Current Final

Tag: Pakistan

  • Peshawar restaurant owner imprisoned for ‘molesting’ foreign tourists

    Peshawar restaurant owner imprisoned for ‘molesting’ foreign tourists

    The owner of Peshawar’s famous Charsi Tikka restaurant, Nisar Khan, has been arrested by the Shah Gabool Police after videos emerged on social media of him misbehaving with foreign tourists.

    According to ARY, police arrested Nisar after receiving several complaints from foreign tourists, particularly foreign women. A case was lodged against him under the complaint of SI Naeem.

    The police told ARY that Namak Mandi Food Street has attracted foreign tourists and local travellers, while Charsi Tikka is a well known restaurant.

  • Major weather change on its way in Pakistan

    The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has issued a forecast for heavy rainfall spanning from September 22 to September 24, affecting various regions of the country. Read the story to see if it will rain in your city or not.

    Met Office has confirmed that weak to moderate moist currents from the Arabian Sea are likely to penetrate in upper parts of the country from September 22, 2023. A westerly wave is also likely to affect the upper parts on September 22.

    Under the influence of this weather system rain/wind-thundershowers (with few moderate to heavy falls) are expected in:

    Kashmir (Neelum valley, Muzaffarabad, Poonch, Hattian, Bagh, Haveli, Sudhanoti, Kotli, Bhimber, Mirpur)

    Gilgit Baltistan (Diamir, Astore, Ghizer, Skardu, Hunza, Gilgit, Ghanche, Shigar)

    Punjab: Murree, Galliyat, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Mandi Bahauddin, Hafizabad, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Sialkot, Narowal, Lahore, Kasur, Sheikhupura.

    Chitral, Dir, Swat, Shangla, Buner, Kurram, Mansehra, Kohistan, Abbottabad, Haripur, Kohat, Peshawar, Mardan, Swabi and Nowshera from 22nd to 24th September with occasional gaps.

    Rain/wind-thundershower is also expected in Lakki Marwat, Dera Ismail Khan, Bannu, Karak, Waziristan, Mianwali, Sargodha, Khushab, Faisalabad, Toba Tek Singh, Jhang, Bhakkar, Layyah, Dera Ghazi Khan, Multan and Bahawalnagar on 23rd & 24th September with occasional gaps.

    Possible Impacts:

    Moderate to heavy falls may cause urban flooding in low-lying areas of Lahore, Gujranwala, and Rawalpindi on the said dates.

    Moderate to heavy rains may trigger landslides in the vulnerable areas of Murree, Galliyat, Kashmir, Gilgit Baltistan, Chitral, Dir, Swat, Kohistan, Shangla, Buner, Mansehra & Abbottabad from September 22-24.

    Farmers are advised to manage their crop activities accordingly. Tourists and travelers are advised to remain cautious to avoid any untoward situation during the period.

    Wind thunderstorms may damage loose structures like electric poles, solar panels, etc. The general public is advised to stay at safe places during windstorms/lightning/moderate/heavy rains.

  • Karachi University Teachers’ Society boycott classes

    Karachi University Teachers’ Society boycott classes

    Karachi University Teachers’ Society (KUTS) held a meeting on Thursday, announcing a boycott of teaching classes from Friday (today), demanding the Chief Minister of Sindh to take immediate notice of the administrative crisis at the University of Karachi.

    Express Tribune spoke with KUTS secretary, Faizan Naqvi, who explained that regular and visiting faculty members have not received their evening program salaries for over a year and a half, and the total amount owed exceeds Rs70 million.

    This means that the evening program is operating at a loss.

    Naqvi highlighted that all university employees are being paid their salaries except for the teachers. Currently, there are around 250 permanent teachers for the part-time evening program.

    Demands

    Karachi University Teachers Association has announced a complete boycott of the teaching process from Friday. The decision to boycott was taken in a general body meeting organised by the teachers association.

    The teachers’ association has also demanded an investigation by the commission for the non-approval of the university budget for six years.

    The participants of the meeting expressed their anger over the appointment of part-time teachers at six hundred rupees per lecture and non-payment of salaries to them for more than six months and a year.

    They demanded that the dues evening classes should be paid in full and on an immediate basis.

    Moreover, they pressed upon the restoration of exemption in MPhil and PhD fees should be restored immediately.

    They highlighted that handling of administrative matters is the responsibility of the Sheikh-ul-Jamia and the management team, not the teachers. That being said, ad hoc Assistant Professor appointment of Ph.D. teachers approved by the syndicate should also be restored.

    The meeting demanded for immediate release of funds for the revival of research in the university; that the budget of the university, which has not been approved for the last six years, is financial corruption and must be investigated by a commission. The hike announced in Budget 2023 should be included in salaries without delay.

