Current Final

Category: Lifestyle

  • 1000-year old Hindu Mandir to reopen in Sialkot after 72 years

    1000-year old Hindu Mandir to reopen in Sialkot after 72 years

    An ancient Hindu temple, closed since Partition will once again be opened for worshippers after a long hiatus of 72 years.

    As per details, the Shawala Teeja Singh Temple, located on Circular Road in Sialkot, is more than a 1,000 years old. Prime Minister Imran Khan directed Evacuee Trust Property Board (EPTB) Chairman Dr Amir Ahmed to facilitate its reopening. Members of the Hindu community had long been demanding for the temple to be opened. Pakistani Hindu community leader Surinder Kumar welcomed the decision and thanked the government for supporting the Hindu community.

    Made of granite and sandstone, the temple sits high on a sand dune in a congested, residential neighborhood. Over the years, the temple has fallen prey to neglect as a result of which the intricate carvings on the thick outside pillars have long faded or been scrubbed off by drug addicts. The sacred idols of Lord Shiva in the building have also been stolen or destroyed.

    According to Arab News, basic repair work on the temple is underway and a boundary wall has been constructed to mark the perimeters of the building. Doors have also been refitted near the prayer room. Officials said that complete restoration would take up to five years, for which UNESCO and the Karachi-based Aga Khan Foundation have been taken on board.

    On August 5, a formal opening ceremony would be held to mark the day Hindus celebrate the snake festival of Nag Panchami. Idols of Hindu deities will be transported to the temple from other temples in Pakistan and India for the ceremony.

    Earlier in July, an inauguration ceremony was carried out with several Hindu leaders present.

    Punjab is full of religious sites for both Hindus and Sikhs. Earlier, a gurdwara dating back 500 years in Sialkot was opened for Sikh pilgrims.

  • Restaurant near Naran shelters 500 stranded tourists

    Restaurant near Naran shelters 500 stranded tourists

    With the monsoon rains lashing their fury throughout the country, the northern areas are experiencing heavy landsliding. And considering it is the summer (and holiday) season, loads of Pakistanis were enjoying the weather up north. As they made their way back to their cities, the climatic changes brought some problems for them.

    The heavy rains have caused land sliding which has resulted in unsafe and blocked roads. Many tourists were stuck in their cars until a restaurant in Baser “Moon Restaurant”  became their safe haven.

    Considering that Moon Restaurant was a restaurant, not a hotel, the owners were quick to lay out charpaais for the stranded tourists. The tourists were also served warm halwa and tea. The restaurant’s management did not charge anything for their occupancy.  The management of the restaurant handled the situation so well that the people couldn’t stop praising it.

    Realising that they were stuck there for a while, the tourists started to share blankets, quilts, and warm clothes. Tourists left the next morning with a wonderful experience that leaves anyone all warm and fuzzy inside.

  • Pakistanis can now get a Canadian student visa ‘in less than three weeks’

    Pakistanis can now get a Canadian student visa ‘in less than three weeks’

    Good news for Pakistani students planning to go to Canada for higher studies.

    The Canadian government has decided to expand its’ Student Direct Stream (SDS) programme to include international students from Pakistan, enabling them to get a student visa in ‘less than three weeks’. The Canadian government had initiated the programme for students from India, China, Philippines and Vietnam last year.

    According to the press release issued, “SDS applications require prospective students to provide more up-front information to officers, including meeting language test requirements in English or French and providing additional information that shows their ability to finance their education,” to expedite the visa process.

    It added, “Many international students who graduate from a program in Canada often become eligible for a post-graduation work permit. With a Canadian education and skilled work experience in Canada, former international students are well-positioned for success in applying for permanent residence through Express Entry, the Provincial Nominee Program or the Atlantic Immigration Pilot.”

    High Commissioner of Pakistan to Canada Raza Bashir Tarar welcomed the decision and said that it would facilitate students who wished to study in Canada. The high commissioner, in his meetings with the Canadian officials, had urged them to include Pakistani students in the SDS programme as “academically, Pakistani students are second to none”.

  • Seedless mango makes its way to mango lovers

    Seedless mango makes its way to mango lovers

    What’s the best thing about summer? Mangoes! Juicy, sweet and divine, this king of fruits is much valued and most looked forward to. Make smoothies, salads use them in chutneys or make curries. While making these hardest part is peeling the mango but in the coming years that won’t be a problem as a new seedless species of mango has introduced at a Mango festival at the Centaurus Mall, Islamabad

    According to the reports, the seedless mango is under development stage at Multan University. The seedless mango is a large fruit with a substantial amount of pulp and its seed is very small. The variety was developed accidentally at a private orchard in Shujabad area of Multan. Officials say that it could take three to four years for the new kind to be finalized.

  • Punjab bids farewell to English as Urdu declared new medium of instruction at primary level

    Punjab bids farewell to English as Urdu declared new medium of instruction at primary level

    Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Sardar Usman Buzdar on Saturday announced that the province will take up Urdu as the medium of instruction at the primary level from the year 2020.

    Taking to Twitter, the provincial chief executive wrote that time of both teachers and students was wasted in translation instead of comprehension due to the current medium of instruction, which is English.

    As a result, he added, the students fail to learn anything new.

    CM Buzdar revealed that a survey, with the help of teachers, parents and students, was conducted in 22 districts of the province, and over 85 per cent people in every category preferred Urdu over English as the medium of instruction.

    He further said that English will only be taught as a language from March next year.

  • Model Marvi Shabbir allegedly mistreated by designer Zainab Salman

    Model Marvi Shabbir allegedly mistreated by designer Zainab Salman

    Model Marvi Shabbir has accused Lahore-based designer Zainab Salman of humiliating her and not paying her complete dues.

    Taking to social media, Marvi posted a video in which she claimed that Zainab had called her for a photoshoot in Lahore, but was asked to do more than what had been agreed. According to Marvi, the agreement had been of a photoshoot only but when the shoot started, the model was also asked to record some shots for her fashion film. And when Marvi refused to do that because it was not a part of her commitment, Zainab allegedly misbehaved with her.

    Elaborating further, Marvi said that Zainab’s team started humiliating her when she asked them for a dropoff because there was no Careem available in the area. She said they even refused to pay for her work. When she threatened them that she will expose them, they sent half her dues.

    Marvi said that the entire incident left her heartbroken and that has been crying ever since.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B0VLtDUhKuR/
    https://www.instagram.com/tv/B0RmcMBhDwJ/

    Soon after the allegations began to trend on social media, designer Zainab Salman issued a statement denying all the allegations. Zainab said that she and her team were in cooperative throughout the shoot but it was Marvi who was rude to her team.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B0XjDCvFMCD/
    https://www.instagram.com/p/B0X36kjldfK/

    Meanwhile, some members of the fashion industry stepped forward to support Marvi, such as makeup artist Fatima Nasir.

    https://www.facebook.com/fatimanasirofficial/posts/10156747849718192

    Marvi has worked with leading brands in the past such as Nishat Linen, Sapphire and Elan.

  • Summer care for your hair

    Summer care for your hair

    The hot and humid weather doesn’t only play havoc with our mood but also sends our hair out of control. Which means that we need to be extra careful with them in this weather. The weekend calls for some self-pampering, so here are a few ways to avoid frizzy hair.

    Get a trim

    Trim your hair in summer. Along with getting rid of the split ends, you’ll also get a new hairstyle which is more summer-friendly. Plus you don’t have to worry about your hair not growing back because hair grows faster in the summer due to better blood circulation.

    Avoid fun in the sun

    The sun’s UV rays make your hair dry and can harm the outer layer of your hair. You would hate us for this but spending too much time in the pool can damage your hair. Dust and sweat can cause split ends and dandruff. You can wear a light scarf to shield your head from sun rays and dust when you are out in the sun.

    Tackle the frizz

    Use a leave-in conditioner to handle the frizz and if a conditioner doesn’t help, try to apply a hair mask twice a week to restore their luster.

    Avoid hot styling tools

    Straighteners and curlers may give to the perfect glam look but they can also ruin your hair. Heat destroys the protein layer of the hair. Allow your hair to dry them naturally.

    But let’s just face the fact that when the air is so hot and humid, your hair are going to get frizzy. Don’t waste your time trying to fight frizz. Instead, find an easy go-to hairdo like a high ponytail, a messy bun or a side braid for the days high in humidity.

  • Lahori man arrested for sexually harassing women

    Lahori man arrested for sexually harassing women

    A Lahori man was put behind bars after he was accused of sexual harassment and indecent exposure.

    According to details, the incident occurred near Etihad Town in the city’s Raiwind area when a group of women were travelling in a motorcycle rickshaw. The offender, who was on a motorbike followed the rickshaw for a while and hurled sexually offensive and derogatory comments at the women. He was also guilty of indecent exposure.

