What would be the most controversial, yet important take you have about desi society?
A user on X posed this challenge to their followers, asking for opinions about every single aspect of desi society. Whether it is excessive body shaming, poor funeral etiquettes, division of household chores within family members, or wedding obsessions, desi social media users held back nothing, leaving us with some very blunt, but direly needed takes.
Your wives are not unpaid house helpers. We wish more families would understand this.
It’s not the bahu’s responsibility to serve the whole family. If she is not willing to cook and clean for anyone except her husband no one can force her and that’s shari’ah https://t.co/CdjW2giXOO
Please understand that funerals are a time when family members need to grieve. Instead of giving them space, desi family members end up doing the opposite which is tragic to witness.
That women and girls don’t get to mourn the loss of a loved one. They are constantly expected to service food and tea to guests and look after them. The men get a head start on processing their grief and start to get some kind of a closure. Women do not. https://t.co/XlUzcRvRxy
Teach your sons to be the kind of men your daughters would feel safe around.
Turning a blind eye to the things your sons get up to but then teaching your daughters to protect themselves from such men is WILD. https://t.co/x0cWbarTAe
We hope more people start unlearning that talking about periods is a taboo.
Menstruation being a hush hush topic is the reason why a lot of women suffer in silence. It’s why conditions like endometriosis, genital TB, hypomenorrhea, dysmenorrhoea, and metrorrhagia go undiagnosed. https://t.co/D5C1S5v6MU
This prevalent practice of hiring underaged help for housekeeping or as nannies under the guise of “helping out their poor families” is such a fallacy. These kids are easily manipulated and continually fall victim to anger issues or latent predatory behaviour at the hands of- https://t.co/FWgShJuvpX
the average housewife works harder than all men who take six figure salaries. physical labour 18 hours every day (assuming they get 6 hours of sleep) on all days of the week with extra work on holidays like eid when they have to prepare grand feasts, and you say they do nothing https://t.co/xQacMzZOic
In a exhilarating match on Thursday, the Pakistani cricket team were officially out of Asia Cup 2023 after losing to Sri Lanka by two wickets, paving the way for the island nation to face off against India in Colombo. Although many expressed their disappointment at the lack of performance, including former captain Shahid Afridi, many were still proud of the effort the boys in green displayed. Since yesterday, prominent celebrities like Shahista Lodhi and Mawra Hocane sent uplifting messages to the cricket team, especially to captain Babar Azam for his efforts to make it this far.
The aesthetic surgeon and actress took to Instagram to express her pride at the way Babar Azam kept fighting till the end.
“Dear skipper Babar Azam, proud of the way you fought. I will never stop supporting you no matter what. Chin up King don’t let your crown fall.”
Hocane sisters Mawra and Urwa rallied behind the boys in green, commending them for their hard work and prayed that more achievements will arrive soon.
Koi baat nahi..you put up a great fight Pakistan..the better team won.. #AsiaCup2023 congratulations Srilanka well done Pakistan ❤️❤️❤️❤️ My heart will always pray for you..never hopeless ever..I won’t lie, I cried a tear or two but here’s to many many heart warming…
BTS fans will continue to go to all lengths to prove that they’re indeed the most wholesome and wonderful people to exist on the planet.
A BTS fan from Gujranwala, Syeda Binte Zainab, moved social media a few days ago when she celebrated the birthday’s of both BTS members Jung Kook and Namjoon’s by donating 125 boxes of food to patients suffering from thalassemia at Sundus Foundation, in an effort to spread awareness about providing blood donations to help children suffering from the disease.
Namjoon aka RM, is a popular rapper and song writer from the South Korean band BTS, which comprises of six other members including Jung Kook, Jin, Suga, Jimin, V and J-Hope. The band, declared by Time Magazine to be the ‘Princes Of Pop’, partnered with UNICEF in 2017 for their campaign to end violence against children, and have received 5 Grammy nominations.
