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  • Two-week complete lockdown in worst-hit Lahore from today?

    Punjab health authorities and local administration have proposed a complete lockdown in the provincial capital as the COVID-19 positivity ratio stands at around 19% for the third consecutive week.

    The final decision, in this regard, will be taken by the Asad Umar-led National Command Operation Centre (NCOC).

    Lahore is the worst-hit during the third wave of the pandemic owing to the recklessness of the masses and disinterest of the government. Both had turned a blind eye towards the virus situation until the positivity ratio climbed to a whopping 23% last week.

    The situation in other parts of Punjab is not much better either.

    Punjab Health Minister Prof Dr Yasmin Rashid has said that if precautionary measures are not taken, the situation in Lahore and other cities would worsen.

    Explaining the alarming situation in the Punjab capital, she said there were no vacant ventilators at any of the city’s major hospitals, including Jinnah Hospital, Services Hospital and Gangaram Hospital.

    Besides the shortage of ventilators, oxygen beds at hospitals across Lahore have also reached their 70% capacity.

    “We don’t have any other option rather than the complete lockdown in Lahore however the final decision will be taken by the Punjab government,” the provincial health minister added.

    Meanwhile, 58 people lost their lives due to coronavirus with 4,584 new cases over the past 24 hours. The death toll has surged to 15,501 while the number of confirmed cases stands at 725,602.

    The 58 fatalities on Sunday-Monday come after over 100 deaths ever 24 hours for at least five consecutive days.

  • Ghulam Khan transit route made operational to boost Pak-Afghan trade ties

    Ghulam Khan transit route made operational to boost Pak-Afghan trade ties

    Ghulam Khan Transit Trade Route has been made operational by the Government of Pakistan. It will connect the traders of North Waziristan and Afghanistan.

    It is an initiative to improve trade ties between Pakistan and Afghanistan. For several years, the volume of trade has decreased between the two neighbouring countries due to inefficient policies from both sides.

    Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Frontier Customs Agents Association (FCAA) President Zia-ul-Haq Sarhadi praised the government’s move to open the Ghulam Khan border for the Afghan transit trade, saying that it will give a forward push to bilateral trade.

    “Over the last couple of years, trade volume has fallen from less than $2.5 billion to less than $1 billion,” Sarhadi added.

    He further said that the distance through the third most important border crossing point between Pakistan and Afghanistan, from Karachi and Gwadar to Kabul, will be reduced by about 400km, which would significantly reduce transportation costs.

    It will also reduce the transportation cost, and more than 20,000 locals from North Waziristan will get employment opportunities.

  • VIDEO: Mahira Khan jams to Humsafar

    Mahira Khan recently participated in ‘Carpool Karoke’ with vlogger Imaara Dharani during which she jammed to songs from her films and dramas and shared some fun facts about them.

    Mahira, jammed to, Humsafar, which is her most special project.

    She also sang Hona Tha Pyar from her first film Bol, in which she was paired opposite Atif Aslam. Mahira, while talking about the song said that shooting it was a fun experience.

    Ballay Ballay from Bin Roye also made it to the playlist, with Mahira sharing that the film took two years to complete.

    How can any Mahira Khan playlist be complete without Zaalima from Raees? Zaalima was the last song on the Carpool Karoke playlist and Mahira revealed that the song was shot in Morocco.

    After winning applause for her acting, Mahira has recently turned producer with a web series titled Baarwan Khiladi.

    Baarwan Khiladi, which features young and upcoming actors including Danyal Zafar, Shahveer Jafry, Kinza Hashmi and Khaqan Shahnawaz, has a cricket-themed story.

  • Man almost marries wrong woman after Google Maps misguides him

    Man almost marries wrong woman after Google Maps misguides him

    A man almost married the wrong woman after Google Maps mislead him to the wrong venue in Indonesia.

    According to details, two ceremonies, a wedding and an engagement were held in the same village on Sunday.

    Ulfa, 27, who was getting engaged was oblivious to the fact that the wrong man had entered her house when she was being attended to by the make-up artist. Chaos ensued when both parties realised that there was a mix-up.

    Speaking about the incident, Ulfa said: “I was shocked when I saw the man’s group as I did not know any of them.” She said that her fiancé and his relatives got late as they stopped on the way to find a toilet.

    She added that her fiancé is from Kendal and the man who arrived at her engagement ceremony was from Pemalang.

