Pakistan’s ambassador to Germany, Dr Mohammad Faisal, on Thursday tweeted claiming that IKEA, a multinational conglomerate that designs and sells ready-to-assemble furniture, is coming to Pakistan.
But soon after the news was announced in the media, the ambassador deleted his tweet and did not reply to queries sent to him regarding the development either.
To add to the surprise, Profit reported, relevant ministries in the country were also unaware of the development. Officials at Board of Investment (BoI), the premier investment promotion agency of Pakistan working under the administrative control of the Prime Minister’s Office, mandated to promote and facilitate both local and foreign investment was also unaware of the development.
The official claimed that there was no development, not even at the initial stage, regarding investment by IKEA.
Similarly, the Ministry of Commerce, and officials at both the offices of adviser to prime minister on commerce and investment as well as secretary commerce were also unaware about the development.
The official spokesperson at Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) said that no application for the registration of the company was received by the commission.
However, SECP’s website shows the registration of a company IKEA TRADING (HONG KONG) LIMITED in 2006, at CRO Karachi. As per the SECP’s record, another firm in the name of IKEA SUPPLY AG SWITZERLAND was registered in Karachi in 2015.
Art is something we all love but few have the eye to determine which artist might be the next big thing. On a popular Pakistani Lifestyle Instagram account called Bhindifries, an NCA graduate and miniature artist, Ayesha Jatoi lists her favourite artists for 2021. Jatoi decided to reflect on 2020 not by the grief it gave, but by the potential for 2021. Jatoi’s recommended top nine Pakistani artists to look out for are:
1. Fazal Rizwi:
Like Jatoi, Rizwi is also an NCA graduate. This Karachi based artist blames his love for art to lead him to explore the dimensions of the sea and internal turmoil. Rizwi believes that the two main reasons for mental conflict are your soul and your family. That’s primarily why he bases his artworks on conceptual minimalism.
2. Mahrukh Bajwa:
Since this list has quite a few candidates from NCA, Bajwa is another one of them. This lady’s large charcoal sketches convey the unbiased observations of the outside world from the perspective of the mind.
3. Alyssa Mumtaz:
Mumtaz is an American Muslim whose mixed media art highlights the importance of ordinary objects in a unique way as her tools can range from a mere string or colour pigment to gold or silver.
4. Faraz Aamer:
Another NCA candidate with an extraordinary mastery in artist books, he tries to use his artistic expertise to highlight human conditioning due to societal influences.
5. Lujane Pagganwala:
A graduate of Indus Valley, Pagganwala shifts her focus from paper to sculpture, to bring her thoughts to life.
6. Sahyr Sayed:
Another NCA graduate and sculptor who efficiently uses miniature sculpting to make sure that the viewer is not devoid of any details. Her work featuring woman empowerment was appreciated on forums like Dawn Newspaper.
7. Maryam Atiq:
She employs the use of collage paintings to grip the attentions of the admirer.
8. Ayesha Sultana:
A BNU graduate with a Bangladeshi origin, Sultana is a minimalist who uses her artwork to transcend international boundaries.
9. Kainat Jillani:
Last but not the least, Jillani is a mixed media painter who has everything in her toolbox to create magic.
There is no doubt that more books were read this year by people who love them. Finally having the ability to say that they’re going to stay in, for bookworms it was the year where they did what they love most. One of our favourite Pakistani accounts for the best book finds is The Writing Room run by Mariam Tareen. She lists her favourite books of the year, ones that should not be missed by book enthusiasts everywhere.
Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
Between the World and Me is written as a letter by Ta-Nehisi Coates to his teenage son. Coates’s prose is charged with emotion, fear, honesty, and poise as he attempts to share with his son what he knows about being a black man in America. His love for his son jumps up from every page, but also fear on his behalf. Coates does not wish to protect or shield his young son from hard truths about the world they live in and the responsibilities that come with discovering them.
The Far Field by Madhuri Vijay
The Far Field – a sharp, nuanced, and engrossing novel – shows us the uncomfortable distance between the comfort of the privileged and the lives of the oppressed.
The Shapeless Unease by Samantha Harvey
A short, luminous and inventive examination of novelist Samantha Harvey’s year-long struggle with insomnia – the “blankness and blackness; the yawning expanse of a night awake.”
Daughters of the Sun by Ira Mukhoty
What a fantastic book! A parallel history of 200 years of Mughal rule that has been tragically absent from our history books: that of the women of the Empire.
We Need New Stories by Nesrine Malik
Award-winning Guardian journalist Nesrine Malik was born in Sudan and moved to the UK in 2013. The book reads less like journalism and more like a history/social science study, which I loved (but it’s also why it took me a while to read it). With the sharpness of a surgeon, she dissects each of the toxic myths of our time with clinical precision to expose the truth.
