This is the first time I got to know that the day named “World Children Day” is not celebrated on a single day around the world. The Universal Children Day is celebrated on November 20 but in many countries the day is celebrated on different days.

We, being elders, must take responsibility.

Without going into the details I want to wish all the children of the world a happy life. I love children until they don’t cry or get rash. :-D    kidding..

I believe that children also form a bigger portion of the human rights victims in this ‘world of elders’. Children are ignored in different ways and in developing and under developed countries, the situation is even worse than just ignoring. Child labor, child abuse, camel jockeys are few examples.

Even in national and international politics, we never think that what particular impact will it make on children. I may not be wrong if I blame the Government of Pakistan for this incident due to its obsolete policies and also some really peace loving countries who are spending trillions of dollars in the name of war against terrorism. I don’t know what role is being played by this The Universal Deceleration of Human Rights and; where is the biggest human rights activist organization Amnesty International.

I wish that everyone, on this day of children, commit that one will work to make this earth a safe place for every child. Wishing all the children a happy and prosperous life.

For Lahorites:

Children Library Complex is holding a 4 days Grand Book Fair from November 20 to November 23. A nice activity for the children on their (children) day.

Event: Grand Book Fair

Timings: 11:00 am - 07:00 pm (daily)

Venue: Children Library Comples, Aiwan-e-Tijarat Road, Lahore

Stalls: Charts, Poster, Greeting Cards, CD/DVD, Food Courts, Jewelery, Face Painting, Garments, etc.

Extras:

1) Painting Exhibition at 11:00 am on November 20.

2) Puppet Show at 11:00 am on November 22 by Iranian Artists currently performing in the World Performing Arts Festival.

3) Walk of Children at 12:00 pm on November 22 from Children Library Complex to Governor House.

Just a wee bit late. Oh well, better late than never. As always in Ramadan Diary we’ve decided to compile some appetizing recipes that are easy to follow and cook, yet jam-packed with aromas and flavors, surely to tantalize your taste-buds. Enjoy!

Supplication for today:-

Our Lord! Let not our hearts deviate (from the truth) after You have guided us, and grant us mercy from You. Truly, You are the Bestower.

Today’s To-Do:-

Start reading and understanding Quran or learn some special Dua by heart, a something that you’ve always wanted to do.

Thought of the Day:

Rise above little things. Be a big thinker. You are what you think. So just think big, believe big, act big, dream big, work big, give big, forgive big, laugh big, image big, love big, live big. Carry that list and you’ll start feeling big. Be a believer and you’ll be an achiever.

Recipe of the day —Chocolate Brownies:-

Ingridients:-

Butter 200 g
Brown sugar 350 g
eggs 4
Cocoa Powder 4 tbsp
flour 250 g
baking powder 3 1/2 tsp
walnuts (optional) 85 g
milk 50 ml
Procedure:-

1. Preheat oven to 180 Celsius. Grease and line pan 9” into 13” .
2. Sift flour once and twice with cocoa and baking powder.
3. Place butter and sugar in a bowl and beat till light and fluffy.
4. Add eggs one by one and beat well.
5. Add flour and beat till well mixed.
6. Stir chopped walnuts if using.
7. Stir in milk.
8. Pour mixture into the prepared pan and bake for 40-45 minutes. Cool in the pan and then cool on a rack.

I’ve tried out this recipe five to six time and comes out just perfect each time.

Happy baking,

Happy Ramadan!

So everyone is happy?? (Don’t worry you will get another chance to be happy in couple of years again by our presidents and politicians with same scenario and leg pullings). Mushy with teary eyes just said good bye to us as a president. He had his options that he could have used but he decided to resign.

In my personal opinion fair politics is an old story. Corruption is undermining this institution called government and we are going into deep trouble. We are getting used to sit back and relax before getting into new trouble, its a cycle.

He said in the end “Pakistan ka Khuda Hafiz” and same i say “hamara allah hee hafiz”

Anyways, best of the best things he did was that he made MEDIA so strong. Do you guys have your words about his best and worst deeds??????

