Karachi resident and former police officer Humayun Ali Khan’s agreement to put down both his dogs that attacked Advocate Mirza Akhtar in DHA Phase-VI is a move that screams scapegoating, especially considering his failure to show up to the initial hearing. In lieu of facing legal action, the owner has reached a compromise with the […]
Of late, drivers and pedestrians visiting and travelling through Lahore’s cantonment area will notice that many roads now have dual names. While the official names of the roads are mounted on blue plaques, there are now new shiny blue plaques mounted right under them. On those second plaques are written (in brackets) the names of […]
There bombs, including one car bomb, targeted Sayed Al-Shuhada school in Kabul on Saturday; as one bomb exploded and students rushed out of the school in panic, the other two bombs detonated, killing 85 and injuring 147 people. At the time of the bombing the only students present in the school were girls, some of […]
February 27th marks two years since the Balakot airstrike and Pakistan shooting down an Indian plane while capturing one pilot, Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman. Abhinandan was later freed as a gesture of peace on March 1 and a statue of the Indian pilot was installed at the PAF Museum in Karachi, hence the joke lives on to this […]
Submission by Vardah Gill. Have an opinion you’d like to share? Write to us here. A couple of months ago, an article was published shedding light on the expulsion of a student with learning disabilities from a well-reputed private school in Pakistan. The reason given by the school authorities was pointing towards his failing grades […]
Samar Khan Samar Khan is a Pakistani mountain biker and adventure athlete who is the first to cycle on the Biafo Glacier. Khan is also the first Pakistani to have cycled on the Roof of Africa, UHURU PEAK, Kilimanjaro. She also holds a Master’s in Physics. Khan talks about her terrible experience at the hands of […]
What happened Cinemas are shut down in many parts of the world due to coronavirus lockdown restrictions however, Chinese consumers are watching movies so much these days that box-office revenues are breaking records. Chinese consumers returned to cinemas as the country contained the spread of COVID-19 in most regions last year. What you should know […]
Who is Jared Kushner? Jared Kushner is a Former White House senior adviser and also the son-in-law to former US President, Donald Trump. He has been nominated for the 2021 Nobel Prize by Harvard Law School Professor Emeritus Alan Dershowitz. About his nomination for the Nobel Prize Kushner and his deputy, Avi Berkowitz, have been […]
What you should know Renowned sneaker company Atoms and Queer Eye star Tan France have collaborated to release a special edition shoe. Atoms whose owners are Pakistani and France who also happens to be of Pakistani descent have teamed up to create special edition shoes. Read: Atoms co-founders record heartwarming video for fans back home in Punjabi […]
Kamran, a photographer and tourist, in a thread on Twitter states how 3 times K2 summiter Fazal Ali who is part of Ali Sadpara’s rescue mission told him, “A Balti porter told me that even their mules carrying luggage to the basecamp have a better insurance than we do.” He also asked his followers if […]
Ali Xeeshan is a fashion designer renowned for his extravagant bridal dresses. Many consider the designer’s work bold and progressive, however, the new fashion line comes with a serious purpose. https://www.instagram.com/tv/CK_GSR3lGoI/?utm_source=ig_embed Xeeshan’s recent line named ‘NUMAISH- a pledge against dowry’ doesn’t just have profound designs but a great message condemning dowry. The collection is inspired […]
Rastah is a Pakistani streetwear label that works to celebrate Pakistani culture in a sustainable way. Recently the brand is set to launch a new collection, ‘INTERMISSION III’ which aims to counter censorship with fashion. The collection ranges from the artistically-printed bomber and denim jackets to block-printed sweatpants. However, many on Twitter have criticized the […]
Peace talks In an interview with a local news agency, TCM, Afghan Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid when asked about the role of foreign countries and their interference in the Afghan peace negotiations mentioned that, “no country can interfere in peace talks, however, if any country wants to help they can, including Pakistan. Qatar has offered […]
The Twitter account called Bobbywood is photoshopping Bollywood actor Bobby Deol into scenes from famous Hollywood movies. Vijay Singh Deol known as Bobby Deol is an acclaimed Bollywood actor most renowned for his roles in ‘Dosti’, ‘Players’, ‘Yamla Pagla Deewaana’ and more. He’s the son of the legendary Indian actor Dharmendra. Here are some of […]
In an interview with the Pakistani magazine Hello Pakistan, acclaimed fashion designer and star of the Netflix show Queer Eye, Tanveer Wasim “Tan” France talked about his journey, his roots, and the double-edged sword of representation in the world of showbiz. “I’m an immigrant, I’m Muslim, I’m South Asian and I’m gay – and there […]
Who was Asma Jahangir? Asma Jahangir (1952-2018) was Pakistan’s leading human rights lawyer. She showed incredible courage in defending the most defenceless Pakistanis – women, children, religious minorities and the poor for about three-decades, and founded the first legal aid centre in Pakistan in 1986. Jahangir courageously took on very complicated cases and won. For her […]
After The News published an article about the COAS Qamer Bajwa waiting in line for an egg at a brunch with his family, Twitteratis had a lot to say. The article quoted ‘He picked his food by holding his plate and waited for in a queue to collect his egg omelette. He didn’t ask for […]
Faizan Ahmad is a visual storyteller who published his first book, Lahore by Metro on a crowdfunding site, Kickstarter this month. “Lahore by Metro is a book that captures the emotion and stories of a common Pakistani, in powerful portraits and moving stories,” said Ahmad in a tweet. ‘Back in 2013, I moved to Lahore, […]
After #BoycottCannoli trended on Twitter and the video of two women humiliating their employee’s lack of English skills went viral, people on social media are furious and many have taken great offence. A Facebook event titled ‘Cannoli ke Bahir Urdu Mushaira‘ was created by Lime Soda Show as an act to ‘protest’ against the owners […]
The last Jinn story ended with a cliffhanger about the family selling the house so we brought you an update. ‘If you guys read my last jinn thread you’d know about all the different shit that used to happen in our old house. We all shifted about 3 weeks back. And that land doesn’t even […]
Is gathering thousands of people during a pandemic is morally and politically correct or not? As Pakistan Democratic Movement prepares for its sixth and final power show in Lahore, the accused Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf government has been anxiously trying to stop PDM. Many believe that the lockdown 2.0 due to the second wave of Coronavirus outbreak, […]
What Happened? Monday night, Hareem Shah posted a video of her slapping the controversial Maulvi, Abdul Qavi. The video shortly acclaimed popularity on social media and Twitteratis had mixed opinions. In the video, Qavi is seen sitting on a bed using his phone when a woman in red clothing comes in and slaps him across […]
This action-packed Jinn story is guaranteed to leave u sleepless! This Twitter user opened up about her multiple Jinn encounters which continue to haunt her family. ‘First, you need to know a little about the land to understand the different people and parts of the stories.’ Her story begins The land we live on is […]
Continuing the trend of Jinn encounters, we found another bone-chilling Jinn story for you. 19-year-old writer Huzaifa Nizam shared his experience with lucid dreaming and the ‘woman in white’ on Twitter ‘ The weirdest possession of mine is a picture of a woman who used to haunt me in my dreams when I was in […]
Things can get pretty stressful during quarantine if you live alone or are working from home. Meditation, proper rest, aromatherapy and a fresh indoor environment can be a great way of coping with the general anxiety of being alive in 2020 and moving into 2021 with the hope of things improving. Whether you’re scouring for […]
