Stressed spelt backwards is desserts and nothing better than something sweet and delicious to make your day. Being a hard-core foodie with a very intense sweet-tooth, I love my desserts and pretty much spend all my money trying out new things. All through the year (and the pandemic), I have tried a vast variety of meetha from different home-based businesses and here are the ones I keep going back to.
Without a doubt the best chocolate chip cookies I have had in Lahore. They are crispy on the outside but gooey on the inside and melt the moment they hit your mouth. The light dusting of sea salt adds to the flavour and I guarantee you that you will not stop at one. Priced at Rs 180 (without tax), they are a steal given that they are pretty big in size too.
Look at that chocolate!
Chocolate Brownie Dessert Box by Deliciuex
There are often times when you feel like having something cool and sweet which is not ice-cream. Something that you can eat while watching your favourite season. Something that feeds the soul. In those situations, the Chocolate Brownie Box by Deliciuex is ideal for you. The dessert box, which includes layers of brownies, fudge and mousse topped with a layer of crunchy biscoff, is the stuff of dreams. You will not regret trying this.
P.s. Deliciuex does amazing Lotus Milk Cake also.
Frosti Ice-Cream
There is something very enjoyable about having cold ice-cream in the chilly weather. Frosti has one of the best gelatos the city has to offer and that too in a variety of flavours. Creamy, smooth and oh-so-delectable, Frosti is a must-try for those who love to spend their winters curled up in front of the television watching their favourite show.
Our picks – Salted Caramel, Oreo Crunch and Belgian Chocolate
Cheesecake (Lotus, New York) by The Sweet Rack
I was not a big fan of cheesecakes till I tried the New York Cheesecake by The Sweet Rack. While the cream is rich and absolutely delicious, it was the base that set it apart from other cheesecakes. It does not have your usual biscuit base – it has hints of walnuts and cinnamon which add so much flavour to the overall experience. Highly recommended. The Sweet Rack Lotus Cheesecake is also great and I am sure Lotus lovers will thoroughly enjoy it.
P.s. Their brownies are also divine.
Donuts by Big Fat Rolls
Honestly speaking, I am a Dunkin Donuts loyalist. I have tried multiple donuts from multiple places at multiple food festivals but nothing came close to Dunkin for me…till I discovered Big Fat Rolls. Their donuts are ah-mazing: airy, soft and melt-in-your-mouth kind. My picks from their collection have to be Cherub Classic and Cupid Chocolate.
Note – Before someone attacks me for not including Layers, please note that these picks are from home-based businesses only.
Shahveer Jafry got engaged to fashion designer Ayesha Beig on Wednesday in an intimate ceremony. After much buzz, he took to Instagram and confirmed the news himself with pictures from the event.
All seemed to be going well until the Canadian-Pakistani YouTuber accused the photographers of sharing pictures and videos from his engagement on social media without his consent.
In a story posted to his Instagram, Shahveer hit out at the photographers covering his engagement, calling them ‘vultures’. According to him, they had posted the videos and pictures without the couple’s consent.
While Shahveer later reportedly deleted his story, the photographers responded to his allegations saying that they did not upload a single picture without the bride’s consent, who had hired them. They said it was in fact the couple who posted pictures without giving due credits to the photographers.
The photographers also posted a couple of screenshots which made Ayesha’s consent evident.
“And to add up, yes we did called Ayesha twice after seeing the story and before taking any step. She didn’t pick didn’t call back then we took the step. And we were never contacted by anyone from this event for not uploading or removing any pix other than just two posts Ayesha asked.”
“Infact several guests contacted that they loved the pictures and wonder if we could send them the pictures too. We can upload those screen shots too and screen shot of our call log for calling (with time and date) Ayesha twice before we took our first step.”
Later, in an Instagram post, the studio said they were “already on” to settle at getting public apology or check from their corporate lawyer over ‘defamation’.
City managers have decided to restore a historic mosque near Lotus Lake in Shakarparian.
According to details, the mosque is believed to be over 100 years old. It was a worship place for villagers of Pairan, who migrated from the area in the 1960s during Islamabad’s development.
Like Pairan, many villagers from Islamabad moved to Rawalpindi and other parts of the capital after getting compensation from Capital Development Authority (CDA) for their homes and land.
“During construction of Lotus Lake, when we carried out cleanliness operation and removed bushes etc., we found an abandoned mosque,” said Environment Director Irfan Niazi, adding construction material of the mosque suggested that it was built over 100 years ago. The banyan tree located in the mosque’s courtyard is believed to be 500 years old.
