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  • Foreign tourist deeply touched by the kindness of Pakistanis

    Foreign tourist deeply touched by the kindness of Pakistanis

    A young foreign tourist who goes by the handle Adham Travels on Instagram has shared a video showcasing how kind Pakistanis were to him during his visit in the summer of 2024. He recently shared a three-part series of videos on his Instagram page, naming them the “Top 5 Things You Didn’t Know!”

    He recalls the moments that “totally changed” his perspective about the country, “from the clean streets to the breathtaking nature and most importantly, the incredible people.”

    Having visited more than 20 countries, Adham deemed Pakistanis as “some of the most hospitable, most caring people in the world.”

    “It would take me days to tell all the stories of the kindness that I was shown in this country, but I will name a few situations that really blew me away,” he added.

    One Pakistani took a day off from work to take Adham along on his bike to his favourite sites in the north so he could “leave the country with a positive impression.”

    Another man gave the young traveller the keys to his holiday home so that he could “relax and take a break from my intense travels” and provided him with food and a helper “all for free.”

    “Pakistan really surprised me in the best ways possible. I hope this video gave you a glimpse of what makes this country so special.” He concluded his video with the hope that he had helped dismiss preconceived notions about the country.

    https://www.instagram.com/reel/DFImNz_IatD/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

    Spreading kindness

    Earlier this month, a foreigner on a motorcycle trip to Pakistan was taken by surprise by a sweet interaction with a Pakistani traffic police official.


    Tourist Jacob Lum, who is from the United States of America, is on a year-long trip on his motorcycle. He is currently visiting Pakistan, a place he referred to as the most “underrated country” in the world.


    Jacob took to Instagram and shared a video of an interaction with a traffic warden in Lahore who stopped his vehicle because it is prohibited to drive a three-wheeler in the specific region, yet he was allowed to go ahead because he was a “guest.”

    The video features a middle-aged traffic warden who is seen admonishing the driver for taking the tourists on Mall Road when he knows it is prohibited in the area. However, he turns to Jacob and tells him politely, “We stop it only because it is dangerous.” He also adds, “But you are our guest, so I will allow him to take you to the city of Lahore.” Jacob thanked him, and the officer added: “I think you will enjoy your trip in Pakistan.”


    The video also shows the traffic warden welcoming Jacob, asking him to visit Minar-e-Pakistan, Badshahi Mosque, Tollington Market and other Mughal and British heritage sites in the city and warning him against eating street food because it is “unhygienic”.


    Jacob wrote in the caption, “This video is a great example of the kindness of the Pakistani people. This interaction was one of the best I have had with the police. He was there to enforce the rules that 3 wheeler rickshaws (motorcycle/ tuktuk) are not allowed in the city. And instead of removing us from the taxi ride and forcing us to get another one, he just scolded the driver and then permitted him to carry on “because we are guests”. I thought that was really nice of him and he quickly changed the conversation to welcoming us to Pakistan and providing recommendations about what to see in the city of Lahore.”


    Jacob also posted about how has had multiple experiences with the police in other countries and while some just want to exert control, extort money or just show their dominance; most are essentially kind yet he chose to show the interaction with the Pakistani police officer because that won him over. Jacob recounted that this was a “great start to my first day in the city and I felt extremely welcomed by the authorities.”


    “In addition to the police officer the immigration / customs office was also super friendly and very happy to welcome us to Pakistan,” the American tourist made it a point to mention.


    On a lighter note he added, “He also advised us to not eat the street food Ironically we were just taking the taxi back from going out searching for street food.”


    Jacob had previously shared other videos from his visits to Northern areas of the country especially Hunza valley and the Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) region. “I see why this land is being fought over,” he captioned the video he shot in GB.

  • Sidhu Moosewala’s new song features Pakistani ‘drug lord’ Faisal Jutt

    Sidhu Moosewala’s new song features Pakistani ‘drug lord’ Faisal Jutt

     With slain Indian Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala’s new song hitting the shelves, netizens have taken to social media to point out that an audio recording used in the song was originally from across the border.

    ‘LOCK’, which was recorded by Moosewala before his assassination in 2022, was released on January 23 on his YouTube channel.

    As the song went viral, getting over nine million hits within 24 hours of its release, fans were quick to highlight that an audio recording used in the track was of Faisal Jutt, a resident of Pakistan’s Gujrat, who was killed in a police encounter in 2023.

    Jutt, also known as Fasial Hanj, was allegedly a drug kingpin who expanded his trafficking network with the help of political connections. He was also accused of killing a cop and injuring another during a shootout with law enforcement.

    Jutt was shot dead by police in what was dubbed “the biggest” encounter in the country’s history. According to reports, the killing took place as law enforcement attempted to raid Jutt’s residence in his native village of Hanj.

