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  • School timings in Ramazan

    School timings in Ramazan

    As the holy month of Ramazan begins, educational institutions across Pakistan have adjusted their schedules to accommodate fasting. Here’s a roundup of the revised timings issued by various provincial education departments:

    Sindh:

    In Sindh, schools operating in the morning shift will open from 7:30 am to 11:30 am, with the afternoon shift running from 11:45 am to 2:45 pm. On Fridays, the morning shift will end at 10:30 am and 1:15 pm, respectively. Colleges will have morning shift classes from 8:30 am to 12 pm, and evening shift classes from 2:30 pm to 5 pm.

    Punjab:

    The Punjab School Education Department announced that single-shift schools will operate from 8:30 am to 1 pm, except on Fridays when they will close at 12:30 pm. Second-shift schools will run from 1 pm to 4 pm throughout the week. Primary schools will start at 7:30 am and end at 11:10 am (10:05 am on Fridays), while middle, secondary, and higher secondary schools will run from 7:30 am to 12:15 pm (10:25 am on Fridays).

    KP:

    The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Education Department announced that primary schools in the province will start classes at 7:30 am and finish at 11:10 am, except on Fridays when they will end at 10:05 am. For middle, secondary, and higher secondary schools, the timings during Ramazan will be from 7:30 am to 12:15 pm, with a conclusion at 10:25 am on Fridays.

    Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT):

    In Islamabad, educational institutions regulated by PEIRA will open at 8:30 am and close at 1 pm from Monday to Thursday. On Fridays, they will close at 12:30 pm. Meanwhile, the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) announced similar timings for single-shift institutions, with a slight variation for double-shift institutions where the morning shift ends at 12:30 pm and the evening shift starts at 1 pm (1:30 pm on Fridays).

  • Amar Khan’s father opposes her career in the media industry

    Amar Khan’s father opposes her career in the media industry

    Pakistani parents are very fond of telling their children what to do and which career to select. Even famous celebrities are not immune to parental disapproval.

    In a recent podcast with Frieha Altaf, Pakistani television and film actress Amar Khan discussed her parents’ divorce and her difficult relationship with her father.
    Amar Khan is the daughter of veteran PTV actor Fareeha Jabeen.


    Sharing her experience, Amar Khan expressed, “My father is not currently supportive. In the past, during some vacations, I met him. However, he wasn’t pleased when he learned about my entry into the media industry. Our relationship was quite formal. When I was about to enter the media industry, he sent me an email expressing his concerns. He wrote, ‘You are entering your mother’s profession, and I don’t want you to inadvertently bring shame to the family. I am not okay with it.’ In response, I assured him, ‘I will not bring shame to my mother or your family.’ Since then, we haven’t communicated. Despite my mother’s efforts to reconcile, I find it challenging to develop affection for him.”
    Amar Khan also discussed her parents’ divorce, stating, “I am the only child from my mother’s side. My parents separated; I didn’t spend much time with my father, so I am a single child, brought up in Lahore in a Punjabi family.”

  • Nimra Mehra opens up about her parents’ tragic passing

    Nimra Mehra opens up about her parents’ tragic passing

    Nimra Mehra, a rising star in the Pakistani music scene, has captured hearts with her hit song ‘Tu Subha Di Pak Hawa Warga.’ Despite her growing success, Nimra carries the weight of a profound loss – the tragic passing of her parents.
    In a recent appearance on Neo News’ Zabaradast, hosted by Wasi Shah, Nimra bravely opened up about the emotional turmoil she has endured since her parents’ demise.


    Speaking about her mother’s passing, Nimra shared, “I had just started working in the industry when my mother got cancer. I felt helpless. We struggled to pay for her treatment. In Pakistan, they say treatment is free, but we faced hefty bills for medicines and treatments. With only my father earning, it was tough. We had to manage despite having no money,” an emotional Nimra said.

