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  • Alizeh Shah reacts to Shoaib Akhtar’s viral meme

    Alizeh Shah reacts to Shoaib Akhtar’s viral meme

    While citing a rather appropriate meme passed in response to former cricketer Shoaib Akhtar’s recent announcement, actor Alizeh Shah explained what she believes meme culture should adapt.

    Shoaib had announced on Saturday, July 2, that he will be performing Hajj this year “as a state guest of Saudi Arabia.” He had added, “I will also be addressing the Hajj Conference attended by leaders of the Muslim world in Makkah,” highlights of which he has shared on his Twitter.

    A netizen made a meme that said, “So shaitan’s going to get hit with stones incoming at 150kph+ this year.” Alizeh then shared the tweet alongside the response on her Insta Stories to write, “Now that’s what I call a meme.” The Tanaa Banaa diva added, “Yaad rakhen, mazaaq karne, or mazaaq uraane mein zameen asmaan ka farq hai (Remember, there is a huge difference between cracking a joke and making a mockery).”

    The Ehd-e-wafa star keeps her fans hooked on social media with trendy photos.

    Alizeh Shah

  • When Fawad Khan and Ranveer Singh got rejected for a Hollywood film

    When Fawad Khan and Ranveer Singh got rejected for a Hollywood film

    Actor Fawad Khan confessed in an interview that he was looking forward to a get a role in the Hollywood feature film, The Reluctant Fundamentalist after he was led on for a year by the makers.

    The Reluctant Fundamentalist Official Trailer #1 (2013) - Kate Hudson Movie HD - YouTube

    The Zindagi Gulzar Hai star shared that he was very disheartened when he did not get the role after waiting for such a long period of time.

    “I came across this film where I was supposed to audition for the role, that went on for a whole year. I wasn’t led on. (Pauses) Yeah! OK! I was led on for almost a year. I thought that I’d be a part of it some way or the other. So it was for this film called Reluctant Fundamentalist,” said Fawad.

    “It was under consideration for like a whole year. Towards the end of the year, I suddenly realized that it was not working out. It was not gonna happen. I was heartbroken. I had waited a whole year and I parked my career aside to a film I thought I was gonna do it right. That’s when I got into TV with a vengeance,” added Fawad.

    The Reluctant Fundamentalist was released in 2012 and the role was bagged by the Oscar-nominated actor, Riz Ahmed. The Reluctant Fundamentalist is a story about young Pakistani man chasing corporate success on Wall Street. He finds himself embroiled in a conflict between his American dream, a hostage crisis, and the enduring call of his family’s homeland.

    Now Bollywood star Ranveer Singh mentioned on the chat show Koffee With Karan, “I have been rejected for The Reluctant Fundamentalist.”

    Caste of Ranveer Singh

    When Karan Johar mentioned the Bollywood film Bombay Velvet, Singh said that he was rejected but dropped from the project. He said, “I was not rejected for Bombay Velvet. I was unceremoniously dropped because at the time, I couldn’t justify the budget. My star value wasn’t as high. But, things have changed.”

    Bombay Velvet, helmed by Anurag Kashyap, starred Ranbir Kapoor and Anushka Sharma in the lead roles. Karan Johar had a cameo. The Reluctant Fundamentalist starred Om Puri, Shabana Azmi, and Riz Ahmed in pivotal roles.

  • A maximum of 8,000 vehicles will be permitted to enter Murree on Eid-ul-Azha

    A maximum of 8,000 vehicles will be permitted to enter Murree on Eid-ul-Azha

    On Eid-ul-Azha, the City Traffic Police (CTP) of Rawalpindi will send out 360 Wardens and Traffic officers as part of a special traffic plan devised for Murree.

    Naveed Irshad, the Chief Traffic Officer (CTO) for Rawalpindi, stated that the CTP had completed all preparatory work in addition to establishing a control room to assist tourists and keep an eye on the traffic situation in Murree.

    He claimed that the Rawalpindi Traffic Police were making every effort to assist the tourists, adding that special traffic arrangements had been made with regard to their security.

