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  • Pakistan Railways increases fares for passenger and freight trains

    Pakistan Railways increases fares for passenger and freight trains

    Pakistan Railways has announced an increase in fares for all train services starting Friday, July 19, 2024. This decision, reported by the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP), is part of a broader strategy to rationalise fares.

    According to an official notification issued on Thursday, fares for mail, express, intercity, and passenger trains, including outsourced services, will see a 1 per cent hike. Additionally, freight and goods train fares will be increased by 2 per cent.

    The fare adjustment comes amidst Pakistan Railways’ ongoing efforts to improve its financial health. Over the past six months, the railway department, in collaboration with railway police and train staff, has collected over Rs76 million from passengers traveling without tickets.

    Approximately 59,143 ticket-less passengers were identified during this crackdown, with the recovered amounts duly deposited into the department’s official bank account.

    This move aims to enhance revenue generation and ensure the sustainability of Pakistan Railways’ operations while providing better services to its passengers.

  • Four nails, kidney missing from Arshad Sharif’s body: Javeria Siddiqui

    Four nails, kidney missing from Arshad Sharif’s body: Javeria Siddiqui

    Javeria Siddique, the widow of slain journalist Arshad Sharif, recently appeared on a podcast of the Naya Pakistan channel, recounting the harrowing details of Arshad’s ordeal before and after he left Pakistan in 2022.

    She stated that Arshad had been threatened in Pakistan with a “gunshot to the head.”

    Arshad Sharif fled the country in August 2022 to avoid arrest after he was slapped with multiple cases, including sedition charges, over an interview with Shahbaz Gill – a close aide of former Prime Minister Imran Khan – during which Gill passed comments that were perceived as provocation to mutiny.

    He was killed by local police in Kenya two months later, with controversies surrounding his cause of death.

    Javeria described the condition of his body, saying, “There were 18-19 wounds, four of his nails and a kidney was absent, ribs were broken.”

    Journalist Husnain asked her whether his kidney was taken in Kenya, to which, she replied with sorrow, “Whether they [Kenyan authorities] or these [Pakistani] authorities did, how would I know?”

    The Current talked with a medical doctor – who wishes to remain anonymous – currently working at CMH Lahore to inquire about the procedures involved in autopsies. He stated, “In criminal autopsies, it is not unusual to take some organs out of the body for further testing, but those organs are usually put back in. If, for some reason, the organ is kept for testing, then the authorities have to explicitly inform the family members of the deceased person.”

  • Pakistan becomes fifth most populous country

    Pakistan becomes fifth most populous country

    Pakistan has become the fifth most populous country in the world with a population of 241,490,000, according to the detailed results of the seventh and first digital census of Pakistan.

    A report released by the Institute of Statistics reveals that Pakistan has the fastest population growth rate in the region, at 2.55 per cent annually. The country has also emerged as one of the top 30 countries globally with rapid population growth, surpassed in growth rate by only 27 other nations.

    The report projects that if current trends persist, Pakistan’s population will double by 2050. It also highlights that 79 per cent of the population is under 40 years old, making Pakistan the country with the largest youth population in the world.

    Pakistan currently stands at fifth place in global population rankings. Balochistan has the highest population growth rate at 3.2 percent, followed by Sindh at 2.57 percent and Punjab at 2.53 percent. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has the lowest growth rate among provinces, with an annual increase of 2.38 percent.

    According to the report, 51.48 percent of population is male and 48.51 percent is female. Rural areas house 61.12 percent of the population, with only 39 percent residing in urban centres.

    In terms of urbanisation within provinces, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has the lowest urban population at 15 percent, while Sindh and Punjab have higher urbanisation rates of 54 percent and 52 percent respectively. About 31 percent of Balochistan’s population is currently living in cities.

    The report also indicates that 96.35 percent of Pakistan’s population is Muslim, with minorities making up 8.7 percent. Hindus constitute 44 percent of the minority population, while Christians account for 37.63 percent.

  • Gold price surges to record high of Rs254,000 per tola in Pakistan

    Gold price surges to record high of Rs254,000 per tola in Pakistan

    The price of gold in Pakistan soared to a new record on Thursday, with 24-karat gold increasing by Rs4,600 per tola, reaching an unprecedented Rs254,000. This surge aligns with global market trends influenced by economic indicators in the United States.