  • Pakistan imports tea worth Rs31.64 billion in just two months 

    Pakistan imports tea worth Rs31.64 billion in just two months 

    According to data from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), Pakistan’s imports of food items in the first two months of the fiscal year 2023–24 amounted to Rs378.98 billion. 

    The PBS data reveals that during this two-month period, Pakistan imported tea worth Rs31.64 billion, a notable increase from Rs20.23 billion during the corresponding period in the previous year.  

    Additionally, Pakistan imported palm oil valued at Rs158.7 billion and soybean oil worth Rs13.56 billion. 

    Furthermore, Pakistan imported pulses worth Rs48.25 billion and dry fruits valued at over Rs2 billion during the same two-month period. 

    It is worth noting that in July, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) lifted all import restrictions as part of its efforts to meet the conditions set by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). 

    Read more: Pakistani rupee gains value, now at Rs292.78 per US dollar 

    The central bank issued a circular to abolish these import restrictions and authorised banks to facilitate remittances to clear more than 6,000 containers. 

    The SBP clarified in the circular that remittances would be made available for all imports following the implementation of the latest order. 

  • Khan ‘worried’ about change of judge in Zeba Chaudhry case, says Khan’s lawyer

    Khan ‘worried’ about change of judge in Zeba Chaudhry case, says Khan’s lawyer

    The legal team of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has said that the change of the judge hearing the Zeba Chaudhry case against Imran Khan is quite shocking for the former prime minister.

    “The PTI chairman was shocked and worried at the change of the judge hearing the Judge Zeba Chaudhry case,” said one of the PTI chief’s legal counsels, Salman Safdar, in a media talk outside the Attock jail after meeting his client.

    Justice Malik Aman should not have been changed at this critical time, the lawyer said, as he was going to announce the decision soon.

    Salman Safdar also said that the former prime minister apologised to Judge Zeba Chaudhry in her court for passing remarks against her in a public rally.

    In August last year, Imran Khan was booked under the Anti-Terrorism Act for threatening additional sessions Judge Zeba Chaudhry and other police officers of the Islamabad police in a public gathering.

  • Asif Zardari meets with PML-Q President Shujaat Hussain ahead of elections

    Asif Zardari meets with PML-Q President Shujaat Hussain ahead of elections

    In a significant development in the lead-up to general elections, PPP leader Asif Ali Zardari met with PML-Q president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain at the latter’s residence on Thursday, hours after the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) announced the last week of January as the election date. Election strategies including the possibility of forming an alliance and coordinated seat allocations in Punjab were discussed in the meeting.

    The 40-minute meeting focused on the current political landscape of Pakistan with Zardari also inquiring about Sujaat’s health. While official details of their discussions were not disclosed, PPP’s central media cell took to X (former Twitter) to confirm the meeting, stating that Mr. Zardari had discussed the prevailing political situation with PML-Q President Shujaat Hussain.

    As per the empowerment given to Zardari by the PPP executive committee to meet top political leaders to secure seat adjustments in Punjab, he has strategically positioned himself in Lahore to spearhead his efforts.

    On the other hand, PMLN President Shehbaz Sharif and Chief Organizer Maryam Nawaz will meet party leader Nawaz Sharif in London to discuss the changing political situation and to formulate election strategies.

    Sources have told Dawn that PPP is considering seat adjustments not only with PML-N and PML-Q but also with PTI, as hinted at by its second-tier leadership. While senior PML-N leaders have maintained silence on the possibility of an alliance with PPP, lower-ranking leaders have expressed their opposition, arguing that the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) was created with the sole purpose of removing Imran Khan from power and completing the remainder of the previous government’s term.

    Shujaat also suggested his former coalition allies, the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), to avoid confrontations that he believes are detrimental to the country’s interests.

    In response to Shujaat’s call for unity and harmony, Zardari asserted that his party had not contributed to any actions that could exacerbate political divisions. Zardari went on to emphasize that his party’s discourse was firmly anchored in constitutional principles and the ground realities of Pakistan, with no intentions of provoking confrontations with any political entities. Zardari further underscored the detrimental impact of escalating rhetoric and confrontations on the stability of the country.

    Chaudhry Shujaa also conveyed his intention to engage with Nawaz Sharif, the supreme leader of the PML-N, to emphasize the need to avert unnecessary political hostilities.

    Thursday’s meeting saw the presence of former federal minister Chaudhry Salik Hussain and PML-Q Punjab President Chaudhry Shafay Hussain. At this crucial juncture of alliance exploration, PPP General Secretary Nayyer Hussain Bukhari firmly announced that the party had no intentions of entering into electoral alliances with any other party.

  • Pakistan plans to establish 5,000 e-working centres to empower freelancers 

    Pakistan plans to establish 5,000 e-working centres to empower freelancers 

    Dr Umar Saif, the Caretaker Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunications, has announced a significant government initiative to establish 5,000 collaborative e-working centres designed specifically for freelancers.  

