Aamina Sheikh, known for her exceptional acting talent, is not only celebrated for her compelling performances but also for her unwavering commitment to promoting arts and culture. During an interview with MomKast, Aamina Sheikh talked about that she planned to put her career on hold and focus only on her children.
Aamina said, “I would shoot a scene and I would nurse my daughter in between then I would go back to shooting, Nursing is such a big commitment on your body, so I wasn’t getting any break by feeding in between scenes, I was basically running a double shift.”
“After that, obviously her schooling and her routine became a priority. I also had to face some other challenges in life due to which I had to put my work aside and figure out the way forward, for myself and for my child, hence my move to Dubai.” Sheikh added. Recalling the difficult decision she had to make as a working mother, Aamina Sheikh shares, “And for a while, I had to choose what takes priority here? My child, and her future, or my passion? And I chose her. I took that break. I had to really redesign things and reestablish my family, my ground. I put work on the back burner and Alhumdulliah I could, monetarily speaking, because many women don’t have that option or support in their marriage, or are financially challenged. Well, I had that support from my parents and having worked so much and been so financially mindful all my life.”
After a long break, Aamina Sheikh is making a return to the spotlight with an exciting new project. She will soon be seen in Netflix’s upcoming series Jo Bachay Hain Sang Samait Lo.
Aamina Sheikh tied the knot with actor Mohib Mirza, in 2005, and they announced their divorced in 2018. The couple has daughter, named Meissa, in their 13-year marriage. She re-married businessman and entrepreneur, Omer Farooqi, in August 2020, and the couple had a son, named Issa, in 2021.
Popular actor Osma Khalid Butt has revealed that he’s been in a relationship and would have had three to four children by now if he were married.
In a recent interview with VOA Urdu, the actor shared, “I faced mental problems after working on my popular drama ‘Kaala Doria,’ which kept me away from the screen for some time.”
Butt didn’t specify why he struggled mentally but specified, “The drama seemed easy, but both myself and others faced difficulties.” Discussing his approach to films, Butt stated, “After my film Balu Mahi, I decided to only act in films when I get unique roles, so I don’t do many films.”
He also highlighted the risks in the film industry, saying, “Films are risky; they often prefer actors who are more visible on screen and show favoritism.”
Responding to questions about performing an item song with Mahira Khan in Superstar, Butt revealed, “I danced with Mahira because I’ve always wanted to be a dancer since childhood. I had performed with her on stage before.”
Besides acting, Butt revealed, “I not only write scripts but also direct stage plays and work as a make-up artist. I plan to direct films and plays in the future.”
Regarding marriage, Butt expressed, “I’m searching for a good spouse. Once I find the right life partner, I’ll marry. My family doesn’t pressure me to marry; I’ll marry when I find the right partner.”
Butt reiterated his desire for a family, stating, “I’ve had such experiences in the past, and if I were married, I’d have three to four children by now.”
World Children’s Day is annually celebrated on November 20. The theme for this year is ‘For every child, every right’. The blatant irony is that the day is being celebrated as the children of Gaza do not even have the fundamental right to life. They are being orphaned, injured, losing limbs, burned by white phosphorus, or worse, killed. With the war entering the seventh week, almost 5000 children are dead. 1800 children are missing under the rubble, presumably dead, while 9000 are severely injured with life-changing consequences.
One out of every 200 children in Gaza has been killed by Israeli strikes since October 7. This is like one child is killed every 10 minutes in the besieged Gaza strip.
A report published by Save the Children published when the toll was around 4630, said that the number of deaths “surpasses the annual number of children killed across all the world’s conflict zones since 2019.” The report clearly mentioned that “no child in Gaza is safe at the moment”.
The New York Times, called out multiple times by critics of the war, today published its headline, ‘Graveyard of Children’. In the course of the last six weeks, the world saw a girl pushing her way out of the rubble, another bawling her eyes out searching for her mother insisting she had recognized her among the dead from her hair, a boy who lost his parents in the first bombing and his legs to the second in the hospital, children’s corpses burned and decimated, and as many as 30 crying infants who are out of incubators, walking the thin line of life and death. Dr Abu-Sittah told The NY Times “More and more, it seems like a war against children.”
