US Consulate to celebrate the spirit of women. Titled, ‘Women in the Workplace

25th March 2019, Karachi: AzCorp entertainment hosted an event in collaboration with the US Consulate Karachi to celebrate the spirit of women. Titled, 'Women in the Workplace', the event sought to create dialogue around the importance of women participation in the work force and its many advantages. The event also highlighted the many achievements of women in leading positions in their careers and how they got to where they are. 

The event started with opening remarks by US Consul General, JoAnne Wagner followed by a panel discussion on Women in the Work Place and the importance of ensuring female empowerment and inclusion. Participant panelists were male leaders in decision making positions in their respective organizations. The idea of keeping a male panel is to reemphasize the ethos of the famous #HeforShe campaign by the UN to promote gender equality through endorsement of both genders for each other. The panel featured business leaders such as, Atif Azim (CEO Venture Dive), Khurram Jamali (Ex-Google), Hassan Bin Rizwan (CEO, SABAQ), and Adnan Malik (Actor). It was moderated by Uzma Al Karim who heads the gender sensitivity department at the Geo Network. 

The second panel discussion moderated by US Cultural Attaché, Stephen Valen was, Strong Women and Their Journeys. This panel highlighted the journeys of the incredible women and how they got around to choosing their unconventional careers. They spoke about their paths and the problems they faced during their careers. The panel included, Ayesha Khan (Country Director, Acumen), Maheen Rahman (CEO Alfalah Investments), Shanaz Wazir Ali (Educationist), and Sarwat Gillani (Actor). 

There were performances by Faheem Azam and Alycia Dias in between the panel discussions to bring laughter and entertainment. 

In the concluding note Imran Azhar CEO& Founder AzCorp Entertainment said," We are mindful while creating our content that we create awareness on gender equality and women empowerment through local female heroes. Through our characters we have shown empowered female protagonists who shape their own fate by taking life head on despite adversities and challenges.

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DIVERSIONS PLAN for Karachi: PSL 4

The road closure as explained below will come into effect at least 5 hours before the PSL match start time.  These security arrangements  may result into traffic disruptions and congestions at various place around the city. The Traffic Police has chalked out a Traffic Management / Diversion Plan to facilitate the viewers / commuters. The basic precept of the plan are as under:

DIVERSIONS PLAN: 

Karsaz - all type of traffic heading to National Stadium via Habib Ibrahim Rehmatullah Road and beyond Stadium on Sir Shah Suleman Road will not be allowed access. These vehicles will be diverted towards Drigh Road Shahra e Faisal, left turn Rashid Minhas Road, Millennium to NIPA.Millennium - all type of traffic coming from Rashid Minhas Road (both sides) is prohibited to proceed towards Stadium via Dalmia Road. These vehicles will be diverted as under:

a. From NIPA, Askari 4, Drigh Road, Shahra e Faisal.

b. From Millennium / Nipa towards Safoora Goth or Gulshan chowrangi towards Sohrab Goth.

New Town – Stadium Road will be closed for all traffic. All traffic going to Aga Khan University Hospital and Liaquat National Hospital are advised to use road adjacent to New Town Police Station (Stadium Road),where they will be assisted by Traffic Police.University Road, Shaheed e Milat Road and Rashid Minhas Road will remain open for all types of traffic.All traffic coming from Districts Central, East, South, Wests and Malir should take Liyari Expressway from Mauripur to Sohrab Goth.All Heavy Traffic will not be allowed from Sohrab Goth to NIPA, Liaquatabad 10 to Hassan Square, PP Chowrangi.

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Where to find the best desserts in Karachi

Do you crave for dessert after every meal and think it’s incomplete without the sweet touch? Well, you know you have a sweet tooth.  Pakistanis enjoy, celebrate and live for food . Apart from all the flavorful savory foods we see at several restaurants, we have a list of places that offer some decadent desserts.
 
If you live in Karachi, you can eat out at a restaurant every day and still won’t get over with the long list of dishes that are a must try. Karachi has no shortage of  good desserts , but how many have you really tried? Check out the list below to make it easy to decide for your next dessert voyage. 

Chocolate Malt Cake at Nandos

Although Nando’s is famous for its flame grilled chicken, its desserts deserve a special mention. It could be quite impossible for sugar lovers to have not yet tried the scrumptious Chocolate Milk Cake at none other than Nandos. The gooey goodness of this cake slice seals the appetizing dinner you have there.

