Author: peshawartoday
Amidst the anticipation of general elections in Pakistan, over 127 million registered voters eagerly await their chance to participate in the democratic process. With the power to elect representatives for both national and provincial assemblies, citizens recognize the pivotal role their votes play in shaping the country’s future trajectory. However, despite the significance of each vote, concerns persist over the rejection of hundreds of thousands of ballots by the electoral body in past elections. In the aftermath of the 2018 polls, reports revealed that approximately 1.67 million votes went uncounted for various reasons, highlighting flaws in the electoral system. How…
ISLAMABAD: In the run-up to Saturday’s general elections in Pakistan, a stark reality emerges regarding the lack of priority placed on women’s representation within political parties. The Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN), which monitors polls in the country, reported that out of a total of 6,037 candidates vying for general seats nationwide, only 275 are women, constituting a mere 4.6 percent participation rate in the elections. This figure falls well below the legal requirement of a minimum five percent representation mandated by Section 206 of the Elections Act, 2017. This mandate extends to elective offices, including seats in the…
ISLAMABAD: In a thrilling announcement, the celebrated singer Ali Zafar has delighted cricket enthusiasts with news of his upcoming anthem for the highly anticipated PSL-9. The musical maestro, known for his earlier contributions to the tournament, took to his social media platform, X (formerly Twitter), to share the exciting development. Fans, eagerly anticipating the fresh anthem, received a sneak peek as Ali Zafar revealed the title of the song, “Khul Ke Khel,” urging them to dust off their dancing shoes in preparation for the musical treat. Having previously garnered widespread applause for his performances in the first three seasons of the…
ISLAMABAD: On the seventh anniversary of the passing of Bano Qudsia, the revered Pakistani novelist, playwright, and spiritualist, the literary community and admirers gathered to honor her lasting contributions. Born on November 28, 1928, in Firozepur, Bano Qudsia shared a profound literary journey with her husband, the acclaimed writer Ashfaq Ahmed. Her renowned novel, “Raja Gidh,” stands as a testament to her literary prowess and is hailed as a modern Urdu classic. Qudsia’s body of work includes notable pieces such as “Aatish-i-zer-i-paa,” “Aik Din, Asay Pasay,” “Chahar Chaman,” “Chhotaa Sheher Baray Log,” “Footpath ki Ghaas,” “Haasil Ghaat,” and “Hawa Kay…
MENLO PARK: Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook, plans to roll out a new iteration of its proprietary custom chip in its data centers later this year, according to an internal company document obtained by Reuters. This development is part of Meta’s ambitious artificial intelligence (AI) strategy, aimed at reducing its dependence on Nvidia chips and mitigating the rising costs associated with AI workloads. The upcoming chip, representing the second generation of Meta’s in-house silicon line introduced last year, is expected to play a crucial role in supporting the company’s AI initiatives across its platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and…
ISLAMABAD: The upcoming 2024 General Elections in Pakistan will witness the participation of 5,254 candidates from various political parties and independents, contending for the 266 general seats of the National Assembly (NA), according to local media reports citing the electoral body on Friday. Initially, 6,999 candidates were declared eligible for the 266 NA constituencies, but during the process, 1,737 candidates, accounting for 24.81% of the total, withdrew their nomination papers. In addition, 12,853 contestants are vying for 593 general seats across the four provincial assemblies. Following scrutiny, 17,164 individuals were deemed eligible to participate in the elections for the assemblies…
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has launched Bureaucracy-Free Future initiative ‘Zero Bureaucracy Program’ aiming to revolutionize governance. This directive mandates UAE ministries and federal agencies to complete a minimum of 2,000 official procedures within the specified timeframe within the next year, with the overarching objective of cutting the time required for the remaining processes by half. Prime Minister and UAE ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, underscored the importance of steering towards a ‘Bureaucracy-Free’ future, emphasizing that this program is a pivotal element in the country’s strategic vision. Sheikh Mohammed highlighted the necessity of eliminating bureaucracy and ensuring swift…
Former Pakistani cricketer Imad Wasim revealed on Thursday that he might reconsider his international retirement if circumstances demand. Having retired from international cricket in November of the previous year, Imad Wasim stated that a return to the game is possible, but it would depend on certain conditions. During an interview with a local website, he emphasized that players sometimes need to make decisions when their country calls for it. Imad asserted that the retirement decision he made was fully intentional, and at that time, it was his own choice. However, he acknowledged the unpredictable nature of cricket and mentioned that…
DUBAI: The ICC T20 World Cup in 2024, slated for June 1 to June 29, is set to make history as the largest ever, featuring 55 matches across nine cities, including three in the USA and six in the Caribbean. A significant milestone awaits the USA, hosting its inaugural Men’s T20 World Cup, with New York and Florida chosen as event venues. In a bid to ensure an equitable distribution of tickets, the ICC has implemented a public ticket ballot system, providing all applicants within the seven-day window an equal chance of securing tickets. Fans can apply for up to…
As the political landscape of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province in Pakistan becomes a battleground for the upcoming elections on February 8, the influence of dynastic politics remains a prominent feature. Despite the emergence of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in 2013, which initially aimed to break away from traditional family-centric politics, familiar names and family ties continue to dominate the political scene. Despite the initial efforts of PTI to introduce new faces without political backgrounds, dynastic politics persists in KP. Pervez Khattak, the head of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-Parliamentarians (PTI-P), and his sons are participating in the elections. Pervez Khattak himself is also…