Volume VIII, Issue-2, February 2018

February in History 7,500 students from across to participate in Math Challenge 2018 Feb 2, 1948: Urdu is declared the national language of Pakistan. Feb 8, 1949: Azad Kashmir Government shifts its capital Feb 9, 1951: First census begins in Pakistan. Feb 21, 1956: Constituent Assembly decides the country shall be a Federal Re - public known as Islamic Republic of Pak - istan. Feb 2, 1957: President Iskandar Mirza laid down the foundation-stone of Guddu Barrage. Feb 24, 1960: Presidential Cabinet decides to name the new Capital as Islamabad. Feb 3, 1960: Prominent poet and Pakistan's Guinness world record holder Dr. Muhammad Saeed Fazal Karim Bee - bani born in Rawalpindi. Feb 16, 1971: Korakaram Highway, link - On February 1, 2018, DAWN and quizzes and announcements of ing China and Pakistan, opened. Feb 13, 1973: Begum Rana Liaquat Ali EDeQUAL hosted a launch important event dates for all What’s inside: becomes first woman to assume office of session for the Math Challenge participants, from both public and Sindh Governor. 2018 at Karachi School of Business private sector schools. Feb 21, 1974: Pakistan recognizes and Leadership (KSBL). F World's first novel translated Bangladesh. Math Challenge 2018 intends to to Urdu in Pakistan Feb 22, 1974: Islamic Summit Math Challenge 2018 is a test the students' analytical and Conference starts in Lahore; 22 heads of team-based, inter-school, national problem solving skills in three F This dancer defies social taboos state participated. competition for students studying rounds: preliminary, regional and to promote Pakhtun culture Feb 1, 1978: Allama Iqbal's Lahore house in grades 7, 8, 9 and 10. The com - national. is declared national monument. petition will be based on a live Quaid-i-Azam University Feb 5, 1990: Kashmir Solidarity Day ob - game show format using the latest F For the preliminary round, there breaks into top 100 of Asia served for the first time quiz technology systems, and will will be pools of eight to nine teams University Rankings 2018 Feb 22, 1992: introduces have students use tablets and with each team comprising four yellow-cab taxi scheme. computers to solve math problems students. A team will have two Feb 11, 1996: Cricket World Cup and work around analytical students from junior classes and F Public private partnerships jointely hosted by Pakistan, India and Sri challenges. take root in Sindh, Punjab Lanka. two from senior classes. Feb 23, 1997: Nawaz Sharif launches "Qarz utaro Mulk sanwaro" scheme. De - Each round of the challenge will For the regional and national F Karachi: The city of decay clares Sunday, instead of Friday as weekly hold a mix of questions, covering a rounds, there will be 12 teams of holiday. wide range of topics. As many as participants that will compete. F Iranian film festival kicks off in Feb 20, 1999: Pakistan Crushed India by 7,500 participants from schools all Karachi 46 runs in inaugural Asian test over Pakistan have registered for Towards the end, Math Challenge championship the competition. 2018 will announce two champions F 16th Mystic Music Sufi Festival Feb 21, 1999: Lahore Declaration is and two runners up in a closing kicks off in Lahore signed by Nawaz Sharif & A. B.Vajpayee . Thursday's session included prac - event which will be held at the Feb 16, 2009: Pakistan government an - tice questions, round structures, a same venue in Karachi. nounces a truce with Taliban, accepting a F First-ever transgender scout general Q&A session, sample Courtesy: Dawn system of Islamic law in the Swat valley. batch takes oath in Karachi Positive Post is published to project positivity all around Pakistan amongst our youth and the entire nation. Our efforts are to inculcate patriotism and a sense of ownership in them. It is a compilation of news extracted by the students of Mass Communications and Media Studies of Greenwich University. World's first novel translated to Urdu in Pakistan

