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  • Pakistan’s first moon landing

    Pakistan’s first moon landing

  • 7 mind tricks the rich use to get richer

    7 mind tricks the rich use to get richer

    Who doesn’t want to be a billionaire? I mean is that even a question to ask. But the problem is that becoming a billionaire is not an easy task. Author of the book How Rich People Think Steve Siebold says “getting rich begins with the way you think and what you believe about making money.”

    Here are seven mental tricks, outlined by Siebold, that rich people use to make money.

    1. They believe that they have enough money even when they don’t

    Rich
    people are not afraid to borrow money from anyone. If they have a great idea
    which they’re unable to finance, they execute their plan by using other
    people’s money to make it happen.

    2. They set high expectations

    The rich set their expectations exceptionally high. No one would ever strike it rich and live their dreams without huge expectations. Ancient wisdom says you get what you expect.

    3. Making money is a game for them

    Making money is like a game for rich people. This is the reason why people who are already millionaires go to work every day with the aim to jump to the next level.

    The interest and enthusiasm for playing the game urges them to constantly raise their level of expectations. The more excited they get, the harder they work and the more they succeed.

    4. They personify money and see it as their friend

    Rich people consider money as one of their greatest friends. A friend who can end sleepless nights of worry, physical pain, and mental stress. Wealthy people believe money can solve problems and purchase peace of mind.

    5. They are not afraid of fear

    Rich
    people block out fear. They think at a level where everything is possible.
    Every task that seems difficult or impossible to the masses looks practical to
    the rich people.

    They
    already keep in mind that becoming a billionaire is not an easy task and they
    have to be out of their comfort zone for like forever.

    6. They think that getting rich is natural

    Rich people think that becoming a billionaire is natural. Instead of thinking why me, they say why not me? This behaviour of being optimistic about themselves guarantees their success.

    7. They tell themselves that they deserve to be rich

    They not only think that getting rich is natural but they think that it is their right. World-class thinkers know in a capitalist country they have the right to be rich while the masses think getting rich is only for a lucky few. This distinction in thinking leads the middle class to the lottery and the world-class to work.

  • On top of the world: 10-year-old Pakistani girl youngest to summit 7,000-metre peak

    On top of the world: 10-year-old Pakistani girl youngest to summit 7,000-metre peak

    A 10-year-old Pakistani girl has broken records to become the youngest climber anywhere in the world to scale a 7,000-metre-high mountain.

    Selena Khawaja, who started climbing from the age of eight, broke the record after summiting the 7,027-metre-tall Spantik peak on Wednesday. Spantik or Golden Peak is a mountain in the Karakoram subrange in Gilgit Baltistan’s Nagar Valley.

    This is not the first time Selena has broken a record. She was just nine years old when she became the youngest to scale the 5,765m high Quz Sar Peak, and then successfully summited Mingli Sar (6050m) in June 2018, before setting her sights on Spantik this year.

    Selena aims to scale the world’s 12th highest mountain, Broad Peak (8,051 metres) also this year before heading towards the 8,848-metre-high Mount Everest, the world’s tallest.

  • Viral video shows PTI MPA proudly presenting ‘sariyay wala seth’

    Viral video shows PTI MPA proudly presenting ‘sariyay wala seth’

    A video of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MPA Haleem Adil Sheikh, wherein he is proudly presenting the party’s “sariyay [iron rod] wala seth“, went viral over the internet on Saturday.

    The video shows Adil using the term to refer to his colleague and Sindh Human Rights Focal Person Mir Iftikhar Ahmed Khan Lund.

    Earlier this month, Lund’s appointment by the Human Rights Ministry had sparked a debate on social media since he is accused of violating his driver by inserting an iron rod into his rectum.

    “The poor don’t matter to them…” Adil says while criticising an unnamed entity in the video breaking the internet. “The thing is if they learn their lesson with batons… it’s good… [else] we have sariyay wala seth with us now,” he says as he holds Lund’s hand and the entire room breaks into laughter.

    WATCH VIDEO:

    According to a Human Rights Ministry notification dated July 10, Minister Shireen Mazari appointed Lund as a focal person on the issues of human rights in Sindh.

