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Tag: Pakistan

  • The best part about 2022 was witnessing the rise of Shae Gill.

    The best part about 2022 was witnessing the rise of Shae Gill.

    2022 could be best regarded as the year Pakistani music went global, with singer Arooj Aftab winning a Grammy for her song ‘Mohabbat’, then Ms. Marvel debuting on Disney Plus while showcasing Pakistani singers like Eva B, Hassan and Roshaan and then Coke Studio happened. But perhaps in all of this, Shae Gill becoming the absolute queen she was always going to be, was the brightest spot of the year.
    Shae Gill uploaded a post on Instagram on Friday where she posted video clips and pictures of her finest moments of 2022, which included new music she released and performances abroad. But it’s safe to say that witnessing the rise of the singer this year has to be proof that the Pakistani music industry is in safe hands. There is something amazing and unique Gill is bringing to the table.

    Gill had previously been an Instagram star, who sang covers of songs like Neeyat-e-Shauq and Kahaan Ho Tum, and her fans would often encourage her to release a solo song.

    Soon enough, Gill took the world by storm with the song Pasoori, belting out what turned out to be a global hit with Ali Sethi. Many of us who didn’t know about her Instagram covers, fell in love with her mesmerizing, soothing voice. Pasoori soon reached more than a 100 million likes on Youtube, dominated Spotify global charts all over the world, and even making a feature on pop singer Britany Spear’s Instagram account.

    You thought that this would be enough for Gill? She once more captivated followers with her dreamy solo in the song ‘Sukoon’. The video instantly became a hit on social media and fans commented on how much Shae Gill’s voice was similar to Nazia Hassan’s melodious voice.

    https://twitter.com/KashaffZulfiqar/status/1607844822508765191?s=20&t=PrOwpG8UYPIp0BX-AzYFuw

    It wasn’t only limited to Pakistani fans, even Bollywood celebrities like Rohit Saraf and Ayush Mannk became instant fans of the song.

    Soon afterwards, Spotify announced that Gill is the brand’s new EQUAL ambassador, and was featured on the Times Square billboard in New York.

    If this is all that took for Shae Gill to become a household name in a year, then we aren’t prepared for the magic she will bring for the rest of the years to come. It’s wonderful to witness how Shae Gill is bringing the world’s attention to Pakistani music with her melodious voice, and we’re so excited to witness her rise in the years to come.

  • TV channels will be required to air news with sign language interpreters

    TV channels will be required to air news with sign language interpreters

    President Dr Arif Alvi has signed the Access to the Media (Deaf) Persons Act, 2022 into law, under which all private and state-run broadcasters will be required to air news bulletins with sign language interpreters.

    The act will fully come into force six months after the commencement of the bill.

    Once enforced, the government shall not allow broadcasting any news bulletin on the national broadcaster, state or privately run electronic media, private television channels, cable TV, or any other broadcast media without sign language interpreters.

    The bill was moved by Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Senator Saleem Mandviwalla who gave a detailed briefing to the committee regarding the bill.

  • Naan prices may increase to Rs35 per Naan in Lahore

    Naan prices may increase to Rs35 per Naan in Lahore

    The Nanbai Association of Lahore has summoned a meeting to discuss a raise in the price of roti and naan, ARY has reported.


    The Association is considering raising the price of roti and naan by Rs11 in the provincial capital.


    The owners of tandoors requested approval from the Lahore district administration to raise the price of naan and roti to Rs35 and Rs25 respectively, citing a hike in wheat prices for raising rates of the dietary staples.

    An uptick of smuggling of wheat and subsidised flour bags to other provinces has led to the price of flour in the Punjab capital increase by Rs5 per kilogramme to Rs140.
    Smuggling has exacerbated Punjab’s flour problem, increasing open-market prices to an all-time high. According to sources, subsidised flour bags were being smuggled into Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkwa at a cost of Rs2,400 per bag.

  • Amar Khan wants Lollywood to create more female-centered, commercially successful films

    Looking back at the year 2022, Pakistani cinema produced commercially and critically successful films like Kamli, Joyland and of course, Maula Jatt. This year was the start of listening to voices that didn’t just circle around men. Now actress Amar Khan has expressed hope that the conversation keeps going on, while the industry releases more movies that champion women voices and don’t revolve around male-centered notions.
    Yesterday on Twitter, the actress shared a post applauding the success of Bollywood movie “Gangubai Kathiawari” which has surpassed all other productions to become the number 1 movie at the Indian box office. The post applauded director and writer Sanjay Leela Bhansali for breaking the stereotype that women-led movies don’t become instant hits, and that movies infused with emotional dialogues rather than intense action scenes wouldn’t interest anyone.

    Amar Khan wrote that she hoped Pakistan would follow the same footsteps as its neighbor and soon start creating more films that were female-centered and also commercially successful.
    “Rab kare 2023 mein koi aik adh bhansali border k is paar bhi janam le.Warna we have never made a female oriented commercially succesful film.They continue to be male centric!!”

  • SBP to start issuing new banknotes with Governor Jameel Ahmad’s signature from today

    SBP to start issuing new banknotes with Governor Jameel Ahmad’s signature from today

    The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) will start issuing new banknotes on December 29, 2022.

    The new SBP Banking Services Corporation banknotes will include the signature of the new governor, Jameel Ahmad.

    Banknotes containing the signatures of his predecessors will also remain legal tender.

    Earlier, the SBP stated that banknotes of the old design, large-sized banknotes with denominations of Rs10, Rs50, Rs100, and Rs1,000 could be exchanged from the SBP till December 31, 2022.

    The federal government extended the deadline for exchanging old designed large-size banknotes in Notification F.No.2(1)IF-III/2010 until December 23, 2021.