The translation for Japanese novel closer to the conclusion,” it was 'Tale of Genji' will be coming this disclosed by journalist Khurram year Sohail at the Japanese Consulate, who added that the Urdu transla - The Tale of Genji, the world’s first tion would be a big achievement novel penned in the 11th century, is once completed as it was not an now being translated from its easy book to translate. original Japanese form into Urdu in Pakistan and is expected to be “Many have attempted and failed completed by the end of 2018. on getting lost in the story that the kingdom becomes extremely to help you follow The Tale of moves in several directions simulta - jealous of and starts plotting Gengi,” he added. This was disclosed at the Pakistan neously,” he explained. against. When she bears a son as Japan Literature Forum at the Japan beautiful as she is, the baby be - Journalist and guest speaker Information and Culture Centre in “Even the well-known Urdu writer comes the emperor’s favourite Rafaqat Hayat also commented the Japanese Consulate here on in India Syed Ehtesham Hussain prince giving way to more envy es - about how wonderful it was that Wednesday, although they thought tried it, but was only able to write pecially from the mother of the em - the novel even though written so it rather premature to share the an abridged version, giving just the peror’s other son, the crown prince. long ago on a scroll, managed to name of the translator for now. gist of the actual story,” he said. “The novel which talks of emper - survive through the years. He said ors, concubines, samurai, aristo - that some people, particularly those There are several translations of Later, a few pages from the cratic society in ancient Japan, etc, in the West, believed Miguel de this classic work of Japanese litera - abridged Urdu translation were even had to be translated into easy Cervantes’ Don Quixote to be the ture written by a noblewoman, read out to the audience giving a Japanese during the 1800s so that first novel of the world. “But we Murasaki Shikibu, in the early years glimpse of the story. the Japanese people could read and now know that it is The Tale of of the 11th century including many understand it. And it was another Gengi,” he said. “It would be great in English. “The Pakistani writer Genji is a son of a Japanese em - 50 years before its English transla - to be able to read the classic work working on his translation has been peror who falls madly in love with tion could come out for the rest of of literature in our own Urdu,” he at it for a while now and is currently a beautiful young concubine Kirit - the world to be introduced to it,” said. working six hours a day as he gets subo, whom every other woman in said Mr Sohail. “You also get guides Courtesy: Dawn Punjab govt prepares booklet to create awareness among children Bill suggests increasing about sexual abuse punishment for animal cruelty Punjab government has decided to sexual abuse is not a ridiculous idea The Senate Standing Committee impart sex education among chil - and religious clerics were also in on Interior passed a bill titled “The dren studying in schools and semi - favour of creating awareness among Prevention of Cruelty to Animals naries following a recent upsurge in children on this subject," Sanaullah (Amendment) Bill, 2018”, which the reporting of sexual abuse cases maintained. was moved by Senator Karim across Pakistan. Ahmed Khawaja. "Teach your children not to let any - Punjab Law Minister Rana one touch their private parts," he Members of the committee com - Sanaullah, while announcing this urged the parents and asked them mended Senator Khawaja for decision during a press conference to play their due role in curbing sex - bringing forward a bill for animal on Friday, said the provincial gov - ual abuse in the society. "Children rights as the last law regarding ernment has prepared a booklet, in should be able to share their feel - animal rights was made in 1890 consultation with religious clerics, ings when they feel fear or panic." and no amendments to the law to educate children . have been made since. The minister said it was obligatory provides guidance to parents, he “It was quite embarrassing that we "Initially, the booklet has been com - for parents to provide separate beds said, adding that the booklet would were using the animal rights [laws] piled for young children, however, to their children when they turn 10. be provided to all students and that the British had introduced in another booklet has also been com - teachers in each and every school 1890 despite the fact that Islam piled which would be introduced The brochure would be revised after and seminary. stresses on animal rights. More - for students in grade 8 and above," every six to 12 months, the minister over, I have suggested increasing the minister said. said, adding that the government It was compiled with the help and fines because the current fines would launch an alert system for consultation of the Muttahida were so insignificant that no one Sanaullah further said that Punjab missing children. Ulema Board, the law minister said. cares about them,” Senator Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif ap - The booklet is aimed at providing Khawaja said while