Established in 1879, and dubbed South Asia’s oldest bakery, Mohkam-ud-din & Sons Bakers is famous for its scrumptious cakes and finger biscuits. Located in Lahore, the provincial capital of Punjab, the bakery is renowned for offering the same delicious taste and quality to its loyal customers even a 140 years after its inception. Kushbakht Hussain […]
Most of our year was spent lounging around barefoot at our house in our mismatched tops and bottoms without a care in the world (except of course the life-threatening worldwide pandemic) but if you’re ready to turn things around for 2021 and put up a more organised exterior so your life can at least attempt […]
Wearable ketamine either sounds like a fashion brand named by a teenager or a street name for ketamine cut with other drugs, but in fact it is neither of those things. Wearable ketamine is a medical device for to be used for the purposes of pain management. The wearable version of the anesthetic drug, commonly […]
Whether you need flowers for the ongoing Shaadi season or are looking to buy a bouquet for a friend’s birthday, your anniversary or just the New Years’ celebration, here is a list of 5 online flower shops primarily based in Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad that can help brighten up our homes during the pandemic ridden […]
With Christmas approaching, it can be quite stressful to think of different gift ideas for friends and family. The thought truly does count when giving someone a present but it’s also great if the person receiving the gift actually likes it, and/or needs it. Here’s a perfectly categorised list of items for every type of […]
Over the past few years, there has been a significant surge in the popularity of online stores. The easy access, endless variety, and the occasional opportunity to support local brands is a source of attraction to all sorts of buyers. Here are five Instagram clothing stores that will most definitely brighten up not only your […]
Sheikh Rasheed has had a long and fruitful career in politics, spanning 15 years and 35 ministries. Though how he has managed to stay in power for so long is incomprehensible for the vast majority of Pakistanis, as the man is considered somewhat of a national embarrassment. Sheikh Rasheed bears no loyalty to anyone or […]
Valentine’s Day, a day for love is not always about romantic love hence all of our loved ones deserve heartfelt gestures in form of presents so they can feel appreciated. If there’s an abundance of people you would want to cheer up or if you’re running a little short on $$$, here’s a list of […]
The Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Ordinance, 2020, was signed by Governor Anandiben Patel on the 28th of November. It was formulated four days earlier by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government, against forced and fraudulent religious conversion. The ‘anti-love jihad’ law, as it is commonly known, describes certain interfaith marriages as a conspiracy to convert […]
If you’ve noticed the fascinating billboards that are unlike any others gracing the buildings of Lahore then you’ve seen the Lahore Biennale Foundation’s (LBF) latest project, Zinda-dil-a’an-e-Lahore. It is a meant to be a homage to the city of Lahore and its residents, and the aim is to connect the people together by way of […]
If you’re out scouring for sweatshirts to add to your winter closet and don’t know where to begin or are uncertain if you’re investing your money in the right product with the correct ratio of style to comfort, here’s a comparative list of 11 sweatshirts from different brands to help you make the right decision. […]
If sitting at your study table is getting harder by the day, it’s time to change things up! These local Insta stores supply amazing stationery material that will not only add flair and color to your regular stationery supplies but also help you stay motivated! The Cuckoo Shop (@thecuckooshop) They sell all the cutest little […]
As easy as it has become to access your favorite novels and books online with the world gravitating more and more towards laptops and tablet screens, some of us just cannot do without the feeling of an actual book in our hands. Nothing tops snuggling up in bed on these cold winter nights with a […]
Sweatshirts are usually associated with gym and loungewear but we all know how inaccurate that is by now. With a little bit of imagination and a few choice items, we can always style sweatshirts to turn our outfits into fashionable ensembles that we can wear outside. Since winter is upon us and it’s about to […]
You will be surprised to find out how much fast fashion contributes towards pollution and climate change. Not only do thrift stores offer a huge variety of clothes all in one place, and are extremely affordable but they also help tackle this environmental issue. If you have never bought clothes from a thrift store and […]
Zen Skincare has the distinction of being Pakistan’s first natural skincare line for men. In a country like Pakistan where skincare is often viewed as the domain of women, there are only paltry offerings for men. And, even those rarely if ever extend beyond the usual international brands selling 3-in-1 style face, body and hair […]
If you’re tired of staring at your blank walls, boring overhead lighting and living in a room that doesn’t go well with your personality or if you’re just looking to revamp your room and spice things up a bit now that it has literally become your permanent habitat because of the pandemic. Here are some […]
It is ideal to always take care of your skin but as winter reaches its climax now that December’s here, it is important that we prioritize skincare so we don’t come out of our caves all crusty and busted when winter ends. Not only will that make you feel refreshed, but having a skincare routine […]
2020 has been hard for everyone but good things can still happen in this year, for instance a tiny bird lost at sea found salvation in a whale watching tour boat. Domenic Biagini, founder of Gone Whale Watching, uploaded a video earlier today which has restored our faith in humanity. A little bird had been […]
Back in July 2020, a group of seven friends who shared a common vision came together and laid the foundation for an NGO called “Muruna”, which is an Arabic word that stands for resilience or toughness–the capacity to recover from difficulties. Muruna aims to empower women affected by poverty, physical and mental abuse, violence, lack […]
If you are a photographer, you know how hard it is to make an impressive portfolio, from getting the right equipment to building a strong clientele. Photography requires a lot of effort and commitment especially when the industry itself is highly competitive and it is hard to monetize your work. In this day and age, […]
Set against the facade of the beautiful Margalla Hills, Islamabad is a city of scenic sunsets and stunning skies. It is a perfect city to be in if you are somebody who loves nature and wants to be at peace. But sometimes, the quietness that lingers in the air may induce a feeling of loneliness, […]
If you don’t live under a rock, you already know our world is facing a major climate crisis right now, and every little step you take can go a long way. Not only do the following stores have awesome products and your everyday necessities but they’re also playing a part in fighting this environmental crisis. […]
What is happening: The nationwide strike called for by central trade unions on Thursday, coupled with the ‘Delhi Chalo’ rallies of farmers in north India, led to a near total shutdown in a few states and protests in others. Indian trade union leaders issued a clarion call to the government to repeal anti-worker labour codes […]
Former finance minister Ishaq Dar, who lives in self-imposed exile in London, appeared on BBC HardTalk, where the programme host Stephen Sackur grilled him about his properties and return to Pakistan in the show’s characteristic interrogative style. He said that these corruption allegations were frequently used as a pretext for political persecution in Pakistan’s history. Dar, […]
What’s happening: Thousands of farmers have entered the capital New Delhi for a planned protest against new farm laws hours after the police fired several rounds of tear gas and used water cannons to stop the Dilli Chalo (Go to Delhi) march. More than 300,000 farmers marched from the states of Punjab and Haryana – […]