It seems that instances of child molestation and sexual abuse will never end.
An 8 year girl in Islamabad was sexually assaulted in Shahzad Town area on Friday. The rapist managed to escape from the crime scene, in the presence of area residents.
This should worry us all. As parents, as guardians, as relatives and as friends of people who have baby girls, who we dote on, we should all be alarmed. When discussing the topic of good touch and bad touch with your minor kids, it’s important to approach the conversation in a gentle and age-appropriate manner. Here are some suggestions on how to have a soft and conversational discussion:
Choose an appropriate time and setting
Find a calm and comfortable environment where your children feel at ease and can focus on the conversation without distractions.
Use simple and understandable language:
Adapt your language to the age of your children. Use words and phrases that they can easily understand and relate to. Avoid using complex or scary terms.
Start with positive touches:
Begin the conversation by talking about different types of touches that are generally considered good or positive. For example, you can mention hugs from family members, holding hands with friends, or receiving a pat on the back.
Define personal boundaries
Explain to your children that their bodies are their own and that they have the right to decide who can touch them and how. Teach them to recognize and trust their instincts when they feel uncomfortable with a touch or a situation.
Introduce the concept of bad touches
In a calm and reassuring manner, explain that there are certain touches that are not appropriate or safe. Emphasize that no one should touch their private parts (parts covered by a swimsuit) except for medical reasons and only in the presence of a trusted adult, like a doctor or parent.
Encourage open communication
Let your children know that they can always come to you or another trusted adult to talk about any uncomfortable experiences or if they have any questions. Assure them that they won’t get in trouble for speaking up and that you are there to support and protect them.
Role-play and practice scenarios
Engage in role-playing activities where you and your children can practice different scenarios. Teach them to say “no” assertively and to seek help from a trusted adult if they encounter an uncomfortable touch.
Reinforce the message over time
Remember that this conversation is not a one-time event. As your children grow and develop, it’s important to reinforce the message regularly and adapt the conversation to their increasing understanding.
Use age-appropriate resources
Consider using age-appropriate books, videos, or online resources that discuss the topic of good touch and bad touch in a child-friendly manner. These resources can complement your conversation and help reinforce the concepts.
Remember, the goal is to create a safe and open space for your children to ask questions and understand the importance of boundaries and consent.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Fawad Chaudhry cried on Kashif Abbasi’s show on ARY while recalling the time his kids visited him in jail.
A visibly teary-eyed Chaudhry said, “It was bad”.
Senior journalist Kashif Abbasi told the former minister that it must have been a devastating time for the family, especially the kids. Abbasi added that Chaudhry’s children were told that Papa was out due to an official trip.
With tears in his eyes, Chaudhry said, “Of course, what could we tell them.”
An Islamabad district and sessions court has accepted Chaudhry’s bail petition in the case registered against him for threatening Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) officials and their families on February 1.
The bail was accepted on the condition that he will not repeat any words that can incite violence against a constitutional institution.
Chaudhry was arrested outside his house in Lahore on January 25, after the case was registered against him in Islamabad.
A 30-year-old married man who was upset over his poverty and inability to pay back a loan hung himself on Tuesday in the Kahna area, near Lahore.
According to The News, the victim, identified as Fayaz, was depressed owing to his poor financial situation. Additionally, he had taken on a debt that he was unable to pay back.
He hung himself in a closed room inside his home on the day of the incident. The father also requested an apology from his kids in a message that he penned.
Rising inflation
The growing inflation rate in Pakistan is having an impact on many low-income individuals who are unable to pay for basic essentials including food. Meanwhile, even those with good incomes are struggling to cover their expenses.
Pakistan’s inflation rate has increased to 26.6 per cent in October 2022 from 23.2 per cent in September, placing it along with Ukraine at the 19th rank out of 184 countries where levels of deflation have been measured by institutions specialising in gathering and tabulating economic data.