Grief is the Thing with Feathers by Max Porter
It’s about loss and grief and “moving on”, about how a grief-stricken father and his two boys mourn the unbearable loss of their mother, and the crow who comes to help them. “I won’t leave you until you don’t need me any more.”
The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
It tells the story of a man remembering events from when he was a 7 year old boy. It explores childhood and memory, the darkest moments from our childhoods, the ones that still feel warm and others that still hurt, the ones that left scars, both visible and invisible. But it’s very convincingly disguised as a children’s book.
Hood Feminism by Mikki Kendall
If you consider yourself a feminist, read this book. It’s addressed to white feminists in America but is essential reading for all of us.
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
The Graveyard Book rounds off my Neil Gaiman hat-trick this October. I loved this book. I found myself wishing I had read it sooner. I think if I had read it as a kid, it would have made my childhood better in some way, and I would have remembered it in a way you can only remember things you read as a child.
Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi
The novel centres on a family of Ghanian immigrants in America. It’s a novel about Big Themes like addiction, faith, family, science, immigration, and racism, but it doesn’t feel like Gyasi set down a checklist of themes to write about (as it sometimes does in many “novels of our time”.)
This is the Story of a Happy Marriage by Ann Patchett
I’ve loved Ann Patchett’s writing for a long time and really enjoyed reading this essay collection about writing and life, especially the essay “The Getaway Car: A Practical Memoir about Writing and Life”, where she writes about the distance between having an idea for a novel in your head a and trying to get it onto the page.
99 Nights in Logar by Jamil Jan Kochai
“99 Nights in Logar” is Jamil Jan Kochai’s debut novel, and it is a unique book. I’ve never read a book in English where non-English words were not italicized. Toshaks, pakols, dusmals. Sadaqah. Rakah. Astaghfirullah. They’re written without hinting at foreignness. Pashto, Arabic and English are not foreign in the mind of the narrator, and that’s all that matters. There is an entire chapter towards the end of the novel in untranslated Pashto.
Less by Andrew Sean Greer
The book, written in crisp, vivid, screenplay-prose, is about running away from your problems.
There is no doubt that this has been a difficult year for us. We might be enjoying some cool sunshine today in all major cities of Pakistan thinking, it’s the 31st today. Where did this year go? I don’t think I would be wrong to say that food saved us this year. It feels like everyone cooked, baked, ate and passed the time hoping to survive. Survive we did but what does next year hold? For The Current’s team it was a variety of food: Saman ate ice cream from a local Lahore shop Frostis, Urooj ate French fries (she always does), Ayesha had chicken chili dry, Amna survived on chocolate and our food reviewer lived on dumba karahi. 2020 left us all uncertain about the future and hum subh nay khoob kahaya, kay chalo kuch tou karein. Nawaz Sharif came under severe criticism for eating pizza and roaming around London and seems like if he isn’t back before Feburary, he won’t be having any Pakistani pizza either. I ate a lot watching Pakistani dramas this year and here is the list of the highest viewed Pakistani drama episodes in 2020 and obviously Meray Paas Tum Ho made the cut. A few new dramas came out this week and Ashar and Ayesha tell you if they are worth the watch. One of our most commented on stories today is that the international furniture brand ‘IKEA’ is coming to Pakistan – sparking the debate: should we make and promote our own furniture instead? I have to admit there was a lot to smile about this year too, news that made us Pakistanis proud, including the eight Pakistani women who are among the world’s 100 most outstanding nurses and midwives. The government has given a go-ahead to purchase a million vaccines that will cover the frontline health workers first – in early 2021. Good things at the beginning of 2021 and drama star Srha Asghar ended her year by getting married in a simple Nikkah ceremony . It’s early in the morning but I’m sure you’ve decided how you are going to spend your New Years Eve. Reply to this newsletter and let us know! Would love to hear from you.
Marium
P.S. I lived on chicken biryani – the ultimate comfort food.
Current Baba’s Prediction
It’s good to have all those plans and celebrate the new year’s eve but please go easy on the food and drinks, warna kahin overeating ki waja say new year ka pehla din bemaari mien na guzar jaye.
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The Karachi traffic police has announced a traffic plan for New Year’s Eve.
According to the route prepared by the traffic police, no main roads will be closed for traffic this year. However, traffic from Sea View McDonald’s to Village Hotel will be one-way, while parking will be not allowed on Sea View, Shah-Ra-e-Faisal, Abdullah Haroon Road and Ziaud Din Ahmed Road. Parking will also be banned on Mai Kolachi Road, Korangi and MT Khan Road.
The traffic police added that if anyone rides a motorcycle without a silencer, they will be handed over to police. Aerial firing is also banned and people can send video complaints of aerial firing via WhatsApp on 0343 -5142770.
The police will be appointed in all areas of Karachi from 8 pm today to 3am tomorrow.