The pandemic has put a stop to many things, but even it cannot stall the tide of creativity. When inspiration strikes, it’s imperative to act fast and that’s exactly what musician Maanu did when he filmed and dropped his new music video during the pandemic. Maanu whose real name is Rehman Afshar, is a talented […]
A jail in the Purnia District of Bihar, India, is in the process of installing an ATM inside its premises. While this move may seems bizarre or benevolent to some depending on how much you know about prison labour. It is neither of those things, the ATM is being installed, primarily, to stop overcrowding at […]
Having a bank account is essential these days. Gone are the days when people would exclusively use cash, or hide their savings under mattresses and in locked cabinets. With economic globalisation and the advent of e-commerce everyone needs a bank account, as often the most convenient way to pay for services is through your bank. […]
On this day, 1967 Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto founded the Pakistan People Party and set a new face of democratic front in the political discourse of Pakistan. PPP has witnessed both democratic and military regime control. The hardship and violence that PPP leadership faced during its budding period has given this political party a special place […]
A warm cup of coffee during the cold winter days can be a great source of comfort and delight. And, since we’ve all dug out our sweaters and jackets now it means that the winter has fully arrived. So, there’s no better time than now to make yourself a nice cup of piping hot coffee, […]
Giant killer asteroids don’t hit Earth very frequently, but the impact of the last one that wiped out the dinosaurs some 66 million years ago has made everyone wary of them. There’s already enough to worry about in 2020, with the pandemic and an economic slowdown going on, thus to lessen some of your worries […]
The pandemic didn’t allow us to get another season of Coke Studio this year, but Velo Soundstation stepped in to be a potential replacement. What remains to be seen is if Velo Soundstation is actually a good enough to steal the crown from Coke Studio or not. Velo Sounstation’s first episode came out on the […]
Ikram Sehgal is well known for being a defence analyst and chairman of the Pathfinder group (which owns two of the largest security companies of the country). However, what is not common knowledge is that he is also the first Pakistani prisoner of war (POW) to escape from India. Ikram Sehgal was an army officer […]
On Friday, Prominent Iranian military scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh was killed in an attack outside Tehran. Mohsen was widely seen as the mastermind of Iranian efforts to develop nuclear weapons by Western intelligence. This incident has not been well received by Iranian administration. Hassan Rohani, the president of Iran has accused Israel for the killing of […]
Shoaib Akhtar and Abdul Razzaq, two titans of the cricket world, have played for Pakistan on every stage and made the country proud. But, if you’ve ever wondered how Shoaib Akhtar managed to come out ahead of Abdul Razzaq in the batting lineup then here’s your answer. In a funny video posted to his Instagram, […]
Today’s Google Doodle pays tribute to one of the greatest modern Urdu language writers, Bano Qudsia. Affectionately known as Bano Aapa, her work as a novelist and playwright earned her great acclaim. Her most famous pieces of work are the novel ‘Raja Gidh’ (The Vulture King) and the Urdu classic play ‘Aadhi Baat’ (Half Talk/Half […]
Smog season is upon us. And it has already made the air quality so bad that on some days the air quality in Lahore, especially, crossed unhealthy to become actually hazardous. So, if you want to breathe easier and are looking to make sure you’re taking care of your health then invest in an air […]
Back in 2011, two policemen allegedly stole Rs. 100 million in both Pakistani rupees and foreign currency. This sounds like something out of a cops gone bad type of film, but it actually happened. On the 19th of June, 2011, two policemen allegedly robbed a vehicle carrying Rs. 100 million worth of foreign and Pakistani […]
December is the month of birthdays, if your own birthday isn’t in December then you definitely know multiple people who are born in December. So it can be tough having to find so many different gifts, which is why we have curated this list of wonderful presents that can be found locally. Busy Daisyy: Busy […]
Terrible things, unfortunately, happen everyday but sometimes unfathomably horrible incidents occur that leave entire nations in shock and grief. The motorway rape case, the Arzoo Raja forced conversion and marriage case and the Kashmore gang rape incident are all heinous crimes that shocked Pakistan. But what happens after the initial horror and grief subsides, and […]
T/W: Assault, Rape, Domestic Violence Background: Today is International Violence Against Women Day, this day celebrates the struggle of government and organizations for eliminating every kind of violence against all women. So let’s talk about Pakistan’s role in fighting the evil of violence against women. Pakistan ranks 164 out of 167 countries on the Women, […]
If there’s one thing Pakistanis excel at it’s making memes. If memes were a currency then we would have payed off Pakistan’s debt by now. Given the tense political situation Pakistanis are doing what they do best and easing the tension by roasting both sides. 1. The master of disguise: “What a great costume! Can’t […]
We asked our loyal readers to help us find Pakistan’s best anday wala burger and you all came through. With the help of our foodies-in-the-know we have made a definitive list of the best anday wala burgers in Pakistan, so that no matter where you are when the craving strikes you’ll know where to go. […]
This year has been a rollercoaster ride for the world in every aspect. From raging pandemic to social unrest, we have witnessed superpowers struggling with basic health policies and due election process. But one thing which became the highlights of Muslim world was the salacious romance between the Gulf states and Israel. Just a side […]
Shamim Akhtar, more popularly known as Shamim Bibi was the mother of the former Prime Minister of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif and his brother, current opposition leader in the National Assembly, Shehbaz Sharif. Shamim Bibi passed away in London, on Sunday morning, the 22nd of November. میاں صاحب کے سر سے ماں کا دعاوں بھرا سایہ […]
Everyone has heard that they should be saving some part of their salary. But, many people just starting their professional careers don’t know how much they should be putting away regularly in order to retire by a suitable age. Afterall, no one wants to be toiling away forever so it’s important to save enough while […]
Misogyny, bigotry and violence would be the ideal words to define the cultural norms of Pakistan’s film industry. Just like any other entertainment industry in the world, Lollywood also has a dark side filled with conspiracies, gangsters and murders. Many of these chilling stories are associated with actresses or dancers. Female entertainers always had rough […]
The Government of Pakistan has recently passed new laws to regulate social media. However, these laws been the subject of much criticism by digital activists and major social media companies. The Asia Internet Coalition (AIC) said, “The Rules would make it extremely difficult for AIC members to make their services available to Pakistani users and […]
19th Nov, 2020 Khadim Hussain Rizvi, leader of Pakistan’s most prominent religious party died because of cardiac arrest. Khadim led the most charged up Sunni-Barelvi movement in the last two years. From intense rhetoric to unapologetic threats, he set a new tone of political Islam within the region. For the past few years we have […]
I only need the youth of Pakistan to bring change, not big names or big politicians, said Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan during his first maga public demonstration. Background: This promise led to the phenomenon of mobilisation by PTI among young voters. Imran’s charisma and populist demand made him more important for the public. The […]
