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  • Jirga booked after man subjected to outlawed tribal punishment over ‘solar panel theft’

    Jirga booked after man subjected to outlawed tribal punishment over ‘solar panel theft’

    The Border Military Police (BMP) in Phogla Tuman Buzdar, a tribal area of Taunsa Sharif, has filed a case against the entire local jirga after it delivered a ruling that led to the torture and burning of a resident.

    As per the details, a man named Gul Sher was forced to undergo an outlawed tribal practice known as “Aas [fire] Aaf [water]” after he was accused of stealing solar panels.

    The ruling required him to lift a heated iron rod with his bare hands, leaving him with severe burn injuries.

    Despite the severeness of the punishment, the jirga also forced him to pay a Rs200,000 fine and expelled him from the area.

    According to reports, when Gul Sher and his family attempted to protest the ruling, members of the jirga forced them to remain silent.

    When videos of the incident circulated on social media, the BMP intervened and filed a case against those involved. 

    BMP Commandant Ameer Taimoor and Political Assistant for the Koh Sulaiman tribal zone said that raids were currently ongoing to arrest all jirga participants.

    The BMP official emphasised the administration’s stance on severe enforcement, noting that there would be “zero tolerance for human rights violators and illegal tribal verdicts”.

    He also said that strict action would be taken against the culprits.

  • How old is your music taste? Spotify has the answer

    How old is your music taste? Spotify has the answer

    Spotify Wrapped 2025 has been launched with a new feature known as “Listening Age” to the year’s recap on the platform. This feature calculates a user’s age based on their musical tastes, leading to various reactions online. 

    Numerous listeners took to social media to share their outcomes, frequently pointing out the discrepancies in the assigned age.

    Spotify Wrapped is an annual feature that examines user data to deliver insights into listening behaviors. The platform showcases statistics like the most-streamed songs, albums, and podcasts. 

    The 2025 edition introduces extra components, such as a quiz and the new Listening Age measure. Other streaming services have adopted similar features, with YouTube unveiling “Recap” and Apple launching “Replay.”

    The Listening Age feature is rooted in a psychological idea known as the “reminiscence bump,” which indicates that adults tend to have stronger connections to music from their youth, roughly between the ages of 16 and 21. Spotify determines Listening Age by analyzing the release years of the songs users listened to the most during 2025. It identifies a five-year range of music that users engaged with more than average for their age group and estimates an age based on that timeframe.

    For instance, a person who predominantly streams music from the early 2000s might be given a Listening Age in their early 40s. Likewise, an individual who enjoys older music from the 1960s may be assigned a Listening Age between 70 and 80.


    Spotify highlights that the calculated age does not necessarily align with a user’s true age, as the estimation is based on listening habits rather than birth year.

    To access the Listening Age feature, users need the latest version of the Spotify app on either iOS or Android. The feature can be found by searching for Spotify Wrapped and scrolling to the slide that reads “Age is just a number. So don’t take this personally.” The platform encourages users to check and share their Listening Age, with the ability to revisit the summary section for the information if it was initially overlooked.

    This new feature has initiated conversations online, with users showcasing results that differ greatly from their actual ages. Some listeners reported unexpectedly high or low ages, reflecting the variety in musical tastes. 

    Spotify Wrapped 2025 continues to highlight a mix of data insights and shareable content, upholding the platform’s yearly tradition of revealing listening patterns in an engaging public format.

  • Govt eyes minimum 100mbps broadband speed for all users across Pakistan

    Govt eyes minimum 100mbps broadband speed for all users across Pakistan

    As part of a nationwide overhaul of the country’s digital infrastructure, the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT) has announced plans to ensure a minimum fixed broadband speed of 100mbps for all users across Pakistan.

    To achieve this target, MoITT will hire a consulting firm to develop Pakistan’s first National Fiberization Policy and Plan. The initiative is being launched under the World Bank supported Digital Economy Enhancement Project (DEEP) to expand fiber infrastructure, improve high-speed connectivity and advance the government’s broader digital transformation agenda.

