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  • Faryal Mehmood reveals relationship status

    Faryal Mehmood reveals relationship status

    Actress Faryal Mehmood has been in the spotlight for both her impressive acting career as well as candid opinions. This time, however, she has made headlines for opening up about her relationship status.

    Appearing as a guest on After Hours with Ushna Shah, Faryal opened up about her current relationship status.

    When asked if she was single, she said, “I am single… very much single.” It may be noted that Faryal Mehmood had tied the knot with actor Daniyal Raheal in 2020, but the marriage had ended in divorce.

    On the show, it wasn’t just about her relationship status as the Raqeeb Se actor also voiced discomfort with a growing trend among celebrities, particularly women.

    “This new trend where people sit and praise their lovers on TV is very cringeworthy. For God’s sake, stop it! Especially women… you know, they sit on TV shows and say, ‘This is what happened to me… they are like this… they are like that.’ For God’s sake, respect yourself and keep your dignity. Women talking like this doesn’t look good, especially actresses,” she said while calling out celebrities who openly gush about their partners on TV shows.

    The Laal Ishq actress also talked about narcissism in society, stressing that it was important for people to recognise the basic traits of narcissists. “It is important for society to realise that narcissism very much exists,” she said and noted that narcissists often lacked empathy and showed no guilt for hurting others.

    Faryal Mehmood has starred in drama such as, ‘Farwa Ki ABC’, ‘Khuda Dekh Raha Hai’, ‘Aap Ke Liye’, ‘Teri Chah Mein’ and ‘Mohabbat Tumse Nafrat Hai’.

    She has also starred in movies such as ‘Wakhri’, ‘Nayab’ and ‘Chikkar’.

     

    Earlier, Faryal had also opened up about her divorce during an interview with Ahsan Khan. “The reason why I didn’t want to talk about it is that it’s not just me who is involved.”

    “I don’t want to talk about my ex-husband and his family, who are also prominently involved in the media. Whatever happened between the two of us, I would never want to dish out the details of it.”

    “It’s our personal lives, don’t say mean things about it. It happened because it was bound to happen, you know. It’s fine,” she said.

    The statements had come as Faryal confirmed her divorce. “Yes, it’s true. I mean, I am single but this isn’t something to be discussed.”

  • Son of Norwegian Princess arrested on suspicion of rape

    Son of Norwegian Princess arrested on suspicion of rape

    Norwegian police said Tuesday that the 27-year-old son of Norwegian Crown Princess Mette-Marit had been arrested on suspicion of rape.

    Police said that Marius Borg Hoiby, who was born from a relationship prior to Mette-Marit’s 2001 marriage to Crown Prince Haakon, had been arrested Monday evening.

    “What police can say about the rape is that it concerns a sexual act without intercourse. The victim is said to have been unable to resist the act,” they said.

    In a later statement, police said they had searched the suspect’s home and made “seizures”.

    Borg Hoiby was raised by the royal couple alongside his step-siblings Princess Ingrid Alexandra, 20, and Prince Sverre Magnus, 18, but has no official public role.

    The rape arrest comes only months after he was accused of bodily harm after a night-time row on August 4 at the Oslo apartment of a woman he was having a relationship with, police said.

    Norwegian media reports said police found a knife stuck into one of the walls of the woman’s bedroom at the time.

    He was arrested again in September for violating a restraining order.

    Police said he was in a car with the alleged victim of the August incident when he was arrested Monday.

    On Tuesday, police also said the suspicions relating to the August incident now include domestic abuse.

    Police said they had yet to decide whether he would be remanded in custody.

    Hoiby was born in 1997 from a relationship prior to Mette-Marit’s 2001 marriage to Crown Prince Haakon, the heir apparent to the Norwegian throne.

  • Schools to reopen tomorrow in Multan and Lahore

    Schools to reopen tomorrow in Multan and Lahore

    The Punjab government has issued a notification to reopen schools in Lahore and Multan starting tomorrow (Wednesday) as the smog situation has improved.

    The notification was issued by Environment Department Director General Imran Hamid Sheikh, who announced the reopening of educational institutions “in the whole province, including Lahore and Multan” starting tomorrow, November 20.

    Days after the government announced the closure of schools and eventually the educational institutes due to the cities’ air quality reaching hazardous levels, the government has decided to reopen them. 

    Certain restrictions have, nonetheless, also been imposed to ensure the health and safety of students and staff. These include all educational institutes, which shall not open before 8:45 am. Students and teachers are required to wear masks throughout the school day, outdoor activities will be banned, and schools shall close within class-wise school hours to avoid traffic congestion.  

    The Environment Department urged schools to strictly adhere to these guidelines to mitigate the impact of smog and air pollution in their area.

    Improvement in the smog situation in the province prompted the provincial government to implement the decision to reopen schools in Punjab.

  • ‘If people voted on basis of performance, PTI wouldn’t have won KP’

    ‘If people voted on basis of performance, PTI wouldn’t have won KP’

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Sher Afzal Marwat has once again criticised his party leadership over unsatisfactory performance in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) where it is currently in power for the third consecutive term.


    Addressing a workers’ convention in Abbottabad, the PTI leader pointed out the lack of facilities in the province and said that had people voted on the basis of performance, PTI would never have come to power again.


    Marwat also highlighted the persisting security situation, backwardness and lack of infrastructure in KP. “We cannot label backwardness as progress nor can we term deception as the truth.”


    “The people of KP have voted for PTI three times in a row and now it is the PTI’s turn to deliver for the people of the province,” Marwat stressed. He also suggested that party leadership must accept past mistakes and realise that party performance was not up to the mark in KP.


    Marwat, who is known for his candid and brut remarks, even against his own party, often faces backlashes for his statements both within and without the PTI.


    In May, Marwat was kicked out of PTI’s core and political committees on the direction of party founder Imran Khan following his remarks about Saudi Arabia. Marwat, in an interview, had alleged that Saudia Arabia was behind Khan’s ouster from power.


    In August, PTI’s official handle on X, formerly Twitter, announced the cancellation of Marwat’s basic party membership for a “gross violation/ breach” of discipline.


    While the notification had gone viral, PTI chief Barrister Gohar Ali Khan had termed it “fake”.


    “The notification regarding the cancellation of Sher Afzal Marwat’s membership is fake. It’s not possible,” Gohar had said, hinting at possible differences within the party leadership over Marwat’s fate.


    The notification also claimed that Marwat had been directed to “restrict himself and his statements to within the limitation as outlined in the letter. A committee was also set up to monitor his statements, media appearances and tweets.”


    The recent-most controversy surrounding Marwat also involved PTI leader Salman Akram Raja.
    “Sher Afzal Marwat must control himself. We are giving him a chance if he wants to play a role in the party. If he does not show discipline, we will take action,” Raja had said.


    Marwat, on the other hand, claims that his relation with PTI founder and former prime minister Imran Khan remains “strong as ever”.

  • Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif targets tax evasion amid rising public criticism

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif targets tax evasion amid rising public criticism

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has instructed relevant authorities to take action against tax defaulters, evaders, and any party that is facilitating them, according to a report by Dawn News. 

    The prime minister was briefed by the finance ministry regarding the country’s economy and a recent high-profile meeting with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Shehbaz Sharif’s meeting with the finance ministry was reportedly attended by several important ministers, including Muhammad Aurangzeb, Ahad Cheema, Attaullah Tarar, Dr. Mussadik Malik, and PM’s coordinator Rana Ahsan Afzal, among many others.

    In his meeting with the finance ministry, Sharif emphasised the importance of holding tax evaders accountable – as compliance with tax laws will “play a role in the national progress”. He stressed the link between economic growth and tax compliance: An issue Pakistan has always struggled with.

    The severity of non-compliance can be noted by the FBR’s goal to collect at least 10 billion rupees from traders. However, the government failed to meet this target by almost one million per cent – which is an alarmingly large gap between the objective and collection. This is because the FBR was only able to collect a measly one million rupees from traders due to compliance issues.

    Despite these setbacks, Mr Sharif noted that the economy was showing signs of stability, which was highlighted by the booming stock market. He attributed this revival of the economy to government measures, which he claimed have also increased levels of foreign investment.

    Aside from matters of taxation, the finance ministry also outlined the steps that are already being taken to curb tax evasion and punish those involved in facilitating such practices. Moreover, the meeting also included a briefing on economic indicators and inflation, to which Mr Sharif expressed great satisfaction.

    This is because, in just the past year, the inflation rate has plummeted from an uneasy 38 per cent to a more acceptable seven per cent. Moreover, the interest rate has also fallen from 22% to 15%, which spells great news for businesses and unemployed individuals as the expansion of businesses will create job opportunities.

    In the meeting, Mr Sharif stressed how providing relief to the public remains a top priority, stating that all available measures are being employed to honour public commitments. Despite these efforts, PM Shehbaz’s popularity has been challenged by public criticism over high taxes on energy, which have significantly raised energy costs.

    While many Pakistanis simply view the existing tax levels as burdensome, it is important to note that Sharif’s focus on enforcement regarding tax inequalities is impartial, as tax evaders of any kind are not to be shown any leniency regardless of their background.

  • ‘We can’t make films’: Syed Mohammed Ahmed calls out Pakistani film industry

    ‘We can’t make films’: Syed Mohammed Ahmed calls out Pakistani film industry


    Is the Pakistani film industry stuck copying Bollywood? Well, veteran actor and writer Syed Mohammed Ahmed thinks so and has openly talked about the challenges facing the entertainment industry. 


    Appearing as a guest on Gup Shab by Vasay Chaudhry, the Sunn Mere Dil actor shared his thoughts on why the local film industry continues to struggle. 


    “I think this work is not ours. We can’t make films. I only realise this now.     There was a lot of hope earlier, but now I don’t think so because it requires passion, training and history. If you compare it to India, they have been making films since the 1930s, and they started by learning from Hollywood,” he said in response to an audience member’s question regarding the shortcomings of the Pakistani film industry. 


    “We’ve always tried to copy India. We’ve never tried to train ourselves and make films like Hollywood. We still try to make Bollywood-style films,” he added.

     
    The Meray Paas Tum Ho actor also highlighted the repetitive content on television saying, “Right now, on TV, whether it’s this channel or that channel, the same storyline is being played.     Either there’s a divorce happening or someone’s falling for their brother-in-law. There’s nothing beyond this.”

      
    “If they want to write something big or different, they’ll make the mother-in-law a tyrant and the husband toxic. What else is there? So, where’s the actual drama?     This is the same thing you’ve been watching for the past 25–30 years,” he added.

     
    When asked by co-host Rabbina Shirjeel if it was true that audiences didn’t connect with something new or meaningful, he said if that was the case, why was ‘Kabli Pulao’ such a huge hit.     “It was completely out of the ordinary, a really well-made play with a different subject.”

     
    “There was another recent one about Halala, written by Zafar Mairaj. It was an eight-episode drama featuring Bilal Abbas. That too was very different and did really well.     I think projects like these, which are experimental, face challenges in marketing,” he added.

     
    Syed Mohammed Ahmed is currently starring in Sunn Mere Dil, written by controversial writer Khalil Ur Rehmar Qamar, and directed by Haseeb Hassan.

     
    Earlier, in an interview with ‘Hasna Mana Hai’, Ahmed also shared his favorite death scene.
    A fan in the audience had asked, “Sir, you appear in almost all Pakistani dramas and coincidentally, you often die in them as well. So, which was your favorite death scene?” 


    “The best one was in Sabaat, and the funniest death was in Neeli Zinda Hai.     I was hit on the head. The third one, which will be a good death, is coming soon. It’s in the drama Sun Mere Dil. I’m going to die in a different way, and the camera angle was different too,” he said.

  • WATCH: Rahat Fateh Ali Khan Meets Sanjay Dutt in Dubai

    WATCH: Rahat Fateh Ali Khan Meets Sanjay Dutt in Dubai

    A viral video has shown renowned Pakistani singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and Bollywood star Sanjay Dutt meeting backstage during a concert in Dubai.

    According to the details, the video was recorded at Rahat’s concert where Sanjay Dutt was also in attendance.

    In the video, the two stars can be seen having a friendly conversation, planning a future meeting and showing mutual respect as well as admiration.

    Rahat shared the video on his official Facebook account, prompting widespread appreciation from fans on either side of the border.

    Netizens said the interaction shows the love and respect both celebrities have for each other, highlighting a moment of warmth between two well-known figures from different entertainment industries.


    Rahat is known across the globe for his classical music and exceptional singing. His distinctive style has earned him a special place in the music landscape of the world.


    He has recorded numerous hit songs, ghazals and qawwalis, and has a massive following on social media with 8.2 million fans on Facebook.

    Bollywood celebrities, including Sanjay Dutt, have frequently praised Rahat’s voice and talent, further solidifying his reputation as a globally respected artist.

    Earlier Rahat Fateh Ali Khan revealed that Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s qawwali ‘Allah Hoo Allah Hoo’ was so loved by Westerners that they started calling him ‘Mr. Allah Hoo.’


    He spoke to the media in Canada and said, “Toronto is my second home because Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s wife used to live here and I used to come and stay at her house, my memories are associated with this city.”


    He further added, “My son Shah Zaman is performing on the big stage at a young age, he has learned by listening and singing along with Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan from the age of six.”


    He said, “Qawwali is my favorite genre in the art of music, there is freedom in Qawwali in which there is an opportunity to sing openly.”


    “We come abroad with the smell of the soil of our country,” he added


    He said that like the West, “I also liked Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s ‘Allah Ho Allah Ho’ the most.”

    Check the video below:



  • November 24 protest: High-level dialogue begins between PTI, govt

    November 24 protest: High-level dialogue begins between PTI, govt

    Preparations are underway for the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) protest on November 24 in Islamabad, but The News reports that the government has urged the party to “call off” the planned demonstration.

    The incumbent government’s initial contact with PTI was reportedly positive, while the party would “call off” the protest in exchange for some assurances for considering their demands.

    The News, however, did not disclose the names of contacts from both parties in the discussion, fearing that it could impact the ongoing negotiations.