Winter is here and we all need to keep warm, but that doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice your style for comfort. Here are 10 winter jackets that will help you see the season through in style. Sapphire: This lightweight puffer will keep you warm and last through many a winter. It’s retailing for Rs.5,490. […]
Back in 2014, Jon Boone, a senior analyst at The Guardian, wrote an article about Imran Khan and Haqani exposé The article states, “The political party led by the former cricket star Imran Khan claims to have blown the cover of the CIA’s most senior officer in Pakistan as part of an increasingly high-stakes campaign […]
Background: Education ministers held a meeting on Monday which was chaired by Federal Minister for Education, Shafqat Mahmood. A few suggestions and recommendations were discussed however no final decision was taken and the government announced that another meeting next week would take place to further deliberate on the issue. Propergaanda launched a survey in which […]
Amid much confusion late on Thursday night, news of Tehreek e Labbaik chief Allama Khadim Hussain Rizvi’s death started floating on Twitter before they eventually made headlines. Less than an hour later, voice notes and videos were being forwarded on Whatsapp groups claiming the cleric had started breathing again. As a large number of TLP […]
Mar Menor is one of the largest seawater lagoons in all of Europe. It is located in the Spanish province of Murica. At first glance it seems like an idyllic place, with an abundance of birds like flamingos and cormorants flocking to the waters of the Lagoon. However, if one lingers near Mar Menor it […]
There is no shortage of talent in Pakistan and that is evidenced by its local art scene, which is now thriving. Here are 10 artists that are contributing to leveling up Pakistan’s art game by creating unique, beautiful pieces of art. Annem Zaidi: She is a lahore based artist, who graduated with Bachelors of Fine […]
Background: According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), mental disorders account for more than four percent of the total disease burden in Pakistan. It found the burden to be higher among women. According to research studies of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, mental illness and disorders have blown out of proportion in Pakistan within […]
What happened: On Monday, Cabinet Committee on Privatisation (CCoP) approved the transaction structure for the divestment of 96.6 per cent shares of Heavy Electrical Complex (HEC), and constituted a committee to improve upon the transaction structure for Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM). PSM was once the pride of Pakistan for being a state-owned equity. Z.A. Bhutto […]
39.5% of Pakistani women are married before the age of 18, according to the Pakistan Demographic and Health survey (DHS) survey of 2017. The scourge of child marriage is still prevalent in Pakistan. The recent Arzoo Raja case, where a 13 year old Christian girl was forced to convert and marry a 44 year old […]
What is happening: Pakistan has recorded nearly 15,000 cases this month alone, giving credence to health experts’ warnings about a second wave of the novel coronavirus. The number of active cases has reached 24,938 Back In September, the number of cases dropped to less than 300 but in October cases again started increasing due to which […]
Background: Over the last few years, Pakistan’s Barelvi movement has become politically active and religiously mobilized. The social movement discourse in Pakistan has been disrupted as new actors are getting involved through dangerous channels. Not to mention that our history is greatly affected by ideological positionality however religious sentiments have never been exploited like that since […]
Widely enjoyed and equally criticized, dance has been a part of culture dating as far back as humankind, but there is some cultural dissonance in Pakistan regarding this art form. We love it and we love to hate it too. While it might be socially acceptable to dance at the weddings of close friends and […]
The recent sorcery related deaths of five people, including the hanging of a 13 year old boy, have highlighted the epidemic of sorcery related violence in Papua New Guinea (PNG). The population of this small pacific island nation is composed of various clans, the vast majority of whom inhabit remote villages with no access to […]
The Gilgit Baltistan Legislative Assembly (GBA) election is set to take place on November 15, 2020. A dozen political and religious groups, including the three largest political parties in Pakistan, have campaigned in the region to win popular support. Alliance and compromises are done frequently by different political parties to win this election Number of […]
If we look at 2020, nearly every country has faced the repercussions of pandemic through economic downfall or social unrest. But America has shown itself to be exceptional in the worst possible ways. No other rich country has such a poor public health infrastructure and shattered social safety net. America’s levels of both police violence […]
The FBR recently sent notice to the Director of Master Tiles asking him to explain his source of income after he reportedly spent millions on his daughter’s wedding. This along with the pictures from that wedding set social media ablaze, with everyone debating which Pakistani wedding is the most garish and ostentatious. So, in order […]
Daraz is a popular online shopping platform and it is offering a wide variety of deals ranging from phones to home appliances. The range of products on offer is great on Daraz. But, with major 11/11 sales and with a plethora of deals one can be overwhelmed by choice. So to make it easy for […]
“Women fear epithets because they are warnings, threats, proof that a woman has made a wrong step in her relationship to the world around her, proof that a man or men have noticed her and are angry.” —Right Wing Woman, Andrea Dworkin Not all epithets are created equal. Some epithets are more interesting in […]
Background: On Monday National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser called a crucial meeting of the parliamentary leaders in the National Assembly and the Senate for a briefing by “military officials on the current issues of national security” Democratic institution calling for military officials to instruct lawmakers is a weird request, isn’t it? Sadly this behaviour is […]
What happened: A video of newly elected American Vice president, Kamala Harris resurfaced on the internet which is worrying a lot of supporter; especially Muslim supporters. Back in 2017 Kamala delivered a speech at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) Policy Conference in which she referred to the US-Israel relationship as rock-solid. Why it’s […]
Background: A secretive campaign for introducing the presidential form of government in the country reached the Supreme Court through a petition filed on 28 August,2020 What this petition states: Petition states that Prime Minister Imran Khan should hold a nation-wide referendum and pave the way for introducing the presidential system to replace the existing parliamentary […]
In just few month American elections have brought the most intense political drama. Analysts and political scientists are worried about the outcome of the results. According to the experts, even if Trump loses he might not transfer the power peacefully. This depicts his ego driven behavior which some psychologists believe; is a major threat to […]
Gilgit-Baltistan ;the most important tourist attractions in Pakistan has a long history of struggle. For beginners, Gilgit-Baltistan are two separate places adjacent in the same region. Gilgit was liberated on November 1, 1947 while Baltistan was freed in 1948 as a result of a bloody freedom war. Where it began: Before independence, present-day GB was […]
Background: On 4 January 2011, Salmaan Taseer, the governor of Pakistan’s Punjab province, was killed by one of his security guards, Mumtaz Qadri. He said he committed the murder because, “this is the punishment for a blasphemer. This incident immediately set a precedent for violence in the name of religion. Pakistan has been a fervent […]
Every single day of this year had astonishing surprises for the world. From raging wildfires to civil unrest we witnessed nearly every crucial event historians have written about. And yes, the pandemic which swallowed millions of lives. But as we move towards the end of the year there’s another event which might or might not […]