    In a statement, State Bank stated that December 31, 2022, was the “last and final deadline for exchange of such banknotes, upon expiry of which, these banknotes shall no longer be exchangeable from the counters of the SBP Banking Services Corporation (BSC) and thus will lose their value.”

  • Activists speak out after actor Muneeb Butt is cast as transgender commissioner in ARY serial

    Activists speak out after actor Muneeb Butt is cast as transgender commissioner in ARY serial

    Actor Muneeb Butt had announced on social media two days ago that he would be playing the first ever transgender Assistant Commissioner in an ARY television serial. Butt had written in the post that this was a role that would break stereotypes in our society.

    However, transgender activists were furious about this casting choice and responded by pointing out that the role would have been more empowering had a transgender person been cast.

    Transgender activists on Twitter shared that there were many trans people who were unemployed and who deserved good, authentic representation on public platforms, hence it was unnecessary to hire a man to play this role.

    Another trans user called this decision ‘dangerous’ because the entertainment will keep on capitalising on transgender issues, rather than employ members of the trans community and bring them to the table.

    https://twitter.com/zakraaaaa/status/1608000325528522752?s=20&t=kGchs1t9Ok_hQE8mbJUakA

    So hopefully, our industry should be mindful about writing stories about minorities and be sure to invite members of said community while giving them the chance to tell these stories themselves without speaking over them. One of the foremost essential demands made by the transgender community is to be granted equal opportunity and rights as anyone else in Pakistan, and we can assure that by allowing them to tell their own stories without censoring them.

  • Covid is back: Pakistan resumes screening at airports

    Covid is back: Pakistan resumes screening at airports

    Federal health officials stated on Wednesday that they will tighten up monitoring systems at all entry ports of the country while monitoring arriving passengers amid growing concerns of coronavirus (Covid-19) spreading in the country, Samaa has reported.


    An official of the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations, and Coordination said tBF.7 Omicron variant is a cause for concern.

    He said that relevant authorities had received instructions to make sure that travellers from foreign nations pass through thermal scanners at airports all over Pakistan.
    According to government figures, 90% of the population has already received a Covid-19 vaccination.


    He said that instructions have been given to ensure that hospitals had an appropriate supply of ventilators, oxygen tanks and antiviral medications.

  • ‘Establishment neither approached PML-N nor PTI for technocratic setup’: Rana Sanaullah

    ‘Establishment neither approached PML-N nor PTI for technocratic setup’: Rana Sanaullah

    Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah has said the that establishment neither approached the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) nor the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in connection with a rumored technocratic setup that might be installed to govern the country.

    “Imran Khan makes up fresh stories every other day, however, no message regarding the technocratic setup was conveyed,” he stated.

    He said that the institution has pledged to the nation that it will remain apolitical. “From now on, whatever happens will be in line with the Constitution,” Sanaullah categorically said.

    Speaking to senior journalists in Lahore, Imran had stressed, “I don’t see elections happening now. There is hearsay about a technocratic government being brought forward,” he had told the media personnel in an informal talk.

    PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry had addressed the rumors, calling any such plan a “joke”. The former minister had said, “It is a joke to form a technocratic government for two and a half years after wrapping up this government and sending it home. Experimenting and playing jokes with Pakistan should come to an end now.”

    “You will bring ‘imported technocrats’ from the United States if the Shehbaz Sharif-led government is not functioning,” he added. “The solution to the country’s problems is holding elections.”

  • Pak vs NZ: PCB announces free tickets for second test

    Pak vs NZ: PCB announces free tickets for second test

    The executive committee of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided to waive off entry fee for the second Test match between Pakistan and New Zealand, set to begin on January 2, 2023. A PCB official confirmed the news to GEO News.


    “Free entry for Karachiites in all stands during the second Test, except two VIP ticketed stands. Entry will be on a first come first serve basis,” the official said.


    The cricket board has gotten in touch with educational institutions, orphanages, and nursing homes to invite them to watch the second test.
    The ongoing Test between Pakistan and New Zealand has attracted a limited number of spectators to the stadium.

  • Plans of long-term caretaker govt in pipeline, claims journalist

    Plans of long-term caretaker govt in pipeline, claims journalist

    News anchor Meher Bokhari in her programme ‘Program Hum Meher Bokhari Kay Sath’ on Hum News has claimed that a crucial meeting has taken place where plans of installing a long caretaker government in Pakistan have been discussed.

    She said that considering the worsening economic conditions in the country, the caretaker government can be in place for six months or even two years, emphasising that the situation has slipped out of politicians’ hands.

    During her show, she pointed out that the incumbent government has failed to steer the country out of the economic crisis, despite making promises to do so. Moreover, she said that since the takeover of the coalition government, the dollar value rose exponentially, plunging the country into economic disaster.

    She highlighted Pakistan’s failure to get the next International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) tranche and the reluctance of friendly countries to help Pakistan.

    Reacting to the journalist’s claims, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) senior leader Fawad Chaudhry termed it a “stupidity”, stressing that the “country’s crisis is more political than economic”.

    In a tweet, he said that these are “schemes” to keep Imran Khan out of politics but are not in Pakistan’s favour. Terming general elections as the only solution to the country’s problems, he added that PTI will resist the move of forming a technocrat government.

    However, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar on Wednesday assured the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) that the country will not default but admitted that the economy is in a “tight position”.

    “It’s been three months since I took charge. We hear every day that we will default. How will there be a default? There is no chance that Pakistan will default,” the finance minister said.

    It should be noted that the financial situation in the country is perilous with inflation at the highest levels in recent years. A day earlier, the price of gold rose by Rs4,500 to a fresh all-time high of Rs182,700 per tola. The price of gold has increased by more than Rs20,000 per tola since the beginning of December.