    In a viral undated video released before his extrajudicial killing, Jutt was allegedly heard as shouting the following from the rooftop of his residence: “If I run away, don’t call me Jutt.”

    The same recording has now been used in Moosewala’s song. You can check it out below:

    Meanwhile, fans are speculating how and why the audio was used in a song released after the killings of both Jutt and Moosewala.

  • Imran Ashraf’s heartwarming moment with transgender fan goes viral

    Imran Ashraf’s heartwarming moment with transgender fan goes viral

    Beloved actor and host Imran Ashraf recently shared a touching video from his show on Instagram.

    The post was captioned with the word “Love,” and the video featured an emotional moment with a transgender fan from the live audience.

    In the video, the transgender audience member is in tears as she expresses her gratitude to Imran Ashraf.

    “Imran Ashraf sahib, I came to your show because you respect and love everyone. I am here only to meet you and pray for you. This is the first show in Pakistan’s history where someone from my community has been given so much respect. Thank you,” she says.

    The heartfelt moment, however, didn’t end there. Imran Ashraf, known for his kindness and humility, comforted the fan by saying, “Phir rona nahi hai (Don’t cry now),” and asked if she wanted to say anything else. She replied with another honest “Thank you.”

    To make the moment even more special, Imran Ashraf stepped beautifully into one of his most iconic characters, Shammo, a transgender role from his drama Alif Allah Aur Insaan, to cheer up the audience member. This gesture reflected his deep understanding and empathy for the community.

    Many people reacted to the post, including renowned singer Bilal Abbas, who commented, “Imran Ashraf, I love you, my brother ❤️ You are a true superstar .”

  • ‘Uraan Pakistan’: Ahsan Iqbal stresses boosting private sector confidence

    ‘Uraan Pakistan’: Ahsan Iqbal stresses boosting private sector confidence

    Planning and Development Minister Ahsan Iqbal met with members of the Overseas Investors Chambers of Commerce and Industry. He outlined the policies Islamabad is committed to following to assure foreign investors of Uraan Pakistan’s success.

    In a press conference, the minister highlighted how three similar plans had failed in the past because of political instability and inconsistency in following the plan’s roadmap. He announced that to make Uraan Pakistan a success, it is imperative to create a politically stable environment where investors do not fear ‘policy reversals’ every one to two years.

    He further highlighted the success of the federal government’s macroeconomic policies, which he claims brought about economic stability. Economic indicators lend credibility to his claim as inflation rates remain largely controlled while the GDP is beginning to grow again.

    He also commented on how fluctuating exchange rates in previous periods restricted investors from even carrying out investment feasibility studies. However, he outlined how foreign investors were now returning to Pakistan because of the stability which the rupee has displayed over the past year.

    The Minister highlighted Islamabad’s intent to initiate a phase of economic growth. He pointed out that growth would only be possible if the government actively designed policies which would restore the confidence of the private sector.

    Informing the press of the government’s progress, Ahsan Iqbal announced that a mechanism has been set up where a group will actively review problems faced by the business community and investors every month. He also said that businesses will be informed of policies and steps will be taken to remove any ‘bottlenecks’ that investors face.

    Stressing the importance of public-private engagement, he said that this plan would be the first step towards Pakistan’s larger goal of attaining economic growth.

    Ahsan Iqbal mentioned that the government was looking into ways to leverage Pakistan’s low cost of production to “accelerate export-led development”. He reiterated one of Islamabad’s objectives: To double exports in the next five years.

    Currently, Pakistan has a low average national income relative to developed economies, allowing Islamabad to attract significant investments. For instance, South Korea recently expressed its interest in shifting its industrial base from East Asia to Pakistan.

    With the World Bank’s 20-billion-dollar loan package, Uraan Pakistan has the financial backing it needs to bring about actual economic change. Funding from supranational institutions and Ahsan Iqbal’s commitment to fostering an environment conducive to business growth might allow Islamabad to follow Uraan Pakistan’s roadmap.

  • VIDEO: Bilawal loses cool at man interrupting media talk

    VIDEO: Bilawal loses cool at man interrupting media talk

    Chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, was addressing the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) Amendment Bill 2025 when a heckler interrupted him mid-conversation, leaving him visibly frustrated and briefly shifting the focus of the discussion.

    “It would have been great if the [mainstream] media and digital media representatives had been taken into confidence about the PECA bill… the government must build consensus before taking any further actions,” he said, addressing reporters on Friday at Parliament House.

    Commenting on the recently passed 26th Constitutional Amendment, the PPP chairman claimed that no one can reverse the constitutional amendment except parliament.

    Bilawal also confirmed that he was going to attend breakfast at the invitation of United States (US) President Donald Trump in a personal capacity.

