Current Final

Blog

  • New heights of friendship: Turkish Airlines to manage Pakistan’s fruit, vegetable exports after PIA ban

    New heights of friendship: Turkish Airlines to manage Pakistan’s fruit, vegetable exports after PIA ban

    As Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight operations in Europe remain suspended, Turkish Airlines has offered its services to transport fruit and vegetable exports to other countries, Profit reported.

    According to fruit and vegetable exporters, Turkish Airlines will charge lower freight charges for transport of Pakistani fruits and vegetables to England, Germany and other western countries and has assured that it will facilitate the promotion of the same. 

    Earlier the European Union Air Safety Agency (EASA) imposed a six-month ban on PIA’s flight operations to Europe after reports emerged that several PIA pilots held dubious flying licences. 

    Among other issues, the ban created problems for the export of Pakistani fruits and vegetables. In this regard,  the Pakistani Embassy in Istanbul Commercial Counselor Bilal Khan Pasha met with Turkish Airlines Chairman Ilker Ayci who assured that Turkish Airlines will resume its flight operation in Pakistan and will help in the export of fruits and vegetables to the European Union (EU).

    Moreover, a delegation of exporters led by Waheed Ahmed, the head of All Pakistan Fruit and Vegetable Exporters, Importers and Merchants Association (PFVA) met with Turkish Airlines General Manager (GM) Gurhan Sozen.

    READ: Embarrassment for aviation minister as Civil Aviation Authority says all licences issued are real

    According to Waheed Ahmed, PIA had recently reduced freight charges in order to assist exporters to reduce cost of export shipments, however, after the six month ban on PIA, exporters will have to use the services of foreign airlines who might charge higher freight charges.

    According to exporters, during the meeting with Turkish Airlines GM the need for reduction in freight charges and provision of special handling facilities for perishable cargo to facilitate the export of Pakistani fruits and vegetables to Europe, the UK and Canada was stressed.

  • Embarrassment for aviation minister as Civil Aviation Authority says all licences issued are real

    Embarrassment for aviation minister as Civil Aviation Authority says all licences issued are real

    Federal Minister for Aviation Ghulam Sarwar Khan and the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Wednesday had to face embarrassment at the hands of Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) that said all commercial pilot licences (CPL) and airline transport licences (ATPL) issued by the authority were genuine and validly issued.

    Pakistani pilots working with foreign airlines as well as Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) have now for weeks been unable to discharge their duties amid bars by the international community following the aviation minister’s claims of dubious licences.

    His statements on the floor of the National Assembly had led to grounding of several Pakistani pilots working with foreign airlines besides the suspension of the national carrier’s operations in the European Union (EU) and the United Kingdom (UK) as well as the United States (US) over safety concerns.

    READ: US bans PIA

    According to reports, the Aviation Division secretary, who is also serving as the director general (DG) of Pakistan CAA has told the DG of Civil Aviation Regulation of Oman that all CPL and ATPL licenses issued by his office are genuine and validly issued.

    In a letter, a copy of which is available with The Current, he wrote that his office had cleared or verified 96 pilots licenses out of 104 names received from various CAAs or foreign airlines. This includes the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), Vietnam Airlines, Bahrain Air, Civil Aviation Malaysia, Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department and Turkish Airlines.

    READ: Army to finally launch Askari Airline?

    The remaining licenses will be cleared by next week, he maintained and added that the matter had been “misconstrued and incorrectly highlighted” by media as well as netizens on social media.

  • KYA BOLA? (Jul 15): ‘Horn Bajaao Hukmaraan Jagaao’ to ‘Jiyalo ko cheeni choro ko jawaab dena khoob aata hai’

    KYA BOLA? (Jul 15): ‘Horn Bajaao Hukmaraan Jagaao’ to ‘Jiyalo ko cheeni choro ko jawaab dena khoob aata hai’

    Following are some of the best snippets from Urdu newspapers on July 15, 2020, which The Current takes no responsibility for.