    The rise in gold prices is driven by signs of slowing inflation in the US, prompting speculation that the Federal Reserve may soon lower interest rates. Historically, high interest rates tend to negatively impact gold prices as the precious metal does not yield interest, making it less attractive to investors compared to interest-bearing assets.

    Notably, the current gold price in Pakistan is Rs4,000 below its actual market value due to a decrease in purchasing power, reflecting broader economic challenges.

    According to the Karachi Sarafa Association, the price of 24-karat gold per 10 grammes has risen by Rs3,944, now standing at Rs217,764 per tola. Similarly, 22-karat gold is now priced at Rs199,617 per 10 grammes.

    Meanwhile, silver prices have remained stable in the domestic market. The price of 24-karat silver is Rs2,900 per tola and Rs2,486 per 10 grammes.

    Globally, spot gold is trading near $2,468 an ounce, having surpassed the previous all-time high set in May. This global uptrend in gold prices is reflected in the domestic market, influencing local prices accordingly.

    The significant rise in gold prices highlights the ongoing economic uncertainties and the impact of international financial trends on the local market. As investors navigate these fluctuations, the gold market continues to be a barometer of economic sentiment.

  • ‘The Clown’ wins the prestigious Satyajit Ray award at the London Indian Film festival

    ‘The Clown’ wins the prestigious Satyajit Ray award at the London Indian Film festival

    The short film ‘The Clown’ has won the prestigious Satyajit Ray Award for Best Short Film at the London Indian Film Festival. Directed by Kamil Chima, it was the only Pakistani entry in the competition, making the win even more special.


    Chima expressed his joy and gratitude on Instagram, saying, “Our little film won a big, big award! The Clown won the Satyajit Ray Award for Best Short Film at the London Indian Film Festival. This was truly a labor of love, and this win is both exciting and humbling. It took a village to make this film.”


    He continued, “I am grateful to the entire crew that helped bring this vision to life and reveal a story about a character that stays hidden in plain sight.”


    Chima also praised his cast: “Muhammad Saeed Cheema and Farheen Raza Jaffry gave stellar debut performances. Sheherzade Peerzada has a magnetic charm, and Adeel Afzal provided a steady hand that helped steer the ship.” He concluded with a heartfelt message, “To all the clowns in my city, more freedom to you!”

  • Emmy nominees in key categories

    Emmy nominees in key categories

    Here is a list of the nominees in key categories for the 76th Emmy Awards, which will be handed out in Los Angeles on September 15.

    FX’s epic Japanese drama “Shogun” topped the nominations list with 25, followed by two comedies — FX’s “The Bear” at 23 and Hulu’s “Only Murders in the Building at 21.

    “True Detective: Night Country” led the nominees in the limited or anthology series categories at 19.

    OUTSTANDING DRAMA SERIES

    “The Crown”

    “Fallout”

    “The Gilded Age”

    “The Morning Show”

    “Mr & Mrs Smith”

    “Shogun”

    “Slow Horses”

    “3 Body Problem”

    OUTSTANDING COMEDY SERIES

    “Abbott Elementary”

    “The Bear”

    “Curb Your Enthusiasm”

    “Hacks”

    “Only Murders in the Building”

    “Palm Royale”

    “Reservation Dogs”

    “What We Do in the Shadows”

    OUTSTANDING LIMITED OR ANTHOLOGY SERIES

    “Baby Reindeer”

    “Fargo”

    “Lessons in Chemistry”

    “Ripley”

    “True Detective: Night Country”

    LEAD ACTOR, DRAMA

    Idris Elba, “Hijack”

    Donald Glover, “Mr & Mrs Smith”

    Walton Goggins, “Fallout”

    Gary Oldman, “Slow Horses”

    Hiroyuki Sanada, “Shogun”

    Dominic West, “The Crown”

    LEAD ACTRESS, DRAMA

    Jennifer Aniston, “The Morning Show”

    Carrie Coon, “The Gilded Age”

    Maya Erskine, “Mr & Mrs Smith”

    Anna Sawai, “Shogun”

    Imelda Staunton, “The Crown”

    Reese Witherspoon, “The Morning Show”

    LEAD ACTOR, COMEDY

    Matt Berry, “What We Do in the Shadows”

    Larry David, “Curb Your Enthusiasm”

    Steve Martin, “Only Murders in the Building”

    Martin Short, “Only Murders in the Building”

    Jeremy Allen White, “The Bear”