Bollywood actor Varun Dhawan has praised singer Abrar-ul-Haq recently in a video message while recording an interview with Bollywood Hungama.
“I want to say to Abrar that he sung the song so well, the original one,” the actor told the outlet. “It is amazing, outstanding and we loved it.”
He added, “Our music company, they bought the rights and now our song is doing so well, so thank you.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gD474_Dvxes
Earlier this year, the Bheega December crooner took to his twitter handle to slam Bollywood filmmaker Karan Johar for plagiarising his famous song Nach Punjaban in his latest film, Jug Jugg Jeeyo.
As soon as the trailer of the upcoming film was out, Abrar shared his statement.
“I have not sold my song Nach Punjaban to any Indian movie and reserve the right to go to court to claim damages. Producers like @karanjohar should not use copy songs. This is my 6th song being copied which will not be allowed at all,” Abrar tweeted.
After a series of unpleasant exchanges between the two entities, Abrar was given the credits for his iconic song Nach Punjaban used in Johar’s Jug Jugg Jeeyo.
Taking to Instagram Story, the well-acclaimed Indian director shared the track’s new version of The Punjaabban Song‘s poster which featured Haq’s name alongside Tanishk Bagchi.
This came after Haq publicly called out the filmmakers for using his famed song without taking his permission or right to it. Also the way they have credited him at the end of the list is also not fair. This should have been done earlier only.
Earlier Dhawan broke his silence on the controversy by stating: “T-series has put out an official statement about this they legally licensed the rights. I think when you have international companies like YouTube and Spotify… When they are playing music they have very strict laws about copyrights. It’s no joke. All the processes have been followed.”
Kid-size doses of Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine appear safe and almost 91 per cent effective at preventing symptomatic infections in 5 to 11-year-olds according to study details released Friday, as the US considers opening vaccinations to that age group.
The shots could begin in early November — with the first children in line fully protected by Christmas — if regulators give the go-ahead.
Details of Pfizer’s study were posted online. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was expected to post its independent review of the company’s safety and effectiveness data later in the day.
Advisers to the FDA will publicly debate the evidence next week. If the agency ultimately authorises the shots, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will make the final decision on who should receive them.
Full-strength Pfizer shots are already authorised for anyone 12 or older, but pediatricians and many parents are waiting for something that can protect younger children from the extra-contagious delta variant and help keep kids in school.
More than 25,000 pediatricians and primary care providers already have signed up to get the shots for the kids.
A Pfizer study tracked 2,268 kids in that age group who got two shots three weeks apart of either a placebo or the low-dose vaccine. Each dose was one-third the amount given to teens and adults.
Researchers calculated the low-dose vaccine was nearly 91 per cent effective, based on 16 virus cases in youngsters given dummy shots versus three cases among vaccinated children. There were no severe illnesses reported among any of the youngsters, but the vaccinated ones had much milder symptoms than their unvaccinated counterparts.
Pfizer’s study of younger kids found the low-dose shots proved safe, with similar or fewer temporary side effects such as sore arms, fever or achiness that teens experience.
The study isn’t large enough to detect any extremely rare side effects, such as the heart inflammation that occasionally occurs after the second dose, mostly in young men.
While children run a lower risk of severe illness or death than older people, Covid-19 has killed more than 630 Americans 18 and under, according to the CDC. Nearly 6.2 million children have been infected with the coronavirus, more than 1.1 million in the last six weeks as the delta mutant surged, the American Academy of Pediatrics says.
Moderna also is studying its vaccine shots in elementary school-age youngsters. Pfizer and Moderna are studying even younger children as well, down to 6-month-olds. Results are expected later in the year.
Proper upbringing is every parent’s biggest concern. But at the same time, it can be confusing and difficult with so many ideas and suggestions pouring in from all around. And in this age and time, where there are so many distractions, parents are also worried about raising pious children and bringing them close to religion. Blogger Zunaira, who runs a blog From Dresses to Diapersshared some tips on the subject with The Current.
