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  • ‘Cracks in the glass’; What does the US think about Maryam Nawaz as CM Punjab?

    ‘Cracks in the glass’; What does the US think about Maryam Nawaz as CM Punjab?

    The United States (US) state department spokesperson, Matthew Miller, said on Monday that the selection of Maryam Nawaz as the first woman chief minister of an important province Punjab is a “milestone in Pakistani politics.”

    “We look forward to cooperating with Pakistan more broadly on integrating women more fully into the country’s political life and economy, including through the US Pakistan Women’s Council, civil society, and other decision-making spaces,” Mathew Miller said in response to a question at his daily news briefing.

    “An inclusive Pakistan makes for a strong, prosperous country, which all Pakistanis benefit from, and so we are always pleased when we see cracks in the glass ceiling anywhere in the world,”  Miller stated.

    Maryam Nawaz was elected the first female Chief Minister of Punjab on the previous Monday.

  • Gaza detainees released by Israel ‘traumatized,’ report abuse: UNRWA

    Gaza detainees released by Israel ‘traumatized,’ report abuse: UNRWA

    United Nations (United States) (AFP) – Gazans detained by Israeli forces are coming back “completely traumatized” upon release and reporting abuses while in captivity, the head of the UN’s Palestinian refugee agency said Monday.

    Detainees reported being subjected to a “broad range of ill treatment” including threats of electrocution, being photographed naked, sleep deprivation and having dogs used to intimidate them, UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini told a media briefing.

    The comments follow reporting by the New York Times on an internal investigation compiled by UNRWA staff documenting the state of returning detainees at the Kerem Shalom border.

    “We have seen these people coming back from detention, some of them for a couple of weeks, some of them for a couple of months, and most of them coming back (are) completely traumatized by the ordeal they have gone through,” Lazzarini said.

    “A number of people have been… debriefed about their ordeal, and we have indeed (compiled) an internal report about their experiences.”

    The report had been shared with rights groups specializing in detention, he added.

    Lazzarini’s comments capped a tumultuous day during which Israel and UNRWA have traded accusations, with Israel accusing the agency of having employed more than 450 “terrorists.”

    Ahead of Lazzarini’s comments, meanwhile, UNRWA said Israeli authorities had “detained several of its staff from the Gaza Strip,” who later described abuses in custody.

    “Our staff have reported atrocious events while they were detained and during interrogations by the Israeli authorities. These reports included torture, severe ill-treatment, abuse and sexual exploitation,” UNRWA said in a statement to AFP.

    “Some of our staff have conveyed to UNRWA teams that they were forced to sign confessions under torture and ill-treatment” while being asked about Hamas’s October 7 attack.

    Israel in Gaza has killed 30,534 people, mostly women and children, according to the latest toll from Gaza health ministry.

  • Declining sales: KIA slashes Sportage prices by up to Rs300,000

    Declining sales: KIA slashes Sportage prices by up to Rs300,000

    In a strategic move to stimulate demand, Lucky Motor Corporation, formerly known as Kia Lucky Motors Pakistan, has announced a significant reduction in the prices of its popular compact SUV, the Sportage.

    The revised prices, effective from March 4, have been lowered by up to Rs300,000.

    The basic variant, Alpha, has witnessed a substantial decrease of Rs250,000, now priced at Rs7.3 million.

    Additionally, the prices of Sportage’s FWD, AWD, and limited black edition variants have all been reduced by Rs300,000. Consequently, the new prices stand at Rs7.74 million, Rs8.47 million, and Rs9 million, respectively.

    This move comes amid challenging times for the automobile sector in Pakistan, which experienced a significant 50% year-on-year decline in sales during the first half of fiscal year 2024.

    Experts anticipate that Lucky Motor Corporation’s decision to lower Sportage prices could contribute to a resurgence in its sales.

    It’s important to note that while Sportage undergoes a price adjustment, other models such as Picanto and Stonic will maintain their current pricing.

    Kia had already implemented several promotional offers, including installment plans, cashback, and free registration, to entice potential buyers.

    This latest price reduction aligns with the industry trend, as competitors like Chery Tiggo and Changan Oshan have also lowered their prices by Rs300,000.

    Industry observers attribute Sportage’s recent sales challenges to intensified competition, particularly with the introduction of the Corolla Cross in the same price range.

    Although the latter is a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV), it has further heightened the competition in the market.

    Despite Lucky Motor Corporation’s efforts, reports suggest that the previously offered interest-free loan policy and other incentives haven’t generated substantial demand.

    Furthermore, a cashback offer of Rs150,000 on booking across all Sportage variants, which was in place before the price adjustment, failed to attract significant attention from potential buyers.