If Pakistani celebrities cannot make the news interesting with groundbreaking and moving work, they sure can keep things fiery with controversy. Adding another incident to the list of irresponsible behaviour by big names of the industry is the recent tantrum of a renowned veteran designer Deepak Perwani on an Instagram Live with HSY. To a […]
On 27 October 1947, Indian Troops set foot on Kashmiri soil to occupy Srinagar. This act of force led to bloody war(s) and series of UN Security Council resolutions. In our mainstream discourse we are often told that Kashmiri struggles began after the inception . There is very little information and debate about how long […]
PDM- Pakistan Democratic Movement is an alliance of 11-political party which has three major stakeholders; two leaders from political dynasties, PML-N Vice president Maryam Nawaz and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and the head of a religious political party, JUI-F Fazlur Rehman. All three of them come from different political orientations; the PML-N; center right, […]
PDM, an alliance of 11-political parties, hosted its third power show in Quetta. According to experts this movement is becoming more of a threat for the governmental institutions now. Interestingly the location selected for this third power show has a long history with opposition forces to do some catharsis and political banter. Balochistan as a […]
On Friday, Supreme Court declared that the presidential reference filed against Supreme Court judge Justice Qazi Faez Isa is “tainted with mala fide in law” Sounds fancy, right? But what’s the back story? You will find dozens of articles precisely talking about different angles of the Justice Isa case, we won’t be doing an analysis […]
Institute of Business and Administration Karachi hosted a virtual seminar in which Atif Mian; a Princeton University economist was supposed to deliver a lecture but he couldn’t make it and not because of any plausible reasons one might think, instead IBA had to cancel his lecture because they got threats from extremist groups. Just a […]
Background: PML-N party member Cpt. Safdar chanted unethical slogans at Jinnah Mausoleum on 19th October, the next morning he was arrested by Sindh Police from the hotel he was staying in. In the afternoon the opposition leader held a press conference and made an allegation against Pakistan Rangers. According to the opposition leaders, some officers […]
“When the house is on fire, you don’t tell someone to watch their tone as they yell for help”, said a young protester during Portland protest by Black Live Matter Movement. These words resonate with almost every person who belongs to this specific demographic; The Gen Z. In just a few years we have witnessed […]
Introduction:A self-growing cannabis tech company Seedo AND Germany-based media campaign outlet ABCD shared their findings in the updated Cannabis Price Index after aggregating data from 120 cities around the world. Interestingly Karachi scored the second position in the list with 41.95 metric tons of weed. Cannabis has been cultivated and consumed in Pakistan for centuries.But […]
Historical background: Jinnah’s Mausoleum which is commonly known as Mazaar-e- Quaid, is one of the most frequently used public spaces in Pakistan. Located in the heart of Karachi, Mazaar-e-Quaid is the final resting place for founder of Pakistan, Muhammad Ali Jinnah and his beloved sister Fatimah Jinnah. Its construction started in 1957 under the supervision […]
Anti-state speeches, slogans and a massive crowd; opposition leaders called out administration, government officials and some ex-official(s) for incompetence and corruption. Background: Pakistan Democratic Movement, is an opposition-led coalition of 11 political parties. They have planned to organize six major rallies across the country until December and eventually a long march in January 2021. Their […]
This opinion has been authored by ProperGaanda’s viewer, Nasar Qadir. The views and opinions represented in this article represent those of the author alone and do not represent the views and opinions of ProperGaanda. To submit your articles, email us at info@propergaanda.com In any society, the most uneasy question to ponder upon is the question […]
Authored by Talha Jameel (follow the author here). The views and opinions represented in this article belong to the author alone and do not represent the views and opinions of ProperGaanda. To submit your articles, email at info@propergaanda.com “You can persuade the masses to believe that something they are asked to do is religiously right […]
The recent floods across the country have shown just how deadly climate change has become. Although Pakistan has proven its commitment against climate change, and recently met its target a decade before the UN’s deadline, there is still plenty of room for improvement, especially on the civilian end. Here are just 5 very easy ways […]
Apple’s computers just never lose their appeal, despite the fact that there are other laptops out there capable of competing – and even beating – the MacBook in terms of performance. Whether it is their longevity, design, or simply the Apple branding, nearly everyone in 2020 wants to buy a MacBook. The only kicker? The […]
A strange folktale told in Singapore, Indonesia, and Malaysia is one of the scariest and most savage superstitions in Southeast Asia, a region where superstitious beliefs tend to be commonplace. The belief goes something like this. Any woman who has died a violent death at the hands of a man (directly or indirectly) – in […]
The tragedy of Karbala is more than just an event to be mourned. Everything that happened during it has fundamental messages and lessons for not just Shias, not just Muslims but all of humanity. Imam Hussain’s actions remind mankind of the need to remain steadfast and stalwart when faced with opposition. Imam Hussain was well […]
Team PG reviewed some of the best and worst burgers you can order in Lahore. From pricey all-organic burgers at fancy eateries such as Amavi to affordable – but not so healthy – fast-food joints like Fri Chicks, Lahore has it all. Lately, burger joints have been popping up on every other street corner. Old […]
Consistent annual heatwaves, rampant air pollution and melting glaciers have not been able to convince Pakistan to adequately address climate change. This year’s flooding across the entire country, and especially in Sindh, must convince the nation that it is time Pakistan takes and addresses climate change seriously. Until this point, most Pakistanis have heard of […]
Matam is a Shiite ritual performed during the month of Muharram to express grief for the tragedies that befell Muslims at Karbala, specifically the death of the Holy Prophet’s grandson and nearly all his companions. Matam translates to ‘act of mourning’, and in this particular context, it usually involves inflicting physical pain on oneself in […]
The coronavirus pandemic has reshaped the entire world and, although it seems like the pandemic is over, health experts warn that taking it easy is a choice that may prove fatal. Even back in May, Pakistan forbid Youm-e-Ali processions out of fears that it might exacerbate the coronavirus pandemic. This year, therefore, although there will […]
Shiite Islam emerged in the 7th century following conflicts that arose partly over who had the right to carry on the Caliphate. Two schools of thought emerged and the Sunni-Shia divide was established, irrevocably changing the world of Islam in ways that would have unprecedented – and often devastating – effects. In Muslim nations throughout […]
The rivalry between Saudi Arabia and Iran has entrapped far more than just the two countries themselves. The two sides have waged proxy wars throughout the Middle-East and helped exacerbate some of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, including Yemen and Syria. And yet, beyond the economic, political and strategic reasoning behind these moves, at the […]
Karachi continues to sink beneath a torrential wave of storms and rainwater. The city has been in turmoil since before the monsoon, what with sewage overflowing onto main roads as well as distressingly long power outages. All of these factors have culminated to bring about absolute chaos in a metropolis that is by nature a […]
