When it comes to on-screen chemistry and stellar performances, actor Ahad Raza Mir has had the privilege of working alongside some of the most talented actresses in the industry.
During a recent appearance at LUMS University, the Ehd-e-Wafa actor shared insights into his collaborations with leading actresses including Sajal Aly, Ramsha Khan and Danaeer Mobeen.
“I have worked with actresses like Ramsha Khan, Sajal Aly and Dananeer Mobeen, each experience has been unique, and I’ve had a different journey with each of them,” Ahad remarked.
During the session, Ahad discussed how working dynamics influence a project’s narrative and production.
“The energy between an actor and actress on screen can either enhance or shape the story, chemistry between the cast is key, and working with such talented actresses has always been a rewarding experience for me,” he shared.
Ahad Raza Mir has starred in drama such as Khamosiyan, Yakeen Ka Safar, Ehd-e-Wafa, Dhoop Ki Deewar, Hum Tum.
Earlier, the Yakeen Ka Safar actor opened up about upcoming projects in an interview with Gloss Etc by Maliha Rehman.
In Meem Se Mohabbat, Ahad Raza Mir will star opposite Dananeer Mobeen, marking their first on-screen pairing.
“It’s lighthearted with a little bit of a heavy undertone. It’s the kind of story I’ve been looking for because it’s multi-dimensional… has its moments of depth. Not to say that lighthearted work doesn’t have depth, but this has something worth exploring, and that’s why I signed up. It’s written by Farhat Ishtiaq, and I have trouble saying no to her scripts. Her storytelling is phenomenal. Every time I read or hear one of her stories, I get hooked.”
Speaking about his much anticipated Netflix project Jo Bachay Hain Sang Samait Lo, the Ehd-e Wafa actor reflected on the timing and significance of the series.
“I think I’m waiting for ’Jo Bachay Hain Sang Samait Lo’. I’m hopeful and all, but everything has its time, you know? It had to happen at this time, and that’s when it did. I think there are reasons for that. There must be a reason behind it in the cosmos. That’s kind of how I’ve been living life anyway now. I think there’s no point in worrying as long as we, as human beings, think that way… like there’s a greater plan for everything. That’s the way I look at it. I’m just happy it’s coming.”
Ahad Raza Mir’s future plans also include branching out beyond his established relationship with Hum TV to explore new opportunities with other channels.
He’s excited to see how working with different networks will change his experience as an actor.
“I am moving on to other channels as well and I’m excited for that… just to kind of see what the difference is, and obviously, I think every channel also has their own mandate of the kind of content that they want to do. So I’m excited to see myself in that position.”
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has revealed exciting news about the Pakistan Super League (PSL), saying, “We will auction two new teams for the next PSL season.”
During a ceremony in Sialkot on Sunday, Naqvi said, “We have decided to introduce two new teams in the next PSL season, and we think that one team will belong to Sialkot. The auction process will be transparent, and we are confident this will make the league more competitive and entertaining.”
“We are committed to upgrading cricket venues across the country to ensure they meet international standards,” Naqvi added.
The current PSL format features six teams, including Islamabad United, Karachi Kings, Lahore Qalandars, Multan Sultans, Peshawar Zalmi, and Quetta Gladiators.
With the addition of new teams next season, the league is set to grow, promising even more excitement and opportunities for players and fans alike.
Australia has announced its squad for the upcoming International Cricket Council (ICC) Men’s Champions Trophy 2025, which will be held in Pakistan and the UAE.
Pat Cummins will lead the Kangaroos. The squad includes Alex Carey, Nathan Ellis, Aaron Hardie, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, and Mitchell Marsh. Other notable names like Steve Smith, Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Short, and Adam Zampa are also part of the team.
Afghanistan’s Squad for Champions Trophy 2025
Just a day earlier, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) revealed its squad for the same tournament. However, star spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman was not included as he is recovering from an injury. Mujeeb, who was a key part of Afghanistan’s squad during the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 in India, has been advised to focus on T20s for now to ensure a full recovery before returning to One Day Internationals (ODIs).
