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  • Unidentified gunmen open fire outside YouTuber Rajab Butt’s home

    Unidentified gunmen open fire outside YouTuber Rajab Butt’s home

    Unidentified men opened fire outside the residence of popular YouTuber Rajab Butt, leaving a pet dog dead and sparking security concerns among his fans and followers.

    According to Rajab Butt, the incident occurred two nights ago when four men in a white Suzuki Cultus with Karachi number plates arrived at his house and fired two shots using a pistol fitted with a silencer. One of the bullets struck a dog sitting at the doorstep.

    “I can’t take this lightly,” said Butt during a video interview. “I know I have a massive following, and anyone could be carrying a weapon. No one has ever threatened me directly, but this kind of act cannot be ignored.”

    At the time of the incident, Butt was not at home. However, his mother, sister, and security guard were present on the premises. He received a call from his mother and immediately informed the police. Officers from Chung police station arrived at the scene within seven minutes and collected evidence, including CCTV footage from the area.

    An FIR has been registered against unknown individuals, and an investigation is underway. The YouTuber refrained from naming any suspects but hinted that the motive might be harassment rather than a targeted attempt on his life. “Some people just want to disturb and scare me. Maybe they thought firing in the air would do that,” he added.

    As of now, no arrests have been made. Police are analyzing CCTV footage for leads. The case remains open.

    This isn’t the first time Rajab Butt has been in the news recently.  A few days ago, a video of a street fight on Thokar Niaz Baig Road went viral, with social media users alleging Butt was involved. Viewers claimed the man seen fighting inside and outside a car was Rajab Butt, allegedly accompanied by fellow content creators Shazi, Musa, and Haider. However, Butt later reached a settlement with the affected party, and the matter was resolved peacefully. He was granted bail in the case.

  • Pakistan defeats Saudi Arabia in Asian Youth Girls Netball Championship

    Pakistan defeats Saudi Arabia in Asian Youth Girls Netball Championship

    Pakistan started off in the Asian Youth Girls Netball Championship with an impressive 71–15 victory over Saudi Arabia.

    The Pakistani team displayed excellent coordination and skill throughout the game. Players Lia Raza Shah, Alisha Naveed, Samia Safdar, and Halima stood out with their remarkable performances, helping the team dominate from start to finish.

    The championship is being held in South Korea and includes 11 participating nations, divided into two groups. Pakistan is placed in Group B alongside Chinese Taipei, Japan, Korea, the Maldives, and Saudi Arabia. Group A features teams from Malaysia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Hong Kong, and India.

    Pakistan will face Chinese Taipei in its second group match on June 28, followed by matches against Korea on June 29, Japan on June 30, and the Maldives on July 1.

  • Mobile phone imports record sharp decline

    Mobile phone imports record sharp decline

    Mobile phone imports into Pakistan recorded a staggering 16.31 percent decline during the first eleven months of fiscal year (FY) 2024-25 compared to the corresponding period in FY 2023-24. 

    Data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) revealed that a whopping $1.356 billion worth of phones entered the country during the first eleven months of FY 2024-25. The import bill for phones during the same period in FY 2023-24 stood at an alarmingly high $1.62 billion.

    As per reports, mobile phone imports in May 2025 logged an even sharper drop on a year-on-year (YoY) basis, declining by a colossal 35.83 percent. Meanwhile, the imports amounted to $157.592 million in May 2024, falling to just $101.131 million during the same month in 2025.

    Data from the PBS indicates that month-on-month (MoM) imports declined in May 2025 as well, falling by 19.61 percent. This translated into the mobile phone import bill witnessing a MoM drop of $23.972 million. 

    The import of mobile phones detrimentally impacts local manufacturers and assemblers. However, it merits a mention that a vast array of mobile phones are not manufactured locally and can only be sourced via imports.

    A popular example of such phones is the iPhone, which is more expensive than most other mobile phones. Its higher price could be a contributing factor to the large mobile phone import bill.

    Currently, the price of the iPhone 16 rests at $799 in the US, which translates to about Rs227,000. Similarly, the iPhone 16 Pro’s price sits at $999, which converts to approximately Rs284,000.

    It merits a mention that the figures above are retail prices that US consumers face, and prices are likely to be much higher in the domestic market as imports face duties.  

    The mobile import bill might worsen with the launch of Apple’s latest phone, the iPhone 17, which is expected to be priced higher in the domestic market as opposed to its price in the US. According to reports, the latest iPhone model could cost approximately Rs573,999 in the domestic market.

    However, the price might fall in the domestic market if Pakistan reduces tariffs. According to reports, authorities may reduce tariffs as part of negotiations with the US to avoid a 29 percent reciprocal tariff.