    “He shall assist the office of the federal minister on the issues of human rights while keeping liaison with relevant stakeholders,” the notification read.

    While the appointment is “purely voluntary without the ministry bearing any expenses”, the news took the internet by storm owing to the gross violation allegedly committed by Lund in April.

    THE ASSAULT:

    As per the details, a van driver named Allah Rakhio was allegedly assaulted and meted out inhumane punishment in Sindh’s Ghotki district on the orders of his employer, Lund, and his three relatives.

    According to the victim’s son, Zahid Hussain Rakhio, his father had a disagreement with Shafiq Lund, following which he was called to Iftikhar’s residence where he was mercilessly beaten up by Shafiq, Rafiq Lund and Mumtaz Ali Lund in Iftikhar’s presence.

    Injured Rakhio called Hussain, who took him to the hospital, where he received eight stitches on his private parts. A video of Rakhio lying on his back on a stretcher and narrating his ordeal was also widely shared over the internet.

    FIR AGAINST LUND:

    A First Information Report (FIR) against Iftikhar, Mumtaz, Shafiq and Rafiq on the victim’s complaint was filed at the Khanpur Mahar police station.

    The FIR was filed under sections 324 (attempt to commit qatle amd), 355 (assault or criminal force with intent to dishonour a person), 147 (punishment for rioting) and 143 (punishment for being a member of unlawful assembly).

    Hussain claims that police have not yet made any arrests and are trying to brush the incident under the carpet, while party sources say the issue was resolved in an out of court settlement as the driver forgave Lund and his accomplices.

  • If ‘The Lion King’ was made in Pakistan

    If ‘The Lion King’ was made in Pakistan

    The live-action remake of The Lion King has finally hit the cinema after a long, long wait. Two versions of the film were released here in Pakistan – English and Hindi. Some fans took to social media to suggest that an Urdu version of the film should also be released. If that was the case, here’s who we think would be best fit for the characters.

    Simba and Mufasa – Shaan Shahid

    Considering how dear to Shaan this film is, we decided to give both Simba and Mufasa to him.

    Scar – Ali Zafar

    It’s the hair.

    Nala – Mehwish Hayat

    Who better than Mehwish to play the fierce Nala?

    Timon – Mani

    The resemblance is uncanny.

    Pumba – Ahmed Ali Butt

    When you think witty, the only person from Pakistan’s film industry who comes to mind is without a doubt Ahmed Ali Butt.

    Rafiqi – Nadeem Baig

    Nadeem Baig is the perfect grandfatherly figure.

  • In historic first, two women contest ex-FATA election

    In historic first, two women contest ex-FATA election

    Two women have stepped up to contest the provincial election being held in ex-Federally Administrated Tribal Areas (FATA) of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Geo News reported.

    FATA was finally merged into KP in May 2018 after then president Mamnoon Hussain signed the 25th Constitutional Amendment Bill into law.

    People of the tribal districts on Saturday are casting a ballot for the first time to elect members of the provincial assembly on sixteen seats up for grabs in seven newly-merged districts.

    In the 16 constituencies up for grabs, almost all contestants are men; however, two women from the Awami National Party (ANP) and Jamaate Islami (JI) have stepped up to give them a tough time.

    Naheed Afridi from the ANP is hoping for a win in Khyber district’s PK-106. There are a total of 148,470 voters in this constituency, of which 65,652 (44 per cent) are female.

    JI’s Malasa Bibi, on the other hand, is running for PK-109 of the Kurram district. In her constituency, there are 187,844 voters in all, of which 82,560 are women.

    The two women are breaking barriers by contesting the election in extremely conservative tribal districts where women have not always been allowed to even cast their votes.

  • Mysterious creature sparks fear in Karachi

    Mysterious creature sparks fear in Karachi

    Poori zindagi guzar gayi iss soch main keh whether jinns and supernatural creatures exist or not.

    Nonetheless, media reports from Karachi are saying that a weird, mysterious creature has been spotted in Shershah scrap market sparking fear among traders who have businesses there. Traders are now closing their shops earlier than before.