    The new policy aims to expand fixed broadband coverage by deploying 8 to 10 million optical fiber-based house passes across the country. It also seeks to improve mobile network capacity and reliability by connecting 80 percent of telecom towers to fiber. These steps are considered vital for strengthening 4G networks and preparing Pakistan for future 5G rollout.

    The government hopes the effort will help Pakistan climb into the top 50 countries in Ookla’s global speed rankings.

    The consultant will conduct a national gap assessment that includes mapping the current fiber network, analysing service availability and identifying gaps in quality of service, coverage, latency, penetration and operator incentives.

    Pakistan’s fiber development will be benchmarked against the Fiber Development Index (FDI) and other international indicators to align with global best practices.

    Following the assessment, the consultancy will prepare a detailed National Fiberization Strategy and Operational Plan. This will outline investment options, financing models and governance structures to guide participation from both public and private sectors.

    Bankable feasibility studies will be developed to attract local and international investors through public private partnership models. The strategy will also highlight priority areas for new fiber deployment and recommend measures to strengthen network resilience against disasters and cyber threats.

  • Spotify Wrapped 2025: Talha Anjum retains crown as top Pakistani artist

    Spotify Wrapped 2025: Talha Anjum retains crown as top Pakistani artist

    Singer and rapper Talha Anjum has retained the top slot among Pakistani artists for the second year in a row as Spotify Wrapped 2025 reveals musicians, songs and albums that dominated the music streaming app this year.

    Spotify reported a 70 percent rise in music consumption in Pakistan in 2025, showing that the local music scene is growing faster than ever.

    Anjum’s tracks, along with his collaborations with Umair, dominated the charts, especially in hip-hop, which grew by 35 percent in Pakistan in 2025.

    His albums My Terrible Mind and Open Letter, created with Umair, featured among the top Pakistani albums of the year. He also appeared in the Top 5 songs list alongside Umair, Hasan Raheem and other rising stars, proving his consistent impact on listeners.

    While hip-hop leads the momentum, long-time favourites like Atif Aslam and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan continue to resonate, showing that Pakistani audiences enjoy both new hits and timeless music.

    Spotify Wrapped 2025 also introduced new features like Wrapped Party, Listening Archive and Listening Age, letting listeners explore their personal music habits in a fun and interactive way.

  • Man arrested in Delaware on weapons charge is Afghan, not Pakistani: Foreign Office

    Man arrested in Delaware on weapons charge is Afghan, not Pakistani: Foreign Office

    The Foreign Office (FO) has clarified that the man detained in the United States (US) on weapons and attack-related charges last week is an Afghan national and not of Pakistani descent.

    FO spokesperson Tahir Andrabi released the statement after numerous international reports referred to the suspect as a Pakistani.

    “He is neither a Pakistani national nor of Pakistani origin. He is an Afghan who lived a few years as a refugee in Pakistan before moving to the US, where he has spent the majority of his life,” the spokesperson said.

    Earlier, reports from various foreign, particularly Indian, media outlets had said the suspect, Luqman Khan, was a US citizen born in Pakistan. 

    While a report released by The Associated Press on Thursday did not identify Khan as having Pakistani roots, it revealed that the suspect was a student at the University of Delaware.

    A press release from the US Department of Justice issued on December 1 detailed the charges against Khan but did not specify his nationality. 

    The release noted that Khan, a Wilmington resident in Delaware, was stopped during a traffic check on November 24, where he allegedly did not comply and was subsequently arrested.

    According to the Department of Justice, officers discovered a .357 caliber Glock handgun loaded with 27 rounds in his vehicle. They also found a handwritten notebook that contained discussions about “additional weapons and firearms, how they could be utilised in an attack and methods to evade law enforcement detection following an attack”. 

    The notebook listed a member of the University of Delaware Police Department’s name and included a layout of a building labeled with entry and exit points under the title “UD Police Station”.