ACB’s interim chief selector, Ahmad Sulaiman Khil, explained that Mujeeb was not available for selection due to medical advice. He missed the recent ODI series against Zimbabwe for the same reason.
Meanwhile, right-handed opener Ibrahim Zadran has made a comeback to the team after recovering from an ankle injury sustained last year.
Afghanistan will be making its debut in the Champions Trophy and will start its campaign against South Africa on February 21 in Karachi. Following that, they will face England and Australia on February 26 and 28 in Lahore.
Afghanistan’s Squad for Champions Trophy 2025:
Hashmatullah Shahidi (Captain) Ibrahim Zadran Rahmanullah Gurbaz Sediqullah Atal Rahmat Shah Ikram Alikhil Gulbadin Naib Azmatullah Omarzai Mohammad Nabi Rashid Khan AM Ghazanfar Noor Ahmad Fazal Haq Farooqi Fazal Rahman Malik Naveen-ul-Haq
The Champions Trophy 2025 is scheduled to start on February 19, with the opening match between Pakistan and New Zealand in Karachi.
Hyundai Pakistan proudly introduces the Sonata N Line, an exciting new addition to its sedan lineup. Launched at an exclusive event on 12th January 2025 at the Expo Center, Lahore, the Sonata N Line is now available for full price bookings at an Ex-Factory price of PKR 15,890,000 at all Hyundai dealerships nationwide.
This latest offering from Hyundai delivers unmatched performance, powered by a Smart stream 2.5 Turbo GDI engine paired with an 8-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT). With 290 Hp, 422 Nm of torque, and a 0-100 km/h acceleration in just 6.3 seconds, the Sonata N Line is a true powerhouse on the road.
Designed for driving enthusiasts, Hyundai’s N Line combines bold, aerodynamic styling with a premium interior that offers both comfort and luxury. From its sporty accents to advanced technology, it elevates the driving experience to a whole new level.
The Sonata N Line is equipped with an impressive array of over 20 Hyundai Smart Sense features (ADAS) Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems features, showcasing cutting-edge technology designed to elevate both safety and convenience on the road. These state-of-the-art systems work harmoniously to provide a highly secure driving experience, offering drivers enhanced confidence and peace of mind in every journey.
Experience the perfect harmony of luxury, safety, technology, and performance.
Bookings are now open at your nearest Hyundai dealership. For details, visit: https://hyundai- nishat.com/find-a-dealer/Elevate your drive with Sonata N Line, No Stopping Now.
A petition in the Lahore High Court (LHC) has sought an immediate ban on YouTube, Facebook and TikTok.
As per the details, a citizen named Aslam, through Advocate Nadeem Sarwar, has filed the petition with the federal government and Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) as respondents.
The petitioner claimed that many people in Pakistan used YouTube channels for blackmailing, adding that immoral videos were being uploaded to YouTube and Facebook to gain views and earn money without any license.
It was further stated that fake videos were being shared to said platforms besides some content creators showing women from their families in their vlogs, which he believed, was harmful to the social fabric.
The citizen requested the court to enforce the Citizen Protection Rules and order the shutdown of all social media platforms.
It merits a mention that YouTube was last banned in Pakistan in September 2012. The ban was imposed after the platform failed to remove a blasphemous video that sparked widespread protests by Muslims across the globe.
The ban lasted for several years and was lifted in January 2016 after YouTube launched a localised version for Pakistan, allowing the government to request the removal of objectionable content.
Apart from this, TikTok has been banned multiple times in the country due to concerns over immoral and indecent content. The platform faced bans in October 2020, March 2021 and July 2021, but these were lifted after TikTok assured stricter content moderation and compliance with local laws.
Bollywood actress Triptii Dimri has recently addressed the speculation surrounding her rumoured relationship with producer Karnesh Ssharma.
Talking to E-Times, the Animal actress shared how the speculations have affected her.
“Sometimes, these rumours affect me deeply. There are moments when I feel extremely upset because I value my freedom,” Dimri said.
