The government is aiming $5 billion for export remittances through Information Technology (IT) and IT-enabled services (ITeS) in the next three years.
The target will be achieved by digitalising payment gateways, setting up broadband internet in unserved areas and by practising e-governance in Pakistan.
This was revealed in a meeting of Dr Ishrat Hussain, Advisor to the Prime Minister on Institutional Reforms, and Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Syed Aminul Haq.
The advisor was informed that the ministry is taking steps to provide broadband services in the country through the IT Universal Service Fund, the services which promote the development of telecommunication services in un-served and under-served areas of the country.
The minister added that plans for laying fibre optic cable in remote areas and providing faster internet service are also underway.
The IT and ITeS export remittances comprising computer services and call centre services surged by23.71 per cent to $1.230 billion in the fiscal year (FY) 2019-20 compared to $994.848 million during the same period last year (2018-19).
“After record export remittances through IT exports, the next target is $5 billion during the next three years”, said Haq. “A payment gateway and e-office projects will be completed soon”, Federal Minister for IT said.
Dr Ishrat Hussain said, “the important role of the Ministry of IT in the development of the country cannot be ignored. The Ministry of IT deserves congratulations on the significant increase in IT exports.”
Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Ali Haider Zaidi has taken a dig at his colleague, Federal Minister for Science & Technology Fawad Chaudhry, saying that the latter is jealous of his good looks.
In an interview with The Current, Zaidi was asked if claims that he “is an expert on all ministries except his own” had any truth to them. “Fawad Chaudhry is really jealous of me. That’s why he says so,” the minister said in response, later cracking up while adding that his colleague was jealous of his good looks.
While Fawad thought it was a “fun” interview, others, including senior journalist Hamid Mir, also reacted to Zaidi’s comment.
Earlier, during the interview, Zaidi also spoke of the responsibilities of the Maritime Ministry, and the work that is being carried out under his supervision, such as the plans of introducing blue economy in Pakistan.
Besides rebutting some claims made regarding him, the minister also gave a tour of his beautiful Islamabad office, shared his views on different political leaders and fellow Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) colleagues, took a look back at his cricketing career and cracked us up with his wit.
Indian singer Sonu Nigam got emotional while listening to Pakistan’s young rock star Hadia Hashmi. In his latest vlog, Sonu Nigam was listening to the Nescafe Basement’s hit song Bol Hu and expressed how awestruck he was by the song and the vocals of the Hadia Hashmi.
The song, released in February 2019, features Hashmi and Soch the Band. They performed in the fifth season of the show Nescafe Basement.
“It’s been a while since anything has touched my soul like this! What a song, what lyrics, what composition! Wah! Soch the band, kya soch hai!”, Nigam said in the video.
Hashmi was only eight years old at the time. Many celebrities praised the young star and Bol Hu was also featured in 2019 Bollywood thriller Malang.
Soch then thanked the singer for his words. “We have grown up following you and listening to your music so it’s like a dream come true for us. Thank you, Sonu Sir! It is always gratifying and nice to hear something heartfelt like this from a fellow artist across the border.”
Zulfi, the producer of Nescafe Basement, also posted a video on Facebook to thank Nigam.
“I just saw Sonu Nigam’s video on Bol Hu and I thought it only made sense that I express my gratitude in a similar manner,” he said.
“I don’t only have one thing to thank him for, there are multiple things. The first thing I would want to thank him for is the way his reaction must have elated the spirits of Adnan, Rabi and Hadia. There’s no comparison to that. They would want to work even more seriously towards their dreams. God has given you a gift; do not let it go to waste”, he added.
Following are some snippets that stood out from Urdu newspapers on August 11, 2020, which The Current takes no responsibility for.
‘Usman Buzdar Ki Tabdeeli’
It has been reported by Daily Jang that senior journalist and analyst Suhail Warraich has said, “Imran Khan k paas Usman Buzdar ko tabdeel krnay k ilawa koi option nahi.”
His remarks come at a time when rumours regarding the removal of Punjab chief minister (CM) have gone rife yet again.
‘Wazire Azam K Ladlay Totay‘
In his column, Suhail Warraich has said, “Special assistant to prime minister mein aksar tadaad inn ladlay toton ki hai jo Tehreek-e-Insaf ki siyasi jad-o-jehad mein shaamil naa thay aur naa he unhon ney koi qurbaani di… iss ka bawajood qaabina ka hisa ban bethay… parlimaan k log faisla saazi mein shareek nahi hain magar yeh ghair muntakhib eham tareen mulki faislon mein shareek hotay hain jo k sarasar ghalat riwayat hai.”
