Current Final

Category: Lifestyle

  • Where are women in the Pakistani news media industry?

    Where are women in the Pakistani news media industry?

    In a groundbreaking study conducted by the Women Journalists Association of Pakistan (WJAP) and Freedom Network, the Pakistani media industry has been thrust into a state of gender emergency due to the stark under-representation of women journalists in newsrooms and the absence of gender-sensitive policies.

    Titled “Unequal Newsrooms: A Gender Audit of Pakistani Media Organizations,” the study was unveiled ahead of International Women’s Day on March 8th.

    The comprehensive gender audit surveyed 15 news organizations in Islamabad, focusing on workforce representation, organizational policies, anti-harassment measures, working conditions, and wages. Among the audited organizations were six TV channels, four newspapers, three news agencies, and two news websites.

    The audit findings reveal that the average share of women journalists at the news outlets is only 11 percent. Majority of news organisations have no woman journalists in a leadership position.

    Only two out of the 15 media houses have an anti-harassment inquiry committee despite a federal law making it mandatory for employers. Most media organizations do not offer paid maternity or paternity leave even though it is now legally required.

    The gender sensitivity assessment of the audit report found that overall around 75 percent of the 15 news outlets were gender blind, meaning their organisational policies and practices do not identify or address specific gender-based issues that can affect men, women, and other gender minorities differently at the workplace.

    The findings also revealed that the majority of the news organisations do not have documented policies regarding employee conduct, salaries, and promotions. At nearly half of the organisations, salaries are paid late, and the wages of female journalists are lower than their male counterparts at a quarter of the organisations.

    As per the study, almost 75 percent of news outlets did not have even one woman journalist in an influential or leadership role at their Islamabad offices. The remaining
    four outlets had at most two women journalists involved in news decision-making.

    In response, the study offers a set of recommendations directed at news organizations, media managers, civil society, journalist unions, and policymakers. These include implementing gender equality strategies in hiring, promotions, and workplace conduct, conducting capacity-building training and awareness on gender for journalists and newsrooms, demanding transparency in contracts and wage structures, and seeking legal recourse against violations of gender protection laws.

  • Worried about getting visa for Italy? We have good news for you!

    Worried about getting visa for Italy? We have good news for you!

    Getting a visa for certain countries, especially when they don’t have an embassy, can be a hassle. If you want to go to Italy, we have good news for you.

    Italy has commenced visa services from Lahore, with plans underway to extend similar facilities to other major cities in Pakistan, announced Augusto Palmeiri, the First Secretary of the Italian Embassy, during a session at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI).

    Palmeiri highlighted that Lahore held special significance as it was the first city he visited in his official capacity as the embassy secretary. He emphasised the importance of strengthening ties between Italy and Pakistan, both in terms of general cooperation and business ventures.

    While noting the symbolic significance of opening visa services in Lahore, he called it a signal of openness to visitors and business collaborations. He underscored the potential of elevating bilateral trade to new highs by setting an ambitious goal of $5 billion.

    In efforts to deepen trade ties, he outlined plans for a step-by-step approach to encourage entrepreneurs to participate in fairs and exhibitions in Italy, inviting businessmen to engage in upcoming expos for networking and fostering B2B connections.

    He also emphasized the significance of political cooperation through the signing of memoranda of understanding and trade agreements to facilitate growth.

    The secretary talked about a recent productive meeting with the Board of Investment, where the potential for Italian investment in Pakistan was emphasized.

    LCCI President Kashif Anwar lauded the initiatives taken by the Italian embassy, particularly the launch of visa services, as a significant step towards enhancing bilateral trade. He highlighted Italy’s importance as a trading partner for Pakistan, ranking eighth among the top exporting destinations.

  • Why did Aurat March hold a Feminist Press Conference?

    Why did Aurat March hold a Feminist Press Conference?

    This Friday, on March 8, as the world will celebrate Women’s Day, Aurat March will take to the streets in Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad and Multan.

    The Current attended this year’s Aurat March press conference and got details about how this year is different from the ones before.

    Every year, the press conference is dominated by men from media platforms, leaving little or no room for women and transgender journalists to interact with Aurat March members.

    Moreover, coming with preconceived notions and biases, male journalists reportedly have been condescending and aggressive towards Aurat March members who conduct the conference with the aim to explain their manifesto and charter of demands prior to the big day.

    To counter this issue, this year Aurat March decided to hold a Feminist Press Conference.

    The purpose of a Feminist Press Conference was to provide a space to women, transgender, and minorities where they can get a fair chance to not just raise questions in respect to the March, but meaningfully engage with members.

