The Pakistani government significantly increased its domestic borrowing in the fiscal year 2023-24, according to the latest data from the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP). This period saw the government borrowing Rs8.3 trillion from scheduled banks, a substantial rise from Rs3.6 trillion in FY23 and Rs3.3 trillion in FY22.
The Federal Government accounted for the bulk of this borrowing, taking Rs8.56 trillion, while the Provincial Government retired Rs261.27 billion. The two primary sources of budgetary support financing are the SBP and scheduled banks.
In FY24, the government repaid a net amount of Rs694.85 billion to the central bank, bringing the net borrowing figure to Rs7.49 trillion. Government sector borrowings are categorized into three main areas: budgetary support, commodity operations, and others.
For FY24, the net borrowing for budgetary support stood at Rs7.61 trillion. In contrast, there was a net retirement of Rs107.59 billion for commodity operations and Rs6.18 billion for other categories.
This notable increase in domestic debt highlights the government’s reliance on internal sources to manage its fiscal requirements amid challenging economic conditions.
Gory grottos with demons impaling sinners on stakes and people drowning in a pool of blood are not part of your average theme park experience.
But at Hell’s Museum in Singapore, the main attraction at the Haw Par Villa Park, visitors are welcomed to a kitschy, air-conditioned hell on Earth.
Inside the sprawling park complex, which features over 1,000 statues and dioramas showcasing Asian culture, faiths, and philosophy, Hell’s Museum exhibits various religious views on the afterlife.
Visitors are encouraged to learn about the 10 Courts of Hell through intense depictions of punishments for earthly sins.
At court number two, for instance, corruption gets you frozen in ice, while rapists at court Seven are thrown in boiling oil.
The 10 Courts of Hell are “the result of the mixing of four different religions and philosophies: Buddhism, Taoism, Hinduism, Confucianism”, said Eisen Teo, the chief curator of Hell’s Museum in the multicultural city-state.
“The sculptures and dioramas are a visual dissection of many classics, stories and moral values that many Singaporeans have and are familiar with,” Teo said.
Visitor Gin Goldberg told AFP she wasn’t so surprised to learn that many religions had differing opinions on the afterlife.
“One person’s heaven would be another person’s hell,” the American said.
Party in hell
The odd park stands apart from gleaming Singapore’s mainstream tourist attractions such as the luxury shops of Marina Bay Sands or the towering “supertrees” of Gardens by the Bay.
Haw Par Villa was built in 1937 by entrepreneur Aw Boon Haw, known for co-developing Asia’s much-loved Tiger Balm pain relief rub.
While fondly remembered by older generations, the park has had trouble attracting the Gen Z crowd and younger millenials, according to Journeys, the firm that manages the park.
To broaden appeal, it has held several rave parties and other private events — but not too near to religious exhibits.
“After they came here (for the parties) they fell in love with the quirky, eccentric park, with these cool sculptures. Fell in love with them and they keep doing repeat visits,” said Savita Kashyap, Journeys’ executive director.
While Haw Par Villa isn’t just about the afterlife, and raves — it also displays scenes from Chinese folklore such as “Romance of the Three Kingdoms” — its hellish attraction remains the top draw.
But not for all.
While leaving, one Filipina visitor told AFP that she won’t be returning anytime soon.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has unveiled a substantial relief package worth Rs50 billion aimed at domestic electricity consumers.
This initiative, set to benefit those using up to 200 units per month, will be in effect for the months of July, August, and September.
The announcement was made during a ceremony on energy sector reforms held in Islamabad this afternoon. According to the Information Ministry, the relief package is designed to assist 25 million domestic consumers, which constitutes 94 per cent of the total domestic user base.
Under the terms of the package, the cost of electricity per unit will range between Rs4 and Rs7. This subsidy will also extend to K-Electric consumers. The PM noted that the funding for this initiative will come from the development fund.