    On another occasion, Nimra talked about her father’s passing. She shared, “My father died of a heart attack. At the time, I was sick with a fever. I got a call about his condition but couldn’t reach the hospital in time because of traffic during a cricket match of PSL. I urge the government to reconsider these traffic rules. Last year, I was stuck on Jail Road due to heavy security for players. Please prioritize people’s lives over protocols. I was stuck in traffic when my father passed away.” As Nimra recounted the painful memory, tears streamed down her face once again.


    Watch the video:

  • Which federal portfolio are the ministers getting?

    Which federal portfolio are the ministers getting?

    The portfolios of the newly appointed federal cabinet were announced on Monday as four-time finance minister Ishaq Dar became foreign minister this time. Banker Muhammad Aurangzeb, one of the highest paid heads of a financial institute in the country, took charge as finance minister.

    The notification was issued after 19 members of the cabinet were sworn in on Monday. There are some new faces included in the newly formed cabinet.

    Ex-caretaker chief minister of Punjab, Mohsin Naqvi, who is also being tipped to be elected as a member of the upper house of Parliament, has been appointed the interior minister, while Ahad Khan Cheema who had also served during the interim setup was allotted the portfolio of Economic Affairs with the additional portfolio of Establishment Division.

    Khawja Asif has been allotted the defence ministry, and he will also see to matters of defence production and aviation. Ahsan Iqbal will keep control of the ministry for planning, development, and special initiatives.

    On Monday, State Minister Shaza Fatima Khwaja didn’t receive a specific job, but on Tuesday morning, Prime Minister Shehbaz gave her the Ministry of Information Technology.

  • Sanam Saeed used to get irritated by her name popping up in every song

    Sanam Saeed used to get irritated by her name popping up in every song

    Actress, model, and singer Sanam Saeed has revealed that there was a time in which she did not like her unique name.

    The actress recently appeared as a guest on a talk show hosted by her husband Mohib Mirza.
    Mohib Mirza asked her with the name Sanam- beloved in Urdu- what difficulties did she face.


    Sanam Saeed said, “My name used to come up in almost every Indian song, everyone used to sing using my name, and I didn’t like it.”
    Mohib laughingly said, “Your name ‘Mere Sanam’ is written on rickshaws.”
    Upon this, the actress also laughed, saying that her name was used everywhere, even on rickshaws, so at first, she didn’t like her name, but now she has started liking it.

  • Shaheen Afridi’s captaincy is in danger before the T20 World Cup

    Shaheen Afridi’s captaincy is in danger before the T20 World Cup

    Shaheen Afridi is in danger of losing the captaincy of the Pakistan team ahead of the T20 World Cup this year.

    His team Lahore Qalandars performed poorly in Pakistan Super League (PSL) season nine, finishing at the bottom of the points table under Shaheen’s captaincy. According to an Urdupoint report, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi has been advised to change the captain.

    According to the report, “Some believe that the 23-year-old Shaheen is too young for the role and needs more maturity. On the other hand, some board members believe that the decision to change the leadership closer to the World Cup will not be wise as it could negatively affect the performance of the team.”

    If Shaheen is removed, there is a strong possibility that Muhammad Rizwan will be appointed on the role. However, former captain Babar Azam is also among the contenders.

    Babar Azam’s Peshawar Zalmi are currently on top of the points table in PSL 9. Meanwhile, Rizwan’s Multan Sultans is at the second position. Fast bowler Shaheen replaced Babar Azam as the T20 captain in November last year.

  • Famous faces visit sunday markets for Ramzan shopping

    Famous faces visit sunday markets for Ramzan shopping

    All that glitters is not gold. It may look very glamorous to be a well-known celebrity but fame comes with the loss of privacy, and stars everywhere have to pay that price.
    Hence, we saw Mahira Khan wearing a veil and enjoying a ride on Rickshaw in Bahawalpur with her team.

    Mahira’s secret trip came to light because of her makeup artist’s reels on Instagram but this is not the first and only time a celebrity has taken this route. While male actors mask up, the females try out a veil. Recent vlogs of senior actresses Bushra Ansari and Shagufta Ejaz of going to Sunday bazar for shopping show that nothing works better than a buqra for going incognito.