talking to . proved the draft of the booklet after Punjab Auqaf and Religious Affairs guidance to children of age 10 and a committee, constituted for pre - Minister Zaeem Qadri also ad - The fine for killing an animal with above. It teaches children to avoid vention of child abuse, had recom - dressed the press briefing. He said unnecessary cruelty was just interaction with suspicious or un - mended it. that so far the issue has been ad - Rs200. The current bill suggests known people, he said. dressed in 53,000 mosques. this be increased to Rs300,000 The brochure, containing Quranic Courtesy: Dawn along with imprisonment, he said. "Providing awareness to children on verses among other references, also Courtesy: Dawn 2 This dancer defies social taboos to promote FIFA World Cup trophy unveiled in Lahore Pakhtun culture The iconic FIFA World Cup trophy Asfandyar Khan Khattak believes on Saturday went on display in performing arts is a way to combat Lahore after arriving in Pakistan for extremism and violence the first time in a chartered plane Hailing from the aristocratic family from Bangkok, Thailand. of Gumbat town in Kohat district, France's World Cup-winning former the soft-spoken Asfandyar Khan footballer Christian Karembeu ac - Khattak recently displayed his football team skipper Hajra and companied the trophy on the Pak - several showbiz personalities were maiden live performance while de - istan leg of its World Tour. fying social taboos and mesmerised have a genuine cause to promote also present at the trophy's unveiling audiences at Nishtar Hall with his this wonderful art,” he said. "Assalam-o-Alaikum!" Karembeu, ceremony in Lahore. who played for France and Real trio-fusion of dance. "For me, football is one of the most It was during a Parent’s Day func - Madrid in a glittering playing career popular sports in the world," said This scribe caught up with him and tion at Beaconhouse School, Islam - greeted the gathered audience with. "I Younis. "It is a really big deal that the asked why he thought he should abad that a female Pashtun teacher am extremely happy to be here in La - FIFA trophy is here." whirl around to which he replied: recognised the artist in the 8th hore. Pakistan also has football-loving “In my own capacity, I am trying to grader - Asfandyar Khattak - and folks. An ecstatic Kaleemullah said: "I had reclaim my culture; a culture full of asked him to present Khattak never even imagined that the FIFA "It is a great honour for Pakistan that music and dance. Dance, in my dance. His performance proved a trophy would come to Pakistan. It is the FIFA trophy is here for the first opinion is the only solution to the launching pad. encouraging for footballers to have time. terrorism, extremism and violence. the FIFA trophy come to Pakistan. I I am on the mission of revival of “That performance gave me a lot of "We can make our future better feel that one day Pakistan would also softer and true image of Pakhtun encouragement. I took more inter - through football." do well in football." culture. Through my dance, I want est in Khattak dance from then on - to give the message of tolerance and ward. I consider myself very Cricket legend Younis Khan, national The trophy will be returned back to acceptance characteristics of fortunate that I started learning men's football team captain Bangkok. Pakhtun culture lost in the history.” dance from the octogenarian Mrs Kaleemullah Khan and women's Courtesy: Dawn Indu Mitha at Mazmoon-i-Shauq, As a professional folk and fusion Islamabad. She is a living legend Sixth edition of LLF begins today dancer he has performed at differ - who has been teaching Indian clas - The sixth edition of Lahore Literary the festival. ent platforms, including Lok Virsa, sical dance - Bharatnatyam - since Festival (LLF) is all set to take place Pakistan National Council of the five decades. My mentor, Indu back at its original venue of Alhamra. British novelist Esther Freud is also Arts and several USAID-funded Mitha, has trained me in Kathak participating in the festival and will programmes in Islamabad. and Bharatnatyam with her great Aslan will be part of two sessions over the two days ‘Light at the End be part of a discussion titled ‘The devotion,” he said with pride. Mundane as Incubator’ along with Having Khattak genes and being a of Trumpian Disruption’ along with Osama Siddique, Irvine Welsh with lover of Pashto music, he performs Mr Asfandyar said: “Ever since I re - Booker Prize-winning author Ben Hugh Thompson. She is visiting fusion of Pashto, Khattak, Afghan- member, I have been dancing! Okri and British political scientist