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  • Pakistan welcomes PayPal through strategic alliance

    Pakistan welcomes PayPal through strategic alliance

    In a groundbreaking move for Pakistan’s burgeoning freelance community, PayPal is set to establish its presence in the country through a strategic partnership with an existing international payment gateway.

    The joint venture announcement is anticipated for next week, marking a significant milestone for the approximately 1.5 million freelancers and IT professionals in Pakistan, making it the fourth-largest community globally.

    Caretaker Minister for IT and Telecom, Dr Umar Saif, confirmed that PayPal would operate indirectly in Pakistan through this collaboration. This development follows persistent efforts by previous governments to convince PayPal to operate within the country, which initially faced resistance citing security concerns.

    Dr Saif emphasised the positive impact of this move on IT exports and freelancer remittances, underscoring recent measures supporting a more liberal financial regime. He revealed that IT exports have already experienced a notable surge, with a 13 per cent increase in November alone, and expressed confidence that this growth trajectory will continue.

    The IT Ministry, under Dr Saif’s leadership, has implemented various initiatives to bolster the IT sector. These include providing smartphones through installment plans, standardising quality tests for IT graduates, and approving the National Space Policy. Dr Saif expressed optimism about launching 5G services in Pakistan by July 2024, with a spectrum auction offering 300 MHz.

    The government aims to boost IT exports from the current $2.6 billion to approximately $5 billion by facilitating a more liberal financial regime. As part of this effort, IT companies can now retain 50 per cent of their export revenue in dollars in a local account, simplifying international payments.

    In addition to these measures, the government plans to launch 10,000 e-Rozgar centres across the country, providing facilities for freelancers and start-ups. The recently approved National Space Policy allows companies to utilise low-orbit satellites for communication services, further enhancing the technological landscape in Pakistan.

    The upcoming joint venture between PayPal and an international payment gateway is expected to usher in a new era of financial opportunities for Pakistan’s freelancers and IT professionals, contributing significantly to the country’s economic growth and global standing in the IT sector.

  • Gold prices in Pakistan wrap up first week of 2024 on a decline

    Gold prices in Pakistan wrap up first week of 2024 on a decline

    The gold prices in Pakistan concluded the initial week of 2024 on a downward trajectory, witnessing a notable drop in the value of 24-karat gold.

    According to reports from the Karachi Sarafa Association, the price of 24-karat gold plummeted by Rs2,000 per tola, settling at Rs218,000.

    Contrary to this trend, the association noted that 24-karat gold experienced a gain of Rs1,000 per tola in today’s trading session, offering a glimmer of positivity in an otherwise challenging week.

    The closing figures for the last trading session revealed that 10-gramme 24-karat gold reached Rs186,900, showcasing an increase of Rs857.

    Similarly, the price of 10-gramme 22-karat gold stood at Rs171,325, marking a rise of Rs786.

    Investors in the domestic bullion market enjoyed substantial returns in 2023, with the yellow metal delivering an impressive 19.63% yield for the year.

    The concluding price of 24-karat gold in 2023 stood at Rs220,000 per tola, a notable surge compared to Rs183,900 per tola in the same period last year (SPLY).

    Adding to the dynamics of the market, the Pakistani Rupee (PKR) extended its winning streak, appreciating by an additional 46 paisa against the US dollar.

     This marks the eighth consecutive appreciation for the Pakistani rupee, driven by positive market sentiments.

    Analysts attribute this positive trend to the anticipation of the approval of the second loan tranche worth $700 million by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

    Pakistan’s inclusion in the IMF’s meeting agenda for January 11, 2024, has heightened expectations of economic support.

    It’s essential to recognise the intricate relationship between domestic gold prices and the local currency.

    As gold is denominated in US dollars, any appreciation of the Pakistani rupee against the greenback tends to result in a decline in the value of gold.

    In conclusion, the first week of 2024 has been a mixed bag for the gold market in Pakistan, with fluctuating prices and external factors influencing the dynamics.

    Investors are likely to keep a close eye on both international economic developments and local market conditions as they navigate the complexities of the gold trade.

  • Talk TV presenter Julia lambasted for racist interview with Palestinian MP

    Talk TV presenter Julia lambasted for racist interview with Palestinian MP

    British radio presenter Julia Hartley-Brewer has been slammed on social media for an unprofessional and racist interview after a clip from her show went viral.


    During an interview on Wednesday with Dr. Mustafa Barghouti, leader of the Palestinian National Initiative, Hartley-Brewer raised her voice while he was speaking to say he was “not used to women talking” and disrespectfully spoke to him throughout the interview.


    While Julia’s tone was aggressive and harsh, Dr Barghouti kept his tone calm and listened to her patiently, winning over the hearts of netizens with his courtesy.

    In the clip, Julia can be seen aggressively counter-arguing, not letting him speak, and using the rhetoric of telling Muslim men that they are not used to hearing women.


    Barghouti was interrupted several times by the journalist, who prevented him from finishing his remarks on Benjamin Netanyahu and the moral imperative of supporting Palestinians’ struggle for a dignified life in their homeland.