CDA Chairman Amer Ali Ahmed said that the authority will restore this historical mosque. “I have already directed my team to take steps for restoration of this mosque, which is also our heritage,” he said.
He further said that the construction of the lake is in its last stage and will soon be a new facility for tourists.
There was a natural lotus lake in the area which diminished during the construction of a cultural complex between 2004-5. CDA is now constructing the lake at a new place near the Natural History Museum. The new Lotus Lake is 100ft long and 68ft wide.
The Punjab House in Murree has been handed over to the Higher Education Department (HEC) for the establishment of Kohsar University, as per a notification issued by Punjab Board of Revenue. The secretary of the Colonies Department has forwarded the notification to the Deputy Development Commissioner of Rawalpindi.
As per details, the Punjab House in Murree is a mansion built over 96 kanal. It comes under the provincial government and is used for different purposes.
PTI MNA Sadaqat Ali Abbasi, in a statement, said that along with theory, students will also be given practical education in tourism at the university.
He further added that in one block of the Punjab House, classrooms will be built and to generate extra income other blocks will be made available to tourists under the supervision of the university. The plan is likely to materialize within the next three years.
وزیراعظم کے ویژن کے مطابق تاریخی سرکاری عمارتوں کوحکمران وافسران کی تعیشات کی بجائے اجتماعی مفاد میں استعمال کرنے میں پنجاب ہاؤس مری اس کی ایک بڑی مثال ہے۔
پنجاب ہاؤس میں جامعہ کے سیاحت ڈیپارٹمنٹ کے زیرنگرانی طلبہ طالبات کو سیاحت کی نصابی تعلیم کے ساتھ عملی تعلیم بھی دی جائیگی۔ https://t.co/Fx4IHvFafX
The decisionto establish Koshar University in Punjab House was taken two years ago and is in the accordance with the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan to use government buildings for the interest of the general public.
Earlier in 2018 and 2019 Punjab’s and Murree’s Governor’s House opened its doors for public respectively. In November 2020, Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar inaugurated the Governor House Café that is set up in a double-decker bus inside the Governor House in Lahore for the general public.
The district authority of South has decided to turn Karachi’s Burns Road famous for its food variety into a food street.
As per reports, the Deputy Commissioner for the South district has created a team of nine members to supervise the transformation of the spot.
The buildings constructed in the pre-partition era will be restored for their aesthetics, while furniture and signboards, inside and outside the cafes and restaurants will be designed to enhance the look.
The established team will present its suggestions and ideas on the cleanliness, sewerage and how to beautify Burns Road.
The food street will be lit with ornate lights after road repair work is completed with new tiles.
The management plans to make the food street made traffic-free in the evening and will divert the general traffic and pedestrians passing by.
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar has confirmed his resignation from the position of spokesperson to PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari a day ahead of the joint opposition’s power show in Lahore.
In a statement on Twitter on Saturday, Senator Khokhar responded to the reports that claimed he had quit the PPP, saying that he will remain in the PPP and will stand by Bilawal “through thick and thin”.
I have resigned from the position of spokesperson to the chairman, not from #PPP. Will stand by BBZ through thick and thin. In my years as his spokesperson, have given counsel with honesty, sincerity and in the best interests of the country and the party.
“In my years as his spokesperson, have given counsel with honesty, sincerity and in the best interests of the country and the party,” he added.
Insiders say the PPP chief’s spokesperson had issues with the party’s stance on mass resignations, resulting in his resignation from the post on Thursday. Subsequently, Senator Khokhar also quit the party’s Whatsapp group, giving birth to speculations about his departure from the party.
However, PPP media cell was quick to shoot down these reports. In a statement issued on Friday, the media cell said that Khokhar will remain in the PPP and serve as the spokesperson of the chairman. Whereas, Khokhar on the other hand remained silent on the issue till his aforementioned tweet wherein he confirmed his resignation from the post of the spokesperson.
Dawn had reported that Senator Khokhar was “angry over the PPP’s decision about resignations from the assemblies and party leadership’s back-channel contacts with the military establishment”.
It further reported that while almost all important PPP leaders are in Lahore ahead of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) plan to hold a rally on Sunday, the PPP senator preferred not to go to Lahore.
Harrison Ford may be pushing 80, but he’s not too old to don the wide-brimmed fedora of adventurer Indiana Jones for one final film.
Disney has announced that Ford will be returning as Indiana Jones for a fifth and last Indy flick in 2022 — which has been in development for years.