Despite the ongoing buzz about her alleged romance with Karnesh Ssharma, Triptii Dimri made it clear that her focus remains firmly on her career. She said, “I stay loyal to my work.”
The rumours started after Triptii Dimri and Karnesh Ssharma were spotted celebrating New Year’s Eve together in Finland. The duo shared glimpses of their trip on Instagram, fueling fan excitement and speculation.
When asked directly about the dating rumours, Triptii neither confirmed nor denied them.
Amid government’s claims of the economy being on the right track, World Economic Situation – an economic survey conducted by the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) at the United Nations (UN) – has projected Pakistan’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to grow by a modest 3.4 percent in 2025.
While seemingly low, the projected growth rate is impressive as the country continues to recover after the economic slowdown it underwent in 2022-23.
According to reports, the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) $7 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF) builds on the progress that was made under 2023’s EFF. Islamabad, in collaboration with IMF officials, is attempting to introduce structural reforms to help Pakistan escape the economic quagmire it finds itself bogged down in.
The government has managed to stabilise the economy and pull it out of the downward spiral it found itself in at the end of 2023 when, according to Trading Economics, the economy shrank by approximately 0.2 percent.
It is pertinent to note that Islamabad has managed to support the economy’s growth despite austerity measures proposed by the IMF. The global lender’s recent loan package requires that Pakistan create an environment that addresses chronic structural issues while supporting economic revival.
The UN’s survey highlighted that Pakistan’s work towards reforming state-owned enterprises, rebuilding policy credibility and attempts to boost competitiveness is in line with the IMF’s conditions and reflects the recent efforts of the federal government as well.
Islamabad has also made the decision to suspend subsidies and end support pricing for crops in a move to bolster competitiveness in the economy.
The federal government has actively been trying to privatise loss making publicly owned companies such as the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA). However, it has been unable to find success in its efforts as investors are not interested in purchasing publicly-owned companies due to structural issues plaguing them.
The survey also revealed that Pakistan will still considerably lag behind its counterparts in South Asia in the coming years as South Asia’s regional GDP is expected to rise by approximately 5.7 percent and 6 percent in 2025 and 2026, respectively.
The reason behind the high regional growth rate can be attributed to India, Nepal and Bhutan, all of which have displayed robust growth rates in recent years. The survey also reported that consumer price inflation in South Asia could fall from 9.9 percent in 2024 to just 8.3 percent in 2025.
Aside from Bangladesh, inflation rates have dropped in all South Asian countries, the survey said.
It merits a mention that the drop in inflation rates in Pakistan were made possible through the State Bank of Pakistan’s (SBP) contractionary monetary policy. With inflation in control and the SBP slashing interest rates, the economy is on track to recover as businesses utilize cheaper loans to fuel expansion plans.
The UK’s National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) has set the record straight, stating that white men have carried out the vast majority of sexual grooming gang offences, after the owner of X (formerly Twitter) published a post making false accusations against British-Pakistani men.
Police databases presented new figures that included quantitative data on ethnicity, showing that white offenders constituted 85 percent of “group-based” child abusers in the first three quarters of 2024. The same data for the whole of 2023 showed that 83 percent of offenders were white.
Speaking to the press briefing on Friday, the director of the NPCC’s Hydrant programme targeting child sexual abuse, Richard Fewkes, claimed that there is no “significant issue” with “any particular ethnicity or setting”.
Musk also waged an online campaign against the UK government over the grooming gangs issue, making false allegations against UK Prime Minister (PM) Keir Starmer.
In a post on Wednesday, he wrote “True” in reply to India’s Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament (MP) Priyanka Chaturvedi, who had accused people of Pakistani origin of being behind the UK’s gang grooming.
Meanwhile, Musk’s biographer, Seth Abramson, posted a series of notes on X on Tuesday, alleging that Musk may be “going mad.”
Abramson wrote: “I’m a Musk biographer who has been tracking his online behavior for the last two years, and given that he’s admitted to all of mental illness, heavy drug use, and crippling stress, it is now reasonable to fear he is deeply unwell.”
