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Tag: Pakistan

  • PTI had a virtual jalsa last night and the internet shutdown all over Pakistan: here is how people are reacting

    PTI had a virtual jalsa last night and the internet shutdown all over Pakistan: here is how people are reacting

    Internet services faced serious disruptions on Sunday night as a large number of people complained about difficulties in accessing social media sites where Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) was holding a virtual election rally.


    Users from different parts of the country reported slow internet speed all across the country, especially in Karachi, Lahore, Mir Pur Khas, and Rawalpindi.

    Downdetector confirmed that website versions were down since around 7pm in the evening.


    However, PTI supporters have implied that the government deliberately ‘slowed’ the service to thwart people from joining the jalsa.


    It is important to note that PTI says that it has been banned from holding public gatherings and rallies across post May 9 riots. However, as elections loom closer, supporters and party leadership are the making most of modern technology and social media to gain momentum.


    TV Host, Owais Mangalwala, wrote on X, “The speed of the internet has slowed down to the point that nobody can attend the virtual jalsa”.


    Different accounts shared screenshots of the number of responses #PTIVirtualJalsa has garnered all across social media.


    The meme brigade also jumped in to spin the whole situation funnily.

    Taking a jibe at the opposition Usama Ghazi posted a meme:


    Some of the netizens showed their commitment to the party by posting videos of them being part of the jalsa even though virtually. Singer Annie Khalid posted on X.

    The Internet Observatory Authority, NetBlocks, also confirmed internet blockades in various parts of the country.


    The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has said that it is looking into reports that internet services witnessed disruption in “some parts” of the country, reports The News.


    In a statement on Monday, the PTA said the overall situation of internet access across the country was normal.

  • Shop that sold used sherwani getting sued by customer

    Shop that sold used sherwani getting sued by customer

    A local boutique owner has been sent a compensation notice by an upset buyer who alleges that he was sold an old sherwani for his cousin’s wedding.

    A man, identified as Usman Shabbir, reached out to the Consumer Protection Court to file a complaint against the owner of the local boutique demanding Rs500,000 from him.

    The News reports that the sherwani was ordered from the boutique on September 8 and according to the notice, the new sherwani was to be designed for Rs20,000 while Shabir paid Rs15,000 in advance.

    “The owner of the boutique gave an old sherwani instead of a new one,” the notice read, adding that the owner violated the Punjab Consumer Protection Act 2005.

    The district consumer court has summoned the owner of the boutique on January 2, 2024 .

  • Pakistan’s current account records first surplus since June 2023

    Pakistan’s current account records first surplus since June 2023

    In a noteworthy turnaround, Pakistan’s current account, after four consecutive months of deficits, revealed a surplus of $9 million in November 2023. 

    This marks a stark contrast to the $157 million deficit recorded in the same month the previous year, as reported by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on Monday.

    This surplus, the first since June 2023, is significantly lower in volume compared to its standing at $520 million. 

    Analysts attribute this surplus to a substantial rise in the country’s exports and remittances, coupled with a marginal decline in imports. Worth noting is the previous month’s current account deficit of $184 million in October 2023.

    According to SBP data, November 2023 witnessed a 12 per cent surge in the country’s exports (goods and services) to $3.364 billion, compared to $2.999 billion in November 2022. 

    Simultaneously, remittances reached $2.25 billion, reflecting a 4 per cent increase from the same month last year. Conversely, total imports saw a nearly 6 per cent reduction to $5.29 billion in November 2023, down from $5.01 billion the previous year.

    SBP reports a significant improvement, with Pakistan’s current account deficit for July-November of FY24 standing at $1.16 billion, a remarkable 64 per cent decrease from the $3.3 billion deficit in the same period of the previous fiscal year (FY23).

    During its latest Monetary Policy Committee meeting on December 12, the SBP highlighted a notable enhancement in the current account balance, with the deficit narrowing by 65.9 per cent year-on-year to $1.1 billion during Jul-Oct FY24.

    This shift is crucial for economically challenged Pakistan, heavily reliant on imports, as a widening deficit exerts pressure on the exchange rate and depletes official foreign exchange reserves, currently standing at slightly over $7 billion according to the latest data.

