The 5^th season of Pakistan’s most popular reality show, Tamasha, has begun with a lot of happenings.

The latest developments suggest that both the format and the spectacle benefit from contestants who bring an unusually high level of drama, raising fresh questions about how much of the chaos is orchestrated. Additionally, these dramatic contestants receive greater attention and affection, whereas Saqib Sumeer is the complete opposite.

Saqib Sumeer is currently featured as a participant in Tamasha Season 5. Despite being one of Pakistan’s most versatile actors, he is primarily recognized for his portrayals of negative characters. However, in real life, the actor is very different. On the show, he has been upbeat, respectful, helpful, and even willing to take on tasks that are not his responsibility. As a result, the audience has grown to adore and support him.

Saqib Sumeer is winning over Tamasha fans with pure love and positivity rather than intriguing happenings and negativity. Fans of Tamasha Season 5 deeply admire Saqib and believe he deserves to win this season.

Praising his gentle personality, one viewer wrote, “He always plays negative roles, but he is so positive in real life.” Another fan added, “He should definitely win,” while a third simply expressed, “We love him.”

ISLAMABAD, August 20, 2026: The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) has increased the petrol price, according to a notification issued on Thursday, ARY News reported.

The petrol price has been increased by 27 paisas per litre, taking the new price to Rs337.78 per litre.

The price of high-speed diesel has been increased by Rs1.64 per litre, with the new price fixed at Rs364.70 per litre.

Earlier, the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) in Pakistan approved an increase in the dealers’ margin on petrol and diesel by Rs.1.34 per litre, in a move aimed at addressing demands from fuel station operators.

The dealers’ margin has been raised from Rs.8.64 to Rs.9.98 per litre, with the decision taking effect immediately, according to the government.

The Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif, has been briefed on the decision and he backed the increase.

The ECC meeting was chaired by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and was held virtually at the Ministry of Finance.

Following the government’s assurance, the Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association postponed a nationwide strike planned for 15 August 2026. The association said petrol stations across the country would remain open on Saturday.

Investing in Kabaddi was still a relatively new concept in Indian sports when Abhishek Bachchan made the decision to start a sports team in 2014. For the star, buying a team and partnering with the Pro Kabaddi League was more than just a commercial endeavor; every choice had a deeply personal element. Abhishek shared the backstory behind his team during a conversation with Sanjeev Krishan, Chairman of PwC India, on his podcast, Future Unplugged.

Abhishek Bachchan has always had a special place in his heart for Jaipur. Choosing the city was a meaningful decision because it was where he shot parts of his debut film, Refugee, and where he and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan began dating.

Explaining his choice, Abhishek said: “I picked the Jaipur team. Jaipur is where I shot a part of my first film, so it felt auspicious to start something new there. It was also the city where Aishwarya and I started dating, so it carries an emotional connection.”

“Pink was chosen because it was my daughter’s favorite color at the time, and The Pink Panther was a film Aishwarya starred in. If you look closely, our Pink Panther logo even has blue-green eyes, just like my wife’s. So, there is a personal connection to every detail of the Jaipur Pink Panthers,” he continued.

Established in 2014, the Jaipur Pink Panthers were one of the eight founding teams of the Pro Kabaddi League. Abhishek acquired the squad and unveiled the franchise ahead of the league’s inaugural season.

His passion for sports ownership eventually expanded beyond kabaddi. Abhishek is a co-owner of Chennaiyin FC in the Indian Super League and a co-founder of the Euro T20 Slam, which is scheduled to launch in August 2026.

On the acting front, Abhishek Bachchan will next be seen in King, starring Shah Rukh Khan, which is slated for a Christmas 2026 release. Reports indicate he will be playing the primary antagonist. The film’s ensemble cast also includes Deepika Padukone, Jackie Shroff, Suhana Khan, Anil Kapoor, Arshad Warsi, and Raghav Juyal.

Cryptocurrency- and blockchain-related stocks surged on Thursday after U.S. President ​Donald Trump urged Congress to pass legislation establishing clear rules for digital ‌assets, following a White House meeting with industry executives.

