Current Final

Blog

  • Petrol, diesel prices expected to fall from January 1

    Petrol, diesel prices expected to fall from January 1

    Petrol and other petroleum products may become cheaper from January 1, 2026, following a decline in international crude oil prices. Officials say a plan has been prepared to reduce rates for the first fifteen days of the month.

    Petrol prices are expected to fall by up to Rs10.60 per litre, while high-speed diesel could decrease by up to Rs8.59 per litre. 

    Kerosene oil may drop by Rs8.92 per litre, and light diesel oil by Rs6.62 per litre.

    If the plan is approved, petrol would cost around Rs252.85 per litre, down from Rs263.45. High-speed diesel would fall to approximately Rs257.06 per litre from Rs265.65, and kerosene oil could decrease to Rs171.62 from Rs180.54.

    Officials say the revisions are part of measures to align domestic prices with the drop in international crude oil rates. The reduced rates will apply for the first half of January, after which prices may be reviewed again.

  • Australian cricket legend Damien Martyn fights for life in ‘induced coma’ with meningitis

    Australian cricket legend Damien Martyn fights for life in ‘induced coma’ with meningitis

    Former Australian Test batsman Damien Martyn has been put in an induced coma after being diagnosed with meningitis, foreign media reports said on Wednesday.

    The 54-year-old fell ill while lying down on Boxing Day last week and required immediate hospitalisation. Australian media confirmed he is receiving treatment for meningitis, a potentially deadly inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord.

    “He is getting the best of treatment,” Test great and close friend Adam Gilchrist told The Australian newspaper. “Amanda (his partner) and his family know that a lot of people are sending their prayers and best wishes,” he added.

    Former Australian coach Darren Lehmann, who played alongside Martyn for years, also offered his support.

    “Lots of love and prayers… keep strong and fighting, legend. Love to the family,” he wrote on X.

    Martyn represented Australia in 67 Tests between 1992 and 2006 and played 208 one-day internationals. 

    The elegant batsman scored 13 Test centuries and maintained an impressive average of 46.37 throughout his career. 

    He played a crucial role in Australia’s 2003 ODI World Cup victory, smashing 88 not out in the final against India in a match-winning partnership with Ricky Ponting.

    Martyn retired during the 2006 Ashes series and has maintained a low profile since leaving professional cricket.

  • Celebrity scandals & controversies: A 2025 recap

    Celebrity scandals & controversies: A 2025 recap

    As 2025 comes to an end, we take a look back at the controversies that made it a turbulent year for Pakistan’s entertainment and influencer community, capturing public attention month after month.

    The year began with the Punjab government imposing a lifetime ban on stage actresses accused of promoting vulgarity, setting the tone for a year of moral and legal scrutiny. January also saw Rajab Butt sentenced to posting animal rights videos for receiving a lion cub as a wedding gift, which was transferred to Lahore Safari Zoo.

    In February, the son of actor Sajid Hasan was arrested in connection with the murder of Mustafa Aamir in Karachi, highlighting celebrity links to criminal investigations and drugs trafficking.

    March brought the Nadia Hussain–FIA controversy, intensified by her husband’s financial fraud case, sparking debates on cybercrime and celebrity accountability. 

    April saw India block Pakistani entertainment content, alongside the widely discussed date-fix ceremony of TikTok couple Rabeeca Khan and Hussain Tareen.


    While rising cross-border tensions between Pakistan and India overshadowed any celebrity controversies in May, several actors, primarily known for their roles in Indian projects, faced criticism for remaining silent and not immediately expressing support for Pakistan.


    June and July were marred by tragedy as teen influencer Sana Yousaf was murdered by a stalker and actress Humaira Asghar Ali was found dead in her Karachi apartment after months of isolation.

    August and September brought legal battles for online personalities, with Ducky Bhai arrested for promoting gambling apps and Rajab Butt fleeing to the UK to avoid arrest, only to return in December.

    In October, an episode of the online reality show Lazawal Ishq sparked backlash after a male contestant hugged and kissed a female participant on the head while she cried. The clip from episode 14 went viral on social media, with many calling it inappropriate. After weeks of criticism, Lazawal Ishq was finally removed from YouTube for Pakistani audiences in December. 


    High-profile media clashes also dominated the year. In November, Nadia Khan publicly grilled rapper Talha Anjum for waving the Indian flag during his Nepal concert, generating debate over lack of journalistic conduct by celebrities on news channels.