I wish every Pakistani a very happy independence day :).

This day brings me lots of delightful childhood memories, when we used to get together, shop around and decorate our house with flags and candles and believe me, hamaisha barish ho jati thee :(. This is happening again, monsoon downpours are right here and affecting most of the country, but still the spirit is there, kyon bhai?? So what activities you guys gonna’ have on this holiday? Just sleeping (zzZZZZZZ….) or decorating and some bhangra stuff at Mall Road?????

I received a forwarded text message this morning explaining the moments that can be termed as the best and the most pleasurable in life. The list had a number of moments from the likes of finding money in an old purse when you badly need it to wiping tears from your eyes after a hearty laughter etc.

The most appealing and rather philosophical was the one explaining the serenity of hearing the rain drops fall on leaves while you are lying in bed.

I woke up to such a moment today and I tell you there’s no moment like it :)

Happy Monsoon!

Cannes Lions is the world’s most prestigeous International Advertising Festival held each year at Cannes in France. While Abby Awards are considered to be the Oscars of Indian advertising industry and generally cover the South Asian region including Pakistan too.

World’s most creative ideas splashed Lahore this year, thanks to the people at Revelation who were responsible for the screening of award winning advertisements from the Cannes Lions and Abby Awards of 2007.

Revelation has been bringning the best of advertisements for screening in Pakistan for the last two years, however, for the people of Lahore, it was for the very first time.

 The event was held at Alhamra Cultural Complex on the Mall yesterday and was well attended by people from marketing, advertising and media factions of the Lahori society. Mekaal, the model was there too!

After a brief wait from the starting time, people started to fill the hall which was almost quarter full throughout. Screening started only after people from Revelation welcomed the participants to the longest commercial break of their lives - almost a two hours journey into the best of creative commercial expression.

First there were entries from the Abby Awards showing the best among Indian advertisements for products ranging from Healthcare, FMCGs to Consumer Durables and Property development while representing brands as diverse as Mentos, Hutch, Zee Cinema, Himani Memo Plus, Protex Happy Dent, Titan watches, Lexi pens, Nitco dirt-free tiles, Ponds and Playwin Lottery. Many advertisements were already known to the viewers as they are quite frequently run on Indian TV channels widely watched in Pakistani households. Each one was a masterpiece and many drew rounds of laughter and applause from the audience.

Abbys were immediately followed by Cannes Lions 2007 winners and they were even more enjoyed by the people. These included the ever famous Got Milk campaign, two Coca Cola advertisements (Happiness Factory & GTA), Volkswagon, Levi’s and many more

Though Pakistan’s advertising industry has been improving and progressing through all these years, it is only after watching these Cannes Lions & Abby entries that one wonders how far behind we still are.

This year Pakistan is sending about two dozen entries for the Cannes Lions 2008 which is a far cry from last year’s four or so entries. Let’s hope advertisements of the Telenor (Hum Aap Ki Amaanat Ko…) sorts bring honor and pride to Pakistan

With only a handful of days left to Mother’s day, celebrated globally each year on May 11th (sunday) , a day when children express their great gratitude and appreciation for everything done by their mothers. Have you made some plans for it?

If you want to buy her something, it doesn’t have to be fancy and expensive. It can be a hand-made special gift or a card, wonderful bouquet of flowers, just a little something to entertain her, to express your love and affection towards your mother. Or maybe you can throw a surprise dinner party for your mom (as i plan to, Insha Allah! :) )

First make a list of all the family members or friends you plan to invite and send invitations. Then finalize dinner/lunch/brunch menu, don’t forget to include her all time favorite dishes.

Later set a clean lovely table, place attractive fresh flowers, arrange food in a special festive way and enjoy a lovely meal. A great gift for mom, isn’t it?

Can’t decide on anything yet, here’s a cool fun site to fuel your creative side.

1>>> Family Fun -Mother’s day.
2>>> Cards and gifts, ideas for Mother’s day.

In the end i just want to say, for all the work Mom does throughout the year she deserves to be pampered particularly on Mother’s Day!