    “Please don’t say that again, we don’t have time for that, you’ve made that point five times already,” she said in one instance.


    When Barghouti attempted to respond, she screamed, saying: “For the love of god, let me finish a sentence man.”


    She then made a sexist accusation: “Maybe you’re not used to women talking, I don’t know, but I’d like to finish the sentence!”


    Barghouti remained calm during the interview while stressing that the journalist has been attempting to “mislead the public.”


    In response, the presenter raised her voice again: ‘If you don’t think Israel’s reaction is acceptable, what would have been an acceptable reaction to you? You’ve got ten seconds left.”


    The Palestinian politician then replied calmly, calling for ending the occupation and oppression of Palestinians to allow peace to prevail for both people.
    Seemingly unsatisfied with the reply, the presenter sarcastically responded: “Brilliant.”


    Hartley-Brewer’s haughty attitude throughout the interview has been heavily criticized, with many pointing out that the show was a display of Islamophobia.


    Social media user Nadene commented that Julia is an utter disgrace in this interview, showcasing Islamophobic tropes 101.


    Another pointed out that she is using imagined sexism to hide her racism.


    Dima Khatib wrote, “Journalism is committing suicide after this interview.”


    Sana Saeed posted, “What an absolutely disgusting, racist display of whatever “journalism” this is supposed to be.”


    Bisan poured her heart out and said that after this I have discovered that Western media is a lie.


    Maryam Alkhawaja lamented that not only are Palestinians being subjected to a genocide, they also have to put up with being dehumanized and insulted.

  • Legendary singer Eric Clapton plans special concert for children of Gaza

    Legendary singer Eric Clapton plans special concert for children of Gaza

    In a heartfelt initiative to make a difference in the lives of the children of Gaza, legendary musician Eric Clapton is set to deliver a powerful message through the broadcast of his intimate concert, which took place in London in December 2023.

    Scheduled for airing on January 17th, the exclusive performance is not only a musical treat for fans but also a beacon of hope for a cause that has gone global.

    Eric Clapton’s concert, performed in front of a small, intimate audience, showcased the artist’s iconic songs such as Tears In Heaven, Got To Get Better In A Little While, and a poignant rendition of George Harrison’s Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth) featuring Dhani Harrison.

    The carefully curated setlist not only resonates with Clapton’s musical prowess but also reflects the spirit of empathy and compassion that underscores the purpose of this unique broadcast.

    By choosing Gaza as the beneficiary, Clapton not only spotlights the urgent need for support but also invites viewers to contribute to a cause that transcends borders, fostering a collective effort to bring hope and relief to the young lives affected.

  • Bilawal to contest on two, Zardari on one NA seat

    Bilawal to contest on two, Zardari on one NA seat

    Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, the Chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), is set to run for two National Assembly seats in the upcoming general elections, while his father, co-chairman, Asif Ali Zardari will contest from one National Assembly seat from Sindh, as reported by The News on Saturday.

    According to a list of participating candidates from Sindh and Balochistan announced by the PPP (Parliamentarians), the former foreign minister will run for NA-194 in Larkana-I and NA-196 in Qambar Shahdadkot-I, while former president Zardari will contest elections from NA-207 in Shaheed Benazirabad-I.

    The party released its list a day earlier, revealing the candidates’ names and constituencies in Sindh who are going to participate in a significant political competition scheduled for the upcoming month, aiming to secure positions in both the National and Sindh assemblies.

    Other prominent names that the party has fielded for contesting the much-awaited elections for a seat in the lower house from the southern province, include Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah from NA-201 (Sukkur-II), Nafisa Shah from NA-202 (Khairpur-I), Shazia Atta Marri from NA-209 (Sanghar-I), Pir Aftab Shah Jeelani from NA-211 (Mirpurkhas-I), Mir Munawar Ali Talpur from NA-212 (Mirpurkhas-II), Syed Naveed Qamar from NA-221 (Tando Muhammad Khan), Nabeel Gabol from NA-239 (Karachi South-I) and Abdul Qadir Patel from NA-243 (Karachi Keamari-II), among others.

  • India-settled Pakistani Seema’s husband has not seen his children in seven months, asks government for justice

    India-settled Pakistani Seema’s husband has not seen his children in seven months, asks government for justice

    Pakistani woman Seema Haider, who went viral last year for illegally crossing the border to marry an Indian PUBG friend, is now expecting her fifth child, her first with her cross-border paramour.

    Seema made headlines last year when she took her four children and crossed the border to marry Noida-based Sachin Meena, got arrested but still managed to officiate the marriage by converting to Hinduism.

    Recently, while speaking at a YouTube show, Seema said she would welcome the newborn soon. When the reporter asked if 2024 would bring new happiness, Seema said, “Definitely,” adding, “2023 also brought a lot of joy”.

    The Pakistani national, who lives with Sachin and her four other children in Greater Noida, said that her husband’s birthday was also approaching, “and it would be great to have another member around the same time.”


    Asked about the delivery date, Seema said, “It’s impossible before Holi but the good news will come soon.”


    Meanwhile, Sachin’s father, a palmist, had a look at Seema’s palm and predicted the newborn would be a baby boy.