    D’Pharoah Woon-A-Tai, “Reservation Dogs”

    LEAD ACTRESS, COMEDY

    Quinta Brunson, “Abbott Elementary”

    Ayo Edebiri, “The Bear”

    Selena Gomez, “Only Murders in the Building”

    Maya Rudolph, “Loot”

    Jean Smart, “Hacks”

    Kristen Wiig, “Palm Royale”

    LEAD ACTOR, LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE

    Matt Bomer, “Fellow Travelers”

    Richard Gadd, “Baby Reindeer”

    Jon Hamm, “Fargo”

    Tom Hollander, “Feud: Capote vs the Swans”

    Andrew Scott, “Ripley”

    LEAD ACTRESS, LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE

    Jodie Foster, “True Detective: Night Country”

    Brie Larson, “Lessons in Chemistry”

    Juno Temple, “Fargo”

    Sofia Vergara, “Griselda”

    Naomi Watts, “Feud: Capote vs the Swans”

    SUPPORTING ACTOR, DRAMA

    Tadanobu Asano, “Shogun”

    Billy Crudup, “The Morning Show”

    Mark Duplass, “The Morning Show”

    Jon Hamm, “The Morning Show”

    Takehiro Hira, “Shogun”

    Jack Lowden, “Slow Horses”

    Jonathan Pryce, “The Crown”

    SUPPORTING ACTRESS, DRAMA

    Christine Baranski, “The Gilded Age”

    Nicole Beharie, “The Morning Show”

    Elizabeth Debicki, “The Crown”

    Greta Lee, “The Morning Show”

    Lesley Manville, “The Crown”

    Karen Pittman, “The Morning Show”

    Holland Taylor, “The Morning Show”

    SUPPORTING ACTOR, COMEDY

    Lionel Boyce, “The Bear”

    Paul W. Downs, “Hacks”

    Ebon Moss-Bachrach, “The Bear”

    Paul Rudd, “Only Murders in the Building”

    Tyler James Williams, “Abbott Elementary”

    Bowen Yang, “Saturday Night Live”

    SUPPORTING ACTRESS, COMEDY

    Carol Burnett, “Palm Royale”

    Liza Colon-Zayas, “The Bear”

    Hannah Einbinder, “Hacks”

    Janelle James, “Abbott Elementary”

    Sheryl Lee Ralph, “Abbott Elementary”

    Meryl Streep, “Only Murders in the Building”

    SUPPORTING ACTOR, LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE

    Jonathan Bailey, “Fellow Travelers”

    Robert Downey Jr., “The Sympathizer”

    Tom Goodman-Hill, “Baby Reindeer”

    John Hawkes, “True Detective: Night Country”

    Lamorne Morris, “Fargo”

    Lewis Pullman, “Lessons in Chemistry”

    Treat Williams, “Feud: Capote vs the Swans”

    SUPPORTING ACTRESS, LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE

    Dakota Fanning, “Ripley”

    Lily Gladstone, “Under the Bridge”

    Jessica Gunning, “Baby Reindeer”

    Aja Naomi King, “Lessons in Chemistry”

    Diane Lane, “Feud: Capote vs the Swans”

    Nava Mau, “Baby Reindeer”

    Kali Reis, “True Detective: Night Country”

    Programs with most overall nominations:

    “Shogun” – 25

    “The Bear” – 23

    “Only Murders in the Building” – 21

    “True Detective: Night Country” – 19

    “The Crown” – 18

    “Saturday Night Live” – 17

  • ‘Barzakh’ leaves Fawad Khan emotionally shaken

    ‘Barzakh’ leaves Fawad Khan emotionally shaken

    How happy are we that superstar Fawad Khan is out and about promoting a new project? Very very happy!

    The former rock star and now famous actor is always in the spotlight. His new supernatural web series, ‘Barzakh,’ will be released online on July 19. In an interview with Pinkvilla, Fawad discussed his latest project and the special appeal of Pakistani dramas.


    Fawad said he knew ‘Barzakh’ was a great project after reading the script. “When I read the script, I was sold,” he shared. “The script, the team, and especially the director, Asim Abbasi, were amazing. I’ve seen his earlier work, and he is a fantastic director.”


    Fawad recalled shooting for his role and laughed about how “unhinged” his character, Sheheryar the psychiatrist, becomes as the show goes on. “He’s a candidate for therapy himself! I’m laughing about it now, but shooting it was emotionally disturbing on many levels.”


