items must be disposed of in trash cans, he urged.

    The KWSB stressed the need for generating awareness about the issue and urged government departments and social organisations to play their role.