Hasan Minhaj’s award-winning show the ‘Patriot Act’ has been accused of creating a toxic workplace environment for women of colour. The irony of this is clearly evident, seeing as Minhaj himself is of Indian origin. Why Minhaj has allowed this to happen seems to be a mystery. Several women who worked to make this show […]
For centuries, Shia Muslims have commemorated the tragedy of Karbala in the month of Muharram, mourning the massacre of the Prophet’s (pbuh) grandson, Imam Hussain. Shias spend the month mourning the betrayal of Hussain at the hands of the people he thought would support him, and the subsequent brutal murder of the Imam and his […]
On Sunday in Kenosha, Wisconsin, police officers shot 29 year old Jacob Blake in the back – not once or twice but multiple times. They did so just as he was getting into his car, with his three children aged between 5 and 10 sitting in the backseat. Ben Crump, the Blake family’s lawyer, said […]
Kunwar Moeez Khan, CEO of Top City-1 Islamabad, has been the proud owner of a gold foil Lamborghini Aventador S since the year 2018. The man who is known as KMK is a die-hard car enthusiast, housing an entire collection of impressive vehicles. Notwithstanding his dubious past involving allegations of terrorism, KMK has remained a […]
The citizens of any given country always want to believe they are in the right and that their country will always speak up against oppression and suffering. But, a handful of observations make it abundantly clear that the vast majority, if not all, of countries care not about morality or justice, but about money and […]
Founded after partition in 1948 by Taj Din, a man who sold shawls in Indian Kashmir, Nirala Sweets was the fastest growing confectionery Pakistan had ever seen. It was a success from the moment Taj Din opened his first shop, a tiny breakfast place on Fleming Road. Soon, Nirala Sweets was a household name; it […]
The period of Muharram holds immense religious significance for Muslims. It is a time saturated with grief and painful remembrance: a highly spiritual occasion, commemorated intensely amongst Shiite communities in particular. But what is happening to Muharram? The public has recently raised concerns surrounding fashion brands and the proliferation of a strange kind of advertising: […]
Pakistan’s biggest metropolis, with a population of over 1.6 crore, is drowning in a sea of neglect – both literally and metaphorically. Various parts of Karachi have been affected by the monsoon system, with some areas submerged in rainwater. The storms have already claimed a number of lives. But to believe that flooding is Karachi’s […]
Since the conflict began, Israel and Hamas have engaged in a bloody back and forth with Gaza in the middle. Once Israel declared Hamas-led Gaza an enemy, violence ensued on a devastating scale. Israel placed crippling restrictions on the Gaza Strip: it closed borders, imposed power cuts, and limited imports. In 2014, the battle gained […]
Every corporation, big or small, has a responsibility towards the people it employs. And it goes both ways. It’s simple. A transaction is made or a service is performed, after which the effort receives acknowledgement in the form of dues. It is a legal agreement: a covenant. So why is this covenant so often violated […]
Somehow a small country in South Asia managed to outperform both the beacon of civilization in the West as well as the world’s largest democracy in terms of the coronavirus. While the United States of America sits as the world’s worst-hit country, with 5.5 million coronavirus cases, and India isn’t too far behind as the […]
TikTok has been blamed for a lot of things during its rise to the top. One of the greatest on-going grievances people raise is that it pollutes minds and encourages toxic behaviour. Created in 2016 by a Chinese company, TikTok steadily gained popularity over the years to the point that it is now expected – […]
One of the things Imran Khan has indisputably gotten right is his prioritization of environmental concerns. Whether it be importing Euro-V Standard Fuel or constructing the Diamer-Bhasha dam, improving the environment is one promise in PTI’s manifesto that Imran Khan got absolutely right. Among these steps, also, is Imran Khan’s 10 Billion Tree Tsunami. Under […]
Right now, hundreds and thousands of CAIE O and A Level students are waiting with baited breath for their “exam” results due to come out tomorrow 11th August. One of the, if not the, most tense moments in a student’s life are the gut-wrenching days, hours, minutes and eventually seconds before they clasp eyes on […]
In an arraignment earlier today, former President Asif Ali Zardari pleaded not guilty in front of an accountability court via video appearance. He has been accused of using undue influence to obtain a loan amounting to 1.5 billion rupees for his company called Parthenon Private Limited and then channeling the money through illegally – using […]
Careers in finance are consistently ranked amongst the highest-paying pursuits worldwide. Investment banking is one extremely lucrative niche the world of finance offers. This leads to an age-old question: how can finance industries be so profitable? After all, it’s a delicate balance between things like price risk, risk aversion, risk tolerance – no shortage of […]
The self-development market is estimated to touch $13.2 billion by 2022, with a major chunk of the share dominated by books, including global successes like The Subtle Art of Not Giving A F*ck and Dale Carnegie’s How to Win Friends and Influence People. The driving force behind the industry are millennials, who are likely to […]
Whether it’s “too fat” or “too thin”, it seems nothing is really acceptable to Pakistani society and its Goldilocks culture of body-shaming. There is a tiny golden acceptable area of “Just right” and unless someone, especially women, manage to reach that sanctuary, you can be certain that they will be body-shamed until they hate the […]
Pirs are thought to be blessed individuals with a unique spiritual connection to God. But they hold extraordinary significance that goes beyond religiosity. Their influence and power runs miles deep and touches every crevice of Pakistani society – in particular, politics. Pirs possess two things that turn them into all-powerful beings, and ensure their inclusion […]
On Friday, Karachi police mistook two men for miscreants and promptly began to shoot at them – killing one and injuring the other. A witness named Noman, who was riding on a bike with his friend, says that he stopped the bike momentarily to take a phone call. Three constables on standby near the area […]
The situation in Karachi has been dismal during this monsoon season. With five people dead and three more electrocuted, and city streets turned into rivers, it is natural to expect that the PPP government would take necessary action. But it seems the predicament is too difficult for PPP to tackle. In fact, Sindh government officials […]
Four different Muslim majority nations have experienced either fires or explosions in key areas during the past three days. The latest incident is a fire that occurred today in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia near a train station: the Haramain railway station, purportedly offering the fastest train service in all of Middle East. Another fire broke out […]
Cricket fans are taking issue with the fact that Sarfaraz Ahmed, former team captain, was seen carrying water bottles and shoes to his teammates during a match against England in Manchester. The ‘issue’ has been highlighted and debated to the point that it has not only become a top Twitter trend, but has also elicited […]
Rotting carcasses and organs of sacrificial animals being thrown out in the streets of Pakistan is as much of an Eid tradition as anything else. While this leads to problems of littering, poor hygiene and disease every year, this year it might prove far more deadly, especially in the province of Sindh. This is because […]
75 years on from the bombing of Hiroshima, proponents of nuclear weapons continue to vehemently defend the existence of nuclear weapons as important tools of deterrence and self-defense in international relations. For instance, one major reason offered for the maintenance of nuclear weapons is their role in deterring wide-scale major conflicts. This is perhaps best […]