  • Why did HSY fail to recognise Urfi Javed?

    Why did HSY fail to recognise Urfi Javed?

    Fashion designer Hassan Sheheryar Yasin, popularly known as ‘HSY, didn’t recognise Indian actress Urfi Javed during an interview.

    HSY was a guest on a TV show where he shared amusing responses to quick questions. When a photo of Urfi Javed was brought up, HSY couldn’t recognize the Indian actress and asked, “Who is Urfi Javed?”


    Even after the host introduced her, the Pakistani fashion designer still didn’t recognize her and went on to explain the reason behind not knowing her.
    “Unfortunately, I know very little about the Indian film industry, I don’t know what’s going on there,” he said.
    The designer continued by saying that we should give Indian artists as much attention as they give us. “There was a time when our artists worked there and their artists worked here, people of both countries respected each other. Here I am not talking about common people but their government and its talking about policies that don’t support the exchange of art and culture.”

  • PML-N ticket applicants to submit nomination papers on December 20

    PML-N ticket applicants to submit nomination papers on December 20

    The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on Monday asked applicants to submit their nomination papers by December 20 for the forthcoming general elections, which are set to take place on February 8, next year, as per The News.

    Sources within the PML-N told The News that the process of review will be completed on Tuesday this week. He also confirmed that the senior leaders of the party will release the final list of ticket holders for both national and provincial assemblies on Thursday, and tickets will also be issued on the same day.

    Individuals who have submitted their nomination papers will be requested to withdraw. They will be reassigned to other prominent positions, such as the Senate or executive offices, if they do not receive the ticket.

    PML-N head Nawaz Sharif and party president, Shehbaz Sharif, after consultation with senior leaders, will release the list of ticket holders.

    The Sharif brothers are chairing the 12th session of the parliamentary board to access the constituencies. All recommendations from each session were compiled at the end of the huddle.

    The source also told the publication that the announcement about ticket holders was not disclosed because of seat adjustment matter with like-minded parties.

  • Zahid Ahmed calls Netanyahu ‘terrorist’; Instagram deletes post

    Zahid Ahmed calls Netanyahu ‘terrorist’; Instagram deletes post

    Pakistani actor Zahid Ahmed is not happy with Instagram after the social media site deleted his post about supporting Palestinians in their struggle against genocide.

    Zahid Ahmed wrote a message on Instagram, telling everyone that the site took down his earlier post. “Never thought this would happen to me, Instagram deleted my last post in which Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and US President Joe Biden were called real terrorists.”

    The actor slammed the site, writing, “Instagram, I’d love to see you burn in hell on the day of judgment.”

    A few days ago, the actor shared a post on Instagram and Facebook with a picture of British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu along with the Afghan Taliban and  US President Joe Biden.

    “We were forced to believe that this is what terrorists look like when the world now knows what terrorists look like,” was written on the picture.

    This post is still visible on Facebook.

    Over 18,797 Palestinians have lost their lives in Israeli bombing on Gaza since October 7. More than 50,000 people have been injured, and over 7,780 are missing, presumed dead under the rubble. More than 253,000 houses have been partly damaged, and over 52,000 houses have been completely destroyed while 1.8 million Palestinians have been displaced.

  • Lahore: Man kills ex-wife and in-laws two years after divorce

    Lahore: Man kills ex-wife and in-laws two years after divorce

    A man in Baghbanpura, Lahore, gunned down his ex-wife and in-laws including her father, brother, and sister as they were returning from a wedding ceremony on Saturday night.


    As per police reports, Kiran got divorced two years ago and was residing with her parents in Faisalabad. She had come to Lahore for a family wedding. She had divorced her husband for his involvement in criminal activities, reported Dunya News.

    Witnesses have reported about him dragging one of the women out and kicking her repeatedly.


    Two other ladies and the accused daughter have been injured in the firing.


    IG Punjab Usman Anwar has ordered an immediate investigation into the matter.


    The suspect, however, has not been arrested till now.

  • Meesha Shafi wins initial defamation case against ARY UK

    Meesha Shafi wins initial defamation case against ARY UK

    A High Court in the United Kingdom has found that New Vision TV, the broadcaster of ARY UK, has defamed singer Meesha Shafi in a December 2020 broadcast.