Okra’s Crème Brulèe

Okra is one of the most famous dine in places situated in the midst of the busiest Zamzama Market. It is comparatively a small restaurant that cannot accommodate a lot of people at once and you have to wait for hours to get you a table. However, the artistic Crème Brulèe from their menu is worth the wait. If you have a thing for this traditional French pudding, look nowhere else.

Burger O Clock’s Nutella Burger

Nutella in a burger? Sounds eccentric, doesn’t it? But if you question a nutella lover, they would be least bothered eating it with a “naan.” It is not the way it sounds. This burger is actually a donut cut open and stuffed with nutella patty, strawberries as tomatoes, kiwi as cucumbers and pineapple as cheese. This sugary grace is topped with sweet cream acting as mayonnaise.

Freshly baked Chocolate Chip Cookie at Bella Vita

Bella Vita, the café that gave meaning to sweets and desserts in Karachi with its decadent extra-large chocolate chip cookie, can’t be left behind. They bake it fresh and top it with your choice of ice cream scoop to indulge in right away. Trust me, you would not be able to share one bit of it with anyone, yes it’s that good!

Not to forget, cupcakes from Pane & Amor, macaroons at Lal’s Chocolate and Ferrero Rocher Cake at Red Riding Hood Bakery are a blissful treat on the go. This is a small glimpse from the wide and  delicious cuisines of Karachi . Keep exploring for more!

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Pakistan’s Annual Awards & Festivals

When in Pakistan, keep an eye out for these Festivals and Awards that will make your visit more worthwhile and enjoyable!

1.        Karachi Eat Food Festival

Karachi Eat is a food festival where foodies are given the opportunity to relish and devour dishes from a spectrum of cuisines.The event was held on the 23rd, 24th  & 25th of January 2015 at Frere Hall. Karachi’s renowned chefs and creative street vendors gathered together and served their customers with a diverse platter of food and entertainment.

2. Literature Festival

Pakistan’s Literature Festivals are held in Karachi, Islamabad and Lahore. The first event took place in Karachi on 20 March 2010, and was organised by Pakistan, the Oxford University Press and the British Council. The events feature prominent literary figures, incorporatingliterary debate sessions, reading, lectures, plays, art fairs and book launches.

3.       Hotel Awards

Jovago.com is the top online hotel booking site in Pakistan and hosted its first Hotel Awards on 12 August 2015. The purpose of this activity was to promote the tourism industry as well as to highlight the importance of travel in Pakistan. Hotels that were nominated and won were the Lahore Continental, Avari Hotel, Hotel One, Heritage Luxury Suites and Parhena Cottages.

4.      Pakistan Fashion Week

Pakistan Fashion Week is an event organised by the Fashion Pakistan Council and has been annually held in Karachi since 2009. The event is hosted over three days, at which famous designers show case their newest collections and pieces.

5.       Lux Style Awards

The Lux Style Awards is the oldest and most prominent event that celebrates the evolution of Pakistan’s entertainment industry encompassing Pakistani television, fashion and film. The first Award was held in 2002 in Karachi at the Expo Centre.

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Iconic Film Scene Locations

To transform your holiday into a ‘Location Vacation’,

visit these areas where scenes from popularPakistani movies were shot!

1.        Bin Roye

Bin Roye was mainly filmed in Karachi, but a few scenes were shot in Santa Barbara, California. The actors shot live scenes in the Aman House, which is known to be a haunted historical site of Karachi!

2.       Waar

Waar took three years to film, and was shot in various parts of Pakistan. Locations for the filming included Lahore, Islamabad, Karachi and Swat Valley. A few scenes were also produced in Istanbul, Turkey and Rome, Italy.

3.       Karachi Se Lahore

This is the first Pakistani road trip film, shot in real time! The film covers the 36-hour journey from Karachi to Lahore, including places in Balochistan such as Kund Malir!

4.      Jawani Phir Nahi Ani

The film was mainly shot in various parts of Thailand, including Bangkok and the Coral Islands. A few clips were shot in Karachi also!

5.       Na Maloom Afraad

                Filmed in Karachi, around the Saddar Town. The Saddar scenes involved an actual strike in the town, so the production had to be closed for a shooting.

