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Tag: Pakistan

  • Khan warns candidates of losing party tickets if they don’t launch campaigns

    Khan warns candidates of losing party tickets if they don’t launch campaigns

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan issued a warning to his party candidates to launch their election campaigns in a peaceful way; otherwise, their tickets will be cancelled for the February 8 elections.

    The former prime minister, who is currently in Adiala jail, said to his ticket holders that those leaders will not come out for the election campaign; their tickets will be replaced.

    Imran Khan gave his remarks while talking to journalists in the Adiala jail courtroom.

    The former prime minister was jailed in May last year, and PTI’s electoral symbol “bat” was taken away this month. Furthermore, the party—PTI-Nazriati — with which it sought an alliance also backtracked from its commitment.

    However, the PTI has vowed to participate in the upcoming elections actively, opting not to boycott them despite the removal of its iconic electoral symbol, the ‘bat.’

    After the Supreme Court’s (SC) decision regarding the bat symbol, the PTI candidates are now contesting elections on multiple symbols.

  • Pakistan’s debt burden increases by Rs86.28 billion within seven days

    Pakistan’s debt burden increases by Rs86.28 billion within seven days

    In the week ending January 12, the government of Pakistan increased its debt burden by Rs86.28 billion, bringing the total net borrowing for the ongoing fiscal year 2024 to Rs2.57 trillion, as per the latest estimates from the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP).

    The government’s borrowings fall into three main categories: budgetary support, commodity operations, and others.

    The breakdown of the weekly net borrowing reveals that Rs87.7 billion was allocated for budgetary support, while Rs1.37 billion went towards retiring commodity operations.

    Additionally, Rs48.4 million was used for other purposes during the week.

    Cumulatively, this brings the borrowing figures for the fiscal year 2024 to Rs2.77 trillion for budgetary support, Rs193.72 billion for retiring commodity operations, and Rs1.1 billion for other purposes.

    The primary sources of financing for budgetary support are the State Bank of Pakistan and the Scheduled Banks. In the ongoing fiscal year, the government has repaid a net sum of Rs1.05 trillion to the central bank.

    The Federal Government accounted for Rs954.56 billion of this repayment, while the Provincial Government, AJK Government, and GB Government contributed Rs77.73 billion, Rs11.17 billion, and Rs2.05 billion, respectively.

    On the other hand, scheduled banks have extended a net total of Rs3.81 trillion in loans. The Federal Government borrowed Rs3.9 trillion, while the Provincial Government repaid Rs90.41 billion during this period.

  • ‘Ensure uninterrupted Internet access’; Sindh High Court orders on Jibran Nasir’s petition

    ‘Ensure uninterrupted Internet access’; Sindh High Court orders on Jibran Nasir’s petition

    The Sindh High Court (SHC) has issued a directive on Wednesday, instructing the government and the Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA) to ensure uninterrupted internet access until February 8, the scheduled date for the general elections in the country.

    The order came from a two-member bench led by SHC Chief Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi, following a petition filed by lawyer and independent candidate Jibran Nasir. The petition addressed the recent “unconstitutional” internet outages experienced across the country in the past month.

    Jibran took to X (former Twitter) and said, “SHC has directed PTA and Govt to ensure smooth uninterrupted access to Internet till Election Day 8th Feb to ensure no further pre poll rigging happens and any rigging attempts on Election Day can also be reported through social media.”

    “This is not just stopping the PTI from contesting free and fair elections — which is pre-poll rigging — but is also hindering the way of independent candidates like me,” he stated, highlighting that the internet and social media were efficient and cost-effective platforms to reach out to voters.

    Notably, three nationwide disruptions occurred on December 17, January 7, and January 20, coinciding with virtual events organized by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on social media platforms. The PTI had recently approached the Supreme Court, urging it to take notice of the suspension of internet services and the blocking of social media websites.

    During a press conference earlier in the week, caretaker Information Minister Murtaza Solangi attributed the outages to “technical” issues and system installations. He also stated that there was “no guarantee” such incidents wouldn’t occur in the future.

    In Nasir’s petition, the PTA, the federal government, and the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunications were named as respondents. Nasir argued that the act of shutting down mobile internet and broadband services should be declared as “unconstitutional, illegal, disproportionate, unreasonable, and without lawful authority.”

    The plea further sought the immediate restoration of access to social media platforms and the suspension of any directives restricting access to social media until the conclusion of the general elections.

    In response to the petition, the SHC issued notices to the respondents and directed authorities to ensure uninterrupted internet access until the general elections on February 8. The hearing has been adjourned until January 29.

    Read more: PTA warns of possible internet disruption in next 90 days

  • Here’s how you can apply for the Three Step E-visa policy for Turkey

    Here’s how you can apply for the Three Step E-visa policy for Turkey

    Turkey has launched an e-visa service, allowing tourists and business travelers to obtain their visas without visiting Turkish embassies.

