Tag: exclusive

  • Destination weddings in Pakistan

    Destination weddings in Pakistan

    Weddings are a serious affair in Pakistan. Months are spent into planning the perfect wedding.

    However, recent years have seen Pakistanis ditch the unconventional route and opt for destinations weddings. This shift has recently gained momentum and pictures of a couple who tied the knot in Hunza have recently gone viral. Historic sites, fancy buildings and sandy beaches are proving to be a better wedding backdrop than flower-laden stages.

    The trend began with the rich flying out to get married in countries like Turkey, Dubai and Thailand. However, considering they are becoming difficult to pull off especially with the rising dollar, many are now turning towards scenic locales within Pakistan.

    If your wedding is round the corner and you’re looking to making your special day even more special, here are some places you can plan your wedding.

    Hunza Valley

    Hunza Valley often referred to as “Heaven on Earth” is located in the Gilgit Baltistan region of Pakistan. The best places to get married in Hunza are the Altit and Baltit Forts, the sublime fairy meadows and Rakaposhi. The cherry blossom season is in full bloom from March to April making it the best season to tie the knot in this area.

    Khaplu Palace

    Khaplu Palace is known as Yabgo Khar in local terms which means “the fort on the roof” because it is located 8,500 feet above sea level in the Ghanche District of Baltistan. October and November are the best months for a wedding because the temperature is ideal during that time.

    Azad Kashmir

    The quiet valley of Neelum in Azad Kashmir is the perfect wedding getaway. If you’re the sort of person who wants a small close-knit wedding, then pack your wedding trousseau and head to Kashmir.

    French Beach

    If you’re a beach bum and the ocean is your happy place, then what better than a beach wedding. The best weather to tie the knot on the beach is in the winters when there is less humidity.

    Badshahi Masjid

    A nikkah and simple wedding at Badshahi Masjid will never get old.

    Khanpur Dam

    Khanpur Dam has recently become a popular wedding spot. And why wouldn’t it? The blue waters and lush green backdrop is truly breathtaking.

  • On Benazir Bhutto’s birthday, here are her favourite things

    On Benazir Bhutto’s birthday, here are her favourite things

    June 21 marks Pakistan, and the Muslim world’s first female Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto’s birthday. She would have been 66 today.

    The Current got in touch with those close to Benazir and asked them what the former PM would have liked as a present.

    Most of them told us that Benazir had a sweet tooth and loved chocolates with nuts so that would have been the ideal gift. She was also very fond of ice-cream with caramel.

    Apart from that cotton shalwar suits would have also been a great gift for Benazir, who we all know had a strong fashion sense.

    Reading was one of her favourite past times and she would regularly read books on current international politics. Books would have also been an ideal gift for her.

    All in all, books, chocolates and a shalwar suit are the three things BB would have liked as a present. Simple.

  • ‘Tightening noose’: Ishaq Dar seeks political asylum in UK?

    ‘Tightening noose’: Ishaq Dar seeks political asylum in UK?

    Soon after Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) on Accountability Shahzad Akbar said the British government has agreed to extradite Ishaq Dar, it was reported that the former finance minister had approached Home Office in London “to apply for political asylum”.

    Dar, 69, is currently in London, “undergoing medical treatment”. He is absconding from several cases in Pakistan since 2017 and has been declared a proclaimed offender by the courts.

    He is facing charges of accumulating assets beyond known sources of income.

    With the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government continuing to claim Dar is only evading the cases against him since he has been spotted walking upright on the streets of London time and again, PM Imran Khan’s special assistant on Tuesday said the former finance minister “will be brought back soon”.

    A day later, a private media outlet claimed that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader had reached the Home Office in London for a second interview with regard to political asylum in the United Kingdom (UK).

    Rejecting the reports, a close aide of Dar told The Current that he had visited the UK Home Office “only to inform them about the fabricated reports in the name of a recently-signed extradition agreement between the two countries”.

    The source’s claim was validated when British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said the United Kingdom (UK) would not sign any extradition treaty that could be used for “politically-motivated” cases.

    Speaking at a joint press conference with Foreign Minister (FM) Shah Mahmood Qureshi at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), Hunt confirmed the two had discussed the issue of an extradition treaty between Pakistan and the UK.

    WATCH VIDEO:

    “Let me say it straightforward. The UK will never sign any treaty allowing for politically motivated extradition,” said the British official to which Qureshi added that Pakistan did not intend to use the treaty against political rivals.