    Subsequently, law enforcement officers searched Khan’s home. According to the Department of Justice, they seized a Glock 19 9mm handgun equipped with an illegal machine-gun conversion device, known as a “switch”. 

    Additionally, they recovered a .556 rifle with a scope and red-dot sight, eleven extended magazines, hollow-point ammunition and a tactical vest with ballistic plates.

    The press release stated that Khan was charged on November 26 with illegal possession of a machine gun. 

    It noted that this charge could result in a maximum prison sentence of 10 years and sentencing will be determined by a federal judge according to US Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.

  • Pakistani drug dealer evades deportation from UK for being a good student

    Pakistani drug dealer evades deportation from UK for being a good student

    A Pakistani national convicted of drug dealing in the United Kingdom (UK) has avoided deportation after an immigration tribunal ruled that his removal would harm his mental health and disrupt his treatment, noting that he had once been a “star pupil” at school.

    The immigration tribunal decided that Muhammad Izhan, who received a 30-month prison sentence for participating in a “sophisticated” class A and B drug operation could stay in the UK.

    Judges accepted claims that returning him to Pakistan would “have a negative impact on his mental health” and increase his chances of turning to drugs.

    According to the court, Izhan became involved in the drug network due to his “inability to properly regulate his ADHD”.

    He also faced peer pressure that contributed to his offending.

    Upper Tribunal Judge Luke Bulpitt dismissed the Home Office’s attempt to deport him, noting various mental health diagnoses and the fact that he had been a “star pupil” throughout his schooling.

    The tribunal heard that Izhan arrived in the UK in 2010 at the age of seven, joining his father in East Anglia with his mother and brothers, but his father’s extended family stayed in Pakistan.

    He is now 22 and pleaded guilty to participating in a drug-dealing scheme between 2022 and 2023. His record also contained previous warnings for theft and bringing a bladed weapon to school, which resulted in his suspension in 2015.

    Despite the disciplinary issues, First-Tier Tribunal Judge Samina Iqbal previously concluded that Izhan had been “fully immersed in his school life”, noting that he attended both primary and secondary school in the same city, played rugby for the school team and was considered a “star pupil”. 

    After his suspension, he was referred to a general practitioner for ADHD support.

    Consultant psychiatrist Dr Arvin Gupta testified that while Izhan likely had ADHD, he also suffered from a “mental and behavioral disorder due to the use of cannabis”.

    Judge Bulpitt also stated that Izhan would struggle to reintegrate with relatives in Pakistan who were unaware of his “ADHD or criminality”.

    The Home Office issued a deportation order after his conviction in March 2024, but Judge Iqbal upheld her appeal. The Home Office then sought to overturn her decision, however, Judge Bulpitt supported it, stating that deportation would “have a negative impact on his mental health”.

    “There is a high likelihood of significant deterioration in his mental health and engagement in drug-related behaviour that will further have a negative impact on his mental health,” he said.

    The tribunal noted that Izhan had represented his school in rugby, received sporting prizes and had been recommended for recognition by his form tutor. 

    Despite being disruptive, punished and eventually expelled, the judge determined that his ADHD, PTSD, and vulnerability meant he would face “very significant obstacles to integration” if deported to Pakistan.

  • ‘She lost charm over time’: Natasha Baig criticises Nadia Khan’s behaviour

    ‘She lost charm over time’: Natasha Baig criticises Nadia Khan’s behaviour

    Singer Natasha Baig has called TV host, drama critic and actor Nadia Khan out, saying that while she “was once beautiful and graceful”, she has “not been able to maintain her charm and dignity over time”.

    Responding to a fan’s question about Khan’s behaviour, Baig, in a video on TikTok, said she knew Khan because of her mother.

    “I have always seen my mother praise her,” she said. 

    “In the early days of her career, she was a very good actress, host and model, and she was very beautiful.”

    However, she said the host was now among the stars “who could not maintain their peak gracefully and lost their popularity over time”.

    “Her charm has also decreased. I like her, but her current phase is not good.”