  • ‘We’ll take that as compliment’; Pakistanis roast Indian actress for attack on Zohran Mamdani

    ‘We’ll take that as compliment’; Pakistanis roast Indian actress for attack on Zohran Mamdani

    Actor-turned-politician and right-wing fanatic Kangana Ranaut’s tweet about Democratic socialist candidate for the New York City (NYC) mayor, Zohran Mamdani, has earned her a lot of roasting from Pakistani accounts.

    Ranaut said in a tweet that “Mamdani is the son of Mehmood Mamdani (of Gujarati origin), a celebrated author; and Mira Nair, one of our best filmmakers, Padmashri, a beloved and celebrated daughter born and raised in great Bharat based in New York.”

    “Whatever happened to his Hindu identity or bloodline, and now he is ready to wipe out Hinduism, wow!! It’s the same story everywhere. On a different note, [I] met Mira ji on a couple of occasions. Congratulations to the parents”.

    Mamdani, a 33-year-old Democrat who is known for his critique of the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), pulled off a stunning victory in the Democratic party’s primary on Tuesday, defeating his main rival, political veteran Andrew Cuomo who previously served as state governor.

    Speaking at the May 15th New York Focus/HellGate NY mayoral forum, Mamdani said that Indian Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi is a “war criminal,” citing his alleged involvement in the anti-Muslim violence in Gujarat in 2002, where more than 750 Muslims were killed.

    “Indian PM helped orchestrate what was the mass slaughter of Muslims in Gujarat,” he said, adding that the pogrom was severe enough that “we don’t even believe that there are Gujarati Muslims anymore.”

    The NYC mayor’s candidate said that when he tells people that he hails from Gujarat, and that he’s a Muslim, it’s a “shock” to them.

    BJP Member of Parliament (MP) Ranaut’s remark drew plenty of attention on the internet, particularly in Pakistan. While she apparently intended to criticise Mamdani, Pakistani netizens accepted her jab at them as a “compliment”, highlighting Zohran’s charming personality.

    “We’ll take that as a compliment, Kangana,” one users responded on X. Another said, “Yeah, he definitely does. Thanks for the compliment.”

    “Hum ne to isay tareef samajh ke accept kar liya (We accepted it as praise),” a user said. The fourth user wrote, “That’s probably the best compliment man’s ever received (sic).”

    Meanwhile, some questioned the basis of the politician’s absurd post. “BTW, how does one sound like a nation? Also, what percentage of him sounds Indian and what percentage Pakistani,” a tweep asked.

    “Just because Zohran Mamdani belongs to a Muslim family, she portrays him as sounding Pakistani,” said a netizen.

  • Over 3,150 Indians evacuated from Iran under Operation Sindhu

    Over 3,150 Indians evacuated from Iran under Operation Sindhu

    India has repatriated over 3,150 citizens from Iran under Operation Sindhu, launched in response to rising tensions following Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear sites earlier this month.

    The Ministry of External Affairs announced that a special flight carrying 296 Indian nationals, along with four  Nepalese, arrived in New Delhi from Mashhad on June 25. The total number of Indians evacuated since the operation’s commencement is now at 3,154.

    The evacuation operation was announced by the Indian government on June 18, following the escalation between Iran and Israel after Israeli airstrikes targeted multiple nuclear and military sites in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan.

    The initial group of evacuees consisted of 110 Indian students who made the journey by road to Armenia. They were flown from Yerevan and arrived in New Delhi on June 19. Indian authorities have also arranged flights from main Iranian cities such as Tehran, Mashhad, and Isfahan, collaborating with local organisations.

    Evacuees include students, professionals, and travellers who found themselves in Iran during the escalation. Citizens from Nepal stuck in Iran have also been catered to through this operation as part of regional collaboration.

    The repatriation has taken place amidst a 12-day military confrontation between Iran and Israel that began on June 13 and led to widespread missile and drone attacks. While both countries claimed success after the exchange, early assessments by US intelligence suggest that Iran’s nuclear programme suffered temporary disruptions rather than long-term setbacks.

    A ceasefire was established with the involvement of the US, which came into effect on June 24. Israel has removed airspace restrictions, and both nations have shown a willingness to maintain the truce, despite some isolated claims of violations emerging from each side.

    Operation Sindhu is ongoing as a preventive measure amidst fears that the current pause in hostilities might not endure for long. Indian authorities continue to closely monitor the situation.

  • British Council, Sindh govt collab to transform English teaching for 30,000 public school teachers

    British Council, Sindh govt collab to transform English teaching for 30,000 public school teachers

    The British Council and the School Education and Literacy Department (SELD), Government of Sindh, have signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) to formalise a new phase of collaboration aimed at transforming the way English is taught in public schools across Sindh.