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Sindh Trip

If you’ve landed in Karachi, and you’re ready for an adventure, we’ve planned the perfect one for you. Explore Sindh in three days, and be prepared to be amazed!

Day One:

1.    Mohatta Palace

The Mohatta Palace was built by ShivratanChandraratan Mohatta, a Hindu businessman and was his summer home in 1927. He built the palace from the traditional stones of Rajasthan, pink Jodhpur and a local yellow stone.

2.    Quaide Azam’s Museum

 Quaid-e-Azam Houseis also known as the "Flagstaff  House". It was the former home of Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan and was transformed into a museum in 1985.

3.    Frere Hall

Frere Hall was built in honour of Sir Henry Bartle Edward Frere, who was known for making Sindhi, the official language of Sindh.

4.    Chai Wala

Chai Wala is an upscale dhaba, offering Nutella parathas and a variety of classic Pakistani teas.

5.    Clifton Beach

Clifton Beach was the world’s most popular silver sand beach, until 2003 when it was affected by an oil spill. The beach offers a few attractions including camel rides and horseback rides.

6.    Kolachi

After a long day of sightseeing, enjoy a delicious meal along this seafront restaurant, with a beautiful view and calming Arabian Sea breeze.

Day Two:

1.    Shah Jahan Masjid

The Shah Jahan Masjid was built in 1647, during the reign of Mughal King, Shah Jahan.  He built it for the people of Sindh, as a gift for their hospitality.

2.    Makli Hills

The Makli hills are one of the largest ancient cemeteries in the world. It is the burial place of around 125,000 Sufi saints and rulers of the century.

3.    Mohenjandaro

Mohenjandaro translates to Mount of the Dead, and was built in 2500 BCE. It is one of the largest settlements of the Indus Valley Civilization.

4.    Sukkur for the night

Visit Jovago.com for the best prices and your perfect stay will be just one click away!

Day Three:

1.    Sadh Belo

Sadh Belo is an island on Indus River, and there is a Hindu templelocated there. It was founded in 1823 by Swami Bakhandi Maharaj Udasi, and is one of the main tourist attractions.  

2.    Sukkur Barrage

The Sukkur Barrage was built in 1932 and is used to control water flow in the River Indus. The Indus River dolphins are commonly spotted near the barrage.

3.    Sukkur Barrage Museum

The Sukkur Barrage Museum is known as the Lloyd Barrage Museum. It is named in honour of Sir George Ambrose Lloyd, who launched the scheme to build the Barrage.

4.    Ranikot Fort

The Ranikot Fort is known as the Great Wall of Sindh, and is recognized as the world’s largest fort.

5.    Back to Karachi

Drive back to Karachi, and unwind in one of your favourite hotels. For more information, Visit Jovago.com for a pleasurable stay!

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How to Survival in Karachi City - 7 Tips

Karachi is the metropolis of Pakistan, the largest and most populated city which presents a colorful combination of old and new. The city of lights has a lot to offer but survival here may be tricky for those new to its ways. Here are a few tips from jovago.com that will help you get by.

1    01.  Be careful on the roads:

            For those of you who are venturing out on your own and driving around to Karachi’s malls, mosques, museums and landmarks here are a few things you must keep in mind. The only ones who obey traffic rules in this city are driving schools and senior citizens. Be extra vigilant and expect the unexpected as cars, buses and motorcycles are unpredictable and swing out from corners and take you by surprise!

     

     02.  Do not visitpublic places on weekends: 

            Even though for most of us Saturday and Sunday seem ideal to explore Karachi, you should think twice. Sea view beach no longer remains sea view beach since the only thing you can view are masses of people. This applies to other public places too, so plan your trip carefully and get things done over the week while the rest of the 9 million people in the city are working.

      

      03.  Carry cash:

             While generally eating at restaurants, exploring the historical buildings or shopping in bazaars in Karachi is reasonable carrying around some extra cash can get a lot of things done. Starting from the porters at the airport and pleasing other helpers along the way, carrying a few notes with you leaves you in control of your day and saves you a ton in the end.

