Current Final

Blog

  • FFC Partners with Agrilift to Scale Agtech in Pakistan

    FFC Partners with Agrilift to Scale Agtech in Pakistan

    Fauji Fertilizer Company (FFC) “Partner in Prosperity,” has entered into a strategic partnership with Agrilift to scale their agricultural practices in Pakistan through the introduction of latest Agtech. This collaboration aims to modernize farming practices, thus enhancing national food security and sustainability in the agricultural sector.

    Through this alliance, FFC and Agrilift will introduce an innovative “Agtech” based Agri Services model, starting with 18,000 acres across Pakistan. Key components of this initiative include deployment of modern technology, comprehensive advisory services from soil assessment to fertilization, and farmer capacity building through various training programs.

    Mr. Jahangir Piracha, MD & CEO of FFC, emphasized the significance of this partnership, highlighting FFC’s dedication to supporting farmers and enhancing crop yields amid economic challenges. He stated, “By leveraging Agrilift’s innovative solutions and sustainable practices, FFC aims to empower farmers, ensuring food security and stability for future generations.”

    Speaking at the occasion, Mr. Jawwad Hasan, CEO and Co-Founder of Agrilift, emphasized that the implementation of advanced technologies will contribute to increased farmer incomes, and the promotion of sustainable growth nationwide. He said, “Our top priority is to uplift farmers by enhancing crop yields, a crucial step in mitigating the food insecurity crisis that has impacted 14% of the population in Pakistan, up from 2% in 2019.”

  • Punjab govt wants to suspend social media from Muharram 6 to 11

    Punjab govt wants to suspend social media from Muharram 6 to 11

    Update

    The federal government has rejected the Punjab government’s request to suspend social media platforms for six days during Muharram ul Haram, Geo News reported today.

    The Interior Ministry believes that security would be foolproof during the holy month, so there would be no need to shut down social media platforms across the province.

    “Security should be made more active and effective,” said the Interior Ministry, adding that mobile signals will be blocked in areas where processions and majlis will be held.

    Previously

    The Punjab government, in a matter of urgent security, has requested to suspend access to all social media platforms for a week during Muharram ul Haram, as reported by Geo News today.

    The federal government will decide on the province’s request: “Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi will present the issue before Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif today.”

    Shia Muslims hold processions across the globe, including in Pakistan, with thousands of policemen deployed to ensure security during the month.

    Geo News also reported that Mohsin Naqvi is not in favour of suspending social media; the decision will be made after a meeting with the Prime Minister.

    The Punjab Home Department sent a request to the Ministry of Interior to suspend all social media platforms from Muharram 6 to 11, aiming to avoid sectarian violence in the country.

  • Town Chairman Mirpur Mathilo suspended in Nasrullah Gadani murder case

    Town Chairman Mirpur Mathilo suspended in Nasrullah Gadani murder case

    Shahbaz Ahmed Khan Lund, accused in the murder of journalist Nasrullah Gadani, and the Municipal Chairman of Mirpur Mathelo, has been suspended.

    The Sindh government suspended him under the Sindh Local Government Ordinance, and the notification has been issued accordingly.

    Journalist Nasrullah Gadani was killed in an attack by armed men on May 25 in Mirpur Mathilo.

    A murder case against unknown persons has been registered at Mirpur Mathelo police station.

    Gadani sustained three gunshot wounds in a deadly attack last month. Initially, he was transferred to Rahim Yar Khan for treatment and later, on the instructions of Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, he was moved to a private hospital in Karachi. Gadani, however, passed away during treatment there.

  • PCB likely to terminate central contracts of 210 domestic cricketers

    PCB likely to terminate central contracts of 210 domestic cricketers

    The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is likely to terminate the central contracts of 210 domestic cricketers, Express has reported.

    The contract proposal comes from the cricketers playing in all three formats at the Champions Cup. Five teams will be included in the event; each team will have 30 top cricketers, and the same 150 players will get contracts. Last year, 360 cricketers were signed.

    Shahid Afridi, Younis Khan, Waqar Younis, Musbah-ul-Haq and other former cricketers will be mentors in the Champions Cup.

  • World Championship of Legends League: Pakistan defeats West Indies by 30 runs

    World Championship of Legends League: Pakistan defeats West Indies by 30 runs

    In the World Championship of Legends tournament, Pakistan champions defeated West Indies champions by 30 runs.

    In the match played in Birmingham, Pakistan decided to bat first and scored 194 runs for 8 wickets in the allotted 20 overs.

    Shoaib Malik scored 54 runs on behalf of Pakistan Champions, besides Sharjeel Khan scored 35 runs, Aamir Yameen scored 29 runs and Shahid Afridi scored 16 runs.

    Chasing 195 runs, the team of West Indies champions scored 165 runs for 9 wickets. Dwayne Smith scored 65 and Jonathan Carter scored 34 runs.

    On behalf of Pakistan Champions, Sohail Tanveer dismissed 4 players while Shahid Afridi took 3 wickets and Wahab Riaz took 2 wickets.

    It should be noted that this is Pakistan’s second consecutive victory in the tournament, previously the Green Shirts defeated Australia.

  • Pakistani actors to join the cast of Selahuddin Eyyubi Season 2

    Pakistani actors to join the cast of Selahuddin Eyyubi Season 2

    Pakistani actors are making a significant impact in the joint Pakistan-Turkey TV series ‘Selahaddin Eyyubi,’ which tells the heroic story of Sultan Selahuddin Eyyubi.The first season, shot in Turkey, aired there a few months ago and is now being broadcast on Hum TV with Urdu dubbing. Pakistani actor Noor Ul Hassan joined the series later, making a strong debut as Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jillani in season 1.