    “I pray that all stars can maintain their peak with dignity,” the singer added.

    The video sparked widespread reactions from fans, many of whom agreed with her and criticised Khan’s behaviour. 

    “You have given words to our thoughts and feelings,” wrote one.

    Another commented, “She is so right.” A third added, “Agree .”

    It may be noted that other showbiz personalities have also criticised Nadia Khan in recent months. 

    Actor and director Yasir Hussain publicly slammed Khan’s drama-review style on her show ‘Kya Drama Hai’, mocking her work and contrasting it with his own. 

    Saba Faisal also called her out for unfairly criticising fellow actors’ performances.

    Director Haseeb Hasan also responded critically when Khan mocked one of his drama ‘Janet Se Aaye’.

  • Jinnah’s great-great- grandaughter attends Paris debutante event

    Jinnah’s great-great- grandaughter attends Paris debutante event

    One of the most famous debutante events in Paris was attended by a young woman bearing a name steeped in South Asian history.

     Ella Wadia, the great-great-granddaughter of Pakistan’s founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah, took part in this year’s Le Bal des Débutantes, joining a select group of women from distinguished families worldwide.

    Le Bal is held each year at the Shangri-La Paris hotel, which once served as the home of Prince Roland Bonaparte. Each year, only 20 participants under 21 are invited, making it one of the most exclusive social gatherings of its type. 

    Ella’s involvement captured attention as her lineage connecting her to Jinnah through his daughter Dina Wadia, who married Neville Wadia from the Parsi Wadia family, came up. Their son, Nusli Wadia, eventually became the chairman of the Wadia Group. Nusli’s son Jehangir Wadia is Ella’s father, while her mother, Celina Wadia, is a fashion designer.

    Ella donned a strapless dress created in partnership with Elie Saab. She was among debutantes from various parts of the world, including Carolina Lansing, Isabelle d’Orleans, Lady Araminta Spencer-Churchill, Jillian Chan, Eulalia de Orleans-Borbón, Almudena Dailly de Orleans, Ruby Kemper, Alice Wang, Eugenia of Hohenzollern, Bronwyn Vance, and Eliza Lindroth. 

    The event’s dress code permitted any colour aside from black or white, with each participant collaborating with a couture house to craft a bespoke gown for the event.

    The origins of the event date back to 1958, when it was known as the Crillon Ball. It has served as a meeting place for young women from prominent families, including those connected to entertainment, business, and public roles. 

    Previous editions have featured participants such as Margaret Qualley, Lily Collins, Lori Harvey, Ava Phillippe, and Scout and Tallulah Willis.

    Le Bal is coordinated by event planner Ophélie Renouard, who manages the selection process. In an interview with ELLE regarding the criteria for selection, she remarked, “It’s like casting a play,” highlighting that the decision involves assessing each individual’s fashion sense, uniqueness, and academic achievements. 

    Renouard has emphasized that the event is not based on marital customs traditionally associated with debutante balls. Rather, she frames it as an event focused on the participants and their experiences.

    Ella participated in the event with her contemporaries at the 2025 edition, continuing a family legacy that has traversed Karachi, Bombay, and now Paris over several generations.

  • Pakistan’s external debt-to-GDP falls to 26 percent as remittances hit record high: SBP

    Pakistan’s external debt-to-GDP falls to 26 percent as remittances hit record high: SBP

    The Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan, Jameel Ahmad, stated on Wednesday that the external debt-to-GDP ratio of the country has decreased to 26 percent in fiscal year 2025 (FY25), a reduction from 31 percent a few years prior. He credited the positive change to a lower reliance on foreign loans due to a substantial increase in remittances from overseas workers.

    Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the SBP’s celebration of “Pakistan Women Entrepreneurship Day 2025,” Ahmad noted that Pakistan’s total external debt “has stayed unchanged for the past three years at the June 2022 level,” contrary to the perception that it had increased. He added that all foreign financing obtained between FY22 and FY25 was used entirely to service old external debt rather than to build foreign exchange reserves.