The billionaire has falsely accused Starmer of being “complicit in the rape of Britain” during his tenure as a Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) between 2008 and 2013 and called safeguarding minister Jess Phillips a “witch” and a “rape genocide apologist”.
On Friday, Fewkes said, “(The data) reflects what you would expect to see across the country in terms of ethnicity. Offences where grooming gangs are involved are predominantly white. There is not a significant issue here with any particular ethnicity or setting.”
The NSPCC data indicates that white individuals constituted the largest proportion of child sexual abuse suspects. In 2023, they accounted for 1,884 cases (83%), while Pakistani suspects numbered 62 (2.7%).
From January to September 2024, there were 1,623 white suspects (85%) and 75 Pakistani suspects (3.9%).
The NPCC, however, said, “Quarter four 2024 is not included in 2024 data as it is still being worked on.”
The police have released data in the wake of a heated debate in the House of Commons regarding whether there should be a national statutory inquiry into Pakistani grooming gangs.
Earlier, The Telegraph reported that grooming gangs are responsible for two child sexual abuse offences reported to police every day.
The newspaper reported an analysis indicating that there were 4,228 offences of “group-based” child sexual abuse, which constituted 3.7 percent of the 115,489 child sexual abuse and exploitation crimes (including online offences) in 2023.
The Network of Women Journalists for Digital Rights (NWJDR) has come forward to condemn the ongoing online harassment and gendered disinformation campaign against leading journalist and columnist Asma Shirazi.
The online campaign against Asma Shirazi is being spearheaded by “prominent political party supporters, and political commentators and vloggers.”
Asma Shirazi, who is a senior journalist, a talk show host at a private channel and a columnist at BBC Urdu, is at the receiving end of the online hate curated by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s leader, Shehbaz Gill.
It all started with Asma’s criticism of PTI’s claims of getting relief through negotiations with the government and pressure from a backdoor channel. On her YouTube channel, Asma posted about the ongoing process of negotiations and reports of Trump’s influence, which some supporters of PTI claim to have. In a video about the “End of talks or a pause before breakthrough,” Asma shared her insight on the matter and said that it has been observed lately that one of Trump’s aides, Richard Grenell, who had been posting very actively about freeing Imran Khan-PTI’s incarcerated leader- has stopped posting on social media all of a sudden because “Trump administration has strictly directed the new cabinet to not post anything without approval.”
Asma said that the new directive has resulted in silence from Grenall, who had become “a very active member of PTI.”
“So there is nothing going on which could bring hope to PTI followers…who had assumed Grenell is Trump,” Asma commented.
This part was taken out by Shehbaz Gill, and he posted on Twitter, “Military-backed journalist Asma Shirazi is accusing @RichardGrenell of behaving like a political worker for Imran Khan simply for speaking his mind! She thinks his tweets sound like he’s part of Khan’s team. Chilling attempt to stifle free speech.”
This prompted many social media accounts attributed to the supporters of PTI to attack Asma’s journalistic ethics, calling her biased and stating that her analysis was an attempt to curb the freedom of expression. Her columns for BBC Urdu were dug out to show that she has a prejudice towards the party.
However, in the said vlog, she went ahead and appreciated PTI for taking a step back and agreeing to negotiate while stating that the matter will remain suspended till Donald Trump’s administration takes over in America. Additionally, she made it a point to mention that ruling party PMLN’s social media took her appreciating and framed it as a remark from her side that “Imran Khan lait gaya” which can be translated as “Imran Khan has surrendered.” PTI social media took it up and started a smear campaign against the senior journalist.
According to Asma, she never used such language, and this is a “misogynistic” campaign against her.
In a separate vlog, Asma lambasted Gill for using Imran Khan’s name and smear campaign against women in politics and journalism to earn “dollars” while sitting abroad. She even cited examples of Gill’s previous instances of referring to women as prostitutes and cursing them, quoting his interaction with fellow journalist Nadia Ahmed and herself in the past.