    ‘Horn Bajaao Hukmaraan Jagaao’

    According to Daily Dunya, the Pakistan Association of Tour Operators has become part of traders’ protest movement “Horn Bajaao Hukmaraan Jagaao”. Launching the movement, trade union member Naeem Mir said,“Agar hukoomat horn se naa jaagi tou taajir baraadari hukoomat ka band bajaa de gi”.

    ‘Faisal Vawda kis ka kis se manaazra krwa rahay hain’

    According to Daily Dunya, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has accepted Federal Minister Faisal Vawda’s challenge of a debate on the economy. PML-N stalwart and former Sindh governor Muhammad Zubair has said that Dr Waqar Masood, who is Pakistan’s longest-running secretary of finance, was part of the PML-N government’s economic team for five years.

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s finance aide Hafeez Shaikh, on the other hand, was a part of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) government. “Faisal Vawda kis ka kis se manaazra krwa rahay hain!” he maintained.

    ‘Jiyalo ko cheeni choro ko jawaab dena khoob aata hai’

    Daily Jang has reported that Sindh government spokesperson Murtaza Wahab, in response to Punjab Information Minister Fayazul Hasan Chohan’s verbal attacks against PPP chief Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, has said that“Jiyalo ko cheeni choro ko jawaab dena khoob aata hai,”  taking a dig at the government members in Punjab over their alleged involvement in activities that had led to a sugar crisis earlier this year.

  • Don’t want to step out? Book your sacrificial animal online from these stores

    Don’t want to step out? Book your sacrificial animal online from these stores

    Eid-ul-Adha is only a few days away, and in normal circumstances, we all would have made plans to buy sacrificial animals before coronavirus pandemic happened, but now we have to adapt to the ‘new normal’ and should follow all the SOPs issued by the government and avoid visiting crowded areas. So, if you are not planning to go to the cattle market to buy an animal then here are a few stores where you can book your Qurbani animals online.

    METRO Cash & Carry Pakistan

    https://www.facebook.com/metro.pk/posts/3322357304467612

    Website: https://www.metro.pk/

    Al-Fatah

    https://www.facebook.com/alfatahpk/posts/3096682580384777

    Website: https://www.alfatah.pk/

    Meat One

    https://www.facebook.com/MeatOne/posts/3181169238588386

    Website: http://www.meatone.net/

    ARY Sahulat Bazar

    https://www.facebook.com/arysbpk/posts/4080668311974486

    Website: https://www.arysahulatbazar.pk/

    NOTE: The article is not sponsored. The Current did its own research to write this article.

  • Saba Qamar hits out at body shamers, rishta brigade in new video

    Saba Qamar hits out at body shamers, rishta brigade in new video

    Saba Qamar has been keeping her audiences and fans entertained with wholesome content during this lockdown and pandemic. The actor, who recently launched her YouTube channel, has been sharing fun but thought-provoking videos, much to the delight of her fans.

    Her latest video is no less. Titled #BreaktheStereotype, Saba’s latest videos hits out at bodyshamers and the rishta brigade, who belittle women.

    Using her signature humour and sarcasm, Saba tries to get several messages across including body-shaming and gender equality and urges her followers to break different stereotypes. The video has been written and directed by Saba and features some of her closest pals.

    Watch it below:

  • Islamabad admin at odds with Navy over construction of elite sailing club

    Islamabad admin at odds with Navy over construction of elite sailing club

    Islamabad administration has issued a notice to the Pakistan Navy Sailing Club to halt its illegal construction.

    It has been reported that the club near the Lake View Park was inaugurated on July 10.

    The Capital Development Authority (CDA), in a notification on July 13, said that the club was told to halt construction on September 17, 2019, and February 24, 2020.

    “It has once again come to notice that illegal construction has resumed and the club has been made functional,” a notification read. “This is sheer violation of the CDA laws and it needs to be halted immediately.”

    The CDA has instructed the club owners to stop the construction work. If, however, they fail to comply then the authority has threatened to “take action” over the demolition of the structure at the club’s risk and cost.