    “But my family welcomed them and they proceeded to exchange gifts,” Ulfa told Indonesian news portal Tribunnews.

    When a member from the man’s side realised that they had arrived at the wrong location, they apologised for their mistake before leaving the venue.

    Ulfa’s family helped the man and his family reach the right venue.

  • Turkey, Maldives emerge celebrity pandemic vacation hotspots

    Turkey, Maldives emerge celebrity pandemic vacation hotspots

    If you’re an avid social media user like us, who loves following celebrities, chances are you have seen some of them jetting off to luxury destinations in recent weeks – despite rising coronavirus infection rates and restrictions across the world.

    From Imran Abbas to Sarah Khan to Bollywood stars including Madhuri Dixit, Janhvi Kapoor and Shraddha Kapoor, several celebrities have been spotted vacationing in Turkey and Maldives.

    Imran Abbas

    Abbas has been keeping us updated with his whereabouts by sharing photos of himself in Turkey. The actor has also been spotted hanging out with several Turkish actors including Yeşim Ceren Bozoğlu, who essays the role of Hazal Hatun in Kurulus: Osman.

    Last month, Abbas also visited the sets of the popular dramas Diriliş: Ertuğrul and Kuruluş: Osman, where actor Celal Al presented him with a handmade flag from the historical series.

    Meanwhile, the Pakistani actor is also all set to host a Ramzan transmission from Istanbul titled Baraan e Rehmat, which will be co-hosted by Reema Khan from Pakistan.

    Sarah Khan and Falak Shabbir

    Sarah and Falak, who tied the knot during the lockdown, have jetted off to Turkey for what appears to be their honeymoon.

    The couple has been sharing loved up photos with each other giving us all the feels besides a serious case of wanderlust.

    Sumbul Iqbal

    Sumbul Iqbal seems to be having the time of her life in Turkey. The Dulhan star shared some gorgeous clicks of herself with fans on her Instagram.

    Iqbal is giving us major fashion inspo also.

    Sumbul is enjoying her Turkish vacation with sister Kompal Iqbal.

    Aiman Khan and Muneeb Butt

    Power couple Aiman Khan and Muneeb Butt certainly know how to enjoy a getaway and show it too.

    Though the couple was in the country for an ad campaign, they sure struck a balance between work and pleasure.

    The couple also went for a cruise on the Bosphorus.

    Nida Yasir

    Nida was spotted enjoying some family time in Turkey back in February.

    Zara Noor Abbas

    Actress Mariam Mirza and Zara Noor Abbas are recently in Turkey. Mariam Mirza shared pictures, enjoying her holidays with her husband in Turkey and Zara is also having fun there with her freind.

    Fawad Khan

    Recently, Fawad Khan and wife Sadaf were also spotted in Turkey. The photos and videos shared on social media show that they are accompanied by their friends and industry mates.

    This is their first public appearance after the birth of their child. Producer Ammara Hikmat and others shared the snaps on their Instagram stories.

    Madhuri Dixit

    Madhuri Dixit has joined the long list of Bollywood celebrities who went to the Maldives for a family holiday recently.

    The actor has been sharing snippets from her Maldives vacation, which she is enjoying with her husband and sons.

    Dixit’s Maldives itinerary also included thrilling water sports experiences, snorkelling and a date night with husband.

    Janhvi Kapoor

    Janhvi Kapoor is enjoying a vacation in the Maldives with her friends. The actor posted pictures of herself looking absolutely gorgeous in beach wear.

    “Last to get on the Maldives bandwagon but I fully get the hype,” said the actor.

    Dia Mirza

    Dia Mirza, who recently announced that she is expecting, spent the past few days holidaying in the Maldives with her husband Vaibhav Rekhi.

    In fact, Dia announced her pregnancy with a sunset shot from her vacation.