  

     04.  Think Before you pay:

            Some of you taking advantage of Karachi’s public transport system (rickshaws taxis etc.) may find that drivers are inclined to have a chat and mostly about deaths in the family or other issues in pursuit of money. Do not fall prey to these stories and always investigate as most of them are not true, so do not part with your money so easily.

      

      05.  Always bargain: 

            Financial transactions in this city can be exhausting especially when locals try to exploit tourists with exorbitant prices, but don’t let that get to you. All the markets are known to welcome bargains and always fight till you can, because even though it is tiring you always get value for your money.

06. Travel in crowds:

       Survival in foreign cities is always easier in crowds. All the attractions in Karachi are perfect for groups: The beaches (French beach, Hawks bay), the landmarks like Frere Hall and Mohatta Palace, the malls and the restaurants. Bring friends along to make your visit here easier, more enjoyable and more secure.

07.  Learn Urdu: 

       We all love familiarity. So why not learn Urdu and get familiar with the locals. You can always use this to your advantage, as you can adapt easier and others will offer you more help. You may not have a lot in common with the people of Karachi, but learning their language is an undeniable connection which will make your trip a whole lot easier.

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Dawlance assists municipal authorities in cleaning up after torrential rains

Dawlance’s employee volunteers recently joined hands with municipal authorities to conduct a clean-up drive in areas around Dawlance’s factory in Hyderabad.  Torrential rains in Hyderabad had resulted in the overflow of drainage which caused inundation of roads linking the URIL factory to Fateh Chowk, a commuting hub for residents of the nearby HazaraColony. To expedite the drainage of this main artery, Dawlance’s employee volunteers assisted the municipal authority by lending a hand in operating movable drainage pumps along the flooded areas.

Speaking about this service to the community, Mr. Hasan Azim Senior Vice President Communications, Dawlance stated, “Our employees are the foundation of Dawlance’s CSR initiatives and together we continue to put an emphasis on the preservation of the community we operate in and assist the locals in times of need. This clean-up activity contributed to that very commitment and gave our employees an opportunity to play their part in uplifting the community. In less than 24 hours, we were able to drain excessive water from the roads linking our factory and Hazara Colony to Fateh Chowk. Credit also goes to the workers of the local municipal authority who worked around the clock to ensure the roads could be opened to the public in the shortest amount of time possible.”

 

Dawlance’s commitment to the preservation of the environment and the community has been a vital feature of their corporate existence since its inception. The home appliances manufacturer has over the years conducted a plethora of similar clean-up drives, and recently initiated the ‘Dawlance Recycling Program’, through which they imparted recycling workshops to students of Karachi and announced recycled packaging for most of their home appliances.

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A Make-over for Karachi

Once you arrive in Karachi, the walls around you will be painted and chalked with graffiti and quotes in the local language,KalaKari.The street walls of Karachi serve as a sales and promotion channel, where you can advertise whatever your heart desires. Unfortunately, amongst the unique wall art, offensive comments and political opinions about the Awami invitations to soyems and dharnas taint the image of the city.

There has been a paradigm shift as the students of the Indus Valley School of Arts and Architecture (IVS) along with I AM KARACHI, started a movement to repaint and eradicate the derogatory and unethical materialfrom the city walls. . I AM KARACHI is a citywide campaign initiated by Munawar Ali Syed, with 15 artists and designers.They worked diligently under the scorching sun, scraping scaly paint and kalakarioff the walls. IVS students are working under the supervision of Adeela Suleman (Head of the Fine Arts Department). Students have chosento capitalize ontheir creativity and have selected paintbrushes as their weapon.

Apart from the university students, school children have also volunteered to take part in this project. The programtitled “Bachon se tabdili” havebeautified around 25 wallsin Shirin Jinnah Colony and Lyari and helped in painting some walls at MT Khan Road.University students have aimed to target about 1500 walls of the city. Their beautiful art work can be viewed near Hassan Square, Civic Centre, Saddar, Shahrah-e-Quaideen, MT Khan road, the Airport and Kala Pul.This campaign has successfully decorated 1000 walls, with only 500 left!

(The campaign tries to utilize all the possible forms of art, ranging from stencil work to the famous Truck Art of Karachi.)

Another project named the “Individual Artists Project” focuses mainly on revamping the walls on MT Khan Road and the areas surrounding the Airport.  To our surprise, the students did not have to interact with any extremists, and this project was embraced rather than being shunned. Occasionally, people have yelled at the artists while othersgaze silently in awe. However, it has been observed that people do appreciate them,since the walls have remainedin a spotless and immaculate condition.

