Waseem Badami, a well-known host, and the anchor is trending on his 38th birthday.

Waseem Badami is a Pakistani television anchor, journalist, and news anchor. He is known for hosting news and current affairs programs on various Pakistani news channels. On February 7, 1985, Waseem was born in Karachi, Pakistan. On his 38th birthday, his fans celebrated a birthday and eventually it become a Trending Topic on Pakistan’s Twitter Panel.

Waseem Badami has a Master’s degree in Mass Communication from the SZABIST, Badami began his career by providing traffic updates on the radio. Later, his sheer effort paid off when, out of thousands of applicants, he was chosen to join ARY News in 2006, where he began his career as a journalist and anchor. He is currently the top host and anchorperson in Pakistan.

Fans send him their warmest wishes on social media and in person every year. The wishes are coming from all of the social media users. Although supporters couldn’t physically congregate, they are wishing each other well on social media.

https://twitter.com/minaalmirza/status/1622949797765185537?s=20&t=bebzX956P2aBjbM7dRqYbg

PSL 8 Commentators, Presenters, Umpires, and Much More

PSL 8 Umpires | PSL 8 Commentary Panel
Credit: PSL

The Pakistan Cricket Board has recently announced the lineup of match officials for the upcoming 34-match Pakistan Super League (HBL PSL 8). The tournament will take place from February 13th to March 19th, with 20 matches being played in Lahore and Rawalpindi, and will feature a combination of experienced and debutant umpires, referees, commentators, and presenters.

PSL 8 Broadcasting, PSL 8 Live Streaming

For fans inside and outside Pakistan, the high-definition broadcast coverage of HBL PSL 8 will include a total of 30 cameras, including Spidercams and buggy cams, to provide an enhanced viewing experience. The Decision Review System (DRS) Technology, featuring HawkEye and UltraEdge, will also be implemented.

Fans in Pakistan can tune in to A Sports, PTV Sports, and TEN Sports via linear TV or live streaming on Daraz App, tapmadTV, and Tamasha. International viewers can catch the tournament on Fox Sports (Australia), Sony (South Asia outside Pakistan), Willow TV (North America), Flow Sports (Caribbean), Sky Sports (United Kingdom), Sky Sport (New Zealand), Super Sport (sub-Saharan Africa), Etisalat, and STARZPLAY (Mena). Fans in non-broadcast territories can view HBL PSL 8 on the league’s official YouTube and Facebook channels.

PSL 8 Umpires

The umpire panel for the tournament includes three members of the ICC’s elite panel, Aleem Dar, Richard Illingworth, and Michael Gough, who Ahsan Raza will join, Asif Yaqoob, Rashid Riaz, Faisal Khan Afridi, Martin Saggers, Ruchira Palliyaguruge, Alex Wharf, and Shozab Raza. The umpire panel will receive support from Muhammad Asif, Nasir Hussain, and Tariq Rasheed, serving as fourth umpires.

A team of five match referees, led by Roshan Mahanama, will also be present. The opening match between Lahore Qalandars and Multan Sultans will be officiated by Asif Yaqoob and Martin Saggers, with Faisal Afridi serving as the third umpire and Shozab Raza as the fourth umpire, and Mohammad Anees as the match referee.

PSL 8 Commentators and Presenters

English commentators for HBL PSL 8 include Alan Wilkins, Bazid Khan, Danny Morrison, Daren Ganga, Dominic Cork, Mark Butcher, Nick Knight, Sana Mir, Sikandar Bakht, Simon Doull, Urooj Mumtaz, Vernon Philander, and Waqar Younis. Urdu commentators include Marina Iqbal and Tariq Saeed, while the presenters are Erin Holland and Zainab Abbas.

Overall, the HBL PSL 8 promises to be a spectacular display of cricket talent, with a carefully curated lineup of match officials, broadcasters, commentators, and presenters, ensuring that fans have an unforgettable experience.