    The broadcast was aired by ARY UK on December 5, 2020, in which reports were presented by newsreaders and on tickers as evidence.


    In a preliminary hearing, the court found out that the channel had deliberately made defamatory remarks by implying that Meesha was failing to comply with court orders over two years and that the channel depicted Shafi as “someone who does not comply with legal requirements laid down by a court and engages in such behaviour repeatedly”.


    The channel is now required to submit its defence to the court by January 26, 2024.


    “Such an assertion would have the tendency of lowering the claimant [Ms Shafi] in the estimation of right-thinking people generally; it is contrary to the common shared values of our society for people to deliberately ignore court orders requiring them to attend court, and to do so repeatedly over an extended period…The claimant is a very high-profile Pakistani celebrity who has taken a leading role in the advancement of women’s rights, holding herself out as an example to society. Given the claimant’s standing, the words complained of are likely to have a seriously adverse impact on the way the claimant is treated, thus satisfying the seriousness threshold,” the court asserted.


    The court examined the evidence in the broadcast, which said: “She [Ms Shafi] came to Pakistan, did her work and left. Singer Meesha Shafi threw the court orders to the winds. She came to Pakistan, recorded a song, and then returned to Canada. She did not present herself in court. Ali Zafar has filed a defamation lawsuit against Meesha.”

    In 2018, Ms Shafi accused singer and actor Ali Zafar of sexual harassment, in what was thought to be the first #MeToo moment in Pakistan.

  • PPP’s Sardar Latif Khosa joins PTI

    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) aggrieved leader Sardar Latif Khosa has officially joined Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Sunday “on the wish” of former prime minister and founder PTI Imran Khan.

    “I have made the decision not only in the interest of the country and democracy, but also to raise my voice vigorously for the truth,” he said.

    Sardar Khosa announced during a press conference in Lahore that he is joining PTI, expressing hope that the politics of hatred would end.

    Khosa also said that a country’s constitution is supreme, adding that it has all the characteristics of a welfare state.

    “The motherland can become prosperous if we follow the Constitution. The Constitution has a solution for everything if it is implemented in its true spirit,” he said.

    He also mentioned that a barrister (Allama Muhammad Iqbal) came up with the idea of Pakistan, and Muhammad Ali Jinnah completed it.

    “I have dedicated my services to PTI. I am free to join a party of my choosing,” Khosa said, adding that he would not talk about what he lost or gained in the PPP.

  • Pakistan’s volunteer network ‘MilKar’ wins Commonwealth Innovation Award

    Pakistan’s volunteer network ‘MilKar’ wins Commonwealth Innovation Award

    Pakistan’s largest volunteer network Milkar has won the esteemed Commonwealth Innovation Award for Sustainable Development 2023.


    The selection process spanned several months and involved over 70 jury members.


    Commonwealth’s Secretary General Patricia Scotland presented the prestigious award to team MilKar. It was a recognition of the 15 exceptional innovations from over 3,000 nominations across 56 Commonwealth countries.


    The design of Milkar is just like that of a platform like ‘Uber’ that connects volunteers with social projects and reimagines development challenges into volunteering opportunities. It aims at achieving sustainability by mobilising, connecting, and enabling the community to take ownership of projects, it rewrites the fundamental challenge of development initiatives.


    In the past three years, Milkar has become Pakistan’s largest independent youth volunteer platform. The network has grown to over 12,317 volunteers and 261 NGOs, which have worked on 566 community service projects impacting 2.9 million people.


    Moreover, MilKar took an initiative with the government to convert student volunteering hours into academic credits across several universities in Pakistan.
    Muhammad Hadi Saif, Head of Volunteers at MilKar, declared the award a significant accolade for Pakistan.


    Syed Kashf Ahmed, the Project Director, received this award as part of the Commonwealth Innovation Week organised in Nairobi, Kenya.


    The Commonwealth Innovation Awards acknowledge and celebrate the efforts of innovators in the public, private, and NGO sectors working on achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).


    Each award category aligns with the five pillars of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: people, planet, prosperity, peace, and partnership.