    After their successful show ‘Zindagi Gulzar Hai,’ Fawad was excited to work with Sanam Saeed again. “She is an incredible actor,” he said warmly. “I feel very comfortable working with her. As actors, our job is about reacting to each other, and she makes it so much easier.”

  • Here is how Pakistanis can adopt eSports as a career and earn money

    Here is how Pakistanis can adopt eSports as a career and earn money

    eSports, or competitive video gaming, is becoming a popular career choice worldwide, but most Pakistanis are unaware of this field. Pakistan, a country with a population of 25 crore, has a smaller eSports audience than Nepal, which has a maximum population of three crores. eSports could be a massive source of income.

    Here’s a simple guide on how to start eSports:

    Step 1: Choose Your Game

    Choose a game you love and are good at, such as Dota 2, League of Legends, PUBG, or FIFA. According to the number of streamers in Pakistan, most Pakistanis are PUBG lovers.

    Step 2: Practice Regularly

    Like any other sport, practice is crucial. Spend time daily improving your skills and learning game strategies.

    Step 3: Join a Community

    Connect with other players by joining online forums, local clubs, or social media pages that organize matches and scrims. This will help you learn from others and stay updated on tournaments.

    Step 4: Participate in Tournaments

    Start with local or online tournaments. These competitions help you gain experience and recognition. On this level, your device matters a lot with your skills. You should have a high-end device to avoid lag during your gameplay. Most competitive players prefer iPhones above 13 or 13 pro max. But when you play globally, they provide their own mobile devices, which are mostly high-end Android devices.

    But in games like Tekken or other console games, you must play them on your gaming device.

    Making Money in eSports:

    Many eSports tournaments offer cash prizes. The prize pool level increased from regional to global on different levels.

    You can earn money on Twitch and YouTube by streaming and uploading your gameplay. Build an audience; you can earn through ads, donations, and sponsorships.

    Apart from this, almost all games have affiliate programs, depending on the number of followers you have. They pay you for playing their games. Many Pakistani YouTubers are currently affiliated with PUBG mobile, such as StarAnonymous, FM Radio Gaming, Mr Jayplays, Baba Op, and many other small creatures like Falin Star, How Brand, and Unknown Op. Mr Jayplays also streamed GTA 5, so he may be affiliated with them, too.

    As you gain popularity, companies start sponsoring you. They provide financial support in exchange for promoting their products like you use their mics, headphones, or any gear used in gaming.

    Grooming on Social Media:

    Use platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook. Share your achievements, gaming tips, short videos, and behind-the-scenes content. You can quickly grow on TikTok and shift your audience to YouTube or any platform to earn Money.

    Post regularly and maintain a consistent schedule. This keeps your audience engaged and helps you grow your following. You can partner with other gamers and content creators. This expands your reach and introduces you to new audiences.

  • Students panic as HEC’s degree verification system malfunctions

    Students panic as HEC’s degree verification system malfunctions

    The Higher Education Commission’s (HEC) degree verification system in Lahore has been faulty since the past 10 days.

    According to HEC sources, the malfunction has resulted in the suspension of degree verification for hundreds of students, causing serious issues for those intending to pursue higher education abroad.

    Students have expressed frustration over their futile visits to the HEC office and lack of response. Despite submitting online applications, they have yet to receive the issued challans.

    In response, the HEC administration has indicated that the system’s malfunction originated in Islamabad. They have stated that once the system is repaired, students will receive their challans and appointment dates.

  • How a murderer stole Daniyal Raheal’s phone

    How a murderer stole Daniyal Raheal’s phone

    In an interview with The Current, Daniyal Raheal revealed that a director involved in a murder once stole his phone.
    The host asked, “And a murderer stole your phone? What’s the story behind that?”

    Daniyal replies, “The story is that one film director, who made a movie a long time ago, was later implicated in a murder case. He came to my house with two or four friends, and when he left, my phone was missing. He came to my house with a few of his friends. And when he left, my phone was missing. I tracked him down to the point where he asked me to tell him the phone’s serial number, and he’d help me locate it,” he added.


    Daniyal Raheal is the son of the renowned Simi Raheal. Both starred in Umro Ayyar: The Beginning.
    As an actor, Daniyal Raheal has appeared in films such as O21 and Motorcycle Girl. He has also starred in dramas like Momin Aur Dua and Serial Killer