Also, see:

All You Need to Know About Karachi Kings in PSL 2023

Changan Motors Boosts Car Prices Amid Rupee Devaluation

Changan Motors Boosts Car Prices Amid Rupee Devaluation

Master Changan Motors Limited (MCML) has raised the prices of its vehicles by a substantial amount of up to Rs. 1.05 million, following in the footsteps of its competitors in the ongoing price hike trend. The cause of this increase, like other companies, is attributed to the persistent depreciation of the Pakistani Rupee.

Effective immediately, the revised prices for MCML’s vehicles are as follows:

ModelsOld Price (Rs.)Revised Price (Rs.)Increase (Rs.)
Alsvin 1.3 Comfort Manual3,394,0003,899,000505,000
Alsvin 1.5 Comfort DCT3,649,0004,199,000550,000
Alsvin 1.5 Lumiere DCT3,844,0004,499,000655,000
Oshan X7 Comfort7,049,0007,999,000950,000
Oshan X7 FutureSense7,549,0008,599,0001,050,000
Karvaan2,419,0002,749,000330,000
Karvaan Plus2,569,0002,899,000330,000

This marks MCML’s largest price increase to date, resulting from the ongoing devaluation of the Pakistani Rupee. Despite the hike, it should be noted that Changan’s offerings remain some of the more affordable vehicles in their respective categories.

Recently, Honda Atlas Cars Limited (HACL) raised its prices for the second time in two weeks by up to Rs. 550,000, signaling that the trend of price hikes is far from over.

Turkey Earthquake: Death Toll Rises to 4,300, May Reach 20,000 – WHO ; Pakistan sends Rescue Teams

Said Rafiq, Pakistan’s Federal Minister took to Twitter to announce that Pakistan has sent an official 51 member rescue team to Turkey in the wake of the disastrous 7.8 magnitude earthquake. The death toll from the earthquake has gone above 4,300 in Turkiye-Syria border.

AFP: A father recovers her daughter from the rubble after which the terrified girl is hugging her father

According to the Turkish and Syrian disaster response teams, there are more than 5,600 buildings in different cities that have fallen down, many of these are multiple-storey apartments where the residents were sleeping at night when the earthquake was felt.

We thought it was the apocalypse,” a young reporter told media. She added, “That was the first time we have ever experienced anything like that.”

Turkiye’s relief agency AFAD announced earlier that there were 2,921 deaths in their country which brings the total count to 4,365. Looking at the on-ground situation, the rescuers estimate that this number will further increase in the days to come. The World Health Organization fears that the number may reach 20,000.

The initial earthquake was massive and have caused a lot of destruction. Nations across the globe have come forward to help the disaster-hit countries and are offering their help in however way they can.

A Syrian student told AFP, “There is a family I know under the rubble. Until 11:00 am or noon, my friend was still answering the phone. But she no longer answers. She is down there.”

The quake’s epicentre was Kahramanmaras and Gaziantep where the entire city has been fallen to the ground.

Want to add anything to this story? Let us know in the comments section.

Armed Men Attack Nabeel Qureshi, Hira Mani During Shoot, Beat Crew, Harassed Women and Snatched Valuables; Celebrities Condemn

PC: Express Tribune

The roads of Karachi were already not safe for anyone, thanks to snatchers , now in a sad turn of events it is revealed that celebrities including Hira, Mani, Gul e Rana and several child artists working with Nabeel Qureshi were attacked, beaten, harassed and looted by armed men while they were shooting in Karachi

According to Qureshi, the armed mob forcefully entered the home they were shooting in and fled away after taking away their equipment. He said, “We have been attacked by a mob in PIB Colony, Jamshed Quarter Martin Road during the shoot.

Hira Mani also took to Instagram and posted about the incident.

PC: Instagram

Soon, other celebrities also took to social media platforms and condemned the horrific incident.

What do you think about the story? Let us know in the comments section.