Pakistan for the first time and says Logari and Qataghani, Persian- Right from my early childhood, I and author Mark Leonard as well as she’s looking forward to seeing the Afshari with Kathak and Bharat - was fond of dancing all the time - a one-on-one session ‘Beyond other panellists, listening to the dis - natyam. He also performed in the at parties, engagements, weddings Extremism’ with Khaled Ahmed. cussions, and being stimulated and in - recent Swat Youth Festival in Min - and otherwise too. I believe dance is spired. “Apart from appearing at the gora. Currently he is working with self-revelation. Unfortunately, in Riz Ahmed will be sharing the stage festival, I’m looking forward to seeing a foreign organisation in . our society dance is often associated with LLF favourite Mohsin Hamid as much of the city as possible,”. with women, being a feminine where they will be talking to Shahid Before his Bachelor’s studies in Zahid about activism. activity and had almost no social Audrey Truschke, another LLF Business Administration from CO - acceptance and space.” As expected, the festival will hold participant, has visited the city earlier MASTS, Islamabad, Asfandyar memorial sessions for the late Asma in 2007 for two weeks and she feels learnt some basic steps of Indian About the history of Khattak dance, Jahangir and Munoo Bhai, both of it has developed immensely over the classical dance ‘Kathak’ from a La - he said that his ancestors, the whom we lost this year. The talk on last 11 years. “The development is hore-based Kathak ustad. After Nawabs of Teri (a princely State Asma, titled ‘Warrior Icon’, will great. There’s Metro bus running. I earning Master’s in Business Ad - comprising of present day Karak feature her children Munizae and went to see the Mughal monuments ministration in 2008, he properly district) used to patronize folk Jilani along with her longtime friends that have been restored wonderfully.” started learning Indian classical dance, music and art in their darbar I.A. Rehman, Ahmed Rashid and She says what brought her to dance. (court). He said that Khattak Atanr Salima Hashmi, while the discussion Pakistan again was a chance to gauge had 12 different steps; it used to be on Munoo Bhai will have I.A. audience perception of her book, In initial years of his career, he ex - of great significance in the time of plored his skills of acting on private Rehman, Kishwer Naheed, Wajahat Aurangzeb: The Man and the Myth, tribal war. He said dance with Masood and Hussain Naqi. that she will be talking about here. Pashto TV channel in plays and swords was different from that with Pashto’s first telefilm and anchoring “I’ve had great reception to my book handkerchiefs. “We should own and Book launches, talks on various in India, so I wanted to see how but all this time he was feeling the try to preserve and promote it. It is books, musical performance by Laal urge to present his dance skills. Pakistan receives it. And I’m most our identity. No one else will come the band and Zia Mohyeddin’s excited about the questions from the to do this job for us.” presentation on ‘Why is Shake - “I can’t quit performing dance. I audience during my session.” Courtesy: Dawn speare, Shakespeare’ are also part of Courtesy: Dawn 3 Quaid-i-Azam University breaks into top 100 of Asia University Rankings 2018 Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU) index after improving its scores in has been ranked among the top 100 almost all areas. varsities of Asia by the Times Higher Education (THE). Other Pakistani universities grabbing a place on the list are: QUA broke into the top 100 of the National University of Sciences and Asia University Rankings 2018 Technology (162), University of after improving on its previously Agriculture, Faisalabad (251–300), held ranking in the 121-130 band. Bahauddin Zakariya University (301–350), University of Lahore The next Pakistani varsity on the list (301–350), is the Comsats Institute of (301–350), PMAS Arid nation from fulfilling its higher ed - Languages (NUML) and the Information Technology, which Agriculture University Rawalpindi ucation potential. Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of jumped up to 125th place from the (301–350), University of Veterinary Engineering Sciences and 141-150 band it was in in the last and Animal Sciences, Lahore “Research must be made a priority Technology (GIKI) miss out from ranking. (301–350) and Government if a country wants to stand out from their list despite doing a stellar job College University Lahore (351+). its competition on the world’s in Pakistan. In all, THE's latest rankings largest continent.” "Lums and GIKI both participated features 10 Pakistani universities, up Phil Baty, the editorial director of in the THE rankings' data from seven in 2017, much of which global rankings at Times Higher In South Asia, India led the rest collection process but are not was due to the expansion of the list, Education, congratulated Pakistan with 42 representatives up from 33 ranked as they do not yet meet the which now facilitates 350 plus for having 10 universities on their last year. publication threshold," he said. universities. list but also highlighted a 'lack of The ranking's top 100 universities research environment' in Pakistan's have 21 entrants from Muslim "Neither Aga Khan University nor NUML participated in the process. The list, however, is dominated by educational system. countries, including the 10 from Pakistan. Chinese varsities, who make up for "We require that universities who at least 20 per cent of the listing. “It is a fantastic achievement that wish to participate in the THE Baty also explained why some of Tsinghua University is China's Pakistan now has 10 universities in World University Rankings teach Pakistan’s finest institutions such as highest-ranked institution. the Asia rankings and that its two undergraduates and publish suffi - the Lahore University of leading universities have risen up cient research — at least 1,000 pa - Management and Sciences (Lums), The National University of the table. But the country’s poor re - pers in the preceding five years and the Aga Khan University, the Singapore, however, held on to the search environment, not helped by no fewer than 150 per year." National University of Modern overall number one spot on the a lack of funding, is preventing the Courtesy: Dawn

Lok Virsa pays tribute to Uncle Sargam creator Farooq Qaiser

Speaking at the event, Mr Qaiser tutions should pay attention to this said that the songs were written and medium, which through puppetry performed four decades ago, but un - tells folklore to our young genera - fortunately were still relevant today. tion,” he added. “We did this program on our own without any support by any govern - Lok Virsa Executive Director Dr ment institute but were glad to have Fouzia Saeed said the diorama is a people’s support for it. The govern - tribute to both Uncle Sargam and ment should support such programs, Mr Qaiser, who in addition to creat - A diorama of the famous puppet was The diorama’s inauguration was held which educate the children about se - ing the character also trained many unveiled at Lok Virsa's Museum at Lok Virsa’s Museum Hall, where rious social issues in a lighter tone.” new artists during his career and has Hall Mr Qaiser presented his team from Masi Museebtay and Rolla, two become an institution himself. Kaliyan who performed some of other famous characters from She said Mr Qaiser was doing a great Lok Virsa on Thursday unveiled a their famous songs and qawwalis. A Kaliyan, were also present and are job by using puppetry to entertain diorama of Uncle Sargam, the number of students from federal also represented in the diorama, people and raise awareness about so - famous puppet character, to pay colleges attended the event and along with Uncle Sargam, Shatir cial issues. tribute to the character and its enjoyed the live show. Dehlvi, Mian Connections, Bonga, creator Farooq Qaiser. Santri Badshah and Main Muqeem. Asma Gull, a student in the audience, Among the songs performed were A team member and singer from said she enjoyed the live perform - Uncle Sargam first appeared in the 'Totay Ko Chori Dalo', 'Kamzor Hai Kaliyan, Babar Niazi, told Dawn he ance. “I heard a lot about this show children’s show Kaliyan on Pakistan Tarazo', 'Yeh Zindagi Haseen Hai', was proud to be a part of the show but couldn’t get a chance to watch it. Television in 1976, and was created which highlighted social issues such but said such programmes were now I loved the messages conveyed by up - and voiced by award winning as corruption, health, the justice sys - in decline. beat songs and qawwalis in a lighter puppeteer, artist and columnist tem, education and the environment way. Farooq Qaiser. with humour and a tinge of sarcasm. “The government and other art insti - Courtesy: Dawn

4 Public private partnerships take root in Sindh, Punjab