Soaring cliffs, waterfalls, sand dunes, and a blue-green ocean: Balochistan is what most people would call a ‘hidden gem’. Part of what makes it so beautiful is the fact that it remains uncorrupted by manmade influences. While tourism in Balochistan seems to be picking up, the region so far has retained its natural rugged beauty […]
At the time of the first bombing in Hiroshima, the second world war had already claimed millions of lives. Civilian deaths made up more than half of these. War crimes were committed on both sides: not one party emerged innocent of bloodshed. During 1939-45, six all-powerful nations played god, deciding who would live and who […]
On Tuesday, Beirut saw a massive explosion on its sea port. The shockwaves were horrific, and the consequences, even more so. A report claims that the Prime Minister of Lebanon has promised he will hold the perpetrators responsible. But when apparently the cause of the explosion is 2,750 metric tons of ammonium nitrate – a […]
This article was written by Shaheer Shazib, a student in Karachi. Yesterday the Pakistani government, in a spirit of nationalistic vigor, took out a new political map of the country. The updated map shows AJK and GB as integral parts of Pakistan, rather than a separate block of area which is simply administered by Pakistan, […]
Disclaimer: Smoking is injurious to health. On 30th of July, we saw a glimpse of the lives of four women hell bound on avenging cheating husbands under the shadow of a Burka shop named “Halal Designs”. They are unapologetic, relentless and headstrong, three characteristics occasionally pertinent to female characters in mainstream Pakistani television. The trailer […]
“Kashmir banega Pakistan”, vow Pakistanis in support of their Kashmiri brethren. This sentiment comes from two very separate places. Sometimes it comes from a place of true love and empathy, lacking in any possessiveness – a place of solidarity and humanity. But equally, if not more, often, it comes from a place of nationalistic possessiveness […]
Earlier today, PM Imran Khan proudly announced that the official map of Pakistan would now include Indian illegally-occupied Kashmir as part of its territory. While a great nationalistic move applauded by the rest of Pakistan, the question arises: what does changing the map to include Kashmir even accomplish? Does it really bring the world one […]
It can be argued that no one has been affected as much or as unfairly by the coronavirus pandemic than the Class of 2020. Students graduating from Higher Educational Institutes meet one of the most volatile and uncertain economies of the past century, while students graduating from high school and heading to universities deal with […]
America is no stranger to threatening companies into seemingly ‘beneficial’ acquisitions. The reason TikTok’s parent company ByteDance is even considering giving up its U.S. shares is because of President Trump’s recent declaration that he may ban TikTok in the country. On the surface, his reasoning isn’t flawed. Due to China’s tight security laws, its government […]
According to Forbes, new studies suggest that children could in fact be quite efficient transmitters of the coronavirus. One of these studies, done in Chicago, claim that young children contain about one hundred times the concentration and amount of coronavirus in their throats as compared to adults. Thus, they can transmit with almost deadly efficiency. […]
Each with a net worth amounting to billions of dollars, top fashion houses in the world hold immense power. High-end fashion brands don’t just sell clothes and accessories. They sell lifestyles – lifestyles that are so headily attractive, an ordinary person cannot help but fall under their spell. The question ‘who are you wearing’ asked […]
Nothing riles up Pakistan like a blasphemy case. Murder is something generally unacceptable to both the law and to society. The one exception, however, usually lies with individuals accused of blasphemy. Their murder is often celebrated by Pakistanis and the murderer venerated as an Islamic hero. This curiosity can be explained by a philosophical phenomenon […]
What does it mean to truly belong to Lahore, the place once known as the city of gardens. Usually, the word ‘belong’ automatically links to permanence and continuity. No one feels as if they belong the first time they step foot in new surroundings. But with time, belonging turns into a natural state of being. […]
The Holocaust remains one of mankind’s most horrific memories and one of the most brutal instances of the inhumanity mankind can display. The line “Never forget” is often associated with it. But it appears that the world has forgotten. In history classes, students often ask their teachers, “But how could the world have let the […]
According to the Time’s ‘Brief History of Veganism’, the term vegan was coined in 1944 by a British woodworker Donald Watson. He wanted to acknowledge those brave souls who went a step ahead of vegetarians and said no to all animal products, not just meat. Today, a vegan lifestyle can mean many things. Some people […]
The “bakra-mandi” experience has been a part of Eid tradition for decades. Going from cattle vendor to cattle vendor, observing the physical conditions of animals, haggling for a better price – it is all something entrenched in Pakistani society. However, with the coronavirus pandemic on the loose, the Eid animal-buying experience was significantly different this […]
‘Eidi’ is usually meant to signify a special sum of money gifted to young family members by parents and older relatives. But eidi doesn’t always have to be a gift of cash. It can also be a trinket, clothes, or any sort of present: something that shows appreciation and love. Eidi is perhaps one of […]
The way that the corona virus has been dealt with in Pakistan has been, to say the very least, anxiety inducing and angering. I remember reading Arundhati Roy a while back, and she eloquently phrased it when she said that the pandemic is a portal. Rightfully so, because it has diversified my understanding of how […]
Psych Central is a student-led initiative that aims to put forth its views in meaningful, lighthearted conversations regarding mental health in a way that is as relatable as possible. Stress became our companion at the very beginning of O-levels. As academic years progressed, it piled on and invited its little friend anxiety into our lives […]
In Islamic tradition, the idea of Qurbani emerged when the Prophet Ibrahim trusted in God when asked to sacrifice his son. Hence, to Muslims, the idea of Qurbani was about sacrificing something in the name of God and helping the underprivileged by giving them good. Since those times, however, while the spirit of Qurbani remains […]
Skirmishes on the Pak-Afghan border are not a rare occurrence. The two countries share an uncommonly long border – spanning nearly 2,500 kilometres. But more than the length of the frontier, it is their fraught history that leads to deadly flares of animosity. There have been successive violent altercations between the Pakistan army and Afghani […]
Esra Bilgic, star of Turkish drama series ‘Dirilis: Ertugrul’, recently published a tweet claiming she had found her number one in Pakistan. The statement was so intriguing for audiences that it began to attract all kinds of speculation. But for a large number of Pakistanis, there could only be one explanation for this cryptic tweet; […]
The extrajudicial murder of Tahir Ahmad Naeem was bad enough, but what was arguably worse was the reaction of the Pakistani people followed. The celebration of another example of extrajudicial “justice” and the proclamation of the murderer as a “hero” served as the latest example of Pakistan’s tendency to worship and praise extrajudicial murderers. The […]
Turkey’s new bill exercising a massive amount of control over social media presents a strange and bewildering turn of events. Defying opposition, it has officially become law – to be implemented starting from October 1st. Turkey now requires representatives of big social media companies such as Twitter to be stationed locally so they can carry […]
It’s not always easy fulfilling religious rites. Slaughtering animals may be an inescapable obligation but it is never pleasant. The uneasiness begins from that first day a child forces his or her parents to let them take a peek at the bloody ritual and continues into adulthood. Often, people placate themselves by saying it is […]
