Stories about Urdu
Ahead of election, Pakistan introduces new laws to stifle dissent
On August 9, 2023, the Pakistan National Assembly was dissolved to pave way for the upcoming election and dozens of bills were hurriedly passed that limit civil liberties and stifle dissent.
Heavy rains return to Pakistan, raising concerns about flood preparedness
Dozens of people had been killed in different parts of Pakistan due to rain and floods in the last week of June there are alerts of more rain in July.
Pakistan invokes draconian Army Act to put protestors on trial
The political situation in Pakistan is escalating after the National Security Council decided to invoke the Army Act and Official Secrets Act to try civilian protestors.
Pakistan on edge: Protests continue as Imran Khan's arrest sparks outrage
Former Pakistani PM Imran Khan was arrested from a courthouse on Tuesday afternoon. The news of Khan's arrest has sparked heated demonstrations and raised concerns about political instability in Pakistan.
Women marched in Pakistan despite resistance from authorities and religious groups
Despite encountering some obstacles, women in Pakistan were ultimately able to get permission and come out in large numbers on March 8th for "Aurat March", albeit with certain conditions attached.
Pakistan suffers widespread power outages amidst financial crisis
In January, Pakistan suffered a major power breakdown, plunging major cities into darkness and impacting millions of people. The disaster occurred amidst a rolling blackout meant to save costs.
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan ousted by a no-confidence vote in parliament following a court battle
After much drama, Imran Khan was removed as Prime Minister of Pakistan after he lost a no-confidence motion on April 9, 2022.
‘Your’dle: Wordle is now available in many of the world’s languages
Wordle is a fun way to flex your brain, but the open-source code behind the free game has also been adapted to work in different languages, including indigenous ones.
‘Rehmat’ or ‘zehmat'? Learning to cope with the trauma from rain in a Pakistani metropolis
In Karachi, where monsoon season often means days without electricity, flooded roads and property damage, is rain truly a "rehmat" (blessing) from nature or a "zehmat" (misery) for city dwellers?
Pakistan's proposed media development authority could further curb freedom of media
The representatives of different press clubs of the country have declared the proposed Pakistan Media Development Authority (PMDA) “a media martial law” and rejected it outright.
Pakistani woman cricketer Nida Dar faces sexism from a former cricketer
Excerpts of a recent interview with Abdul Razzag and Nida Dar show him pointing out that the top woman cricketer is "manly".
‘Aurat March’ organizers face intimidation and threats of prosecution in Pakistan
The organizers of this year's Aurat March (Women's March) in Pakistan faced disinformation campaigns, threats from Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and were even accused of blasphemy.
Pakistan bans TikTok for the second time
TikTok was blocked in Pakistan for 10 days in October 2020. Access was restored after the app's parent company ByteDance assured authorities it would bolster moderation.
‘Aurat March’ 2021 presents feminist healthcare manifesto in Pakistan
Saying that COVID-19 enabled a "Pandemic of Patriarchy," the marchers demanded the government increase the health budget to 5 per cent of GDP so that women may get better healthcare.
Pakistan's Supreme Court orders reconstruction of Hindu temple razed by a mob incited by Muslim clerics
A cleric of the religious right-wing political party Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) was arrested in connection with the incident.
In Pakistan, women stage nationwide protest in response to shocking rape incident
The protests' organizers also expressed opposition to public hangings, a call that often resurfaces in Pakistan whenever a rape incident gains media attention.
Families struggle to retrieve victim's bodies after Pakistan International Airline crash
Families of the victims of PIA Flight PK8303 were asked to give DNA to identify bodies.
While Pakistan combats COVID-19, a locust swarm is devastating food supplies
The plague of locusts has already devastated crops in parts of Africa, the Arabian Peninsula as well as South Asia.
Baloch journalist found dead in Sweden
In recent months, several Pakistani activists and bloggers living in Europe have claimed to have been targeted for speaking up against human rights violations in Pakistan.
Pakistan claims COVID-19 under control amidst rising figures
People on social media are wondering if measures taken by the government are adequate and whether there is a proper infrastructure to stop the spread of Covid-19 in Pakistan.
Pakistani director halts release of award-winning film after receiving threats
"They are holding a film hostage for all the wrong reasons and there is nothing we can do about it."