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  • Sajjad Ali produces new song while in isolation

    Sajjad Ali produces new song while in isolation

    While the coronavirus has made the whole world to go under lock-down but it has not stopped Pakistani singer Sajjad Ali from creating music. The singer recently released a new song Dost on April 10 for his fans across the world.

    Sajjad Ali not only wrote the song but recorded it while practicing social distancing. He released the song on various social media platforms.

    Ali took to social media and wrote, “This video has been made during the ongoing two-week, 24-hour complete lock-down.”

    The song is melodious with beautiful lyrics. The video of the song only featured Ali, keeping in view the rules of isolation.

    Listen to the song here:

    https://www.instagram.com/tv/B-zNzZ5JNIP/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
  • Taher Shah explains the philosophy behind ‘Farishta’

    Taher Shah came, he saw and he conquered. And though his latest offering Farishta failed to impress fans who wanted more from the singer, the song managed to create a buzz and was trending on all social media platforms.

    While everyone kept referring to Farishta as the Urdu version of Shah’s previous song Angel, the singer has now stepped forward to explain the philosophy behind his latest masterpiece.

    “The philosophy of the song Farishta is that children are like angels,” wrote Shah. “Angels are sacred so we can righteously equate them with angels. These little individual are the essential component of our life.”

    The singer proceeded to explain the importance of children in our lives before writing, “The basic tale of the song video is, one cute child who as a king visits the fantasy world with his loyal friend unicorn who comes from the skies and take the child to beautiful fantasy world and where one butterfly meet with child which ultimately becomes fairy for the child and then like an ‘Farishta‘ both fall in love with each other for forever.”

    The singer added the kid’s personality resembles his own son and that he has dedicated this video to him and all children in the world.

    Watch the song here:

  • Coronavirus: Pakistan reports 1,378 recoveries as fatalities fall down to 7pc

    As the number of coronavirus deaths in Pakistan hit 100 on Tuesday, the country also reported what was its 1,378th recovery — maintaining recoveries’ triumph over fatalities like also seen even in the worst-hit parts of the world, including the United States (US), Italy and Spain among other countries.

    As per the details, Pakistan jumped from 1,026 recoveries on Sunday to 1,378 two days later while the total number of infections stood at 5,782 by the time this report was filed.

    On April 12, the country had reported that a bit over a thousand patients had recovered from the novel coronavirus — COVID-19.

    According to reports, the development had put the number of fatalities in Pakistan at a mere 8 per cent against 92 per cent recoveries out of the total number of closed cases.

    At the same time, the US had reported 40 per cent fatalities while those in Italy and Spain stood at 37 per cent and 21 per cent, respectively.

    The death to recovery ratio on Tuesday, however, improved further not only in Pakistan but also in the worst-hit US.

    According to the details of closed cases by Worldometers, Pakistan now has 93 per cent recovered patients while the US has 61 per cent with a slight improvement against Sunday’s 60 per cent.

    In additional good news, the two hardest-hit European countries have maintained their number of recoveries as even two days later, the percentage of recoveries in Italy and Spain still stands at 63 and 79, respectively — with no surge in the percentage of fatalities among closed cases.

    While the improvements still aren’t good enough, they come following a sudden spike in coronavirus infections and fatalities across the globe, which has led to countries being forced to make efforts aimed at dealing with the global pandemic.

  • People choosing not to donate? PM’s coronavirus relief fund gets only Rs225m in 11 days

    People choosing not to donate? PM’s coronavirus relief fund gets only Rs225m in 11 days

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran’s Khan coronavirus relief fund, which was set up in March to assist the government in mitigating the impact of the global pandemic, seems to not have attracted generous donations as it has received only Rs225 million within the first 11 days — since March 30.

    According to data shared by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) with officials of the Ministry of Finance, Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) and Ehsaas Programme, as of April 10 — the date of the last update — the total amount in the fund stood at Rs225 million.

    Analysts say that a possible explanation for this low figure lies in the fact that a number of private organisations and individuals are actively participating in relief activities themselves, having fewer reasons to donate to the PM’s fund.

    It, however, isn’t the first time when such a programme has received disappointing responses. The dams fund created by PM Imran and the Supreme Court (SC) to collect $12 billion for the construction of Diamer-Bhasha and Mohmand dams was excessively promoted on multiple media forums, but could only gather Rs12 billion, including over Rs1.7 billion from overseas Pakistanis.

    Meanwhile, the premier has appealed to overseas Pakistanis to donate generously to help the government cope with the ongoing health crisis in the country.

    In a video message released Monday, he noted that the entire world was struggling against the COVID-19 pandemic.

    The lockdown has adversely affected the world economy, resulting in growing poverty across the globe, especially in developing countries like Pakistan, he said. 

  • VIDEO: Hunger forces man in India to share milk with stray dogs

    VIDEO: Hunger forces man in India to share milk with stray dogs

    A man and a pack of stray dogs are seen in a scramble for milk spilt on a road in Agra in stomach-churning visuals that speak volumes on the desperation of India’s poorest during the nationwide lockdown to contain the spread of the deadly coronavirus pandemic.

    The image is from Monday morning on Agra’s Ram Bagh Chauraha when a large milk container overturned, sending a stream of milk down the road, just 6 km from the Taj Mahal. NDTV’s Kamal Khan tweeted the heartbreaking video.

    A pack of dogs was joined by a man who is seen trying to scoop up as much of it as he could in a small earthen pot.

    The 21-day day lockdown announced by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi last month, that is widely expected to be extended once it ends on Tuesday, has pushed hundreds of thousands of people across India into poverty and hunger.

