Former fast bowler Junaid Khan has been appointed as bowling coach of the Pakistan Under-19 cricket team.
According to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Junaid Khan will be the bowling coach of the team in the U-19 World Cup, while current coach Rehan Riaz was not available for the tournament due to family commitments.
34-year-old Junaid Khan recently coached Islamabad region. Islamabad won the Hanif Muhammad Trophy under Junaid Khan’s coaching.
Junaid Khan took 189 wickets in 107 international matches.
In a historic achievement, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) announced the unprecedented collection of over Rs1 trillion in December, marking the first instance of such a milestone, as per a press release issued today.
Furthermore, the FBR has set a new record by collecting Rs4.468 trillion in the initial six months of Fiscal Year 2024, indicating a notable increase of over Rs1 trillion when compared to the Rs3.43 trillion collected during the same period in FY23.
Remarkably, the FBR has surpassed its targeted collection for the first half of FY24, which was initially set at Rs4.425 trillion. The government’s ambitious projection for the entire fiscal year stands at Rs9.415 trillion.
Despite challenges such as the issuance of Rs230 billion in refunds, up from Rs177 billion in the corresponding period of the previous year, and sustained import compression, the FBR continues to face obstacles in revenue collection at the import stage.
Traditionally, the revenue mix at the import stage and domestic taxes had a 50:50 ratio. However, this balance has shifted to 36:64, with the FBR mitigating the impact of import compression by generating more revenue domestically.
The ratio of direct to indirect taxes has also experienced a shift, with the share of direct taxes increasing to 49 per cent in the first six months.
Notably, in December alone, direct taxes accounted for 59 per cent, marking a 41 per cent increase in the first six months compared to the previous year.
Within the category of direct taxes, the FBR has reduced the share of withholding taxes from 70 per cent to 55-58 per cent over the past two years. Remarkably, the share of withholding taxes reached as low as 40 per cent in December 2023.
It’s worth noting that the FBR had achieved a Rs1 trillion annual collection back in 2007-08, a milestone that took 50 years to accomplish.
In contrast, the FBR has achieved a comparable feat within a single month after 15 years, underscoring the relentless efforts, unwavering dedication, and hard work demonstrated by the field formations and top leadership of the FBR.
The interim government has chosen to uphold the current petrol price in Pakistan for the initial two weeks of January 2024.
This decision is attributed to the absence of any significant decrease in global crude prices and amidst a stable exchange rate between the Pakistani rupee and the US dollar.
The diesel price will also stay unaltered for the upcoming fortnight.
As a result of this development, the prices for petrol and diesel will persist at Rs267.34 and Rs276.21 per liter, respectively.
These revised prices will be effective from January 1, 2024.
Earlier in the month, the government had reduced the prices of petrol and diesel by Rs14 and Rs13.5, respectively, following the bi-weekly revision.
Pakistan Olympic Association (PAO) President Lieutenant General (retired) Arif Hasan resigned from his post after 19 years.
Lt Gen Retd Arif Hasan wrote in a letter to the Executive Committee of the Pakistan Olympics Association members that he is resigning as President of POA on January 1, 2024.
He further wrote that the decision was not easy but due to ill health, he needed help to continue the responsibility of heading such an important organization.
Arif Hasan is currently living in America where he confirmed his resignation when contacted by Geo News, while Secretary POA Khalid Mahmood has also confirmed Arif Hasan’s resignation.
صدر پاکستان اولمپک ایسوسی ایشن لیفٹیننٹ جنرل (ر) عارف حسن 19 سال بعد عہدے سے مستعفیhttps://t.co/t0ymplVn4C
Arif Hassan was appointed as the Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the South Asian Games in 2002, after which he remained active in Pakistan Sports, in 2004 he became the first President of the Pakistan Olympic Association and was then elected for four consecutive terms.
After the resignation of Arif Hasan, the executive committee of the POA will temporarily decide on the acting president until the next elections.