    He added that traffic wardens had been instructed to work diligently and resolutely to maintain traffic flow so that traffic jams, particularly on congested roads, could be avoided and the citizens could receive relief, and that CTP would make use of all available resources to guarantee smooth traffic flow in Murree.

    According to the CTO, Murree has a 3,500 vehicle parking capacity, and according to district administration guidelines, a maximum of 8,000 vehicles are permitted entry.

    At Murree’s entry and exit points, specialised counting and checking pickets would also be placed, he added.

    He added that traffic wardens had been instructed to impound motorcycles and one-wheelers in relevant police stations. He said one-wheelers and drifters would be handled  strictly, and those who violate the law would be sent to prison.

  • PM Shehbaz, Imran Khan wish Hajj Mubarak to Muslims across the globe

    PM Shehbaz, Imran Khan wish Hajj Mubarak to Muslims across the globe

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif congratulated the ones who have received the blessings of Hajj-e-Akbar.

    In a series of tweets, PM Shehbaz said this is a blessed occasion to pray for the prosperity of mankind and its deliverance from epidemics and diseases.

    He prayed for the freedom of occupied Palestine and Kashmir to save the oppressed people. He also urged the nation to offer special prayers for elevation in the ranks of martyrs.

    “May Allah Almighty bring Pakistan out of its debt situation with the blessings of Hajj-e-Akbar and grant us economic self-reliance,” he added.

    Similarly, former PM and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan shared a picture and wished Hajj to the Muslims on his Instagram handle.

    He wrote, “Hajj Mubarak to Muslims across the globe!”

    There are several politicians who are performing Hajj this year, including seven members of PTI and the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q). Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani is also performing Hajj this year.

    84,000 Pakistanis proceeded to the plains of Arafat today (Friday) to perform the Rukn-e-Azam of the Hajj known as “Waqoof-e-Arafat”.

  • France to provide Rs4.6 billion for the renovation of Lahore Fort

    France to provide Rs4.6 billion for the renovation of Lahore Fort

    A financing agreement worth more than Rs4.6 billion (€22 million) has been signed by the government of Pakistan and the government of France, through the French Development Agency (FDA), to provide technical and financial support for the restoration of the Lahore Fort.

    A special heritage site in Pakistan is to be protected and restored as part of the HURL (Heritage & Urban Regeneration in Lahore) project. The areas of focus will be increasing economic activity, promoting tourism, and preparing local communities for climate change.

    The walled city and fort of Lahore, which is in the middle of an 11 million-person metropolis, is made up of numerous unique structures with exceptional historical and cultural value as well as numerous compact ancient neighbourhoods.

    The fort faced numerous threats to its integrity, which led to UNESCO listing it as a World Heritage Site in Danger in 1981. The Walled City of Lahore Authority (WCLA), the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC), and the Punjab government launched a ten-year conservation initiative to develop and restore the site in 2012.

    The French government is delighted to be supporting this attempt through AFD: “France is proud to be part of the ambitious plan of the Punjab government to develop and promote the unique cultural heritage of Lahore,” said Nicolas Galey, the French ambassador to Pakistan.

    By enhancing the tourist attraction of the locations and enhancing the living conditions of the riparian populations, the restoration and development of the Lahore Fort surroundings will be a potent engine of sustainable economic development of the City.

    The HURL project will be financed over a five-year period. It is anticipated that this will strengthen the Lahore Fort’s resilience, generate more income and employment opportunities, particularly for women and the transgender community, and contribute to the restoration and improvement of the fort.

    By including the neighbourhoods surrounding the fort as a growth interface, it will also increase tourism development and strengthen the capacity of WCLA and its associates.

    The AFD is reaffirming its dedication to Lahore’s urban development by funding this project. This significant undertaking is just the beginning of the French government’s efforts to support the restoration of South Asian heritage.

  • Japan’s ex-PM Shinzo Abe shot dead during electoral campaign

    Japan’s ex-PM Shinzo Abe shot dead during electoral campaign

    Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was shot dead on Friday morning while giving a speech in western Japan. He was campaigning for a parliamentary election. Abe was 67.