(The Phool Patti art work near Airport.)

(Determined artists slaving away in the sun, assiduously trying to improve the ambiance of the city)

People often assume that Karachi is a garbage dump, however the youth have compiled their efforts to help change this point of view. The atmosphere of Karachihas been transformed completely, becoming a more colourful place to live in. We salute the youthfor infusing the city with art and culture, proving that we are an educated and civilized nation. With the continuous progression of this movement, we can proudly say,Tabdeeli aa nahi rahi Tabdeeli aa gai hai!

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Send storm and high winds hits Karachi

KARACHI: Authorities in coastal regions of Pakistan are preparing for high winds and possible flooding and destruction from an approaching tropical storm. 

The National Disaster Management Authority said Saturday that 7,000 people have been moved to safety from low-lying areas close to the southern city of Karachi. 

Tropical Storm Phet, downgraded from a cyclone, hit Oman on Friday, killing two people and causing heavy rains and winds. 

The meteorological office says the storm is expected to make landfall in Pakistan early Sunday with winds of up to 50 miles (80 kilometers) per hour. About 620 miles (1,000 kilometers) of coastline could be affected. 

Cyclone Phet is heading towards Pakistan and is only 400 km away, according to a warning issued by the Cyclone Warning Center on Saturday. 

The weather has already affected Pakistanis as 20 peoples have been killed due to torrential rains and winds in Baluchistan, Sindh and Punjab. 

According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department’s Cyclone Warning Center, the direction of the cyclone is towards the north-east, which is the location between Karachi and Pasni. 

The center informed all the provincial authorities about the effects of the cyclone. 

Pakistan Navy, provincial departments and other bodies were on high alert. 

Also on Saturday, sever rains with gusty winds were reported in Balochistan and Punjab. Thirty people have also been injured as a result of these. 

Chief Minister of Balochistan, Nawab Aslam Raisani immediately released Rs.50 million for any possible emergency which could be caused by Cyclone Phet. 

Pasni, Gwadar and other coastal areas have reported having no electricity due to heavy rains. High tides have also been observed in the Jiwani waters. 

Pakistan Navy has been doing search and rescue operations for the fishermen and local dwellers. 

According to Pakistan Navy, there will be harsh winds and rains in Baluchistan after 36 hours. 

Although the cyclone will lose its speed and energy, Sindh and Balochistan will still face severe gusty winds, high tides and rains for next three or four days.

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BRAMERZ Acquires DEXTEAM to Scale Operations in Karachi

Bramerz, the leading digital media and marketing agency announced acquisition of DEXTEAM, a new-media startup, to strengthen its presence in Karachi. Bramerz, founded in 2006 with head quarter in Lahore, is one of the largest digital agencies in Pakistan. Bramerz also specializes and enjoys significant footprint in e-commerce and online content monetization products and services.

The acquisition was announced by Zeeshan Saleem, Cofounder & CEO of Bramerz. Zeeshan said, 

“Pakistan has 130 million mobile subscribers and is all set to be the next Asian tiger, especially in the digital & mobile spaces. Within 8 months of launch of 3G/4G services, 12 million users have already subscribed to the service. Demand for digital products & content will grow enormously in the coming months. And this acquisition is the first step towards capturing this huge opportunity”

The Founder and CEO of DEXTEAM, Adeel Hashmi said: 

 “Bramerz has always been an innovative and inspirational brand in the digital marketing industry in Pakistan. There could not be a better pairing and this is the way forward for the industry to grow.” 

Adeel is now part of Bramerz as General Manager and will steer the growth of the company in the south region of Pakistan.

Recently, Badar Khushnood, Google’s former Country Representative, also joined the Bramerz as a Partner. He has been instrumental in building Google’s ecosystem in Pakistan and have extensive experience in digital media and marketing landscape in addition to startups & technology entrepreneurship.

Partner and VP, Amer Sarfraz, also added,

“With Badar (former Google) and Adeel (former Nokia) joining the Bramerz team, we now have world-class talent, knowledge and expertise to grow further & faster in the digital landscape and scale globally.”

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Vintage video of Karachi

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