    The guard who has seen this creature claims that this creature is approximately 5 feet tall and dark-coloured with two glowing eyes. He recounted that this started about eight days ago when he was fulfilling his duties outside a warehouse. He said that he heard dogs barking nearby and got up from his chair to see what was going on. As he walked towards where the noise was coming from, Gulzar said that he felt a strange sensation before he spotted a “strange creature.” He immediately ran away. Gulzar said he has been working as a watchman for the last 25 years but has never seen anything like this before.

    Local initially believed that Gulzar was making up stories, but the next day, another watchman, Abdul Qayyum, claimed to have spotted the creature as he was taking a round of the area. This has sparked fear and panic among the locals.

    Shopkeepers also believe that this creature is killing their animals and sucking their blood. They have submitted their reports and concerns to the local police station.

    Meanwhile, some people believe that this is just an elaborate plan to scare the locals. Whatever the matter may be, it does sound a little eerie.

  • Testing Okra – Breathe In, Not Out

    Testing Okra – Breathe In, Not Out

    Ever felt like you’ve entered a new world just by walking up two steps? That’s Okra Test Kitchen – a small off-shoot of Okra, one of Karachi’s most loved fine dining restaurants.

    Okra’s well known for pushing the boundaries and creating fancy phoo-phoo food. But it’s also homey, organic and comforting. Many uncles and aunties would say, 1000 Rupees for an “anday ka omelette” isn’t worth it, but with the younger lot, knowing the main guy, Vincent, and getting a table for Sunday Brunch is equal to hanging out with Kareena Kapoor in London.

    View of the Restaurant from the Kitchen. Source: Okra Test Kitchen’s Facebook Page

    Okra Test Kitchen doesn’t have that kind of pressure. A very small place, with three, four tables, it’s walk-in only. And when you walk in, take a deep breath.

    It smells like Paris, freshly baked bread, croissants, soft music, the soft clinking of cutlery, the bright light streaming in from the large window. Breathe it all in and take the corner table.

    Some of the most enviable Instagram moments are images of small cafes, on bright sunny days, scintillating conversation, softly munching on bread. That’s what Okra Test Kitchen has managed to achieve. A place that sings Europe with such authenticity that you feel like you’re on vacation. It’s okay if you’ve come out in your lounge pants and you really don’t know Vincent. But the thing is, you don’t need to.

    Portuguese Custard Tart. Source: Okra Test Kitchen Facebook

    The menu hangs on the wall, the chefs greet you from the small, makeshift kitchen, cooking right there, baking right there. You order right where the menu hangs, you ask for a coffee from the coffee machine you can see.

    If you make it to heaven, you’ll ask for an Okra Test Kitchen croissant. If you live outside Karachi, you’ll take boxes with you because you won’t find it anywhere else. You’ll never say this out loud but you know that Parisian croissants have nothing on the incredibly soft, flaky, crunch of the Karachi Croissant. You’ll ask for more, and if it’s not your day, they’ll be sold out.

    The Croissants. Source: Okra Test Kitchen’s Facebook (and my heart)

    The scrambled eggs are moist and fluffy, slow-cooked but without much comfort. The maritozzo, a sweet Utalian brioche bun, filled with cream, is light but doesn’t do much for the Pakistani palette, except making you start to count calories. However, the Portuguese custard tarts are sweet and delightful, joy filled in their crust.

    Okra Test Kitchen is all about the bread, the pastry, the croissants, and there is nothing else like it in Pakistan. The food is above average, (pushed up by The Forbidden Croissant) and strongly elevated by the atmosphere it has so flawlessly created. You ignore that the place is so small, you’re bound to knock off one of the bottles, precariously resting on a shelf on the wall, causing a rather embarrassing stir, promising to pay for it but not having to in the end. You ignore that sometimes you’ll walk in and never get a place to sit but are willing to wait a good hour just so you can stay there and breathe. You will go back, week after week, just so you can step into a different universe, one that promises a mini vacation for an hour or two. It’s an hour or more, of first world peace, before you step back into the grime of Karachi, relishing the time when you could get away and be transported to the streets of Europe.