The six-day Cholistan Festival got off to a colorful start yesterday, May 6th, 2008 at Al-Hamra, The Mall. The Lahore Arts Council (LAC) Assistant Director Zulfiqar said that LAC had organized the festival to promote artists of the desert areas.

Al-Hamra Art Council (AAC) has organised this festival in continuation of its annual activities related to highlight cultural values and festivities of the desert people. The festival will continue for a week with a series of performances in which artists, hailing from Cholistan desert, will show captivating artistic stints in the fields of drama, music, puppet show and folk dance.

Different stalls, enriched with typical Cholistani-cultural items ranging from dresses, silver-moulding jewelry, shawls, ivory-styled bright bangles, glossy clay studded with weeds and grass used as fodder of different animals, light footwear with classic designs to earthen-wares, are installed to make the modern-day city-bounded people of the provincial metropolis aware of the culture life of the Cholistani people.

The Lahorites, who are facing the brunt of the searing summer-season, will be welcomed by the richly-coloured clad folk dancers with riveting dhol beats on the grassy lawn of Al-hamara Art Council.

The word Cholistan is derived from “cholna”, which means moving. The Cholistanis have a semi-nomadic or an unsettled lifestyle, moving from one place to another in search of water and fodder for their animals. And this festival is meant to preserve their identity.

With only five days left, don’t forget to take your friends, family and children to Al-Hamra, so they can enjoy this wonderful, varicolored festival.
More at>>>

Happy Cholistan Festival!

It was just another day, nothing different, the sun rose to the skies, the weather warming up by the hour, everything going on as usual. Less did anyone know at LUMS that there is a grave happening to unfold before the sun sets on this day.

Hashir Munawer class of 2007, due to graduate a year later than his batch mates was seperated from the program apparently because of an abrupt change in policy. (minimum CGPA increased to 2.8 from an initial 2.2). He killed himself by hanging himself to the fan by an iron wire. Another file closed from the craziness of this world. Period.

What caused this to happen? A happy go lucky kid, who was good at volley ball, done his A levels from a prestigious school in Karachi, who was known for caring for all that came his way, a smiling face. A few things his friends had to say about him. Why didn’t anyone talk to him about it? Who broke the news to him? Why didn’t they sit him down and talk about other options in life? There were a million and one things that could’ve been done, this was NOT inevitable! Where was Nashi Khan (Student Counsellor/ Psychiatrist)? Where were his faculty advisors? Who will answer these questions? Who will finally brush all of this under the carpet?

There have been 4 suicide attempts at LUMS in 2007 (Unconfirmed sources). Changing policies at the drop of a hat and then implementing them on graduating classes and not the next new intake, the insensitivities of a “perfect” world. Does this not happen everywhere? Students get kicked out of schools in their final years for O and A levels only because they are not performing “up to the mark”? Who defines success? Who defines this mark? Have we lost our values and basic regard for humans around us in this vicious cycle? a fourth grader taking as many tuitions as there are subjects. Is “winning” everything and “living” does not measure up?

 How Many Hashirs will it take for the blind, inefficient, cold blooded, policy makers at such universities and those that drive the society? Let’s just get it over with!

 May Allah forgive Hashir’s sins and give the bereaved all the courage in the world to live through this ordeal. Aamiin

Happiest moments in life come for free, but then if you are calling up a mobile service provider’s customer service (Ufone for that matter), it probably is not done in a happy mood. Most of the times, it’s going to be a connectivity issue; balance loss reporting or a complaint about some SMS addict junkie asking you to send codes to win prizes.

Well, for the unhappy situations when the customer ‘has’ to call their call centre, Ufone has decided to charge a handsome amount of Rs.0.50 + tax. Ufone claims:

Dear Customer, To ensure swift response at call centre, from 1st of November all calls made on 333 are being charged @ 50 paisas + tax per call. Thanks

Well, this might seem as a decent excuse however, considering their parent company, PTCL’s now infamous Pakistan Package activation scam, this looks like another way of exploiting customers and depriving them of their well earned resources