Earlier, it was reported that a ban will be imposed on aerial firing in the city and restaurants and commercial centers can only remain open till 8 pm on New Year’s Eve.
On December 30, it was reported that Karachi Commissioner Navid Ahmed Shaikh instructed the police to keep Sea View and surrounding areas open for the public on the day with better traffic and security arrangements.
The directives came amid the current pandemic while checking the security and traffic plan and other arrangements for December 31.
A rather tough year has came to an end, surprisingly, in the blink of an eye.
But while it negates the belief that hard times pass slow, here are all the major updates that added to the very happening COVID-19-infected year as most of the world stayed indoors.
Extension for Gen Bajwa
After some drama following earlier reservations, the Supreme Court (SC) on November 28, 2019 approved a short 6-month extension in General Bajwa’s term as the chief of army staff.
Subsequently, on January 7, 2020, the National Assembly passed three bills concerning the tenure of the three services chiefs — chief of army staff, chief of air staff and chief of naval staff — and the chairman of the joint chief of staff committee.
Gen Bajwa was granted extension up to three years till November 29, 2022.
Surprisingly though, the two major opposition parties — PML-N and PPP — were on board for the changes which was why the bills faced no resistance even in the opposition-dominated Senate.
Smooth sailing of the Army Act was also what prompted Federal Minister for Water Resources Faisal Vawda to bring with him an army boot to a live talkshow.
Coronavirus
After wreaking havoc in China and beginning to do the same in Europe as well as the worst-hit US, the first case of COVID-19 was reported from Karachi on February 26, 2020. Hundreds of thousands of infections and several deaths were reported.
Prominent figures were also on the list of COVID-19 patients.
While Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s smart lockdowns stay in place to deal with the pandemic but not at the cost of livelihoods, it is too early to predict what 2021 would hold for Pakistan with vaccines rolling out but also the discovery of a new strand of the virus.
Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan said the pilots of the Karachi-bound PK8308 flight of the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) from Lahore were distracted while talking about coronavirus.
The passenger plane came down on houses in Karachi with only two survivors. Subsequent investigations into the licenses of Pakistani pilots led to the grounding of hundreds across the globe and the imposition of a temporary ban on PIA flights to Europe and the United States (US).
While blame games continued as authorities hesitated to take responsibility for the misery of people of the country’s largest city, the ruling Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) said it wanted all stakeholders to contribute to ameliorating the situation instead of politicising a “pure natural disaster”.
The situation was improved after the intervention of the federal government and a military-aided rescue operation.
Opposition Alliance
The year also witnessed a rather common sight in Pakistan when opposition parties put their differences aside in an attempt to oust the PTI government.
After a round of meetings, almost all opposition parties, including PPP, PML-N, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (Fazl), Awami National Party, Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party, Balochistan National Party among others, launched a series of countrywide protests.
The foremost demand of the 11-party alliance, named Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), is the resignation of “selected” Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan. It has threatened to march to Islamabad if the premier doesn’t resign before midnight on December 31 (today).
While the opposition seems satisfied with its anti-government campaign, the government is confident of cracks emerging within PDM ranks before it could pose an actual threat.
Khadim Rizvi’s Death
Renowned cleric and Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) chief Khadim Hussain Rizvi passed away on November 19.
Earlier it was reported that he was suffering from high-grade fever for the past couple of days, which had led to speculations if he was suffering from COVID-19.
While the cause of his sudden death was not determined, his funeral prayers in Lahore were attended by hundreds of thousands of supporters from across the globe, adding to COVID-19 superspreader event fears.
Rizvi, who had returned from a sit-in protest against French president’s take on blasphemy a day before his death, was known for his aggressive speeches besides promotion of extremist element in the religio-political landscape of the country.
2020 has been a very strange year for sporting events around the globe due to the coronavirus pandemic. Stadiums, courts and all other sporting activities were suspended as people practised social distancing and stayed away from each other. The Olympics, scheduled to be held in Japan were also cancelled along with a plethora of other events and those which did take place happened behind closed doors in biosecure bubbles. Nonetheless, some major sporting events and incidents took place in Pakistan and here is a round-up of those.
2020 Kabbadi World Cup – February 2020
The 2020 Kabaddi World Cup was the seventh edition of the Kabaddi World Cup (Circle style), held from February 9 to February 16, 2020, with the Opening Ceremony on February 9, 2020, at the Punjab Stadium, Lahore.
This was the first time the Kabaddi World Cup was held in Pakistan. All of the previous six circle-style kabaddi world cups have been hosted by India with the most recent event taking place in 2016. The tournament was eight-day long with matches in Lahore, Faisalabad, Kartarpur and Nankana Sahib.
Other than India, teams from Iran, Canada, Australia, United States, Sierra Leone and Kenya also participated in the event.