Guyz I need your Prayers because I’m almost going to start Namkook Birthday Project Celebrations with Thalassemia patients and right now I’m packing food for them while streaming “Slow Dancing” Please drop your wishes or Purple heart pic.twitter.com/xkOkkCzpix
— Syeda BinteZainab⁷♥ #HBD_NAMJOON♥| ʟᴀʏᴏ(ꪜ)ᴇʀ ⍤⃝ (@BinteZainab33) September 9, 2023
The viral tweet received praise from fans and non-fans alike on social media, who appreciated the woman for undertaking such an amazing charity project on her own to celebrate her idol’s birthday.
감사합니다 아미 ♀️ You did a really really good Job Our boys will probably be so proud of you, and of course ARMY too… Fightingggg ♀️ https://t.co/GsnSyYMidC
Syeda Zainab also shared a link to her Youtube account which showed how she set up the project. She also included an interview with a doctor who spoke in detail about the disease and encouraged others to donate blood to patients and help save their lives.
Speaking to The Current, Syeda Zainab, who works as a teacher had previously collaborated with Sundas Foundation to organise 180 gifts food boxes, and this year had decided had collaborated with a student to bake a cake and a fellow BTS fan from Twitter, who baked cookies for the occasion.
“This year in collaboration with #BTS_Pk_Streaming , I thought of doing something different, so I texted the Director and asked for his permission to organise a little activity to which he instantly agreed. So I saved my 1 month salary and decided to arrange a special meal for Thalassemia fighters and their families. My student ‘Haider’ who is also BTS ARMY member, prepared the BTS Themed Cake to celebrate Namkook’s (Namjoon & Jungkook of BTS) birthday . A kind ARMY friend *Saira from Twitter specially prepared ‘Namjoon & Jungkook day special cookies’ for patients. I’ve Donated Blood before Starting the celebration because I know the importance of blood donations. My Blood can save 1 life so what’s better then this to celebrate this special month?”
Syeda Zainab told us she had been organising charity efforts for Sundas Foundation since 2021, when she donated blood to the patients and was in touch with the director whom she described as a ‘noble’ man. In 2022, she had celebrated Jung Kooks’ birthday with the rest of the patients by packing more than 180 gifts for the patients, and also brought along a cake to celebrate the occasion as shown from pictures she shared with us.
Speaking on the overwhelming praise her project received from social media, Zainab said she found it “over whelming and heart touching”. Several patients suffering from thalassemia exchanged phone numbers with her in order to see her vlog. “They literally longed for blood and happiness. I’m glad I was the reason behind their smile and happiness.”
“BTS is the reason behind spreading smiles all around the world and we ARMYs simply follow their footsteps. Alhumdulillah I feel incredibly happy to spread happiness around me just like my idols.”
Pakistani BTS fans have gone viral on several occasions for setting up extensive charity projects to celebrate birthdays of the band members, asking for nothing in return. “BTS and the ARMY fandom have been actively involved in social causes and have raised millions for charities. I remember back in June 6th 2020, BTS and Big Hit Entertainment donated $1 million to Black Lives Matter, and the ARMY fandom matched that amount within 24 hours.”
Continuing further, Zainab said “We organize projects like this because our icons inspire us every single day. Jungkook donated millions of won (Korean currency) to hospitals and universities on his birthday. When the severe earthquake disaster happened in turkey, it was BTS band members who donated millions of dollars to help the victims. The list is too extensive to share how many times they have contributed to help others.. We ARMYS do good things on BTS name all around the world so it doesn’t matter for us that our idols live in Korea or anywhere else. The thing which only matter is “THE MESSAGE”. The message BTS gives to ‘LOVE YOURSELF’ & ‘BE HUMAN’.”
Zainab told The Current that Pakistani BTS fans have done several projects in honor of their idols in the past, as last year they had celebrated Namjoon’s birthday by donating wheelchairs to Manawan Hospital Lahore. On September 1, which was Jungkook’s birthday, ARMY members donated 50 notebooks to schools in order to provide educational facilities for students from lower income backgrounds, along with Rs 7000 to Edhi Foundation, just proving how their fandom continues to do good and keep making their icons proud.
Maybe its time we stopped over piling on actresses for mistakes they admit to?
‘Fairy Tale’ actress Sehar Khan came under fire a few days ago when a clip went viral from her interview with Something Haute. The actress was seen speaking about wanting to play roles similar to Priyanka Chopra’s “psychopath” role in Bollywood film ‘Barfi’. Her comments were slammed by social media users who pointed out that Priyanka’s character Jhilmil is autistic. However, the actress was quick to apologise in a detailed Twitter thread, admitting that she should have expressed herself better.