    He noted that between FY15 and FY22, external financing grew by an average of $6.4 billion each year. At the same time, the domestic economy expanded to $407.10 billion in FY25, an increase from $375 billion in FY22.

    Ahmad mentioned that the rise in workers’ remittances over the last three years significantly contributed to reducing the country’s dependence on external borrowing. Remittances reached a record $38.3 billion in FY25, up from $30.3 billion in FY24, marking a 27 percent increase compared to the previous year. He also anticipated that remittances would surpass the $40 billion threshold in the ongoing fiscal year of 2025–26.

    In response to a question, the SBP chief confirmed that Pakistan’s imports had risen, totaling $5.2 billion in November 2025. However, he dismissed worries that the current account deficit would go beyond the estimated one percent of GDP. He noted that between FY15 and FY22, external financing grew by an average of $6.4 billion each year. At the same time, the domestic economy expanded to $407.10 billion in FY25, an increase from $375 billion in FY22.

    Ahmad mentioned that the rise in workers’ remittances over the last three years significantly contributed to reducing the country’s dependence on external borrowing. Remittances reached a record $38.3 billion in FY25, up from $30.3 billion in FY24, marking a 27 percent increase compared to the previous year. He also anticipated that remittances would surpass the $40 billion threshold in the ongoing fiscal year of 2025–26.

    In response to a question, the SBP chief confirmed that Pakistan’s imports had risen, totaling $5.2 billion in November 2025. However, he dismissed worries that the current account deficit would go beyond the estimated one percent of GDP. “The current account deficit will stay within the July 2025 forecast of 0–1 percent of GDP,” he stated.

    He additionally pointed out that bank lending to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) had grown by Rs150 billion in the past year, reaching Rs700 billion. He remarked that this increase was stronger than expected. Pakistan previously aimed to double SME financing to Rs1.1 trillion over five years, compared to Rs550 billion the previous year.

    He additionally pointed out that bank lending to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) had grown by Rs150 billion in the past year, reaching Rs700 billion. He remarked that this increase was stronger than expected. Pakistan previously aimed to double SME financing to Rs1.1 trillion over five years, compared to Rs550 billion the previous year.

  • I don’t want to be Messi: Lamine Yamal

    I don’t want to be Messi: Lamine Yamal

    Barcelona star Lamine Yamal has dismissed comparisons with Lionel Messi, saying he wants to create his own identity, adding that that the Argentinian legend understands his feelings. 

    Speaking to a news outlet, Yamal addressed the comparisons with Messi. “I respect him for what he has been and what he is for football,” Yamal said.

    “If we meet one day on a football field, there will be that mutual respect. For me he is the best in history.”

    He stressed that “We both also know that I don’t want to be Messi and Messi knows that I don’t want to be him, I want to follow my own path. I have no intention of playing like him, or wearing the number 10 that Messi wore, or anything like that.”

    Yamal admitted that Messi influenced his development as a young player, especially through his passing. 

    “When I was little, I never dribbled much, I ran a lot but above all I always had a very good vision of the game. I looked a lot at Messi because he gave different passes, goal passes and that’s what I looked at. Also in passes with the outside, that I’ve seen a lot to Modric. They are things that I liked a lot and that seemed more interesting than a dribble.”

    While explaining his style, Yamal said he plays football to entertain. 

    “Fun, that’s the word. In the end I play for people to have fun. I’m an athlete who entertains and whose goal is not to break all the records in the world, to score a million goals, to make a million dribbles. I want to enjoy myself and for kids to want to be like me. Obviously, if I score a lot of goals, that’s even better, but I think football goes beyond that.”

    Yamal’s rise has been meteoric. He has won two league titles with FC Barcelona and a European Championship with Spain’s national football team. 

    He finished as runner-up in the 2025 Ballon d’Or just months ago.

    Meanwhile, former Barcelona great Messi won 35 trophies during his legendary spell at the club.