    Shraddha Kapoor

  • ‘Oye Motti’ aims to highlight how women are shamed for their weight

    The latest teaser of Express Entertainment’s Oye Motti ruffled feathers and sparked outrage on social media for mocking and ridiculing plus-size and heavy women, especially when it comes to marriage.

    https://twitter.com/c1rcus_music/status/1380130053351120897?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1380130053351120897%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwow360.pk%2Fdrama-serial-oye-moti-highlights-how-a-womans-weight-is-policed-when-it-comes-to-marriage%2F
    https://twitter.com/7kayhan/status/1380179294924763142?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1380179294924763142%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwow360.pk%2Fdrama-serial-oye-moti-highlights-how-a-womans-weight-is-policed-when-it-comes-to-marriage%2F
    https://twitter.com/hodornm/status/1380251955822465025?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1380251955822465025%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwow360.pk%2Fdrama-serial-oye-moti-highlights-how-a-womans-weight-is-policed-when-it-comes-to-marriage%2F
    https://twitter.com/NoContextDanii/status/1380195975768240133?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1380195975768240133%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwow360.pk%2Fdrama-serial-oye-moti-highlights-how-a-womans-weight-is-policed-when-it-comes-to-marriage%2F
    https://twitter.com/boujiemami__/status/1380279669874900996?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1380279669874900996%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwow360.pk%2Fdrama-serial-oye-moti-highlights-how-a-womans-weight-is-policed-when-it-comes-to-marriage%2F

    Turns out that the series does not aim to mock women but is an honest attempt to shed light on body and fat-shaming and how it affects those at the receiving end of criticism. Each episode has a separate storyline and features different women stuck in different scenarios where they are fat-shamed. However, they manage to overcome whatever hurdle comes their way.

    Read more – Juggun Kazim opens up about being fat-shamed after giving birth

    The latest episode, Episode 9, featuring Tiktoker Kanwal Aftab and Furqan Qureshi is what stirred outrage. It follows a woman’s horrifying experience, whose fiancé, right after their engagement, announces in front of everyone that her bride-to-be must lose 100 kgs within a year else he won’t marry her. The show has been written by Sajjad Haider Zaidi and directed by Muhammad Iftikhar Iffi.

    Aftab, while sharing the teaser of the episode, said that she did this project only for those who have to face body shaming. She urged her followers to stop criticising each other for their weight and let everyone live their life the way they want.

    While the show may have faltered in dealing with the topic sensitively, what’s even more alarming is that the teaser is a reflection of our society. The culture of choosing a bride in drawing rooms continues to dominate the Pakistan rishta scene with women forced to mould themselves physically as well as mentally to meet society’s expectation and fit the role of a perfect bahu.

    Meanwhile, other episodes of the series feature veteran actor Hina Dilpazeer, Maria Wasti, Sabeena Farooq, and Hajra Yamin among others.

  • Rs2.7m price fixed for apartments at Naya Pakistan Apartment project

    Rs2.7m price fixed for apartments at Naya Pakistan Apartment project

    People from the lower-income class can now own home through small instalments, said Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan at the groundbreaking ceremony of the Naya Pakistan Apartment project.

    Praising the courts for allowing the government to implement the foreclosure law, PM Khan said the law has allowed people to own houses on a mortgage.

    “People will only pay installments instead of rent and will become owners of their own homes,” said PM Imran.

    He added that the status quo has adopted the system of bribery and never want Pakistan to change for the better.

    “Pakistan will have to transform itself if it needed to meet the challenges of the 21st century,” asserted the premier.

    PM Khan also appreciated the efforts of the Lahore Development Authority (LDA), saying: “The LDA has brought about a lot of improvements in itself.”

    As per details, the authority will construct 35,000 apartments in different parts of the city under the LDA City Naya Pakistan project.

    Around 4,000 apartments will be constructed during the first phase. Every apartment will cover a 650 square feet area and will have two bedrooms.

    The price for the apartments has been fixed at Rs2.7million each which will be taken in easy installments.

    Earlier, Punjab Minister for Housing and Urban Development Mian Mehmood-ur-Rasheed said that the Punjab government assigned all development authorities in Lahore and other big cities to build housing units for the low-income people.

    The provincial minister further added that these plans are being replicated in Gujranwala, Multan, Faisalabad, and Rawalpindi to provide homes to the low-income population of the country under PM Imran’s vision.

  • Atif Mian awarded prestigious Guggenheim Fellowship in Economics

    Atif Mian awarded prestigious Guggenheim Fellowship in Economics

    The prestigious Guggenheim Fellowship in Economics has been awarded to Pakistan’s Dr Atif Mian this year.

    Dr Mian is the co-founder and a board member of the Center of Economic Research Pakistan (CERP). He is currently a Professor of Economics, Public Policy, and Finance at the prestigious Princeton University.

    The John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation awards the Guggenheim Fellowship to exceptional individuals who have already demonstrated exceptional ability and creativity in academics.