    This strategic partnership—set to be formalised through an Operational Alliance Agreement—will support the professional development of 30,000 newly inducted Primary School Teachers (PSTs) and Early Childhood Teachers (ECTs) through the British Council’s  “English as a Subject for Teachers and Educators (EaSTE)” programme. This will enable teachers to teach English and other languages more effectively using inclusive, multilingual, and 21st-century approaches which will shape the futures of approximately 2 million children in Sindh.

    As part of the collaboration, the British Council will work closely to implement a scalable digital Learning Management System (LMS) and to train 1,000 in-service public-school teachers as mentors to provide ongoing guidance and peer support.

    James Hampson, Country Director, British Council Pakistan said: “Today’s agreement renews our partnership with and commitment to the people and Government of Sindh. I want us to do more, together. That’s why our ambition of supporting 30,000 teachers and 2 million children is a great next step.”

    Sardar Ali Shah, Minister for Education, Government of Sindh said: “Our focus is not just on access but on quality. Through this initiative, we are equipping our teachers with the tools they need to teach English more effectively, and to do so in ways that reflect the linguistic and cultural realities of our classrooms, the next phase after recruitment focuses on teachers’ professional development and capacity building.”

    The programme reflects a shared commitment to building sustainable teacher development models in Sindh by combining global expertise with local insight. Delivered through a multi-stakeholder approach, the British Council and SELD aim to drive lasting impact at scale—building on the British Council’s decades-long work in education and teacher development in Pakistan.

    The EaSTE programme has already had huge success in Punjab where it enhanced English teaching for over 140,000 educators. 

  • ‘See You’; Sardaar Ji 3 hits cinemas across Pakistan

    ‘See You’; Sardaar Ji 3 hits cinemas across Pakistan

    Punjabi heartthrob Diljit Dosanjh and everyone’s favourite Hania Aamir are all set to bedazzle the screen in Sardar 3, with the film getting officially cleared for release by all three censor boards in Pakistan Sindh, Punjab, and federal territories.

    Zain Wali of Wali Films, one of the film’s producers and its distributor in Pakistan, confirmed the big news.

    Adding to the excitement, Hania Aamir took to Instagram and posted the film’s poster with a short and sweet message: “See you :)” The poster listed major cinemas across Pakistan including Cinepax, Nueplex Cinemas in Karachi, Cue Cinemas in Lahore, and Centaurus Cineplex in Islamabad.

    And yes, the screenings are already rolling out.

    Universal Cinemas in Lahore confirmed that their first show of Sardaar Ji 3 will kick off at 11:45 AM tomorrow. Meanwhile, Centaurus Cineplex in Islamabad said they’ll announce their showtimes by 7 or 8 PM tonight. Both cinema chains shared the poster on their official social media pages.

    However, things are still a bit uncertain in Karachi. Nueplex Cinemas said, “The ban on Indian films is still very much in place. If we get an official notice to screen Sardaar Ji 3, we’ll announce it accordingly.”

    Interestingly, even though the film is made in India, it’s technically not classified as a Bollywood movie. That’s because its production company, White Hill Studios, is based in Vancouver, Canada making it easier to bypass the ban on Indian content in Pakistan.

    But the twist doesn’t end there.

    The film is already stirring controversy across the border. Indian film bodies have called for a ban on both Dosanjh and the film because of Hania Aamir, especially after the recent military tensions in May. Diljit, however, stood firm, defending the decision to release the movie outside India and even praised Hania.

    Amid all this, Yasir Hussain jumped in with some playful support.

    Sharing a story on Instagram, he wrote, “Instead of going to India, this girl has brought Gulshan Grover, Neeru Bajwa and Diljit Dosanjh to Pakistan.”

    He also added, “Let’s welcome the neighbors in Pakistani style.”

    Yasir even called Sardaar Ji 3 a “historic” release.

    Now, Sardaar Ji 3 seems to be making its way to Pakistani cinemas, controversy and all.

    And for fans of Hania and Diljit? It’s time to grab that popcorn.

  • Elon Musk calls hashtags ‘esthetic nightmare,’ removes them from ads

    Elon Musk calls hashtags ‘esthetic nightmare,’ removes them from ads

    Hashtags will no longer be allowed in paid advertisements on X (formerly known as Twitter), Elon Musk said on Thursday.

    In an early Thursday post, Musk labeled hashtags in ads as an “esthetic nightmare” and declared they would be banned, continuing his attempts to transform the platform since acquiring it in 2022.

    Musk has previously voiced his disapproval of hashtags in December 2024, he encouraged users to refrain from using them, asserting that the platform had evolved beyond the necessity of manual tagging. At that time, he mentioned that features like Grok, an AI chatbot from his company xAI, could now categorize and recommend content without relying on hashtags.