    December closed the year with backlash against morning show host Nida Yasir over insensitive remarks toward Foodpanda delivery riders and tipping culture.

    From bans and arrests to viral controversies and tragic deaths, 2025 underscored the fragility of celebrity status in Pakistan, highlighting the intense scrutiny, public accountability and occasional legal entanglements that define the country’s entertainment landscape.

  • Pakistan will enter 2026 as fifth most populous country

    Pakistan will enter 2026 as fifth most populous country

    According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Pakistan will have more than 225  million people by 2026, making it the fifth most populous nation in the world. 


    UNFPA stated in a statement that the country’s demographic outlook is being shaped by population growth, fertility rates, gender disparity, and climate vulnerability, putting further strain on planning and governance systems. According to the organization, population dynamics has become a key policy concern as a result of these causes.


    Population should be seen as a development factor rather than a burden, according to UNFPA Pakistan, emphasizing its role in inclusive and sustainable outcomes. According to the organization, as Pakistan approaches 2026, planning frameworks need to change to reflect this strategy.


    The National Finance Commission (NFC) formula and other national planning and finance mechanisms should interpret demographic statistics differently, according to the agency’s demands. It said that the distribution of resources among provinces should no longer be primarily determined by population size. 

    According to UNFPA, these adjustments would promote accountability across provinces and match financial incentives with human development outcomes. It further stated that tying funding to quantifiable results would promote service delivery innovation and enable population policies to be implemented at the local level.


    “A forward-looking approach should reward provinces for measurable progress in gender equality, climate resilience, balanced population outcomes, and improvements in the quality of health and education services,” the statement said.

    According to UNFPA, these adjustments would promote accountability across provinces and match financial incentives with human development outcomes. It further stated that tying funding to quantifiable results would promote service delivery innovation and enable population policies to be implemented at the local level.

    The Council of Common Interests’ suggestions, which called for accountability systems, clear deadlines, and ongoing domestic funding, were also recommended to be implemented by the UNFPA. It stated that population statistics and evidence-based planning were required to support these actions. 


    While acknowledging progress in some areas, UNFPA said several population-related challenges remain unresolved. These include maternal mortality, unmet demand for family planning, early marriages, gender-based violence and unequal access to reproductive health services.


    The statement noted that these issues are more visible in remote communities and are connected to stalled fertility decline and uneven development outcomes.

  • Hardliner Hindutva activist vows to beat up Bangladeshi players in IPL, Shah Rukh Khan

    Hardliner Hindutva activist vows to beat up Bangladeshi players in IPL, Shah Rukh Khan

    A hardliner Hindutva activist has threatened to beat up Bangladeshi cricketers if they participate in the Indian Premier League (IPL), going on to warn Bollywood star and Kolkata Knight Riders owner Shah Rukh Khan against allowing Bangladeshi players to play for his team.

    “We will beat up Bangladeshi players if they come to play in the IPL. We will even beat SRK if he lets them play in his team,” the activist said in a video that has now gone viral over the internet.

    The activist also referenced a previous attack to establish his group’s credibility. “Sanjay Leela Bhansali is the biggest director. We even beat him for 8 hours when he insulted Karni Mata in the Padmaavat movie.”

    The threats come after Shiv Sena leader Neeraj Sethi from Haryana announced that his organisation has decided Bangladeshi players will not be allowed to play IPL matches in India. 

    Indian sports journalist Sushant Mehta also ridiculed the purchase of Bangladeshi players, calling Mustafizur Rahman a “2 kori ka [cheap] player”.

    Rahman was the only Bangladeshi player to be sold in the IPL 2026 auction held in Abu Dhabi on December 16. He was bought by KKR for Rs9.2 crores.

    While social media users condemned the discriminatory rhetoric by Mehta, questioning his integrity as a journalist, a majority of Indian netizens called on IPL franchises to ban Bangladeshi players and not include them in the auction at all.

    Relations between Bangladesh and India have deteriorated sharply in recent weeks. Dhaka suspended visa and consular services at its missions in New Delhi and Agartara on December 22 following protests outside the facilities.

    India also suspended visa services at its Chittagong visa application center in Bangladesh after widespread violent protests erupted following the death of prominent Bangladeshi activist Sharif Osman Hadi. 

    The 32-year-old critic of India died on December 18 in a Singapore hospital after being shot in the head by masked gunmen in Dhaka a week earlier. 

    Hadi played a key role in the 2024 uprising that ended former prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s 15-year rule.

    Tensions escalated further after the killing of Dipu Chandra Das, a 25-year-old Hindu man who was lynched and burned in Bangladesh’s Mymensingh district over blasphemy allegations. 

    New Delhi and Dhaka summoned each other’s envoys earlier this week in a tit-for-tat move. The visa freeze affects tens of thousands of Bangladeshis seeking medical treatment in India.

  • PPP blocks Fixit volunteers from covering open manhole as another child falls to death

    PPP blocks Fixit volunteers from covering open manhole as another child falls to death

    Karachi’s Korangi witnessed a confrontation between Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) workers and Fixit volunteers over an open manhole after the death of eight-year-old Dilbar Ali, who became the second child to fall to his death due to civic negligence in the port city within a month.

    As per the details, volunteers from Fixit – a non-profit organisation highlighting and fixing social, civic and political issues faced by the people – on Monday arrived at the site with a vehicle carrying manhole covers. Their intention was to place a cover on the open sewer where the incident occurred.

    Witnesses reported that PPP workers objected to the installation, leading to a dispute between the two groups. The volunteers were reportedly stopped from installing the cover and left the site.

    Residents of Korangi described the clash as part of a “politics of manhole covers” where responsibility for civic issues is contested rather than addressed. Several locals also expressed frustration that efforts to secure the area were blocked, especially after multiple fatalities linked to uncovered sewers.

    While no official statement has so far been released by the Karachi administration regarding the clash or the installation of manhole covers at the site, Dilbar’s father, in conversation with journalists, blamed civic authorities for his son’s death.

    He said the manhole cover had been removed about a month ago for sewer cleaning but was never replaced. The father also appealed to the government to ensure all open manholes in Karachi are covered to prevent further accidents.

    It merits a mention that the incident comes just weeks after three-year-old Ibrahim also tragically died in Karachi after falling into an uncovered manhole near NIPA Chowrangi in Gulshan-e-Iqbal.

    His body was recovered after a 15-hour search as authorities concerned continued with a blame game or politicisation of the incident.

  • Pakistan hopeful direct flights between Karachi–Dhaka will begin in January

    Pakistan hopeful direct flights between Karachi–Dhaka will begin in January

    During a Monday meeting with Bangladesh’s Chief Advisor Professor Muhammad Yunus, Pakistan’s High Commissioner Imran Haider expressed optimism about launching direct flights between Karachi and Dhaka in January.

    Pakistan-Bangladesh relations remained tense under Sheikh Hasina’s tenure. However, under Professor Yunus’s interim administration in Dhaka, bilateral ties have significantly improved since the popular uprising that resulted in her removal and exile.

    A statement shared on X by Bangladesh’s interim leader noted, “During the meeting, both sides discussed ways to expand cooperation in trade, investment, and aviation, as well as scaling up cultural, educational, and medical exchanges to further strengthen bilateral relations between the two South Asian nations.”

    Haider emphasized that companies in both nations are actively looking for new investment opportunities, and bilateral trade has increased by 20 percent from the previous year.


    The high commissioner also said that there has been a “significant increase” in cultural exchanges and that Bangladeshi students are very interested in studying in Pakistan, particularly in medical sciences, nanotechnology, and artificial intelligence.


    “Pakistan has witnessed a rise in patients travelling to its leading hospitals for liver and kidney transplants,” the envoy added.

    The statement further reported that Pakistan is prepared to provide “training and academic opportunities in transplantation-related medical fields.”

    Bangladesh’s interim leader welcomed the “growing interactions between the two countries” and emphasised the “importance of increased visits, as well as cultural, educational, and people-to-people exchanges among SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) member states.”

    “Professor Yunus also underscored the need to further boost Bangladesh–Pakistan trade,” the statement continued.


    The interim leader expressed hope that during the current high commissioner’s tenure, both countries would be able to “explore new avenues for investment and joint venture businesses.”


    Professor Yunus also met with Ishaq Dar, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister in August. Both countries underlined the significance of reviving regional collaboration under the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) during the historic visit to Dhaka.

    The Foreign Office (FO) described Dar’s two-day trip the first visit by a Pakistani foreign minister to Bangladesh in 13 years as a “significant milestone” in bilateral relations.


    A month prior, Pakistan and Bangladesh had agreed to allow visa-free entry for holders of diplomatic and official passports.

  • Gold drops by Rs5,500 as international rates fall

    Gold drops by Rs5,500 as international rates fall

    Gold prices in Pakistan fell on Monday following a decline in the international market.

    The price of gold per tola dropped by Rs5,500 to reach Rs470,162, according to the All-Pakistan Gems and Jewellers Sarafa Association (APGJSA).

    Ten-gram gold also saw a decrease, trading at Rs403,088 after falling by Rs4,715. On Saturday, the price per tola had reached Rs475,662 after gaining Rs2,300 during the day.

    The decline in local gold rates mirrored the international market, where the price of gold dropped by $55 to $4,478 per ounce, with a premium of $20.

    Silver prices also saw a decrease on Monday, falling by Rs332 to reach Rs8,075 per tola.

  • FIR against lawyers for ‘assaulting’ YouTuber Rajab Butt

    FIR against lawyers for ‘assaulting’ YouTuber Rajab Butt

    Police have registered a case against several lawyers who allegedly attacked YouTuber Rajab Butt during his court appearance at the Karachi City Court.

    According to reports, Barrister Mian Ali Ashfaq, Butt’s lawyer, filed the First Information Report (FIR) against Advocate Riaz Ali Solangi and his associates.

    The charges include sections 147, 148, 382, 506 and 337 A(1) of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).

    In his statement, Barrister Ashfaq said he had accompanied his client to the court to seek interim bail. When they arrived, Advocate Riaz Ali Solangi, Abdul Fatah and 15 to 20 other individuals attacked Butt and left him injured.

    “He was also harassed and threatened with death. His bag, which contained three lakh rupees in cash, was snatched from him,” said Ashfaq.

    Butt had come to court to attend a hearing in a blasphemy case that Haideri Police Station filed against him. The court had already granted him interim bail in the matter.

    The lawyers reportedly said they attacked Butt because he insulted their profession in a viral video.

    Butt had earlier responded to Karachi lawyers who claimed they had gotten him placed on the Exit Control List (ECL), blocked his passport and brought him back from the United Kingdom (UK) to Pakistan.

    “I have seen the video of Karachi lawyers saying they have put my name in the ECL, they blocked my passport, they summoned me from the UK to Pakistan. However, my name is in the Pakistan’s Passport Control List (PCL),” Butt said in the video.

    “Let me tell you one thing: you don’t have that much worth, nor do you possess the caliber to bring me from the UK to Lahore. You don’t even look like lawyers to me. The way you dress, you sit there chewing gutka. You don’t even know whether my name is in the ECL or PCL,” he added.

    The assault occurred as soon as Butt, along with fellow TikToker Nadeem Mubarak entered the court compound on Monday.

    Eyewitnesses reported that the attackers beat the YouTuber and inflicted injuries to his jaw and mouth, which led to bleeding. They also tore his clothes during the assault. His legal counsel tried to intervene and stop the attack.

    Court staff and police personnel arrived at the scene and dispersed the attackers.

  • Fahad Mustafa, Mahira Khan reveal first look of upcoming film ALBM

    Fahad Mustafa, Mahira Khan reveal first look of upcoming film ALBM

    Fahad Mustafa and Mahira Khan have unveiled the first look of their upcoming film ALBM, ahead of its teaser release. The actors shared a short clip on Instagram, announcing that the teaser will drop on January 3, 2026.


    Mustafa and Khan are shown in close-up in the 10-second clip, with cloth masks partially covering their faces. The camera glides over what looks to be a locker full of money and coins, revealing only their eyes. 


    “Behind the masks are faces you know… and a story you don’t,” Mustafa wrote as the post’s caption.


    Bilal Altaf Khan is the writer and director of the movie, which stars Tabish Hashmi alongside the main actors. Big Bang Films, Salman Iqbal Films, and ARY Films are the producers of ALBM. 


    Mustafa posted a picture of the movie’s schedule on Instagram a few days prior to the first look, signifying the conclusion of production. “That’s a wrap on ALBM,” he wrote. Months of dedication, accuracy, and narrative documented on film. The countdown is now underway. There will be much more in the near future.


    The film marks Mustafa’s return to the big screen after more than a year. He has remained active in the entertainment industry through television, hosting, and his clothing brand Nine Figures.

    Mahira Khan was last seen during promotions for her film Neelofar, which released on November 28. 

    The two actors previously appeared together in Nabeel Qureshi and Fizza Ali Meerza’s action comedy Quaid E Azam Zindabad. ALBM will bring them back on screen together.