The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has included Lahore in its list of cities that have been designated as Unesco Creative Cities. A total of 66 cities have been selected for 2019’s list.
The cities on the list have been selected for one particular field. While Lahore has been selected in the field of Literature, other categories include gastronomy, music, design, media arts, and film. Meanwhile, other cities on the list include Angoulême (France), Kuhmo (Finland), Wonju (Republic of Korea), Wrocław (Poland), Slemani (Iraq), Leeuwarden (the Netherlands), Beirut (Lebanon), Nanjing (China), and Odessa (Ukraine).
Unesco Director-General Audrey Azoulay made this announcement and said that this step would promote political and social innovation, particularly among the youth.
“All over the world, these cities, each in their way, make
culture a pillar – not an accessory – of their strategy,” he said.
The project is being run by Unesco’s Creative Cities to make
these places home of ideas and help in the contribution to attaining the
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through innovative ideas and action.
The cities on the list have committed to support and achieve the SDGs especially those that directly benefit communities at the urban level.
The Unesco Creative Cities Network now counts a total of 246
cities. The member cities come from all continents and areas with different
populations and income levels.
Unesco representatives said the cities work together towards
a common mission. placing creativity and the creative economy at the core of
their urban development plans to make cities safe, inclusive and sustainable,
in line with the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Karachi police arrested a nine-member gang of maids, involved in looting homes in the Gulshan-e-Iqbal area of the city.
According to reports, the gang was also involved in street crimes and robbed shops as well. Three laptops, 10 mobile phones, two cameras, gold jewelry, and five pistols were recovered from the group.
The police revealed that the gang operated by first sending maids to different houses following which after a few months, they robbed those houses. The group had allegedly been on the run for the past 15 years.
The police caught the gang after conducting underground operations. Five members of the gang are in police custody while others have managed to escape.
Maulana Fazalur Rehman is leading the Azadi March, which after reaching Islamabad, has demanded the Prime Minister’s resignation. Maulana has given PM Khan two days to resign or face the consequences, which include “another strategy,” and that, “we [opposition] will not be able to exercise any patience after that point.”
Khan himself, while addressing a rally in Gilgit said that, “”When Maulana Fazlur Rehman is there [in Islamabad] we have no need of foreign conspiracies,” he said, adding, “The way the Indian media is celebrating [this march], it makes it seem he [Rehman] himself is (an Indian) national.”
After Khan’s comments, almost declaring Maulana a traitor who is cohorting with India, social media exploded with memes and images of Maulana photoshopped with Modi.
In a television program when Special Assistant to the PM on the Media, Firdous Ashiq Awan was questioned about why Khan was suggesting that Maulana was a traitor, Firdous said that Khan was a Pakistani citizen and every Pakistani had a right to question who their well wishers are.
Fazlu is the Ambassador of India, in Pakistan. 1- He oppose operation against TTP. 2- He called terrorists as “Shaheed” but security forces as “dead”. 3- He called “Kashmir Jihad” terrorism. 4- He supported PTM agenda. 5- Divert attention from Kashmir issue.#FazluCreatingChaospic.twitter.com/0jMP5xmQKm
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, who visited Pakistan late last month, have expressed their solidarity and sadness over the tragic Tezgam train incident which shook the country on Thursday.
According to the Cambridge’s official website, “The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge sent a message of condolence to the President of Pakistan following the train fire near the town of Rahim Yar Khan in Pakistan.”
“Having just returned from visiting Pakistan, we were horrified and deeply saddened to hear about the tragic fire on the Tezgam train near Rahim Yar Khan.”
“Our thoughts and prayers are with all the people and families affected by this heartbreaking disaster,” the message added.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have sent a message to the President of Pakistan following the tragic fire on the Tezgam train near Rahim Yar Khan.https://t.co/WJZocOZRCK
— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) October 31, 2019
Meanwhile, as per reports, the train, Tezgam, was on its way from Karachi to Rawalpindi when a gas cylinder carried by a passenger exploded, resulting in hundreds of casualties on Thursday morning. The fire destroyed three of the train’s carriages, including two economy class and one business class carriage.
He was the arranger, the person everyone went to for help. Founding member of the PTI and one of Prime Minister Khan’s oldest friends, Khan tweeted that Qureshi had always been there for him during hard times.
Devastated by the death of one of my oldest friends Ashiq Qureshi last night. He was always there during my many setbacks in life. Was the first to stand by me when I decided to build SKMT & was a PTI founder member. Above all, he will be missed as a gentleman & great human being
A philanthropist and one of the first supporters of Shaukat Khanum Cancer Hospital, Qureshi graduated from the Pakistani Military Academy in 1971 and served as a diplomat in London and Paris. His love for cricket is well known and he was also present at the 1992 World Cup on the ground with his old friend Captain Imran Khan.
He left the foreign service and returned home and turned his attention to philanthropy in the social sector. He was also the honorary consul for France.