“In a recent interview I meant to say I want to do a role of a differently abled person but due to slip of tongue, I mistakenly said something else. I should have gathered my thoughts before answering the question to express myself better.”
In a recent interview I meant to say I want to do a role of a differently abled person but due to slip of tongue, I mistakenly said something else. I should have gathered my thoughts before answering the question to express myself better. (1/2)
“Mental disabilities and special needs are a very important matter,” continued Sehar. “And I have immense respect for people who are dealing with them; hence I apologize if I unintentionally hurt anyone.”
Mental disabilities and special needs are a very important matter, and I have immense respect for people who are dealing with them; hence I apologize if I unintentionally hurt anyone. (2/2)
But soon after this 2 Instagram influencers Aadi Adeal Amjad and Naveed Raza mocked the newcomer actress by recreating the viral clip, and fans slammed them for bullying Sehar after she had apologised.
Many pointed out that the 23-year-old actress, who has stepped into limelight because of ‘Fairy Tale’, shouldn’t be trolled over her English skills.
Others said that this sort of behavior reeks of the sexist trolling many female celebrities face when they reach the peak of their careers. An X user shared a clip from Mashion’s Actors Roundtable where Mahira Khan talked about female actors being brought down by audiences over small things, leading to them doubting themselves and their success.
In the gist of all of this, we’d like trolls to remember that before rushing to pile on an actress, remember that Sehar Khan is still a newcomer, and someone who has already expressed regret at the ableist comment. Also, direct your energy towards dramas that are promoting domestic abuse and child marriages to actually bring about some change within the industry.
As a country with rich history and diverse cultural heritage, Pakistan is home to a variety of museums. Too often, however, fascinating artifacts and exhibitions in these museums are overlooked. From locomotives dating back to the British Raj, to astronomical devices from the Mughal Era; there are numerous exhibits that many do not know about.
Here is a list of 5 exhibits in different museums you are bound to find interesting:
Rare Handwritten Quranic Manuscripts- National Museum of Pakistan, Karachi
An intricately decorated Quranic manuscript at the National Museum of Pakistan- Photo by Discover Pakistan
The National Museum of Pakistan was established in the 1950s. It is Pakistan’s biggest museum and contains an important collection of artifacts relevant to the country’s cultural heritage.
This museum holds 300 copies of the Quran from different times. 52 of these copies are rare, handwritten manuscripts, some of which are in early Kufic and Bahr Arabic scripts. Some of these scripts date back to the 1300s, showing the changes in Quranic manuscripts over the years as well as the intricate craftsmanship of various writers. Many pages are also embellished with different gems, copper and even silver.
The Seated Buddha Statue- Taxila Museum, Taxila
Taxila Museum opened in 1928 and holds one of the most significant collections of artifacts from the Gandhara Civilization. It is famous for its collection of Buddhist stone and stucco sculptures from Gandhara. The museum is located in the middle of numerous archeological sites, and its core collection was excavated from Taxila Valley.
The Seated Buddha statue displayed at the Taxila Museum is one of the earliest representations of the Buddha in human form. Until the 1st century CE, the Buddha was represented through various symbols, like his footprint or the Bodhi tree. This particular statue was made in the 2nd or 3rd century CE. Thus, it is considered to be one of the oldest known Buddha statues. It was found in the site of the ancient Gandhara civilization in northwestern Pakistan. The statue is also known for its intricate carvings and striking resemblance to Buddha statues found in Tibet.
Steam Engines from the British Raj- Golra Sharif Railway Heritage Museum, Islamabad
A narrow gauge steam engine at the Golra Sharif Railway Heritage Museum- Photo by Zameen.com
Inaugurated in 2003, the Golra Sharif Railway Heritage Museum has many names. It is also known as the “Pakistan Railways Heritage Museum”, or simply goes by “Golra Sharif Station”.
Located on the outskirts of Islamabad, this museum allows visitors to experience what railway stations were like during the British Raj. Various railway equipment and largely obsolete locomotives can be explored here too. The station is still active and functioning.