Turkey and Syria earthquake: The most recent statistics state that more than 2,000 people have died

According to Turkey’s emergency management organization, at least 1,498 people have died and 7,600 have been injured throughout 10 provinces.

According to information from the health ministry, there have been more than 430 fatalities and 1,280 injuries in Syria’s government-controlled territories. Groups operating in the country’s north-west, where the government does not have control,

Emergency help promises from around the world have flooded in for Turkey and Syria, prompting demands for the international community to loosen some of the political limitations on aid entering north-west Syria, the last rebel-held region of the country and one of the earthquake’s hardest-hit regions.

Here is the most recent photo of the disaster of this earthquake.

Turkey and Syria earthquake

New Jobs at Careem: New Opportunities at Careem for a good Career

In numerous nations, including Pakistan, Careem is offering fresh chances. These are excellent opportunities with excellent benefits and fair pay.

A worldwide ride-hailing app called Careem is the most well-known and popular in Pakistan. Opportunities for employment are better when a worker searches for a rewarding career.

Data analyses, Digital marketing, Content creation, finance, and engineering all present various options.

Top current job openings at Careem:

Accounting Associate, Amman, Jordan| Finance

Content Manager Dubai, United Arab Emirates|SuperApp – Careem Plus

Cyber Security Operations Engineer II Lahore, Pakistan| Engineering – Information security

Cyber Security Operations Engineer II Cairo, Egypt| Engineering – Information security

Data Analyst II Pakistan | Engineering –

Data analysis Data Analyst II Egypt| Engineering –

Data analysis Data Warehouse Engineer II Pakistan | Engineering –

Data warehouse engineering Data Warehouse Engineer II Egypt |Engineering – Data warehouse engineering

Data Warehouse Engineer II Amman, Jordan | Engineering – Data warehouse engineering

 Digital Marketing Manager – Performance Karachi, Pakistan|

Demand Director of Infosec Engineering Dubai, United Arab Emirates |Engineering – Information security

Director of Legal – Ride Hailing Dubai, United Arab Emirates |Legal

Director Of Order Anything & Shops Dubai, United Arab Emirates |Verticals – OA & Shops

Here is the link to view the Full list of vacancies and to apply: https://jobs.careem.com/

What Can We Learn & Unlearn From Musharraf Era?

PC: Twitter

General Pervaiz Musharraf will always be remembered for sabotaging the democratic process in the country. He followed in the footsteps of Ayub and Zia and ruled Pakistan directly.

Musharraf was serving as the ‘chief executive’ during the 1999 coup. Later, he became a Military and then a Civilian President finally. He was forced to step down when the impeachment sword seemed hovering over his head.

Musharraf is also accused of breaking the Constitution of Pakistan twice and is said to be the only military ruler who was given a death sentence for high treason for imposing the second emergency in 2007.

General Pervaiz Musharraf’s entry in the politics of Pakistan was nothing short of a drama. He was coming back to Karachi after a visit to Sri Lanka, when his plane was not allowed to land on the airport. What happened later changed the history of this country. The on-ground army leadership removed the then Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif through a coup and imposed the charges of terrorism and hijacking on him later. The Saudi government intervened and allowed the Sharif family to spend few years in their country as exile.

While many people criticise the coup, many liberals welcomed it because of the conservative actions taken by Sharif.

In the meanwhile, the devastating 9/11 incident happened and this region came in the spotlight. The West was comparatively more happy dealing with a General because of their “goals” in Afghanistan.

Musharraf promoted liberalism in the country and started the process of accountability.

He worked on a LG system and liberalised the media. Several media houses also became operational in his era .However, during his second emergency, a crack down on media sent all the previous efforts down the drain.

While many think that Musharraf is responsible for the Kargil debacle, he tried his best to initiate peace talks with India. It is also said that during his tenure, India and Pakistan were very close to reaching a solution for Kashmir for the first time in history.

Despite all the good things, Musharraf has done for the country, Pakistan will never forgive him for derailing the constitutional order. He realised that in order to survive in the system, there must be a political party and hence, All Pakistan Muslim League was born.