    “This year’s press conference, in comparison to previous ones, was definitely much better,” said one of the representatives (who requested to remain anonymous).

    “Today, we were able to talk about our manifesto, we took questions from the reporters, and the interaction was respectful.”

    The member further denoted that this has never happened before. She explained that in the past, no reporter would come having read Aurat March’s charter of demands and the manifesto and instead, would resort to stereotypical questions.

    “When we would try to counter their queries, they wouldn’t listen to us because they wanted to hear the preconceptions they came with.

    “In fact, we are happy that this year, because the conference was conducted peacefully, we even got suggestions from journalists – which will, of course, help us as well”, she added.

    On Youtubers

    Last year, Youtubers disrupted the press conference, and media journalists stated that they do not consider YouTubers as journalists. “I am glad this year, we talked about [YouTuber disruption] as well”, the members highlighted.

    “The journalist community should think through ways to distance themselves from or critique YouTubers who are badmouthing their profession.”

    Some YouTubers, who attend the March as independent journalists, are known for their alleged misconduct at Aurat March. They have also been called out for spreading disinformation about performances and placards at the marches, and also harassing marchers with irrelevant and demeaning questions.

    This poses a threat to Aurat March members as well as attendees, and above all, the propaganda hinders socio-political awareness that the March intends to raise.

    The irony of today’s feminist press conference was when a YouTuber reached out to Aurat March members, upset for not getting a chance to ask his questions during the session. Well, I hope he realized how women feel when men take up their rightful space.

  • Misuse of Sehat Card to be investigated after private hospitals make millions

    Misuse of Sehat Card to be investigated after private hospitals make millions

    The latest data regarding Sehat Sahulat Programme facility reveals that nearly 80 per cent of Caesarean section (C-section) procedures covered by the Programme in private hospitals across Punjab were conducted by obstetricians, potentially resulting in significant financial gains at the expense of taxpayers.

    Figures from 2016 to January 2024 reveal that private hospitals claimed approximately Rs16.36 billion for C-section and normal delivery procedures, with a substantial portion going to private healthcare facility owners.

    State Life Insurance Corporation subsidies were offered for various medical procedures under the program. Punjab Health Initiative Management Company (PHIMC) oversaw healthcare coverage, with 668,238 C-sections performed, predominantly in private facilities.

    This discrepancy between private and government hospital procedures has raised concerns among medical observers, prompting calls for an independent investigation.

    Similarly, payments to private hospitals for C-sections and normal deliveries totaled Rs16.36 billion from 2016 to January 2024, with a significant portion claimed in 2022 and 2023, leading to a ban on C-sections at private hospitals by the caretaker Punjab government in mid-2023 due to excessive claims.

    The major claim of Rs7.19 billion was recorded in 2023, Rs8.16 billion in 2022, Rs610 million in 2021, Rs168 million in 2020 while another amount was calculated for the rest of the years.

  • Diners in India spit blood after being served ‘dry ice’

    Diners in India spit blood after being served ‘dry ice’

    Diners at Gurugram City, India, were allegedly served ‘dry ice’ as mouth freshener by a hotel manager leading them to throw up blood.

    The unfortunate incident happened on Saturday when five people started vomiting, while also bleeding from the mouth, after they consumed the sugar and spice mix, traditionally served after a meal, reports BBC. The police arrested the manager of the hotel.


    As per the initial investigation, it was revealed that the packet contained dry ice, a solid form of carbon dioxide used as a cooling agent (especially in refrigerators for the preservation of food).


    The customers were hospitalized after the incident.


    However, the police in Gurugram City, where the restaurant is located, arrested its manager on charges of poisoning “with the intent to cause hurt or harm” on Tuesday.

    A search is underway for the owner of the food joint, who is currently absconding.

    In their complaint, the customers have also accused the restaurant staff of refusing to help them.

    A doctor later examined the contents of the packet of mouth freshener and confirmed it contained dry ice.
    The case is under investigation and the police have said they were conducting a forensic analysis of the contents of the mouth freshener.

  • India arrests BJP worker for chanting ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ one year ago

    India arrests BJP worker for chanting ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ one year ago

    The police in the Indian state of Karnataka has arrested a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) worker for raising ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ slogans over a year ago. The man was taken into custody one day after the arrest of three Congress workers on similar charges, reports Indian media.

    The BJP worker, identified as Ravi, 40, in a case registered against him for raising a pro-Pakistan slogan during a December 2022 protest, when the BJP was in government in the state.