    The service is available for ordinary passport holders with valid Schengen, USA, UK, Ireland visas, or residence permits.

    Three-step process

    To apply for a visit visa to Turkey, Pakistani applicants can follow a straightforward three-step process:


    Step-I: Apply


    Visit the official website at https://www.evisa.gov.tr/en/ to initiate the application.


    Step II- Pay fee


    After entering the required information, applicants can make the necessary payments using a credit or debit card (Mastercard, Visa, or UnionPay).


    Step III-Download


    Upon successful completion of the application, the applicant will receive a link to download their e-Visa. This link will also be emailed to them for convenience.


    It is advised to keep a copy of the e-Visa, either in electronic format (on a tablet, smartphone, etc.) or as a hard copy in case of any system issues at the entry points.


    Visit visa fee


    Applicants can obtain their Turkey visit visas electronically after making the required payments.

    The visit visa fee for Pakistani nationals is set at $60. This affordable fee opens the doors to explore Turkey.


    Other financial requirements


    In addition to the visa fee, applicants must fulfill specific financial requirements, including providing proof of a return ticket and hotel reservation.
    Official guidelines stipulate that a tourist should have a minimum of $50 for each day of their stay in Turkey.


    Therefore, a Pakistani tourist planning to spend 30 days in Turkey must demonstrate a bank statement with a balance of at least $1,500 to meet this requirement.

  • Iqra Aziz opens up about Saboor Aly’s wedding dress controversy

    Iqra Aziz opens up about Saboor Aly’s wedding dress controversy

    Iqra Aziz recently explained why she ended up using a wedding dress similar to her co-star Saboor Ali’s in the drama ‘Manat Murad.’


    Iqra Aziz appeared as a guest on a talk show where she spoke about the controversy surrounding the copy of Saboor Ali’s wedding dress. “Actually, we wanted a traditional dress to shoot the wedding scene in the drama as it was the director’s demand but we couldn’t find any traditional dress despite trying hard. So the director showed me the picture of the couple after a little research. On doing this I found out that this is a pair designed by Faiza Saqlain.”

    The actress said that they approached Faiza Saqlain. “We couldn’t change the dress completely, so I kept the dupatta and gharara same and requested her to change the shirt of the dress.”
    “With this dress, we also kept the jewelery simple and traditional,” she added.
    Iqra Aziz said, “I designed my entire bridal look for the play myself. I won’t say I copied it but my look was really inspired by Saboor Ali’s wedding look because she wore it at her wedding. She looked very beautiful and I wanted to look as beautiful as her in the drama.

    “But my dramatic bridal look was inspired by Saboor Ali’s wedding look and the outfit I wore was not technically Saboor Ali’s but I got it from a designer, I didn’t know that. It would have become a big problem otherwise I would have asked Saboor Ali before shooting because I am one of those people who care about others’ happiness.”

  • Israeli soldiers killed by their own bombs

    Israeli soldiers killed by their own bombs

    In a huge setback to Israel, 24 of its soldiers were killed in the biggest single-day losses since the start of its ground war in Gaza.


    The soldiers were killed on Monday, with the army saying 21 of them were reserve soldiers who got killed when rocket-propelled grenade fire hit a tank and two buildings they were trying to blow up.


    Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said an investigation was launched into the “disaster” and that Israel “must learn the necessary lessons”. Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said the “Deaths of 24 of our fighters, our best sons…is a heavy blow”.


    On the ground, fighting raged in Khan Yunis, the biggest city in southern Gaza, which the army said it had “encircled”.


    Witnesses said powerful explosions rocked Khan Yunis, as well as Deir al-Balah in north Gaza and Rafah in the south.


    Gaza’s Ministry of Health said Nasser Hospital and El Amal City Hospital in Khan Younis, among the few partially functioning hospitals in the territory, were under “extreme danger” from Israeli bombardment.


    “The buildings of the Nasser Medical Complex are exposed to shrapnel, endangering the lives of patients, staff and displaced people,” the ministry said on its Telegram channel on Tuesday.


    “The Israeli occupation places Nasser Medical Complex and El Amal Hospital in Khan Younis in extreme danger,” it said, calling for “urgent intervention” to safeguard both facilities.

    Moreover, Al-Jazeera just released a video compilation of Israeli soldiers filming themselves enjoying and being insensitive to the Palestinian properties.

  • Netflix to stream WWE from 2025

    Netflix to stream WWE from 2025

    Netflix on Tuesday sealed a long-term broadcast deal with the WWE professional wrestling juggernaut, as the streaming giant pushes further into sporting events.

    Beginning in the United States in 2025, Netflix will become the exclusive new home of “Raw,” the WWE’s flagship program that has been broadcasting on television since 1993.

    The agreement will also see WWE shows and live events streamed across the globe as their rights become available.

    With an initial 10-year term for $5 billion, the deal has an option for Netflix to extend for an additional 10 years or opt-out after the initial five years.