  • Gold price increases to Rs221,200 per tola in Pakistan

    Gold price increases to Rs221,200 per tola in Pakistan

    In a significant turn of events on the first trading day of the week, gold prices in Pakistan continued their upward trajectory, witnessing a surge of Rs900 per tola to reach Rs221,200.

    According to the latest data from the Karachi Sarafa Association, the price of 10-gramme 24-karat gold experienced a notable increase, rising to Rs189,643 per tola, reflecting a gain of Rs771.

    Similarly, the 10-gramme 22-karat gold was noted at Rs173,840 per tola.

    In contrast, silver prices remained unchanged today, with 24-karat silver holding steady at Rs2,600 per tola and Rs2,229 per 10-gramme.

    Last week, the local market experienced a substantial boost in gold prices, witnessing a surge of Rs5,200 per tola for 24-karat gold.

    This surge is closely linked to the international market rally, with international spot gold reaching a two-month peak on Friday.

    The boost in international spot gold was attributed to strengthened expectations of a rate cut by June, driven by economic data from the United States.

    The data indicated a slump in manufacturing activity, while price data aligned with market expectations. This led to a decline in the dollar, resulting in gains for the safe-haven asset.

    Presently, international spot gold is trading at $2,086.62, reflecting a gain of $3.76, or 0.2 per cent, day-on-day, further impacting the domestic gold market positively.

    In parallel with economic developments, the Pakistani rupee (PKR) saw a marginal depreciation of 7 paisa against the US dollar in Monday’s interbank session.

    The currency settled the trade at PKR 279.26, compared to the previous day’s closing of PKR 279.19 per USD.

    During the intraday session, the local unit reached a high (bid) of 279.6 and a low (ask) of 278.95. In the open market, exchange companies quoted the dollar at 279.41 for buying and 282.05 for selling.

    It is noteworthy that the Pakistani rupee closed last week with a gain of 17 paisa week-on-week against the US dollar, showcasing some resilience in the face of external economic fluctuations.

  • PSL 9: Islamabad United defeats Peshawar Zalmi by 29 runs

    PSL 9: Islamabad United defeats Peshawar Zalmi by 29 runs

    In the 20th match of Pakistan Super League 9, Islamabad United defeats Peshawar Zalmi by 29 runs in Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

    Peshawar Zalmi captain Babar Azam won the toss and invited Islamabad United captain Shadab Khan to bat first.

    Islamabad United inning

    Islamabad captain Shadab Khan played an aggressive innings of 80 runs off 51 balls, hitting 4 fours and 6 sixes. Agha Salman played an innings of 37 runs while Jordan Cox and Azam Khan remained not out scoring 26 and 29 runs respectively.

    For Peshawar Zalmi, Saim Ayub took 2 wickets while Salman Irshad and Luke Wood took one wicket each.

    Peshawar Zalmi inning

    Chasing the target of 197, Peshawar Zalmi lost their both openers in first over. On the total of 18 runs Peshawar half team returned to the pavilion, but Aamir Jamal and Paul Walter make a partnership of 107 runs but could not led their team to victory. Walter scored 33 runs on 29 balls while Aamir Jamal scored brilliant 87 of 49 balls.

    From Islamabad United Captain Shadab Khan took 3 while Hunain Shah and Ruman Raees took 2 wickets each.

  • ‘Sexually assaulted in 7th grade,’ Adeel Hashmi reveals traumatic childhood incident

    ‘Sexually assaulted in 7th grade,’ Adeel Hashmi reveals traumatic childhood incident

    In a sincere moment on Masarrat Misbah’s show, Pakistani actor and television host Adeel Hashmi bravely shared his personal story of being a victim of sexual assault during childhood.

    Hashmi recounted the distressing incident where he was targeted by older students.
    “The smile you see now is after facing many challenges in life,” he said ruefully. He admitted that the trauma had left lasting scars on him.

    He revealed that the traumatic events happened when he was in 7th grade, causing him emotional distress as a younger and smaller student facing bullying from older peers. Describing the difficult times, Adeel mentioned, “It was the 1980s. I was in 7th or 8th grade. Since I was in a public school, many students were older due to failing grades. They had been in the same class for years while I had just moved up from 6th grade.”
    He went on to recount that he was not big or tall at that point. “Even my behavior was timid, like a cat or a mouse. These eight or 10 students would bully me.” Adeel bravely disclosed a distressing incident from those years, saying, “I can share one incident from that time. I might not tell everything as it’s hard for me. I was sexually assaulted in 7th grade. This happened in an all-boys school where no one could help me.”
    Seeking guidance, he turned to his elder brother at the time, unsure of how to handle the situation. Unfortunately, his brother, unaware of the gravity of the bullying and assault, advised him to deal with it on his own. This left Adeel feeling isolated and without a support system.