Under his rule, the situation in Balochistan got worse, the things are still not on track. It all started after the death of Akbar Bugti.

From General Musharraf to Mr. Musharraf, his era holds too many lessons for those who want to learn and unlearn in this environment.

5 misuses of ChatGPT to avoid

5 misuses of ChatGPT to avoid
Created by Trending Pakistan’s staff using AI

ChatGPT and other AI language models have the potential to revolutionize the way we process information and communicate, it’s crucial to use them responsibly and ethically. By avoiding these five misuses, we can ensure that AI language models are used for the betterment of society and not for harmful or malicious purposes.

To Infringe on Privacy and Confidentiality

ChatGPT, like any other AI language model, has access to a vast amount of information and is capable of processing and generating responses in real-time. It’s crucial to remember that any information shared with ChatGPT is not kept confidential and could potentially be used for malicious purposes. It’s not an appropriate tool for discussing sensitive information, such as personal details or confidential business information.

To Spread Misinformation and Propagating Falsehoods

ChatGPT is trained on a large corpus of text, including false information and propaganda. It’s essential to verify any information generated by ChatGPT before using or sharing it, as it may not be accurate or up-to-date. Misinformation can spread quickly, and the consequences can be significant, so always fact-check information before relying on it.

To Engage in Offensive or Harmful Behaviour

ChatGPT is programmed to respond to any input it receives, including offensive or harmful language. Engaging in hate speech, cyberbullying, or other forms of abusive behavior is not only unethical but also illegal in many jurisdictions. It’s essential to treat ChatGPT and all other AI language models with respect and use them in ways that align with ethical and moral principles.

To Replace Human Interaction and Decision Making

ChatGPT is an incredibly powerful tool, but it’s important to remember that it’s only a machine and can’t replace human interaction and decision making. While it can provide useful information and generate responses quickly, it’s still crucial for humans to evaluate and interpret the information it provides. AI language models should be used to augment human capabilities, not replace them.

To Ignore Data Privacy and Security Concerns

When using ChatGPT, it’s important to keep data privacy and security in mind. The information shared with ChatGPT, as well as the responses it generates, are stored and processed by OpenAI and could potentially be accessed by unauthorized third parties. Always take the necessary steps to protect personal and sensitive information when using ChatGPT and other AI language model.

Also, see:

Paid Internships and Scholarships for Youth Development in Pakistan

Repatriation of Pervez Musharraf: A Controversial Figure

The remains of former Pakistani military ruler, Pervez Musharraf, are expected to be repatriated on Monday. The self-exiled former leader, who served as a key ally to the United States during the “war on terror,” passed away at the age of 79 in Dubai on Sunday after a prolonged illness. A burial is expected to take place later in the day.

Musharraf, who seized power in a bloodless coup in 1999, was serving as the army chief, chief executive, and president when the 9/11 attacks occurred. During his nearly nine-year rule, he twice suspended the Constitution and faced accusations of rigging a referendum and violating human rights. According to Madiha Afzal of the Brookings Institution, “he left Pakistanis with a deep distaste for direct military rule.”

While serving as Washington’s primary regional ally during the invasion of Afghanistan, Musharraf put himself in the crosshairs of militants, who attempted to assassinate him. The decision also brought a massive influx of foreign aid to Pakistan, which helped to boost the country’s economy. Despite being a divisive figure, the military in Pakistan remains highly influential and widely supported.

Retired civil servant Naeem ul-Haq Satti told AFP, “There was good in him, but his one act which will be remembered throughout history was that he violated the constitution.” The most significant thing a country has, Satti added, is its constitution.

Musharraf was suffering from Amyloidosis, a rare disease, and his family announced last summer that he had no chance of recovery. The military’s media wing, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), expressed heartfelt condolences on his passing in a statement released on Sunday.

7.8 Magnitude Earthquake Kills 200 in Syria and Turkey, More Deaths Feared; Shahbaz Sharif Extends Condolences

PC: Twitter

A massive earthquake jolts different cities of Turkey, Syria, Cyprus, Armenia and other adjoining areas.

According to the initial reports, the magnitude of the earthquake was 7.8 which has killed dozens of people. The earthquake was so powerful that it levelled buildings while people were sleeping at night. The tremors were also felt in farfetched areas of the Island of Cyprus.

PC: Twitter

The local officials in Turkey have reported the initial death toll to be 76, while 400 are injured. However, the number is feared to increase substantially as the rescue operations are still underway and most of the people were sleeping at home when the disaster happened.

100 people have also lost their lives due to the earthquake in the government-controlled parts of Syria, as reported by the state media.

The quake started at 04:17am local time (0117 GMT) with a depth of 17.9 kilometres (11 miles), the US agency reported. Later on, 6.7-magnitude aftershocks were also received after 15 minutes.

This is said to be one of the most powerful earthquakes to hit this region in a century.

Recep Tayyip Erdogen, Turkish President, tweeted, “I convey my best wishes to all our citizens who were affected by the earthquake. We hope that we will get through this disaster together as soon as possible and with the least damage.”

Pakistan PM Shahbaz Sharif also extended his heartfelt condolences to the people of Turkey, he tweeted, “Deeply saddened by the news of a massive earthquake that struck southeastern region of Türkiye.”

Want to add anything to this story? Let us know in the comments section.

Arooj Aftab Misses Out on Best Global Music Award

PC: Reuters

The Pakistani artist based in Brooklyn missed out on her second Grammy when Wouter Kellerman, Zakes Bantwini & Nomcebo Zikode’s Bayethe received their awards for the Best Global Music Award.

Aftab was nominated in the category of the Best Global Music Performance. Her song Udhero Na with Anoushka Shankar became the reason for her nomination, however, Wouter Kellerman, Zakes Bantwini & Nomcebo Zikode’s Bayethe took home the trophy.

Though Aftab did not win the award, she set the stage on fire at the Grammy’s with her amazing performance with Shankar.

Aftab has already made Pakistan proud by winning the first Grammy for the country last year.

Want to add anything to this story? Let us know in the comments section

A Night of Celebrating the Creativity and Passion of Bloggers: Honoring Amnah Jabeen in Karachi

A Night of Celebrating the Creativity and Passion of Bloggers: Honoring Amina Jabeen in Karachi

Karachi Bloggers, on Saturday night, hosted a dinner to celebrate the achievements of a well-known Islamabad blogger and social media influencer, Amnah Jabeen. The event took place at a private hotel in Clifton, Karachi, and was attended by some of the city’s most prominent bloggers and social media influencers. The dinner provided a platform for these individuals to meet in person after having known each other through social media for years.

Karachi Bloggers was represented by several key members, including the Founder of Trending Pakistan, Hamadullah Sohu, the co-founder of Awamiweb Nauman Younus, renowned influencer Tayyab Memon, Nusrat Seher, Tanveer Khadim, Sagar Samy, Atban Hanif, Kainat Farooq, Rahat Usama, Adnan Ghafoor, and Tahir Baloch. These individuals brought with them their unique perspectives and experiences, making the dinner a diverse and vibrant gathering.

Amnah was clearly impressed with the talent of the young bloggers, the food, and the hospitality she received. She expressed her gratitude and good wishes to all who attended, highlighting the inclusive and supportive community of bloggers and social media influencers in Karachi.

The dinner was a celebration of the creativity and passion of these individuals, who not only bring life to the city through their content but also through the relationships and interactions they build with each other. Their work showcases the diversity and talent of the blogging community in Pakistan and serves as an inspiration for others.

Former President Pervez Musharraf Passes Away

Former President Pervez Musharraf Passes Away
Image: Reuters

Former President of Pakistan, retired General Pervez Musharraf, passed away on Sunday, February 5th, at the age of 79 after a prolonged illness. He was receiving treatment for the rare disease amyloidosis at the American Hospital in Dubai.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed his condolences to the family of the former president. In a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office, Sharif said, “Praying for the forgiveness of the deceased and patience for the family.”

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) also released a statement, in which Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Sahir Shamshad Mirza and the services chiefs expressed their heartfelt condolences. The ISPR stated, “May Allah bless the departed soul and give strength to the bereaved family.”

Musharraf was born on August 11, 1943, in Delhi, British India. He received his commission from the Pakistan Military Academy Kakul on April 19, 1961, and participated in the 1965 and 1971 wars. He was promoted to the rank of general in 1998 and served as the chief of army staff (COAS) from 1998 to 2007.

On October 12, 1999, Musharraf staged a military coup and became the President of Pakistan in 2002 after a successful referendum. He remained in office until 2008. Throughout his career, Musharraf played a significant role in Pakistan’s political and military history. His passing has caused a great loss to the nation and is deeply mourned by his friends, family, and supporters.

Paid Internships and Scholarships for Youth Development in Pakistan

The Federal Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives, Ahsan Iqbal, has announced a major initiative for young graduates across the country. A program will provide 60,000 paid internships to eligible candidates.

The federal government is also investing in education, with scholarships provided to students accepted to the top 25 universities in the world. Additionally, 100,000 university students will receive laptops to help them develop digital skills.

The minister highlighted the previous successful program launched by PML-N, where 1 million laptops were awarded to youth to foster a freelancing culture in the country.

The Planning Minister also announced 20,000 scholarships for unemployed graduates during an international summit on higher education and workforce development held in Islamabad.

The scholarships will be accessible to students in remote areas under the recently launched Youth Development Initiatives (YDI) by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The YDI is aimed at providing opportunities for young people to grow and develop their skills.

Ayesha Omar’s ‘Bake Me Happy’ Takes the Internet by Storm

Image: Sunridge

Ayesha Omar, the popular actress from “Bulbulay,” has set the digital platforms ablaze with her new cooking show “Sunridge Bake Me Happy.” This show has become an instant sensation, spreading happiness and entertainment to millions of social media viewers.

In the show, Ayesha presents unique and easy-to-follow recipes that are perfect for different everyday situations, from sweet treats to savory snacks. The show’s quick-fix recipes have become popular among young adults who are health-conscious and have a busy lifestyle.

Baking has become a trend in Pakistan and the recipes featured in “Sunridge Bake Me Happy” are well-suited for this growing market. The key ingredient in all of these recipes is Sunridge Maida, an all-purpose flour that is carefully sourced, hygienically processed, and fortified to meet the needs of health-conscious consumers.

The show has received praise for its focus on contemporary recipes that are quick and easy to prepare while also being healthy and nutritious. With the increasing popularity of baking, “Sunridge Bake Me Happy” has become an essential guide for anyone who wants to get into baking or improve their baking skills.

WhatsApp Adds Pinned Messages and Call Shortcuts

WhatsApp Adds Pinned Messages and Call Shortcuts
Image: Unsplash

WhatsApp, the popular instant messaging app, currently allows users to star messages for later reference. However, these saved messages are only visible to the user and accessible through the chat options.

WhatsApp is also working on adding a new feature, pinned messages, which is similar to those offered by rival apps like Telegram and Discord. Pinned messages will allow users to save important conversations for later and be visible to everyone in the chat. Tapping on a pinned message will take the user straight back to the original message.

The latest beta version of WhatsApp for Android (2.23.3.17) includes this feature, and users will be notified to update to the latest version to enable it. This feature is expected to roll out to the stable version soon.

In addition to pinned messages, WhatsApp is also making calls easier and quicker with a new update. The app will soon allow users to add call shortcuts to their home screen, allowing them to make a call without opening the app. Users can create a call shortcut by navigating to the call options in WhatsApp contacts and adding a shortcut for specific contacts.

WhatsApp recently shared its safety report, revealing that it banned over 3.6 million accounts in December 2022 for violating its rules and policies. The report showed that WhatsApp proactively banned these accounts before receiving any user reports, showing the company’s initiative to maintain the safety of its platform.

All You Need to Know About Karachi Kings in PSL 2023

All You Need to Know About Karachi Kings in PSL 2023

The Karachi Kings are a franchise cricket team that participates in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), a professional Twenty20 cricket league in Pakistan. The team is based in Karachi and represents the city in the league.

In the past, the Karachi Kings have had a strong line-up, featuring some of the best players from Pakistan and around the world. The team has performed well in previous editions of the PSL and has a dedicated and passionate fanbase.

The PSL 2023 season is expected to be a highly competitive tournament, with all teams looking to put their best foot forward. The Karachi Kings will be no exception, and fans can expect them to field a strong and determined squad that is eager to win.

It is too early to say how the team will perform in the upcoming season of the PSL, but the Karachi Kings will certainly be a team to watch, and their matches are sure to be exciting and entertaining. Whether you are a fan of the team or just love great cricket, the PSL 2023 season promises to be an unforgettable experience.

Karachi Kings Squad for PSL 2023

Imad Wasim (Captain)

Mohammad Amir

Aamer Yamin

Sharjeel Khan

Qasim Akram

Mir Hamza

Shoaib Malik

Haider Ali

Matthew Wade

Imran Tahir

James Vince

James Fuller

Andrew Tye

Tayyab Tahir

Muhammad Akhlaq

Irfan Khan

Tabraiz Shamsi

Mohammad Umar

Pakistan’s Economy Reaches Breaking Point as Rupee Plummets to Historic Low

Pakistan's Economy
A foreign currency dealer counts US dollars at a shop in Karachi on May 19, 2022. (Photo by Asif HASSAN / AFP) (Photo by ASIF HASSAN/AFP via Getty Images)

Pakistan’s economy faced a blow on Friday, when the rupee dropped to a record low against the dollar after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif mentioned that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) was giving the government a difficult time. The domestic currency declined by almost 1%, reaching a new low of Rs 271.36 against the dollar, compared to its previous close of Rs268.83, according to the State Bank of Pakistan.

IMF’s stringent conditions have not been relaxed despite repeated requests from the government. The IMF continues to demand political consensus for the loan program and has rejected the government’s plan to address the circular debt. The ongoing talks between Pakistan and the IMF will end on February 9, 2023.

The Prime Minister stated that the IMF delegation in Islamabad is giving the finance minister and his team a tough time during an Apex Committee meeting in Peshawar, describing the economic challenges as “unimaginable.” The government has assured the IMF that it will implement all of the conditions.

Analysts emphasize that to avoid default, a threat that has been looming over Pakistan for months, the nation requires the bailout program offered by the Washington-based lender. The current rate of the dollar against the rupee is 275.24.

Fireworks Events to Face Penalty of Rs. 100,000 If Illegal Screening of Pathan Not Stopped in Sindh

PC: Daily Times

The Sindh Board of Films Censor has asked Fireworks Events to discontinue public screening of the Indian movie Pathan in different areas of DHA, Karachi.

In case of failure to do so, the company may face punishment for 3-4 years or a fine as high as Rs.100,000.

The Sindh Board of Films Censor found some pages selling the tickets for Pathan on social media after a local newspaper reported about the illegal private screening in different areas of the Defence Housing Authority (DHA)

The SBFC has stated that only the films approved by them are eligible for public or private screening. It further said, “No person shall make or arrange a public or private exhibition of a film by means of cinematograph unless the film has been duly certified for public exhibition by the Board.”

The board has asked Fireworks Events to immediately stop the illegal screening of Pathan or be prepared for the mentioned punishment/penalty in accordance with the laws in the province. Following the warning, Fireworks Events has cancelled all the private screenings of Pathan.

Want to add anything to this story? Let us know in the comments section.