“We’re in pre-production on the next and final installment of Indiana Jones,” Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy said on Disney’s mammoth investor day presentation.
“Of course, Indy himself, Harrison Ford, will be back to conclude this iconic character’s journey. Indy will begin shooting late spring of 2021, and will be released in July of 2022.”
At the helm will be James Mangold, director of racing flick Ford vs Ferrari and Logan, the final chapter in the long-running series of Wolverine flicks starring Hugh Jackman.
Steven Spielberg, who directed the first four Indy flicks, had initially been set to direct the final chapter in the Indiana Jones saga but has instead handed the reins to Mangold. He will, however, remain involved as a producer.
Ford, now 78, first created the role of Indiana Jones in 1981’s Raiders of the Lost Ark, just a few years after achieving global fame as Han Solo in the original Star Wars film.
Three years later, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom followed. In 1989, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade hit theatres, with Sean Connery playing Indy’s dad. Connery passed away in October this year at the age of 90.
Nearly 20 years would pass before Ford starred in the fourth film, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, which had box office success but was critically panned.
Disney first announced plans for a fifth film in 2016, with a 2019 release date, but the project was delayed over creative differences between Spielberg, screenwriters and producers.
Then the coronavirus pandemic upended Hollywood’s production schedule.
Lahore police have arrested a teenager for vandalising a statue of Maharaja Ranjeet Singh, who ruled Punjab in the 19th century, installed in front of the Haveli of Rani Jindan at Lahore Fort.
Police said that the boy Zaheer — a resident of Harbanspura — was inspired by the speeches of late firebrand cleric Khadim Rizvi. As per the teenager, Ranjeet Singh killed Muslims and converted Badshahi Mosque into a stable, adding that these reasons compelled him to destroy the statue of the Sikh ruler.
It was learned that Zaheer broke the arm in an attempt to damage the statue. He was caught by the security guards on the spot, who stopped him from further damaging the statue.
A Walled City of Lahore Authority (WCLA) spokesperson said that a case has been lodged against the suspect at the Tibbi City police station. Strict action will be taken against the accused, it said, adding that the statue would be repaired by the WCLA at earliest.
The nine-foot-tall statue of Ranjeet Singh, who died in 1839, was unveiled in June 2019 on his 180th death anniversary. The statue, made of cold bronze, depicts the emperor sitting on a horse with a sword in his hand. Popularly known as Sher-e-Punjab, Maharaja Ranjit Singh ruled over the Sikh empire in the Punjab region in the early half of the 19th century.
After almost decade-long infightings, his empire came to an end in 1848 with the colonisation of Punjab by the East Indian Company.
Turkish actor Engin Altan Düzyatan, who arrived in Lahore on Thursday for a short visit “at the invitation of a private business company”, seems to be having a great time in the city. He was spotted taking a tour of the historic Badshahi Masjid, visiting the grave of Allama Iqbal and even met Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar.
Engin was hosted by the CEO of Chaudhary Textiles, Kashif Zameer, who reportedly arranged the meeting between the Turkish actor and CM Buzdar at his residence. Engin has reportedly signed a contract worth Rs 17 crores with Chaudhary Textiles and will be their official brand ambassador.
The lead actor of #Ertugrul, Engin Altan Düzyatan @eadksk, called on Chief Minister Punjab @UsmanAKBuzdar in Lahore yesterday.
Chief Minister presented Chief Minister House Shield and traditional gifts to the respected guest. 🇵🇰 🇹🇷 pic.twitter.com/ag5QuIq1hl
Kashif has also been sharing pictures of Engin’s trip on his social media account.
He also introduced the actor to his pet lion. Kashif, who earlier met Engin in Turkey, also framed the picture of their meeting and put it up on his wall along with other pictures of himself.
Meanwhile, addressing a press conference in Lahore on Friday, the star of Diriliş: Ertuğrul revealed that he had signed multiple new projects in Pakistan and that this visit was the first of many more to come.
He also expressed his desire to work in Pakistani dramas.
When asked if he would consider working in Pakistani dramas, Engin responded: “Why not! I would love to work in a Pakistani drama or film, given the right opportunity. If the script is good then why not.”
The actor also won hearts when he said a few words in Urdu.
As per details, Engin has concluded his trip and his on his way back to Turkey. Meanwhile, the hashtag ‘#ThankYouEnginAltan’ is trending on social media as fans thanked the actor for coming to the country and expressed their love for him.
