Tag: trending

  • 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.

  • The plight of the brown bear in Islamabad Zoo

    The plight of the brown bear in Islamabad Zoo

    Islamabad’s Marghazar Zoo has time and time again landed itself in hot waters over the inadequate treatment given to the animals who reside there. In the last few years, the zoo has seen the demise of over 20 animals and animal rights activists have often criticised the government for its lack of attention towards the zoo.

    The zoo has recently come under fire again because of a Himalayan brown bear who is in a sorry condition and has multiple injuries. The source of her injuries are not known but zoo authorities say Soozi got her face and right leg injured during mating, which is apparently a common phenomenon. Zoo authorities claim that the bear is being treated for injuries and that the wounds have almost healed up but pictures and videos on social media paint a different picture.

    As per social media, the matter first came to light when PAWS Pakistan posted a video of the Himalayan brown bear limping and nursing an open wound.

    https://twitter.com/pawspakistan/status/1138532356598509568

    Soozi is being kept in a small cage, which barely fits her, restricting her movement. The zoo director said that keeping the injured animal in a small cage was “necessary for her proper treatment” and that the veterinary doctor recommended it.

    https://twitter.com/wildpakistan/status/1142079219033354240

    Even then, the enclosure where Soozi and her partner, Balu, are kept is not suitable for such animals. In fact, most of the enclosures in the zoo are inadequate and reportedly do not meet the standard operating procedure (SOP). The lion’s enclosure is also too small as is that of Kavaan, the lone elephant.

    According to media reports, the government is considering transferring the administration of the facility to the Ministry of Climate Change. A few months ago, Minister for Climate Change Zartaj Gul had requested the government to hand over the zoo’s administration to them. Meanwhile, a case regarding the conditions of the Islamabad zoo is currently ongoing in the Islamabad High Court.

    Mayor Sheikh Anser Aziz stated that maximum facilities were being provided in the given funds and that the government has not allocated any funds to the zoo. In fact, the PTI government has even dropped a project by the PML-N government worth Rs200 million for strengthening and upgrading the zoo.

  • ‘Qatari emir brokering deal for Nawaz, Maryam to leave Pakistan’

    ‘Qatari emir brokering deal for Nawaz, Maryam to leave Pakistan’

    Senior journalist and analyst Arif Nizami has said that Qatar
    is reportedly brokering a deal between the government and former prime minister
    (PM) Nawaz Sharif to secure the latter’s release.

    Speaking to a private media outlet, Nizami said that Qatar was
    an old friend of Pakistan and previously involved in securing Nawaz’s release
    when former military dictator General (r) Pervez Musharraf had arrested him after
    the 1999 coup.

    “When Musharraf came into power and detained Nawaz, the emir
    of Qatar was the first person to initiate the process for his release,” he said.

    Nizami added that up to 90 per cent of the deal had been processed to let the former PM and his daughter Maryam live in London, while sources had informed him that the “recent visit of the emir of Qatar was also linked to this task”.

    Qatar Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani had arrived in
    Pakistan earlier this week and announced $3 billion worth of new investments in
    the country. He had also announced that Qatar may invest another $12 billion
    later on.

    “Sources have claimed that Nawaz’s health is not stable and
    according to his daughter Maryam, he has already suffered a stroke thrice,”
    Nizami said further.

    He claimed that under the deal, Nawaz will be allowed to pay the fine to secure his release so that he and his daughter can go and live in England. “Shehbaz and Hamza will stay here to run the party affairs and face cases leveled against them,” Nizami added.

  • Make Maldives part of Pakistan

    Make Maldives part of Pakistan

    A Pakistani citizen filed a suggestion on the Prime Minister’s Citizen Portal requesting for the Maldives to be merged with Pakistan because its a “Muslim country.”

    The request which was received from an unknown person from Lahore stated that the Republic of Maldives should be made a part of Pakistan because “with rising sea levels, Maldives could be under water in the next 50 to 100 years” threatening the lives of 5 lakh Muslims who reside in the island country. As per the citizen, Maldives is Muslim nation and our neighbour, hence “it is our responsibility to do something about it. Allah taala rewards good deeds and it is justification enough.”

    The citizen also believed that the inclusion of Maldives “will enrich Pakistan financially and culturally and provide a strategic spot in the middle of the Indian Ocean.”

    He concluded his suggestion saying, “It’s a win win.”

    The request was closed.

    Now whether the request was genuine or it was a joke remains a mystery.

  • ‘Oops I did it again!’ says Mehwish Hayat

    ‘Oops I did it again!’ says Mehwish Hayat

    In case you missed it, Mehwish Hayat recently did a special song for Meera Jee’s upcoming film Baaji. The song has Mehwish channel her inner rebel and show off her moves. Needless to say, the song irked Pakistanis and many called for Mehwish’s Tamgha-e-Imtiaz to be cancelled.

    Mehwish being Mehwish responded to all the haters and trolls last night with a tweet in which she basically said that she doesn’t give a damn about what people say and that she is very proud of her cameo.

    She also said that doing these dance numbers is her personal choice and that they make her feel empowered.

    The song’s lyricist and choreographer, Osman Khalid Butt, who is also part of the film cheered on Mehwish for her ‘I don’t care’ attitude.

    Butt also defended Mehwish admist the backlash.

    He also requested people to not “hurl obscenities & vicious abuse their way.”

  • Marriage on the cards? Iqra Aziz, Yasir Hussain spotted at Ali Xeeshan’s studio

    Marriage on the cards? Iqra Aziz, Yasir Hussain spotted at Ali Xeeshan’s studio

    Iqra Aziz and Yasir Hussain’s relationship is an open secret. The two may not have officially confirmed their relationship but their Instagram profiles and stories make this fact pretty evident. In fact, the couple was recently on a vacation in Thailand from where they posted daily updates.

    Iqra and Yasir were now recently spotted hanging out at designer Ali Xeeshan’s studio and history is proof that all celebrity marriages are subtly announced with spottings at designers studios.

    Fans also seem to think the two are getting married.

    However, there were some others who commented that the duo is probably getting their wardrobes sorted out for the upcoming awards ceremonies including the Lux Style Awards and Hum Awards.

  • Parachinar gets its first music academy

    Parachinar gets its first music academy

    Imtiaz Hussain, a folk artist from Boghaki village of Parachinar, has set up conflict-ridden Parachinar’s first music academy.

    The music academy which is the first of its kind in the tribal district will teach the youth how to play musical instruments including the rabab and harmonium, as well as how to sing in the traditional Pashto style. Twenty-eight boys have already enrolled in the academy.

    According to details, Hussain wanted to become a musician himself which is why last August he decided to set this up to encourage others to learn music.

    The academy is being viewed as a sign of peace in the tribal district which has seen sectarian conflict, militancy and scores of suicide attacks in the past decade or so.

    “Music itself brings peace and harmony. A singer or musician is a harmless person and only spreads music,” Hussain said, adding that some level of peace has been achieved in the city.

    Imtiaz shared that the academy currently lacks proper equipment and musical instruments and that he hopes to get help and guidance to improve the academy.

    Though Hussain has faced some resistance from elders who believe that music is forbidden he says that the academy is his passion and he hopes to develop it into a proper music school.

  • Mango season is here. How well do you know the ‘king of fruits’?

  • How to pick a watermelon that is sweet and ruby red?

    Nothing is more refreshing than watermelon slices on a hot summer day. It has high water content and is super nutritious. But do you know how to pick one that is sweet and ruby red? Here’s how.

  • Of Tamgha-e-Imtiaz and Katrina Kaif: Mehwish Hayat’s new song sparks outrage

    Of Tamgha-e-Imtiaz and Katrina Kaif: Mehwish Hayat’s new song sparks outrage

    Saqib Malik’s upcoming film Baaji already had a star-studded cast with the likes of Meera Jee and Osman Khalid Butt, but its glamour quotient increased by several folds after its makers dropped a new song featuring none other than dancing queen Mehwish Hayat.

    The song titled Gangster Guriya has Mehwish channel her inner rebel and show off her moves in a couple of glamourous outfits. The vocals of the song have been done by Bollywood singer Sunidhi Chauhan while Osman is the man behind the lyrics and choreography.

    In its essence, Gangster Guriya is an item number and that is pretty much enough to flare up Pakistanis, especially given the recent debate around the inclusion of such songs in films. In fact, very recently, Hamza Ali Abbasi, on a talent show schooled a young girl for dancing to an item song. Interestingly, the girl’s performance was on Mehwish’s item song, Billi from Na Maloon Afraad.

    Following the release of the song, Pakistanis are calling for Mehwish’s Tamgha-e-Imtiaz to be cancelled.

    In case you are blissfully unaware, Mehwish’s Tamgha has been embroiled in controversy ever since it was announced that she will be receiving one earlier this year. However, Mehwish slammed all trolls and critics who said she didn’t deserve it. But Pakistanis don’t leave a chance to drag it in at every opportunity.

    Here are some of the censored comments from social media:

    https://twitter.com/toxicbaig/status/1141582223239536641

    Someone even appealed to PM Imran Khan to take notice.

    Even the disappointed cricket fan wasn’t spared.

    Several others pointed out that Mehwish’s avatar in the song bears a striking resemblance to Katrina Kaif’s from Husn-e-Parcham, Zero.

    However, there were others who liked Mehwish’s new avatar and song.

    Watch the full song here:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkweRSdM0-4