    On the other hand, according to a letter written by the deputy chief of naval staff to the CDA chief in response to the authority’s first notice, it was informed that Navy Sailing Club was established in 1992 on the directives of then prime minister (PM).

    The letter also annexed three directives of the PM Office but it is pertinent to clarify here that none of them confirms the formal allotment of land to Pakistan Navy. The first notification issued in 1991 states that chief of naval staff is appointed as patron in chief of all water sports in Pakistan. The second letter issued in 1992 was regarding the premier’s directions to develop water sports centres at six different locations of the country including Kunhar River, Tarbela Lake, F-9 Park, Rawal Dam, River Ravi in Lahore and Sukkur Barrage.

    The third letter by the PM Office issued in 1994 is relatively more specific to the subject in which the premier has approved the development of a water sports centre at Rawal Lake. The letter states further that the centre will be developed by the chief of naval staff in his capacity as patron in chief for all water sports in Pakistan.

    The finance division will provide the funds while cabinet division will authorise provision of land at Rawal Lake for the purpose, it adds.

  • Pakistan to host World Tourism Forum 2021

    Pakistan to host World Tourism Forum 2021

    Special Assistant to the PM for Overseas Pakistanis Chairman National Tourism Board, Sayed Zulfikar Bukhari has announced that World Tourism Forum 2021 will be held in Pakistan.

    Speaking to a private news channel, the PM’s aide said that it will be a five-day event with over 1,000 foreign visitors expected to attend the event.

    “The World Tourism Forum will have three days for conference and two days for tourism”, revealed the SAPM.

    He added that the event had been planned for this year but postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

    Bukhari further said that over 32 new three-star to four-star hotels will be constructed in Pakistan in the next two years. He said that the government will renovate PTDC buildings and motels across the country to boost tourism.

    The minister said that the government had shut down Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) operations to restructure it.

    “We are making changes in PTDC to restructure it in accordance with global best practices,” he stated.

    Earlier, Bukhari had said the government would be bringing reforms in the PTDC rather than closing it down.

    The World Tourism Forum is an organisation based in Istanbul, Turkey dedicated to developing tourism around the world with its annual meetings.

  • Foreign students no longer have to leave the US if their classes shift online

    Foreign students studying the United States will no longer be forced to leave the country if their classes shift online after the Trump administration reversed their decision on the matter. The government announced the decision following widespread condemnation of the move and pressure from colleges and major businesses.

    US officials announced last week that international students at schools that had moved to online-only classes due to the coronavirus pandemic would have to leave the country if they were unable to transfer to a college with at least some in-person instruction.

    According to Reuters, the government said it would drop the plan amid a legal challenge brought by universities. But a senior U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) official said the administration still intended to issue a regulation in the coming weeks addressing whether foreign students can remain in the United States if their classes move online.

    There are more than a million foreign students at U.S. colleges and universities, and many schools depend on revenue from foreign students, who often pay full tuition.

    The July 6 move by the administration blindsided many universities and colleges that were still making plans for the fall semester, trying to balance concerns about rising cases of the novel coronavirus in many U.S. states and the desire to return to classes.

    A flurry of lawsuits were filed challenging the rule, including one brought by Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and another by a coalition of state governments. Dozens of big companies and colleges and universities filed “friend-of-the-court” briefs opposing the rule.

    Harvard has planned to hold all of its classes online for the upcoming academic year, a decision which President Donald Trump thinks is ridiculous.

    The universities argued the measure was unlawful and would adversely affect their academic institutions.

    In a highly anticipated court hearing on Tuesday in the case brought by Harvard, U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs in Massachusetts said the U.S. government and the two elite universities that sued had come to a settlement that would roll back the new rules and restore the previous status quo.

    The hearing lasted less than four minutes.

    The controversy began after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) said it would re-instate rules for international students on F-1 and M-1 visas that limit the number of online courses foreign students can take if they want to remain in the United States. Those rules had been temporarily waived due to the public health crisis.

    The DHS official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the details of any future regulation on this issue remain under discussion. In particular, DHS officials are still deciding whether to treat students already in the United States differently than students seeking to enter the country for the first time, according to the official.