This led to an onslaught of hate, targeting her credibility, character and journalistic integrity with Shehbaz calling her an “internalized misogynist.”
After Asma’s vlog was published, the International Coalition for Women in Journalism stepped in and issued a statement to condemn the online abuse and harassment faced by Asma Shirazi. “This is not the first time Shirazi has faced such abuse. PTI members, workers, and supporters have repeatedly harassed her online for her journalism. These coordinated attacks aim to silence women journalists and suppress critical reporting,” the statement read.
Previously, Asma was bullied for one of her articles for BBC Urdu: Kahani Baray Ghar Ki. Written in 2021 when PTI was in government, and it was inferred from her write-up that she has accused the then first lady of the country and wife of Imran Khan, Bushra Bibi, for being involved in black magic where in reality, Asma wrote about how the economy cannot be saved by “slaughtering goats” or “spilling the blood of pigeons.”
Shehbaz Gill was also at the forefront of the campaign when Asma criticised ARY News’ coverage of a Supreme Court hearing where her picture was used despite her not being involved in the case.
Former Senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar posted, “In the last decade or so I’ve been to hundreds of Asma Shirazi‘s shows. Can’t point out a single one which wasn’t balanced. It’s simply unfair to expect journalists to subscribe to a particular narrative or to hound them when they don’t. Nauseating sexist witch-hunt!”
Simultaneously, NWJDR has raised its voice for the protection of female journalists against cyberbullying in the country. As per a report by International Centre for Journalists, Facebook and X are the two least safe platforms, with 39 percent and 26 percent of respondents, respectively, expressing concerns. The research also laid out that nearly 73 percent of women journalists experience online violence.
While talking to The Current, Asma Shirazi emphasised that these tactics are used to snub the voices of journalists at large. “The campaigns like these are meant to threaten journalists and forbid them from speaking or writing the truth.”
While shedding light on the purpose of these campaigns, she said, “The purpose of these campaigns is to make people fearful or target one person to spread the fear among all that nobody comments on this one thing or anything at all, and this happens with women all the time, be it me or others. They just want to make an example out of us.”
“It is not easy to combat an organised campaign like this. That is why I have seen so many people getting silenced in the years gone by,” she lamented.
Talking about Shehbaz Gill’s campaign, she said, “It’s been five years that this person is running a one-sided campaign against me. Neither me nor any other journalist have ever talked back.”
Stressing on the present circumstances, she said, “Nowadays, they [cyber-bullies] are using pictures of women to earn money through YouTube. These could be women in politics or journalists. They put their pictures on [thumbnails] make fun of them, write trashy things about them, increase their viewership through that and earn dollars. This needs to stop.”
On a concluding note, she said, “There has to be a method with which we can control them, and even if we can’t, we can raise our voices. I wish and I hope that all the journalists, both male and female, talk about it. I know so many are reluctant, and maybe that is because they are afraid.
We won’t ignore them from here on, and they’ll get a reply from our side. They can’t just keep saying anything. The faceless trolls are hard to fight, but we will keep challenging their known faces.”
Senior actress Javeria Saud has revealed that she has written stories for several popular dramas and telefilms that were well-received upon airing.
In a recent conversation with a journalist during a shoot, Javeria shared that the drama Mohabbat Aur Mehngai is set to air soon, with shooting currently underway.
“I have always written plays focusing on public issues and their stories,” she said, emphasising her preference for relatable, socially relevant content.
She clarified, “Fantasy stories are not my forte. I write stories inspired by the challenges and problems I observe in society so viewers can connect with the narratives.”
She further added, “I have written scripts for several dramas, all of which were appreciated because they revolved around real public issues.”
In a lighthearted jab at her peers, she humorously commented, “Some drama writers don’t use their minds, but I know how to use mine properly.”
Interestingly, she also disclosed last year that she had written the OSTs (original soundtracks) for several hit dramas but was not credited for her work.
“I wrote songs for dramas like Khuda Aur Mohabbat and Ishq Murshid, but I wasn’t given credit for them,” she claimed.