    The new ruling pertains exclusively to paid advertisements. Regular users will still retain the ability to utilize hashtags in their posts. However, advertisers must now exclude hashtags from their promotional content.

    Since its introduction in 2007, the hashtag has been an essential element on the platform, enabling users to organize discussions and monitor trends. Over time, it has become a fundamental aspect of digital marketing, frequently employed by advertisers to enhance visibility and engagement.

    Musk’s approach appears to be driven by a shift in how content is discovered on the platform. Under his direction, X is moving away from user-initiated tagging toward algorithm-driven content discovery. This includes advancing posts through automated systems instead of leaning on trending hashtags.

    It is still uncertain how the ban on hashtags in advertisements will affect advertisers. Some marketing experts have leveraged them to connect with larger audiences, particularly during events or trending discussions. 

    The decision is part of a broader series of changes Musk has implemented as part of the rebranding of X. Since taking control, he has significantly restructured integral components of the platform’s identity and functionality, steering it away from its previous form towards a more AI-integrated and visually cohesive product.

  • SBP reserves plunge by $2.7 billion to hit three-year low

    SBP reserves plunge by $2.7 billion to hit three-year low

    The State Bank of Pakistan’s (SBP) foreign exchange reserves took a staggering hit, falling by approximately $2.7 billion in a single week. As per reports, this caused SBP reserves to decline to a three-year low of $9.064 billion.

    Analysts have outlined how current SBP reserves fall far short of the revised target of $14 billion for fiscal year (FY) 2024-25. According to data released by the SBP on Thursday, the sharp drop occurred in the week ending June 20 and was primarily attributed to large external debt repayments.

    As per financial analysts, Islamabad may have remained unable to extend or roll over commercial loans. Reports reveal that a large chunk of the repayment amount was put toward repaying commercial borrowing debt. 

    Analysts cite higher penalties for rolling over existing commercial debt as a likely possibility for the steep drop in reserves. As per reports, an extension on the repayment could have come with stricter conditions. 

    The SBP had recently adjusted its reserves target for FY 2024-25 from $13 billion to $14 billion. Earlier reports indicated that China intended to grant a rollover to Pakistan worth approximately $1.8 billion. 

    Prior to the sharp fall in SBP reserves, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb claimed that reserves would cross $14 billion by the close of FY 2024-25. Moreover, the IMF had been assured by Pakistani authorities that reserves will stand at $13.9 billion at the start of FY 2025-26.

    Currency market experts were stunned by the sudden transaction as well, stating that the market did not expect the payment to be made at the end of the outgoing FY. 

    While the SBP faced a setback from the unexpected outflow of reserves, reports suggest that it has received inflows of $3.6 billion in commercial and multilateral loans during the current week, which will be included in the reserves data for the week ending June 27.

    This will bring up total reserves to $12.664 billion. Data from reports reveals that this will result in Pakistan falling $1.3 billion short of the target.

    Reports indicate that the SBP remained active, purchasing dollars from the open market during the current fiscal year. Some analysts peg the amount bought by the SBP to sit between $6 to $8 billion. The SBP made the aforementioned interventions to meet the reserve requirements set by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

  • Elderly man brutally beaten over dispute in horrifying video

    Elderly man brutally beaten over dispute in horrifying video

    A elderly man was brutally attacked by several men in broad daylight over a financial dispute in Bahawalpur, leaving him unconscious and sparking outrage after footage of the assault surfaced online.

    Locals reported that the victim, identified as 70-year-old Hafeez Sajid of Fordwah, Bahawalpur, had an ongoing dispute tied to his son Waqar’s dealings with Shahroz Arshad, who worked with him abroad.


    Tensions arose after Shahroz returned to Pakistan and abducted Hafeez Sajid in Chak 19 Fordwah with his brothers Asif and Adeel.


    Witnesses said the attackers stopped the victim in Qaimpur, hurled abuses, punched and  kicked him, tore his clothes, and demanded his car’s papers during the assault, humiliating him publicly.


    They forced him into an outhouse, where they continued the assault while filming. 


    The attackers made a video call to Waqar in Malaysia, showing him his what was being done to the elderly man, even as he pleaded desperately for his father’s release.


    After hearing the victim’s cries, locals gathered at the spot and were able to help, but the attackers threatened to kill Hafeez Sajid if he reported the assault.

    Qaimpur Police filed a case under sections 341 (wrongful restraint), 342 (wrongful detention), 506 (criminal intimidation), 355 (assault to dishonor), 148 (rioting with lethal weapons), and 149 (unlawful assembly) after the video went viral on social media. 


    SHO Ayub Gujar confirmed the suspects have been arrested, and legal proceedings are underway.