Pakistan emerged victorious from a close contest against India in the final of the Kabaddi World Cup in Lahore’s Punjab Stadium. The hosts won 43-41 to become Kabaddi world champions for the first time.
2020 Pakistan Super League – February 2020
The fifth edition of the Pakistan Super League started on February 20, 2020. This was the first time the league was held entirely in Pakistan. A total 34 matches were played in four venues: Lahore, Karachi, Rawalpindi and Multan.
Days before the season was to conclude, the league was postponed over coronavirus fears.
The playoffs and the final later took place in Karachi in November 2020 with Karachi Kings taking home the trophy for the first time. It was also the first time Lahore Qalandars made it to the final.
Sami Aslam quits Pakistan cricket – December 2020
On December 3, Pakistani test cricketer Sami Aslam announced that he is quitting Pakistan cricket and joining hands with USA Cricket. According to reports, Aslam struck a deal with USA Cricket that will see him spend two years and 10 months playing league cricket in the States and eventually represent the US.
The Lahore-born cricketer was disgruntled after not being selected in the 35-member squad for the New Zealand tour despite his string of solid domestic performances in the previous campaigns.
Mohammad Amir announces retirement – December 2020
Perhaps the most shocking news from the year. Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir announced his retirement from international cricket on December 17 while he was in Sri Lanka, playing the Lanka Premier League (LPL).
Speaking to journalist Shoaib Jatt, Amir said that he cannot continue playing for the country under the current management. Amir said that he will continue to play franchise cricket but has made up his mind not to carry on playing for Pakistan, adding that he has been “mentally tortured”.
Amir had retired from Test cricket last year citing workload issues.
Aaron Summers to play Pakistan domestic cricket
Fast bowler Aaron Summers is set to make history by becoming the first Australian to take part in domestic cricket in Pakistan. The 24-year old will play for Southern Punjab in the 2021 One-Day Cup, which is scheduled to begin on January 8 and will run until the end of the month.
The deal is understood to be in its final stages, with official confirmation from the PCB imminent. While Australia’s borders are currently closed to both departures and arrivals due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Summers has received a travel exemption from the Australian government, clearing the path for him to come to Pakistan.
Summers reached Pakistan on December 28 and is currently in Lahore and has joined the Southern Punjab squad.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MNA and TV host Aamir Liaquat Hussain’s first wife Bushra Iqbal has opened up about her divorce and has revealed that Liaquat divorced her over the phone at the behest of his second wife Syed Tuba Aamir.
In a social media post, Bushra Iqbal confirmed the separation and wrote: “Salam. I think its I bring about some clarity regarding my relationship with my ex-husband Aamir Liaquat.”
“He has divorced me,” stated Bushra adding that he did it over the phone in front of Tuba at her request.
“Divorcing me is one thing, but doing it in front of Tuba on call at her request, was perhaps the most painful and traumatic thing for my children and I,” said Iqbal.
Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar has refused to admit that his controversial remarks that accused the Pakistani pilots of having fake licences caused massive losses to the national airlines and resulted in a ban on its flights in Europe.
In a show with Geo’s Shahzeb Khanzada, the minister said he didn’t say anything wrong and that his honesty must be “appreciated” and that the entire sector was facing losses due to COVID-19, not just the national carrier.
After a deadly plane crash in May 2020, the minister on the floor of parliament had claimed 262 pilots had fake licences. His statement created an uproar, resulting in a ban on Pakistani pilots. The ban in Europe still persists.
Also, investigations had reportedly revealed that 182 out of the 262 pilots have valid credentials.
However, the minister said despite all the bans his steps should be lauded because he was pushing for transparency.“Should we not have taken any action? You should appreciate that someone is taking initiative. Our transparency should be appreciated,” he said in the show.
He further said that the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) had a satisfactory score of “97.6%” which was considered “great”. At this, the host retorted that the EU ban on the PIA still remains, no matter the score, because of the statement made by the minister.
But, Ghulam Sarwar insisted that his steps should be appreciated despite the fact that PM Imran Khan and the attorney general had already said that the PIA issue was mishandled.
According to a report in July, the PIA was likely to incur losses over Rs100 billion due to suspension of international flights amid the fake licences controversy and the coronavirus pandemic.
Karachi police helpline received 34,941,33 calls on Madadgar-15 in 2020, out of which about 798,000 turned out to be either bogus or prank calls.
According to an annual report of the police helpline, the Karachi police acting on 27,265,00 complaints arrested 474 suspects, captured 127 pistols, recovered 138 stolen and snatched bikes, 26 four-wheelers, 65 cell phones, 78,000 wristwatches, jewellery and other valuables.
It said the police’s average time of responding to calls on Madadgar-15 reduced to seven minutes from 40 minutes after the helpline’s revival.
A police official advised people to make calls to the helpline only in case of any emergency.
