An earthquake of high intensity jolted different parts of the country on Tuesday, injuring over 50 people.
According to the geological wing of the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), tremors measuring 5.8 on the Richter scale were felt in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Peshawar and Lahore among other parts of northern and central Punjab besides Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).
People of the areas where the quake was felt, rushed out of their homes and offices in panic reciting Quranic verses. At least 50 people were injured and rushed to nearby hospitals in Mirpur.
The epicenter of the quake was stated to be one kilometer (km) southeast of Mirpur, 10 km beneath the earth’s surface.
In a photo shared by his son on Twitter, President Dr Arif Alvi has been spotted picking up trash on his hiking trip with family in Changla Gali mountain resort town of Galyat.
According to the details, the president was seen collecting garbage in a trash bag and then disposing it of in a bin by the side of a road.
“During our treks, we usually take trash bags, but accidentally forgot them, next time will do more [sic],” the president’s son, Awab Alvi, wrote and added that Pakistanis should “behave like responsible tourists when they visit such beautiful places in the country”.
Sad to see tourist take a trek & enjoy a picnic but leave plastic bottles all over the trail – we tried to pick as many as we can pic.twitter.com/QrvroNpFJh
People who regularly use Careem for conveyance are well aware of the problems one faces while availing this cab service so it will come as no surprise that the private ride-hailing service was fined Rs 50,000 by a consumer court for providing bad service and causing mental distress to a customer.
Careem Pakistan CEO Junaid Iqbal was directed to deposit Rs 25,000 in fines to the court, Rs 15,000 to the complainant for causing mental agony and Rs 10,000 litigation fee. Judge Javed Ali Korejo delivered the verdict on a complaint filed by a Careem user.
As per reports, petitioner Advocate Mehmood Ahmed Khan stated in his complaint that he had booked a Careem cab from Gulistan-e-Jauhar to Saadi Garden. He and some of his guests were picked by a Careem captain, who ignored directions and drove in a rash manner. Instead of following Khan’s friends who were on a motorcycle, as Khan requested him to, the captain got angry at being repeatedly asked to follow the motorcycle and dropped the passengers in the middle of the road. Khan mentioned that the passengers were all fasting when the ride ended halfway. He added that the driver also used offensive language.
Khan further said that he had lodged an online complaint with the company before approaching the court but after receiving no satisfactory response from the management he was left with no other option.
“They did not even reply to the legal notice he sent”, said Khan.
“Everyone gossips,” says Frank McAndrew, a professor of psychology in the United States while talking to NBC News. He discusses a new study that determines how much humans gossip and how it affects them socially – and how there is a right way to do it.
McAndrew said that people who gained social knowledge (aka gossiped) were far ahead than people who were not interested. People who didn’t indulge in discussing other people “were not good at attracting and keeping mates or maintaining alliances.”
Women tend to engage in more neutral gossip than men
Gossip isn’t “inherently bad,” he suggested and in a study with 467 adults over two-five days, researchers came to a conclusion on how to gossip the right way. They recorded conversations that these people had, and classified anything they heard about a person who was not there as gossip. It was coded as positive, negative or neutral. The data suggested that almost everyone gossiped (only 34 out of 467 individuals did not gossip at all) and majority of the gossip (75 percent) was neutral. Women engaged in more neutral gossip than men.
According to psychologists, a “good gossiper” is a person who is trusted with information and uses it in a responsible way. For example, telling a friend information that might save them from a bad investment or a bad marriage. A bad gossiper shares information in order to get ahead or to be plain malicious, discussing a person’s shortcomings or trouble in their lives for the sake of talking.
Hit program based on an anonymous gossip girl
To be a good gossiper:
1. Think twice
Are you breaking someone’s trust by giving away this information or stabbing them in the back? Are you doing it responsibly for valid reasons?
2. Don’t gossip for personal gain
If you have something to gain by releasing information about someone else, don’t do it. You most likely are not doing it for the right reasons
3. Don’t distort facts
Do not exaggerate, add details or change the story. If you have to tell a story, tell it exactly how it happened
A man has drowned while proposing to his girlfriend underwater at an idyllic island off the coast of Tanzania. It is unclear what went wrong during the proposal at a popular honeymoon destination.
