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Bridal Week

feature

intervieW

Let the party begin and diamonds flow with PFDC L’Oreal Bridal Week 2011

Read about how a bunch of youngsters decided to change the fate of Pakistan

Aalia Jaffar speaks about how the brand SHEEP came about

inside this weekDecember 25, 2011

24 travelTake a walk through Berlin, the capital and one of the most popular cities of Germany

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Movie

Society

Style

Review of the latest Hollywood flick to hit theatres this week

62 HoroScope Astrological forecast for the week

58 intervieWMeet Yassin Attas, Director of Procter and Gamble

64 pickS of tHe WeekGo through the smart wish-list for the best buys and best picks for everyone

Report on the happenings and events in your metropolis

On display Saleem Fabrics Formal and Bridal Collection 2011

2018 Zest for changechic sheepintervieWintervieW

SunDay pluS

eDitor’S note

Editor-in-ChiefMajid Nizami

Deputy Managing DirectorRameeza Nizami

Editor The NationSalim Bokhari

Editor Magazine:Emanuel Sarfraz

Editorial Staff: Bishakha Khadka Kunwar, Madiha Syedain, Sadaf Pervez & Navirah Zafar

Creative Head:Faiz-ur-Rehman

Creative Team: Talat Mahfooz Butt, Shoaib Qadir, Faisal Fazal, HM. Nouman

For advertising:Bilal Mahmood, 0300 - 8493206Muhammad Zaeem 0301 - 8463306Salman Ahmed 0300 - 4116792Shiraz Akbar 0333 - 2310851Khalid Sheikh0345-5130728

TheNation

Dear readers,We present to you another exciting issue of your very own Sunday Plus. This week we present to you special report on the first edition of the PFDC L’Oréal Paris Bridal Week held in Lahore. Find out who shone at the premier event and who proved to be great disappointments. Meet chairman of Pakistan Youth Alliance Syed Ali Abbas Zaidi, an aeronautical engineer by profession. Read about the tremendous work his NGO has done for the nation building. Also read what Aalia Jafar head of SHEEP, a women’s wear brand, has to say how her brand fast established itself as the premium prêt wear label of Pakistan. Take a tour with us to the beautiful city of Berlin and explore its sights and sounds. In the business section we are in conversation with Yassin Attas, Director External Relations for Middle East & Pakistan of Procter & Gamble. On the style pages see Hina Butt’s new line of silk kurtas are bold, bright and beautiful. And this week in our ‘Picks of the week’ section, we are again presenting a little something for our readers to quiz their mind with.Send us your comments and feedback at [email protected]

December 25, 201108 Sunday PluS

fashion

By Bishakha Kunwar

SO IT BEGAN… AND WAS IT WORTH IT!hink bridal and it conjures up images of colours, festivity, sensuousness, and the one place that was synonymous with all three this last week was at first PFDC L’Oréal Paris Bridal Week in Lahore.

The ethos of bridal wear is inherent to Pakistan with colours, fabrics and embellishments. Fashion weeks are giving recognition to many designers and are driving the business of bridal fashion. With no specific seasons, bridal wear being year round, bridal fashion is gaining immense popularity and credence. PFDC L’Oreal Bridal Couture Week was easily the most extravagant occasions right before Christmas.

The cultural hub of Pakistan cel-ebrated this fashion at an unprecedented event. PFDC powered by L’Oreal Paris kicked off the wedding season with a one-of-a-kind fashion week dedicated solely to bridal fashion showcasing the best in bridal wear by some of Pakistan’s most coveted designers, jewellery brands, make-up artists and stylists.

Over four days, a total of 12 designers focused on wedding and couture clothing, three jewellery and accessory brand and four makeup experts with their teams presented their latest, hottest and newest ideas in bridal fashion. Beginning the gala evening of glamour and entertainment was Pakistan’s top tier King of Couture HSY, and the week ended with the bridal expert Umer Syed. Other gamuts of bridal experts in participation were Ali Xeeshan, Asifa & Nabeel, Emraan Rajput, Fahad

Hussayn, Karma, Maria B, Nida Azwer, Rouge, Sara Rohale Asghar, and Sonia Azhar. Jewellers Damas, GOLD by Reama Malik and Kiran Fine Jewellery each presented their bridal jewellery collec-tions. The style gurus included Nabila, Depilex, Toni&Guy, Ather Shahzad and Khawar Riaz. These designers provided buyers, and consumers with an advantage of picking a different designers for each function, be it a cocktail party, a mehndi ceremony or valima. The usual red carpet was transformed into a black carpet which was sponsored by Damas with show production by Catwalk, event coordination by R-Team, set design by Hamza Tarar and public relations by Lotus. One of the efforts that were well appreciated by all was the daily FYI Bridal Week newslet-ters, “Inside Bridal Week” that gave a sneak peek into the look of the day by the concerned stylist, featured designers of the previous days, hot news at the week and backstage drama.

Some of the known bridal names were lacking but connoisseurs of fashion are not complaining as the event provided the right platform to build their brands. Unlike previous efforts made by Style 360 at Bridal Couture Week, which mainly concentrated on giving air time to the

designers, this first attempt by PFDC is set precedence and provided the right platform as it collaborated with Hum Network as well.

PFDC L’Oréal Paris Bridal Week was conceptualised to cater to this burgeoning bridal industry and to offer 360 degree wedding solutions for a joyful celebration of the special couple surrounded by family and friends. Targeting core consumers, the event aimed to satisfy the require-ments of a luxurious wedding.

What we witnessed was bridal fashion unfold in a never seen before extravagan-za. This fashion festival was a culmination of serious fashion with a celebration of everything that epitomises bridal.

PFDC’s first ever bridal fashion week was set to elevate some of Pakistan’s most prestigious bridal fashion designers, so was it worth it? Even though the week lacked some of the bridal stalwarts and the last minute withdrawal by Couturier Nomi Ansari, it was a great step forward in filling the gap of a proper council sponsored bridal week. Let the party begin and diamonds flow, romance is well and truly in the air. The foundations have been laid now for the bridal extravaganza to showcase haute couture of Pakistan.

Think bridal and it conjures up images of colours, festivity, sensuousness, and the one place that

was synonymous with all three this last week was at first PFDC L’Oréal Paris Bridal Week in Lahore.

T

What we witnessed was bridal fashion unfold in a never seen before extravaganza. This fashion festival was a culmination of serious fashion with a celebration of everything that epitomises bridal.

fashion

ALL EYES WERE DRAWN TO…HSY AND HIS OMINIPRESENT OPULENCE ZAHEER ABBAS AND HIS MINIMALISM

NABILA’S 10 SECOND STYLE MAKEOVER

The opening day of the PFDC L’Oréal Paris Bridal Week saw an electric mix of ethnic and con-temporary bridal wear with HSY’s bridal collection titled “Game of Kings,” which was an ode to the sport of Polo and the legendary player Shameel Alam opened the show. Opulent lehengas and saris have always been HSY’s strength, and this time around, the designer played to his forte

to create a collection inspired by the regal and majestic ambience. When Meesha Shafi walked the ramp in leather tights as her petticoat, black embellished sari, the Great Dane as her escort, bowler hat tied with a long horse tail like hairdo, she reminded me more of a rocker bride. Men were dressed to play and the female were dressed to kill in sequined jackets and embroidered short

kurtas with pockets that can be worn as smart separates. Even though many gossiped around saying that he was too OTT, we have to give him full credit for putting together a show. For the finale, the designer had leggy model Mehreen Syed in a stun-ning heavily encrusted golden embellished lehenga teamed with a smart jacket.

Even though it was not his solo show, Zaheer Abbas collaborated with Nabila to create exclusive bridal attires for her style show. Zaheer’s interpretations of sharara, gharara, angarakha and sari in jamawars focused more on textures, structure and cuts than relying wholly on embroideries and embellishments like other designers. His nouveau brides wore brocade pants teamed with voluminous shirts. The final walk by Faiza in her Grecian gown with long horse tail like hairdo was indeed a vow moment.

Nabila projected four multiple facets of a traditional vis-à-vis a mod-ern bride in her ‘Gold to Bold’ makeup and style interpretations. Clad in traditional ensembles designed by Zaheer, the models walked the ramp and then enter the N-pro mini- studio on the ramp and walk out as a nouveau bride of today with different hairdo clothing altogether in less than 10 seconds. Nabila talking to the scribe said, “It’s all about confidence and individuality” and it is this individuality and confidence of the modern makeup we love.

December 25, 2011 09Sunday PluS

fashion

FAHAD HUSSAYN AND RAAT RAAKH

ALI XEESHAN AND HIS KASHMIRI BRIDE

It was a story of Christian bride, a Parsi bride, a Muslim bride meshed with resham, zardozi, crystal work, appliqué, with generous touches of velvet etched embroidery, chif-fon, and silks with sleek cuts and

straight lines with volume and drapes in his collection titled ‘Raat Raakh.’ In this collection we saw a profusion of dark colour palette blended skilfully with embellish-ments keeping in mind the bridal

season. His usage of banarasi bor-ders, marvellous maroon, mustard yellow, beige into finely crafted lehengas, splendid saris, striking contemporary kurtas and feminine gowns along with sharply cut

sherwanis, suits and long sherwani styled jackets were on view. Fahad is regarded by the fashion elite as one of the most inventive bridal designers in Pakistani today.

Alis Xeeshan kickstarted Day 3 of the PFDC L’Oréal Paris Bridal Week and his unconven-tional collection had lots of colours, drama, layers - right from the clothes, hairdo and make-up. Ali’s show was a total case of grandeur in his collection titled ‘Pahalgam’. His paly with colours vivid play of colour Ali Xeeshan did not bow down his regalia. But few things had us on the fence. Very unlike a bridal show it felt a bit like a spin down the memory lane with ensembles from his past collections but the themes of the garments varied. Models in the middle of the show sashayed the runway with Victorian styled Hoop skirts made out of foil papers which seemed a bit odd for a bridal show and it also had poor finishing. The music, Hare Rama Hare Krishna, did not go with the theme of the collection at all. But nonetheless we loved the Kahmiri shalwars, the long embel-lished dupattas, jeweled encrusted long sherwanis and the drama of Mehreen Syed getting married on the ramp. Couldn’t get more dramatic than this.



fashion

HEADGEAR FOR ALI XEESHAN BY TONI&GUY

NOMI ANSARI’S LAST MINUTE WITHDRAWL

MARIA B. FROM PARIS TO LAHORE

PERFORMANCES ON DAY 3

This was one of the main highlights of the evening for me. The headgear and earrings made out of real hair for Ali Xeeshan’s show was handmade by the team of TONI&GUY which took them entire two months to make. These head-gears were styled in Victorian themed headsets that looked complex, intricate yet beautiful.

This was one of the biggest disap-pointments of this extravagant week because despite having prepared for the week and spent so much money on his accessories, Nomi had to withdraw just because he was denied of his opening show-

case on DAY 4 and instead asked to change the day or spot. PFDC as a council should have accommo-dated this talented and experienced designer no matter what because it could have brought more credibility in their first attempt.

I am sorry Maria, I loved your PFDC prêt collections as it was more innovative and edgy but you lost me at the bridal hotchpotch. This collection entitled ‘From Paris to Lahore’ started with western out-fits adorned with embellishments

and feathery headgear and later moved into an eastern segment with qawalli hats with colourfully embellished bridal trousseaus. But this collection was totally off the route and did not reach anywhere from Paris to Lahore.

BIG DISSAPOINTMENTS

As front-row fashionistas were getting drowsy due to late nights and delays, Sara Rohale Asghar’s show gave us a full blown surprise with a LIVE per-formance by JOSH THE BAND. It was like a dose of caffeine for all those who about to doze off to sleep. This was followed by singer Quratulain Balouch (QB)

and Bilal Khan’s performance in Asifa & Nabeel showcasing. But a bummer, for me at least, was that these talented singers did not have to lip sync because it was pretty evident that they were lip syncing when the music stopped and QB froze for good 5 seconds before she started singing Live. Kudos QB!


fashion

OLD WORLD BRIDE

TROUSSEAU:

If you are the one who has been fascinated by the queens and worldly charms, here is the trend that you can adorn. With work of precious stones, nets, elegant drapes, the bridal trousseau created by many designers from Sonia Azar, Maria B., Sara Rohale Ashgar’s ‘Tehzeeb-e-Baymisaal’, Nida Azwer’s ‘Awadh Court Col-lection’ were replete of tradition, culture and heritage.

JEWELLERY:

For the old world bride jewellery GOLD by Reama Malik entitled ‘The Mehr Collection’, featuring a blend of traditional and modern jewellery colour coordinated into precious stones fused with kundun and polki accented with meenakari as seen in the Mughal era is the perfect option.

OFF BEAT BRIDE

TROUSSEAU:

If you are one who wants an edgy touch, HSY and Fahad Hus-sayn aren’t afraid to experiment and that showed on the ramp. They used several outfits styled differently for the various outfits of the bride with short kurti or a long coats or jacket worn over a lehenga for a dramatic effect. This trend is definitely meant for an offbeat bride.

JEWELLERY:

Kiran’s jewellery collection titled ‘Sceptres of Beauty’ is apt for the experimental and contemporary bride with slightly unusual adorn-ments like masks used as pendants and umbrella used as earrings. Kiran opted to close her show with the graceful classical dancer Naheed Siddiqui who moved on the runway in her classical poses.

PRINCESS BRIDE

TROUSSEAU: Every girl is a princess on her wedding day and Karma has mastered the craft of making her look like one. Known for her stun-ning outfits, Karma’s collection is entitled ‘Enchanted’ is derived its inspiration from dark fairy tales, their feared villainesses and beloved heroines.

JEWELLERY: For the princess brides the black carpet sponsor Damas’s brands such as Marco Bicego, Mikimoto, Boudoor, Nakshatra’s, Luca Carati, Fope Pasquale Bruni, Ro-berto Coin Jawaher, Kiku, Legacy and Manthourah should a part of your D-Day.

NEO-TRADITIONAL BRIDE

TROUSSEAU:

‘Rouge’ with a contemporary fusion collection and Ali Xeeshan with his ‘Pahalgam’ collection redefined convention, adding twist to their old world bridal look. Rouge’s work with lame fabric, designs, and embroideries are in-deed meant for the neo bride but Xeeshan is the go-to designer for the modern bride. For the others, Ali pushes the envelope in terms of silhouette and styling but Ali is way above the league

JEWELLERY:

For a blend of trendy and tradi-tional bride, a mix of Damas and Kiran jewellery with a juxtaposi-tion of classic gold, diamonds with polkis and diamonds are our options.

BRIDAL TRENDS OF THE SEASONWe know that finding the perfect wedding dress can be a challenge--especially when you want your trousseau to be on-trend. To help guide you to find that special one, I spent the last four evenings (four hours each night) staring at a parade of frothy wedding lehengas, joras and gowns at the first ever PFDC L’Oreal Paris Bridal Couture Week 2012 featuring the latest wearable confections from some of the best and the brightest in the bridal in Pakistan (yeah, we know: sometimes our jobs are really tough). From all four days, we have managed to come up with a few themes that stood out from this season's stunning showcase. Here you go:


trend

Celebrate X-mas with X-faCtor

We

aske

d so

me

o f the celebrity designers about their take on Christm

as look. Here is w

hat they have to say:

TENA DURRANI:This hip young designer who believes

in style being chic and elegant says in her opinion, the perfect Xmas outfit would be a classic sheer black long jacket lined with

berry brocade, worn with a simple silk short camisole and wide legged black pants.

AFREEN SHIRAZ OF ELLEMINT PRET:

This young salon owner who is also the owner of Karachi’s new hip multi-designer boutique says when she thinks Xmas, she thinks “red and green. The perfect Xmas outfit in her mind is a short red dress with a

green edging to it. This is the time to be bold and festive so I think go all the way.”

UZMA HAI:This young new

designer believes in designing clothes that are edgy and interesting. She thinks Xmas is a

time to be a little daring, a little festive and a little out there. “The ideal Xmas outfit in my opinion is a long blood red dress with a high collar

edged in velvet and work on the neck.”

INSIA SOHAIL:The designer

behind the label INSAM believes in going for elegance

and chic when it comes to Xmas. “White is the color of elegance and purity,” said InsiaSohail. “If I was asked to design an outfit for a Xmas eventI would make something silky, white with sequined work on the front.”

SEHYR ANIS:This young hip de-

signer whose clothes are huge sell-outs in Lahore says her ideal Xmas outfit has to be red. “My dream dress is an

off-shoulder red satin ball gown,” she said. “Elegant

yet chic.”

TEENA BY HINA BUTT:This upcoming designer who

believes in creating waves with her fun and feisty collection be-lieves in creating clothes which make an impact. “For Xmas, I would design a fun red silky

kurta with a cat motif on the shoulder,” she said. “I would ensure that the back

of the kurta is heavily embellished and the kurta has a pointed dip in the front.”

AYESHA KHURRAM:

The hip young designer who is creating

waves due to her unique embroidery motifs such as the silhouette, Andy Warhol pop art and others, says Xmas is a time to go red! “My ideal Xmas outfit is red and shimmery,” she said. “If I was to design a Xmas outfit, I would make something long and hsilky and very shimmery.”


Fashion

She was the Textiles Sourcing and Brand Manager for DuPont Textiles & Interiors that included brands like Lycra®, Coolmax®, Leather With Lycra® to name a few. During her time with DuPont, she also initiated the concept of Fashion Trade Shows that show-cased innovation and new product develop-ment in yarn and fabrics from Pakistan to foreign buyers, buying agencies and garment exporters.

SHEEP is a Pakistani retail womenswear brand designed to cater to the modern day woman who values premium quality ready to wear clothes. Indeed SHEEP™ retails fashion which is cognisant of local trends yet consis-tently innovating to introduce and pioneer new trends each season. With every new collection introduced by the brand, SHEEP™ stays true to its basic design philosophy strengthening its association with uncom-plicated, wearable and smart fashion for the confident woman, which is both elegant and classic. The idea is to create pieces that are inimitably SHEEP – an investment in style and fashion for the urban woman.

SHEEP is home to four diverse design lines (casuals, work, luxury prêt and Black SHEEP). Further, at its flagship store in Zamzama Karachi, SHEEP boasts a designated lounge for those accompanying shoppers to the outlet, who can relax while the ladies indulge in a classic shopping experience. SHEEP is also available in Labels

in Karachi with plans to open more stand-alone stores in the city and beyond in 2012.Here Aalia speak exclusively to Sunday Plus about the who, what, when where and why of SHEEP.

1. Tell our readers everything about SHEEP its inception, your design philosophy etc.

Aalia:SHEEP™ offers a retail experience of warmth, wit, comfort and ease as well as light-heartedIndulgence. The vision is to pro-vide accessibility, affordability and attention to detail for women who truly value these qualities. The brand’s name has become synonymous with understated elegance. The brand personality, the retail experience and the product are seamlessly tied by a single philosophy - Uncomplicated! We also retail fashion which is cognisant of local trends yet is consistently innovating to introduce and pioneer new trends each season.

2. Why did you decide to launch a womenswear retail brand in Pakistan when the market currently has a diversity of other retail brands?

Aalia:Existing brands are either catering to lower end products or extremely high priced garments leaving a big vacuum for quality wear at affordable prices. There are very few options in this category and the consumers can take in a lot more than avail-able in the market. Pakistan is a growing

CHICSHEEP

AaliaJafar heads SHEEP - a women’s wear brand that has fast established itself as the premium prêt wear label serving the Pakistani woman that value quality. Aalia, a graduate from Southeastern University, launched SHEEP in March 2010 with a vision to provide accessibility, affordability and attention to detail for women who truly value these qualities. The brand’s name has become synonymous with understated elegance - uncomplicated, wearable and smart fashion for the confident woman, which is both elegant and classic.


Fashion

country with growing spending power regardless of the inflationary and economic concerns. It is perhaps one of the best markets to invest in at the moment.3. In this scenario, how do you create a different niche for your customers? How difficult was it to penetrate into the market and maintain the niche?

aalia:The retail industry in Pakistan is in its infancy compared to the rest of the world which makes it much easier to enter and to register the brand in the customers mind. A growing number of consumers are now more aware and expect high quality service and prices – and that’s what we offered and have benefited from. Further-more, SHEEP™caters to the modern day woman who values premium quality ready to wear clothes.

4. What’s been the key to maintain-ing a relationship with the customers in Pakistan?

aalia:Respect. We respect our cus-tomers – this is translated in the quality of the product, customer service, shopping experience (incl. locations planned for several areas within same cities, online shopping, and cash on delivery service) and even our brand communications. All this is to ensure we give them every available service with their comfort, taste and afford-ability in mind.

5. how much have you been able to penetrate into the market?

aalia:So far we are focusing on Karachi by opening multiple locations for the ease of access for our customers and plan to go up country starting 2012.

6. What do you consider your great-est achievement?

aalia:Brand recognition. Within a short span of time we have been able to build a positive association with the brand name and personality. The consumers accept us as a high quality manufacturer of garments for their wardrobe needs.

7. is fashion today more than just clothes?

aalia:Certainly. We are focused on creating pieces that our consumers are able to identify with and at the same time they have the flexibility to add their personal touches to the pieces thus making them an expression of their own individuality. For example, the fact that we are focused on primarily offering shirts gives our customers the freedom to mix and match or wear with plain white or off white pants with them.

8. What are some of the most

radical changes you’ve seen over the past few years in the retail industry in Pakistan? how has sheep adapted to these changes?

aalia:The biggest change has been that today the consumers are more aware and more sophisticated in their buying hab-its. They demand good quality and prices that are justified and at the same time expect a minimum level of shopping experi-ence. SHEEP™’s entire foundation was based on these facts and the philosophy of respect for our customer allows us to meet their expectations. In the past consumers didn’t have many options and had to settle for mediocre quality product at exorbitant prices and almost non-existent customer service.

9. Tell us a bit about sheep’s latest collection and what it has to offer?

aalia:SHEEP™ has recently restruc-tured its products into four product lines, which are being introduced to cater to different tastes and occasions. Black SHEEP™ - a premium line for formal evening wear which includes cocktail tops and eastern wear – perfect for engage-ments, weddings, and parties. Luxury Prêt - a high end line for day wear and is most suited for high teas, lunches, birthdays and other day occasions. Workwear - for working women or women who prefer

understated elegance in the form of sharp, subtle, statement garments. Smart casuals - a trendy line of fusion wear, perfect for everyday wearability.

10. What is one change that the Pakistani fashion industry needs?

aalia:Structure. The industry is primarily ruled by the unstructured and unregulated setups. Fashion retail is a fast growing industry and steps should be taken to support functional organizations that will enable better production units, sourcing functions and training units.

11. Who designs for sheep?aalia:We have a Product Develop-

ment department which includes a design team, a sampling team and merchandizing functions to ensure the latest trends are followed, new innovations are brought forward at the best possible prices and all our customers’ feedback is kept in mind while designs are put forward.

The idea is to create pieces that are inimitably SHEEP – an investment in style and fashion for the urban woman.


IntervIew

By Talal Raza

Zest for change

ince Musharaf was pouncing upon every-one who criticized for what he had done to the land of Iqbal, these shaheen of Iqbal were also chased down by the Intelligence and some of them were harassed and given threats for their lives. But they didn’t give up and not only carried out rallies in Islamabad rather they went to other cities including Lahore and Karachi, thereby mobilizing and setting up an example for the youth of each community. This was the starting point of this group which they named as Pakistan Youth Alliance (PYA).

Once they got into it, they decided to serve Pakistani people at different fronts whether its rehabilitation of displaced people of Swat, the flood affectees of Punjab or the financially deprived people of Baluchistan. They raised millions of Rupees on every occasion and disbursed

them among the needy. They also targeted persons with disabilities, orphans and participated in raising funds for building and renovating schools. In the wake of PYA volunteers’ work and activities, they have been recognized by local as well as international media.

The idea of PYA was crafted by Syed Ali Abbas Zaidi who is also the Chair of PYA. He is Aeronautical Engineer by pro-fession and is currently pursuing studies, doing activism, social work and writing in different newspapers. In a candid inter-view, he talks about their activities.Q. Started in november 2007, emerged as one of the prominent groups in the national as well as International media, Did you ever think PYA would be this big?

Syed Ali: Yes, we started in Nov 2007

and at that time not many civil society based youth centric groups existed who spoke for what they believed in, so media attention was natural. Q. How would you sum the motto/aim of PYA in one line?

Syed Ali: Be the change you want to see in this country.Q. the idea to make PYA came in the Sheesha café? what exactly hap-pened?

Syed Ali:We wanted give something back to the society. We wanted to work, not just sit and talk – that’s how the inspiration stuck and we met in a Sheesha

It was right after the Military dictator Pervez Musharraf imposed emergency rule in November 2007, a bunch of youngsters decided to change the fate of Pakistan while they were sitting in a Sheesha café in Islamabad. They gathered their friends and colleagues, left their air conditioned dwellings, abandoned or (let’s say) reduced their Sheesha café hangouts and carried out a series of protests and rallies against the Musharraf’s emergency rule, his attack on judiciary and media.

S Syed Ali Abbas Zaidi


IntervIew

café and decided on how to start series of protests against Emergency rule of General Musharraf. Q. where was the first protest that PYA Did? what was it? How many youth participated in it?

Syed Ali:Numbers varied due to fear in streets, as emergency rule was in place. 100-300 people showed up but we did it continuously in different cities here and abroad.Q. You said your volunteers were harassed by the intelligence agencies? tell us something about it.

Syed Ali:Agencies got the information of protests before we made them public and threatened us to abduct, rape and torture. Things have considerably changed since then, now it’s possible to do protests in street on any cause without much botheration from agencies. That’s one of the good things about democratic setup -- again, that varies on the cause you wish to speak up against. Q. were there any death threats, was anyone directly harassed, picked up or killed or tortured?

Syed Ali:I have been threatened to be killed by ‘unknown’ numbers by intel-ligence during Musharraf’s regime. Some even mentioned being intelligence agents etc. and wanted to call off our protests etc. Also, one of the militant groups sent us threats after I spoke about blasphemy laws

from a Lahore based VoIP service. Face-book / online threats are a routine now.Q. PYA is doing a lot of activities like rallies and giving gifts to orphans, working for the flood affected people. Does PYA do activities that have long term impacts?

Syed Ali:We have done over 120 events worldwide. Vigils, walks, protests, seminars, street campaigns, rallies etc. but nothing have been more satisfying than helping your countrymen in need, in times of crisis. From Swat, IDP displace-ment, to flood relief, to reaching out to victims of terrorism in Pakistan we have provided material relief to over 75,000 families now. During flood relief, we made 45 deliveries from Badin to SWAT helping thousands in dire need.

Our primary area of focus was relief and then rehabilitation;now we are building houses and renovating schools. Many initiatives have long lasting effects, some

are just meant for temporary relief. Q. Keeping in view of your activities, How do you generate resources and where does the financial support come from?

Syed Ali: 100 % of the funding comes from personal fundraising efforts, on streets and online. That’s how we mobilize funds – from initiative to initiative basis. Q. Since your inception the numbers of nGOs have increased, how can these nGOs play a significant role in commu-nity development?

Syed Ali:We all need to start giving back to the society. We have to voice our concerns about our future and what kind of Pakistan we envision in 2020. We also, have to practically help the ones in need. PYA will continue to rally against extrem-ism, for peace within Pakistan and for dem-ocratic norms in the society – we will also work on ground to provide material help to victims of natural and manmade disasters.

We have done over 120 events worldwide. Vigils, walks, protests, seminars, street campaigns, rallies etc. but nothing have been more satisfying than helping your countrymen in need, in times of crisis. From Swat, IDP displacement, to flood relief, to reaching out to victims of terrorism in Pakistan we have provided material relief to over 75,000 families now.

PYA candle light rally


IntervIew

There is an activist and social worker inside us all – we have activated ours.Q. tell us about your volunteers? Do the majority come from well-off back-grounds or the middle class or poor?

Syed Ali: Most of the volunteers (in-cluding myself, and executive committee all are volunteers in essence) come from lower middle class and upper middle class backgrounds. But that’s the average; we do have people from humble backgrounds and elite families too. It’s a volunteer-based not-for-profit youth organization, anyone and everyone can join and try to address the multifold problems we are in today. We wish to be part of the solution, not the problem Q. Youth is talking about changesthese days. How does PYA see change in the country?

Syed Ali: I have seen some change happening in the last 3 years. Judiciary is relatively ‘independent’. Media is growing and we have enticed a culture of debate in the society through it. Civil-military imbal-ance is also slightly and slowly adjust-ing its course. Democracy never worked anywhere, overnight. It’s a gradual process of filtration and strengthening democratic norms in different walks of individual and

collective lives. So, apart from all the mess that we are in and we cannot deny that there is hope of improvement. Not mean-ing, everything is ‘perfect’ – we need to struggle till we are finally there. Q. Do you really think Imran Khan can bring change? which political party do you think can change the fate of Pakistani nation?

Syed Ali: Imran Khan has the charisma to do it. He is getting unprecedented response from middle class. I might not have 100 % agreement with his party’s ideology, for every citizen of Pakistan, either killed in Hazara or in NATO strikes,is equally important and same concern needs to be shown, in discourse and in action. He has shown confusion, politically – a lot in the past and I hope his supporters and the

team he works with now, guides him for a better, more tolerant and not so isolated Pakistan in International scenario. It’s too early to say if he’s here, next elections will expose everyone. Q. Any message you would like to give to the Pakistani youth?

Syed Ali: One message for our youth of Pakistan: lower your heads and work. We have had enough of NATO (No Action, Talk Only). We need to own the problems we are in today and become a part of the solution. We have to be tolerating and agree to disagree peacefully. We need to re-own the Pakistan our forefathers made and make it Jinnah’s Pakistan from Zia’s Pakistan. Every one of you can, every one of you must!

Imran Khan has the charisma to do it. He is getting unprecedented response from middle class. I might not have 100 % agreement with his party’s ideology, for every citizen of Pakistan, either killed in Hazara or in NATO strikes, is equally important and same concern needs to be shown, in discourse and in action.

PYA mobilizing the youth


travel

By AMAL SHAKEB


travel

walk through Berlin, the capital and one of the most popular cities of Germany takes one through the tale of a land that witnessed one of the darkest periods in the history of mankind.

Today, Germany is a modern, developed state, but Germans have preserved their history, not just for the tourists, but for their own future genera-tions too, lest they forget where they come from.

To visit Berlin without appreciating its history would be a waste of time and money. There are many more cities in the world, which one can go to for sightseeing or just to have fun, but visiting Berlin takes you through the appalling history of not so long ago. Hence, it is probably a good idea to invest in one of the many guided city tours operating in the city.

Our tour guide, a history student from a British university led us through the history of Berlin in just three and a half hours, showing around the main parts of East Berlin, once divided by its Western counterpart by the great Berlin Wall.

It is hard to explain in a few words why the Berlin wall was created, for that one needs to know the whole history of the gruesome WWII, following the occupation of Germany and many other countries by the United States, France and England. People became the slaves of these governments, as they were introduced to new boundaries and sanctions and their freedom of movement was restricted. One morning Berliners woke up to find a wall erected in their city and were told that beyond that wall was a world they shall never see again.

No one was allowed to cross over the wall. People lost their jobs and families, students couldn’t continue their studies, and most of all they lost their sense of freedom. They were not only banned from Western Berlin, but from most of the Western Europe as well.

Tragedies would have been fewer if man was an obedient creature, but in his nature is the will to revolt. Thus, thousands laid down their lives while attempting to escape from their informal captivity and cross over from East to West Berlin. People from the Western side would try helping

wallBehindthe

One of the museums at Museum Island

A


travel

people escape, but the soldiers who guarded the wall knew only orders and not mercy.

To legally cross over to the other part of the city there were some check points, similar to the modern day immigration desk at airports. One of the most famous ones called Check Point Charlie is still preserved in the city, in the midst of a modern area, where people can now pay to have a picture taken with a model guard.

The wall finally came down in 1981, not too long ago. The fact that Berlin’s history is quite re-cent makes it even more interesting. The remains of the Berlin Wall aren’t a pretty sight, but it is a sign of remembrance of courage and tragedy.

For me, the most interesting place in Berlin was a spot not beautified or publicised at all. A simple car park to the naked eye, but once one realises what lies beneath this plain piece of land, it is bound to give them goose bumps.

Under this car park is the bunker where Hitler took his last breaths before he allegedly killed himself, and asked his soldiers to burn his body. He was later identified by his jaw remains. The authorities have not highlighted this place lest it becomes a monument, and Hitler gets remem-bered any more than he already is.

At Museum Island


travel

However, it is not hard to not run into this car park, as it is right next to the Holocaust memorial – a huge ground laden with big cemented blocks. It is designed by US architect Peter Eisenman; who he left people to decide for themselves what the memorial made them think about. The most com-mon explanations are that the different sized blocks makes one think about the different sized people who died in the Holocaust.

For people who are intrigued by this memorial and want to learn more about the Holocaust, there is a free museum underneath it, but those who are really into their history should visit the bigger Holo-caust Museum to curb their curiosity. Besides that there are several other museums spread over a part of the city called the Museum Island. Even if you are not interested in visiting the Museums, it is certainly worth going to Museum Island just to admire the architecture of the exterior of the museums.

Another famous landmark is the Bradenburg Gate. Initially intended to be a city gate, it is now a symbol of the reunification of East and West Berlin. This part of the city is the most posh area with expensive hotels and the huge building of banks and consulates in its vicinity. In front of the gate is an empty land space, which people use to show case

their art work, protests and little shows. One of the biggest parks in the city is the Tier-

garten, which also divided the East and West Berlin. Along with it is a zoo, parts of which can be seen walking through the park. In spring or summer time, it becomes a nice place for a gentle stroll or a laid back afternoon. There is a little lake running through the park where people can do some rowing, and a cafeteria to enjoy some light snacks or refreshing drinks.

Apart from its historical heritage Berlin is a huge city with wide roads and tall buildings. They have a great public transport system, which makes travelling in this large city convenient and quick. The city’s most famous and lively spot is the Alexander-platz, marked by a tall television tower. The place provides as a great connection for trams and trains, as well as a big shopping and eating area.

It is a rich city, but comparatively cheaper than most European metropolis. Certainly an enchanting place to visit, learn and enjoy.

Photography by Samir Malik

Bradenburger Gate A monument next to the Tiergarten

The holocaust memorial


up & rising

By Rabia Nayyar

InsamCouture

Insam Couture is one of the newest entrants in the field of fashion, and has been creating waves due to their stunning use of naturally dyed

fabrics, ajraks and other traditional materials. Their niche is in creating stunning modern and contemporary clothes out of traditional materials. In this exclusive, Sunday Plus talks to Insia Sohail and Samina Aqeel, the

designer duo behind the label Insam, about their design philosophy, her future plans and where she sees herself in the next few years.

1. How long have u been in the industry? INSAM: Not very long it’s been only 3 years that I

have entered the fashion arena 2. Did you always know this is what you wanted to do? INSAM: No it was just a hobby and I used to

design clothes for friends and family and slow and eventually it grew into a business.

3. How easy/hard has it been breaking into the industry?

INSAM: It was not hard at all but yes it was slow as it took a lot of time for some of my creations to stand out and make a mark.

4. What are some of the problems/hurdles you’ve faced?

INSAM: I haven’t faced problems at my end but yes problems like finding good workers, efficiency, time factor and above all political instability has been the biggest hurdles

5. Do you feel the industry welcome’s new comers? INSAM: Yes it definitely does, there is enough

room for everyone but your work should be different and unique and I feel lucky enough to be accepted by the industry.

6. What inspired you to take the leap and join the industry?

INSAM: Awareness for letting the people to know that I exist with the same time being differentiated so that my work stands out and its speaks out for itself.

7. What advice would you give to others trying to break into the industry?

INSAM: There isn’t any hard and fast rule nor a rocket science to it one just needs to have a good aesthetic sense, a good team to work with and above all the quality of the work should be maintained.

8. What styles/themes do you work most with? INSAM: I try to incorporate a lot of things into

my work such as straight shirts, flairs and more and more cuts.

9. Do you have a particular style or do you prefer experimenting with everything?

INSAM: Experimenting for sure, I love to venture into my style and experiment with it as much as I can

10. Who do you look up to in the industry? INSAM: I like the work of people like Ayesha

Hashwani, Sonya Batla, Sana Safinaz and Kamiar Rokni.

11. Looking back, do you wish you’d done anything different when it comes to your career?

INSAM: No not at all, I love the work that I do and I am completely enjoying every minute of it.

12. What comes next? INSAM: May be participating in a fashion show.


movie

This is not just another mission. The IMF is shut down when it's implicated in a global terrorist bombing plot. Ghost Protocol is initiated and Ethan Hunt and his rogue new team must go undercover to clear their organization's name. No help, no contact, off the grid. You have never seen a mission grittier and more intense than this. Luckily for Tom Cruise, Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol is one of his finest action flicks, just what's needed to potentially restore some of this fallen star's box-office bankability. For director Brad Bird, though, the fourth "Mission," rock solid as it is, ranks only as his second-best action movie, after the animated smash The Incredibles.

Mission iMpossible: Ghost Protocol - review

MORE ON THIS FILM

The latest installment of the action franchise is a return to form, with some classic Tom Cruise – and a hint of Alan Sugar. Size aside, there aren't a lot of obvious similarities be-tween Tom Cruise and Alan Sugar. But as the minutes tick by in Mission Impossible 4, more and more materialise: the unimpeachable authority; the love of a nice motor; the flashes of humour beneath the gruff stubble; the ease with hi-tech hardware.

And then, two-thirds of the way through, the two merge forever. Cruise, reprising his role as undercover operative Ethan Hunt, summons his crew for a rendezvous on a runway. There's the chic one (Paula Patton), the brainy one (Simon Pegg), the mysterious one (Jeremy Renner): all team players with their own special skill set to bring to the table. Where are they off to, they ask, for the next bit of their mission?

Already hailed as a return to form for the franchise – now 16 years old and in need of a lock and load before James Bond leaps back on to the scene – Ghost Protocol's chief in-novation is its choice of director. This is Brad Bird's live-action debut: he's a Pixar whiz-kid who's overseen the likes of Ratatouille and The Incredibles, a background that's left him unfussed about plausibility and eager to keep things upbeat (the previous installment was deemed a bit of a downer on account of its long rendition scene). Plus, he's also enough of a newbie to know that this is not his show.

For, as the opening credits remind you in words as big as a bus, this is a Tom Cruise movie. Not only has he produced, he's sur-rounded himself on screen only by those with negative charisma. Pegg alone is allowed to make a play for our affections, and only if he

stays a weedy geek forever almost muffing things.

It works: even those allergic to Cruise would struggle to resist his magnetism grin-ning one-handed from the highest skyscraper in the world, cool as a cucumber, ripped as celery. Thus the baddie is nordic-ish but motivated not by political hostility, but by the iffy conviction that only once the world has succumbed to nuclear annihilation will there be lasting peace.

Yes, there is an on-trend nod to current affairs – "To your government," someone tells Ethan, "a potential terrorist is a terrorist" – but it's so glib that it could be taken as a truism whether you thought such a stance was desirable or not.

It's an opportunistic endeavour – you suspect locations may have been in place, deals done with car firms and tourist boards before the script was given a thought. But such fiscal sense seeps through to the final product, too. This is a good value, bang for your buck, old-fashioned blockbuster that makes up in action what it lacks in soul. Sir Alan would approve.

THE PLAYERS:dIREcTOR: Brad Bird

cINEMaTOgRapHy:Phedon Papamichael

acTORS: Jeremy Renner, Paula Patton, Simon Pegg, Tom Cruise

wRITERS: J.J. Abrams, Josh Applebaum, André Nemec

gENRE: Mystery & Suspense, Action & Adventure

RATING: 7/10

MuSIc: Richard Ford


Tom cruise

paula patton Simon pegg

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October 02, 201120 Sunday PluS

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October 02, 2011 20Sunday PluS

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society

After hour bash

Frieha Altaf hosted an after party for PFDC Sunsilk Fashion Week attendants at her house.

karachi:

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Intesar, Aysha, Frieha, Amir & Huma Adnan1 Fahad Husain, Kamiyar & Noman2 3 Saba, Nomi, Aysha & Cybil

Amna Haq, Maheen Kardar & Fareshteh4 Ammar Bilal & Saad Ali5 6 Ads Perdesi

7 Nooray 8 HSY & Nashmia Atif, Nomi & Mohsin9

Deepak Perwani

society

Sunday PluSDecember 25, 2011 43

Nadia Husain & Humza Tarrar Faraz Mannan

Cybil & Mehreen

Saad Zadi & Nooray Adnan Malik & Asma Mumtaz

Imran Aslam, Fareshteh Aslam & Sanam Agha

Ali Xeeshan Frieha, Sehr saigol & Sabin Saigol

Rehan Bahir & Rizwanullah

Rukaiya & Kiran Awan

Shamoon

society

Magnificent 7UAE’s Consulate General in Karachi held the celebrations to mark the 40th National Day of UAE with an exciting and entertaining evening at H.H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Compound. The National Day celebrations also marked the culmination of the “Magnificent 7” exhibition with a dinner for delegates, foreign dignitaries, corporate professionals along with sponsors, organizers, participants and visitors of the UAE Expo 2011. The event was organized by Catwalk Productions.

karachi:

3 5

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Aman Ilyas, Faisal, Bilal & Saima1 Beena & Samra2 3 Intesar & Ayesha Rabia Z4

Beena & Pawana5 6 Frieha with a friend

Tariq, Bilal, Imran & Ahmad

society


Aminah Sheikh Nazeen Tariq

Mrs. Humayun, Naureen & Ghazala

Shehrnaz & Sidrah Tariq & Farooq Sattar

Makhdoom Amin Fahim Shehla Naveed

Naveed & Humayun

Saira & Nauman Sehgal

UAE CG in Karachi

society

Desert affair

Ahsan Ijaz recently hosted the Rev Up ceremony of Jhal Magsi Desert Rally at Polo Lounge. PR & Media Coordination was handled by Bilal Mukhtar Events & PR.

LAHORE:

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5 6


4

1 2

Naheen & Fatima1 Hamza, Schazreh & Taimoor2 3 Ayesha & Ali Zainab, Nadia & Mehr4 Amina5

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6 Vaqas & Zarmina 7 Sadia & Saadia 8 Zainab, Hajra & Rizwana 9 Sajda, Nida & Seher

Ali, Irfan & Shamyl

society


Ghalib

Farhad & Bilal Mukhtar

Daneese, Hooria & Maira

Sarah Khadija & Laraib

Komal & Ayesha

Soubia, Saima, Sadia & Mehr

Jia & Alina

Faisal

society

Birthday bash

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Saim recently celebrated his birthday with close friends.

LAHORE:

3 Ahmmer Farooq

2

Ana & Afzal1

Rubaab & Saim

4 Alyzeh Gabol

5 Ali Zeeshan & Simky

6 Sophia Mirza

7Amina Maqsood & Mishi Khan

8

9

8Natasha, Amir Mazher & Naila Ishtiaq

9 Amina Baber, Meriam Khakwani & Aliha Ch

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10 Fahad Hussain & Rana Nouman

society

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Waseem Noor recently exhibited his latest collection at Vogue Tower.The event was organised by Bilal Mukhtar Events & PR.

LAHORE:

3 Bilal Mukhtar & Zara

2

Afshan1

Sobia, Khawar & Rabz

4 Waseem & Fia

5 Madiha & Ayesha

6 Mariam & Hina

7 Sadia & Sadaf

8 9

8 Nazia

9 Dr.Shehla

exhibition bY nooR

10 11

10 Sahar & Nadia

11 Hifza Rehman

society

Brunch launch

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Avari recently launched Brunch at Kims. The crème de la crème of Lahore attended the launch. There was a splendid spread of Asian and continental dishes, delicious desserts, separate kid’s corner and live cooking stations. Sunday Brunch at Avari proved to be a perfect family haven. Children had a dedicated entertainment area with jumping castle, rides, magic show and more.

LAHORE:

3 Mr & Mrs Adnan Kamal along with director sales and public relations coordinator

2

DOS & DFB along with brunch team.

1

Mr & Mrs Azhar Viqar with public relations coordinators

4 Range of delicious appetizers

IN FOCUS

December 25, 2011 51SuNday PluS

By Ijaz Ahmad Tarar

Water sources are dwindling in Pakistan because of the exploita-tion and improper strategy which

cannot be justified in either or the other way. The existing water potential is decreasing day by day and now we stand among the water stress countries. Our water use practices are absurd and should be changed immediately in order to fulfill our common responsibility to save water for future generations. The water usage pattern should be checked both in domestic and industrial sector to secure water for future use.

The domestic water use means the water being used for bathing, washing, flushing, baking, drinking and planting etc. In Pakistan the domestic water supply is being arranged either by self made arrangements i.e. hand pumps, domestic motorized pumps or sup-plied by governments agencies through water

supply network.With growing population, the potential

demand of water from urban population is 2.76MAF according to Kahlown et al., 2004. Resource and production constraints show that not all of this demand can be met. The analysis of data shows that water table is fall-ing continuously unabatedly in all major cities of Pakistan.

The reported water quality entering the distribution system is satisfactory, conven-tional treatment is being provided where water comes from surface sources (mainly in Sindh) or where ground water is contaminated either chemically or bacteriologicaly.

A survey reveals that only 53 percent of our rural population has access to safe drinking water. (Economic Survey of Pakistan

2001) whereas the study by Kahlown et al., 2004 shows that the demand for rural water supply is estimated at 0.81MAF per year which is 15.7% of total industrial and domestic demand.

The National Sanitation Policy 2006 provides legal status in large to activities for the safety of citizens of the country.

Capacity constraints indigenously are forc-ing common people to utilize water in what so ever way this commodity is available. A lit-erature survey reveals that most of illness like diarrhea, dysentery, eyes and skin infection, cholera, hepatitis, typhoid etc. in rural areas is water borne. The water quality monitoring system is either absent or inadequate and inefficient in our country currently. There is no independent agency for monitoring water quality. However in the Punjab a little effort has been made by the Public Health Engineer-

ing Department, at district head quarters level. Water testing laboratories are working but these are not functioning properly due to paucity of funds, equipments and manage-ment constraints.

General public, in Pakistan, use subjective quality criteria like brackish, foul smelling, bad tasting, turbid or coloured water to determine that it is not suitable for drinking. In order to ensure that consumers throughout the coun-try are receiving quality water, research-based standards and guidelines for quality drinking water must be adopted. In 1999 a legal effort was made for establishing standards and guidelines for quality drinking water. In 2002, the Pakistan Standards Institute compiled the preliminary standards for quality of drinking water. In 2004, Pakistan Council of Research

in Water Resources prepared a report related to water quality in Pakistan with recommen-dations for establishing standards. National Drinking Water Policy 2009 provides broad guidelines for common masses to adhere to in this regard.

Industry is reliant on water for all levels of production; it can be used as raw material, solvent, coolant, transport agent and energy source. The water supplied to industry is estimated at 1.18 MAF. The water is supplied either by municipal water supply agencies or by private owned tube wells. As per report of Kahlown et al., 2004, the industrial demand for water is likely to grow by 100% (2.36 MAF) by 2025.

At present about 0.2 MAF of industrial and municipal waste water is generated from major cities (Karachi, Faislabad, Lahore, Qasoor etc) of the country. Most industrial effluent is discharged untreated to natural water courses, or through municipal sewerage system. While there are a lot of regulations regarding waste water disposal, there is no enforcement. There are agreements by industrialists that they will treat contami-nated discharged water by treating their own wastes and disposing them in an environment friendly manner, but most of the time they neglect this binding on lame excuses. They should be taken to task for this negligence on their part and expertise and financial as-sistance be provided to potential stakeholders to set up treatment facilities, possibly through a combination of grants and soft loans. Only 3% of industrial water is treated while most of it goes into drainage system untreated (Economic survey of Pakistan 2001). Munici-pal water is also discharged into the surface water untreated and only 1% of the total municipal waste water generated is treated before disposal. The need of the hour is that a comprehensive and sustainable approach and strategy be evolved for treatment and disposal of waste waters to avoid unaccept-able pollution of natural water courses.

About PAkistAn’s water crisis

The major factors responsible for deteriorating water quality include occasional depressurization of water supply lines, poor conditions of distribution infrastructure, geological / environmental conditions, mixing of sewage water with drinking water and fresh water sources contamination with industrial effluent or by agriculture leachate.

H H H


food

Christmas Cakeingredients2 (8 ounce) containers candied cherries1 (8 ounce) container candied mixed citrus peel2 cups raisins1 cup dried currants1 cup dates, pitted and chopped2 (2.25 ounce) packages blanched slivered almonds1/2 cup sugar syrup1/2 cup all-purpose flour2 cups all-purpose flour1/2 teaspoon baking soda1 teaspoon ground cloves1 teaspoon ground allspice1 teaspoon ground cinnamon1/2 teaspoon salt1 cup butter2 cups packed brown sugar6 eggs3/4 cup molasses3/4 cup apple juice

method:In a medium bowl, combine cherries, citrus peel, raisins, cur-rants, dates, and almonds. Stir in sugar syrup; let stand 2 hours, or overnight. Dredge soaked fruit with 1/2 cup flour. Preheat oven to 275 degrees F (135 degrees C). Grease an 8x8x3 inch fruit cake pan, line with parchment paper, and grease again. In a small bowl, mix together 2 cups flour, baking soda, cloves, allspice, cinnamon, and salt; set aside.In a large bowl, cream butter until light. Gradually blend in brown sugar and eggs. Mix together molasses and apple juice. Beat into butter mixture alternately with flour mixture, making 4 dry and 3 liquid additions. Fold in floured fruit. Turn batter into prepared pan. Bake in preheated oven for 3 to 3 1/2 hours, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of cake comes out clean. Remove from pan, and lift off paper. Cool cake completely, then wrap loosely in waxed paper. Store in an airtight container.

Chr

istmas Special

PeCan Cinnamon rolls

ingredients:2 cups milk2 (.25 ounce) packages active dry yeast1/2 cup warm water1/3 cup white sugar1/3 cup vegetable oil1 tablespoon baking powder2 teaspoons salt1 egg7 cups all-purpose flour1 cup packed brown sugar1/2 cup butter2 tablespoons light corn syrup1 cup pecan halves1/4 cup butter, softened1/2 cup white sugar1 1/2 tablespoons ground cinnamon

method:Warm the milk in a small saucepan until it bubbles, then remove from heat. Let cool until lukewarm. In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes. In a large bowl, combine yeast mixture, milk, sugar, oil, baking powder, salt, egg and 3 cups flour. Beat until smooth. Stir in the remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, beating well after each addition. When the dough has pulled together, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, about 8 minutes. Lightly oil a large bowl, place the dough in the bowl and turn to coat with oil. Cover with a damp cloth and let rise in a warm place until doubled in


food

rosettes i ingredients:

2 eggs 1 tablespoon white sugar 1 cup sifted all-purpose flour 1 cup milk 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/4 teaspoon salt

mehtod:

Combine eggs, sugar and salt; beat well. Add remaining ingredients and beat until smooth. Heat a rosette iron in deep, hot oil (375 degrees) for 2 minutes.Drain excess oil from iron. Dip in batter to 1/4 inch from the top of the iron, then dip iron immediately into hot oil (375 degrees).Fry rosette until golden, about 30 seconds. Lift out; tip upside down to drain. With fork, push rosette off iron onto a rack placed over paper towels.Reheat iron 1 minute; make next rosette.Sprinkle rosettes with confectioners’ sugar.

Chr

istmas Special

volume, about 1 hour.Heat brown sugar and 1/2 cup butter until melted. Remove from heat; stir in corn syrup. Divide mixture between two 9x13 inch baking pans. Sprinkle 1/2 cup pecans in each pan. When dough has doubled in size, punch down and turn out onto a lightly floured surface. Roll out into a large rectangle and spread with but-ter. Sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon. Start-ing with the long side, roll up the rectangle into a log, and slice into 1 inch wide rolls. Place the rolls slightly apart in pans. Wrap pans with aluminum foil and refrigerate at least 12 hours but no longer than 48.Remove rolls from refrigerator and let stand in a warm place until doubled in size, about 30 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).Bake uncovered in preheated oven until golden 30 to 35 minutes. Immediately invert pan on heatproof serving plate. Wait for 1 or 2 minutes before removing pan, so that caramel drizzles over rolls.


Art

Recently a group show titled, ‘Conch Curve Creation’ by NCA graduates Ali AsadNaqvi, Dua Abbas and Wardha Shabbir was held at the Drawing Room Art Gallery, Lahore. The works have been presented in graphite, acrylic, gold leaf, metal patination, pastel, pen, charcoal, tea wash, gold and silver leave mediums and presented the impressions of multiple hands working on a single creation.

According to the artists, “if the 15th century Ottoman Empire had its Nakkashane, or studios where several artists worked on a single miniature painting, medieval Europe had its weaving industries, where members of a weaver’s household would work on different areas of the same tapestry.”

The three artists worked together on each piece and presented it in a unified manner. Ali Asad contributed the motifs and the base while Wardha Shabbir has shown her skill in organic forms. Dua Abbas was behind the portraits.

Overall the exhibition received a commendable response from artist community and people from all strata of society.

ConCh CurveCreation

Drawing DAW IIAcrylic, gold leaf, scratching, pen, pastel {30” x 22”}

Drawing ADW III Pastel, gold leaf, pen on print {30.5” x 22.5”}

Drawing WAD Silver leaf, Gold leaf, pen, acrylic, conte {27.5” x 21.7”}

Drawing ADW Metal patination, gold leaf, scratching, pastel, pen {30” x 22”}

Drawing AD Acrylic, gold leaf, metal patination, pastel {29.5” x 22”}


Art


art

he exhibition was curated by Aasim Akhtar and included the works of 50 students of graduate and postgraduate block; Amal Javed Khan, Anam Aslam Khan, Dania Munawar, Hira Farooq, Rafia Arshad, Qurat-ul-Ain Azam, Zahra Tufail, Kishwar Kiani, ZubariaTabbasum,

Faiza Batool, Maryam Mushtaq, Erum Shabbir, Hina Khan, Sidra Ishaque, Reema Khawar, Sonia Saleem, Syeda Ayesha Azhar, Aysha Sajid, Zai-nub Sarwar, Erum Kaneez, Sahzish Munir Raja, Munazza Rahman, Bushra Ashraf, Amal Rathore, Tehreem Yousaf, Maryam Asghar, Iffat Tehsin

Amjad, Sana Ahmed Alvi, Rafia Azam, Asma Bint Ijaz, Rabia Khurshid, Nazish Mir, Bushra Nusrat, Mehwish Nasir, Saba Erum, Ayesha Yaqoob, Rabia Rafique, Shazia Ismail, Kiran Batool, Saba Anwar, Fakhar-e-Batool, Mazzia Nazir, Mehak Farooq, Zubaria Ashraf, Syeda Malika Haider, Shabana Ashraf, Rameesa Afzal, Hudabia Ayyub and Zeba Sehzish. The exhibition included seven disciplines including miniature, oil, sculpture, print making, graphic design, textile design and ceramics and received a positive response from people of all life.

Winds of ChangeRecently, the Annual Degree Show 2011, ‘Winds of Change’ by the students of Fatima Jinnah Women University, Rawalpindi was held at the Alhamra Art Gallery, Lahore.

Sonia Saleem

T


art

Bushra ashraf

tehreem Yousaf

Sana ahmad alvi


interview

By Dr. Rana Asif Hussain

what are your views about the Paki-stani economy?

Yassin Attas: When you look at Pakistan’s economy indicators you will always find it to be a very significant market not only in this region but even globally. It has a total population of 180 million people and more than 40% are 20-40 years old. It clearly reflects that this is a high potential market. It’s one of the strategic markets for P&G. The market has been very promising for the company to grow but it’s not only us but also other international companies have realized the same. A company of our skills and history has been around for 175 years. We have been through disasters, different economics and different markets and with the accumulation of these experiences we find ways that help us to get through.

Q. what are P&G contributions to the Pakistan economy?

Yassin Attas: Our contributions to Pakistan have multiple facets , we see ourselves as an investor, not only in machinery/equipment but also in the well being and the man power of Pakistani community.

For instance our investment in the community stems from our global cause that is Learn, Live and Thrive which has different programs which cater to differ-ent elements. Live stands for providing living opportunity for new born children. Learn provides access to education being formal or informal and thrive means to give them skills for a life.

Q. How has P&G contributed to the CSr sector of Pakistan?

Yassin Attas: After the tragic

earthquake of 2005, we have built two seismic compliant schools in the Azad Kashmir region. Today we have around 2000 children studying in those schools. These schools are providing subsidized education for the children who don’t have access to education. In the later stages we have also built schools in the areas of Islamabad with same partners READ foundation

Recent floods in 2010/11 were one of the most devastating natural disasters and we tried as much as we can to provide support to the local communities in different ways, one of which has been PUR safe drinking water, the purifying sachets that can be used to purify drink-ing water. We have provided 280 million liters of safe drinking water, which is equivalent to 1.5 million families.

Contributing to thePakistan economyYassin Attas, Director External Relations for Middle East & Pakistan, joined P&G two months after it started operations and last month he celebrated his 20th year with Procter & Gamble. His background is diverse with the company having worked in different fields including manufacturing, operational, and logistics. For the last few years he has been heading the external relation function for the Middle East and Pakistan region. Here is what he had to say about P&G’s affiliation with Pakistan and the economy.

Yassin Attas

Q


interview

Even during the IDP crisis P&G dis-tributed its household brands in IDP relief camps for displaced people.

Q. Do you have a fixed budget for CSr?

Yassin Attas: The Budget is not fixed in relation to our operational cost because whatever we do, we believe it is quite priceless but what matters is the program and benefits to that community. Some-times we don’t have the right budget to offer but we still find ways, calling on the support of other companies and other organizations to help the community from a common platform. So it’s not like we have an equation for this, but wherever we can create a difference and an edge, we just mobilize the needed action.

Q. How do you see Pakistani market in the near future?

Yassin Attas: When you look at the different layers of Pakistan you will see the true essence of this country. This is a very promising market of 187 million population, you have at least 70 million living in urban centres, you have minimum 10million household in the country. In coming years this will continue growing, this is even bigger than a whole continent in certain markets. So looking at our focus and strategies we need to grow and win the heart of every household in Pakistan. So this is why we see Pakistan as a strategic market. We have been here for 20 years and so this is why we are really confident of our heritage and operations that we have a very bright future in Paki-stan, InshAllah.

Q. How has P&G contributed to the Pakistani economy?

Yassin Attas: We have been contrib-uting to the Pakistani economy in many different ways even if we start from the

investment that we have been doing, there have been millions of dollars been invested to install and operate the plants I just mentioned, this is the direct invest-ment. The indirect benefit of creating an investment like this is that we create a foundation for local value addition from material and manufacturing base. Employment which is a critical need of Pakistan, through our operations we have created direct and indirect jobs that are in 1000s.

Our CSR program have touched and improved the lives of more than 21 million individuals in Pakistan. Globally there has been more than 2.1 billion litres of safe drinking water distributed across the globe. Pakistan has benefitted from 500 million litters of that which is 25% of the total. We also take pride in the fact that the only manufacturer for Pur; the safe drinking water sachets is based here in Pakistan which is in Balochistan near our Hub plant and that covers the entire globe.

Q. Do you feel that these contribu-tions have been significant in Paki-stan’s economy?

Yassin Attas: In terms of talent, today we have more than 99% of the local talents here in our operations in Pakistan with very few exceptions. Not only that, but we have 50 talented Pakistanis work-ing at different locations globally oversee-ing challenging assignments. We’ve always looked at Pakistan as an important pool of talent. This has created a very helpful rotation by bringing back these talents home to their communities.

Q. So what is the organization going to achieve after having these CSr programs?

Yassin Attas: There’s much focus on

the upcoming inauguration of the P&G Home, at the SOS village in Islamabad. There are a number of schools that need more equipment, more furnishing, more tools and facilities to make the education experience even more exciting. For the mobile clinics of Pampers, you know there are villages and areas that we haven’t covered as yet, so we can even expand the reach of those programs.

Q. How do you find your visit to Pakistan?

Yassin Attas: I personally enjoy com-ing to (Pakistan) all the time to meet all the people who have really been doing a great job here. It’s a very exciting place. I’ve been to many different places; to Muzaffarabad, to Islamabad, to the Hub area, to Port Qasim, to Karachi, I’m look-ing (forward) to go to Lahore. There’ve been a couple of times that opportunities have come very close but because of last minute changes I couldn’t go there.

Recent floods in 2010/11 were one of the most devastating natural disasters and we tried as much as we can to provide support to the local communities in different ways, one of which has been PUR safe drinking water, the purifying sachets that can be used to purify drinking water. We have provided 280 million liters of safe drinking water, which is equivalent to 1.5 million families.

Our CSR program have touched and improved the lives of more than 21 million individuals in Pakistan. Globally there has been more than 2.1 billion litres of safe drinking water distributed across the globe. Pakistan has benefitted from 500 million litters of that which is 25% of the total


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At least two cults are active in this story. One is a Christian sect known as the Society of Witnesses, whose

pamphleteering members refuse lifesaving surgery. The second cult is more Aum-ish and more mysterious. It is called Sakigake (which might mean “forerunner”, “precur-sor”, or “pioneer”), and from two wounded escapees we hear some very nasty things about its leader.

Other groupings in the novel can also seem cult-like in structure. One of the two main characters is a maths teacher and writer, Tengo, who gets drawn by his editor into a literary conspiracy: he ghost-rewrites a novel by a teenage girl, which then wins a prize and becomes a bestseller. (Murakami’s translators Rubin and Gabriel, assigned a volume each to meet a rush publishing schedule, have also conspired successfully in producing an English version of limpid consistency.) Elsewhere in Tokyo, an elderly woman known only as the Dowager runs a shelter for female victims of domestic violence. To inflict clandestine punishment on the brutish men, the Dowager retains the services of the novel’s other main character: a woman named Aomame, a martial-arts instructor and physical therapist.

Echoes, here, of the themes of Stieg

Haruki Murakami has always been a cult writer, if one can say that about a novelist who regularly sells millions, both in his native Japan and in translation. Well, 1Q84 – an epic romance in three “books” and two volumes (Book 3, translated by Philip Gabriel, is published separately) – is his cult novel. In Underground (2000), Murakami interviewed former members of the

Aum sect and survivors of its 1995 nerve-gas attack on the Tokyo subway. In that book, he implicitly promised a fictional engagement with the subject of cults; now he has delivered.

RIGHT OFF THE SHELF

December 25, 201162 SuNday PluS

An epic tAle…

Title: 1Q84Author: Haruki Murakami

Pages: 925Price: Rs. 2195Genre: Fiction }}

Larsson’s Millennium trilogy, but what doesn’t often happen in Swedish noir is that groups of terrifying leprechauns emerge from the mouths of goats and people, or that characters look up and see a second moon, misshapen and moss-coloured, hanging in the sky. Yes, this is a Haruki Murakami novel, where magical and dreamlike phenomena are deadpanned into existence with the same calm craft that his characters routinely employ in cooking themselves delicious-sounding Japanese meals:

He put the sliced celery and mushrooms into the frying pan. Turning the gas flame up to high and lightly jogging the pan, he carefully stirred the contents with a bamboo spatula, adding a sprinkle of salt and pepper. When the vegetables were just beginning to cook, he tossed the drained shrimp into the pan. After adding another dose of salt and pepper to the whole thing, he poured in a small glass of sake. Then a dash of soy sauce and finally a scattering of Chinese parsley. [...]

The novel is set in 1984, but when Aomame sees a news report about the con-struction of a joint American-Soviet moon base, and then a second moon in the sky, she deduces that she has stumbled into a differ-ent universe, which she christens 1Q84: the “Q” stands for “question”. Alternate worlds, in previous Murakami works such as The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle and Sputnik Sweet-heart, have usually been places where a man is looking for a woman he has lost. The same is true here, except that the search is mutual, and 1Q84 worries more disconcertingly at the possibility of becoming “irretrievably lost”, a phrase that appears several times, growing ever creepier. Once you have crossed over, there is no guarantee of successful navigation or escape: “She sensed that she had found her way into a region that was completely foreign to her – a deep ocean trench, say, or the surface of an unknown as-teroid: the kind of place it might be possible to reach with great effort, but from which return was impossible.”

In 1Q84, meanwhile, Tengo is lured into “chaotic territory” and calls the (real) world “labyrinth-like”, while Aomame’s own brain itself becomes a maze: “her cerebrum – the gray labyrinth where consciousness resided”.

In outline, this vast novel’s plot is elementary: boy and girl meet, part, and look for each other, with the kind of melancholy yearning that Murakami has long had tuned to a high art. The novelist has said, however, that he wanted to make this “simple” story as “complicated” as possible. That he has certainly accomplished, and the book’s sheer

length virtually guarantees that a certain scene near the end, in a playground, will be tremendously affecting.

Disparate pleasures are each given time to grow rich by the novel’s long span, espe-cially a sad, funny and ultimately wrenching portrait of a private detective, who unexpect-edly becomes a third focus of third-person narration in the third book. 1Q84 is not self-consciously hard-boiled in the manner of Murakami’s early fiction (say, A Wild Sheep Chase), but it builds up gradually to a few passages of extremely potent suspense.

Uncanny mysteries haunt the novel: a nurse who claims to be a reincarnation (but of whom?), and a peculiarly insistent TV licence-fee collector who is heard but never seen. Little voices irrupting into the text seemingly from nowhere (“’Ho ho,’ says the keeper of the beat”), meanwhile, begin to evoke the slow-burning dread of Don’t Look Now and Rosemary’s Baby. Near-despair is rarely too far, though, from a certain forlorn comedy. At one doleful turn, “Tengo started to have doubts about the difference between a person being alive and being dead. Maybe there really wasn’t much of a difference to begin with, he thought. Maybe we just decided, for convenience’s sake, to insist on a difference.” At length, however, Tengo decides that there is a difference after all: “Being alive, if you had to define it, meant emitting a variety of smells.” (Murakami has said that his favourite film director is Aki Kaurismäki, the hilariously dismal Finn. That fits.) The slipped cosmos of 1Q84 encompasses, as well, narratives of even stranger worlds: in particular, a superlatively eerie fable about a “Town of Cats”, which even devoted Murakami admirers would not want to visit.

Cultural touchstones help to anchor people in Murakami’s shifting realities. There are references in 1Q84 to Chekhov, Stanley Kubrick, Dostoevsky, Lewis Carroll, Macbeth, and Carl Jung, though the most important works cited are musical.

Writing in the New York Times last year, Murakami called himself “a teller of stories […] a hopefully humble pilot of the mind and spirit”. His diagnosis of cults, in both Underground and 1Q84, is that they are dangerously effective feeders of people’s need for stories.

Throughout Murakami’s oeuvre, his char-acters never cease to express their baffle-ment about the nature of time, or change, or consciousness, or moral choice, or the simple fact of finding themselves alive, in this world or another.

RIGHT OFF THE SHELF

SuNday PluSDecember 25, 2011 63

H H H

Synopsis: We were a world of two, my mother and I, until I started turning into an American girl. That’s when she began telling me about The Good Daughter. It became a taunt, a warning, an omen. Jasmin Darznik came to America from Iran when she was only three years old, and she grew up knowing very little about her family’s history. When she was in her early twenties, on a day shortly following her father’s death, Jasmin was helping her mother move; a photograph fell from a stack of old letters. The girl pictured was her mother. She was wearing a wedding veil, and at her side stood a man whom Jasmin had never seen before. At first, Jasmin’s mother, Lili, refused to speak about the photograph, and Jasmin returned to her own home frustrated and confused. But a few months later, she received from her mother the first of ten cassette tapes that would bring to light the wrenching hidden story of her family’s true origins in Iran: Lili’s marriage at thirteen, her troubled history of abuse and neglect, and a daughter she was forced to abandon in order to escape that life. The final tape revealed that Jasmin’s sister, Sara The Good Daughter was still living in Iran. In this sweeping, poignant, and beautifully written memoir, Jasmin weaves the stories of three generations of Iranian women into a unique tale of one family’s struggle for freedom and understanding. The result is an enchanting and unforgettable story of secrets, betrayal, and the unbreakable mother-daughter bond.

The Good Daughter: A Memoir of My Mother’s Hidden LifeAuthor: Jasmin Darznik | Pages: 336 Price: Rs. 1295 | Genre: Fiction

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December 25, 2011 64 SuNday PluS

Eat Sweets Be Happy!

Each Krizmah bag comes with a story. This bag is inspired by the traditional annual spring festival of the Kalash people in the middle of May. Through mystical dances and hymns the Kalash turn out in large numbers, in colourful dresses, to pray for an abundance of honey, grapes and walnuts in their valley. It is chic and smart; a must grab for you!

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