Among the locomotives on display, there are three steam engines and one electric engine.
These engines are also connected to coaches, which are said to have belonged to the Maharaja of Jodhpur and Viceroy Lord Mountbatten. These coaches include first-class and economy coaches. Not only can visitors view these engines from the outside, but they can also explore them from the inside! Various old equipment and tools such as guns, crockery and bells can be observed too.
The Mercedes Pullman 600 displayed at the Pakistan Monument Museum- Photo by Mariam FarooqThe Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow displayed at the Pakistan Monument Museum- Photo by Mariam Farooq
Established in 2010, the Pakistan Monument Museum focuses on the struggle for independence and pays tribute to those who took part in the Pakistan movement. The museum covers various past events, including the arrival of Islam in the subcontinent, the magnificence of the Mughal Empire and the creation of Pakistan.
In 2018, two historic luxury cars, the Mercedes Pullman 600 and the Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow, were added to the museum’s collection. This exhibit was inaugurated soon after an auction to sell them off was cancelled by the government of Pakistan.
During the 1970s, the Mercedes Pullman 600 was one of the most expensive cars available.
This specific model was used by president Yahya Khan as well as prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. In addition to this, the car was used by foreign dignitaries like Egyptian president Anwar Sadat, Saudi king Faisal bin Abdul Aziz, the Queen of Brunei and many other world leaders.
The Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow was built in 1976 and gifted to the Pakistani government by Saudi king Shah Khalid bin Abdul Aziz on his visit to the country. During its service with the government, the car remained in the use of prime ministers Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto. It was also used by foreign dignitaries like the Queen and Prince of Brunei, Prince Karim Agha Khan, world boxing champion Muhammad Ali and Princess Diana among many others.
Astrolabes from the Mughal-Era- Lahore Museum, Lahore
The Lahore Museum opened in 1894 and is Pakistan’s oldest cultural institution. The museum is famous for its blend of Mughal and British style architecture. Its permanent collection contains almost 60,000 artifacts of prehistoric as well as contemporary times. Many artifacts displayed here are also linked with Islamic, Buddhist, Sikh, Hindu and Jain histories.
Derived from Greek, the term “astrolabe” essentially means “star holder”. This device is one of the oldest scientific instruments in the world, and was used to make different astronomical calculations using the movement of the sun and other prominent stars. Many muslim scholars played a significant role in the creation and refinement of astrolabes. Between the times of Mughal emperors Humayun and Aurangzeb, Lahore was a major centre in astrolabe making.
There are two astrolabes displayed in the Lahore museum, both made in Lahore. One was made in 1640 AD, and the other in 1841 AD, making them both from the time of the Mughal Empire.
Pakistan v Nepal from Moorhead to Multan: A Journey of Friendship and Fervour
Picture this: a chilly midnight in Moorhead, a tiny university town near Fargo. Amidst the freezing air, two cricket fanatics — me and my Pakistani roommate, Shehzad — walk to the end of 20th Street just off campus to a house full of friends from Nepal. Our connection with these guys? Cricket. We had known each other through an indoor tape ball cricket tournament we played together.
It was the turn of the millennium; TV apps and online streaming weren’t a thing back then. These guys from Nepal were our cricket saviours, the only ones in the area with Direct TV and video on demand available to watch Pakistan vs India 2004 Test series. I remember the first Test was in Multan. Sehwag smashed a triple ton and Tendulkar 194 to stamp their authority on the game. India won the match by an innings and also the series 2-1.
Even though we had great respect for each other, there were moments when we had tempers flared during this series as all of these guys were rooting for India. That’s the nature of this encounter, it’s an emotional rollercoaster. People from Pakistan and India living abroad will relate: no matter how close you are with each other, this game will always get your emotions out of control.
Fast-forward to 2023. Two decades later, Asia Cup is being co-hosted in Pakistan. The venue for the first game was Multan where Nepal faced Pakistan head to head for the first time. I have been in touch with these guys on and off, mostly through Facebook. As the national anthem of Nepal was being played, I dropped a one-liner message about the clash to Pawan Adhikari, now living in Houston, Texas. His response, I can feel, triggered a cascade of emotions for him just like it did for me. Memories flood in of chai-fuelled nights, banter, and heated arguments at his apartment.