The success of initial public-private companies under the PPP mode to Punjab created its PPP unit in the partnership (PPP) projects in Sindh effectively respond to development planning and development depart - and Punjab served to remove appre - needs ment, which supervises the policy hensions regarding the concept in and the projects with PPP modes in Background research found all Pakistan. They paved way for ex - 18 line ministries, under the Punjab provincial governments in Pakistan panding the scope and the coverage PPP Act of 2014. Following the were looking forward to partnering of such collaborations in the coun - lead, the with the private sector under the try to deliver sustainable develop - PPP Act was enacted in 2014 and PPP mode to effectively respond to ment efficiently. rium between public and private, the unit was established, but it was development needs. risk and reward, cost and benefit, facing capacity challenges. The benefits of projects (such as particularly in resource-scarce coun - tries with big chunks of population “The red tape has not morphed into Thar coal mining and power project, red carpet for the private sector, but In Balochistan, work in this regard Hyderabad-Mirpurkhas dual car - excluded from the economic main - was still in progress. Essa Tahir, an stream,” commented an expert. the bureaucratic mindset to mo - riageway, and the southern loop of nopolise public service delivery is official involved in the exercise in Ring Road and a railway crossing A PPP is an arrangement between changing. On the other side, the re - the province, told Dawn from flyover in Lahore, etc) demonstra - the government and a private busi - luctant private sector has also been Quetta that the planning depart - tively accrued beyond the direct ness for the provision of public as - discovering the value of govern - ment would table the proposed users of these facilities. sets or services through investment ment collaboration in megaprojects PPP bill in the next provincial cab - and/or management by the private for both profit and prestige,” com - inet meeting. They helped sideline the venom- sector for a specified period of time. mented a senior team member of spitting elements on both sides of It entails clearly defined allocation the public-private partnership cell Attempts to contact Pakistan Busi - the public-private divide and of risk between partners and pay - in Sindh. ness Council CEO Ehsan Malik strengthened the futuristic current. ments to the private sector linked to were unsuccessful. Razzak Dawood, The clarity on striking the right bal - pre-determined benchmarked mea - The well-equipped cell has been the first chairman of the council, ance between risk and reward shar - sureable performance standards. functional in the finance depart - promised to comment but he could ing, it appeared, was yet to be ment for a decade now, though the not respond until this report was achieved in the relevant circles. Provincial governments are looking Sindh PPP Act was enacted in filed. forward to working with private 2010. Courtesy: Dawn “PPPs are all about striking equilib -

The 9th Karachi Literature Festival kicks off today

Here are some highlights you family torn apart by a conflicted shouldn't miss out on Book enthu - past, this novel features themes that siasts, get ready: the 9th annual are very relevant today. Karachi Literature Festival kicks off today at the Beach Luxury Hotel. We expect to hear commentary KLF's inauguration will start at about Pakistani writing in English, 5.30pm today, and though a a few the Paksitani diaspora in Britain and talks are scheduled for this evening, much more. the festivities will really get going on Saturday, when talks will begin at 2) A panel discussion on the 11am and continue late into the #MeToo movement evening. and more. Baghi, Sahar Imdad and more. A timely conversation if there ever was one, this panel features promi - The full schedule for KLF can be 4) A session on the relationship This will be followed on Sunday by nent personalities like transgender found here. between fiction and politics a talk titled 'The literary traditions of activist Kami Choudhry and jour - Sindh, featuring Jami Chandio ad nalist/politician/academic Nafisa On Sunday morning Kishwar If your schedule doesn't allow you to Syed Sardar Shah. Shah. We're looking forward to in - Naheed, Arfa Syeda Zehra, Qaisra spend the whole day at KLF, what sights about how the #MeToo Shahraz and more will gather to are some highlights you shouldn't 6) A focus on poetry spanning the movement is or isn't relevant to Pak - discuss the impact of fiction on miss out on? Read below: new and the old istan, how we can better understand politics and vice versa. We're looking 1) Kamila Shamsie's conversation the movements aims and limitation, forward to a conversation that'll From a session that features Zia about her latest novel Home Fire and much more. hopefully address the depoliticiza - Mohyeddin reading Shakespeare to tion of literature in Pakistan, the a session that investigates slam 3) Sunil Shankar's short play 'Chup' divide between English and Urdu poetry, KLF attempts to cover vast Kamila Shamsie is scheduled to will be featured too speak about her latest novel Home reading audiences, and more. ground in the world of verse. Fire at 11am on Saturday morning. 