    Social media videos showed Abe lying bleeding on the ground in the city of Nara, which is close to Kyoto. A few hours later, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told reporters at a tearful press conference that Abe was in a “very severe condition”. However, he could not sustain the injuries and died. He was shot twice in the neck and left collarbone.

    The suspect reportedly served in maritime self-defence force for roughly three years, up until around 2005. Japanese media reported that he informed the police that he was angry with Abe and intended to kill him.

    The shooter was subdued by security personnel present at the site, and the 41-year-old suspect is currently in police custody.

  • PM Shehbaz approves financial assistance of Rs1 million for victims of rains and floods

    PM Shehbaz approves financial assistance of Rs1 million for victims of rains and floods

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced a financial relief package for rain and flood-affected families.


    The PM, on an urgent basis, has approved financial assistance of Rs one million for the victims of rains and floods.

    “In case of death, 50 per cent of the relief amount will be paid by the federal government while the rest of the amount will be provided by the provincial government,” read a statement.

    It further said that PM Shehbaz has directed the authorities concerned to ensure complete assistance to the families of the victims.

  • SBP raises policy rate to 14-year-high of 15 per cent

    SBP raises policy rate to 14-year-high of 15 per cent

    In an attempt to calm the economy, control inflation, and support the beleaguered rupee, the State Bank of Pakistan’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) decided to raise the policy rate by 125 basis points (bps) to 15 per cent on Thursday.

    The previous policy rate at the same level was in 2008, so the current policy rate is at a level that is 14 years higher. The committee also disclosed that, in order to improve the transmission of monetary policy, interest rates on EFS and LTFF loans are now tied to the policy rate.

    Following the MPC meeting on Thursday, SBP Acting Governor Dr Murtaza Syed gave a virtual press conference where he announced the monetary policy decision. He told the media that the rate of inflation has been rising at its highest rate since 1970.

    “Globally, inflation is at multi-decade highs in most countries, and central banks are acting aggressively, putting pressure on most emerging market currencies to depreciate,” he continued.

    He praised recent government decisions, such as ending petroleum subsidies, and claimed that these actions had made it possible to finish the IMF loan programme. Pakistan’s external financing requirements for FY23 will be met thanks to significant additional funding from external sources, which will be stimulated by the anticipated conclusion of the ongoing IMF review.

    Then, during the course of FY23, rupee pressures should ease and the SBP’s FX reserves should gradually resume their prior upward trajectory.

    According to him, monetary tightening and fiscal consolidation will cause GDP growth to moderate to 3–4 per cent in FY23, helping to close the positive output gap and lessen demand-side pressures on inflation.

    The acting governor SBP stated that, according to the MPC’s baseline outlook, headline inflation is likely to remain high in FY23, hovering around 19–20 per cent, before dropping sharply to the target range of 5–7 per cent by the end of FY24, driven by stringent policies, a normalisation of global commodity prices, and advantageous base effects.

  • ‘Ghalat keeya Afridi ne’: Fawad Chaudhry says case against Rana Sanaullah was baseless

    ‘Ghalat keeya Afridi ne’: Fawad Chaudhry says case against Rana Sanaullah was baseless

    Former Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said on Thursday that the drug case against sitting Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah was baseless and neither the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) nor Bani Gala had any role in lodging the cases against him.

    Speaking on Express News‘ programme, Chaudhry said that Shehryar Afridi ‘ne ghalat keeya’ [had done wrong] when he stated on oath that 15kg of heroin was recovered from Rana Sana’s car.

    “I said it when the case was brought to the cabinet by the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) officer that it was baseless,” said Fawad.

    It is to be noted that Rana Sana was arrested in July 2019 under the previous government by the ANF that claimed to have recovered 15kg of heroin from his vehicle.

  • Pakistan and India to reportedly play against each other on August 28

    Pakistan and India to reportedly play against each other on August 28

    India and Pakistan will likely play against each other in the Asia Cup 2022 on August 28, as per a Sri Lankan journalist.

    According to the journalist, India and Pakistan will be paired in one group in the Asia Cup while Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan will play in another group.

    Asia Cup is scheduled to be played in the T20 format between August 27 and September 11.

    Both teams last played against each other in 2021 T20 World Cup where Pakistan had beaten India by ten wickets.