    “This deal is transformative,” said Mark Shapiro, president of TKO, the parent company of the WWE.

    “It marries the can’t-miss WWE product with Netflix’s extraordinary global reach and locks in significant and predictable economics for many years,” he added.

    The three-hour show has helped launch the careers of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin and John Cena, among other stars.

    It is currently the most-watched show on the NBCUniversal-owned USA network in the United States.

    The WWE is a ratings blockbuster that owes much of its success to entrepreneur and promoter Vince McMahon.

    After buying what was then the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) from his father in 1982, he turned the second-rate league into an entertainment giant.

    Transformed into World Wrestling Entertainment in 2002, the league passed the billion-dollar mark in annual sales last year.

    The deal marks another move by streaming giants to build their portfolio of live sporting events.

    Netflix won the rights last month to a tennis duel between Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz and previously streamed a golf tournament featuring Formula One drivers and pros.

    Amazon announced last week that it would invest $115 million in Diamond Sports Group, the leading network of local sports channels in the United States, gaining regional rights for sports ranging from hockey to basketball.

    It had previously acquired certain rights to the English Premier League, the French Ligue 1, the French Open tennis tournament and the NFL American football league.

    Apple TV, for its part, owns global rights for US Major League Soccer.

  • Get ready to shake a leg with Bilal Saeed’s Hogai Ghalati

    Get ready to shake a leg with Bilal Saeed’s Hogai Ghalati

    Bilal Saeed is one of the biggest names in the Pakistani music industry. The ‘ singer has released a new song video called ‘Hogai Ghalti’ with new singer Mehr Tahir. Bilal introduced Mehr through this song, and the video is available on his official YouTube channel, One Two Records. He also directed the video himself.

    The song starts with female voice, and then Bilal Saeed comes in with a captivating Punjabi rap. ‘Hogai Ghalti’ is about being willing to make mistakes in love. It tells the story of lovers who have their own unique ways of expressing love.

    Watch the video :

  • ‘It was not my intention to malign anyone’; Jahangir Tareen says about Bushra Bibi

    ‘It was not my intention to malign anyone’; Jahangir Tareen says about Bushra Bibi

    Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) chief, Jahangir Khan Tareen, expressed regret on Tuesday for the controversial remarks he made against former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi, during a recent TV interview.

    “Regarding my comments on Nadeem Malik’s show, it was not my intention to malign anyone. I have always refrained from making derogatory comments about politicians’ families, even while my own family was under attack. I only shared what was said to me verbatim. In hindsight it should have been kept private,” he said on X (formerly Twitter).

    In an interview with Nadeem Malik, Tareen disclosed that the strained relationship between him and Imran Khan was fueled by Bushra Bibi and revealed an intriguing episode involving Khawar Maneka’s family.

    “Maneka’s brother called me and asked for a private meeting,” said Tareen.

    “He told me that his sister-in-law Bushra Bibi and Imran Khan have a relationship and it is creating a disturbance in his brother’s married life,” he added.

    Tareen said he replied that they should approach Bushra Bibi’s husband first and said it was not his job to resolve the matter.

    According to Tareen, when he relayed the entire story to Khan in another private meeting, it annoyed the PTI chief and led to clashes between them.

    The discord escalated, and at a walima ceremony, Imran Khan summoned Tareen into a room where Bushra Bibi confronted him about his inappropriate remarks. Tareen expressed disbelief at the turn of events, emphasizing that he and Imran Khan were close and that he never anticipated such repercussions. Despite feeling sidelined, Tareen chose to endure the situation in silence.

    As Tareen acknowledged the irreversibility of the past events, he reiterated his regret for the controversial remarks and the subsequent fallout with Imran Khan. The revelations have sparked intrigue, shedding light on the complex dynamics within political circles.

  • 12-year-old beats Einstein and Stephen Hawking in IQ test

    12-year-old beats Einstein and Stephen Hawking in IQ test

    A 12-year-old British student has surpassed famous scientists Albert Einstein and Stephen Hawking in intelligence, scoring more than the two in an IQ test.


    Devon schoolboy Rory Bidwell achieved the maximum score of 162 on the Cattell III-B test – despite not having prepared for it.


    Both Einstein and Stephen Hawking are said to have scores around 160.


    Rory found the test “pretty easy,” his dad said, and had no problem finishing it in the time limit.


    Abby Bidwell, the British student’s mother, said her son was very calm during the test and even took a leisurely stroll to the toilet during one section.


    His father, James Bidwell, told Sky News the family’s first reaction to the score was “That’s a big number – what does that actually mean?”.


    A bit of Googling revealed Einstein and Stephen Hawking are both said to have had IQs of around 160. That was when it started to sink in that it was “really quite impressive,” Mr Bidwell said.


    “We’ve always known he’s an incredibly bright lad. This just puts it in context.”