  • Harbhajan Singh’s wife responds to backlash, clarifies why Singh supported Shahid Afridi

    Harbhajan Singh’s wife responds to backlash, clarifies why Singh supported Shahid Afridi

    Harbhajan Singh’s wife, Geeta Basra has responded to the trolling he received by Indians after he extended humanitarian support to Shahid Afridi’s foundation amid coronavirus crisis.

    Speaking to Hindustan Times, Geeta said, “Harbhajan knows what his country means to him and doesn’t want to explain an act of humanity. He lives for India and will die for India. His country will always come first. Whenever he has played cricket, he did it with his heart. And everyone knows what India means to him.”

    She continued, “This goodwill gesture was to help Afridi, with whom they have played cricket and have years of friendship. Afridi is doing his bit for his country. They tried spreading the word to their fans all over the world, inspiring more people to support his good work.”

    “Let’s not bring religion or anything else into this. Even the virus isn’t making any discrimination. They would’ve done the same if anyone from any of the other teams like West Indies or England would’ve sought help,” Geeta added.

    Indian cricketers Yuvraj Singh and Harbhajan Singh had earlier this month faced massive criticism for supporting Afridi in his fight against coronavirus.

    Both players in a video message had urged people to contribute and called on other cricketers in the two countries to make similar appeals. However, their own people had trolled them and called them out for offering their help to Pakistanis.

    Yuvraj, at that time, had responded to the matter by saying, “I really don’t understand how a message to help the most vulnerable gets blown out of proportion! All I tried to achieve was to help people in our respective countries by providing healthcare. My intention was not to hurt anyone’s feelings.”

    However, the spinner Harbhajan, kept silent on the issue. The bowler’s wife has now spoken up on why his husband decided to not respond to the criticism.

  • Teenager in India attempts to smuggle friend in a suitcase

    Teenager in India attempts to smuggle friend in a suitcase

    When his apartment complex banned all visitors due to the coronavirus outbreak and a strict lockdown in place, a teenager in Mangalore, India attempted to smuggle his friend inside his building in a suitcase.

    According to a report in Gulf News, the teenager stepped out of the building on a scooter, with a huge suitcase and returned with his friend inside of it.

    The matter came to light when the suitcase moved while being taken into the apartment complex. The people at the apartment grew suspicious and eventually told the security guards and the building association. The suitcase was opened and the building authorities were shocked to find the teenager’s friend inside it.

    The authorities reported the matter to the police who then called the parents of the two youngsters.

    The teenager’s family told the police that he lives alone in the apartment. The teenager also told the police that he had made several requests to the building authorities and appealed to them but representatives said that such appeals were never made.

  • Mushk Kaleem calls out Iman Aly for her ‘condescending statement’ on current models

    Mushk Kaleem calls out Iman Aly for her ‘condescending statement’ on current models

    Iman Aly’s unfiltered responses on Iffat Omar’s show continue to spark outrage.

    Model Mushk Kaleem, who late last year also walked the ramp at the Milan Fashion Week for Italian designer Stella Jean, recently called out Iman for her “condescending statement about the current models of our industry.”

    “According to her, the models who are working in our industry right now don’t have ‘adequate general knowledge’,” wrote the model.

    “I’m appalled that someone I’ve grown up admiring and revering would make such a statement,” she added.

    Iman’s casual remarks on the show had earlier also stirred controversy. The model turned actor had first claimed that Shah Rukh Khan’s Raees had first been offered to her. She further said: “90% of the movies made in Pakistan today are still offered to me first. But I only take the scripts I fall in love with. If I don’t like the lines, it feels like work, like slavery.”

    In another segment, Iman had remarked Humayun Saeed would be a “doodh dahi bechnay wala” (dairy product salesman) if he was not an actor. She also labelled Fawad Khan as a “failed standup comedian” and Mehwish Hayat a “cosmetologist’s assistant.” She also said that Mahira should have stayed a VJ.

    For those who don’t know Kaleem is a business graduate from the Institute of Business Academy. She worked at a corporate firm before joining the fashion industry as a model. Over the year, she has become a regular at all fashion shows across Pakistan, opening and stopping the show for many renowned designers. Kaleem has also modelled for Élan’s latest lawn collection.

    Meanwhile, Iman is gearing up for the release of Tich Button in which she will be sharing the screen with Feroze Khan, Farhan Saeed and Sonya Hussayn. The film was expected to hit screens on Eid-ul-Fitr but the coronavirus outbreak appears to have halted the release.

  • Punjab is offering a free online course on coronavirus control

    Punjab is offering a free online course on coronavirus control

    A short online course on prevention and control of coronavirus has been launched in Pakistan by the Punjab Skills Development Fund (PSDF) in collaboration with the online microlearning platform Gnowbe.

    The duration of the course is 30 minutes and it is open to the general public. It is free of cost and those who complete the course will receive an international certification from the School of Health Sciences at Singapore’s leading university Ngee Ann Polytechnic.

    An Urdu version of the course is also available so that a larger number of people can access it.

    Termed “Stay Protected with Infection Control and Prevention 101 Program” the online course will teach the nature and transmission of the virus.

    The course will consist of informative videos, tutorials and quizzes. There are two main topics: Infection Transmission, which details the chain of infection and transmission of diseases, and Infection Prevention, which includes sessions on prevention by hand hygiene and wearing personal protective equipment.

    It will be very helpful for those working on the frontline like the Prime Minister’s Tiger Force, field volunteers providing food and critical services, bank employees and law enforcement officers where the infection has the highest chances of spreading.

    In Singapore, Gnowbe has already been using its e-learning platform to provide the free course to the general public in eight. The partnership with PSDF will add Urdu to the menu as well.

    If you are interested in taking the course, use the following links to access it.

    For English: https://learn.gnowbe.com/infection-prevention-control-101

    For Urdu: https://be.gnowbe.com/signup/bundle/seykj3?gdid=ng9vvdz36rr6ob7womle