    “I will definitely go for breakfast, a practice that’s continued from my mother’s tenure. There’s a possibility of holding meetings with friends of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto there [as well].

    “Neither am I a minister nor a government official, so this [trip of mine] is not official or as a representative of the government,” he clarified.

    It merits mentioning that Bilawal and incumbent President Asif Ali Zardari attended the pre-inauguration oath ceremony of then-US President-elect Trump in Washington, DC, in 2017.

    In response to a question about the new US administration inviting India’s Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar but not Pakistan for Trump’s oath-taking ceremony, Bilawal said it was essential that a representative was invited from India as well after extending an invitation to the Chinese president, given the geopolitical situation between the US and China.

    “Pakistan’s foreign policy is intact. Pakistan’s nuclear assets and missile technology are gifts from Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto […] PPP will never compromise on Pakistan’s deterrence,” he said.

    Earlier, the Opposition Leader in the National Assembly, Omar Ayub Khan, spoke to a delegation of the Parliamentary Reporters Association Pakistan (PRAP) in Islamabad and stated that the latest amendments introduced to the PECA law would be used as a weapon.

    Omar Ayub, while terming the PECA amendment bill a draconian law aimed at restricting freedom of speech, stated that this act would only impose further restrictions on media freedom in Pakistan.

  • Christopher Daniels Confirms Retirement from Wrestling

    Christopher Daniels Confirms Retirement from Wrestling

    The pro wrestling community is grieving the retirement of veteran wrestler Christopher Daniels aka “The Fallen Angel” from the ring. He made the crucial decision on January 22, 2025. He is 54 now, and Daniels further elaborated that he just had to take a break because his doctors suggested it.

    The retirement was expected after his fight with “Hangman” Adam Page on January 18, 2025, during the AEW match. Daniels regrets this whole fight and now believes it should never have happened. Ultimately, Daniels stated he had no option but to retire after the doctors warned him he could never get into the ring. At the end of the address, all he could say was “This was goodbye.”

     

    Christopher Daniels Shares How His Family Celebrated His Retirement

    “After coming home from the airport, my family welcomed me with this celebratory display,” wrote Christopher Daniels in an X post where he shared the photo. A placard bearing the words “The Legend Has Retired” featured alongside pictures of Christopher Daniels at various stages of his career. Daniels also received a box of chocolates, a non-alcoholic Fre Sparkling Brut, and a commemorative plaque that stated ‘32 years of dedication and passion. Thank you for falling for a living and inspiring us to get up and reach for the stars. Congratulations on a successful career.‘

     

    AJ Styles Reacts to Former Tag Team Partner’s Retirement

    AJ Styles has reacted to Christopher Daniels’ announcement of his retirement as a professional wrestler. Styles and Daniels were former tag partners in TNA.

    Although they were never the TNA World Tag Team Champions, they are a member of the Fortune stable and two-time NWA World Tag Team Champions.

    Styles opened his heart on X (formerly Twitter), praising a legendary 54-year-old for his retirement. 

    Read Also: Australian Open Semi-Finals: Jannik Sinner vs Ben Shelton

  • Rajab Butt sentenced in lion cub case

    Rajab Butt sentenced in lion cub case

    A court in Lahore has handed a unique punishment to famous YouTuber Rajab Butt after he was charged keeping a lion cub illegally at his home in Park View Housing Society in Lahore. 

    The court directed the vlogger to serve the community by creating monthly vlogs about animal rights for an entire year. 

    The judicial magistrate’s decision requires Rajab Butt to create and post five minutes long videos on all social media platforms during the first week of every month. 


    The vlogs must first be approved by a probation officer. Additionally, the Wildlife Department will provide him with educational materials on animal protection to ensure his content spreads accurate and impactful messages.


    The court emphasized that Rajab Butt must comply with the orders and attend any further hearings if summoned. Failure to follow these directives could lead to further legal action.


    Rajab Butt admitted to his mistake, expressing regret for setting a poor example as a social media influencer.

    “I didn’t realize it was illegal to keep wild animals as gifts, I regret my actions and now understand the importance of spreading awareness about animal rights. I am committed to using my platform to make a positive impact,” Rajab Butt said. 


    This case sheds light on the importance of protecting wildlife and responsibly using influence to raise awareness about ethical practices.

  • ‘Black law’: Civil society reacts to controversial PECA amendments

    ‘Black law’: Civil society reacts to controversial PECA amendments

    Journalist associations and digital rights associations have expressed concern about the recently passed Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Bill, 2025, dubbing it the “black law” that would undermine freedom of expression.

    The National Assembly approved the controversial PECA bill on Thursday despite a walkout by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmakers and journalists from the proceedings.