5) A welcome focus on Sindhi Directed by Sunil Shankar and co- Another session titled 'The other Home Fire was longlisted for the literature written by him and Fawad Khan, muse: poetry in English' will grapple prestigious Man Booker Prize and this short play deals with issues that Friday will feature a Sindhi with the state of English poetry in has garnered international acclaim. can't openly be discussed like miss - Mushairo with Imdad Hussaini, Pakistan. Centered around a British-Pakistani ing persons, enforced disappearances Aasi Zamini, Ayaz Gul, Haleem Courtesy: Dawn 5 Karachi: The city of decay Karachi is a familiar place, more so spent a lot of time and energy in to those who have lived here for investigating and probing the mys - several years. It is not difficult for teries of Manora from its deterio - them to detect that the city’s many rating temple to its seashell houses, layers and façades reflect the histo - from its abandoned living quarters ries of its buildings, the mysteries of to its nautical maps. Her work has its alleys and the depths of its sea. unearthed a part of Karachi that al - Seasoned artist Naiza Khan’s recent ways beckoned rediscovery. solo exhibition hints at all these as - pects. She also finds novelty in the Even though her new work is city’s various stages of ruin. linked to her earlier oeuvre, the focus here is on looking at Karachi Naiza has had a strong grounding as a port and probing its association these themes in artworks such as made her work specific to Karachi in drawing, printmaking and paint - with the sea. This shift has helped Cast of a City I & II and Breakage. where dead whales often wash up ing, having learnt these skills at the her explore even newer mediums Her other artworks such as on shore. Through the images of Oxford University’s Ruskin School such as texts, maps and photo - Dwelling I & II and Land Hunger polluted beaches, she also high - of Art in England. When she re - graphs. By using masking fluid to appear to be looking at the notions lights the environmental degrada - turned to Karachi after graduation, block out areas, as strips of paint of displacement and resettlement, tion the city’s coastline is suffering she began exploring unconventional move across the surface of her work, as well as those of ownership and from. Other works on display man - mediums to exercise these skills. she has constructed images almost occupation of land. These are all im - ifest Naiza’s larger concerns about This led to the representation in her in an architectural fashion. The portant subjects, given the city’s identity and nationalism that have work of the human body in more shapes and patterns she has created fragile sociopolitical environment. specially come to the fore in the ways than one. In one of her early look similar to aerial views of the wake of Britain’s exit from the Eu - artworks, for instance, she used city, dissected almost like a body. Naiza also conveys urban decay by ropean Union. Given that she now henna pigment on wall as a showing biological rot as reflected lives in London makes these issues medium to create a discourse Over the years, Karachi has spread in artworks titled Whale under even more relevant to her work. around the female body in a public itself thin. As new settlements and Construction and The Streets are setting. neighbourhoods emerge at the pe - Rising. These large-scale paintings Some of the artefacts at the exhibi - riphery of the city, its older parts are heavily layered and soiled with tion portray a disturbingly familiar As her work became known, she appear to have been left to rot. The painted images of buildings, ma - gloom yet, paradoxically, they also developed several ideas of engage - decay prevalent in the downtown chines and oil spills seeping into evoke a sense of hope that the ero - ment with architecture and spaces and southern neighbourhoods of texts and receding into the skyline. sion and erasure they showcase will within and around Karachi that Karachi suggests that the adminis - They depict the ruin and destruc - one day generate debates about subsequently became an integral trative machinery has been lethar - tion that are an inevitable part of Karachi’s past, present and future. part of her art practice. Conse - gic, if not entirely unable, to put in any urban sprawl in a developing These debates are crucial for the quently, one of her main art projects place additional infrastructure country. By showing the body of a sustainable expansion of a city that has been about Manora a small needed to cope with population in - dead whale amid other scattered seems to be perpetually under con - island just off the coast. She has crease. Naiza extensively explores struction. objects, the artist, however, has Courtesy: Dawn