    The source claimed that Chief Minister (CM) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Ali Amin Gandapur is expected to participate in the apex committee meeting on Tuesday (today).

    In an apex committee chaired by Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif, CM KP Gandapur is reportedly expected to raise the issue of incarcerated party founder Imran Khan and the ongoing tension between PTI and the military establishment.

    The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General Asim Munir, and all intelligence agency chiefs will also participate in the apex committee meeting.

    Barrister Saif, KP’s Advisor for Information and Broadcasting, while appearing on Geo News, confirmed on Monday that Ali Amin Gandapur will present PTI’s demands before the apex committee meeting before presenting in the upcoming protest at Islamabad.

    If a consensus were built between PTI and the government to initiate dialogue, the military establishment would be exempted from participating in it, the source claimed.

    Following the “final call” by the founder of PTI for the countrywide demonstrations to achieve their demands, the party leadership had vowed to stage a big sit-in show in the federal capital on November 24 until the release of Imran Khan.

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf demands the revocation of the 26th Constitutional Amendment, including the restoration of democracy and the Constitution, the return of the public’s mandate, and the release of all political prisoners.

    Previously, former PM Khan was arrested on August 5 last year from his residence in Zaman Park, Lahore, shortly after his conviction in the Toshakhana case and has been in jail since then on multiple charges.

    It should be mentioned here that incarcerated PM Imran Khan is facing several cases, including the £190 million reference (Al Qadir Trust case) and a new Toshakhana case.

    Meanwhile, as per the notification issued by Additional District Magistrate Usman Ashraf, the Islamabad administration on Monday imposed section 144 in the federal capital for two months ahead of the PTI protest.

    According to the notification, there will be a ban on gatherings of five or more people, including the prohibition of any processions, rallies and demonstrations.

  • Punjab expected to achieve Rs630 billion cash surplus

    Punjab expected to achieve Rs630 billion cash surplus

    Despite missing the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) cash surplus by a staggering Rs182 billion, hope still remains for Punjab. 

    Reports quoted provincial Information Minister Azma Bokhari as saying the IMF still believes that Punjab will be able to achieve the predetermined cash surplus of Rs630 billion by the end of the year.

    Bokhari was pleased to report that the IMF has officially recognised Punjab’s efforts to achieve a budget surplus. This was evident by IMF backing the government’s claim regarding the surplus.


    Additionally, Bokhari also addressed claims that had been circulating against the government. Said claims suggested that the provincial government had invested in a United Arab Emirates (UAE) based fund.

    The minister, however, firmly refuted the same, stating that no such matter had been discussed during the IMF’s meetings with officials from the government of Punjab.

    It may be noted that the reason for the shortfall of surplus in the previous quarter of the fiscal year was primarily the repayment of commodity related loans that had reduced the amount of money the provincial government could post as surplus.

    However, owing to the repayment of the loan, the next surplus will be greater by a large magnitude. This is due to the fact that interest payments will not have to be doled out on the expired loans. Besides that, reports said, the funds that had been used to clear the loans can now be booked as a budget surplus.


    This endorsement from the IMF spells great news as it comes at a time when the federal government in Islamabad is missing its objectives set out by the IMF. For instance, Islamabad failed to the IMF stipulated condition that was set to ensure that the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) would collect at least Rs2.652 trillion in taxes.


    Moreover, the FBR was supposed to collect at least Rs10 billion rupees from traders as per one of the 40 IMF conditions. However, the government failed to meet the target by almost one million per cent. This was because the FBR was only able to collect a measly Rs1 million from traders.


    While assurances from the IMF for achieving a cash surplus of 40 billion rupees is likely to motivate Punjab’s lawmakers to continue following the roadmap set out by the global lender, the government is also showing a willingness to strictly adhere to austerity measures.

  • ‘Earn enough to save your relationships,’ advises Danish Nawaz

    ‘Earn enough to save your relationships,’ advises Danish Nawaz

    Actor Danish Nawaz has said that every person should earn enough money so that their relationships do not break.

    “Every person should earn enough money so that their relationships do not get lost or broken,” he said in response to a question about income while appearing on comedy program‘ Mazaq Raat’.

    “Every person should earn enough money so that when their child asks them for something, they can give it to them,” Nawaz added.

    He also spoke openly on other topics. “I started my career with comedy and continued to play comic roles for a long time, which made people think that I only knew comedy,” the actor-director said.

    According to Nawaz, he wanted to change this perception and so he turned towards directing and earned a name there through hard work.

    “My father Farid Nawaz Baloch passed away before my showbiz career and I learned a lot from Yasir Nawaz. I also played the best role of my life in ‘Nadanian.’”

    “I did not face any difficulties getting into directing after acting. I read and understood the script completely before starting to shoot, which impressed actors with my work,” he said.

    He further said, “Your loved ones give love without money, but you have to spend money on outsiders.”