As another year in the Islamic calendar approaches its end, thousands of Muslims are once again partaking in the holy religious ritual that is Hajj, although this time in significantly lower quantity and in much different fashion, owing to the coronavirus pandemic. However, what was once a noble gesture of unity and solidarity aimed at […]
Prime Minister Imran Khan made it clear long ago that loyalty to Pakistan required official documentation. If it doesn’t say ‘Pakistani’ on your passport, you are not fit to hold a position in government. In his defence, however, this isn’t an entirely unreasonable argument. Nations all over the world stipulate that those applying for government […]
The resignation of Dr Zafar Mirza, the Special Assistant to PM on Health earlier today came as a shock to many Pakistanis. Only a few days ago, Mirza was addressing news conferences and giving advice against the coronavirus, and today he announced his resignation. The curious aspect of the whole fiasco is that, while announcing […]
When the Nazi Germany invaded Poland to launch World War 2, the poet W.H. Auden called the period leading up to this disastrous conflict a “low, dishonest decade.” It was termed dishonest because people pretended war would never take place, that Germany would remain democratic rather than turn into an uncontrollably, fascist, authoritarian regime despite […]
The countless rape cases of men, women and children over the past few years have oftentimes sparked boiling rage and demands of death penalty. But, what Pakistan needs much more than such a short-term solution is the sustainable long-term impact of sex education. First of all sex education is not just about talking about sex. […]
The Punjab Tahaffuz Bunyad-e-Islam Bill 2020 has kicked up quite a storm not only on social media but also within political and religious groups, and rightly so – many are questioning what the bill means for religious freedom and censorship. The bill still hasn’t been made law yet, but it is still important to know […]
It is amazingly tone-deaf that Pakistani authorities think that the best way to improve mental health in Pakistan is censorship and restricting freedom instead of actually investing in and reducing the stigma against mental healthcare. The classic example of this is is the PUBG ban imposed by the Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA). In its detailed […]
When Imran Khan’s PTI lost the general election in 2014, the collective hearts of Pakistan’s youth sank in despair. More than half a decade ago, Imran Khan represented change, dynamism and a future worth fighting for. By the time the 2018 general elections rolled around, Khan’s image had already been tarnished – by playing the […]
Discourse in Pakistan is often plagued by the logical fallacy that is ‘whataboutism’. Whether a discussion be about violence against women, or the treatment of minorities or even xenophobia against Muslims, the argument “But, what about…?” is bound to pop up at some point. This phenomenon certainly isn’t unique to Pakistan. In fact, it is […]
The homeless are seen everywhere. But are they really and truly visible? The world they inhabit is so different to what Lahoris call home, it might as well be the ‘upside down’. Most of them live hard, scary lives. They may be seen lounging under bridges and whiling the days away on hot pavements but […]
With journalists being abducted in broad daylight, textbooks being censored at an alarming rate, and a disturbing trend of civil rights violations being observed, one is driven to wonder if somehow the all-watching Big Brother from George Orwell’s 1984 is beginning to manifest himself in Pakistan. The chilling character – perhaps more accurately described as […]
As the public sees it, Pakistan’s prime ministers hold the nation in the palm of their hands. It is true that ‘head-of-government’ is not a title to be taken lightly. But with a lofty title comes a list of expectations daunting enough to justify the amount of political fervour that surrounds every election. Nearly six […]
When Pakistan caught alleged RAW agent Kulbhushan Jadhav red-handed, there were several strategic options available to the country. Eventually, Pakistan decided to use Jadhav as a tool to demonstrate its magnanimity and benevolence to the world, but what the country perhaps did not realize at the time was that it could have used him to […]
After being in the dating game for so long, I have come to realize that all men are the same. The only difference between them is how they package themselves. Some come in a sweet, trustworthy package with a delicate ribbon on top while some are wrapped up in a bad, love em and leave […]
According to a bill passed by Punjab Assembly, government officials now have the right to confiscate any written material submitted for publishing. This means that the Punjab Directorate General for Public Relations (DGPR) is now officially in charge of deciding what is publishable and what is not. Reportedly, a book’s publication can be halted “if […]
For a lot of people, this question may sting. And why shouldn’t it? It’s never easy to realize that you’ve been excluded or left out. Yet that is exactly the feeling some Karachiites live with. The unspoken division of a city into affluent and non-affluent areas is a common phenomenon. This concept is then reinforced […]
Careem recently released a well-intentioned commercial poking fun at coronavirus conspiracy-theorists and encouraging the wearing of masks amid the COVID-19 pandemic. While Careem’s ad was indisputably a positive step forward, and one that other organizations could learn from, the internationally-recognized organization could also have gone a step forward in bringing about social awareness against the […]
There are two things you should know about me: one, I hate cricket, and two, I hate Tom and Jerry. You might be shocked to know that these resentments were fostered in me at the exuberant age of 10, when life is nothing if not impregnated with hope, and these two things are usually part […]
Prominent journalist Matiullah Jan’s kidnapping by uninformed thugs in broad daylight doesn’t come as a surprise and that is where the crux of the problem lies; Pakistan has been on a fast track on becoming a nation where criticism and free speech is frequently curtailed, with journalists bearing the brunt of it. Jan has historically […]
Society, as we know it, has a habit of having pre-ordained boxes where it can conveniently fit people, thoughts, ideas and feelings. You want the government to take more responsibility for those without a voice? Congratulations, you are now a far left liberal with a shrine of Karl Marx in your closet. You want women […]
Whenever women speak up against the many injustices they face on a daily basis, Pakistani men are quick to respond with complaints of their own burdens. The most prevalent of these “burdens” is the idea that a man needs to earn a good salary if he wants to get married and that women are “gold-diggers”. […]
The show “Indian Matchmaking” has attracted immense scrutiny since its release on Netflix. On the surface, it is simply another reality TV show: think Indian version of Gossip Girl. However, not quite, because not only has it not left viewers feeling amused or entertained but it has also initiated a wave of remembered trauma and […]
Author: Mishaal Ahsan Khan Having risen to prominence as one of the most strident critics of state sanctioned violence and law enforcement in the United States, America’s minority racial and ethnic groups have advocated vociferously for civil disobedience under the slogan of the “Black Lives Matter Movement.” The Black community remains one of the most […]
This article was written by Sidra Vohra, a literature and film student in Amsterdam I remember Amma draped in shades of pink and red mixed in with gold on banarsi kapra that made its rounds around her body—one, two, three, four, I seemed to lose count after five as the pallu draped over her head. […]
Millennials are a different breed from the rest of us. We all look the same and inhabit the same spaces but the similarities end there. In a world filled to bursting with spectacular colour and endless possibility, millennials are an oasis blanketed by quiet sunless gloom. It’s no secret that millennials worldwide are anxious. But […]