    In a recent statement, Minister Saif unveiled plans to provide interest-free loans for the creation of these joint E-Working Centres, with the primary goal of facilitating freelancers and, in turn, generating millions of job opportunities throughout the country.  

    A press release from the Ministry, issued on Thursday, also highlighted Minister Saif’s commitment to attracting global investors to support startup ventures. Additionally, he mentioned an upcoming visit to Saudi Arabia to further these discussions.  

    Furthermore, Minister Saif emphasised a positive dialogue with Caretaker Finance Minister Shamshad Akhtar, focusing on a comprehensive 5-point agenda centred on the IT sector. One key topic of discussion was the issue of retaining dollars within the IT industry.   

    According to Geo News, the Ministry believes that addressing this matter will not only repatriate overseas IT accounts to Pakistan and restore investor confidence but also enhance the inflow of foreign currency into the country, consequently boosting the volume of IT exports.  

    Separately, Minister Saif stressed the need for the Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB) to redefine its role. He proposed that the PSEB should actively assist IT companies in securing international clients and expanding their businesses on the global stage, ultimately promoting the image of Pakistan in the international market.  

    During the 58th meeting of the PSEB, Minister Saif underlined Pakistan’s unique strengths in terms of IT professionals and its favourable time zone. He emphasised the importance of presenting Pakistan’s IT/ITeS products to the world effectively. He suggested that the PSEB should collaborate with Pakistan’s trade and commerce missions in embassies worldwide to support the growth of exports by Pakistani IT companies.  

    In a directive to the PSEB, Minister Saif urged the expedited implementation of all necessary measures to train 200,000 IT professionals, with the goal of contributing $5 billion to the country’s IT exports. The meeting also delved into discussions concerning the IT industry and strategies for increasing investment within Pakistan. 

  • EXCLUSIVE: pictures of Shahid Afridi at Shaheen Afridi’s Valima that will shock you

    EXCLUSIVE: pictures of Shahid Afridi at Shaheen Afridi’s Valima that will shock you

    Bowling sensation Shaheen Afridi’s valima reception with former captain Shahid Afridi’s daughter Ansha is being held tonight in Islamabad, and from the pictures, it looks nothing less than a star-studded gala. The Current is bringing you exclusive pictures from the event. The groom is looking incredibly dapper posing next to his father-in-law, and all of the A-list celebrities who were in attendance. Scroll for the pictures.

    We can’t tell who is the groom and who the father-in-law is from these pictures!

    Former DG Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Asim Bajwa can also be seen celebrating the joyous occasion and congratulating the proud father-in-law.

    Television presenters and anchorpersons Waseem Badami, Adil Abbasi and Iqrar Ul Hassan spotted along with Shahid Afridi and the groom.

    Journalist Asma Shirazi was among the attendees as she poses for a pic with Boom Boom.

    Geo anchorperson Shahzad Iqbal can be seen posing next to Shahid Afridi and the groom Shaheen.

    Shaheen and Ansha’s nikkah was held on February 3 this year in Karachi. The event was a day time ceremony attended by Shaheen’s team mates including captain Babar Azam. Ansha’s rukhsati was held on September 19 in Karachi.

  • ‘Bajwa, Faiz are Pakistan’s culprits’, says Rana Sanaullah

    ‘Bajwa, Faiz are Pakistan’s culprits’, says Rana Sanaullah

    Former interior minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Rana Sanaullah has said that former army chief Gen (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa and former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Faiz Hamid are responsible for political and economic uncertainty in Pakistan.

    In an interview with Syed Talat Hussain on SAMAA, Rana Sanaullah said that former top military officials are, “culprits of the nation, adding that they should be held accountable for causing instability in the country.

    In response to a question, Sanaullah said, “These people are the culprits of the nation. They are the culprits of Pakistan. They are culprits of not just the PML-N but also of the entire nation.”

    “They will not be forgiven. These people must be held accountable. They are responsible for the current instability in the country, and they must be asked why they created instability in 2017,” he added.

  • Imran Khan’s lawyers and doctor can meet him in jail: Court

    Under the Official Secrets Act 1923, the Official Secret Act Court has allowed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan to meet with his legal team and doctors on Thursday. Imran Khan was arrested in the cipher case and is currently in Attock jail.

    The Official Secrets Act Court decision came as Imran Khan’s attorney, Naeem Haider Panjutha, filed a petition on behalf of the former prime minister.

    Judge Abual Hasnat Muhammad Zulqarnain gave permission to the PTI chairman to meet with his legal team, including well-known lawyers Latif Khosa, Sameer Khosa, and Salman Akram Raja. Imran Khan can also meet with his doctor, Dr. Asim Yusuf, the court decided.

    Previously, the court allowed Imran Khan to talk to his sons via telephone in Attock jail.

    Official Secrets Act, 1923 is Pakistan’s Anti-Espionage Act and was enacted to consolidate and amend the laws relating to official secrets in the country.