Current Final

Category: Lifestyle

  • Covid-19 protocols for Taraweeh in the Two Holy Mosques

    Covid-19 protocols for Taraweeh in the Two Holy Mosques

    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia has approved performing a reduced version of Taraweeh prayers at the Two Holy Mosques in Mecca and Medina, with the continued suspension of entry of worshipers, the General Presidency of the Two Holy Mosques’ Affairs said in a statement on Wednesday.

    President of the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques, Abdul Rahman As-Sudais, also said that special night prayers performed during the holy month of Ramzan will be held without public attendance at the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque.

    The statements came amid reports that the mosques had re-opened their doors to the general public and 20 or reduced-to-10 Taraweeh prayers will be held at the mosques.

    While it has been confirmed that the prayers will be shortened to five Tasleemat (i.e. 10 Rak’ahs), claims regarding the mosques being opened for pilgrims have been rubbished as authorities say only limited employees and workers will be allowed group prayers at the two holiest sites of Islam during Ramzan.

    The General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques has also prepared a comprehensive plan for the implementation of coronavirus precautionary measures during Ramzan, which other than including the continued suspension of allowing worshipers to enter the Grand Mosque in Mecca and the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina, also includes increasing the sterilization processes and thermal testing of every person entering for funeral rites.

    The Ramzan group iftars which were traditionally held in the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque were assigned to Mecca and Medina’s provincial authorities to distribute iftar meals while maintaining the necessary health precautions.

    According to the precautionary health measures, there will be no Itikaf [or keeping vigil] inside the Two Holy Mosques.

    The attendance of employees at the Two Holy Mosques will continue to be restricted to the absolutely necessary workers, and operations of maintenance will be conducted depending on priority and in accordance with the precautionary measures.

    Last week, the Saudi government had announced that Taraweeh prayers will be performed at homes during Ramzan as suspension of prayers at mosques will not be lifted due to the coronavirus outbreak. 

    Saudi Arabia had also announced to ease curfews imposed in several cities in order to facilitate people to head out for essential needs.

  • Man booked for selling Bonelli’s eagle online

    Man booked for selling Bonelli’s eagle online

    A man was arrested for selling a Bonelli’s Eagle on Facebook in Abbottabad on Tuesday.

    The man, identified as Fawad Sadeeq Sheikh, had posted pictures of the precious bird on his Facebook account after which the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Forest Department arrested him by conducitng a raid.

    As per reports, the eagle has been detained by the department while a fine of Rs40,000 was imposed on the man.

    According to the department, an officer disguised himself as a customer and contacted Sheikh who was selling the bird for Rs25,000. The officer called him for a meeting and arrested him.

    A case has been registered under the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Wildlife and Biodiversity (Protection, Preservation, Conservation and Management) Act, 2015.

  • Lahore Safari Park auctions 14 lions

    The Lahore Safari Park has sold fourteen lions because lack of funds and resources has made it impossible for the park’s management to arrange food for the animals and birds housed there. The park was already facing financial issues before the lockdown was implemented but after that, their problems seem to have increased.

    According to a report in The Express Tribune, the lions were sold because there were a large number of them in the park and taking care of their diet and other needs is not an easy task. The management said that caring for these animals costs millions of rupees and 90 percent of their budget. Officials said a lion is given eight to nine kilogrammes of meat and few litres of milk every day. The daily cost of the lions’ food is about Rs30,000, which amounts to about Rs900,000 per month and Rs10.8 million annually.

    There are 37 African breed lions and lionesses and five tigers, including a white tiger, two jaguars and two pumas in the Safari Park.

    It was further reported that seven African lions and seven African lionesses were sold for Rs2.1 million through an auction. Each lion was sold for approximately Rs 150,000 and they were only handed over to the buyers after all the legal obligations had been fulfilled. They have been sold to breeders who have registered with the wildlife department and have facilities for keeping lions.

    Out of the 14 lions sold, 12 had minor issues related to breeding. According to Punjab Wildlife Director Mohammad Naeem Bhatti, 12 of the lions sold were suffering from partial disability.

    “Someone had problems with paws and others with bones,” he said, adding that the administration was forced to sell them due to disabilities and lack of resources.

  • Groom, relatives arrested for violating coronavirus lockdown

    A groom and his relatives were booked for violating the coronavirus lockdown and Section 144 imposed by the government in Muzaffargarh on Monday.

    According to the police, the wedding was taking place in Sanawan’s Pitti Sultan Mehmood. They conducted a raid after receiving a complaint.

    As per reports, the groom, identified as Muzammil, had invited a large number of people there, “For violating the government’s orders, we have arrested the groom and nine of his relatives,” an officer said.

    A case has been registered against them.

  • Maria B pledges 100,000 masks to battle coronvavirus

    Maria B pledges 100,000 masks to battle coronvavirus

    Following the footsteps of Asim Jofa and Deepak Perwani, who are producing hazmat suits for healthcare workers, Maria B has also announced that her brand is producing 1000 masks a day in both cotton and 25 GSM approved fabric. However, her masks are not for healthcare workers.

    Maria has also pledged 100,000 masks “to distribute to as many people as possible and our LEA’s.”

    “Everyone needs to wear a mask. We will get through this together,” asserted the designer.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B_ANmUapwUd/

    Meanwhile, in a press release, Maria B said, “The brand has always taken steps to help out Pakistan and its people wherever possible. Through our Maria.B Cares initiative we have collaborated with various organisation, government and private sectors in doing what we can, be it fighting against COVID-19, providing rations, healthcare, education or the environment. We do what we can and encourage everyone to join hands and do whatever they can to build a prosperous nation.”