  • Buzdar beats Shehbaz in social sector reforms, increases education budget to Rs89.8bn

    Buzdar beats Shehbaz in social sector reforms, increases education budget to Rs89.8bn

    Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Sardar Usman Buzdar has beaten his predecessor Shehbaz Sharif in reforming the social sector, as an amount of Rs89.8 billion has been earmarked for the provincial education sector.

    As per the details, presenting the provincial budget on Friday, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government enhanced the education budget, which under the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) rule stood at Rs52.35 billion.

    In its last provincial budget for the fiscal year 2017-18, the outgoing PML-N government had allocated Rs52.35 billion for school education and Rs28 billion for providing basic facilities at government schools.

    An amount of Rs6.03 billion had been fixed for the construction of new classrooms in Punjab schools.

    According to the budget presented by the Buzdar administration, health stands second in the social sector with Rs47.5 billion. Water supply & sanitation will gain Rs22.4 billion, local governments Rs6.3 billion, social welfare Rs1 billion and women development Rs0.8 billion.

    Meanwhile, Rs350 billion have been allocated for the Annual Development Programme (ADP) 2019-20, which stood at Rs635bn under the Shehbaz administration in 2017-18.

  • Budget 2019: Things you need to stock up on before they get too expensive

    Budget 2019: Things you need to stock up on before they get too expensive

    The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government on Tuesday announced its first federal budget for the fiscal year 2019-20, which received mixed reactions from people.

    It was presented by Federal Minister for Revenue Hammad Azhar, who delivered his speech while opposition members protested against Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan and his government.

    Amid all the confusion over the increase in prices of different products, which may follow the budget, here is a list of stuff The Current suggests you stock up on before an inflation bomb is dropped.

    Rooh Afza

    That was exactly our reaction. But, a new health tax has been proposed on sugary drinks, which will make it costlier to buy sharbat. It’s not just that though…

    Soft Drinks

    You heard that right. Those little soft drink breaks during summers will be costing you more now as the health tax will also be jacking up soda prices. The excise tax on soft drinks has been increased from 11.25 per cent to 13 per cent, which is not too much, but will ultimately affect you.

    The good part? The money will reportedly be used to provide free medical treatment to people using Sehat Cards that offer treatment up to Rs720,000 from a private or government hospital.

    Cooking Oil/Ghee

    Branded cooking oil and ghee prices will also be rising as a 17 per cent sales tax will be imposed. You must be thinking that it doesn’t really affect you much, but you never know how it may or may not affect food prices.

    The good news, however, remains no increase in General Sales Tax (GST) in case you’re planning to dine out.

    Sugar

    The price of sugar is expected to increase by Rs3.60/kg since the government is unhappy with the tax collection from the sector. The new budget recommends increasing sales tax on sugar from 8 per cent to 17 per cent. 

    We don’t endorse the next thing you need to stock up on, but let’s be honest, we know a lot of people who smoke.

    Cigarettes

    The budget has also recommended a federal excise duty of Rs5,200 on every 10,000 cigarettes be imposed, which means every pack of 20 cigarettes you buy will cost you at least Rs10 more.

    Just so you know, tobacco consumption kills nearly 160,000 Pakistanis every year, and a lot of people are supporting the move.

  • ‘Chhalawa woh film hai jo samajh na aye’

    ‘Chhalawa woh film hai jo samajh na aye’

    Before I begin, I’d just like to put it out there that I love everything desi and dramatic; Chhalawa promised just that. And on that front, it did deliver but on other fronts, not so much.

    Much like all desi rom-coms, Chhalawa is centred around a couple who wants to get married but the girl’s father has other plans in mind for her future. As the couple, along with their friends and siblings, hatch a plan to get together, chaos ensues but eventually, they beat all odds and get married. Nothing original there, but then again, like Mehwish Hayat — in her exclusive interview with The Current — said, people in Pakistan love shaadis and everything about them, so it’s natural that films reflect that. In fact, the best part of the film was without a doubt the Chhalawa title song, which is definitely going to be the shaadi anthem of the year. But don’t forget, you heard it here first!

    Moving on, my main concern with the film was the fact that the scenes were inconsistent – there was nothing binding them together. A lot was left to the imagination and though I understand filmmakers have limited time, what they cannot depict through actions, can they not tell through dialogues?