  • Hamza Ali Abbasi’s tweets land him in hot water, again

    Hamza Ali Abbasi’s tweets land him in hot water, again

    Think before you tweet.

    While Hamza Ali Abbasi is a talented actor, his social media needs some ‘monitoring’. Abbasi’s tweets land him in controversy every now and then, and it isn’t without reason.

    On July 18, following former prime minster Shahid Khaqan Abbasi’s arrest, Hamza tweeted:

    A Twitter user chided him for using ‘rape’ in a political tweet.

    Instead of acknowledging his mistake, Abbasi replied that his word is “apt for what they did.”

    We think Hamza was rightly schooled. Rape analogy is not something to be used lightly. Many people on social media use rape as an analogy in tweets related to sports or rivalries or politics. Not only is it in bad taste but it is also a disservice to rape survivors.

    As Lala Mustafa explained to Hamza, “Rape is about power. Rape is more of a psychological crime against a person whereby they are stripped of their power and agency.”

    https://twitter.com/LalaHawaa/status/1151959200219709440?s=20

    We hope Mr Abbasi will use his social media more responsibly in the future and think before tweeting.

  • Mad King

    Mad King

    From intimidating accountability watchdogs, telling the judiciary how to do its job, to placing increasingly fascist restrictions on press, Imran Khan has reached levels of desperation that seem unprecedented

    We have been here before. A government, drunk on its
    newfound power, now finds itself in unfamiliar territory where it has to lead a
    nation and not just tear down all that holds that country upright.

    An opposition, being oppressed, harassed and victimised for
    speaking to the aspirations of the people, at whose will, it serves. It’s not
    new. It’s a vicious cycle that has revisited this country one too many times
    now.

    The 2018 general election was among the most tainted in this
    country’s history, the impact of which the nation now suffers. The country is
    in the grip of an economic crisis that can only be described as a financial
    Armageddon, corruption is ironically at its peak, a glimpse of which has been
    seen in the recent report put forth by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on the
    Peshawar BRT project.

    In the Prime Minister’s (PM) House, our own version of the
    Mad King has begun to unravel. In an attempt to distract everyone from how the
    country’s economy has continued to unravel under his watch, he has decided to
    demolish every institution we hold dear in the country.

    From threatening and intimidating the country’s accountability watchdogs, telling the judiciary how to do its job, to placing increasingly fascist restrictions on the press in Pakistan, Imran Khan has reached levels of desperation that seem unprecedented.

    Why though? Why this sudden surge in desperation on the part
    of the PM?

    Nawaz Sharif has been unfairly put behind bars. The top tier
    leadership of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) is being threatened day
    in day out with mala fide cases in an attempt to shut them up.

    Why is the government so spooked that it continues to up the
    ante and show its ill intent when despite its reservations and grievances over
    the election process, the opposition has on various occasions declared its
    intentions to let the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) remain in power and
    complete its term?

    What perturbs the government is that it can see the writing
    on the wall. Going forward, electoral politics will revolve around the next
    generation of voters — the youth — and at present, no one has shown to
    connect with the youth of this country quite like Maryam Nawaz.

    People know her as the current force that has kept the party
    going in her father’s absence, but what people do not realise is that she has
    been there for quite some time now.

    When Nawaz was in exile during Gen (r) Pervez Musharraf-led
    military rule, it was Maryam who pushed and encouraged her father to return to
    the country because she believed the people needed her father’s leadership. Now
    she is burdened with the responsibility to fight for her family and her party.

    She has been burdened with the responsibility to fight for
    all of us… for the very democratic soul of the country.

    The Mad King fears his government will fall apart once and
    for all as his false claim of representing the youth nears collapse. It is for
    this very reason that his government is going to ridiculous lengths to try and
    harass the opposition.

    What he needs to remember is that we have been here before.
    And inevitable is that authoritarians have time and time again fallen from
    their positions of power and been forced to feel the unforgiving wrath of the
    will of the people.

    That wave, let’s call it a tsunami, is building up, making its way to sweeping away the PTI government and its politics.

    Any author’s views do not reflect that of The Current