    The press release added that the brand is also working closely with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) by providing them with masks, industrial/pocket sanitizers, PPE suits, gloves, face shields, caps and shoe covers.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B_ANt2NJ5U5/

    Maria B was recently involved in a controversy after she allowed her cook, who had been tested positive for COVID-19, to travel back home on public transport. Her husband had been arrested for criminal negligence and the incident had sparked national outrage.

  • Natasha of Natasha’s Salon shares a body-positive message for new mommies

    Natasha Khalid of Karachi’s renowned Natasha’s Salon shared an endearing message for all mommies out there highlighting body-positivity and the pressure women face after giving birth.

    “I have always been in awe of those women I see that somehow seem to go back to being fit and look like they have it all together right after having a baby,” wrote the makeup artist. “Whilst I always wished them well I also realised the kind of pressure it put on all us women in general, as all of our journeys with our bodies are different and are not meant to be the same.”

    Addressing all those who keep asking her how she looks so put together, Natasha wrote, “I want to tell all the women and mamas messaging me that I have not lost the baby weight, I have a mama belly and am softer all over. My focus right now is my breastfeeding and eating what I love and indulging. And that is okay.”

    She continued, “Having a baby may be one of the hardest things we do as women because alongside the absolute joy is a loss of self, massive hormonal shifts, I am paranoid about protecting my baby all the time, I fight with my husband and mom most days and cry in the shower without fail every day.”

    Along with her message, Natasha shared pictures of her in her “Sunday best, which is no makeup, her husband’s shirt, burp cloth, crumpled pyjamas, oil in her hair, Noor in her hands and a smile on her face.”

    “I don’t have it all together and I don’t have all the answers. I am learning to be a mom alongside my Noor, falling apart most of the time but then getting up and trying again. To everyone who struggles, I feel you and send so much power and love to all mamas and women out there. We are absolutely powerful and incredible in every way, don’t let anyone make you feel any different,” she concluded.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B_KAv05jBJ0/

    Natasha, who is also Nur Jahan’s granddaughter, welcomed her baby daughter in January.

  • Restaurants to remain open in Karachi for takeaway & home delivery services

    Restaurants to remain open in Karachi for takeaway & home delivery services

    Restaurants, hotels and ‘nanbais’ in Karachi have been granted permission to operate from 8 am to 5 pm.

    According to a notification issued by Commissioner Karachi, restaurants will be allowed to offer takeaway and home delivery services. However, dine-in is strictly prohibited.

    The government has also issued a number of SOPs which need to be followed. This includes following the proper procedure to ensure everything is disinfected. Every worker should be checked before entering the workplace.

    Commissioner Karachi has also made wearing face masks mandatory for those going outside their houses.

    “Face masks are mandatory for all people who come out of the houses for a valid reason or are exempted during the lockdown. The mask shall cover the nose, mouth and chin.”

    If symptoms of flu, cough or fever are found, he/she may be referred to the hospital immediately, the notification read.

    Meanwhile some areas of Karachi, where a large number of COVID-19 cases have been reported have been completely sealed by the Sindh government.

  • Wearing face masks declared mandatory in Balochistan

    Wearing face masks declared mandatory in Balochistan

    The Balochistan government has declared wearing a mask mandatory for the citizens to control the spread of coronavirus.

    According to the Balochistan government’s spokesperson, Liaquat Shahwani, the citizens have been advised to wear mask or to cover their faces with any cloth in the wake of COVID-19 outbreak.

    “This will help the government in controlling over the pandemic”, Shahwani said and added that strict action would be taken against the violators of the government orders.

    The the latest tally of coronavirus cases of the province up to 351.

  • Lions nap on the road during coronavirus lockdown in South Africa

    Lions nap on the road during coronavirus lockdown in South Africa

    Pictures of a pride of lions taking a nap in the middle of a road in a national park in South Africa have gone viral on social media. South Africa has been under lockdown since March 25.

    Kruger National Park, one of the largest game reserves in Africa, shared photos and videos of animals roaming the park without the intrusion of tourists.

    Park ranger Richard Sowry was out on patrol when he took the pictures of a pride sleeping on a road. Mr Sowry performs an essential service and continues to work during the lockdown, checking on the wildlife and guarding against poachers.

    He took photos with his mobile phone.

    Speaking to a news outlet, he said, “Lions are used to people in vehicles. All animals have much more of an instinctive fear of people on foot, so if I had walked up they would never have allowed me to get so close.”

  • Woman refuses to let husband enter home without coronavirus test

    Woman refuses to let husband enter home without coronavirus test

    After the surging fears over coronavirus in India, a woman in Andhra Pradesh refused entry to her husband in the house, till he underwent COVID-19 test.

    The incident took place in Nellore district when the man stuck there since the lockdown began finally returned to his home town.

    The man, working in a gold shop in Nellore, was stranded there since lockdown was enforced last month. He finally succeeded in reaching home but his wife asked him to first undergo the screening for coronavirus before entering the house.

    She said this was needed for the safety of the children and society. She suggested he stay in a local healthcare center and requested volunteers to test him for the virus.

    The health personnel later took the man to Nellore, where his samples were collected. The test result was negative, much to the relief of the man and his family.

    “I would not have risked the lives of children and those living in the neighbourhood. That’s why I insisted that he enter the house after undergoing the test,” the woman said.