“This decision has been taken to provide relief to the common man in the wake of rising electricity prices,” PM Shehbaz stated
He acknowledged that the summer months are particularly challenging due to higher electricity consumption. However, he expressed optimism that from October onwards, as the weather cools, electricity usage will naturally decrease.
PM Shehbaz also reiterated his commitment to addressing the country’s economic challenges, emphasising that tackling corruption is essential for economic recovery. He assured the public that the coalition government is united in its efforts to overcome these difficulties.
Pakistani actor Saheefa Jabbar Khattak has always been open about her mental health struggles. In a recent Instagram post, she talked more about her ongoing battles and the emotional toll it has taken on her and her family, especially her father.
In her latest post, Khattak said, “No father deserves to see his daughter in pain. I wish for health for myself so that my father can stop worrying about me. I don’t want this hollowness to go away because I can’t handle it; now I want it to go away because my father can’t take it. Allah, you are both the Most Merciful and the Most Compassionate. Either make me so strong that I can bear this pain myself, or take it away forever. You know what’s best for me and what tests I should go through. I leave it in Your hands. Just make it easier for my family.”
This heartfelt message follows other posts where Khattak has shared her mental health journey, talking about the challenges and the stigma. Earlier, she said, “I don’t know about fulfillment anymore, but words matter. The right words, at the right time. I’m feeling this hollowness in my heart, exhausted by the pain and panic returning, the numbness, the fear.” She added, “I’m ashamed of this disease I have, why? Because it makes me feel shallow knowing my privileges and support system. It’s relentless, and I find myself asking Khawaja Saab, ‘Why am I like this?’ He always says the right thing: ‘You are the best the way you are. Some lows in life do not define you as a person.’”
Khattak has been honest about her use of prescribed antidepressants and the challenges of managing her mental health. “Being on prescribed antidepressants has given me mixed feelings. Initially, I felt numb—not happy or sad, just numb to every feeling, thought, and emotion. Slowly, I decided to lower the dosage to see if I have healed, but I felt an extreme shift. Previously the numbness I mentioned started to make me feel good. Now, I feel pain, fear, and anxiety coming back. I am a little scared too. But it’s alright; I’ll get through this one too.”
Following an invitation extended by the government and the local Bohra community, Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin, the spiritual leader of the Bohra community, arrived in Karachi on July 4 to host ‘Ashara Mubaraka’ congregations this year.
Over 80,000 Dawoodi Bohras from Pakistan and around the world are expected to attend the events. He delivered the first sermon of “Ashara Mubaraka” in Taheri Masjid, Saddar, on July 8.
A Dawn report states that Syedna addressed a majlis of “over 80,000 attendees” with Bohra members from diverse areas and professions gathered in Karachi for a single purpose — the remembrance and commemoration of the martyrdom of Imam Husain.
Syedna elaborated upon a number of hadith by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) which highlight the role of conviction and self-growth in the sermon.
For instance, he quoted the Prophet’s statement regarding the honeybee which “consumes only that which is pure, and gives back only that which is pure”.
Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin, 77, is currently serving as the 53rd al-Dai al-Mutlaq and present leader of the worldwide Dawoodi Bohra community. He is currently as a Vice Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University.
Bohra community trace themselves back to Fatimis who held the caliphate from 10th to 12th century.
Brad Pitt’s previously untitled Formula One film, co-produced by seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, will be called F1, it was announced on Friday at the British Grand Prix.
After months of speculation, the title was confirmed by Formula One, and is due for release next year.
Pitt, 60, was at Silverstone on Friday where he is filming scenes for the movie using an adapted Formula Two car that he drives on track between sessions involving other racing series.
The long-awaited movie was delayed by the United States actors’ and writers’ strike last year.
Hamilton has been involved in the script creation to ensure authenticity.
The film is being directed by Joseph Kosinski, who made Top Gun: Maverick.