Trump, a vocal cryptocurrency advocate who has promised to make the U.S. the “crypto capital of the world,” on Wednesday called on ​lawmakers to pass a “fair version of the Clarity Act”, an industry-backed ​bill stalled in the Senate.

“Trump’s comments yesterday are incrementally positive because ⁠they suggest the White House is putting more direct pressure on ​Congress to get the legislation done,” said U.S. Tiger Securities analyst Bo Pei.

Clarity, ​if enacted, would define whether cryptocurrency qualifies as a security or a commodity, clarifying jurisdiction between the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission over the ​sector.

Industry executives and analysts have said that without legislation, regulations are vulnerable to ​shifting political winds and court challenges.

However, many Democrats, and some Republicans, say they would ‌not ⁠support a bill without strong language banning political officials, including Trump, from profiting from their own crypto ventures.

President Trump disclosed more than $1.4 billion in earnings from his family’s crypto ventures in 2025.

“The concerns around Trump and his family profiting ​from crypto ventures ​are therefore important ⁠and could complicate the negotiations, particularly around ethics and conflict-of-interest provisions,” Pei said.

Bitcoin rose 3.8% and crossed the $70,000 mark. ​The world’s largest cryptocurrency has lost about 18% so ​far this ⁠year and remains down about 43% from its record high in October.

Ether gained 3.3%, its highest level in over three months.

Crypto exchange Coinbase Global gained 5.7%, while bitcoin ⁠bull ​Strategy rose 5.8%.

Bitcoin mining machine maker Canaan surged ​12.5%, stablecoin issuer Circle gained 3.8% and retail trading platform Robinhood advanced 1%.

The increasing frequency of heatwaves, floods, and droughts is clear evidence that climate change demands urgent action. Europe’s recent extreme heatwave, with temperatures exceeding 40°C in several countries, has disrupted daily life, fuelled wildfires, strained healthcare systems, and affected agriculture, transport, and energy supplies.

Scientists attribute these increasingly severe events to greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation, and the continued use of fossil fuels. No country, regardless of its wealth or technology, is immune to the effects of climate change.

Although Pakistan contributes only a small share of global emissions, it remains highly vulnerable to rising temperatures, water shortages, melting glaciers, and erratic weather. Strengthening climate resilience through better water management, renewable energy, forest conservation, climate-smart agriculture, and effective early warning systems is now essential. Governments must accelerate the transition to clean energy and honour international climate commitments, while individuals can contribute by conserving energy, reducing waste, and planting trees. Europe’s experience is a warning to the world. Pakistan must invest in long-term climate preparedness before the consequences become even more severe.

GHAZANFAR SOOMRO,

Shikarpur.

People pay taxes to enable the executive to fund essential services such as healthcare, education and clean drinking water, while also ensuring the security of life, private property and the country’s geographical boundaries. Providing these services is a duty, not a favour. Excessive advertising of such services can instead create a backlash. Citizens can show their appreciation through elections.

Under no circumstances should any constitutional office-holder or their immediate family be involved in real-estate projects built on land designated as reserve or amenity plots, or benefit from state contracts and other commercial activities. The same principle should apply to the paid establishment. Adherence to principles such as avoiding conflicts of interest must be visible. This is a universal principle of good governance and is also consistent with Islamic ethics. Those at the helm must understand that state funds are a trust, not money to be used at their sole discretion.

It is unfortunate that the recent AJK elections displayed a lack of maturity and sensibility among politicians on both sides. AJK remains a disputed territory awaiting a plebiscite under the UN Charter. In the interim, it has a separate autonomous status with its own constitution and parliament. The manner in which buses and laptops purchased from the Punjab budget were offered was unacceptable and unethical. Apart from chairpersons of political parties who do not hold constitutional office, others should not have been involved.

In politics, optics matter. Politicians should present themselves with simplicity and dignity. Their role models should be Fatima Jinnah for women and Allama Iqbal or MAJ for men.

MALIK TARIQ ALI,

Lahore.