    BJP and JD(S) MLCs protest over the alleged sloganeering of ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ after Congress leader Naseer Hussain won the Rajya Sabha election, in Council hall during the Budget session of Karnataka Assembly, in Bengaluru. (PTI)

    The Indian Express has reported that the BJP protest was called against the remarks of the then Pakistani foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. While at the United Nations, Bilawal had called Modi the ‘Butcher of Gujarat’ – a reference to 2002 killing of Muslims when he was Chief Minister of the state. A video of the protest showed Ravi saying “Pakistan Zindabad” even as another person behind him attempted to close his mouth, it added. However, the local chapter of the BJP criticised Ravi’s arrest as “political vendetta”.

    The president of BJP’s Mandya district unit was quoted by the Indian Express as saying that Ravi was a farmer and he did not know any language other than his native Kannada and did not know the meaning of the words he spoke.

    The arrest came a day after three Congress workers were arrested for raising pro-Pakistan slogans in the Karnataka assembly on February 27 when party candidate Syed Naseer Hussain was elected to the Rajya Sabha. In a video shared by India Today, many congress leaders in the assembly have claimed that the exact words were actually Nasir Hussain Zindabad and not Pakistan Zindabad.

    Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara said on Tuesday that pro-Pakistan slogans were raised twice. “We identified the suspects and arrested them. The law will take its course,” he said, according to the Indian Express report.

    The police said that the three Congress workers have been identified as Iltaz, from Delhi, Mohammad Nashipuri, a native of Haveri district of Karnataka and Munnawar, a resident of the state capital of Bengaluru on Monday. They remain in police custody, they added.

  • Mark your calendars: Aurat March is around the corner!

    Mark your calendars: Aurat March is around the corner!

    March is finally here which means that 8th of the month is Women’s Day around the world and in Pakistan, Aurat March in major cities will walk through the streets to remind the state and the society of the due rights of women and minorities of the country.

    Where and when to join Aurat March?

    Lahore
    Time: 8th March, 2 pm
    Place: Lahore Press Club

    Karachi
    Time: 2:30 pm
    Place: Frere Hall

    Islamabad
    Time: 2 pm
    Place: Islamabad Press Club

    Multan
    Time: 3 pm
    Place: Nawan Shehar Chowk

    What are the demands this year?

    Lahore

    This year, Lahore based its theme on “Siyasat, Muzahamat aur Azadi” which means that the manifesto addresses the electoral politics (in the light of the recent General Elections of Pakistan back in February 8), as well as asserts on the re-envisioning political participation where “oppressed groups and communities on the margin take center stage.”

    Here are the demands by Aurat March Lahore:

    Karachi

    In Karachi, Aurat March will focus on domestic violence, sexual violence, enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, land grabbing, state-sponsored poverty, religious extremism, repression of gender and body politics, fascistic capture of politics and everything “the patriarchy subjects us to under its militaristic control of our bodies.”

    Islamabad

    The capital’s theme this year is Resistance and Hope:

    Calling on to end enforced disappearances; promoting “hope and world peace” in light of Israeli genocide in Gaza; end to gender-based violence; to take action against cyber harassment targeting women, minorities, and children with effective legislation; end to period poverty by making period products accessible for all and provind period education in school; economic justice i.e. integrating women’s reproductive labour into country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), formalisation of informal sector to ensure work standards and safe working environment, action against child labour, wage regularisation, right to unionisation, and allocation of funds to rehabilitate women farmers, shopkeepers, small landlords; improved access to universal education and healthcare; political rights of women; as well as rights of religious minorities.

    Read the details on the demands by Islamabad here:

    Multan

    With the main focus on climate justice right and economic liberation, here are the demands by the city of Multan this year:

    1. Education for All: Guarantee education for girls up to the age of 16, ensuring equal access to knowledge and opportunities.
    2. Right to Identity: Ensure that all men, women, and transgender people in Siraiki Wasaib have their identity cards without any hindrance from the state.
    3. Combat Harassment: Form active committees against sexual harassment in educational institutions and workplaces, enforcing strict adherence to anti-harassment laws.
    4. Student Empowerment: Lift the ban on student unions in universities across Pakistan, allowing students to exercise their rights and have a say in their education. Also, Establish new colleges and universities with equitable access for all, fostering an environment of learning and growth.
    5. Inclusive Infrastructure: Implement accessible architecture in schools, government offices, and public spaces, catering to the needs of people with disabilities.
    6. Fair Wages: Enforce inflation-adjusted and gender-conscious minimum wage policies, promoting economic justice for all.
    7. Protect Domestic and Small Industry Workers: Safeguard the rights of domestic workers, particularly young girls, from exploitation and abuse.
    8. End Early Marriage: Enact laws against early marriage and forced religious conversion, setting the legal marriage age to 18.
    9. Transgender Rights: Implement the Transgender Rights Act 2018, ensuring equality and protection for transgender individuals.
    10. Political Victimisation: Stop the unjust targeting and unlawful detention, especially of women, for political reasons.
    11. Women’s Protection: Fully implement the Women Protection Bill and expedite the completion of Women Crisis Centers in Multan.
    12. Holistic Education: Incorporate human rights, climate change, and gender education into the high school curriculum, fostering awareness and understanding.
    13. Healthcare Access: Ensure accessible healthcare and employment opportunities, along with childcare facilities for women in both government and non-government sectors.
    14. Remove Taxes: Eliminate taxes on women’s hygiene products and essential items, relieving financial burdens on women.
    15. Worker Rights: Abolish the exploitation of various marginalized groups, including brick kiln workers, farmers, journalists, and factory workers.
    16. Combat Terrorism: Take legal action against activities that terrorize women, ensuring the rule of law prevails.
    17. Judicial Representation: Increase the number of women judges, particularly in the Lahore High Court, Multan, and Bahawalpur Benches, promoting gender parity in the judiciary.
    18. End Corruption: Eradicate corruption and mistreatment of women in social support programs.
    19. Report Mechanisms: Establish effective portals to report incidents of harassment and violence against women, ensuring swift action and justice.
    20. Religious Freedom: Protect religious places and minorities from desecration and criminal acts, upholding fundamental freedoms for all.
    21. Child Protection: Implement stringent measures to prevent the sexual abuse of children, safeguarding the innocence and well-being of our youth.
    22. Safe Spaces: Ensure the fundamental freedoms and protection of women in Dar ul Aman and working women hostels, providing safe havens for those in need.
    23. Digital Access: Declare internet access as a fundamental right and bridge the digital divide, ensuring equitable access to technology for all.
    24. Combat Stereotypes: Eliminate gender stereotypes in educational materials, electronic media, and social platforms, promoting equality and diversity.
    25. Justice for All: Pay homage to human rights leaders like Rashid Rehman and demand justice for those who have sacrificed for the cause of equality and justice.
  • Saudi Arabia gives Pakistan special gift for Ramzan

    Saudi Arabia gives Pakistan special gift for Ramzan

    Saudi Arabia has gifted 100 tons of dates to Pakistan before the holy month of Ramzan, slated to begin in a few days.


    According to Saudi media, the shipment was handed over by Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf bin Saeed Al-Maliki along with King Salman’s Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center in a ceremony held at the Saudi Embassy in Islamabad.


    The embassy said that the purpose of the generous donation is to distribute it to the Pakistani community during the holy month of Ramzan.

  • ASP Sheharbano leads #NeverAgain walk in Lahore

    ASP Sheharbano leads #NeverAgain walk in Lahore

    Punjab Police organised a walkathon titled ‘Never Again’ to raise awareness about violence against women in the backdrop of the Ichra bazaar incident.

    The walk was joined by ASP Shehrbano Naqvi along with seniors of the police department including IG Punjab Police Dr. Usman Anwar. ASP Sheharbano questioned the people present at Ichhra Bazar for not coming forward to help the woman – who was harassed and attacked by a mob for wearing a shirt inscribed in Arabic. “Sure, the police is there to protect the citizens but society needs to take responsibility of making sure that its women are protected.”


    While explaining the importance of ‘Never Again’, the police officer shared that the walk was organised in an effort to raise awareness and ensure that violence against women will be curbed. She stressed that society really needs to progress in an inclusive way.


    The campaign is now being run all over Punjab province under the patronage of the provincial government and the police department.

  • When is Ramzan starting in Pakistan?

    When is Ramzan starting in Pakistan?

    The holy month of Ramzan is around the corner with less than two weeks left.


    According to weather analyst Jawad Memon, although the Ramzan moon will rise on March 10, it will not be visible on that day. “The moon will be clearly visible on March 11,” he said. The first Taraweeh will take place on the night of March 11 as there is a 95 percent probability that the first Roza will be on Tuesday, March 12.


    Like every year, the meeting of the Central Royat Hilal Committee will be held in Islamabad, in which all the zonal committees will be meeting in their respective domains.


    Earlier, Gulf News reported that astronomers have predicted that the main connection will be on March 10 at 9 am. Resultantly, the moon will be visible only after sunset in most Islamic countries on March 10.


    However, astronomers believe that the chances of seeing the moon in the entire Arab and Islamic world on March 10 are very low.


    Ramzan is expected to start on Tuesday, March 12 in most Islamic countries including Pakistan.