BTS’s Jimin has once again captured hearts with a mesmerizing tribute to Bollywood legend Shah Rukh Khan. His latest viral video, edited to the iconic song of ‘Main Koi Aisa Geet Gaoon’ from the classic film ‘Yes Boss’, has left fans imagining him singing directly to them.
The video has garnered an impressive 175K likes and counting, with fans flooding the comments with praise and comparisons to Shah Rukh. The edited video shared by ‘jhunjhunastic’, has captured the imagination of many fans, with nearly all appreciating how Jimin’s charm mirrors that of the Bollywood superstar. ‘Yes Boss’, produced by Ratan Jain and directed by Aziz Mirza, is a 1997 Bollywood movie. Aditya Pancholi, Juhi Chawla, and Shah Rukh Khan play the main characters in the film.
Shah Rukh Khan’s upcoming films, including ‘King’, ‘Pathaan 2’, and ‘Tiger vs Pathaan’, are generating significant buzz in the industry. It’s exciting to see these two stars, from different corners of the entertainment world, creating waves and captivating audiences with their unique charm and talent.
The federal government on Tuesday announced two-day public holidays for Muharram 9 and 10.
“[…] the Prime Minister is pleased to declare 16th and 17th July, 2024 (Tuesday and Wednesday) as public holidays on the occasion of Ashura (9th & 10th Moharram 1446 AH),” a notification issued by the Cabinet Division stated.
The government also approved the deployment of the Pakistan Army across the country as a security measure during the Holy Month.
The interior ministry stated that the details of troop deployment, which will be enforced for an indefinite period, will be finalised with the authorities concerned, including the governments of Gilgit Baltistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Islamabad.
Punjab government has requested the federal government to suspend social media platforms for one week.
However, the federal government has not yet taken any decision to suspend internet services during Muharram and any decision in this regard will be taken with the consultation of provinces.
Chairman Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto Zardari addressed a press conference yesterday in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Governor House, criticising former Prime Minister Imran Khan for “whining so much” about his incarceration.
“Shouldn’t the law be the same for everyone in the country? Who was that person who used to say, ‘If NAB files a case against me, I’ll fight it myself,’” said Bilawal, referring to Imran Khan.
“When he’s [Khan] in power, he tries to catch everyone, but when you [Khan] yourself are caught [in legal cases], then you make so much of a hue and cry that we can hear your cries from the USA to Pakistan,” remarked the PPP Chairman.
Bhutto argued that there isn’t a politician in Pakistan, from Union Council members to prominent political party leaders, that haven’t faced legal cases but “Nobody has whined as much as your Qaidi 804.”
Actress Ushna Shah has come to the defense of Sharmin Segal, who faced criticism for her acting in the web series ‘Heeramandi’. Shah posted a tweet on X (formerly Twitter) writing, “Sharmin Segal underplayed Alamzeb but only slightly, which seems to be difficult to digest for an audience used to be a more dramatic style. The character would have been butchered had she over-played it, it would have become generic.”
“She mastered the Urdu dialect better than most Hindi speaking actors & the grain in her voice was spectacular,” Shah added. Looking at British actor Jason Shah’s performance, who played Alastair Cartwright in the series, Ushna wrote, “The real tragedy is Cartwright not having an English accent; he was playing a British coloniser! Forget Received Pronunciation, he didn’t even bother forging a modern Brit accent? Even the English speaking Nawaabs should have had a trans-Atlantic-ish speak, similar to Jinnah, Gandhi, Nehru etc.” She added the hashtags ‘Heeramandi’ and ‘Sharmin Segal’. Sharmin Segal is Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s niece.
The web series Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar, which co-stars Segal alongside Richa Chadha, Aditi Rao Hydari, Manisha Koirala, Sonakshi Sinha, and Sanjeeda Sheikh in major roles, as well as Farida Jalal, Fardeen Khan, Shekhar and Adhyayan Suman, and Taha Shah, is available on Netflix.