We are saddened by the news that Ashiq Hussain Qureshi, former Honorary Consul of France in Lahore, has passed away. He was a very respected gentleman and was awarded the Ordre National du Mérite last year. Sincere condolences to his family. pic.twitter.com/zXSYPMl3xf
His friends remember him as being a soft spoken and generous friend, one who was passionate about social work and helped veteran and youth cricket in various capacities.
A ‘devoted husband, and a loving father’, his family has released the details of his Namaz-e-Janaza and Qul.
His Namaz e Janaza will be held on Saturday, November 2nd, 11 am at the Lahore Polo Club, Race course Park, GOR 1. The Qul/dua will be held on Sunday, November 3rd at the National Cricket Academy, Gaddafi Stadium, Gulberg 3, Lahore from 3pm to 5pm.
Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan on Friday came hard on Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and said that the latter “can sell his Islam over a diesel permit or Kashmir Committee chairpersonship”.
Religio-political leader Fazl, who is also the former chairperson of the Parliamentary Special Committee on Kashmir, is currently in Islamabad as part of his Azadi March against the “illegitimate” government led by Imran.
Speaking of the JUI-F-led opposition parties’ protest in the federal capital, the premier on Friday regretted the “use of Islam for shoring up votes” as he addressed a gathering in Gilgit.
“Gone are the days when one could use Islam to gain power. This is a new Pakistan. Sit for as long as you want to. When your food runs out, we will send more. But we will not give you an NRO [National Reconciliation Ordinance],” declared the premier.
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“We are celebrating your independence while an Azadi March [is ongoing in Islamabad]. Who are they wishing to gain freedom from?” he asked the crowd as people in Gilgit observed their 72nd Independence Day.
“I want the media to go there and ask people who they wish to free themselves from,” said the premier, stating that all his opponents appeared disjointed in their thoughts and aims.
He also accused Fazl of being a conspirator and said that Indian media was celebrating the march that suggested the right-wing leader was “himself an Indian national”.
Newsline was always so much more than just a publishing project… it was always about making the dream of editorial integrity a reality
The announcement that the December issue of Newsline magazine would be its last, was greeted by rather emotional comments on social media from people who had been associated with the venture or somehow touched by it.
Their often emotional comments expressed a real sense of sadness and almost personal loss, and while these remarks may have seemed surprising to those unfamiliar with the Newsline project, they really resonated with those who had lived through General Zia’s — direct as well as indirect — martial law periods.
This is because Newsline was not just another publication: for those in journalism, it was a venture that symbolised hope — the hope of the triumph of the journalist over the seth or owner/proprietor/media baron.
Newsline was founded by a group of women journalists in late 1988. The team was led by Razia Bhatti, the longtime editor of The Herald, the Dawn Group monthly that was famous for its stylish production values and its hard-hitting content.
Razia, perhaps the best editor Pakistan has ever produced, was summoned by management and told it was time for her (after some two decades) to leave. This happened soon after General Zia dismissed the civilian government and announced fresh elections and it was a time when the military establishment was seeking to regain control of the political narrative and tame the increasingly outspoken media.
The editorial team was so appalled by the management’s decision to get rid of Razia that most of us opted to resign in protest and leave with her. I was a newcomer in the group (as was Tehmina Ahmed). I’d been with the team for less than a year, but my other colleagues were well-known names in the field, particularly Rehana Hakim, Samina Ibrahim and Sairah Irshad. Talat Aslam stayed on as did Zahid Hussain, our star reporter, who then joined us several months later.
Soon afterward, Razia had the bright idea that we should start our very own magazine. It seemed a complete impossibility, but we began to work on developing the idea anyway. Zia, the cause of most of our woes, had been killed in the Bahawalpur crash and within a few months of that the country’s publishing laws were liberalised and we were able to get a publishing license or ‘declaration’.
We decided we must have a controlling interest and so we invested whatever we could in the company and were also lucky enough to find some investor friends who wanted to come in not for the profit (there never were any), but because they had faith in the venture.
The first issue came out in July 1989 and the legend of Newsline gained strength with every new issue. The legend was that the journalists had won, that editorial integrity would not be compromised, that the news narrative was not tailored according to financial or political interests.
The Newsline launch, Karachi July 1989. L to R: Rehana Hakim, Razia Bhatti, Zahid Hussain, Samina Ibrahim, Umber Khairi, S.A. Baqri, Baseer Ashraf, Tehmina Ahmed
But keeping the legend alive and carrying the torch for this sort of idealism was not an easy task. Financially we struggled and the pressures we faced were many, but we carried on.
Even after Razia died suddenly in 1996, Rehana and the team kept the flame of this hope alive. The names of staffers who passed through the intense training ground that was the Newsline office reads like a Who’s Who of journalism, politics, literature and academia (Abbas Nasir, Mohammed Hanif, Nafisa Shah, Naziha Syed Ali, Marvi Memon, Kamila Shamsie to name just a few). But apart from the commitment of the core team what perhaps helped most to keep the venture alive was the support and good wishes of so many people – friends, colleagues and readers.