    The end result was a bit hotchpotch and it was left up to the viewer to decide what to make of it. The characters were also underdeveloped (for example, we never really found out how Asad Siddiqui ended up being a pir), though the actors made up for that with their brilliant performances. Mehmood Aslam was fitting as the loving but authoritative father as was Aashir Wajahat as the younger brother. Azfar Rehman and Asad Siddiqui were natural in their roles and their chemistry stood out and was thoroughly enjoyable.

    I do feel Mehwish did not get enough opportunity to shine but she still managed to make an impression, especially in the second half. She is also probably the only Pakistani heroine who makes her co-star look good. Whether it is Humayun Saeed or Fahad Mustafa or in this case Azfar Rehman, Mehwish ensures that her counterpart brings forward their best self.

    The shining star of the film was without a doubt Zara Noor Abbas. From her opening scene (which kind of reminded me of Rani Mukherjee from Bunty and Babli) to the final one, Zara’s performance as Haya is truly praise-worthy. Her dialogue delivery, expressions, body language and dance were natural and on point.

    I’d like to add here a special round of applause for the hair, makeup and costume team. Zara and Mehwish looked absolutely stunning in every single scene.

    The dialogues of the film were very millennial, current and relatable and made you chuckle at several intervals, so thumbs up to the writers there. The length of the film was just right and I did not feel it dragged at any point except for the item song ‘Chirya’ which was unnecessary and very very uncomfortable. In an age where international filmmakers are moving away from such frivolities, it is disappointing to see our filmmakers objectify women in their films.

    Apart from the Chhalawa song, the other scene that stood out was the ending, which was my personal favourite. I’ve seen a lot of filmy marriages happen at odd places, but a nikkah on a bridge in a traffic jam is a new high for me. The last scene was everything I wanted in an Eid entertainer: (over) dramatic, emotional, entertaining and one that put a huge smile on your face, at least mine (no judging).

    To truly enjoy Chhalawa, it is best to leave common sense out of the cinema hall and immerse yourself in the colour, masala and beats of the film.

  • What does your Eidi say about you

    What does your Eidi say about you

    We all agree that the best part of Eid is eidi. And food. But mostly eidi. The amount of eidi you receive every year depends on various factors jaisay keh as your age, marital status and placement in the family. Here’s how your eidi defines you.

    > Rs 10,000

    If you receive more than 10,000 rupees on Eid, it means that you’re the youngest, and cutest in your family. Everyone likes to pull your cheeks and tease you. And while you hate that, you only tolerate it for all the monies that come in after all the drama is over.

    Rs 6,000 – 10,000

    You’re an unmarried person between the age of 21 and 26. Practically everyone in the family wants you to get married aur iss baat per taanay bhi bohat parhtay hain but you bear it all because those taanas are followed by some eidi. Ab paison kay liye thora bohat bardasht toh karna parta hai.

    Rs 4,000 – 6,000

    You’ve recently gotten married or have a new job so you get a meagerly 500 cause tumhain Eidi ki kya zarurat.

    Rs 1,000 – 4,000

    If you get this much eidi, you are above the age of 30 and possibly jobless or unmarried or you have children. If its the former, then your eidi is definitely sympathy eidi. And if its the latter, you will have to return the eidi to other people’s children which will only leave you in loss. Its a lose-lose situation.

    < Rs 1,000

    You stayed home and slept the entire day and then stole eidi from someone, such as your younger siblings.

  • ‘Game of Thrones’ quotes for Pakistani politicians

    ‘Game of Thrones’ quotes for Pakistani politicians

    Game of Thrones may be over but the hype of the series is far from dying down anytime soon. If you’ve been following the news closely, you’ll understand that Pakistan’s political arena is no less than any drama. Here are GOT’s famous sayings that perfectly fit our politicians.

    Prime Minister Imran Khan

    Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party Bilawal Bhutto Zardari

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz

    Chief Minister Punjab Sardar Usman Buzdar

    Federal Minister for Railways Sheikh Rasheed

    Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry

    Asad Umar

    Nawaz Sharif

    Minister for Water and Power Resources Faisal Vawda

    Pakistan Peoples Party co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari

    Altaf Hussain

    Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Ali Amin Gandapur

  • PM Imran’s nephew, journalist survive gun attack ‘by PTI minister’s goons’

    PM Imran’s nephew, journalist survive gun attack ‘by PTI minister’s goons’

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s nephew and reporter of a private media outlet have escaped in Lahore a gun attack “by the goons of a minister of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)”.