    Seema moved to India via Nepal with her four children. Her eight-year-old son, Farhan Ali was named Raj after the family arrived here. Her three daughters Farva, 6, Fariha Batool, 4, and Farha, are now Priyanka, Munni, and Pari respectively.

    Ghulam Haider, Seema’s Pakistani husband, has approached the Pakistani Foreign Office and the Indian High Commission seeking the return of his children to Pakistan.

    His lawyer says that the children were taken there illegally without the consent of the biological father.

    Haider hasn’t spoken to his four children in seven months, says his legal team.

    Haider plans to pursue legal actions in Indian courts and the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC).

  • Urwa Hocane, Farhan Saeed welcome baby girl in Texas

    Urwa Hocane, Farhan Saeed welcome baby girl in Texas

    Urwa Hussain and singer/actor Farhan Saeed have become proud parents to their first baby girl. They shared the happy news on Instagram in a joint post.

    The tiny bundle of joy, named Jahan Aara was born on January 3, 2024. Urwa Hocane has written a beautiful note on becoming a mother.

    The famous couple announced in October 2023 that they were expecting their first child.

    An Instagram post shared by the two on October 6 was captioned, “Tonight we are 3, Masha Allah.”

    Urwa and Farhan got married in December 2016. Like most famous couples, the two have been hounded by rumors of separation. Neither of them directly spoke about it.

    For three years, the two didn’t share any pictures together on social media. But on Eid-ul-Fitr in 2023, they finally posted pictures together, proving that all the rumors about an impending breakup were false.

  • ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 schedule announced

    ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 schedule announced

    The schedule of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 has been announced.

    The ICC T20 World Cup in 2024 will be the ninth tournament of this format which will be hosted by the West Indies and USA. This mega event will be played from June 1 to June 29.

    West Indies six and America’s three venues will host 55 total matches. The opening match of the World Cup will be between the United States of America (USA) and Canada.

    The event will feature 20 teams divided into four groups of 5 each, with the top 2 from each group qualifying for the Super 8stage where the top four teams will make it to the semi-finals.

    Pakistan and India have been placed in the same group for T20 and World Cup.

    Group A

    Pakistan, India, Ireland, USA, Canada

    Group B

    England Australia, Namibia, Scotland, Oman

    Group C

    New Zealand, West Indies, Afghanistan, Uganda, Papua New Guinea

    Group D

    South Africa, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Netherlands, Nepal

    Here is the complete schedule of the T20 World Cup 2024:

    Group matches of the T20 World Cup will be played from June 1 to June 18, Super 8 stage will be played from June 19 to 24. The semi-finals will be held on June 26 and 27, while the final will be held on June 29 in Barbados.

    Pakistan’s Match Schedule

    In the T20 World Cup group, Pakistan will play its first match against the USA on June 6. The India-Pak World Cup match will be played on June 9 in New York. Pakistan will play the third match of the group on June 11 against Canada and the fourth match against Ireland on June 16.

    It should be noted that England is the defending champion of the tournament, having defeated Pakistan in the final of the 2022 T20 World Cup.

  • Bilal Qureshi’s perspective on actresses in revealing outfits

    Bilal Qureshi’s perspective on actresses in revealing outfits

    Actor Bilal Qureshi has become the latest Pakistani celebrity who thinks he has the right to tell women what to wear. In an interview laden with problematic quotes, he requested actresses in the industry not to wear revealing clothes at any event.

    Talking on Ahmed Fozan’s podcast, Qureshi elaborated on some of his previous statements.

    Bilal Qureshi made a comment on social media while praising actress Dur e Fishan Saleem’s dress at an award show which went viral. He said, “The best dressed lady at LSA”

    On his viral comment, the actor explained, “I feel that actresses should not opt for revealing clothes.” He went on to say that he doesn’t want to get into religious discussions but believes in following and respecting cultural norms, stressing that women can appear beautiful and graceful in modest clothing.
    The statement in itself is strange, because beauty and grace are perceived differently by everyone. Modest clothing does not ensure beauty or grace, neither does clothing of any other sort.


    Bilal then pointed out that his wife, Uroosa Qureshi, and his sisters always look good without revealing their skin.

    We are glad that the women in his family look good, but really, his opinions do not matter to the vast majority of women.

    “One of my fellow actresses shared a picture of herself in inappropriate clothes on social media, on which she was upset because of the criticism, so I told her that she should not share this picture on social media. If your dress is really against our cultural norms then people will necessarily criticize it.”

  • Pakistani team’s tribute to David Warner with a gift

    Pakistani team’s tribute to David Warner with a gift

    The Pakistani team gave tribute to the Australian opener David Warner who played his last Test and also gave him a gift.

    David Warner, who played his last Test, scored 57 runs in the last innings of his Test career and was lbw by Sajid Khan.

    When David Warner got out and started to leave the ground, the Pakistani players and the spectators in the Sydney stadium gave him a standing ovation.

    Later during the award ceremony, Pakistan team captain Shan Masood congratulated David Warner on behalf of the Pakistan team and presented him with Babar Azam’s shirt as a gift, signed by all the Pakistani players.