‘National Assembly Mein Classroom Wali Harkatein’
According to Daily Jang, PML-N leader and former National Assembly speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq has said all lawmakers must play their role in improving the environment of the assembly. “My grandchildren told me, ‘Aap log jo kuch assembly mein kartay ho, hum school k classroom mein kr sakty hain’.”
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) vice president and former prime minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif’s daughter, Maryam Nawaz, was on Tuesday caught in a clash between party workers and Punjab Police as she arrived at the Lahore office of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in the case pertaining to receipt of 200 acres of what was supposed to be government land in Raiwind.
To show solidarity, PML-N workers in the form of a procession had accompanied the party leader as she left for the NAB’s office in Thokar Niaz Baig. She was, however, told to head back as the situation deteriorated outside the anti-graft body’s office when party workers and police clashed.
In two videos that she posted on Twitter, Maryam alleged that police pelted stones at her car which cracked her bulletproof vehicle’s windshield. “Pelting stones at my car, police have broken its windshield. This is a bulletproof car and police are pelting stones and shelling [PML-N workers] in front of NAB’s office to instigate workers. Why do you call us if you are so scared of us?” she was heard as saying in one of the videos.
Speaking to party workers after the clash, Maryam said she had been summoned from her home so that she could be harmed. “I am standing here, if I have been called, then listen to me as well,” she said.
The PML-N leader said that she had arrived outside the NAB office to “answer lies” and will not head back home; however, the doors of the NAB office remained closed and no official of responded to Maryam’s statement.
The incident was followed by Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Usman Buzdar taking notice of the clash and ordering the chief secretary as well as the inspector general to submit a report on the matter. “No one can be allowed to take the law into their hands,” said the chief minister. “Action should be taken against those who violated the law,” reports quoted him as saying.
Meanwhile, support poured in for Maryam as Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) chief Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari among many others voiced their concerns.
Condemn the unnecessary use of force, teargas & stone pelting on @MaryamNSharif & her party workers by police in Lahore today.
“Condemn the unnecessary use of force, teargas & stone pelting on @MaryamNSharif & her party workers by police in Lahore today [sic],” Bilawal tweeted.
THE CASE AGAINST MARYAM:
According to Geo, NAB has accused Maryam of receiving 200 acres of what was supposed to be government land in Raiwind. Reports claim that the transfer was made during former Lahore deputy commissioner (DC) Noorul Amin Mengal and former Lahore Development Authority (LDA) director general (DG) Ahad Cheema’s tenure.
NAB had also summoned Mengal along with the LDA officials of that time with records.
A tract of land, stretching over 3,568 kanals, was bought by the Sharif family in 2013. The largest part of the property, 1,936 kanals, was transferred to the name of Nawaz and Shehbaz Sharif’s mother, Shamim Bibi. The land that was transferred to Maryam from that tract was 1,440 kanals.
A man, whose wallet got stolen in a local train in Mumbai in 2006, received a call after 14 years from the police saying they have found it.
Hemant Padalkar had lost his wallet while travelling in a local train in 2006, containing Rs900 at that time. In April this year, he received a call from the Government Railway Police (GRP) updating him that his wallet was found.
However, he could not then go to collect his wallet because of the lockdown in India due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
After the ease of the lockdown, Padalkar, recently went to the GRP office where he was given part of the money that was in the wallet.
“My wallet at that time contained Rs 900, including a Rs 500 note which was later demonetised (in 2016). The Vashi GRP returned Rs 300 to me. They deducted Rs 100 for stamp paperwork and said the remaining Rs 500 would be returned after exchanging the scrapped currency note with a new one,” Padalkar was quoted as saying.
According to local media reports, a GRP official said those who stole Padalkar’s wallet were arrested sometime back.
“We recovered Padalkar’s wallet containing Rs 900 from the accused. We handed over Rs 300 to Padalkar and the remaining Rs 500 would be returned to him after the currency note is exchanged with a new one,” he added.
Agha Ali has responded to the backlash he received after a video clip of him and his wife Hina Altaf went viral on social media. In the clip, Hina and Agha shared that at the time of their marriage, the only promise that Agha took from Hina was that she will never get fat or gain weight.
The couple received immense criticism on social media and people called them out for promoting fatphobia.
In a story posted to his Instagram, Agha clarified his statement and said that he asked his wife not to gain unnecessary weight because she is an actress and needs to look fit.
“No producer or director or writer would like to have an overweight heroine,” said Agha.
He added: “She was chubby before and has worked really hard to keep fit. I myself have had a weight loss journey.”
The actor also expressed his anger over the matter and said that has is not a fat-shamer and has never made fun of or ridiculed overweight people. He also said that he will host a live session to discuss the matter.
As per reports, a union of station masters allegedly severely opposed her appointment and threatened to protest against the admin if the notification was not cancelled.