This particular game in Multan seemed to create a nostalgia that’s etched in our memories. For me this wasn’t just a game where Pakistan was playing a minnow, it was a symphony of emotions that cricket had orchestrated two decades ago. This memory and this game flung the door open to tomorrow, to the possibility of sitting with old mates, Pawan, Neeraj, Prajowl, and Shehzad; watching Nepal and Pakistan take on the world in the West Indies and Americas next year.
From that viral image of a packed cricket ground in Katmandu of their famous victory, Nepal’s cricketing journey is a tale of resilience, a narrative that echoed the nation’s spirit, much like conquering the Everest.
In a world often divided, cricket emerges as the unifier, a magical thread that weaves tales transcending time zones and cultures. From Moorhead’s chilly cold streets to Multan’s scorching heat, this is more than just a cricket story; it’s a tale of friendships woven by cricket’s tapestry. It’s a reminder that amidst the chaos, there’s a language we all speak, a language that unites us, This is why we love this game.
The second season of the popular drama ‘Fairy Tale’ arrived on our screens after a five month break, and this time the production delivered an empowering, wholesome story revolving around Farjaad and Umeed. If during the last season fans had to deal with the slow burn of the two settling their differences, learning to like each other and then developing a relationship, in this season we watch the two settle into married life and learn to overcome their personality clashes.
Writer Sehar Majeed has left no stones unturned with the insane amount of wholesome, endearing moments she wrote for Farjaad and Umeed. Seriously, don’t watch the show unless you’re in your room alone because jitna hum nahi expect kar rahay thay kay aisa koi Pakistani drama would make us squeal this much.
We know its too early but here are some of our favorite moments so far from the last four episodes where Farjaad and Umeed shine.
1 Starting with the dance sequence in last week’s episode, with shy boy Farjaad stepping up for the couple dance because Umeed requested him to.
I know most ppl r losing it over the poetry but THIS is MY bit! Him, despite all his shyness, which even made her backout cz she got it, taking the 1st step & initiating the couple dance cz she WANTED it. Dancing for e/o is my love language #fairytale2https://t.co/VwrMVwFa4M
2 Or how in episode one, Farjaad proving he’s the only one jis ko Umeed ki naraazgi sambhalni aati hai.
“kabhi kisine socha tha ki hum dono yun ek saath baithkar chai pee rahe honge?” reminds me of “haan toh hum chai peelenge” & how farjaad was probably the one person who thought repeatedly of the two of them, alone in their world, cups of chai in their hands. #fairytale2#farmeedpic.twitter.com/gyLq4Q1AcP
3 Caring fiance setting our standards high by protectively laying his coat over Umeed when she accidently slept over in his office.
this man is going to wake up for the rest of his life with a prayer on his lips. one that he presses into her skin, grateful that he gets to be by her side #fairytale2#farmeedpic.twitter.com/C294DEi30o
5 Afterwards when the two are sitting outside and Farjaad says ‘Kis nay kaha tha itna khoobsurat lagnay ka?” Reham karien humaray upar sir
umeed’s voice goes lower when she asks “abhi aap yahan kyu aa gaye”, & her eyes get coy, almost inviting. my bb wants to hear him flirt but gets SO flustered when farjaad turns on the charm (they keep staring at each other’s lips. A1 performances, guys). #fairytale2#farmeedpic.twitter.com/B9ZdFFUt66
A video of a woman’s reaction to her birthday present from her son has left people emotional. The woman received several dolls from her son – the ones she always wanted as a kid.
The video was posted on the Instagram page GoodNews Movement along with a sweet caption. “Healing the inner child: She had dreamed of owning these dolls since she was a child. For her birthday, her son fulfilled that dream,” it reads.
The video opens to show the woman picking her dolls one by one and gently lining them on a table, tears rolling down her eyes while opening her gifts.
Since being posted, the clip has accumulated close to eight lac views and counting. Additionally, the video has been shared over 40,000 times. People posted varied comments while reacting to the video.