His girlfriend Kenesha Antoine posted a video on her Facebook page. Video shows her boyfriend proposing to her through the window of their underwater hotel room at the luxury resort.
“You never emerged from
those depths so you never got to hear my answer, ‘Yes! Yes! A million times,
yes, I will marry you!!’,” she wrote in a post confirming his death.
Her video shows Steven Weber swimming up to the window, and pressing a handwritten note against it which read: “I can’t hold my breath long enough to tell you everything I love about you, but everything I love about you I love more every day. Will you please be my wife, marry me.”
He then pulled out a ring as Antoine squealed with joy while filming. It is unclear what went wrong
during the proposal.
More than 10,000 cases of dengue have been reported in the country, with the numbers rising every day. As unfortunate as it is, the government has not been able to make proper arrangements in the hospitals to combat the disease.
If God forbid you or any of your friends or family are suffering from dengue fever, here are a few ways that might help you recover from the disease. Previously, The Current listed the symptoms and preventions for dengue fever.
Drink a lot of water
Excessive sweating and exertion during dengue fever can cause dehydration. Make sure that you take a lot of water and fluids and stay hydrated. Staying hydrated also reducesheadaches and muscle cramps.
Juice of Papaya Leaves
Another very effective remedy is drinking papaya (Papeete) leaf juice. Papaya juice is known to be the best available natural remedy for dengue fever. The leaves have a mix of nutrients which help in increasing your platelet count.
Papaya leaves also have a high level of Vitamin C which improves the immune system, while antioxidants in it help in reducing body stress.All you need to do is crush the leaves and strain the juice from the crushed leaves.
Chew Basil leaves
Basil (Tulsi) leaves are amazing herbs that not only help during dengue fever but also improve your overall immunity. Chewing 5-6 basil leaves boosts your immunity. Basil leaves have essential oils with natural insecticidal properties which keep mosquitoes at bay.
Neem Leaves
Neem leaves have medicinal properties, which is the reason why they are recommended for a variety of illnesses. Steep neem leaves and drinks the brew to increase platelet and white blood cell count. Properly brewed neem leaves also improve the immune system if suffering from dengue.
Disclaimer: This article is research-based. Kindly consult your doctor/physician to ensure that you are not allergic to any of these and seek proper treatment for the disease.
Plenty of dramas nowadays are openly discussing infidelity and cheating in relationships – a topic which has long been brushed under the carpet, as “mard ki bhool” or “sab mard kartay hain”, it’s okay. This leads to the bigger question: Why do people cheat in relationships?
Recently, blogger Hira Mannan of The Mewly Weds also opened up about being cheated on and a lot of other people also came forward, spoke about their experiences and the concept of cheating in relationships.
The Current asked Lahore-based psychotherapist Omer Tauseef to shed some light on the topic and here are the reasons he gave:
Concept of masculinity – Men have the pressure to perform and there is a sense of conquest along with peer pressure.
Invisible divorces – Marriages in our society are often forced (khandaan ki izzat), because of which there is little or no compatibility between the couple. As a result, people go for relationships outside of a marriage and these empty shell marriages remain for the kids or for financial reasons.
Self-discovery, thrill, sense of entitlement
Marriages are kept for children, responsibilities while lust is channeled into an affair.
To be real, cheating husbands is not an alien concept. Most women will accept behind closed doors that their partners, spouses etc have cheated but they have always been advised to brush it under the carpet and forget about it as “mard ki bhool.” However, things are now slowly changing and more women are coming forward with their stories and more and more dramas are being churned out on the topic.
Blogger Hira Mannan who runs the blog The Mewly Weds recently opened up about being cheated on. Hira’s story sent waves of shock across social media because everyone thought she had the perfect married life.
Taking to Twitter, Hira posted a long thread on how her husband started cheating on her just a few months after their marriage. She said she had no idea how many women her husband had been with but all she knew was that he was on Tinder.
She said this went on for more than a year before she decided to join the dating app herself to experiment. She also shared a screenshot of her account.
Hira then went onto say that she and her husband were a fairly popular couple and it hurts her to think that those who had seen them “goofing around” must have laughed at her for not knowing what her husband was upto behind her back. She added that no one came forward to tell her about her husband’s actions and how it irks her that society protects men.