    As per the details, lawyer Hassaan Khan Niazi and journalist Rai Saqib Kharral were attacked in the Gullo Kot area of the provincial capital, where Darul Hikmat (DuH), a Christian education centre, has been illegally occupied by land mafia.

    “At least four shots were fired at us as we reached the charity school to meet the person in charge,” Hassaan Khan told The Current, alleging that the attackers are related to a Punjab minister.

    “Norez, one of the people responsible for the attack, is a provincial minister’s son-in-law,” he said further.

    CM TAKES NOTICE:

    Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Usman Buzdar has taken notice of the incident and illegal occupation of the school.

    According to a private media outlet, CM Inspection Team Chairman Malik Asad Khokhar has sought a report from the Lahore Capital City Police Officer (CCPO).

    Owned by the Darul Hikmat Trust, the community school was established in 1986 and houses hostels for both boys and girl, besides multiple lawns as well as a football ground.

    The administrative affairs of the institute are now being run by the minister’s relatives.

    Meanwhile, several deserving students from nearby localities who were studying at the institution have started leaving the school amid the catastrophic situation that’s prevailing there.

    No official version of the incident had been released by the time this report was filed.

  • Does Suno Chanda 2 live up to its hype?

    Does Suno Chanda 2 live up to its hype?

    Last Ramazan, Suno Chanda hit our TV screens like a breath of fresh air. As someone who avidly watches Pakistani dramas, the drama serial with its wildly relatable characters and storyline had me and pretty much everyone around me hooked. It was the perfect post-iftar fix and something you could watch with your entire family.

    Following the phenomenal success, Hum TV announced that the drama would return for a second season and fans waited with bated breaths to catch the chaos.

    The drama began on the first day of Ramazan and till now 11 episodes have aired. If I’m really honest, the first six were borderline boring. It picked up in the eighth and ninth episode, only to go down again in the tenth.

    The second season picks up from where it left in the last season i.e. at Arsal and Jiya’s wedding. The bickering and larai jhagra between the two continues, making you wonder why they’re even together in the first place. The writers take their sweet time to introduce the new characters slowing down the pace of the season. Sadly, the new characters, fail to impress and are more annoying than funny. Add to that lots of overacting and you ask yourself why you’re even tuning into it every night.

    But before we go into why I end up watching the drama every single night, let’s just first get over the bits of the show I found problematic. First of all, the fact that Jiya’s aspirations and dreams were of no importance to her family now that she is married scream internalised misogyny. But as the drama progressed, I realised that the whole issue was created because that is usually what happens in most desi households. That aside, Arsal is turning out to be a suffocating husband who wants to dictate his wife. The way he gets upset at every small thing or keeps asking Jiya to refer to him as aap makes him nothing more than a spoiled brat.

    Another point of concern was Jalal Phuppa who ends up having eyes for every new female character that comes. Last season it was Billo and this season its Pari. Either the writers should establish him as a nuisance tharki or stop weaving in this narrative every time. The other men of the family are also shown swooning over other ladies, even in front of their wives, adding a lot of cringe to the show. Always better to avoid such crass humour.

    Next up, the new characters, Mithu and Pari are annoying. I understand they are supposed to be people from small towns, but Mithu needs to grow up and stop asking his mother every time he wants to do something. Most people might find his innocence or naivety cute but to me, it’s plain annoying.

    But despite all the drawbacks, the show has its moments; some of which have you chuckling. The biggest pull has to be Shahana aka Shanno. Her dialogues, comic timing and body language is impeccable and I do wish she was given more screentime. In fact, I would say she is probably the only reason why this ship hasn’t sunk yet. Shanno’s relationship with her daughter-in-law is also noteworthy. She supports Jiya’s ambitions and stands by her when her son tries to bully his wife.

    Apart from that, some cutesy moments between Arsal and Jiya make you smile as does when the family gets together to solve a crisis. Nazakat and Jamshed’s characters are entertaining as always and Farhan Ali Agha and Sohail Sameer are natural in their roles. Sherry, Kinza and DJ are missing from most scenes and their absence is duly felt. Hoping to see more of them in the upcoming episodes.

    However, what really sells the drama is the fact that after a long day of fasting and work, Suno Chanda 2 gives us the mindless, comic relief we all want. The show may have its flaws but in the sea of dramas, which are heavily dramatised and centred around unrequited love, this one is a refreshing watch.