Zunaira has shared a few tips using her knowledge of child development and religion. She has also listed some mobile apps, tools, and books to assist you in this journey. You can find their Instagram accounts at the end of the posts.
It’s been a month or so of this new reality. Social distancing and self-isolation has turned all our schedules upside down. And for parents of young kids, that means a whole lot of chaos and moods. However, there is a lot we can do to make sure our kids get a wholesome life experience even during this very surreal way of life.
In this article I will go through the essentials that I include in a typical week to make my kids enjoy and learn from our days of social distancing.
Follow a routine
Children behave best when they know what to expect. The predictability of a routine or a set timetable gives them comfort and causes less anxiety. Hence try to start the day the same way and end it with a solid bedtime routine. Encourage kids to follow a timetable. For example, keep more educational activities in the first half when their minds are fresh, and more physical activities in the second half when you need to tire them out for bed! Repetition of this basic schedule helps children understand what is required and reduces tantrums considerably.
Since all of us are staying indoors and our activity levels have decreased quite a bit, avoiding junk and maintaining a healthy diet is essential. The healthier we eat, the more active and fresh we can be the whole day. Try your best to make majority food at home and keep all basic food groups covered throughout the day ranging from carbohydrates, meats, dairy, fats and starch to fruits and vegetables.
Screen time
Let’s admit screen time for kids translates to some me time for us adults, which is essential for our mental health. It is unrealistic to expect parents to engage with kids all the time without social lives or play dates. So revise your old rules and take each day at a time.
Fun time
It’s natural for children to want to jump around and create a mess whether that’s through arts and crafts or just free play. In these trying times don’t expect them to be robots. Let them create and imagine. In Pakistan, most houses have a garden so let them explore. And if you don’t have the great outdoors, create a space within the house which is safe for mess and fun.
Exercise
I recommend some kind of physical exercise at home for all kids. It is the best way to get their bodies energised and fit. It also helps them get a good night’s sleep. YouTube channels are a great resource for this. Whether its cardio through dance, or yoga, be sure to spend at least 30 minutes exercising.
Even though in theory us parents are with our kids day and night these days, are we really spending quality time with them all day? The answer is no and it’s normal. To think that every hour of the day will be filled with family bonding is unreasonable. In actuality, working parents are juggling between work, homeschooling, and daily chores. And stay at home parents are doing a lot of different tasks too. So take 30 minutes to an hour away from chores, work, and your mobile phones and give quality time to your kids. Whether that’s through board games or reading books together – the point is to give your children your undivided attention and make memories.
Outdoor time
Fresh air is a blessing now more than ever. Spending at least 15 to 30 minutes outdoors is known to increase happy hormones and relax anxious children and adults. So if you have a garden or any outdoor private safe space, use it! Go out for evening chai and snacks. And if you don’t, try to open your windows and sit by them for a little while to watch the blue skies. It will help your children feel better and appreciate a change in scenery.
Staying connected to God
One of the major advantages of being a Muslim is that we are reminded if the presence of a higher power at least 5 times a day. Use this opportunity to b teach your kids about Islam. Pray together if you can. Hope and faith are things that create positivity in all of us, so keep it alive as much as you can.
Staying connected to friends and family
Thanks to technology today, we can stay in touch with family and friends all over the world. Try to connect with your favourite people at least twice a week. This helps maintain relationships and helps children remember their old bonds. It creates a sense of sanity and reminds us that we are not in this alone.
Helping hands
The workload around the house has definitely increased for all of us since everyone is home all day and some of our temporary domestic help can also not come in. This means more food needs to be cooked, more laundry piles up, and in short more mess. In my opinion, these are all signs of life and laughter. So a family that uses and abuses the house together, should also clean and cook together. Encourage kids to help in all types of chores. This serves as an activity and helps pass the day in a productive way.
Boredom
Lastly, despite all of the above, there may be things you can’t manage. Some days may not have all the engagement mentioned and kids may say they are bored. To this I always say…it’s okay. Let them get bored. Boredom is actually good! It encourages them to think for themselves and sharpens their minds in more ways than giving them a well thought out activity.