    The bill proposes a new provision, Section 26(A), to PECA to penalise perpetrators of ‘fake news’ online, which states: “Whoever intentionally disseminates, publicly exhibits, or transmits any information through any information system, that he knows or has reason to believe to be false or fake and likely to cause or create a sense of fear, panic or disorder or unrest in general public or society shall be punished with imprisonment which may extend upto three years or with fine which may extend to Rs2m or with both.”

    The bill proposes that victims of fake and false information would be able to approach the authority to remove or block access to the content in question, adding that the authority would issue orders no later than 24 hours after the request.

    One of the key provisions of the new amendments is the formation of the Digital Rights Protection Authority (DRPA), which will have the authority to remove prohibited content and take action against individuals who share such material.

    The media bodies criticised the Peca amendment in a statement, saying that the amendment draft was not shared with them prior to the approval from the National Assembly.

    The Journalists’ Rights Group bodies, including the Joint Action Committee (JAC), the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), and the All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS), issued a joint statement condemning the amendment. 

    “JAC and its members have not been shared with any draft as yet. Before studying the draft none of the JAC members are in a position to comment on the proposed amendments,” the statement read.

    The statement further read, “Such amendments aim to suppress the freedom of the media, especially social media.”

    “The government should come to its senses and immediately withdraw the undemocratic and unnecessary amendment, otherwise journalists across Pakistan will protest vigorously,” the statement added. 

    Meanwhile, the Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Attaullah Tarar, spoke to reporters at the press gallery in Parliament House on Thursday, saying that the bill aimed to regulate social media and would not target “working journalists.”

    “Anyone who is a working journalist will not be affected by this bill. This bill has been put forward because the Federal Investigation Agency does not have the capacity to counter child pornography and deepfakes,” Tarar said.

  • Pakistan records massive agricultural export growth amid rising local prices

    Pakistan records massive agricultural export growth amid rising local prices

    The agricultural sector exported a large volume of raw food during the first half of the current Fiscal Year (FY) 25. According to reports, food exports surged to $3.96 billion from July to December 2024-25, representing a 13.83 percent growth from the same period last year.

    Despite prices of raw food rising significantly, food export volumes have grown consistently over the past 17 months, with rice exports being the main driver of agriculture-based export revenue.

    However, local consumers are suffering as they have to pay higher prices amid the existing gaps between the level of supply and demand. Recent trade agreements with Bangladesh have raised the level of demand for agricultural produce in Pakistan, causing prices to rise.

    Reports have revealed that rice exports grew by 14.5 percent on a year-on-year basis to settle at a respectable $1.87 billion. Data from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics revealed that higher rice shipments boosted food exports as farmers exported a staggering 416,491 tons of basmati rice alone during the first half of FY 25.

    This represented a growth of 30.62 percent in the export volume of the commodity. Basmati rice also brought in a staggering $433 million, which translates into an 18 percent growth in export value.

    Similarly, non-basmati rice displayed positive growth in terms of export value and quantity. As per reports, the export quantity of non-basmati rice grew by 17.35 percent to settle at 2.643 million tons. Rice export values over the corresponding period rose by approximately 14 percent, causing export revenues from the commodity to surge past $1.4 billion.  

    Pakistani exporters’ largest clients are markets in the European Union and the United Kingdom. However, with Commerce Minister Jam Kemal Khan working tirelessly to boost export revenues, new avenues for bilateral trade have opened up, resulting in Pakistani rice being sold in Bangladeshi markets as well.

    While this spells great news for Islamabad, as export revenues stabilise the exchange rate, consumers are likely to suffer. As per reports, prolonged export growth has caused the average price of basmati rice to rise from just 150 rupees per kg to an astronomical 400 rupees per kg.

    Experts are predicting that the gap in Pakistan’s trade deficit is expected to improve as rice is not the only commodity that has experienced a rise in export volumes. During the first half of FY 25, the volume of sugar exports rose from just 33,101 tons to a whopping 632,804 tons, representing a colossal 1,811 percent increase in sugar exports.

  • Naseer Uddin Shah spots ‘interesting looking’ mosque while travelling

    Naseer Uddin Shah spots ‘interesting looking’ mosque while travelling

    Bollywood actor Naseer Uddin Shah recently shared a captivating picture of a rather unique mosque he spotted during a trip abroad. 

    He took to Instagram to post a picture of the mosque and wrote, “The most interesting looking mosque I’ve ever seen, obviously designed by Portuguese or Dutch architects in Galle.” 

    The mosque does not have the traditional dome or minaret that are usually a part of mosques around the world. It does sport what looks like two towers instead of a minaret. 

    The mosque is the Meeran Mosque built inside the iconic Galle Fort in Galle. It was built in 1904 and is named after Meeran Sahib, an Indian Muslim saint whose devotees were mainly sailors.