    The offender’s behaviour was caught on camera and shared on social media after which the police took action.

    https://twitter.com/Alitaskywalker/status/1154400414885982208

    A team led by SP Sardar Ahsan Saif Ullah started an investigation and arrested him soon after. They also asked the author of the tweets to register an FIR against the culprit.

    Several users commented that it is difficult for women to register an FIR in their name. The lady who first shared this story also said that she will not be registering a case with her name.

    https://twitter.com/Alitaskywalker/status/1154699575854284800
    https://twitter.com/Alitaskywalker/status/1154706417141653504
    https://twitter.com/Alitaskywalker/status/1154707929112743941
  • DOCK 27 has a secret saviour

    DOCK 27 has a secret saviour

    Most restaurants in Pakistan, especially Lahore, operate on one theory: the more you have on the menu, the better it will be.

    Dock 27 sounds like a seafood joint and looks like one too… or does it? Nevermind, it’s complicated.

    The base of any chef, any restaurant or any food, is the basics. Books for professional chefs, bibles of food pairings, all emphasise the utmost importance of the basic commandments, which when perfected, are what the finer, complex ideas should stand on.

    Dock 27 is as confused as the “About Us” section they have posted on their Facebook page.

    The words, that jump at you from their Facebook page, don’t mean anything when put together. “Deepwater expeditions,” “Drifts and Jolts under the dark eclipse,” “journeys with dancing dolphins” and ultimately a “nautical hub” bistro. What did it all mean? I couldn’t tell.

    Dimly lit, the clashing interior of Dock 27

    Dock 27, a “worldly” restaurant in Lahore Defence, simply put, focuses on seafood, but also on cuisine from around the world. From Thai green curries to NY Strips, Italian pasta to Chinese stir-fried beef, it’s as if the owner and chef sat down and decided to make everything: because excess is always good, isn’t it?

    Not spoilt for choice, but feeling overwhelmed, my dinner partner and I asked the courteous waiter for his recommendations. In the dim lighting, I could barely see his face but appreciated the impeccable service. We ordered two mains on his recommendations.

    Tampa Chicken with mashed potatoes and grilled vegetables

    It is incredible how something as basic as BBQ sauce can save a restaurant’s review.

    What a BBQ sauce. The Tampa Chicken is grilled chicken slathered in shiny BBQ sauce, a bone dry potato mash (that I sent back) and decently grilled vegetables. The flavour was spot on, with the perfect balance of ketchup, Worchestershire and the tartness of what tasted like imli. Another bowl of the sauce was requested and dumped on everything else. Including the second main, the penne pasta with chicken and mushrooms in a creamy sauce. It elevated everything that touched it.

    Penne pasta with mushrooms and grilled chicken

    The al dente penne pasta had a solid flavour with and the right basics — decent white sauce, perfectly seasoned…but that was it. After a few luxurious bites, it became a little one-note — until I took a journey under the dark eclipse and mixed it with some BBQ sauce, licking the bowl clean.

    Singing praises of the sauce, I left thinking that I will not return again. The dim interior, the confused setting, and the loud music left me feeling disoriented. But I would definitely send someone to pick up anything with extra BBQ sauce.

  • 19th century abandoned Sikh temple to be reopened

    19th century abandoned Sikh temple to be reopened

    Following the Kartarpur Corridor initiative, the Pakistani government is playing an active role to restore abandoned religious sites in the country. Only recently, a Hindu Mandir was reopened in Sialkot after 72 years.

    Recent reports have revealed that The Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) is planning to restore and reopen the historical 19th century abandoned Gurdwara Chowa Sahib in Jhelum and has also unveiled a plan for it.

    The gurdwara, which is one of the most sacred Sikh temples, is situated at the northern edge of the majestic Rohtas Fort’s Talaqi gate near Punjab’s Jhelum city and dates back to 1834. Gurdwara Chowa Sahib means “Gurudwara of the exalted spring”, and it commemorates the site where Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikh religion, was popularly believed to have created a water spring.

    According to a Sikh legend, Guru Nanak and Bhai Mardana were travelling in the region and had arrived at the site during hot summer in 1521. When Bhai Mardana told Guru Nanak that water was scarce in the area, Guru Nanak is said to have then struck the earth with his cane and moved a stone thereby revealing a natural spring. The water of the spring was considered to be so holy that Ranjit Singh would reportedly have it specially transported to him in Lahore. Singh had also commissioned the present-day structure of the Gurdwara in 1834.

    ETPB Secretary Shrines Imran Gondal said that the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee and Sikh leaders would perform the inauguration of the multi-million restoration project. However, did not specify a date.