Hira then went onto share another incidence of her husband’s infidelity and even shared screenshots of her husband chatting with his mistress because “accountability should go both ways.”
Hira revealed that she became pregnant but soon miscarried because of the stress and anxiety. She said that she developed body image issues and was in a constant spiral of depression and even became suicidal.
Hira’s story was met with an outpour of support for her.
It was so painful to even read all your posts. Cant even imagine what you must have gone through. We live in a shitty world 😞 may Allah make things easier for you.
I am so sorry. What you went through is nothing less than traumatizing. I am glad you spoke up and got help. Stay strong. It will get better. I know it doesn’t feel like that right now but it will. Hug.
More power to you. I’m sorry you had to go through this and May you reach the right decision about your future. Whatever you decide, you will be fine because you’re strong.
So we are well into the first term of the school year. The excitement is slowly wearing off and energy levels in the morning are not so high anymore (as if they ever were!), and I have started DREADING the morning routine which has now become a blur between breakfast and running out the door. Putting together the school lunchbox for my boys’, aged 6 and 3, is probably THE most difficult task of the day.
In this article, I will share tips and tricks I use for quick and healthy snacks and lunches to suit all types of eaters.
Tip 1: Don’t be afraid of leftovers
Leftovers from dinner the night before are actually lifesavers! Whether it’s daal chaawal (lentils and rice) or chicken saalan curry, if you learn the art of presentation, your kids can eat a full meal in school.
For anything rice-based like chaawal qeema I use the insulated Thermos Food jars. These keep the food warm and fresh until lunch break and act as a bowl to help my kids eat without making a mess.
On days that I have leftover chicken or any other curry, I just take out the meat, wash away the curry and mash it up with mayonnaise to make a chicken sandwich or paratha roll and voila, I have a meal.
And our personal favourite is leftover PIZZA!
Tip 2: Use pasta as an alternative to rice
Giving rice more than 2 times a week means getting rice back in their lunch box. The best alternative to this is pasta or noodles. My quick and easy go-to pasta recipe is:
Boil the pasta a night before along with boiled chicken (with a dash of salt and pepper)
Store it in the fridge
The next morning, warm up a helping of pasta and chicken. Add butter generously and you have Butter Pasta with Chicken for lunch.
Once again, give this in a steel jar or box to keep it warm and fresh and soft.
Tip 3: Make heavy snacks
Let’s address the parents who were rolling their eyes in the above section because their kids would NEVER touch rice or anything they have eaten the night before. Some kids just need more snack-based meals and there’s no reason to think these can’t be healthy and proper meals that can also be prepared quickly and easily first thing in the morning. On days I have not boiled rice or pasta in advance I am saved by BREAD.
Two slices of bread covered generously in butter with a slice of cheddar cheese is my two-minute sandwich.
However, to make this a little more substantial I add anything and everything from the fridge that I know my kids will eat. These can include:
Turkey slices to give that dose of protein (but I would only recommend this once in two weeks as turkey is processed meat).
Those Shaami Kebabs that us desi moms always have stored in our freezers is a great addition also.
(Extra tip: I use my beloved Air Fryer to save frying time in the morning. I just have to defrost the kebabs in the microwave and put them in the air fryer while I get the kids ready. If you don’t have the option of an air fryer, you can fry them the night before and heat them up in the morning to save time).
Homemade or store-bought frozen chicken or beef burger patties with ketchup and mayonnaise on burger buns to make a yummy burger.
(Extra tip: Add vegetables only if your kids enjoy them and only the ones they prefer. You don’t want a perfectly good burger going to waste!)
Tip 4: Eggs are your best friend
Generally, my kids eat scrambled eggs in the morning. But on days I need to give them eggs for lunch (because I have nothing else in the fridge), I give them cereal or croissants for breakfast. And then I use eggs to make the following lunches:
Fry an egg. Toast 2 slices of bread and put butter on both. Grab a slice of cheese. Put them together to make the easiest egg sandwich.
Make two slices of French Toast and add some cheese slices in the box to make it a substantial meal.
Boil eggs during the weekend. Mash. Add salt, pepper and mayonnaise. Store the mixture in the fridge for upcoming school mornings to make a different kind of egg sandwich.