Following reports of senior diplomats expressing reservations regarding the delay in polls in Pakistan, while mentioning that it could have negative effects on Pakistan’s relationships with democratic nations, the Foreign Office said it has not yet received any such communication from any capital, sources told The News.
If a country raises any doubts and concerns, the authorities can address them, the Foreign Office said.
If elections are delayed beyond February next year, then that might invoke serious consequences for the country. “Frankly, if elections are delayed beyond February, it will be extremely difficult for us to maintain the same level of bilateral engagement with Pakistan as we are doing now,” a source told Express Tribune.
It is believed that in case of delay in elections, western countries, might revisit their cooperation with Pakistan. This could negatively impact Pakistan’s engagement with US-led financial institutions, including the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Not only Western countries want timely elections but they also want a level playing field for all the political parties. “This is something we will be keeping a close eye on,” said another diplomatic source, referring to media restrictions and crackdown against certain political parties.
Meanwhile, FO Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch clarified that she has no knowledge of any messages from any capital on this matter, as the positions of Pakistan and other countries on the issue are already known.
The sources revealed that the government is well aware of the European Union’s (EU) stance and the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) perspective on the matter. If parliamentary elections are deferred without valid reasons, the Generalised System of Preferences Plus (GSP+) trade facility could come under scrutiny.
It has been reported that United States Ambassador to Pakistan, Donald Blome, and some other senior Western diplomats had held meetings with high-ranking officials in Pakistan, including caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar and Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja.
These meetings were aimed at gaining first-hand assessments of the situation. It is understood that these countries have closely followed the developments in Pakistan regarding election preparations and maintained communication with relevant parties to emphasise the preservation of a democratic environment.
The sources noted that Pakistan has adequately briefed important capitals on the post-dissolution developments in national and provincial legislatures. The government has assured these capitals that the action will strictly adhere to the Constitution and law. The restriction to hold elections within 90 days following assembly dissolution, as stipulated in the Constitution, has been communicated.
The sources highlighted that the ECP had recently clarified that there are no intentions to delay elections once the delimitation process concludes. Speculation arose that updating electoral rolls based on new delimitations could lead to further delays.
The electoral body dismissed the concerns, explaining that updating electoral rolls and delimitation can proceed concurrently, as this is not an uncommon practice and would not cause any delay in elections. The ECP has already set December 14 as the deadline for completing the constituency delimitation process, and the enrollment of new voters will also be completed by this deadline.
Muhammad Masood, a 31-year-old licensed Pakistani doctor living in the United States on a work visa, has been sentenced to 18 years in jail for attempting to provide material support to terrorist organisation ISIS, according to court documents.
“A Rochester man was sentenced today to 216 months in prison, equivalent to 18 years, followed by five years of supervised release for attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization,” a press release issued by the US Department of Justice stated.
The court documents revealed that Masood was previously employed as a research coordinator at a medical clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, under an H-1B visa.
As per the official statement, Masood’s activity from January 2020 to March 2020 depicted his attempts to become a part of the militant outfit and provide material support in carrying out terrorist acts in the US.
“Between January 2020 and March 2020, Masood used an encrypted messaging application to facilitate his travel overseas to join a terrorist organization,” the statement added.
It further stated that the Pakistani man made multiple statements about his desire to join ISIS and also pledged his allegiance to the designated terrorist organisation and its leader.
“Masood also expressed his desire to conduct ‘lone wolf’ terrorist attacks in the United States.”
On February 21, 2020, he bought a plane ticket from Chicago, Illinois, to Amman, Jordan, with plans to travel to Syria from there. However, his travel plans changed on March 16, 2020, as the borders were closed by Jordan under coronavirus travel restrictions.
He then decided to fly from Minneapolis to Los Angeles, where he would meet a person who he believed would help him with travel via a cargo ship to deliver him to the territory claimed by ISIS.
On March 19, 2020, Masood traveled from Rochester to Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) to board a flight bound for Los Angeles, California.
However, he was eventually arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) upon arrival at the airport.
Masood pleaded guilty last year on August 16 to attempting to provide material support to Daesh. Senior Judge Paul A. Magnuson sentenced him to 18 years in prison on Friday, after the completion of investigations by the FBI’s JTTF.
