Out of the downward-revised development budget of Rs1.096 trillion, the federal government has utilized only 54%—approximately Rs0.593 trillion—during the first 11 months of the current fiscal year. Concurrently, the SDGs Achievement Programme, a controversial initiative designated for treasury lawmakers, expended 71% of its revised Rs48 billion allocation, totaling Rs35 billion by the fiscal year-end. According to official data obtained by The News, the rate of development fund utilization stood at a mere 54% in the initial 11 months. With only one month remaining until the fiscal year concludes on June 30, 2025, the total utilization for the outgoing fiscal year…
Author: Raja Zahid Khanzada
The Trump administration is pressing countries to submit their “best offers” in trade negotiations by Wednesday, as officials aim to accelerate talks with numerous partners ahead of a self-imposed deadline in just five weeks. This directive is revealed in a draft letter to negotiating partners, which was viewed by Reuters. The draft document, originating from the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), provides insight into how President Donald Trump intends to finalize complex negotiations with dozens of nations. These discussions began on April 9th, when he temporarily halted his “Liberation Day” tariffs for 90 days until July 8th,…
Miley Cyrus recently expressed her apprehension that Sabrina Carpenter might end up “fried.” The 33-year-old Grammy Award-winning singer, who has been in the public eye since the age of 14 due to the show Hannah Montana, believes that new and emerging stars should be offered regular therapy sessions. Specifically addressing the Espresso hitmaker’s demanding schedule, Cyrus voiced concern for Carpenter, recalling advice she herself received from Ariana Grande, who also rose to fame in her teenage years by starring in the Nickelodeon series Victorious. “Ariana [Grande] says there should be therapy for child actors, and I totally agree. There should…
Ozzy Osbourne has recently expressed his belief that he might perish on stage during the last Black Sabbath reunion concert. The band is slated to perform their conclusive gig at Villa Park, as part of their “Back To The Beginning” event. However, the Prince of Darkness is experiencing considerable anxiety about the performance, as he revealed to SiriusXM: “By hook or by crook, I am going to make this f***ing gig if it is the last thing I do. Well, it will be.” “My head is crazy. ADHD, I have that badly. I will have done the show and died…
Kylie Jenner is part of a family whose renown has grown so immensely that they occasionally yearn for privacy. In a recent interview with Dazed magazine, she stated, “I don’t really remember a time when that wasn’t the case for me.” “It would have probably been hard for me if I didn’t have a family who understood completely what I was going through,” the supermodel remarked. Conversely, her elder stepsister Kim holds a distinct perspective on fame. She confided to Vogue Arabia in 2019, “Money was always the goal but I was obsessed with fame, like, embarrassingly obsessed… I do…
John Mulaney has shed light on his decision to turn down the opportunity to host the 2024 Oscars. During a recent appearance on Marc Maron’s WTF podcast on Monday, the comedian disclosed that while he was initially flattered by the offer, he ultimately declined due to an already packed schedule, emphasizing that hosting the Academy Awards demands months of dedicated work. “Well, I was very flattered. They came to me, must have been last summer. And I knew Jimmy Kimmel wasn’t gonna do it. And they offered it,” he explained. “And it was honestly that I had a lot going…
Cynthia Erivo has a diverse history of stage characters. However, her latest portrayal in the Hollywood Bowl’s Jesus Christ Superstar has faced some backlash. Despite this, the criticism from conservative sectors did not faze the Wicked actress. In an interview with Billboard, she stated, “You can’t please everyone. It is legitimately a three-day performance at the Hollywood Bowl where I get to sing my face off. So hopefully they will come and realize, ‘Oh, it’s a musical, the gayest place on Earth.’” Cynthia’s casting was announced earlier this year. Alongside her, Adam Lambert will take on the role of Judas,…
Scarlett Johansson, a devoted admirer of Jurassic Park, recounted her personal pitch to the franchise’s director, Steven Spielberg. This occurred when a new installment was announced. “I had a meeting with him and I don’t actually know if he knew the depths of my Jurassic fandom.” “But I’m hoping that no one explained it to him too thoroughly because it maybe would’ve come off as being a little too much,” the Marvel star disclosed to THR. She added, “Although knowing Steven now, he was excited when I shared with how much it would mean to me to play any part…
After dedicating numerous years to the Avatar saga, James Cameron has announced his commitment to an entirely new project, distinct from the world of Pandora. The Academy Award-winning director shared on Facebook that his production company, Lightstorm Entertainment, has acquired the rights to Joe Abercrombie’s novel, The Devils. Cameron expressed his admiration for Abercrombie’s work, stating, “I’ve loved Joe’s writing for years, cherishing each new read, throughout the epic cycle of The First Law books, especially Best Served Cold (LOVE IT!), and the Age of Madness trilogy.” He continued, “But the freshness of the world and the characters in The…
Dreams, Greed, and the Question of Direction — Where is our community, wandering between halal and haram, heading? By: Raja Zahid Akhtar Khanzada Today, a sincere friend advised me with good intentions: “Khan Sahab! You write very well, but don’t write such bitter truth you’ll becoming controversial in the community.” I simply asked: “Is what I write a lie?” He didn’t stay silent and replied: “It’s the truth, but it’s dangerous in the current times.” At that moment, the mystic inside me awakened. I remained silent for two days, kept thinking, and my heart took me to the doorstep of…