    “I would stutter and I knew if I told my teachers, these kids would bully me more. Only one time I said to my brother that these hostel kids tease me and whether I should tell our father. And he said no, you can resolve that on your own.”
    Despite the challenges, Adeel chose not to confide in his parents due to fears of their reaction and the difficulty of explaining his painful experiences. This conversation on the show marked the first time he openly discussed these difficult memories with the public.
    His mother would hear about these traumatic experiences through the show. Adeel stressed the importance of creating a safe space for survivors to speak out about child sexual abuse and its long-term effects on individuals’ lives.

  • No reserved seats for PTI backed Sunni Ittehad Council: Election Commission

    No reserved seats for PTI backed Sunni Ittehad Council: Election Commission

    The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) rejected the request of the Sunni Ittehad Council on the issue of reserved seats.

    The issue of reserved seats came to light after independent candidates of Tehreek-e-Insaf joined the Sunni Ittehad Council. On the plea of ​​the Sunni Unity Council, the ECP ruled that it could not get the quota of reserved seats for women and minorities.

    The decision said that the Election Commission informed all political parties that they needed to submit their names for the reserved and minority seats, but the Sunni Ittehad Council did not do so.

    The Election Commission in its decision also stated that it is a legal requirement to provide the list of specific seats before the elections, and the failure of the Sunni Ittehad Council to provide the list of specific seats on time is a legal defect.

    The ECP ruling stated that the chairman of the Sunni Ittehad Council contested the election as an independent despite the election symbol and the party confirmed that its candidates had contested as an independent.

    The decision said that it has clearly stated in Article 51 of the Constitution that the political parties who win seats in the National Assembly will be entitled to specific seats. The decision was a 4 – 1 dissent, with Member Punjab Babar Hasan Bharwana, writing a dissenting note.

    Bharwana said in a dissenting note that he agrees with the four members that the seats cannot be given to the Sunni Ittehad Council. But these specific seats cannot be distributed among other political parties and these seats should be kept vacant under Article 51 and 106 of the Constitution. He also said that the seats should be kept vacant until Article 51 and 106 of the Constitution are amended.

  • ‘Grammar, Geography’; CM Maryam’s school visit gets mixed reactions

    ‘Grammar, Geography’; CM Maryam’s school visit gets mixed reactions

    Maryam Nawaz has been in the spotlight since the day she took oath as the Chief Minister of Punjab. She recently visited a government school in Lahore where she entered a classroom and asked the students what they are studying to which the students replied, “Conjunctions, Grammar.” She picked up a book from a child, checked the cover and responded, “Oh Geography.” To this, the students collectively replied, “No, English.”


    The interaction has been garnering a lot of reactions on social media. A user commented that people should understand that the textbooks in government schools are always compiled together and that is why she got confused. In the longer version of the video, it can be seen that a teacher explained the same to her.
    Another netizen commented that even if we accept this explanation it makes no sense how she understood geography as conjunction.

    Amidst all the conversation around the videos some also showed their awe seeing the spaciousness of a government school in Lahore as they lamented the condition of schools in rural areas.

    A Twitter user commended her for visiting a school and showing her commitment to education.

  • Maryam Nawaz announces first public cancer hospital in Punjab

    Maryam Nawaz announces first public cancer hospital in Punjab

    Chief Minister of Punjab, Maryam Nawaz, has announced plans to build the first government cancer hospital in Punjab. The hospital will be built near Valencia town in Lahore, as per SAMMA. 

    The newly-elected chief minister visited the potential site for the hospital and received a briefing about the project. The CM also approved the construction of a hotel building for the attendants of cancer patients.

    Maryam Nawaz said that cancer patients will get free treatment in the hospital.

    The Punjab chief minister also announced that the government will provide the best medical professionals and state-of-the art equipment to treat cancer patients.

    She declared that screening for diseases will start in the province, adding that when she vacates her office after five years, she wants a state-of-the-art hospital in every city. She also announced free medicines in all emergency departments of government hospitals starting today. The Rescue 1122 service has been asked to launch a motorway ambulance service.

  • Where does Shah Rukh rank on the most powerful people in India list?

    Where does Shah Rukh rank on the most powerful people in India list?

    Shah Rukh Khan, the famous Bollywood actor, is once again making headlines in the Indian film industry. After starring in three superhit films last year, he has achieved another significant honor.

    Reports from Indian media state that Shah Rukh Khan is now among India’s 100 most powerful people. He’s ranked 27th on this important list, indicating that his influence and presence in entertainment are long lasting.

    In 2023, Shah Rukh Khan amazed audiences with his performances in three blockbuster films: “Pathan,” “Jawaan,” and “Dunki.” Together, these movies earned a staggering 25 billion Indian rupees, reaffirming Shah Rukh Khan’s status as a box office powerhouse.