But eventually, we reached a stage where the magazine could no longer function as a small independent operation and we became part of a media group (again) when we sold Newsline to the HUM group. When I told a friend about this she asked, “If you sold it and it didn’t belong to you, why are you getting so worked up about it?”
She’s right of course. Legally, we no longer owned Newsline and the decision to cease publication was rightfully the owner’s, but emotionally and idealistically perhaps we will always own Newsline because it was always so much more than just a publishing project… it was always about making the dream of editorial integrity a reality.
Following the tragic Tezgam train accident which killed at least 74 people and injured over 40 others, Coke Studio has announced that they will not be releasing the third episode of Season 12 on Friday (today) as per the schedule.
In a video message posted to social media, Coke Studio said: “In solidarity with the families affected by the Tezgam train tragedy, Coke Studio Season 12 Episode 3 will not be releasing today.”
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and individuals who were affected by this tragic incident,” the message read.
In solidarity with the families affected by the Tezgam train tragedy, Coke Studio Season 12 Episode 3 will not be releasing today. pic.twitter.com/ABvvHmF1Zn
The third episode of the ongoing Season 12 was scheduled to release on November 1. The episode was set to feature songs by Fareed Ayaz and Abu Muhammad, Umair Jaswal, Banur’s Band and Atif Aslam.
Meanwhile, as per reports, the train, Tezgam, was on its way from Karachi to Rawalpindi when a gas cylinder carried by a passenger exploded, resulting in hundreds of casualties on Thursday morning. The fire destroyed three of the train’s carriages, including two economy class and one business class carriage.
Pakistan Railways (PR) has suffered a loss of whopping Rs213 million as three of Tezgam’s carriages were reduced to ashes in the fire that shook the entire nation on Thursday, a private media outlet reported.
At least 74 people were killed and over 40 others injured after three gas cylinders exploded in a train travelling from Karachi to Rawalpindi. The fire destroyed three of the train’s carriages, including two economy class carriages and one business class carriage.
Footage over both mainstream and social media showed flames engulfing the ill-fated train as people cry for help following the mishap near Punjab’s Rahim Yar Khan district.
It wasn’t later that Federal Minister for Railways Sheikh Rashid Ahmed blamed passengers for the fire, while people across the country stepped up to condemn the minister’s remarks and accuse PR of criminal negligence.
“It isn’t PR’s fault and passengers are to be blamed for it,” the minister said while speaking to journalists after the tragedy.
“It is unfortunate that passengers take cylinders with them. They don’t fear the law,” he said, adding that several people jumped to their deaths from the burning train.
While Rasheed promised an inquiry to ascertain how the passengers had managed to carry cylinders with them, his statements were not very well received by the people who demanded the minister’s resignation amid rising number of train mishaps.
Khalil ur Rehman Qamar and his directorial feature Kaaf Kangana may not have been a box-office success but the film and its maker has been dominating headlines for one reason or another.
First the film and its ‘interesting’ trailer, then Neelum Muneer’s bizarre item song, then DG ISPR Major General Asif Ghafoor defending the item song and lastly Qamar himself saying that women should rape men if they want equality.
Yup, our head is spinning as much yours is.
Nonetheless, Qamar’s statements stirred up a social media storm and everyone began to call him out for his misogynistic and outdated comments.
Osman Khalid Butt, who is touted to be one of the most ‘woke’ celebrities to exist in the Pakistan film industry also called out Khalil ur Rehman for his comments.
‘Mard ke paas inkaar karnay ki kabliyat nahi hoti,’ I wail as my wife leaves me after my nth extramarital affair. ‘Barbaad bhi tussi karrahay ho, aur fir galaan vi,’ firing one last potshot as she slams the door in my face.
In an interview, the renowned screenwriter had said, “A few weeks ago, a feminist group had a conversation with me regarding equality. I asked them if they’ve ever heard about a gang of men kidnapping a woman? They assured me they have. I asked them then why don’t women do the same?”
“If you wish to strive for equality then kidnap men as well. Rob a bus, gang rape a man, so that I can understand what you [women] mean by equality.”
Qamar has several successful dramas to his credit including the current superhit Meray Paas Tum Ho.
Defending his ideas and “philosophy” around how he sees society, Qamar said that Meray Paas Tum Ho was “the story of several men, not just one”.
“I have come across multiple married couples who go through the same ordeal. I’ve observed when a married woman cheats, she doesn’t feel ashamed at all. The reason behind her not feeling guilty is because she has been backed by another man. When an unmarried woman cheats, she feels guilty.”
“Man in Pakistan misses the point of feminism” Khalil Ur Rehman Qamar, writer of the most misogynistic scripts on Pakistani TV labels himself a feminist but only of “good women”. WTH