    Sunday Bazaars are the best hotspots for budget-friendly shopping in Pakistan, offering everything from groceries to gadgets. It’s not just the locals who flock there; even Pakistani celebrities love exploring these bustling markets. Recently, some familiar faces were spotted on Sunday market escapades, sharing their adventures via vlogs for fans to enjoy.


    Meet the Stars:


    Shagufta Ejaz: Renowned TV actress Shagufta Ejaz took fans on a tour of her Sunday Bazaar for Ramzan shopping. Ejaz donned a veil as well, stating, “If I will not cover my face, then it will become difficult to shop in Sunday Bazaar because fans will start meeting up.” She also showed the thrift side of the Bazaar where branded bags and other things were available.
    Watch her vlog :

    Bushra Ansari: The versatile Bushra Ansari, known for her roles in TV and film, also joined the Sunday market fun for Ramzan grocery . Covered up in an abaya and mask, she explored the market’s offerings, snagging kitchen gadgets and fresh fruits. Get a glimpse of her adventure:

  • Famous Palestinian footballer Muhammad Barkat martyred in Israeli attack

    Famous Palestinian footballer Muhammad Barkat martyred in Israeli attack

    Famous Palestinian footballer Muhammad Barkat has been martyred in the Israeli bombing of Gaza.

    According to Al Jazeera, Barkat was martyred in Israeli bombing on his house in Khan Yunis during the ongoing genocide in Gaza.

    Barkat represented the Palestine National Team and had also played matches for the local club. Called the legend of Khan Younis with 114 goals in his career, Barkat was also the captain of Khan Younis Youth Club.

  • Shebaz Sharif wants uninterrupted gas, power supply during Ramazan

    Shebaz Sharif wants uninterrupted gas, power supply during Ramazan

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed authorities on Monday to ensure uninterrupted gas and power supply, aiming to help people during the holy month of Ramazan.

    In a high level meeting on the petroleum sector, the premier instructed officials to give all possible support to private sector, local, and foreign investors in exploring and refining gas and oil, as well as distributing these natural resources.

    Addressing the participants, Shehbaz said that the government is not meant to do businesses, rather its responsibility is to extend all kinds of facilities to the private sector and ensure protection of the rights of consumers, especially the vulnerable segments of society.

    The chief executive asked for steps to promote global investment in exploration of tight gas and undersea oil and gas reserves, regretting that Pakistan’s maritime area was huge in size when compared with Balochistan province, but no steps were taken to explore its hidden natural resources.

  • Kate and William spotted leaving Windsor Castle after apologising for photo manipulation

    Kate and William spotted leaving Windsor Castle after apologising for photo manipulation

    Hours after Kate Middleton apologized for “any confusion” caused by an edited family picture, she was photographed leaving Windsor Castle alongside husband Prince William on March 11.


    The photos, published by the Daily Mail, showed the couple sitting next to each other in the backseat of a car as Kate—who is reportedly recovering from abdominal surgery—looked out of her window. The prince was heading to the Commonwealth Day services while his wife, Kate, the princess of Wales, was heading to a ‘private’ appointment, the publication said.

    Earlier, Kate issued an apology over an altered official photo that saw news agencies, including AP and AFP pull the image from their systems.

    “Like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing. I wanted to express my apologies for any confusion the family photograph we shared yesterday caused,” Kate wrote in a statement.

    Background

    A recently released image of Kate Middleton, issued by Kensington Palace to put all rumors about her health to rest, has ended up creating new controversies.

    Various news agencies have issued notices not to use the image of Kate and her three children, including the Associated Press (AP), Reuters, Getty Images, and Agence France-Presse (AFP). All three on Sunday night withdrew it and told media outlets to “kill” the photo from their systems and archives because they believe that it has been manipulated.

    The AP said the photo had been withdrawn because upon “closer inspection, it appears that the source had manipulated the image” and the photo showed an “inconsistency in the alignment” of the left hand of Kate’s daughter, Princess Charlotte.