Speaking to Independent Urdu, Union Central Chairman Muhammad Irfan said it was against the law and the civil rights of station masters.
However, Zahra said that she would continue supervising the office of station manager being ATO-1 of the PR’s Lahore division under the law.
“Though I cannot look after the post now under the new notification, I being an ATO-1, can exercise my authority to supervise this post. And I will do this. Office of Lahore Cantt station master also comes under my supervision,” she explained.
PUBG is hosting an exclusive Independence Day event for Pakistani players as a token of appreciation for all the love and support shown by the local players.
To compete in the event, players will have to complete two matches in classic mode or kill 5 enemies in the arena.
As they score, they will be rewarded points and will go along a map lined up with several tourist spots in Pakistan such as Chitral National Park, Badshahi Mosque, Noor Mahal, Clock Tower, and many more.
There are special rewards for the exclusive event as well. There will be new royal passcards to collect exclusive outfits, parachutes, bag skins, and much more.
The exclusive Pakistani event is to celebrate the 74th Independence Day. The game was unbanned in the country recently.
PUBG got banned last month due to controversy regarding its addictive behaviour. When it was banned, Prime Minister Imran Khan started receiving endless tweets speaking against the ban. Soon after, the Islamabad High Court gave orders to unban the video game.
Fahad Mustafa, Yasir Hussain and Iqrar ul Hassan Syed have extended their support to Saba Qamar and Bilal Saeed after they received backlash for shooting part of their upcoming music video at Lahore’s historical Wazir Khan Mosque.
Iqrar ul Hassan requested all his followers to accept Saba and Bilal’s apologies and said that Bilal’s respect in his eyes has increased after his apology message. Fahad later retweeted Iqrar’s tweet and urged everyone to forgive and move on.
Yasir Hussain also extended his support to his Lahore Se Aagay co-star and called out trolls spreading hate.
Shafaat Ali also voiced his support, though he did not explicitly name anyone.
There is a selective hatred against almost all Actors/Singers/Artists in general in Pakistan. People follow them, yet look down upon them. People always love to spew hatred towards them. They just need a chance.
Last weekend, Saba and Bilal found themselves in hot water after they released the teaser of their upcoming music video Qubool Hai. Part of the music video, which has been directed by Saba herself, has been shot inside Wazir Khan Mosque upsetting the public, who demanded strict action be taken against those who allowed the video to be shot inside the mosque.
Chief Minister Punjab Usman Buzdar also took notice of the incident following which the Punjab Auqaf department suspended the manager of Masjid on Sunday. According to reports, the CM sought a report from the minister concerned and the department’s secretary on the matter.
“The mosque is the holiest place and no one can be allowed to trample upon its sanctity. Whosoever is found responsible will not be spared,” an official handout quoted the chief minister as saying.
After severe criticism and backlash, Bilal, in a video message apologised for hurting the public’s sentiments and clarified that they did not dance or record any music in the mosque.
“We realise what has happened over the past few days has hurt your sentiments deeply,” says Bilal in the video. “We as Muslims, as decent human beings and as artists will never, ever trivialize or condone disrespect to Islam or any other religion, race, caste, colour or creed. If we have unknowingly hurt anyone’s sentiments we apologise to you all with all our heart.”
He continued: “Alhamdulilah I am a Muslim and I was raised in a Muslim household. I cannot even think about doing something that would disrespect my religion. I solemnly affirm in the name of Allah that neither did we play any music in the mosque and nor did we dance and the witness to that is the management of the mosque.”
Referring to the clip in which he is twirling Saba, Saeed said: “There was a move that we did for the sake of the photoshoot. We were not following any dance sequence and neither was there any music playing in the background. We understand that we have unintentionally made a mistake and we are acknowledging our mistake.”
“Saba Qamar and I, are just humans like the rest of us and to err is human,” he further said. “As a Muslim, if I was in your place, maybe I would also think the same. So we also apologise to you, and hope that you can let this go. As a realisation on our part, I am also removing the entire sequence from the video, and assure you that we won’t make such mistakes in the near future.”
“I had never imagined my name would be associated with something like this. As a Muslim, I am extremely regretful of this and apologise on behalf of all of us, including Saba and our entire team,” he concluded.
Earlier, Saba had also clarified that “this is also the only sequence that was shot at the historical Wazir Khan Mosque” and is a prologue to the music video.
“The BTS video that’s making rounds on social media was just a circular movement to click stills for the poster of ‘Qubool’ depicting a happily married couple right after their Nikah. Hurting or offending anyone or being disrespectful to a holy place is as unimaginable and unacceptable for me as for any decent human being,” she had said.