2 minute Egg Quiche: Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a mug. Add 1 egg, 2 tablespoon milk, salt and pepper, any other topping like spinach or tomatoes or turkey. Place broken bread on top and dip it in so it’s wet. Microwave for 2 minutes. Once done scoop it out in one whole piece.
Egg Quiche
Tip 5: Add small bites for a full stomachs
Rice, pasta, sandwich, burgers, paratha rolls – we have covered our grains here. But my kids need more favours and fun things to keep them going during the day.
There are many snacks one can give such as biscuits, chips and cakes. But under the health policy in our schools, chips, chocolates and anything with frosting is a no-no.
I mostly alternate between the following snacks for my kids as I know they will actually eat them.
Others: Plain Cake, Cheese Sticks, Crackers and Cheese, Plain Biscuits
An alternative for kids who don’t enjoy fruits are:
Banana cupcakes
Apple Crumble
Blueberry Muffins
Healthy alternatives for chips are cereals or crackers. I give my boys protein cereals or cheddar crackers for them to nibble at during snack or lunchtime.
Apart from that, I am also a firm believer of water versus juices as they too contain a large amount of sugar. But sometimes when I feel like the food and snacks will not be enough I add flavoured milk or juice for some extra energy. This way they are not weighted by oil or heavy sugars and spend an active day.
Hope these tips help you during rushed mornings for the rest of the remaining term and you are able to feel better about your children’s lunch menu in school!
Zunaira is the author of a blog called From Dresses To Diapers. The part-time blogger and full-time mommy can be reached at her Instagram account.
Tucked inside Sui Northern Officers Co-Operative Housing Society, Déjà by Khadija is a cute little bakery café. Decorated in pink, gold and grey, this cosy café’s décor and the presentation of their dishes set a good impression.
Now let’s discuss food! We tried their sharing platter, which was quite delectable and filling. The taco parathas were yummy, as were the assorted bread, especially the one with white sauce in it, but the aalu chaat was not all that great. While the chicken strips were nice, they could have been better. The mozzarella sticks with sauce were great but the assorted fries were so-so, especially the wedges.
Sharing Platter
We also tried the K’s Style Chicken Parm – it was well cooked and the sauce wasn’t too acidic though we do think they could have added a bit more parmesan. The Open Lamb Sandwich was also very well made with soft meat, which wasn’t smelly. It was served with sauce, didn’t taste too meaty and the cabbage was paired well with it.
Meanwhile, the Baked Marinara could have been better but as an afterthought, it wasn’t all that bad. We absolutely loved the Mushroom Toast. It had just the right amount of mushrooms, and the chilli scrambled eggs were just perfect. We highly recommend that if you love eggs!
Baked Marinara
Mushroom on Toast
What we really enjoyed were the drinks which were presented in a very fun way; they reminded you of Chemistry Lab at school. The ice-cube with rose petals was also a nice touch. Strawberry Lemon Potion was nice with the right amount of tangy and strawberry juice. Strawberry Slammer is also lovely.
Strawberry Lemon Potion
Coming onto the desserts now. Déjà also serves homemade ice-cream. We tried their chocolate ice-cream, which was nice but very creamy. Their gurr (jaggery) ice-cream wasn’t good; too much aftertaste of butter or cream and minimum taste of gurr.
Meanwhile, their French Toast is excellent – it was soft and crispy and the caramel sauce that comes with it was delicious. The best part was that they didn’t skimp on it like a lot of other places. After Amu and Aylanto, this is another place that makes really good French Toast in Lahore.
Off-the-counter Mango Cheesecake was meh (5 out of 10) – it was more like mousse than a cheesecake. But the Apple Pie slice was good (7 out of 10).
Overall, Déjà was a good experience because of the nice and cutesy ambience. They serve good portion sizes for a reasonable cost, which is a major plus point (Per person cost comes to Rs 1500). If the owner is around, she ensures that you feel welcomed and are properly taken care of. However, we do wish the chairs were comfier; it felt like a ‘grab your food, quickly eat and go’ place. Or maybe – given the shortage of space – this is their aim at the moment.
We recommend that everyone should try out this place as you get value for your money and the ambience makes it different from the rest of your restaurant experiences. Just keep in mind that it is a small place with very few tables so if you’re a large group, either reserve a table in advance or otherwise be ready to wait.