    On Instagram, Ahmed Ali Akbar posted a story of Selahaddin Eyyubi posters.
    Meanwhile, entertainment journalist Maliha Rehman spilled the beans that the talented Durefishan Saleem has also joined the cast.

  • Govt approves Rs5.72 hike in basic power tariff to offset sector losses

    Govt approves Rs5.72 hike in basic power tariff to offset sector losses

    The federal cabinet has approved a significant increase of Rs5.72 per unit in the basic power tariff through a circular decision. This decision, finalised via a circulation summary, aims to address financial challenges within Pakistan’s power sector.

    Sources familiar with the matter confirmed that the proposal will now be forwarded to the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) for uniform implementation across the board.

    According to official sources, the Power Division will formally submit an application to NEPRA to initiate the process of implementing the revised tariff structure.

    This adjustment, slated for the fiscal year 2024-2025, is scheduled to come into effect starting July 1, 2024. The approved increase will raise the average basic electricity tariff from Rs29.78 to Rs35.50 per unit.

    A recent report from NEPRA revealed that Pakistan’s power sector incurred a staggering Rs403 billion loss during the fiscal year 2022-2023.

    The report, which assessed the performance of power distribution companies, including K-Electric, highlighted that nine out of these companies failed to achieve full recovery targets. It attributed the financial strain partly to inefficiencies such as line losses and inadequate revenue collection.

    Furthermore, the report underscored that these companies did not fulfill their electricity procurement obligations as per assigned quotas, leading to deliberate load shedding practices. This situation has exacerbated financial losses, amounting to billions in national revenue.

  • Gifts given to wife at time of marriage or before separation cannot be revoked

    Gifts given to wife at time of marriage or before separation cannot be revoked

    The Sindh High Court has ruled that gifts given by a husband to his wife at the time of marriage or before separation cannot be rescinded.

    The Sindh High Court conducted a hearing on a petition about the return of gifts given to the wife either at the time of marriage or before separation.

    The court dismissed Arshad Jameel’s plea against the trial court’s decision and issued a detailed judgement on the appeal.

    According to the court’s decision, gifts given to the wife at the time of marriage or before separation cannot be reclaimed; gifts given during the marriage become the personal property of the wife.

  • Punjab Ombudsman buys expensive phones worth Rs. 76 lacs, govt denies any involvement

    Punjab Ombudsman buys expensive phones worth Rs. 76 lacs, govt denies any involvement

    An official notification of a “sale tax invoice” from the Punjab Ombudsman placing an order of five Samsung Galaxy S24 and seven iPhone Pro Max worth Rs. 76 lacs created a stir on social media. Netizens criticised the government for wasting money, but the government claimed otherwise.

    A number of X (formerly Twitter) users criticised the government for spending extravagantly on such accessories. Journalist and academic Ali Moeen Nwazish posted on X: “This is exactly why people don’t pay tax in Pakistan. If you want people to pay tax, show that it is being spent on people like their healthcare and education, and not on land cruisers, iPhones, servants, luxuries and plots for the elite bureaucrats, judges and military officers.”

    Another user named Osama Yawar shared the notification with the caption, “Is this how taxpayers money is being wasted by officials who can’t even write an email?”

    To put more fuel to the fire, a citizen named Sohaib Qureshi, claiming to be an expert on E-Commerce, shared that the company The Laptop Store, with which the Ombudsman has placed an order, is allegedly non-filer. To prove his claim, Sohaib attached a screenshot from the FBR website where the company has no record of tax to its name. “More than one million is a sales tax but this laptop store is non compliant in sales tax,” Sohaib wrote.

    Punjab’s Information Minister Azma Bukhari told The Current that Punjab’s Ombudsman is an autonomous body and does not come under Punjab government, “It’s from an autonomous body, not by Punjab government,” she said.

    However, the Punjab Ombudsman was reluctant to respond to our request for confirmation of the viral notification. Even after multiple calls, there was no explicit answer, but an inside source revealed that this is a normal process and it seems authentic as it has the signature of the accounts officer of Punjab’s Ombudsman. The same source elaborated that the Punjab Ombudsman has its own budget and works independently. The phones are not for personal use but for official use only.


    An account titled Jmhoori Martial Law asked people to explain the difference between Iphone 15 pro max with 512 GB and Samsaung Galaxy with the same storage. “Other Pakistani brands available in Pakistan, do they have better capability to record videos?” the handle asked.

    The Ombudsman office is empowered to entertain complaints against any department commission or office of the Provincial Government or a statutory corporation or other institution established or controlled by the Provincial Government but does not include the High Court and the Courts working under the supervision of High Court and Provincial Assembly and its Secretariat, explains the official website as its primary function.

  • Respect my father’s memory: Momina Iqbal’s appeal to fans

    Respect my father’s memory: Momina Iqbal’s appeal to fans

    Momina Iqbal has asked her fans to stop sharing edited videos and pictures of her late father on social media. After her father’s passing, Momina took to Instagram to write about being upset about the edited posts.


    “Please do not edit and share any videos of my father on social media, nor tag me in such videos. This time is very difficult for me,” Momina said in her Instagram story. She explained that sharing these videos is disrespectful and very hurtful while she is grieving.


    She also said, “If you cannot do anything else, please pray for my father. I can’t even imagine that he is not in this world anymore.” Momina shared how deeply sad she is and how hard it is to believe her father is gone. She said she still feels like her father is with her all the time


    “My father can never leave me because he is with me at every moment. I can feel him, so please do not tell me where my father is,” she said, showing how connected she still feels to her late father.


    Momina’s father passed away last month.