  • Govt considers reopening marriage halls in Punjab from September

    Govt considers reopening marriage halls in Punjab from September

    The Punjab government has considered reopening marriage halls in the province from the first week of September after country-wide protests by halls association against continuous closure of businesses during the coronavirus pandemic.

    According to reports, the Marriage Halls Association on Monday threatened to march towards the Chief Minister House in Karachi if they were not allowed to restart their businesses under suggested coronavirus SOPs.

    Head of the Marriage Halls Association Rana Raees said that wedding halls remained closed till date due to the coronavirus spread.

    “The government has allowed other businesses to reopen under devised SOPs. However they remain reluctant to allow marriage halls to operate,” he said.

    He said that they had given a sample to the government to reopen marriage halls while following the SOPs.

    “We have gone bankrupt due to the ongoing financial crisis amid the pandemic,” said Raees and demanded the government to allow halls to resume their work under SOPs.

    He also warned that if the ban will continue then they could extend the scope of their protest and could march towards the chief minister’s house for the fulfilment of their demands.

    Following the protests, the Punjab government announced that the marriage halls will be allowed to operate in the province from the first week of September if the coronavirus situation improves in the province.

    Provincial Minister for Commerce Mian Aslam Iqbal reached out to the protesting owners of the wedding halls outside the Punjab Assembly.

    “You will be allowed to arrange wedding functions from the first week of September,” he said adding that he would meet their representatives for outsourcing functions after two days.

    The protestors, however, refused to accept his offer and demanded to immediately reopen activities of the marriage halls.

    https://twitter.com/GOPunjabPK/status/1283036958575517700?s=20
  • ‘Zindagi Tamasha’ gets the green signal from Senate HR committee

    ‘Zindagi Tamasha’ gets the green signal from Senate HR committee

    The Senate Standing Committee on Human Rights has given the green signal to Sarmad Khoosat’s film Zindagi Tamasha and has allowed it to be screened post-COVID-19. The film had stirred up controversy for allegedly hurting religious sentiments.

    Chairperson of the committee and PPP Senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar made the announcement on social media and said that the committee found nothing wrong with the film. He said that the film can be screened when cinema halls open post-COVID.

    While detailed reasoning on the committee’s decision is awaited, Senator Khokhar while speaking to The Current said: “It was a unanimous decision by all Senators of the Human Rights Committee who watched the movie together in Senate’s committee room. Nobody thought there was anything wrong with it. Waleed Iqbal from PTI was also one of the senators who watched it, even though he wasn’t part of the Human Rights Committee.”

    He added: “It’s a very good movie, I was touched by it; was beautifully shot. I would recommend that everyone should watch it once it’s released.”

    Zindagi Tamasha, which was scheduled to hit screens on January 25, was stopped from being released days before its release after the federal and provincial governments feared public unrest.

    While the Federal Government had said that the film will be reviewed by the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII), the Punjab Government had directed the filmmaker to hold a screening on February 3 so that the film can be reviewed again. However, no screening has taken place to date. It is pertinent to mention here that the provincial and central censor boards had earlier cleared the film for release with a few cuts.

    Sarmad had also appealed to the Prime Minister, President, Chief of Army Staff and the Chief Justice of Pakistan to facilitate the release of the film.

    https://twitter.com/KhoosatSarmad/status/1217818381149229062?s=20

    Senator Khokhar on March 11 had announced that the HR Committee had taken notice of the ban on the film.

    Written by Nirmal Bano and directed by Khoosat, Zindagi Tamasha starres Arif Hassan, Samiya Mumtaz, Eman Suleman and Ali Qureshi in the lead. The film is centred around a naat khwan Rahat Khawaja (played by Hassan) and his family who are outcast from the society when a secret of Khawaja’s is leaked.

    The official synopsis states: “The film is an intimate portrait of a family as well as a scorching political commentary on little gods on this earth who police our private passions.”

    The film premiered at the Busan International Film Festival held in October 2019 where it also won the prestigious Kim Ji Seok Award.

    Watch trailer: