Alia Bhatt is said to be planning a wedding with boyfriend Ranbir Kapoor early next year
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Sunday 31 March 2019
Shahid Kapoor’s ‘Kabir Singh’: Vijay Deverakonda ‘Eagerly Waiting’ for Hindi Remake
Shahid Kapoor is set to appear in 'Kabir Singh' which is a Hindi remake of a Telugu film ‘Arjun Reddy’ that starred Vijay Deverakonda. Vijay Deverakonda says he is ‘eagerly’ waiting for the upcoming film
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Shatrughan Sinha On Leaving the BJP: ‘They Had Shut Me Out’
Outspoken actor-turned-politician Shatrughan Sinha speaks candidly about his decision to leave the BJP and join the rival Congress I ahead of the Indian general elections
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How Salman Khan Is Helping Katrina Kaif’s Career Again
Salman Khan will be seen with Katrina Kaif in two films. The actress’ last two releases were box office disasters. Can her pairing with Salman prove to be lucky?
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'Kesari' box-office collection Day 10
Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar's first offering this year 'Kesari' helmed by Anurag Singh and starring Parineeti Chopra in the lead role has become yet another golden feather in the actor's career.from Latest Entertainment News, Movies News, Celebrity News, Breaking News | Entertainment - Times of India
Priyanka attends her first ever Jonas Brothers show
Ranveer reveals how he manages to stay active
After giving back to back hits at the box-office, Ranveer Singh is currently basking in the success and at the same time prepping up for his next project. Talking about his energy, he said, "I do think about it as I get asked this. The only thing that I can come up with, after analysing myself, is that I have a lust for life. I have a great zeal for life."from Latest Entertainment News, Movies News, Celebrity News, Breaking News | Entertainment - Times of India
Priyanka Chopra-Nick Jonas Divorce Story: The Stars Will Sue US Magazine
The US edition of OK Magazine had claimed in a cover story that Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas are headed for divorce
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Arbaaz Khan on Malaika and Arjun's marriage
Even though Arjun Kapoor and Malaika Arora haven't come out in open about their relationship, the couple is making headlines for their PDA on social media and their undeniable chemistry that's visible when they step out together.from Latest Entertainment News, Movies News, Celebrity News, Breaking News | Entertainment - Times of India
Deepika is all praise for Anushka's fashion
Deepika Padukone's comments on Anushka Sharma's latest Instagram pictures surely proves that she is smitten by her fashion sense. The 'Sultan' actress recently took to Instagram to share a few pictures of herself and Deepika just couldn't stop herself from praising Anushka's style. On the first picture, she wrote "LOVE" and on the other "soo good".from Latest Entertainment News, Movies News, Celebrity News, Breaking News | Entertainment - Times of India
Saif to star in the sequel of 'Aankhen'?
Filmmaker Vipul Amrutlal Shah's film 'Aankhen' which had released in 2002 was touted as one of the best thriller film's of those time and now talks about a sequel of the film have been doing rounds of the classic cult.from Latest Entertainment News, Movies News, Celebrity News, Breaking News | Entertainment - Times of India
Sonakshi Sinha says she's ready for marriage
Sonakshi Sinha, who was last seen in 'Happy Phirr Bhag Jayegi' recently made an appearance on a television show with co-stars Alia Bhatt and Varun Dhawan, as they start the promotions of their upcoming film 'Kalank'.from Latest Entertainment News, Movies News, Celebrity News, Breaking News | Entertainment - Times of India
Is Kiara Advani’s look in Kalank’s song inspired by Madhubala?
CBFC clears John’s espionage drama with two minor cuts
Direction is on my mind: Aishwarya Rai Bachchan
Rajkummar Rao happy with his global reach
Why Vidyut Jammwal is a hit with action directors
Soni Razdan: Gave Alia a normal upbringing
Actor Alia Bhatt is living the best phase of life and her mother, actor Soni Razdan, has every reason to be proud of her. In a recent interview, Soni revealed that she gave Alia a normal, middle-class upbringing.from Latest Entertainment News, Movies News, Celebrity News, Breaking News | Entertainment - Times of India
How Salman came to Saroj Khan's rescue
Bollywood choreographer Saroj Khan was the lady behind the killer moves of Madhuri Dixit, Sridevi, Sushmita Sen and others in the '90s. She recently made headlines when she revealed that she choreographed the climax Mujra for Madhuri Dixit in her upcoming film. She also dismissed the rumours about her health conditions and she is waiting for Karan Johar's Kalank to release and dispel such idle talk.from Latest Entertainment News, Movies News, Celebrity News, Breaking News | Entertainment - Times of India
Watch: Ranveer's funny reaction to AR Rahman's tweet
SSR takes dance lessons from Shraddha Kapoor
Director Nitesh Tiwari’s Chhichhore features Shraddha Kapoor and Sushant Singh Rajput in pivotal roles. Recently, he posted a video with Naveen Polishetty where they enacted a whole Bollywood song (Koi Mil Gaya from Kuch Kuch Hota Hai).from Latest Entertainment News, Movies News, Celebrity News, Breaking News | Entertainment - Times of India
Watch: Janhvi and Ishaan set the stage on fire
Nora Fatehi & Rajkummar Rao set the stage on fire
The gorgeous Nora Fatehi is one heck of a dancer, and she has proved this time and again with her superhit dance numbers like 'Dilbar', 'Rock The Party', 'Kamariya', 'Naah' and others. She can mesmerize anyone even with her impromptu dance moves and she did exactly that in the Middle East recently.from Latest Entertainment News, Movies News, Celebrity News, Breaking News | Entertainment - Times of India
Neeraj Pandey to remake Puthiya Niyamam in Hindi
Sonam Kapoor looking white haute in an Ezra Couture gown
‘Junglee’ box office collection Day 1
‘Junglee’, starring Vidyut Jammwal was off to a good start at the domestic box office. The film directed by Hollywood filmmaker Chuck Russell has earned an estimated Rs 3.35 crore at the ticket window on its opening day.from Latest Entertainment News, Movies News, Celebrity News, Breaking News | Entertainment - Times of India
‘Kesari’ box office collection Day 9
‘Notebook’ box office collection Day 1
Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas Set to DIVORCE, Claims US Magazine. What's the Truth?
Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas who, from all accounts, have a fairy tale married life, maybe heading for a nasty split, according to a media report
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Box Office Collection: Akshay Kumar's 'Kesari' is a HIT
Box office collection of 'Kesari' has shown that Akshay Kumar's war film is a hit. Read more about the numbers it amassed and how it managed to grip the audiences
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Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, Virat Kohli, Anushka Sharma: Airport Officer Unmasks What They're REALLY Like
Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, Virat Kohli, Anushka Sharma behave differently from what we see on camera. Airport officer in a Reddit session reveals all. Read more
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'Kalank' Title Track Released! Was it Worth the Wait?
Kalank's title track just released! Kalank is an upcoming film starring Alia Bhatt, Varun Dhawan, Madhuri Dixit, Aditya Roy Kapoor, Sanjay Dutt and Sonakshi Sinha
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“Kangana Ranaut Has Forgotten How Much I’ve helped Her," Pahlaj Nihalani
Kangana Ranaut is under a fresh onslaught of controversy as Pahlaj Nihalani has spoken against Kangana. Kangana had also given some statements against Pahlaj
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Deepika Padukone or Taapsee Pannu: Who Would Play Amrita Pritam in Upcoming Biopic
Deepika Padukone and Taapsee Pannu are both frontrunners for the upcoming biopic on Amrita Pritam. Read more about the details of the film that will also star Abhishek Bachchan
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Project Ghazi is a superhero film that learned from the past
on March 31, 2019
in entertainment, Entertainment - SUCH TV, latest, pakviral, trending, viral
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After the issues that Project Ghazi went through on its initial premiere in 2017, I was concerned about the film.
There were evident problems and improvements I wanted to see. By the time the film was readied for re-release by its producers on March 29 2019, I was in a limbo, stuck between hopeful and skeptical. There was ample time to improve but how much could be improved?
The 'Project Ghazi' that the film's title refers to is an experiment by specialist Dr Ziad (Talat Hussain) whereby soldiers are enhanced so that their abilities are at maximum capacity - a nod to Captain America and the like. 15 years from the project, Salaar (Humayun Saeed) is the only surviving soldier around, due to a sacrifice made by his partner Taimur.
Taimur's son, Zain (Sheheryar Munawar) has inherited these super genetics from his father, although he is unaware of the origins of his abilities. When scientists and others involved in 'Project Ghazi' are targeted and super villain Kataan (Adnan Jafar) plans to drown the city in chaos, Zain must team up with Salaar to put a stop to it all.
Considering I had no idea what had happened in the original film, I was pretty happy to be able to locate a cohesive plot in the upgraded Project Ghazi.
I have to say this. Watching Project Ghazi after having seen the original, the improvements made weren't subtle at all. The audio was clearer, the timeline more logical and the CGI rendered to an acceptable state.
The scenes spent in confusing silence in the 2017 version had dialogues! I couldn't help but exclaim "Oh so that's what this was" on numerous occasions.
The crew behind the film utilised the year and a half they had since the original premiere quite well and not only does it show, but it made me happy. This is the power of proper post-production.
As the film progressed I realised that my viewing experience was affected by my comparing it to the 2017 version. For that reason, I may be appreciating the movie's improvements more than a general audience would.
However, I needed to see the movie as a stand-alone project. Sure, there were improvements but does Project Ghazi hold up on its own, keeping in mind that this is the only version the audience will be watching?
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Rolling Stones cancel tour over Mick Jagger´s health
British rock icon Mick Jagger said on Saturday he was "devastated" after his Rolling Stones were forced to cancel their United States and Canada tour dates so he could receive "medical treatment"."I really hate letting you down like this," the 75-year-old wrote on his Twitter account, without specifying what treatment he was receiving. "I´m devastated for having to postpone the tour but I will be working very hard to be back on stage as soon as I can."The rock legends earlier announced the cancellations, saying that they would reschedule the dates."Mick has been advised by doctors that he cannot go on tour at this time, as he needs medical treatment," said the band´s official statement."The doctors have advised Mick that he is expected to make a complete recovery so that he can get back on stage as soon as possible."Jagger has eight children, five grand children and a great-granddaughter, but has maintained his energetic stage performances well into his 70s, playing Britain´s Glastonbury Festival in 2013.The band, who formed in 1962, were due to play 17 shows in the US and Canada between April and June.
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from The News International - Entertainment https://ift.tt/2YyA6qN
Pakistan military rolls out 3D mobile game that lets you experience how soldiers fight
Pakistan military has launched a first person shooter game that embarks users through the combats that the Pakistan Armed Forces and law enforcement agencies go through to protect the country.The thrill and action packed game titled The Glorious Resolve – Journey To Peace is a 3D experience for all gaming geeks in the country who wish to experience the same adrenaline, adventure and courage that our soldiers do while protecting the country from enemies.Director General ISPR, Major General Asif Ghafoor announced the launch of the game on Twitter saying: “How your soldiers fight? Experience it for yourselves ....”The game is available to play on both iOS and Android devices with its PlayStore description reading: “In this darkest hour all the forces have been united to eliminate the deadliest threats the country is facing. Army, Air Force, Navy, ISPR, SSG Commandos, Aviation and other LEA's are all working together and fighting terrorism using their tactical expertise and state of the art weapon systems.”
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Lilly Singh is attacking Bollywood hits in new rap song
YouTube sensation Lilly Singh has taken the world by storm after she dropped her new single that re-imagines Bollywood songs in rap in her own fiery way.The internet’s celebrated star in her five-minute compilation is attacking a number of topics that stand tall in Bollywood songs, translating them and confronting them by bringing in significant issues that contradict the notions promoted by the music, like mental health, body positivity, unhealthy beauty standards and bisexuality. Sharing the video on Instagram, she writes: “I love Bollywood and I love rap music, so I decided to collide both worlds and remake some of my favorite filmi songs into rap anthems. Choli Ke Peeche Kya Hai is a CLASSIC and so I wanted to pair it with some modern wisdom I’ve gained over the years.”“Growing up, I was often taught a “right” and “wrong” way to be a woman. I was told exposing your body too much isn’t good, fair skin is the goal, having a tummy isn’t beautiful and subconsciously that other people could/would and should make judgments about you,” she added. “I’ve proactively made an effort to unlearn a lot of these things and this song represents that growth in a nutshell,” she went on to add.Further, uplifting the women around who live their lives on their own terms, she writes: “Shout outs to all my sisters who love to cover up and to those who love to show it all. Shout outs to my light, dark and everything in between sisters. It’s YOUR choice. Regardless of all the things we’ve been told and taught, you’re beautiful and deserve respect.”
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from The News International - Entertainment https://ift.tt/2TPpwYU
Ahad Raza Mir is sweeping hearts internationally after playing Hamlet in Calgary
Pakistan’s heartthrob Ahad Raza Mir after making waves in the country is sweeping hearts across the seven seas as well as his latest theater performance as Hamlet is bringing him praises from all around.The Yaqeen Ka Safar actor won over praises as he went back to his alma matter, University of Calgary where he studied acting and also attended high school, to essay the lead role in Shakespeare’ famous play Hamlet: A Ghost Story which opened on Friday night.Amongst the plethora of praises that were showered down on him, was a certain special friend of the actor cum singer –Sajal Ali, who turned to Instagram to laud Ahad for his remarkable performance. “Ahad, I have to admit that there’s nobody like you. Playing Hamlet is an accomplishment. The language, the emotions, the impact of the character was so well portrayed. Out of all the performances of any actor I’ve ever witnessed, your Hamlet was easily one of the BEST. Please bring the show to Pakistan so that everyone can see the finest actor we have,” she stated.Before making it big on Pakistani television, Ahad had been a budding theater star in Calgary and as per a report by Calgary Herald, he had agreed to return to the Canadian city after he started work on the text himself.Regarding the character he stated that he wanted to make Hamlet “the kind of guy you’d like to hang out with. I wanted to make him as relatable as possible to a contemporary audience.”
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Deepika-Ranveer, Alia-Ranbir eyeing US tour in 2020?
Bollywood love birds Deepika Padukone-Ranveer Singh, and Alia Bhatt-Ranbir Kapoor have been spending time with each other a lot lately. So much so that they could be heading to a US tour in 2020, or so a recent reports suggests. Deepika, Ranveer, Alia and Ranbir will be heading to cities like New York, New Jersey, Chicago and more together and will be entertaining the fans. Given the recent equation between the four actors, the tour will surely showcase the friendship they all share with one another.All the four celebrities are touted as industry's biggest stars and are known for delivering riveting performances. The four were recently spotted hanging out together at a recent award function.
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George Clooney urges boycott of Brunei-owned hotels
American actor George Clooney has called for a boycott of nine Brunei-owned hotels over the sultanate´s imposition of the death penalty for gay sex and adultery."Every single time we stay at or take meetings at or dine at any of these nine hotels, we are putting money directly into the pockets of men who choose to stone and whip to death their own citizens for being gay or accused of adultery," Clooney wrote on the website Deadline Hollywood."I´ve learned over years of dealing with murderous regimes that you can´t shame them. But you can shame the banks, the financiers and the institutions that do business with them and choose to look the other way," he added.Brunei is an absolute monarchy which has been ruled for 51 years by Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah. The former British protectorate on Borneo island is surrounded by Malaysia. It has long depended on abundant, but declining, crude reserves and was plunged into recession when global prices fell about five years ago.The nine hotels mentioned by Clooney are located in the US, Britain, France and Italy.Brunei first announced the measures in 2013, but implementation has been delayed as officials worked out the practical details, and in the face of opposition by rights groups.In addition to his film-making work that has netted him two Oscars, Clooney is known for his globe-trotting political activism, especially his tireless campaigning to draw attention to the conflict in Sudan´s Darfur region.
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from The News International - Entertainment https://ift.tt/2JNwxcD
Nominees for Lux Style Awards 2019 are out!
After witnessing a remarkable year in the showbiz and fashion industries of Pakistan, the country is finally getting to set to welcome the biggest award show in the country to pay accolades to the shining stars that stood behind uplifting their respective fields through sheer dedication and star power. The Lux Style Awards 2019 unveiled today its much anticipated list of the nominees for this year’s star-studded event representing in the fields of film, television, fashion and music. Out of the 24 categories, nine pick out their winners through the viewer’s choices that will be kicking off their voting next week.Here are the nominees: FILM CakeBest Film1. Cake2. Load Wedding3. Motorcycle Girl4. Jawani Phir Nahi Ani 25. Teefa in Trouble Nabeel Quraishi for Load WeddingBest Director1. Asim Abbasi for Cake2. Nabeel Quraishi for Load Wedding3. Haseeb Hassan for Parwaaz Hai Junoon4. Nadeem Baig for Jawani Phir Nahi Ani 25. Ahsan Rahim for Teefa in Trouble Ali Zafar for Teefa in TroubleBest Actor1. Adnan Malik for Cake2. Mohammad Ahmed for Cake3. Fahad Mustafa for Load Wedding4. Ahmed Ali Butt for Jawani Phir Nahi Ani 25. Ali Zafar for Teefa in Trouble Sohai Ali Abro for Motorcycle GirlBest Actress1. Aamina Sheikh for Cake2. Sanam Saeed for Cake3. Mehwish Hayat for Load Wedding4. Sohai Ali Abro for Motorcycle Girl5. Hajra Yamin for Pinky MemsaabTELEVISION Suno Chanda on Hum TV NetworkBest TV Play1. Khaani on Geo Entertainment2. Suno Chanda on Hum TV Network3. Dar Si Jati Hai Sila on Hum TV Network4. Aisi Hai Tanhai on ARY Digital Network5. Dil Mom Ka Diya on ARY Digital Network Qasim Ali Murid for AanganBest TV Play Director1. Ahsan Talish for Suno Chanda2. Shahid Shafat for Dil Mom Ka Diya3. Anjum Shahzad for Khaani4. Qasim Ali Murid for Aangan5. Kashif Nisar for Dar Si Jati Hai Sila Asma Nabeel for KhaaniBest TV Writer1. Faiza Iftikhar for Aangan2. Asma Nabeel for Khaani3. Amna Mufti for Ghuggi4. Zanjabeel Asim Shah for Balaa5. Bee Gul for Dar Si Jati Hai Sila Bilal Abbas for BalaaBest TV Actor1. Nauman Ejaz for Dar Si Jati Hai Sila2. Bilal Abbas for Balaa3. Feroze Khan for Khaani4. Sami Khan for Khudgarz5. Qavi Khan for Aangan Sonya Hussayn for Aisi Hai TanhaiBest TV Actress1. Iqra Aziz for Suno Chanda2. Sonya Hussayn for Aisi Hai Tanhai3. Sana Javed for Khaani4. Ushna Shah for Balaa5. Neelam Muneer for Dil Mom Ka Diya Khaani by Rahat Fateh Ali KhanBest Original Sound Track1. Aangan by Farhan Saeed & Naveed Nashad2. Dar Si Jati Hai Sila by Yasira Haseeb3. Ghuggi by Bina Khan and Naveed Nashad4. Khaani by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan5. Naulakha by Saif Samejo Nabeel Zubairi in Suno Chanda - ActorBest Emerging Talent1. Amar Khan in Belapur ki Dayan - Actress2. Nabeel Zubairi in Suno Chanda - Actor3. Osama Tahir in Dar Si Jati Hai Sila - Actor4. Rida Bilal for Khudgarz - Writer5. Zubab Rana in Meray Khudaya - ActressMUSIC Mein by Meesha ShafiBest Song1. Clap by Faris Shafi & Talal Qureishi2. Mein by Meesha Shafi3. Raat by The Sketches4. Rung De by Chand Tara Orchestra5. Ya Qurban by Khumariyan Bilal Ali of Kashmir for KhwaabSinger of the Year1. Bilal Ali of Kashmir for Khwaab2. Khurram for O Ki Jane3. Saif Samejo of The Sketches for Raat4. Shamoon Ismail for Marijuana5. Mohsin Abbas and Sohail Haider for Na Jaa Anna Salman for Middle of NowhereBest Emerging Talent1. Abdullah Siddiqi for Resistance2. Anna Salman for Middle of Nowhere3. Nehaal Naseem for Piplaan di Chaan4. Saakin for Saqi-e-Bewafa5. Sami Amiri for Umeed-e-Karawan Shuja Haider for Donkey Raja in Donkey KingBest Playback Singer1. Arif Lohar for Tillay Wali Jooti in Jawani Phir Nahi Ani 22. Atif Aslam for Tham Lo in Parwaz Hai Junoon3. Mulazim Hussain & Missal Zaidi for Rangeya in Load Wedding4. Shuja Haider for Donkey Raja in Donkey King5. The Sketches and Natasha Baig for Meri Dunya in Cake Fahmeen AnsariModel of the year (Female)1. Anam Malik2. Fahmeen Ansari3. Rubab Ali4. Sadaf Kanwal5. Zara Abid Hasnain LehriModel of the year (Male)1. Aimal Khan2. Champ Imi3. Hasnain Lehri4. Shahzad Noor Ashna KhanBest Fashion Photographer1. Alee Hassan2. Ashna Khan3. MHM Photography4. Rizwan ul Haq5. Stop Style Saima BargfredeBest Hair and Make-up Artist1. Fatima Nasir2. Qasim Liaqat3. Saima Bargfrede4. Shoaib Khan5. Sunil Nawab Eman Suleman - ModelBest Emerging Talent in Fashion (0-3 Yrs.)1. Eman Suleman - Model2. Hamza Baande - Photographer3. Mushk Kaleem - Model4. Munsif Ali Khan - Model5. Roshanay Afridi - Model Faraz MananAchievement in Fashion Design (Bridal Couture)1. Elan2. Faraz Manan3. Kamiar Rokni4. Nida Azwer5. Shehla Chatoor Hassan Sheheryar YasinAchievement in Fashion Design (Menswear)1. Deepak & Fahad2. Fahad Hussayn3. Hassan Sheheryar Yasin4. Jazib Qamar5. Republic by Omer Farooq GenerationAchievement in Fashion Design (Pret)1. Chapter 22. Elan3. Generation4. Sana Safinaz5. Zara Shahjahan Sana SafinazAchievement in Fashion Design (Luxury Pret)1. Hussain Rehar2. Misha Lakhani3. Sana Safinaz4. Sania Maskatiya5. Shehla Chatoor
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SRK, Aamir Khan, Deepika: Bollywood biggies with no films in 2019
While some eminent celebrities are eyeing big releases this year, some of Bollywood A-listers have no films lined up in 2019. These include three of the Hindi film industry's biggest stars Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan, Anushka Sharma and Deepika Padukone.Deepika Padukone While DP's husband Ranveer Singh is on a roll, bagging projects after projects, it looks like she on the other hand are taking things at a slow pace which is why her fans won't be seeing her on the screen this year. Deepika who is currently shooting for Meghna Gulzar's 'Chhapaak' where she will essay the character of a real-life acid attack survivor, will return to the screens in 2020. "Deepika is investing all her energies in her first production venture Chhapaak currently. She has not signed any other film at the moment. All rumours that state otherwise are untrue," said a film's spokesperson. Shah Rukh Khan Shah Rukh Khan, who was last seen in Zero alongside Katrina Kaif and Anushka failed to make a mark with his film. There were rumours that the superstar was roped in for Rakesh Sharma's biopic 'Saare Jahan Se Accha'. However rumour mills suggest that the actor has already dropped out of the movie wondering it might not be the best film to after Zero's pathetic failure. On the other hand, according to another news, Shah Rukh has been finalised for Sanjay Leela Bhansali's next which might release in a year or two. And then of course, his long impending Don 3 that's still in talks. Aamir Khan Even Mr. Perfectionist whose films, more often than not are guaranteed successes, does not have a film coming out this year. According to statistics, Aamir has had only one film per year for the last five years. Just like Shah Rukh, Aamir Khan is dejected about his last offering 'Thugs of Hindostan' not working out with the audiences which he thought would be one of his best films.Due to this, Aamir Khan has narrowed down his options and after a good three months of deliberation and consideration, has settled down for the official adaptation of Hollywood film, Forest Gump, titled Lal Singh Chaddha. The film is slated to release next year.Anushka Sharma The only actress on this list who had a happening 2018 with four releases starting from 'Pari', 'Sui Dhaaga' with Varun Dhawan, 'Sanju' and 'Zero', Anushka is planning to spend a work-free 2019. Apparently she has not signed any films deliberately as he has other plans this year. Anushka wants to spend time with husband Virat Kohli, travelling the world and rooting for him from the stands.
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from The News International - Entertainment https://ift.tt/2uFMtTT
Government, opposition talks on key issues stalled
ISLAMABAD: Attempts to set in motion the process of “consultations” between the government and opposition parties to resolve two key issues of immediate nature stand quashed for the time being by the positions taken by the two sides. A direct, meaningful discussion is nowhere in sight to hammer out a consensus on extending the operation of the military courts to try civilians, accused of terrorism, and to name two members of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). “We are ready to hold a debate on the implementation of the National Action Plan (NAP) against terrorism in the parliament anytime,” former Speaker and prominent Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Sardar Ayaz Sadiq told The News. Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, who is the point man of Prime Minister Imran Khan on consultations with the opposition parties, has made it known that the government is willing to hold a discussion on the NAP in the legislature. Ayaz Sadiq said that leader of the opposition in the National Assembly Shahbaz Sharif is not fond of having a session with the prime minister but when such meeting is a constitutional requirement, he has no hesitation and insists on it.Qureshi recently indicated that Imran Khan may meet Shahbaz Sharif as required by the Constitution. However, another minister said that there is no need for a face-to-face interaction and the premier has formed ministerial committees to talk about different issues with the opposition parties.The foreign minister’s offer for a briefing to the senior parliamentary leaders of all sides for the implementation of NAP on March 28 had to be cancelled after its disapproval by the opposition parties, which stressed on involving the parliament.While any movement forward on the military tribunals’ extension is at a total standstill, the exchange of letters between personal aides of the prime minister/foreign minister and opposition leader on the nomination of the ECP members has halted the matter inching towards a solution, even slightly. Meanwhile, Shahbaz Sharif is leaving for Britain in three days and is expected to stay in London for a week to consult with his doctors. He is likely to be back shortly before the next session of the Lower House of Parliament being scheduled around April 12. This means that he will not be available to the government for any consultations. In his absence, the government may contact Ayaz Sadiq and some other important PML-N leaders if it wants to discuss the issues of the extension of the military courts and appointment of the ECP members.
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Governor Sarwar calls for resolving traders’ issues
LAHORE: While acknowledging problems being faced by business community, Punjab Governor Ch Muhammad Sarwar has vowed to take concrete steps for addressing such issues.Addressing the 4th Energy and LPG Conference at Governor House, Sarwar said police had been asked to withdraw cases against 150 traders that had been lodged as a result of raids by Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).We want to give respect to traders and businessmen, which they deserve.He said the doors of Governor House were open for the business community with a view to soling their problems. The business community plays leading rule in the prosperity and development of the country.The business community creates wealth, generates jobs and pay taxes that contribute heavily in running affairs of the government.Therefore, it is top priority of the present government to take decisions about business and industrial activities while taking into business community confidence.We will consult LPG stakeholders if we want to formulate policy for this sector. If we want to make strategy for the health sector, we need to consult doctors, consultants, nurses before taking any decision in this regard.It is because present government gives importance to adopting consultative approach for better governance and service delivery.Governor acknowledged the fact that business community face immense problem while dealing day to day affairs. In other countries, business used to work with one department. However, unfortunately, there are 20 departments in Pakistan that are regulating businesses and industry.“I myself being a businessman know the problems associated with these departments. We need to remain tightlipped about such redtapism due to obvious reasons.These public sector institutions are established for facilitating the businesses in order to create an enabling environment,” said the Governor. However, he added, unfortunately we have seen their adverse role in this connection.We are aware of this red tapism and will solve such issues for the benefit of business and industrial sectors, he assured the participants, he concluded.Talking about LPG industry, the governor Punjab said present government has taken steps against the manufacturers of substandard cylinders of LPG and would take further action in this regard.These cylinders cause loss of human lives and property and also damaged repute of the industry.We want to make it clear that there will be zero tolerance of such activities, he vowed.
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Two of a family die after consuming poisonous tablets
RAWALPINDI: Two persons died while three others are in critical condition as some poisonous liquid is oozing out of their mouths at District Headquarters Hospital (DHQ), Rawalpindi on Saturday.According to DHQ doctors, five victims of a family named Waseem Ijaz, Razia Waseem, Jaweria Waseem, Ibrahim Waseem and Raham Waseem were rushed tothe hospital in critical condition.The 10-year-old Ibrahim Waseem and 40-year-old Razia Waseem had expired before reaching hospital, doctors said.The doctors also said that it might be a suicide attempt case because all victims had eaten rat-killing tablets. The condition of other three victims is very critical.The Rescue 1122 official Spokesman Muhammad Farooq Butt told ‘The News’ that this incident took place at Bohar Bazaar near Lal Haveli, Rawalpindi.The neighbours informed them that the members of the family had been unconscious for a long time at home while liquid was spilling from their mouths.The Rescue 1122 teams reached the spot and shifted them to DHQ Hospital for treatment but two of them already expired on the way, he said.Divisional Superintendent of Police (DSP) Ijaz Shah said that they had started investigation about this incident.It seemed that it was a suicide incident but afterinvestigation they would solve the mystery shrouding the incident very soon, he said.Muhammad Junaid who is nephew of Basit (owner of the house where poor family was living) informed Rescue 1122 officials about the incident.
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Earth Hour observed: Call to conserve energy to save resources for future
LAHORE: The WWF-Pakistan joined more than 180 nations around the world to observe Earth Hour at 8:30pm, local time, on Saturday.In Lahore, Earth Hour was observed at Wapda House. Wapda Chairman Muzammil Hussain was the chief guest on the occasion. WWF-Pakistan senior officers and WWF-Pakistan’s goodwill ambassadors were also present.Addressing the ceremony, the Wapda chairman said, “Earth Hour is an opportunity for us to be a part of global movement to take action for our home.” He said that Wapda joined hands with WWF-Pakistan to organise Earth Hour at Wapda House as part of its corporate social responsibility.While emphasising the importance of energy, he said that energy conservation was the need of the hour.“We must conserve it now so that we have resources in the future,” he added.The Wapda chairman shared with the participants that Wapda had devised a comprehensive strategy for harnessing water and hydropower resources to improve water availability in Pakistan and offset the adverse impact on climate change.He said construction work on Mohmand Dam would start in a couple of weeks while construction of Diamer Basha Dam would also commence in the current year.WWF-Pakistan Director General Hammad Naqi Khan said that in 2019 the country continued to embrace the true essence of the global Earth Hour movement.“Earth Hour was first celebrated in 2010 in Pakistan, and we have seen it grow bigger with each passing year. This is a very optimistic sign that our aim to rally people from all corners of the country for our planet has anchored roots.” In the past decade, Earth Hour inspired millions to support and participate in critical climate and environmental initiatives, helping drive climate policy, awareness and action worldwide, he said, adding, “If we take a look into our past, we would understand that movements have shaped our lives which means movements matter, and the Earth Hour movement will shape our future.”Other major landmarks across the country also participated in Earth Hour by switched off lights. The landmarks include DCO Office, Wasa, Lesco, Wazir Khan Mosque, Hazori Bagh, parks, LDA Complex, Parliament House, Supreme Court of Pakistan, Pakistan National Monument, Damn-e-Koh, Pak-China Friendship Centre, Shah Faisal Mosque, Convention Centre, D-Chowk, Lake View Park, 7th Avenue, 8th Avenue, Sindh Assembly and Frère Hall.
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CIA seizes huge quantity of narcotics
ISLAMABAD: The Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) of Islamabad Police has arrested drug smuggler and recovered a total of four kilogram hashish, 6.300 kilogram opium from him, a police spokesman said.He said that Deputy Inspector General of Police (Operations) Waqar Uddin Syed assigned special task to SP (Investigation) Dr Mustafa Tanveer to ensure arrest of those involved in drug pusher activities.He constituted special teams under supervision of DSP CIA Hakim Khan including Inspector Muhammad Aslam Shahi, ASI Sadeer Abbasi, and others. One of the police team stopped a car (LE-1433) for checking near Chungi No. 26 and recovered four kilogram hashish and 6.300 kilogram opium from it. The car occupant identified as Noman Abbasi s/o Muhammad Irshad Abbasi resident of Kakrahi Murree District Rawalpindi was also arrested besides impounding of the car by police.Case has been registered against him at Tarnol Police Station and further investigation is underway from them.DIG (Operations) Waqar Uddin Syed has appreciated this performance and directed all police officials to remain vigilant in their respective areas and ensure arrest of those involved in ugly business of drug pushing.
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NAB arrests accused in modarba scam
ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) arrested an accused, Abdullah Shaukat, wanted in a reference of corruption regarding modarba scam, through Interpol from UAE. He was wanted for issuing false fatwa in favour of main accused person Shafiqur Rehman illegally declaring his business as legal and under Islamic laws. He was, allegedly, also beneficiary of huge sums of illegal amounts gained through public cheating.
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Man injures woman, her daughter
LAHORE: A man attacked his sister-in-law and her daughter with a knife and wounded them over some domestic issue. The victims have been identified as Abida and her daughter Rashida. Police reached the scene after being informed and removed the victims to hospital. Police said the victim woman's brother-in-law attacked them over some domestic dispute. The accused person fled the scene. Police were conducting raids to arrest him.
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Flour mills delegation calls on minister
LAHORE: A delegation of Pakistan Flour Mills Association (PFMA) called on Provincial Minister for Industries & Trade Mian Aslam Iqbal at Chamber of Commerce & Industry on Saturday and discussed with him the Ramzan Package-2019.While talking to the delegation, the minister said subsidy of Rs9billion on flour was wasted last year, and the common man had not been provided any relief.However, the incumbent government would provide flour and other essential items to the common man on subsidised rates during the holy month of Ramzan.Earlier, the minister attended prize distribution ceremonies of private schools.He said quality education, health and other basic amenities were fundamental right of every citizen and the government would give these rights to them. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) came to power with the agenda of change and masses would witness the change soon."We will give peaceful and prosperous Naya Pakistan to the next generation," he said, adding that Prime Minister Imran Khan had launched an excellent programme for eradication of poverty and unemployment in the country. The lifestyle of people would change with the implementation of the programme, the minister concluded.
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Naeemul Haq meets Pervaiz Elahi
Lahore: The special assistant to prime minister, Naeemul Haq, along with a PTI delegation called on Punjab Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi at his residence here on Saturday. The delegation included Ejaz Chaudhry, Dr Shehbaz Gill, Adeel Mirza, Rana Abdul Sami, Nasir Bashir, Khurrum Shehzad.MNAs Moonis Elahi and Salik Hussain and Shafay Hussain were also present.Naeemul Haq and Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi were unanimous that PML-Q and PTI would move along with mutual consultation. They exchanged views on the situation in Punjab. They talked about future the strategy in the wake of Pervaiz Elahi's meeting with Prime Minister Imran Khan. They said measures would be taken for the welfare of the people of Punjab.
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JUP to launch Shariah movement
LAHORE: Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan (JUP) Noorani group leaders announced a countrywide “Enforce Nizam-e-Mustafa” campaign to implement Islamic Shariah and counter all western conspiracies.This was the crux of speeches at the ‘Tahaffuz Pakistan Workers Convention’ chaired by JUP president Pir Ijaz Hashmi while other prominent leaders included JUP secretary general Shah Awais Noorani, Dr Raghib Naeemi, Pir Mehfooz Mashadi, Punjab president Noora Ahmad Sial, Dr Javed Akthar, Sardar Mohammad Khan Leghari, Ch Yaqoob, Rana Rehmat Ali and others. Pir Ijaz Hashmi announced that during the campaign, Nizam-e-Mustafa conventions would be held at divisional level and a national convention would be held at Islamabad.
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India must be held accountable for its crimes in IHK: AJK president
ISLAMABAD: Azad Jammu and Kashmir President Sardar Masood Khan on Saturday said it was time to hold India accountable for its crimes against humanity in Indian Held Kashmir (IHK).Speaking at a function here at the Kashmir House, Masood contended that Kashmiris had mourned a lot on funerals of their youth for decades, and now it was time to hold India accountable for its crimes against people of Kashmir. “India will have to be held accountable for its crimes, for the world community just can’t shut its eyes on this issue,” he emphasised.He noted that people of Kashmir had single-handedly and without arms, combated India’s war machine for 70 years and proved that no power on the earth could defeat them or distract them from their objective of freedom from Indian occupation.Masood pointed out that new Kashmiri generation was now ready in Azad Kashmir and Indian Held Kashmir, which fully understood the Kashmir issue and its various aspects. “And this generation is blessed with courage and enthusiasm to do anything for the success of the freedom movement,” he emphasised.The AJK president cautioned that law of the jungle would prevail in held Kashmir if India was not made answerable to its crimes against humanity.
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Ex-MNA urges govt to honour pledges with regard to Fata merger
BARA: Pakistan People's Party (PPP) president for erstwhile Fata and former MNA Akhunzada Chattan has said the government should honour the pledges it had made before the merger of the former tribal areas with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.Talking to reporters at Bara Press Club here, he said the government should honour the promises with tribespeople.He said the Khassadars and Levies force should be merged into police and they be provided facilities given to police.Chattan explained the political leaders, social workers, lawyers and journalists rendered sacrifices for the abolition of the Frontier Crimes Regulation.He accused the provincial government of trying to occupy the resources of the erstwhile Fata."The government first sent the mineral resources minister to tribal districts," he allegedHe added the government should have sent the ministers of education and health to the merged districts."The government should not interfere in erstwhile Fata till the election for the provincial assembly seats for the merged districts," he said.He said the government should announce provincial assembly seats' election to give the representation to the tribespeople.He said tribal journalists rendered sacrifices during militancy and paid tribute to martyred journalists Nasrullah Afridi and Mahboob Shah Afridi.Chattan flayed provincial Minister for Information Shaukat Yousafzai, who has not visited the tribal districts.
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NAB & deep wounds of a retired top bureaucrat
ISLAMABAD: A retired federal secretary and FBR former chairman M Iqbal Farid is fighting his case both in the apex court and with the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) against Bureau’s high handedness where he, despite being a senior government servant, was arrested, humiliated and when nothing incriminating found against him, his family was harassed to pay “extortion” to get himself free.Now he wants the refund of what he called the “extorted money” (Rs10 million) with interest and costs.In his pending representation before the NAB, he lamented, “After 100 days of detention (in 1999-2000), I was released after the unjustified extortion of Rs10 million, given salary for the period of my detention and posting in the Establishment Division for the remaining four months period of my service tenure, I retired in a normal course on superannuation with all pension and terminal benefits. What a farce!”Iqbal Farid’s case is also pending before the Supreme Court as he insists that his case is a glaring example of NAB’s highhandedness. He explained that despite being a senior government servant, he was arrested humiliated, investigated and when nothing incriminating was found against him in his personal or official capacity and without any reference/plea bargain through the court, the NAB created a situation wherein his family was harassed to extort exorbitant amount of money from his brothers.He said that his release order mentioned three allegations on the basis of which the “financial impact” of Rs10 million was “recovered”.The three allegation were; a) avoidance of fee on transfer of a house in CDA; b) non-disclosure in wealth tax return of sale of inherited shops; c) affidavit and change in location of an officially allotted residential plot.He explained that the first allegation was based on misreading of facts and applicable CDA regulations that permit transfer within the family on payment of prescribed fee. The second allegation, he said, was also based on some misperception about applicable regulations that require no disclosure of what has been expended during the tax year.Regarding the third allegation, he said that he was first allotted plot in Sector D-12 of CDA along with many others then the same was shifted to Sector I-8. Besides him, those whose plots were shifted include several secretaries, DG ISI, DG FIA and Auditor General of Pakistan of that period.He said that nothing adverse was discovered against him but the entire process of NAB’s inquiry and investigation was a complete sham. “The entire process was erroneous, defective, malicious, ill-founded with mala fide intentions,” he said in his representation.He lamented, “How can the mental agony, the trauma and the wrong impression of ‘corruption’ perceived by general public, friends, colleagues and relatives emanating from the false propaganda to save their (NAB) own skin, be corrected? Any amount of damages (which I have a right to claim) wouldn’t suffice.”He said that he has been making repeated representations to the NAB chairman from 2000-2010 for redress of his grievance and refund of the extorted amount and an apology for the grievous wrong done to him.He said that the fact has to be realised that the financial impact had been caused to him for no wrong done and as such entitled him to a refund of entire amount of Rs10 million with mark-up @ 24 a year till recovery on account of loss of continuous earning, which the investment in a normal business yielding during the preceding years.
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Action sought against drug pushers in Nowshera
PESHAWAR: The residents of Kheshgi Payan Union Council in Nowshera district on Saturday asked the police high-ups to order action against drug pushers as the local cops were not doing so.Some local elders and public representatives of various villages falling in the jurisdiction of Nowshera Kalan Police Station said dozens of youths have started using ice, hashish and other narcotics due to their open sale.Wakeel Khan, a resident of Kheshgi Payan Village Council, said that officials at local police post were well aware of the drug-peddlers and their dens but for certainreasons the police had given free hand to the anti-social elements.Khalid Khan, a resident of Zamandzai, said the cops had confined themselves to the police post and there was no patrolling to provide security to the people and check the sale of drugs.He said that one could not move on the main Kheshgi-Nowshera road at night time due to insecurity and risk of robberies.Omar Hayat, an elder of Baba Jee Killay, said that the residents had voted for the candidates of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf but the local MNAs and MPAs had turned a blind eye to the areas to redress their grievances.They warned that the people would protest near the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly if action was not taken against drug peddlers and sellers in their area.
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Police claim busting gang of car-lifters
NOWSHERA: The police here on Saturday claimed to have busted a four-member gang of car-lifters and recovered stolen cars and cash.Speaking at a press conference, District Police Officer Mansoor Aman said the ringleader belonging to the Charsadda district was a student of the University of Engineering and Technology, Peshawar.He said the gang had recently snatched a car from a man in the Nowshera city at gunpoint. He said that the gangsters also snatched a car from another man in Pirpiai.The official said that acting on public complaints, the police launched investigations and traced out the gang. He said that arrests were made during a raid. The accused were as Owais (ringleader), Awal Said, Lal Mohammad and Luqman.
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A stabilising economy; Reversing the damage
A little more than 200 days have passed since the PTI took over reins of the country in the midst of the worst economic crisis. It inherited multiple deficits that were allowed to surpass levels that are enough to run any economy to the ground. This article broadly lays out the significant progress on the economic stabilisation front in the first 200 days of PTI’s government and the direction that economic policy will take in the coming days.More from Hammad Azhar: The economy in 2019A country like Pakistan needs an adequate level of foreign exchange reserves to finance its imports and repay/service its international debt obligations. The immediate challenge the new government faced when it took over in August 2018 was to overcome the huge external financing crises that the country faced as a result of the USD 19 BN Current Account deficit and the USD 10 BN debt repayment due this financial year. The degree of the crises can be gauged by the fact that the net reserves left at the State Bank were not even enough to cover its short term liabilities. On top of that, the forex reserves of the country were being depleted at an alarming rate of half a billion dollars per month on average since the last 20 months of PML-N government despite the net addition of USD 13 BN in external debt during the mentioned timeline.This huge drain of forex was successfully plugged in time by arresting the rapid growth in imports from a positive of 15% to a negative figure and also by the SBP’s actions of bringing the currency in line with its market value so as to prevent the constant outflow of foreign exchange to support the artificially over valued exchange rate. Bilateral assistance in adequate amounts was also arranged from friendly countries like UAE, KSA, China. Foreign remittances that had remained stagnant since many years have also shown an unprecedented double digit growth.As a result, and after a long period, the foreign exchange reserves went from the position of rapid depletion to that of a gradual build up starting from January 2019. Today, the foreign exchange reserves are at a higher level compared to the time we took over despite lower external debt accumulation from the previous year.The Current Account Deficit in past 5 years had risen by seven times and the Trade Deficit of Pakistan had doubled thereby crippling the economy and exposing the superficial nature of economic growth of the past 2 years that was financed largely on the back of rising deficits. Both the Current Account and Trade Deficit have now shown sharp declines of 22% and 11% respectively from July till February 2019, and the improvement is accelerating. For example, in February alone, the Current Account Deficit decreased by 72% year on year.On the fiscal side, tax revenues have shown a growth of 3% from last year but have fallen short of the targets set by FBR. This is not the first time that there is a shortfall in revenue collection. FBR has missed its collection targets in 8 of the last 10 years. This time though the primary reason for the shortfall can be traced to the sixth budget that was presented by the PML-N government just before the general elections. In the face of an unprecedented Rs2.3 trillion budget deficit and an already sizeable shortfall in revenue collection, the PML-N leadership decided to cave in to political considerations and presented a budget that wiped off major chunks from the country’s revenue streams. The country’s finances were put in jeopardy in a callous and failed attempt to win favour with the masses and secure an election. A similar ploy was employed in the power and gas sectors. These entities were knowingly thrown into financial crises in an attempt to create a false impression of low-priced energy thereby causing a huge build up in circular debt and large losses in gas companies. The losses of power and gas sector in the last year alone of PML-N government amount to more than Rs600 billion.Parts of these losses were recouped by the Supplementary Finance Bill approved in October 2018. But by the time the new measures to offset the effects of the controversial PML-N budget were put in place, a sizeable loss in revenues had already incurred. Furthermore, the Supreme Court’s stay on the collection of taxes on prepaid mobile cards and reduction in indirect taxes on petroleum products also added to the revenue shortfall.However, another critical factor has inevitably come into play. FBR collects 40% of its taxes at import stage and a large extent of growth in revenues in the preceding years was a result of growth in taxes collected at import stage (above 18% for last year). Now the overarching economic priority for us was to halt the drain on foreign exchange and the growth in imports had to be curtailed as a result. Especially those imports that are classified as non-essential or luxury goods but also attract the high duties and taxes. Thus the tax revenues had to take a hit on this count. Whilst devaluation of the currency allows some of the loss of revenues to be set off at import stage but latest data shows that the phenomenon of revenue growth riding on the back of import growth has come to an end this year. And this trade off was indeed a conscious policy decision since the need to preserve and secure precious foreign exchange was of utmost priority. The dependence of revenues on imports needs to be curtailed in the long run and is an unhealthy sign for any economy. The need to address supply side bottlenecks for industry like restoring competitiveness of local exporters and industry is also a key priority and on this count the government has reduced tariffs and taxes on hundreds of tariff lines that serve as inputs for our industry.Nevertheless, the fiscal scheme of things has not been ignored and efforts are underway to make up for this shortfall in tax revenues by increasing the non-tax revenue receipts of the government for this year. If the efforts bear fruit then the Fiscal Deficit of this financial year will also register a sizeable decrease from last year. Furthermore, as the external sector continues to respond positively to the government measures, the second priority of the government i.e. fiscal stabilisation will begin to assume greater importance in the coming months and tax revenue considerations will attain primal importance in policy contours.On the economic growth front, it’s important to understand the context and background. The period 2008-2018 was the lowest average economic growth period of the country since 1971 and it is not surprising. Whatever “above average” growth spurts we witnessed during this low growth period were short-lived because they were driven by consumption spending as opposed to private investment. These consumption driven growth periods, due to their non-productive nature, become associated with high external and internal deficits that force the country to undergo stabilisation measures i.e. tight monetary and fiscal policies. Economic stabilisation and rescuing the economy necessitates a temporary slowdown in economic growth of any country, especially when the prior growth periods are entirely deficit financed and consumption based. And that has been witnessed in Pakistan too as the economy is currently projected to grow at 4% this year as opposed to 5.2% of last year. This slowdown is not a contraction as many have incorrectly implied and it is also not permanent. And more importantly, what will be different this time is that the stabilisation period will run in tandem with structural reforms in order to lay the ground for a stronger, sustainable and investment based growth period in the aftermath.On this count, the government has already moved to remove some of the structural bottlenecks that have hindered investments in the past. The Economic Reforms Package recently passed by Parliament contained multiple measures like removal of withholding taxes on filers for banking transactions, tax exemptions on import of machinery, setting up of green-field businesses, incentives to banks to advance loans to SMEs and agriculture etc. Similarly, a comprehensive restructuring and technology deployment plan for FBR has been finalised, a largest data integration exercise to date of FBR with other government agencies is already underway and a single portal for tax filing and payment is planned to be rolled out by July. A dedicated board comprised of private sector experts has started working under ‘Sarmaya Pakistan’ entity to restructure or identify SOE’s to be privatised. Power tariffs for export sectors have been reduced to levels that are at par with the regional average and the immediate clearance scheme for their pending refund claims with FBR has been rolled out.Visa rules and fees have been relaxed for tourists and all ministries are working jointly to address the ease of doing business issues in the country. The above are examples of some of the initiatives that have already being undertaken and the above list is not exhaustive. Most of these measures carry a time lag before they start yielding dividends for the economy but a targeted and comprehensive reform process is certainly on track.The Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) flows in the country have attracted some discussion recently. An impression is being given that somehow there has been a great decline in FDI under the new government. This is far from the truth as a closer look at the numbers reveals a very different picture. The FDI inflows resulting from CPEC activities have seen a tapering off because of the temporary gap between the first phase of CPEC being completed last year and the second phase focused on the western regions picking up.The PM recently performed ground-breaking of the Gwadar’s airport and infrastructure development as a part of CPEC in this regards. To put things in correct perspective, excluding Chinese and CPEC inflows, FDI from the rest of the world has risen by more than 17% in the Aug-Feb 19 periods when compared with the same period of previous year. Furthermore, significant investments in the field of automobiles, agriculture, consumer goods and telecom from foreign investors are taking final shape.Economic stabilisation is a painful corrective exercise in the short-term. Devaluation of the currency to bring it in line with its actual market equilibrium position adds inflationary pressures in the economy. The gas and power sector has needed urgent and much delayed tariff adjustments to save them from financial collapse. The government is fully cognizant of the impact that these measures along with a temporary slowdown in growth and rising inflation can have on the lowest income groups in society. Therefore, in parallel, the PTI government has unveiled an ambitious poverty alleviation programme called ‘Ehsaas’ consisting of two facets. It clubs together and syncs the pre-existing poverty alleviation initiatives of the federal government that were previously acting in isolation. Secondly, it introduces new interventions in order to encourage graduation from poverty as opposed to simply making the lowest income groups reliant indefinitely on cash handouts.The first phase of the government’s housing project for the poor is to be announced shortly too. These flagship platforms will act as a foundational base towards creating a social safety net for the citizens of Pakistan.Pakistan’s economy holds tremendous prospects. Pakistan offers all investors the right mix of demography, resilient society and many great wonders that our land and people offer. Stabilisation and structural reform is the need of the hour and the difficult decisions and measures that we go through today will indeed lead to a dramatic and qualitative change in the growth and development trajectory of Pakistan.The author is the Minister of State for Revenue, Government of Pakistan.
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President, PM, Sanjrani, Fawad greet APNS office-bearers
ISLAMABAD: President Dr Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Imran Khan Saturday congratulated Hameed Haroon and Sarmad Ali for having been unanimously elected president and secretary general of All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS).In separate statements, they extended felicitations to APNS newly-elected president and secretary general and the other office-bearers.The president hoped that newly elected APNS would work for responsible and meaningful journalism and that the government-media relations would grow stronger and fruitful during the tenure of new body.Prime Minister Imran Khan congratulated the newly-elected APNS president, secretary general as well as the executive committee members on their election. Besides, Hameed Haroon, Sarmad Ali, Rameeza Nizami, Mumtaz Tahir, Munir Gilani and Shahab Zuberi have been felicitated by the prime minister. He said that the election of these senior persons was a manifestation of their leadership qualities and the journalist community’s confidence in them.The prime minister expressed hope that the newly-elected leadership would address the journalist community’s issues, particularly work for the media industry’s promotion on sustainable basis.Meanwhile, Senate Chairman Muhammad Sadiq Sanjrani also congratulated the newly-elected APNS leadership and wished them the best of luck, saying they had rendered valuable services in the field journalism.Sanjrani was sure that the new APNS leadership would exploit its energies for the welfare and betterment of the media and those, associated with it.Information and Broadcasting Minister Chaudhry Fawad Hussain, in a statement, congratulated Hameed Haroon and other office-bearers of APNS, including Sarmad Ali, Rameeza Nizami, Mumtaz Tahir, Munir Gilani and Shahab Zuberi.The minister said the government strongly believed in the freedom of expression and the media freedom in accordance with the Constitution. He said the government would continue its support for the progress of media freedom and try its level best to extend best possible facilities to the journalist community. Fawad added the government would also continue working with the journalist bodies in the face of challenges to the media.Principal Information Officer (PIO) Mian Jahangir Iqbal also congratulated the APNS office-bearers. In his felicitation message, he expressed his best wishes to the newly-elected President Hameed Haroon, Secretary General Sarmad Ali and other elected office-bearers, including Rameeza Nizami, Mumtaz Tahir, Munir Gillani and Shahab Zuberi. PIO also congratulated the Executive Committee of the APNS over its election.
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NAB chairman apologised for excesses but promised no remedy
ISLAMABAD: In a first, National Accountability Bureau (NAB) chairman has offered an apology to bureaucrats wrongly suffered in the hands of NAB but he didn’t promise waiving off the immunity for NAB investigators playing havoc with the lives of the innocents.During an interaction with provincial secretaries in Peshawar late Thursday, Justice (R) Javed Iqbal was urged to practice what he preached when the NAB chairman pressed on officers to face accountability in this world instead of facing it on the Day of Judgment.A provincial secretary interrupted at this point. He had spent two years in jail in a NAB case, his ailing wife became bed-ridden and his son, a teenager, took refuge in drug-addiction to fight depression. The litigation fee in millions is apart from it.“You have rightly said, sir. I have faced NAB without anything proved against me as yet,” said Arshad Khan who is presently KP Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education. He was picked by NAB in 2015 for the alleged misuse of disaster management funds being Fata DG and assets beyond known means.As the cases against him are at trial stages and Arshad is on bail, NAB’s investigation officer is not showing up before the court for producing evidence against him. The judge has fined the investigator for his repeated absence.“If we are to face the accountability in this world, what about the NAB officials who fabricate cases on false allegations, defame on groundless charges. They too must be held accountable in this world instead of hiding behind the immunity,” Arshad continued. “Once I am acquitted of the charges, I want to sue NAB for destroying my life. I, therefore, urge you to waive off immunity the NAB officials enjoy for their misdeeds,” he said but his prayer went unanswered.Arshad also raised questions about NAB actions lacking rules as the accountability watchdog operates through Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) which don’t have legal grounds to stand on. NAB which came into existence through NAB Ordinance 2002 was required to frame the rules which has not been done till to-date. The Supreme Court has set aside decisions of different departments taken in absence of the rules and directed the framing of them.NAB chairman faced scathing critique as he invited feedback from the officers. Recognising the criticism NAB has courted from different sections of society, Justice (R) Javed Iqbal said he decided to consult bureaucracy amid growing apprehensions that bureaucracy had stopped working out of NAB fear. A couple of months ago, he had this kind of a session with the federal secretaries in Islamabad.“I asked them if NAB law is black law as is being propagated, let me know where the lacunas existed,” he told provincial secretaries referring to his meeting with the federal secretaries. None offered any suggestion, he said. Also in attendance were the federal secretaries facing NAB cases, NAB chairman said.This was the point when Arshad stood up. “Since I was the one facing NAB, sitting silent meant the admission of guilt and no objection on NAB’s style of accountability,” he told The News.Arshad then explained at length about the charges against him, how he was picked and sent to jail where he remained for two years without ever making an excuse for hospitalisation on medical grounds. Asmatullah Gandapur, presently Secretary Mineral of KP, was second to speak. He is facing NAB for doing nothing as he issued a dissenting note for an out of court settlement when he was additional secretary minerals. He was arrested by NAB; investigation officers would admit he was falsely implicated but cases has not been closed. His wife went through trauma and his son’s education suffered. From a brilliant student, he became an average student.As for Arshad Khan is concerned, facing litigation and defamation were not the only challenge he faced during detention. His wife, an arthritis patient, became bed-ridden. His son started using hashish to fight depression; he’s presently undergoing rehabilitation process. Arshad said he had so far spent more than Rs10 million on litigation. When asked by The News how he managed heavy fee for lawyers, he pointed towards his rental properties, a petrol pump and gardens and claimed having inherited these sources and verified by NAB as legitimate.After hearing the ordeals of these two provincial secretaries, NAB chairman had the cases noted to his staff for looking into them. He also apologised to these officers and wished them good luck in the court but didn't take the responsibility as he said the cases were instituted before him. He claimed that nothing like this occurred under his watch, altogether forgetting the suicide case of Asad Munir who, in his suicide note, had blamed NAB for launching investigation against him. While Asmatullah was picked notwithstanding the fact he had a dissenting note, the reference was filed against Asad for recommending the restoration of a plot in line with CDA policy. Neither of them was the approving authority in the relevant cases.Regarding NAB operations through SOPs, Javed Iqbal said they were presented before the SC a couple of times and went unchallenged. However, he admitted the rules had to be framed. He said it was being done as a committee had been set up for the purpose. Once prepared, they would be approved from the federal cabinet. However, he didn’t promise waiving off immunity being enjoyed by NAB officials for falsely implicating and torturing different individuals.When NAB spokesman contacted for version, he said chairman didn't offer any apology to bureaucracy "of his tenure."He said that NAB believes in “Accountability for All” across the board in accordance with law. He said NAB believes in self accountability and reiterated his firm resolve that NAB does not believe in victimisation and NAB officers had been ordered to ensure self-respect of every person.
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from The News International - National https://ift.tt/2U58BGy
Govt-Opposition talks on key issues stalled
ISLAMABAD: Attempts to set in motion the process of “consultations” between the government and opposition parties to resolve two key issues of immediate nature stand quashed for the time being by the positions taken by the two sides.A direct, meaningful discussion is nowhere in sight to hammer out a consensus on extending the operation of the military courts to try civilians, accused of terrorism, and to name two members of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).“We are ready to hold a debate on the implementation of the National Action Plan (NAP) against terrorism in the parliament anytime,” former Speaker and prominent Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Sardar Ayaz Sadiq told The News.Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, who is the point man of Prime Minister Imran Khan on consultations with the opposition parties, has made it known that the government is willing to hold a discussion on the NAP in the legislature.Ayaz Sadiq said that leader of the opposition in the National Assembly Shahbaz Sharif is not fond of having a session with the prime minister but when such meeting is a constitutional requirement, he has no hesitation and insists on it.Qureshi recently indicated that Imran Khan may meet Shahbaz Sharif as required by the Constitution. However, another minister said that there is no need for a face-to-face interaction and the premier has formed ministerial committees to talk about different issues with the opposition parties.The foreign minister’s offer for a briefing to the senior parliamentary leaders of all sides for the implementation of NAP on March 28 had to be cancelled after its disapproval by the opposition parties, which stressed on involving the parliament.While any movement forward on the military tribunals’ extension is at a total standstill, the exchange of letters between personal aides of the prime minister/foreign minister and opposition leader on the nomination of the ECP members has halted the matter inching towards a solution, even slightly.Meanwhile, Shahbaz Sharif is leaving for Britain in three days and is expected to stay in London for a week to consult with his doctors. He is likely to be back shortly before the next session of the Lower House of Parliament being scheduled around April 12. This means that he will not be available to the government for any consultations. In his absence, the government may contact Ayaz Sadiq and some other important PML-N leaders if it wants to discuss the issues of the extension of the military courts and appointment of the ECP members.
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from The News International - National https://ift.tt/2FHrtRM
NAB chairman apologised for excesses but promised no remedy
ISLAMABAD: In a first, National Accountability Bureau (NAB) chairman has offered an apology to bureaucrats wrongly suffered in the hands of NAB but he didn’t promise waiving off the immunity for NAB investigators playing havoc with the lives of the innocents.During an interaction with provincial secretaries in Peshawar late Thursday, Justice (R) Javed Iqbal was urged to practice what he preached when the NAB chairman pressed on officers to face accountability in this world instead of facing it on the Day of Judgment.A provincial secretary interrupted at this point. He had spent two years in jail in a NAB case, his ailing wife became bed-ridden and his son, a teenager, took refuge in drug-addiction to fight depression. The litigation fee in millions is apart from it.“You have rightly said, sir. I have faced NAB without anything proved against me as yet,” said Arshad Khan who is presently KP Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education. He was picked by NAB in 2015 for the alleged misuse of disaster management funds being Fata DG and assets beyond known means.As the cases against him are at trial stages and Arshad is on bail, NAB’s investigation officer is not showing up before the court for producing evidence against him. The judge has fined the investigator for his repeated absence. “If we are to face the accountability in this world, what about the NAB officials who fabricate cases on false allegations, defame on groundless charges. They too must be held accountable in this world instead of hiding behind the immunity,” Arshad continued. “Once I am acquitted of the charges, I want to sue NAB for destroying my life. I, therefore, urge you to waive off immunity the NAB officials enjoy for their misdeeds,” he said but his prayer went unanswered.Arshad also raised questions about NAB actions lacking rules as the accountability watchdog operates through Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) which don’t have legal grounds to stand on. NAB which came into existence through NAB Ordinance 2002 was required to frame the rules which has not been done till to-date. The Supreme Court has set aside decisions of different departments taken in absence of the rules and directed the framing of them.NAB chairman faced scathing critique as he invited feedback from the officers. Recognising the criticism NAB has courted from different sections of society, Justice (R) Javed Iqbal said he decided to consult bureaucracy amid growing apprehensions that bureaucracy had stopped working out of NAB fear. A couple of months ago, he had this kind of a session with the federal secretaries in Islamabad.“I asked them if NAB law is black law as is being propagated, let me know where the lacunas existed,” he told provincial secretaries referring to his meeting with the federal secretaries. None offered any suggestion, he said. Also in attendance were the federal secretaries facing NAB cases, NAB chairman said.This was the point when Arshad stood up. “Since I was the one facing NAB, sitting silent meant the admission of guilt and no objection on NAB’s style of accountability,” he told The News.Arshad then explained at length about the charges against him, how he was picked and sent to jail where he remained for two years without ever making an excuse for hospitalisation on medical grounds. Asmatullah Gandapur, presently Secretary Mineral of KP, was second to speak. He is facing NAB for doing nothing as he issued a dissenting note for an out of court settlement when he was additional secretary minerals. He was arrested by NAB; investigation officers would admit he was falsely implicated but cases has not been closed. His wife went through trauma and his son’s education suffered. From a brilliant student, he became an average student.As for Arshad Khan is concerned, facing litigation and defamation were not the only challenge he faced during detention. His wife, an arthritis patient, became bed-ridden. His son started using hashish to fight depression; he’s presently undergoing rehabilitation process. Arshad said he had so far spent more than Rs10 million on litigation. When asked by The News how he managed heavy fee for lawyers, he pointed towards his rental properties, a petrol pump and gardens and claimed having inherited these sources and verified by NAB as legitimate.After hearing the ordeals of these two provincial secretaries, NAB chairman had the cases noted to his staff for looking into them. He also apologised to these officers and wished them good luck in the court but didn't take the responsibility as he said the cases were instituted before him. He claimed that nothing like this occurred under his watch, altogether forgetting the suicide case of Asad Munir who, in his suicide note, had blamed NAB for launching investigation against him. While Asmatullah was picked notwithstanding the fact he had a dissenting note, the reference was filed against Asad for recommending the restoration of a plot in line with CDA policy. Neither of them was the approving authority in the relevant cases.Regarding NAB operations through SOPs, Javed Iqbal said they were presented before the SC a couple of times and went unchallenged. However, he admitted the rules had to be framed. He said it was being done as a committee had been set up for the purpose. Once prepared, they would be approved from the federal cabinet. However, he didn’t promise waiving off immunity being enjoyed by NAB officials for falsely implicating and torturing different individuals.When NAB spokesman contacted for version, he said chairman didn't offer any apology to bureaucracy "of his tenure."He said that NAB believes in “Accountability for All” across the board in accordance with law. He said NAB believes in self accountability and reiterated his firm resolve that NAB does not believe in victimisation and NAB officers had been ordered to ensure self-respect of every person.
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from The News International - National https://ift.tt/2U7LZVN
NAB and deepwounds of a retired top bureaucrat
ISLAMABAD: A retired federal secretary and FBR former chairman M Iqbal Farid is fighting his case both in the apex court and with the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) against Bureau’s high handedness where he, despite being a senior government servant, was arrested, humiliated and when nothing incriminating found against him, his family was harassed to pay “extortion” to get himself free.Now he wants the refund of what he called the “extorted money” (Rs10 million) with interest and costs.In his pending representation before the NAB, he lamented, “After 100 days of detention (in 1999-2000), I was released after the unjustified extortion of Rs10 million, given salary for the period of my detention and posting in the Establishment Division for the remaining four months period of my service tenure, I retired in a normal course on superannuation with all pension and terminal benefits. What a farce!”Iqbal Farid’s case is also pending before the Supreme Court as he insists that his case is a glaring example of NAB’s highhandedness. He explained that despite being a senior government servant, he was arrested humiliated, investigated and when nothing incriminating was found against him in his personal or official capacity and without any reference/plea bargain through the court, the NAB created a situation wherein his family was harassed to extort exorbitant amount of money from his brothers.He said that his release order mentioned three allegations on the basis of which the “financial impact” of Rs10 million was “recovered”. The three allegation were; a) avoidance of fee on transfer of a house in CDA; b) non-disclosure in wealth tax return of sale of inherited shops; c) affidavit and change in location of an officially allotted residential plot.He explained that the first allegation was based on misreading of facts and applicable CDA regulations that permit transfer within the family on payment of prescribed fee. The second allegation, he said, was also based on some misperception about applicable regulations that require no disclosure of what has been expended during the tax year.Regarding the third allegation, he said that he was first allotted plot in Sector D-12 of CDA along with many others then the same was shifted to Sector I-8. Besides him, those whose plots were shifted include several secretaries, DG ISI, DG FIA and Auditor General of Pakistan of that period.He said that nothing adverse was discovered against him but the entire process of NAB’s inquiry and investigation was a complete sham. “The entire process was erroneous, defective, malicious, ill-founded with mala fide intentions,” he said in his representation.He lamented, “How can the mental agony, the trauma and the wrong impression of ‘corruption’ perceived by general public, friends, colleagues and relatives emanating from the false propaganda to save their (NAB) own skin, be corrected? Any amount of damages (which I have a right to claim) wouldn’t suffice.”He said that he has been making repeated representations to the NAB chairman from 2000-2010 for redress of his grievance and refund of the extorted amount and an apology for the grievous wrong done to him. He said that the fact has to be realised that the financial impact had been caused to him for no wrong done and as such entitled him to a refund of entire amount of Rs10 million with mark-up @ 24 a year till recovery on account of loss of continuous earning, which the investment in a normal business yielding during the preceding years.
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President, PM, Senate Chairman,Fawad greet APNS office-bearers
ISLAMABAD: President Dr Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Imran Khan Saturday congratulated Hameed Haroon and Sarmad Ali for having been unanimously elected president and secretary general of All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS).In separate statements, they extended felicitations to APNS newly-elected president and secretary general and the other office-bearers. The president hoped that newly elected APNS would work for responsible and meaningful journalism and that the government-media relations would grow stronger and fruitful during the tenure of new body.Prime Minister Imran Khan congratulated the newly-elected APNS president, secretary general as well as the executive committee members on their election. Besides, Hameed Haroon, Sarmad Ali, Rameeza Nizami, Mumtaz Tahir, Munir Gilani and Shahab Zuberi have been felicitated by the prime minister. He said that the election of these senior persons was a manifestation of their leadership qualities and the journalist community’s confidence in them.The prime minister expressed hope that the newly-elected leadership would address the journalist community’s issues, particularly work for the media industry’s promotion on sustainable basis. Meanwhile, Senate Chairman Muhammad Sadiq Sanjrani also congratulated the newly-elected APNS leadership and wished them the best of luck, saying they had rendered valuable services in the field journalism. Sanjrani was sure that the new APNS leadership would exploit its energies for the welfare and betterment of the media and those, associated with it. Information and Broadcasting Minister Chaudhry Fawad Hussain, in a statement, congratulated Hameed Haroon and other office-bearers of APNS, including Sarmad Ali, Rameeza Nizami, Mumtaz Tahir, Munir Gilani and Shahab Zuberi. The minister said the government strongly believed in the freedom of expression and the media freedom in accordance with the Constitution. He said the government would continue its support for the progress of media freedom and try its level best to extend best possible facilities to the journalist community. Fawad added the government would also continue working with the journalist bodies in the face of challenges to the media.Principal Information Officer (PIO) Mian Jahangir Iqbal also congratulated the APNS office-bearers. In his felicitation message, he expressed his best wishes to the newly-elected President Hameed Haroon, Secretary General Sarmad Ali and other elected office-bearers, including Rameeza Nizami, Mumtaz Tahir, Munir Gillani and Shahab Zuberi. PIO also congratulated the Executive Committee of the APNS over its election.
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from The News International - National https://ift.tt/2U6PPyK