2023 saw the world witnessing war and injustices on a global scale, and the rise of indigenous leadership. It is said that leaders are not born, they are made. The war on Gaza and some indigenous movements have caused a paradigm shift in the collective consciousness of people by changing the way pop culture approaches celebrity culture. This time the choice was not hard. Heroes of 2023 are neither politicians nor actors, they are people who have not deliberately made their way to the limelight. Circumstances made them stand up for the cause they stood for.
Motaz Azaiza
Motaz, the photojournalist famously known as “The Eye of Gaza”, has emerged as the world’s window into Gaza. His Instagram and Twitter accounts provided a very real and horrifying peek into the oppression carried out by the Israeli forces.
The world saw his transformation over a short time, as the war lingered on for more than 80 days. From grey hair at 24 to his struggle to have access to the internet, the world him document the horrors unfolding in Gaza’s genocide. His followers increased from thousands to millions and he became that one person who people prayed for when seen offline for a long time.
This young man graduated from the University of Gaza in English Language Literature, pursued his passion for photography, and struggled as a freelancer in the limited options available in Gaza but his efforts got recognized post-October 7. His valour and commitment got appreciated in the form of him being declared the “Man of the Year” by GQ Middle East and the pictures taken by him making it to Times Top 100 Photos of 2023.
“No one is safe, nowhere is safe, and fear is everywhere. Either I stay at home or I go outside. Why should I stay at home? I have to stand up and show the world the truth through the camera lens,” Motaz told The New Arab in an interview and this encapsulates the motive behind his work.
Mahrang, a student leader from Balochistan, is again a leader crafted by circumstances. At 30, she is leading a movement against the extra-judicial killings and missing persons in the country.
Mahrang was just a young girl when her father was forcibly abducted and later found dead with signs of torture back in 2009. According to her, this incident changed her life completely. Unfazed, she became vocal about the inhumane acts. Her brother faced the same persecution in 2017 but that made her even more resolute to speak against this injustice. She actively led different movements in her student years. Mahrang was a student leader in 2020 when the removal of the quota system at Bolan Medical College emerged and she led the campaign to oppose the suggestion successfully as she believed that this quota system preserve opportunities for students from remote areas.
یکم جولائی 2011 میرے سیاسی استاد اور میرے والد عبدالغفار لانگو کو 2 سال جبری گمشدہ کرنے کے بعد انکی مسخ شدہ لاش ریاست نے ہمیں تحفے میں دی۔اپنے مہروان والد کے خون آلود چہرے کو دیکھتے انکے تابوت کے پاس بیٹھے ہم پانچ بہنوں اور ہمارے اکلوتے بھائی کی زندگیاں یکسر بدل گئی۔ pic.twitter.com/OC1EBJS9Ky
The human rights activist describes herself as a political worker and an advocate of #endenforceddisappearences.
https://youtu.be/blT5kXKlVWk?si=HLGv3pERItJU8Too
She is currently leading the sit-in by Balcoh protestors in Islamabad, becoming the voice of tens of thousands of Baloch suffering the loss of their beloved in the province through the platform of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee. The death of Balach Baloch instigated a new wave of awareness about the issue and this time Mahrang is determined to not let the phenomenon of the “Baloch Genocide” go unnoticed.
Both causes are close to our hearts, inspiring us with their bravery and determination.
Pakistani celebrities found themselves in the spotlight in 2023 for various reasons, and unfortunately, not all were positive. Let’s delve into the top three blunders that grabbed public attention:
From social media missteps to controversial statements, these incidents stirred discussions and raised questions about the responsibility that comes with fame.
Nida Yasir faced online mockery after mistakenly stating on Shoaib Akhtar’s show that Pakistan won the 1992 Cricket World Cup in 2006. Netizens swiftly responded with humor, sharing memes and comments about the gaffe. Yasir, known as the ‘queen of memes,’ has previously been trolled for various reasons, maintaining her reputation for unintentional comedic moments on live television. Twitter users seized the opportunity to share their amusement, once again making Yasir the center of online humor.
Sehar Khan faced backlash for inaccurately labeling Priyanka Chopra’s ‘Barfi’ character. Critics highlighted the importance of using respectful language regarding mental health.
Dear Sehar, The proper term to use here is autistic. Jhilmil wasn’t abnormal or a psychopath;she was autistic.When someone with a disability/psychological disorder is referred to as “abnormal” it conveys the wrong idea that those with disabilities are deviant or strange.(1/3) pic.twitter.com/sS1WtJ5GQq
Sehar apologized, acknowledging her mistake and emphasizing her respect for those with mental disabilities. The incident underscores the responsibility celebrities bear in shaping public perceptions.
In a recent interview I meant to say I want to do a role of a differently abled person but due to slip of tongue, I mistakenly said something else. I should have gathered my thoughts before answering the question to express myself better. (1/2)
TikTok couple Sehar Hayat and Samir Rasheed faced severe criticism for conducting a poll on social media, asking followers whether they wanted to see a Valima vlog or Sehar in the hospital. After Sehar fell ill, Samir shared a picture of her in the hospital, sparking accusations of a tasteless publicity stunt. The couple deleted the poll amid backlash, with netizens condemning the prioritization of social media over Sehar’s well-being. The controversy drew attention from model Mathira, who called out the perceived fakery. Critics questioned the authenticity of their actions, fueling a social media storm.
Pakistan was the ‘best performing destination’ in terms of tourism during the first nine months of 2023, according to the ‘World Tourism Barometer’ published by the World Tourism Organisation of the United Nations, reported Dawn.
Pakistan made a remarkable 92 percent recovery to pre-pandemic levels in 2023, as the country experienced a 115 percent surge in foreign tourist arrivals compared to the previous year, signaling a robust comeback post-Covid.
With the recovery reaching 115 percent and projections of international receipts reaching $1.3 billion by the end of the year, Pakistan stands as a beacon in tourism resurgence, showcasing its potential on the global stage, Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation Managing Director Aftab Rana said.
He attributed this success to the concerted efforts in tourism promotion. Pakistan actively participated in six major global events to project the tourism potential in the country.
A strategic online outreach, along with the launching of the “Salam Pakistan” tourism brand in August 2023, contributed significantly to attracting a diverse range of visitors from across the globe.
Minister of State for Tourism Wasi Shah congratulated the PTDC team and industry partners for the achievement, expressing optimism for a stronger performance in 2024 despite existing challenges. Mr. Rana spoke highly of the collaborative efforts of PTDC, provincial tourist departments, and private sector operators, emphasising the role of global events in expanding international partnerships.
According to the WTO Tourism Barometer, other leading best performing destinations were Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Turkiye, and Romania among countries from Europe, Asia-Pacific, the Americas, Africa, and the Middle East. Egypt and Serbia were at the bottom of the destination countries list.
Key findings of the barometer show international tourism recovered 87pc of pre-pandemic levels in January-September 2023.
An estimated 975 million tourists traveled internationally between January and September 2023, an increase of 38 percent over the same months of 2022, though 13 percent fewer than in 2019.
International tourism receipts could reach $1.4 trillion in 2023, about 93pc of the $1.5tr earned by destinations in 2019.
These results reflect the strong recovery of demand in 2023. By regions, the Middle East continued to lead the recovery by regions in relative terms, with arrivals 20pc above pre-pandemic levels in the first nine months of 2023. Europe, the world’s largest destination region, reached 94pc of pre-pandemic levels, supported by robust intra-regional demand.
Africa recovered 92 percent of pre-crisis visitors during these nine months and the Americas 88 percent. In Asia and the Pacific, arrivals climbed to 62 percent of pre-pandemic levels.
By sub-regions, North Africa (+5pc), Central America (+4 percent), and Southern Mediterranean Europe (+1 percent) continued to exceed pre-pandemic levels in January-September 2023.
International arrivals are expected to reach 1.3 billion overall in 2023, up 33 percent over 2022 and almost 90 percent of pre-pandemic levels, in line with UNWTO scenarios published in January.
Against this backdrop, international tourism is well on track to fully recover pre-pandemic levels in 2024 despite economic challenges and uncertainty derived from certain geopolitical tensions and conflicts, WTO says.
In all honesty, 2023 was more like a crazy roller coaster than a democratic process when it comes to Pakistani politics. Here are some of the significant events that happened this year:
Assemblies dissolved
On January 14, 2023, the provincial assembly of Punjab was dissolved while on January 16, 2023, Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was dissolved as former Prime Minister Imran Khan was pushing for early national elections.
May 9
On May 9, 2023, former prime minister and founder chairman of Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan was submitting his biometric data for a court appearance when paramilitary forces broke down a window inside the court to get to apprehend him.
The dramatic and sudden arrest of the former cricket star turned leader resulted in violent clashes between supporters of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and law enforcement agencies protests to mark the arrest of the former Prime Minister turned into riots.
Several military installations, including GHQ and the Lahore corps commander’s official residence, were attacked across the country within hours of Imran Khan’s detention.
May 9, termed a “black day” by the Pakistani state, ended up provoking a harsh military crackdown on Khan’s party.
PTI Dismantled
Thousands of PTI members, including many women, were rounded up and arrested after May 9 riots.
More than two dozen members of PTI resigned from the politics following the protests.
Notable figures like Shireen Mazari, Asad Umer, Fayyazul Hassan Chohan, Fawad Chaudhry, Maleeka Bokhari, Abrar ul Haq, Murad Ras, Ali Haider Zaidi, Imran Islamil, Usman Dar, Farrukh Habib, Sadaqat Ali Abbasi, Andleeb Abbas, Arbab Ghulam Rahim, Shaukat Tarin and others either left PTI or quit politics.
Imran Khan Jailed
Police arrested Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan in Lahore on August 5, 2023, after a court sentenced him to three years in prison for illegally selling state gifts, potentially barring the opposition leader from contesting an upcoming election.
On September 26, 2023, Imran Khan was shifted to the Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi from Attock prison, a day after the Islamabad High Court ordered authorities to relocate him to the high-security jail.
Qazi Faez Isa
On September 17, 2023, Justice Qazi Faez Isa was sworn in as the 29th chief justice of Pakistan.
A ceremony was held at Aiwan-i-Sadr in Islamabad during which President Arif Alvi administered the oath of office. Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar and Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir were also present.
Justice Isa was accompanied by his wife, Sarina Isa, while he was taking oath.
Imran Riaz ‘safely’ returns
On the evening of May 11, 2023, police arrested Imran Riaz Khan, a former anchor with the privately owned broadcaster Express News and host of a YouTube channel with over three million subscribers.
Imran Riaz Khan, often called Imran Riaz, was trying to flee the country over fears of his arrest. At the time, authorities accused him of inciting people to violence through his reporting.
He was said to have been freed a few days later, but there was no trace of him and police denied keeping him in custody.
On September 25, 2023, his lawyer Mian Ali Ashfaq took to X (former Tiwtter) and posted a picture of Imran Riaz, after his return, stating that the recovery took a long time due to “countless difficulties, a weak judiciary” and the ineffectiveness of the Constitution. He also shared a photo of him with Khan.
The rift between Zardari and Bilawal
On November 23, 2023, the former president of Pakistan and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari‘s father, Asif Ali Zardari, during an exclusive interview with Hamid Mir on Geo News’ program “Capital Talk”, said that Bilawal is “inexperienced” and that it would take some time for him to gain more exposure, on Thursday.
“Bilawal is much more talented than I am, but he isn’t experienced,” he said.
On November 24, 2023, in a seeming act of defiance to his father, Bilawal changed his profile picture on X on Friday afternoon, to a photo with his mother Benazir Bhutto, the former Prime Minister and head of the PPP till her assassination in 2017.
PPP denied all the claims of a rift between the father-son duo.
Afghan Refugees Repatriation
On October 3, 2023, Pakistan’s caretaker government announced it would carry out mass deportations — known under domestic law as an Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan — asking all concerned to leave the country before 1 November. Although the plan purported to apply to all foreigners residing in the country illegally, it appears designed to target Afghans, millions of whom have sought refuge in Pakistan over the years.
As of December 29, 2023, the total number of allegedly illegal Afghans who left Pakistan reached 453,480 and the process is still underway.
Nawaz Sharif Returns
On October 21, 2023, Pakistan’s thrice-elected former Prime Minister and Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PMLN) supremo Nawaz Sharif returned to Pakistan, ending four years of self-imposed exile in London.
Nawaz Sharif was disqualified when the Supreme Court of Pakistan (SC) announced its decision on July 28, 2017, in the Panama Papers case. After that, Nawaz Sharif and three of his children were referred to an accountability court, which was ordered to file corruption cases against Sharif’s family within six weeks.
In July 2018, the expelled prime minister was imprisoned for 10 years in the Avenfield properties corruption case, an assets-beyond-means trial.
In the Al-Azizia Steel Mills corruption case, the PML-N supremo was sentenced to seven years in jail on December 24, 2018. Nawaz Sharif was taken to Adiala jail in this case, and then he was shifted to Lahore’s Kot Lakhpat jail on the very next day. He was also fined Rs1.5 billion and US$25 million in this case.
The former prime minister was released from jail in March 2019. After that, the Lahore High Court (LHC) allowed Nawaz Sharif to go to London for treatment for fast-depleting platelet levels, and then he left for London in November 2019.
Elections Date Announced
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) announced on November 3, 2023, that 8th February 2024 is the poll date for the General Elections for the National Assembly of Pakistan and Provincial assemblies of Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.
The date was announced by the President House in a statement following a meeting between the top election officials and President Alvi, hours after the election commission lawyer told the Supreme Court that elections will be held on February 11.
PTI New Chairman
On December 2, 2023, The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf (PTI) on Saturday elected Barrister Gohar Ali Khan as the new chairman in the intra-party elections held on the directives of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
Gohar won the chairman’s position unopposed.
The change was forced on the party after the Election Commission of Pakistan warned the PTI last month that it risked losing its emblem – a cricket bat – unless an internal ballot was held for party officers.
Election symbols are crucial in a country where the adult literacy rate is 58 percent, according to World Bank data.
Baloch Long March
Demanding the release of all “missing persons” and an end to “extrajudicial killing” in Balochistan under the leadership of activist Dr Mahrang Baloch and Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), the march started in Turbat, Balochistan, on December 6 after the alleged extrajudicial killing of 24-year-old Balach Baloch.
According to BYC, when the march reached the capital, the city administration didn’t allow them to protest in front of the press club. Maharng Baloch said in her live video from the Facebook page of BYC that Islamabad police arrested 300 male protesters, eight women, and 10 children.
The caretaker government of Punjab has extended winter holidays till January 9 in all public and private schools in the province.
Schools will now reopen on January 10.
All colleges will also remain closed till January 10, however BS Honours programs will continue on normal schedules.
The announcement has come as the province deals with intensifying cold and dense fog, reducing visibility greatly at night and early morning when most students are on their way to school.
Popular Pakistani actress Mehwish Hayat, known for her roles in hit movies like ‘Jawaani Phir Nahi Aani’ and ‘Punjab Nahi Jaon Ga’, has taken her talent to the global stage. She’s now part of Marvel Studios’ ‘Miss Marvel’, gaining admiration for her outstanding performance.
Hayat is expanding her career further by establishing her own production house in the UK. Her goal is to showcase Pakistani culture on the international stage.
In a delightful development, Mehwish Hayat is teaming up with famous designer HSY for an upcoming telefilm. Fans are excited about their on-screen chemistry, evident in the recently released trailer, which has everyone waiting with baited breath for the venture to hit our screens.
