Most people might think that this film is probably a sequel to Punjab Nahi Jaungi but this is not the case. It has almost the same cast and a title with a similar feel (only this time, it’s a male version and a different location). However, LNJ is a completely different story that carries the essence of women empowerment and rejects discrimination on the basis of gender in matters of love. This comes as a pleasant surprise because Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar (writer of both films) is quite infamous for his inappropriate misogynist comments. With this film perhaps he’s trying to absolve himself of all such previous accusations.
Here’s the trailer:
The story revolves around the protagonist Jameel Qamar (Hamayun Saeed), a rich feudal landlord who doesn’t want to marry his cousin Arzu, played by Kubra Khan. Instead, he hopes to marry a westernized girl rather than ‘bahir ki larkee’ which, in this case, happens to be Zara Tiwana (Mehwish Hayat).
Their encounter is unexpected and Qamar falls in love with her at first sight. Zara has come from UK and is motivated by a much serious goal that is related to the murder of her father. Too many complications and conflicts prevent Qamar from winning her heart and whether or how he succeeds in doing so or not is something you must watch on screen.
Both, Humayun Saeed and Mehwish Hayat, bring glamour to the screen for their onscreen chemistry (though one can clearly see the signs of aging now). Kubra has never looked so pretty on the big screen before. Besides the lead, we have Sohail Ahmed, Saba Faisal, Iffat Umer, Salman Shahid Saba Hameed, Asif Raza Mir, and Gohar Rasheed in the supporting cast.
Image Source: Image Dawn
They play members of one joint family while Rasheed plays Saeed’s confidant. Gohar Rasheed is a wonderful actor and we do get to see his energetic dance skills accompanied with brilliant facial expressions too. Sohail Ahmad and Salman Shahid are given some nice punch lines that add light humor to a somewhat serious scene. One cannot ignore the absolutely incredible cinematic presence of Asif Raza Mir even though he is given less screen time.
The film is directed by renowned filmmaker Nadeem Baig whose previous films are one of the highest-grossing films at the box office to date and it is no surprise because the man knows his craft well. LNJ has all the right spices needed for a good commercial cinema. Perfectly composed shots, seamless editing and engaging monologues.
The songs are fabulous and the arrangement is fantastic. Music is composed by Adnan Dhool (lead vocalist band Soch) and Saad Sultan. Each song has its own Punjabi desi flavor and filmi vibe that definitely evokes emotions in the viewer. The first song is inspired by typical wedding folk songs ‘tappay’ sung beautifully by Meesha Shafi. Colorful costumes, great production value, and clap-worthy pro-feminist dialogues make LNJ a true entertainer and a complete Eid package.
Have you watched the movie yet? If you have, let us know your thoughts about this in the comments below.
Stay tuned to Brandsynario for the latest news and updates.
Online gaming is the forte of many. Mostly, it’s considered a leisure activity indulged in for entertainment. However, how ideal is it when you can earn money from a source of entertainment? Exactly!
These are ways in which you can earn money through online gaming:
1. Stream Your Talent
Online gaming can help you earn a lot if you stream your video gaming. Twitch is a platform created entirely for video game players. Players can either record their match and upload it there, or they can do a live screen record. Either way, Twitch works just like Youtube. The more viewers you have, the more companies will notice you and pay you to advertise.
A popular Twitch streamer, Ninja, made over $10 million in 2018 with ads, sponsorships, and Twitch subscribers. Top 10 Twitch streamers, collectively, made over $20 million in 2017.
Moreover, you can also start being sponsored by the said games. PewDiePie on youtube was the sixth highest-paid YouTuber in 2017. How did he make his money? He only started with video game commentary.
2. Go Global With Online Tournaments
Image Source: FIFPlay
Online tournaments are also frequent for many gaming companies. Most times, energy drinks like RedBull or Mountain Dew collaborate with them for matches. If you participate in the tournament and win, you can get huge cash prizes of $1000 and above.
Take the example of Arslan Ash. Arslan beat legends of Tekken in an online tournament in 2019. His name is considered legendary in the game, and his efforts made Pakistan’s esports competition recognized. Arslan, over the years, collected over $67000 in cash prizes from various games.
3. Esports Teams
Image Source: Blooloop
In addition to these ways, there are esports teams you can join. In foreign countries the way there are professional cricket teams, there are professional esports teams. Esports is a form of sport competition using video games. It takes the form of organized, multiplayer video game competitions between professional players, individually or as teams.
Esports players earn about $1000-$6000 per month or roughly $60,000 per year. Imagine, all you have to do to earn is play games!
However, unfortunately, Pakistan does not have a professional esports team. Although given the amount of talent we see, our country needs to step up. On the other hand, several companies are working to fill this gap. Check out Esports Pakistan that is trying to provide opportunities to gamers to earn.
PTA didn’t even look at the people who were earning money for their families from these online games/esports. And they didn’t even think that our country is getting recognized in the whole world.
This is another reason why the ban on PUBG was so vehemently opposed. Many esports players protested that games like PUBG help them support their families. Instead of banning a game altogether, the public must be educated.
Stay tuned to Brandsynario for the latest news and updates.
Singaporean rice is one of those continental dishes which has been a forever favorite. A weird combination of noodles, rice, and garlic sauce, is one of the most mouthwatering dishes you will ever try. The recipe is not difficult to master, but what to do when you don’t feel like stepping into the kitchen? You sit back and order from your favorite restaurants.
Let’s look at a few places that offer a delicious serving of Singaporean rice on a budget.
1. Foods Inn
The decent eatery with a good ambiance and pocket-friendly food options is situated in the heart of Sindhi Muslim society. The four-floor restaurant offers a versatile menu that includes dishes from all the food groups. However, one of the most beloved items on the menu is their Singaporean rice. The mouthwatering toppings are served in a generous serving which is also economical from the price point.
Image source: facebook.com
2. Kashif Foods
For all the Singaporean lovers in Gulshan-Iqbal and Gulistan-Johar, Kashif Foods are among the best options if you are craving rich flavored Singaporean rice. The best part is that the quantity of one serving is large enough for two people to enjoy it wholeheartedly.
Image source: facebook.com
3. Food Break
Food break is located on Boat Basin which offers one of the city’s most budget-friendly options without compromising the quality. Food Break allows the customers to customize a plate with delicious taste and good quality food portions.
Image source: facebook.com
4. Cul De Taste
Cul De Taste is located in Gulshan-Iqbal and Gulistan-Johar, which also offers delivery in the surrounding areas. They offer a traditional version of Singaporean rice, and their good reviews are also one thing that will definitely make you want to try them.
The next time you are tempted to try Hot and Spicy, step back and order their delicious Singaporean rice from the menu. The big-serving of rice with lots of sauce and chicken is bound to keep you on the hook. It is located in Defence and Khada Market.
Image source: facebook.com
6. The Lady Chef
The home-based business sells a delicious creamy serving of Singaporean rice with lots of rice and noodles. Their taste is different and is one of the most delicious sauces you can find in the city. They also offer a lot of additional items, but their Singaporean rice is a must-have.
Image source: facebook.com
7. Desi Craves
Another home-based restaurant that offers delicious taste with generous serving is Desi Craves on Facebook. The big family-sized box is enough for 3-4 people. Their traditional take on Singaporean rice is one of the best things on their menu.
Image source: facebook.com
Stay tuned to Brandsynario for the latest news and updates.
The buying and selling of refurbished phones are becoming more common daily. The inflation, the climbing prices of new phones, and the decreasing purchasing power of almost everybody are turning people the other way. But what is a refurbished phone— is it the same as a used phone? Let’s find out everything about it and its pros and cons too!
A refurbished handset has been cleaned, repaired, and restored for selling again. If you’re talking about refurbished sets with a big network (like Amazon), then they also give a warranty on refurbished ones. The fact is that these have been used before, and they will not be brand new.
Image Source: uSwitch
A ‘used’ phone is when someone has used a phone and then just passed it on to you. The whole treating and repairing process is cut out.
Pros of Getting A Refurbished Phone
The pros are heavier, they mean more. For instance,
You can save a lot for the same set as if you were going to buy this brand new.
Moreover, it also comes with a warranty so you can always go to your seller in case there is an issue.
When you buy a refurbished phone and use it lightly, you can also change it and get a new one in a few months.
It feels brand new as opposed to getting a ‘used’ one because a refurbished phone has been especially treated.
Image Source: Hobi International Inc
Cons of Getting A Refurbished Phone
However, there are some cons to the whole thing too. For instance,
It’s still not brand new so expect some issues.
Most of the time, a warranty is not offered.
You might not get a charging cable or headphones with it.
There will be no original and safe packing.
It’s hard to find an accessible yet trustworthy seller of refurbished phones.
Image Source: The Informr
New Market?
Despite some cons, getting a refurbished phone seems like an excellent choice. The most important factor is how much money you save. In this economy, save as much as you can and a phone is the last thing you should be splurging on. It’s temporary. An older or refurbished set will serve the same purpose: to call, photograph and mindlessly scroll through social media!
If you are not ready to bid farewell to your favourite Hawkins characters, then worry no more. According to Duffer Brothers, the hit Netflix continues its legacy with a spin-off series.
The Stranger Things Spin-off
After the release of season 4, part 2, Stranger Things fans are left hanging again to witness the crazy ‘upside-down’ with its fifth and final season. However, we will not see the last of the upside-down just yet. Since the writers have exclusively announced a spin-off of the hit Netflix original.
While no official announcement has been made, the Duffer brothers confirmed a spin-off was in the works in a statement released in line with their season five announcement.
Image source: theprint.com
“There are still many more exciting stories to tell within the world of Stranger Things. New mysteries, new adventures, new, unexpected heroes. But first, we hope that you stay with us as we finish this tale of a powerful girl named Eleven and her brave friends. A broken police chief and a ferocious mom of a small town called Hawkins. As well as an alternate dimension known only as the Upside Down.”
While the storyline of the spin-off series is still under wraps, according to the Duffer brothers, “Finn Wolfhard (Mike) — who is one crazy smart kid — correctly guessed what it was going to be about. But aside from Finn, no one else knows!”
Upside Down Productions
The spin-off series will be a product of a new production company set by the Duffer brothers ‘Upside Down Production’.
According to a statement, the new production company will aim to create the kind of stories that inspired the Duffers growing up.
“Stories that take place at that beautiful crossroads where the ordinary meets the extraordinary. Where big spectacle co-exists with intimate character work, where heart wins out over cynicism.”
Meanwhile, Upside Down Pictures also plans a live-action adaptation of the Japanese manga “Death Note.” Netflix had previously released an American “Death Note” adaptation in 2017.
Image source: geeked.com
Additional projects include an original series from the creators of “Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance.”! A series adaptation of Stephen King and Peter Straub’s epic fantasy novel “The Talisman.”
Pakistan’s beloved Imran Abbas was seen traveling through Turkey and creating shows not long ago. He has quite a large fan base which keeps on increasing over time. But amongst this increasing fan base, there are some who have begun noticing a problematic pattern. Could this be because of the industry or is this a plot liked by the actor, we are not sure. The pattern, however, is of seeing love triangles in almost every other Imran Abbas drama.
Starring alongside Ayeza Khan and Muneeb Butt, Imran Abbas is one of the main cast in the drama Koi Chand Rakh. The drama shows that his character is in love with a girl. But due to some misunderstandings, he gets married to the girl’s less pretty cousin played by Ayeza Khan. He continues his love affair with the love of his life even after marriage.
Image Source: IMDb
2. Thora Sa Haq
Starring once again with Ayeza Khan, the drama shows Imran Abbas in love with his childhood fiance. The turn of the screw leads him to an accidental marriage with the character played by Ayeza. He does not reveal the marriage and continue to keep his fiance on the hook. Later, he even marries her and then got to be shown as the bigger man trying to do justice to both wives.
Image Source: ARY Digital
3. Dil E Muztar
Aired on Hum TV, Dil e Muztar showed Sanam Jung playing the role of a rich girl. She falls in love with Imran Abbas’ character and is forced to move out and fend for her new family. While she does that, her neighbor starts wooing the husband, and the husband actually gets wooed.
Calling it a love triangle would be the biggest understatement of the century, but it falls in the same category. Sanam Jung is a part of the story. Her character likes the character played by Imran Abbas. But he actually likes her sister. The sister dies and he marries someone else. Sanam’s character enters the story once again, but she has someone else whom she likes. The maze further complicates. More than a love triangle, it looks like a hexagon.
Image Source: HUM TV
5. Yaar e Bewafa
Yaar e Bewafa shows Imran Abbas married to Arij. Meanwhile, Sarah’s character is also married. But with the unfolding events, Arij gets busy with the materialistic achievements meanwhile, Imran gets involved with Sarah.
Image Source: Amazon
Of course, the actor was part of many more dramas, but these stood out the most. Now, he is already en route to being part of another drama acting alongside Urwa Hocane and Saboor Aly.
Textured hair has been one of the biggest beauty looks for the past few seasons, and now it seems our favorite celebrities have gotten the memo too.
Rather than step out with slick, silky straight locks or a head full of angelic curls, Hollywood’s leading ladies have recently taken to rocking the ‘S-wave’, a loose, beachy wave that perfectly strikes the tone between old school glamour and bedhead chic.
The style is a great way to liven up a long bob by adding bulk and depth, as seen on Anne Hathaway and Jennifer Lawrence, but looks equally as good on longer lengths, as demonstrated by Selena Gomez.
To recreate the look at home, Victoria’s Secret hairstylist Sarah Potempa suggests starting wth freshly washed and rough dried hair, with a spot of volumizing mousse to really lift the strands. Then separate the hair into two sections — Potempa recommends parting down the center while beauty vlogger Kaushal Beauty divides the hair from ear to ear, clipping the top section up and working on the underneath section first.
The S wave can be achieved with straighteners or with a curling iron. Potempa advises using the official hair tool of the Victoria’s Secret show, the Beachwaver S1, which she designed. She clamps the curler a few centimeters from the ends of each smaller section of the hair before rolling it up towards the scalp and holding for around three seconds, working in small sections to cover the head.
Beauty vlogger LustreLux takes a more laid-back approach, using a ConAir 1 1/4″ curling iron to create the wave, taking small sections of hair and wrapping them only once around the curler. After holding for a few seconds, she suggests pulling the strand down straight to create a low-key kink in the hair, before fluffing up the roots with a texturizing product such as Ouai Texturizing spray.
Kaushal Beauty is a fan of the straightener method, taking small sections of hair and clamping the irons alternatively 180 degrees in a clockwise and anticlockwise direction along the length for a chunky wave. She advises fixing the sections regularly with hairspray to keep the wave in place, adding a dash of oil such as Kerastase’s Elixir Ultimate to the lengths at the end of the process for extra gloss.
Monsoon season has hit Pakistan, and the disastrous effects of the rain are evident only after a spell of five days. The situation is giving us a major ‘Deja Vu’ of 2020, which has left us wondering.
The rain situation in Karachi is currently out of hand as parts of Karachi sink, leaving citizens with flooded homes and no electricity since last night. The continuous rain spell of fifteen hours has left the entire city drowning in water. All the major areas and roads have been blocked, making it difficult for the citizens to commute on Eid. Certain areas of the city have been through a blood bath with rain water and sacrificial animals’ blood mixing on the roads.
The City Situation
As much as Karachiites wait for rain the entire year, it becomes a dilemma with traffic blockages, accidents, housing societies drowning in standing rainwater and load shedding. This year’s situation is nothing different, given the infrastructure requirements of the city have not been met.
Shahrah-e-Faisal faced massive blockages, which resulted in citizens being stuck for hours. Main Korangi road also faced a massive blockage with standing water making it difficult for passengers to walk by. The roads to and from the airport are shut down. Meanwhile, intercity travel is also halted as the authorities block the National Highway.
The residential society became a topic of debate on all the major social media platforms. Since the rain took a massive toll on the infrastructure, thousands of people were stranded in their houses. Urban flooding caused massive damage to citizens’ properties and households.
Despite CBC’s utter attempts to tackle the monsoon season, the situation in the residential area has not changed drastically. The last night’s spell has left the road filled with water putting all the renovations in question made in the past few months. The water pumps installed a few days ago don’t seem to work, and citizens are complaining about the rainwater standing in front of their properties. Areas including Khayaban-e-Shahbaz, phase two extension, Golf course roads, and Badar commercial are flooded with water with no means of transport, leaving citizens and sick patients stranded in their flooded houses.
Furious DHA residents are now speaking up in search of help
A group member of a Facebook group, Fawwad Afridi, urges everyone to be careful and keep an eye on the news
Karachi flood-like situation in almost all areas, rainwater along with garbage entered into houses and shops. The city is presenting the worst picture. I wonder how shameless PPP is, did nothing during their 14-year rule. #KarachiRains#karachi@BBhuttoZardari@CMShehbazpic.twitter.com/PYJQKJfY7i
Despite the government’s efforts, the Karachiites are witnessing the downfall of the city, specifically DHA, yet again after two years. However, if the rain continues to pour down, no wonder what will happen to the city.
For your safety, keep an eye on the upcoming weather conditions as it is likely that there will be another spell in the upcoming days. Check out social media and Facebook for support groups helping stranded citizens and needy patients.
What are your thoughts on this? Let us know in the comments below.
Stay tuned to Brandsynario for the latest news and updates.
While we are seeing new Pakistani films coming up, the drama industry still remains on the top. Most of the country’s population prefers Pakistani dramas because they say the dramas portray the realness of life. But does that mean Pakistani dramas have stayed constant too? Not so much! The trends in the dramas have changed, and these changing trends give the current Pakistani dramas a whole new outlook compared to the older ones.
1. Female Character’s Profession
Pick up Alpha, Bravo, Charlie or dhoop kinarey, or Tanhayian. In each of those dramas, you will see a proper balance in the professions of the female characters. You will see women as full-time housewives, but you will also see women working full time in other positions; positions such as doctors. But now, what you see is an imbalance of the professions. It seems as if all women, be it the ones currently studying or working women, eventually become housewives. That is the ultimate profession. I believe that by doing this, we are looking down upon the career of a housewife.
Image Source: Twitter
2. One Whole Genre’s Disappearance
Remember the time when there used to be fantasy dramas. Remember Ainak wala Jinn, Zakoota, and Bil Batori. There were many other such dramas. In fact, I also remember a period drama from Mughal times or even further back. But these genres have disappeared, and it’s all about the current times and relationships.
3. Everything is about Divorce
As a society, we should normalize divorce because otherwise, people stay in toxic relationships and not just ruin their own lives but also the lives of their children. But now everything is just about that, one of our colleagues said. Apparently, everything is just about divorce: men divorcing their wives, women asking for a divorce from husbands. There is much more to life than that. If you don’t like a specific person, don’t get married from the get-go.
Image Source: Samaa
4. Cheating Cheating and S’more Cheating
The dramas of today are mostly on cheating. Spouses are cheating with their significant other’s siblings or their colleagues. Doesn’t that fuel more deceit? What will be housewives sending their husbands to the office be thinking because all they see on dramas is that husband cheat with colleagues? What will the in-laws think when their daughter-in-law goes to the office? And they will have these thoughts because of the perception the industry fuels in us; “they are based on reality.”
Do you agree with us that these above aspects have changed in Pakistani dramas? Do you have more to add? Let us know!
Stay tuned to Brandsynario for the latest news and updates!
It’s a good budget. But it’s good only because it’s the first of many for 2022-23.
In simpler words, the supposedly “annual” budget-making exercise will most likely be followed by a mini-budget(s) going forward. Why? For starters, it’s highly unrealistic.
This means the government will miss its key targets like inflation, economic growth and tax collection. That’ll upset the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and force the government to change its fiscal course mid-year through a mini-budget. The government will impose new taxes to bring a semblance of balance to its books and obtain fresh loan tranches under the currently stalled IMF loan programme.
For example, there’s zero chance that inflation will stay at or below the anticipated level of 11.5 per cent in 2022-23. There’s no end to the Russian-Ukraine war in sight. Oil, coal and gas prices are going through the roof. Margins on finished petroleum products that Pakistan imports in bulk are at an all-time high. So how exactly the government thinks it can bring down inflation from the existing level of nearly 14pc to 11.5pc in spite of a fresh increase of Rs60 on every litre of petrol and diesel is beyond comprehension.
Similarly, the envisaged economic growth rate of 5pc is hogwash given the ongoing fiscal belt-tightening coupled with the rapidly rising benchmark interest rate. Demand will shrink, people will scale back consumption and the economy will grow a lot slower than before. Pakistan will miss its economic growth target of 5pc in 2022-23.
Image Source: The News
The biggest lie in the proposed federal budget relates to the total revenue collection target of Rs9 trillion, up 14pc from the budgeted figure for the outgoing fiscal year. The target seems ridiculous. The petroleum development levy (PDL) of Rs750bn makes up for 68.5pc of the envisaged increase of almost Rs1.1tr in the total revenue collection.
Margins on finished petroleum products that Pakistan imports in bulk are at an all-time high. So how exactly the government thinks it can bring down inflation from the existing level of nearly 14pc to 11.5pc in spite of a fresh increase of Rs60 on every litre of petrol and diesel is beyond comprehension.
According to AKD Securities, the PDL collection estimate for a single litre of fuel comes out to be Rs38, which is higher than the notified ceiling of Rs30. Assuming the government sticks to its plan and further jacks up the retail fuel price, it’ll result in further inflationary pressure and render the 11.5pc inflation target moot.
“Given the soaring crude oil prices in the international market, we may see a shortfall in collection under this head, which will need to be compensated elsewhere,” said the brokerage house. The last government missed its budgeted PDL collection target of Rs500bn for the outgoing fiscal year by a wide margin amidst mounting oil prices internationally and political troubles at home.
Hence, one can say it safely that the mini-budget is unavoidable. In fact, Finance Minister Miftah Ismail just dropped a hint to that effect. He said in his post-budget press conference that the relief on personal income tax announced a day earlier in parliament may well be withdrawn. The IMF is “still unhappy” and not willing to give relaxation on the demand for higher tax revenue.
The outlay of the budget is Rs9.5tr, with a development component of Rs808bn. The country will spend 41.5pc of its total annual budgetary outlay just to make interest payments on past loans. The absolute figure for debt servicing (Rs3.95tr) is 25.6pc higher than what the government has paid in the outgoing fiscal year.
The budget has been nothing but bad news for the banking sector. It’s set to pay income tax at the rate of 42pc as opposed to the earlier 39pc in addition to a poverty alleviation tax of 2pc.
The nation will spend Rs1.5tr on defence, up 11pc from the amount budgeted for the outgoing fiscal year. This constitutes about 16pc of total annual expenditures.
The good, the bad and the neutral
It’s most likely that your income tax will go down if you live on a monthly salary. The government has reduced the number of income tax slabs for salaried people from 12 to seven and increased the exemption threshold from Rs600,000 to Rs1.2m a year.
This means there’s zero income tax on a monthly salary of less than Rs50,000. You’ll pay only Rs100 in annual income tax if your salary is less than Rs1.2m a year.
If your annual salary exceeds Rs1.2m but is less than Rs2.4m, you’ll have to pay 7pc on any income that’s in excess of Rs1.2m. There’re four more slabs with the maximum income tax rate of 32.5pc a year.
Image Source: Gulf News
One of the best features of the proposed budget is its focus on taxing the real estate. If you have property worth more than Rs25 million other than the one you currently occupy, the government will “assume” you’re earning an annual income equalling 5pc of the property’s fair value. Subsequently, you’ll be liable to pay a 20pc tax on your “assumed” rental income.
Moreover, advance income tax on the purchase and sale of property will be increased from 1pc to 2pc for filers and to 5pc for non-filers. So your taxes are going up significantly if you’re rich and own multiple real estate assets. Otherwise, you should be happy that the government is finally looking for ways to tax the untaxed.
For stock market investors, the government has proposed rationalising capital gains tax (CGT). As such, your tax rate on any gains earned on shares that you owned for less than one year will be 15pc. The tax rate will go down by 2.5 percentage points a year and become zero after six years.
“The average CGT rates now will be lower than old rates, which were fixed at 12.5pc for a holding period of six years,” said Topline Securities in an explanatory note to its clients.
The government has withdrawn the tax credit that was available to individuals on mutual fund and pension fund investments. As a result, the brokerage foresees redemptions from equity mutual funds with some amount being diverted to direct stock market investments.
The budget has been nothing but bad news for the banking sector. It’s set to pay income tax at the rate of 42pc as opposed to the earlier 39pc in addition to a poverty alleviation tax of 2pc.
Electricity users who consume less than 200 units a month will be eligible for soft loans on easy terms from banks for the purchase of solar panels — a move that’ll directly benefit the middle class struggling under the weight of ever-rising utility bills.
Image Source; Dispatch News Desk
As for the automobile buyers, the proposed budget seeks to increase the advance tax on the purchase of vehicles above 1,600cc. This measure will result in an increase in the car prices for Indus, Honda, KIA and Hyundai, but not Suzuki, which sells mostly small cars.
The government is exempting customs duties (CD) on more than 26 Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients, which are the main ingredients of drugs. The move will stabilise drug prices and promote local production.
The budget envisages a reduction of customs duties on woven fabrics and raw materials for the footwear industry. Topline Securities says the step will lower the cost of raw materials for local manufacturers like Bata Pakistan, Service Industries and Service Global Footwear. There’s also going to be a reduction in the customs duties on the import of raw materials for snacks manufacturers.
Thanks to its overambitious targets, the budget is likely to have fewer hits than misses. Barring a sudden (and improbable) drop in global energy prices, there’s little chance its projections will stand the test of time.
Not a good thing, but I overheard a conversation one day. It was a mother-in-law telling her daughter-in-law how she cannot be a saas; it’s not in her DNA. Another day, I got to know a friend who had the idea that somehow in-law by definition is something terrible. I mean, the mother of the groom, by definition, is saas, is she not? This led me to wonder what is going on in society; why is something objective being perceived as such?
The In-law Stereotype
But where does one form ideas from? From what they are seeing around them. And there is one thing which the majority of the population has in common. It is a Pakistani television drama. Bring up Humsafar, Zindagi Gulzar Hai, Nand; you can have a conversation with almost any Pakistani. And one way or the other, each of these drama shows that the in-laws do or say something which is always going to hurt you. Sometimes it’s the mother-in-law who is the victim, and at other times it is the daughter in law.
So, wanting to dissociate from what they see on the screen, they invalidate the definition of the word itself.
Eastern Wear Vs. Western Wear
Another stereotype that doesn’t sit well with me is the dressing of the female characters. Firstly, if they are two female characters, the clothing will always decipher which one is the protagonist. If the person is wearing western dresses, they are often the villain in the story.
Change of Wardrobe
The dressing also feeds into another weird stereotype. Apparently, when a girl gets married, her wardrobe changes. If she is used to wearing Kurti and jeans, she will now have a 3-piece suit with 3-meter log dupattas. And if she does not, well, it is indicative that the girl does not want to adapt and continue her married life; an evil woman!
Image Source: HUM
The point is that the Pakistani dramas promote many stereotypes that the audience consumes and believe them to be very real. They start altering their own beliefs and lifestyles according to that. They forgo the definition that was objective; they forget that clothing is just a way of wearing something, and it does not define the character traits of a person. And it indeed does not say if a girl is divorce-prone or not! So it’s a request to the drama industry; let’s be responsible and promote healthy concepts!
Stay tuned to Brandsynario for the latest news and updates!
Lahore – July 08, 2022: Building on their previous collaboration with her for the realme 9 Pro+, realme has just announced that Sajal Aly will carry forward the 9 series legacy as the brand ambassador for the upcoming realme 9 4G. The actress has stunned everyone in the past with her incredible performances in every facet of her career, locally as well as in the international sphere. With a versatile and unique sense of style, the talented actress exudes effortless charisma just like the realme 9 4G.
Every time a new generation of number series phones is released, realme aims to innovate in the market it serves. The majority of these products include cutting-edge technology that makes them stand out from rivals because they are the first in their category. As the fastest-growing smartphone brand, realme has been committed to bringing nothing but the best to the market since its arrival. The tech democratizer always wants to give its users the opportunity to experience flagship features in their phones at an economical price. This commitment to performance and desire to live up to the expectations of their fans is shared by Sajal and realme.
Sajal Aly has the extraordinary ability to light up the screen whenever she appears on it, captivating your gaze and keeping you hooked to her mesmerizing performance. Active in the industry since 2009, Sajal made her debut with Nadaaniyaan, which was followed by an impressive role in Mehmoodabad Ki Malkain. From playing Dr. Zubia in Yaqeen Ka Safar, to the chirpy and confident Sasi in O Rangreza and then across the border with her big Bollywood debut with Mom, Sajal has proved that she is one of our industry’s finest actresses.
More recently, Sajal took on challenging roles in Ishq-e-Laa where she played character of a fearless journalist who strives to tell the truth no matter what, as well as Sinf-e-Aahan where she was part of a brigade of girls from diverse backgrounds who join the Pakistan Army and rise in the ranks, becoming the eponymous ‘women of steel.’ She is now all set to make her Hollywood debut in Shekhar Kapur’s What’s Love Got to do with it? She is indeed an exceptional dynamo with unique talent who is diversifying in an effort to stray from playing just one type of role. This spirit is shared with the realme 9 series which always bring new innovation with its launch, including the latest realme 9 4G.
The realme 9 4G is coming to Pakistan very soon with a launch event on the horizon in the near future. The new smartphone will be available in three stunning colors: Stargaze White, Meteor Black, and Sunburst Gold. With a unique Holographic Ripple Design, the realme 9 4G is built for aesthetics as well as performance. Sajal’s presence in the cultural zeitgeist of Pakistan is undeniable. Her status as a household name in Pakistan will be highly beneficial in drawing attention to the new, next-level realme 9 4G so that it can have a more sustained impact in the Pakistani market. Stay on the lookout for more exciting details about the upcoming realme 9 4G.
It is a well-known fact that Asim Azhar’s music is loved worldwide. From the US to Australia, wherever a person from the subcontinent lives, they listen to Asim Azhar. Asim Azhar’s fandom has also warmly welcomed his newly engaged fiancé Merub.
Yesterday, resulting in a great uproar, the engaged couple launched a music video in collaboration with Free Fire. This is the first time they’re appearing on-screen as a couple and fans are ecstatic to see them! Free Fire announced the collab on their social media letting the fans know that the music video is a part of Free Fire’s Eid-ul-Azha campaign.
Experience Free Fire in the New Music Video
The newly launched music video takes you onto the experience of battle style in Free Fire Arena. Asim sings “Lakhon Style” which refers to the billion styling and customizing options in Free Fire. The video is about styling up your character for Eid and supporting your squad in the Free Fire battle.
Free Fire’s Styling Options
Styling options have always been Free Fire’s unique feature amongst the gamers and that is what the music video highlights for you. You can explore a billion styling options within the game to make your character look cool and stand out. All you have to do is log in to the game and choose from the many different bundles available to you.
Free Fire’s Special Campaign for Eid-ul-Azha
Free Fire’s Eid-ul-Adha campaign is full of surprises including exciting contests and the special music video that was hinted at by Free Fire before the launch. Free Fire promised something exciting and fulfilled the promise with the newest jam for BBQs this year
As highlighted in the music video, battle in style with your squad in Free Fire with massive customization options within the game!
If anyone has made a list of all things that carry a part of Pakistan with them, Rooh Afza would probably be on top of that list.
Recently, in the seventh TV series of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), “Ms. Marvel“, Rooh Afza was spotted in a shadi-ka-ghar (wedding house) sequence. The brand is subtly placed to reinforce values of overseas Pakistanis, among other things like customs and traditions of events in a wedding, overall attire of the members and the vibe that relatives create at such events.
Not just that, in another recent release of Disney+, “American Eid”, a similar kind of subtle placement of Rooh Afza, was spotted in a scene.
It seems like attention to detail is high among these Hollywood cultural consultants who are hired for such projects, as they are now placing the brands that make a home feel like home for us Pakistanis. They didn’t even have to show the label from the front as the bottle and its cap is enough to know that it is nothing else but Rooh Afza.
The interesting thing is that this is not a branded placement, as confirmed by Brand team and creative agency; instead, it was the Marvel team’s choice that made the TV series. This shows that Rooh Afza is the true market leader and has a vast legacy, which makes it inevitable to place it in a frame to depict a true Pakistani home anywhere in the world.
It turns out, no matter how far you take the Pakistanis out from Pakistan, you can’t take Rooh Afza out of Pakistanis’ homes!
Islamabad, Pakistan – 7 July 2022: 173,878 students worldwide, including 264 students from Pakistan, receive their Diploma Programme (DP) results from the May 2022 examination session. Pakistan’s DP total points average is 31.14.
In Pakistan, students who participated in the May 2022 session will be subject to the revised conversion formula as per the updated Inter-Board Committee of Chairmen (IBCC) Equivalence Committee guidelines for International Baccalaureate (IB).
Olli-Pekka Heinonen, Director General of the International Baccalaureate, said: “Our students have shown outstanding resilience and dedication to learning. The pandemic has thrown up challenges at almost every step of their educational journey and yet they have overcome them. I am proud of every single one of them.
To recognise these challenges the IB provided adaptions to our programmes – but it is the IB World Schools and teachers who deliver our programmes that have also been incredibly resilient and dedicated to help their students get to this point. Today is an incredible day for the whole IB family and I salute everyone involved in making it this far. The character on display illustrates everything the IB stands for.”
The IB understands that students globally continue to face disruption to their lives and their teaching and learning as a result of the global pandemic. To ensure that all students could continue to the next step of their learner journey and achieve valid results, the IB made adaptations to help address the challenges caused by the pandemic, including adjustments to learning, teaching, and assessment, for the May 2022 examination session.
The IB also developed a procedure to award grades without written examinations as a contingency measure for the circumstances preventing exam administration.
The impact of the pandemic on students was deeply considered throughout the grade awarding process for the May 2022 examination session and appropriate grade boundaries were set to account for the disruption to education. A review of results was undertaken to ensure the IB mitigated the disruption students face.
The IB is immensely proud of all IB students who have reached this milestone. Throughout the DP two-year learning journey students have acquired the knowledge and skills to thrive and make a difference in the world. This achievement has been reached through the incredible efforts and ongoing support of the whole school community.
The IB is offered by 5,603 schools in 160 countries around the world, and 31 of these schools offering 48 programmes are located in Pakistan. In addition, the IB is widely recognized by prestigious universities globally and employers alike, for the depth and breadth of its programmes.
Learn more about the May 2022 examination session here.
Dr Miftah Ismail presented a budget on June 9 that appeared reasonable and fair to most observers. The Wharton-trained public economist received congratulations readily as pundits went on to look into the nitty-gritty of the document to fill up newspaper columns.
But one key stakeholder wasn’t happy. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) was miffed that the budget didn’t do much to increase tax revenues and instead doled out generous largesse to individuals and the corporate sector in the name of tax relief.
The view of the IMF matters. We’ve been camping out at the IMF’s door for months on end to receive a long-pending loan tranche of about $1 billion agreed back in 2019. More than the cash injection per se, Pakistan is looking for the seal of IMF’s approval that the country must have to unlock inflows from other global lenders. Multilateral institutions, international banks and bond investors trust the country with their money only if it’s in an IMF programme, thanks to Islamabad’s ongoing balance-of-payments crisis.
As a tax policymaker, you don’t get to discriminate between a beverage company and a confectionary company, especially when you’re the owner of the latter. No minister, regardless of his credentials, should be allowed to arbitrarily notify different tax rates for different industries. It’s whimsical and unethical.
So, the IMF stepped in and Dr Ismail had to renege on his ‘relief’ promises in a couple of weeks of the budget presentation.
On June 24, the government announced a second round of tax measures — to be incorporated into the 2022-23 budget — to comply with the revised tax revenue target of Rs7.47 trillion.
The most salient feature of the June 24 bombshell of announcement was the awesome-sounding “super tax”.
In simple terms, the super tax is a 10 per cent levy – 6pc if you count it separately from the 4pc poverty alleviation tax already proposed in the June 9 budget — on companies with earnings of more than Rs300 million in 13 specific sectors.
Interestingly, the tax will apply to the earnings reported in tax year 2022 (more on that later). The 13 sectors are airline, auto, bank, beverage, cement, chemical, cigarette, fertiliser, LNG terminal, oil and gas, steel, sugar and textile.
The tax measure is expected to help the government generate additional Rs80bn, according to Amreen Soorani, head of research at JS Global.
The super tax is highly regressive. Here’re eight reasons why it’s bad.
IT’S DISINGENUOUS
The government shouldn’t get to pick winners and losers through tax policy. Of course, governments sometimes impose vice tax on tobacco and alcohol to discourage their consumption or give tax breaks on the use of renewable energy. But that’s a tool that should always be used sparingly.
Image Source: PakScoop
As a tax policymaker, you don’t get to discriminate between a beverage company and a confectionary company, especially when you’re the owner of the latter. No minister, regardless of his credentials, should be allowed to arbitrarily notify different tax rates for different industries. It’s whimsical and unethical.
Raise the existing tax rates across the board by the same proportion if the government is so short of cash. But don’t play favourites. That’s ingenuous.
IT’S RETROSPECTIVE
The super tax will apply to tax year 2022. It means businesses didn’t know they’d be charged a much higher tax ex post facto. No self-respecting administration tweaks tax rates mid-year. This government is changing the tax rate for the whole year in the eleventh month. It’s like telling your tenant at the end of the year that their rent for the past 12 months is going up substantially.
WHAT CHANGED?
One would assume professionals ran the Ministry of Finance. But recent events suggest otherwise. When the budget came out on June 9, many writers — including this reporter — said it was a good ‘first’ budget and that mini-budgets would likely follow. We didn’t have to wait even for the passage of the budget for a mini-budget to arrive!
The ministry proposed fundamental changes in the initially proposed budget within two weeks of its presentation. If business reporters with rudimentary knowledge of the IMF policies knew well in advance the proposed budget would be short-lived, what excuse did Dr Ismail, a PhD in public finance, have for presenting a flimsy Finance Act? Did he expect the IMF to look the other way while he collected congratulatory messages from his party workers?
WRONG SIGNAL FOR INVESTORS
Trade bodies are wondering aloud what kind of a country changes its benchmark corporate tax rate so frequently. The change would earlier take place every year. Now it’s even more frequent. Does tax policy continuity matter at all to our policymakers?
Foreign investors, in particular, operate in close liaison with their overseas headquarters for budgeting and expansion plans. Did it ever occur to the worthy minister how the foreign sponsors of multinationals react to such frequent policy U-turns? After all, nearly one-third of the total tax revenue comes from only 200 foreign companies operating in Pakistan.
BAD TIMINGS
Budgets are usually announced on weekends when capital markets are closed. That’s because the government wants to protect investors from sudden, uninformed reaction.
Image Souce: The express tribune
But the government dropped the June 24 bombshell on a Friday. The result was a bloodbath on the stock exchange in which intraday losses took away more than 2,000 points from the benchmark index. People lost money unnecessarily. Couldn’t the announcement be made after the market closure? At least people would’ve gotten the time to process the new information and calmly decide whether they wanted to sell shares or wait for an upswing. One prominent reporter wondered on Twitter whether the prime minister was following a buy-the-dip policy for his own portfolio.
IT WON’T JUST AFFECT THE RICH
No matter how loudly they tell you the super tax is on the rich, don’t believe them. The tax will be passed on to consumers. Don’t expect the rich to bear the increased tax burden. They never did, and they never will. A bag of cement will get expensive, airline tickets will be dearer and the price tags on clothing items will get revised upwards. A tax on the rich always gets passed on.
INFLATION WILL GO FURTHER UP
I went to a photocopy shop yesterday. The price of a single-page photocopy went up from Rs3 to Rs5. Overnight. I could explain to the shopkeeper that the official inflation number was still less than 14pc and his 66pc increase in the per-page rate defied logic, but I didn’t. I knew what he’d say. I paid him two extra rupees and left.
Ours is a high inflation economy. People expect and accept price hikes more readily. Prices shoot up while wages remain sticky. That’s why income inequality is rising. Dr Ismail is lying that the super tax won’t fuel inflation. It will.
TAX THE UNTAXED
It’s become a cliché, but that doesn’t mean it’s untrue. Pakistan is always short of money, although it taxes the hell out of those that are already taxed. If you’re a salaried person, you pay a tax on your income at source. Then you pay tax on everything ranging from a matchbox to electricity, fuel, cell phone use and tea.
Who doesn’t pay taxes in proportion to their income? Real estate developers don’t. Land-owning farmers don’t. Government employees, civilians and otherwise, don’t. If you have any doubt, just look at the Prados and Land Cruisers green number plates parked around every government office in the country.
Nepotism is rampant across all entertainment industries. However, the rise of it in Bollywood is what got the conversation started. This has encouraged people to look within and also contemplate to what extent nepotism plays a role in our own industry. So far, it’s apparent that nepotism is strengthening its hold in the Pakistani entertainment industry also. Here’s what it’s doing:
Consider Shahroze Sabzwari, Ahad Raza Mir, Noor Zaffar Khan. These are all names that have proven their existence in the industry only because of their older siblings or parents. Now, naturally, they have become big names too. What does this do? It discourages new people from joining the industry because it shows them that the cycle continues working within families only.
Image Source: ARY News
Talent Of The Industry Is Discounted
Moreover, while some may join through nepotism but then prove their talent, others may simply flop. When nepotism becomes rampant and it gives space to those individuals who can’t stand on their own, it shows outsiders that our entertainment industry is not worth it.
This can discount the impact of the work created by Pakistanis. When the nepotism debate sparked in Bollywood, the business of the industry greatly declined.
Image Source: Awami Web
People Don’t Want To See Local
Recently on Eid, the whole “watch local, support local” fiasco blew up in our faces. Local producers were upset about the fact that people prefer Hollywood productions rather than their own. Can we blame Pakistanis for doing so when the local movies are full of nepotism? Who would want to see the same generations going on again and again and again! First Javed Sheikh and then her daughter Momal Sheikh which is also a sign of nepotism.
Image Source: Something Haute
Why This Needs To Stop
This needs to stop because nepotism discourages people from supporting the industry. Pakistani industry is a nascent industry and when people become dissuaded from watching something from a nascent industry, the industry then has no future. As a result, to build confidence and trust in the people of the nation, it is important to rid the industry of this mark of nepotism.
Pakistan’s television industry has given us some of the greatest dramas that are worth binging amidst coronavirus. If you make a list of dramas that were truly commendable, then you’d be surprised to see how much our entertainment industry has evolved.
However, keeping that list concise, we have randomly selected a few of the drama serials that are based on actual events and left a lasting impression on the masses.
Have a look:
1. Baaghi
Source/ Tribune
Baaghi was written by Shazia Khan, directed by Farooq Rind and produced by Urdu1 and was based on the life of Qandeel Baloch.
2. Sadqay Tumhare
Source/ Dawn
Penned by Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar, this drama serial was directed by Muhammad Ehteshamuddin and produced by MD Productions Channel. The story is based on the life of Khalil-ur-Rehman.
3. Meri Guriya
Source/ ebuzztoday
Penned by Radain Shah and directed by Ali Hassan, Meri Guriya’s basic story was based on the tragic and brutal murders of several little girls and Zainab’s murder in particular.
4. Rehaai
Source/ Dramabaaz.com
Rehaai was written by Farhat Ishtiaq, directed by Mehreen Jabbar and focuses on child marriages.
5. Lahaasil
Source/ icons.pk
Lahaasil is an adaptation of the novel with the same name. Written by Umera Ahmed, the novel is dedicated to a woman named Najma, who came out and told her story.
6. Mein Sitara
Source/ TV One
The series highlighted the struggles of actress’s and is based on the story of a Pakistani actress. It was written by Faiza Iftikhar, directed by Seema Taher Khan and produced by TV ONE.
7. Pyare Afzal
Source/ ARY Digital
Penned by Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar, directed by Nadeem Baig and produced by Six Sigma Entertainment this tale of Rehman’s friend back in college who would write love letters to himself.
8. Mubarak Ho Beti Hui Hei
Source/ Tribune
Written by Faiza Iftikhar, this drama was directed by Badar Mehmood and Produced by Big Bang Entertainment this drama revolves around Faiza Iftikhar’s mother.
9. Ruswai
Source/ Medium
Ruswai was written by Naila Ansari, directed by Rubina Ashraf. The writer in an interview shared that plot was inspired by an incident that occurred at Do Darya where a father saved his friend’s daughter while his daughter was kidnapped.
10. Inkaar
Source/ Dawn
Inkaar’s script was penned down by Zafar Mairaj, Kashif Nisar directed it. The show was inspired by Khadija Siddiqui real-life struggles and story. Khadija Siddiqui was stabbed by her class fellow in broad daylight and she fought for many years to achieve justice.
11. Khaani
Source/ Tribune
The plot of this drama serial was based on a tragic incident that was highlighted in the media over and over again and garnered a lot of popularity. It was written by Asma Nabeel and was directed by Anjum Shehzad.
12. Damsa
Source/ Dawn
Asma Nabeel wrote Damsa’s script, Najaf Bilgrami directed it. The plot revolves around children who have been kidnapped or trafficked.
13. Mere Pass Tum Ho
Source/ Samaa
Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar wrote drama serial Mere Pass Tum Ho, Nadeem Baig directed it, and Six Sigma Plus produced it. The serial was inspired by a man who endured the same pain as the lead character did in the serial. This news was told by Rehman himself on media.
A designer’s craft says a lot about themselves. While many stay true to their roots, others try to step out of mediocrity once in a while. Sometimes it pays off, while sometimes, not so much. Recently, a Pakistani designer Jazib Qamar has come out with the latest eid collection, which is artistic, to say the least.
Not every day do you get to experience monsoon. However, the artist has made sure to make you feel like you are in the monsoon state of mind with his vibrant collection. The design might seem ordinary; however, the idea behind it is the amalgamation of current weather conditions and Eid-ul-Adha.
Drenched
The collection named ‘Drenched’ features an electric blue Shalwar Kurta. With accents on the collar and shoulders, the design adds a little oomph to the entire outfit. However, wait till you see the overall print! It is as if you have stepped out in the rain – literally. The stains, which represent water, show the effect of being drenched in the rain.
The sleeves feature tags on the interior with written Left and Right on the respective sleeves. Representing the right and wrong choices in life – left and right.
With the current weather conditions and Eid-ul-Adha, the designs set the mood for the upcoming festivities.
Wearing the designer outfit might also make you feel like you are reminiscing about the monsoon long after it’s gone, which is another excellent reason to get your hands on it. While creativity knows no boundaries, we can’t wait to see what fashion designer has to offer in the future.
In Pakistan, many designers have tried their hands at extraordinary designs and cuts. A household name in an experimental fashion, Ali Xeeshan is the epitome of such designs and collections.
Fawad Khan reached the heights of fame in Pakistan and then it appears he made a nest up there somewhere. It’s been six years since his last role. However, the majestic actor has now once again agreed to grace the hearts, minds, and eyes of all his fans and lovers in Ms. Marvel. He has been termed the ‘perfect bait for desis’ and here’s why:
Fawad Khan appeared in Ms. Marvel’s episode in a limited role. He was shown for a little while, but while his role was limited it was also important. He is brought in when the topic of colonialism is touched upon in the remarkable series. Some romantic scenes between him and Mehwish Hayat also make people go crazy.
What Are People Appreciating?
With Fawad Khan, there’s a lot to appreciate. However, besides his enchanting appearance, people have more to talk about. Everyone is also praising his acting skills which once again showed people why he reached where he did. He just made his Hollywood debut and the acting was phenomenal.
Not even that, it’s been nearly a decade since his last role, yet he looks just the same? Do our eyes deceive us?
What Are People Saying?
We told you, fans are going gaga over his appearance. Have a look at the memes and thoughts of your fellow people on Twitter:
Fawad Khan’s acting was amazing in #MsMarvel Episode 5, the expressions were brilliant and the struggle to get independence from British and the pain in his eyes when talking to Muslims was real❤️ pic.twitter.com/GGwjpcD59Z
— 𝕊𝕙𝕒𝕕𝕠𝕨 𝕂𝕟𝕚𝕘𝕙𝕥 – Ms Marvel Era ⚡️ (@MarvelUpdatesPK) July 6, 2022
Fawad Khan made his Hollywood debut with Ms Marvel today and dude hasn’t posted a single thing on his gram. He’s like yeah i’m fuckin awesome lol what’s new??