    The John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation was established in 1925. It has granted nearly $400 million in Fellowships to over 18,000 individuals.

    Out of 18,000, 125 are Nobel laureates, members of all the national academies, winners of the Pulitzer Prize, Fields Medal, Turing Award, Bancroft Prize, National Book Award, and other internationally recognised honours.

    Dr Mian was appointed as an advisor in the Economic Advisory Council (EAC) by Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan in-add-date, but was removed following backlash and criticism by extremist religious groups on the government for appointing a person from the Ahmadi faith. His removal on September 7, 2018 prompted council members Asim Ijaz Khwaja and Imran Rasul to resign in protest.

  • Pakistan commits to IMF Rs1.27 trillion hike in taxes

    Pakistan commits to IMF Rs1.27 trillion hike in taxes

    Pakistan has committed to increasing Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) taxes by Rs1.272 trillion (almost 2.8 per cent of GDP) and a price increase of Rs4.97 per unit in the remaining three months of the current fiscal year (FY).

    IMF released a document, and it says that the government of Pakistan has agreed to continuous adjustments in electricity tariffs from next year on a monthly, quarterly and annually basis.

    The documents also state that the government would also increase the price of petroleum and oil products (maximum of Rs30).

    The petroleum levy target for the coming year is Rs607bn. The provinces have given an undertaking of Rs570bn cash surplus to the federal government and increase it by Rs729bn next year.

    The government has also set a target of Rs5.963tr (against Rs4.691tr revised target of current FY) in the next year budget for FBR. Additional Rs500bn tax generation through General Sales Tax (GST) and personal income tax reform for FY 2022 budget is also under consideration.

    The government has also given an undertaking to make adjustments in gas tariff and will not consider any tax exemptions or amnesties in the future.

    Also, IMF made detailed audits are a must for the fund allocation to combat COVID-19, which includes contracts and beneficial ownerships of bidding results and medical supplies.

    IMF’s mission chief for Pakistan Ernesto Ramirez Rigo said that despite the hard economic conditions amid COVID-19, critical adjustments in energy tariff are inevitable. The rising circular debt is detrimental to public finance and economic growth.

    He said that these unpleasant changes are necessary and the solution lies in cost recoveries, loss reduction and system improvement.

  • VIDEO: Cher drops trailer of documentary on Kaavan

    VIDEO: Cher drops trailer of documentary on Kaavan

    Kavaan’s journey from being the world’s “the loneliest elephant” to freedom in Cambodia has been captured on camera and will be seen in a documentary by Cher titled Cher and the Loneliest Elephant. It is scheduled to release on Paramount+ on April 22.

    According to details, Cher, through the film will be taking viewers along for “a touching journey about humans, animals, and our connection to all living beings on earth”.

    In Cher and the Loneliest Elephant, the singer travels to Pakistan to rescue Kaavan, an elephant who’s been neglected and living alone for years. The Smithsonian Channel documentary follows Cher as she teams up with animal experts and veterinarians to help transport Kaavan from a shed in Islamabad, where he’s been kept in chains for almost two decades, to a new home in Cambodia.

    “Elephants are just like we are. They’re so family-oriented and so emotional,” says Cher in the trailer.

    Talking about the film, Cher told Entertainment Weekly, “I saw all the people being affected by it all over the world. People want a happy ending. People don’t want to see animals suffer. And I know people are suffering too, but this is a story that can brighten their lives.”

    “I was frightened [to do this], but then I thought, what do you want to do more? You made a promise, and you have to go,” she continued. “I didn’t see any other way to do it. I have a saying on my Twitter, ‘Stand and be counted or sit and be nothing.’ And I wasn’t going to sit and be nothing.”

    The film also features a brand new track by the singer titled Walls to highlight Kavaan’s story.

    https://youtu.be/2NGJwe-rdPk

    Kavaan was first brought to Pakistan in 1985 as a gift from Sri Lanka when he was only a year old. Since then he was living at Marghazar Zoo in Islamabad with his partner Saheli, who died in 2012. After Saheli’s death, Kaavan became alone and was dubbed as the world’s loneliest elephant. He suffered from several health issues and was also mentally distressed. In 2016 he caught the attention of Cher, who along with other animal rights activists fought a long legal battle for his release and transfer.

    He was airlifted from Islamabad to Cambodia in a Russian cargo plane in November 2020.