Iranian film festival kicks off in Karachi

The week-long festival featured dif - cially in the film world, which is a ing films,” he said. ferent Internationally acclaimed sure-shot way to improve bilateral Iranian productions. ties between the two countries. The director general of the Iranian Cultural Centre, Dr Raza Baqri, A week-long Iranian film festival The language barrier can be a deter - spoke about how social causes and kicked off on Wednesday at the rent for people to watch such the battles of real life are usually the Iranian Cultural Centre, opening movies, and the decision to dub the premise of most Iranian films, up to Pakistani audiences an unfa - movies rather than include subtitles which is a clear departure from However, after the revolution the miliar world. was a good idea, the senior actor most film industries around the government encouraged and guided observed. In this way, just like audi - world. Not only are the stories of a the film industry to honour human Different Iranian productions, in - ences were drawn to Turkish dra - superior quality, but so is the execu - society by making films about ternationally acclaimed, are set to be mas dubbed in Urdu, they would tion which is why the Iranian film morality, cultural commitments, screened at the cultural centre to also enjoy watching Iranian films. industry in being recognised the and the human community. This allow a more meaningful exchange Mr Sheikh even hoped he could at world over and winning accolades. was the new Iranian cinema.” between the two countries. All the some point in his career work in an He explained the evolution of Iran - movies instead of having subtitles Iranian film. ian cinema before and after the Is - The first film shown was The were dubbed into Urdu. lamic Revolution. Willow Tree which is about “Iran is an example where the gov - Youssef, a man blinded in a The chief guest at the festival was ernment did not shut down the film “Before the revolution most of the fireworks accident as a young child. actor Javed Sheikh who expressed industry but instead encouraged it movies featured a lot of violence, his desire to see cultural exchanges to pick up meaningful themes and misbehaviour against and misuse of The film festival will continue till between Iran and Pakistan, espe - still keep Islam in view when mak - women, and other immoralities. February 18. Courtesy: Dawn 6 16th Mystic Music Sufi Festival kicks off in Lahore First ever Thar science festival begins in Mithi

The 16th Mystic Music Sufi The two-day first ever ‘Thar Science Festival got under way on Friday Festival’ opened in Shaheed Benazir with music, colours, dance and, last Bhutto Cultural Complex in which but not the least, a finale perform - students of 73 schools displayed ance by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan. 120 models exhibiting their passion for science and technology. The Alhamra Cultural Complex was packed with youths who The event was being held by the seemed particularly excited and also had the audience swaying along Thar Education Alli ance (TEA) in danced along with the perform - with her during her performance to collaboration with Alif Ailaan and dardised Achi e ve ment Test con - ances. The festival has been organ - Sufi numbers such as ‘Aaj rang hai’ other organisations working in Thar ducted in Sindh reflected a poor ised by Rafi Peer Theatre and ‘Dama dam mast qalandar’. She and other parts of the country with understanding of maths and science Workshop. performed with a group of girls a view to enco uraging talented in Thar parkar and it called for fo - who all concluded the dance with a Thari students to focus on science cused intervention by the govern - The red, blue, yellow and shimmer - dhamaal. and mathematics. ment. ing gold lights added a surreal effect to the event. The line-up of per - Folk sensation Arif Lohar stole the Students from 73 government and They claimed that the festival would formances included Muhammad show with his superb rendition of private schools parti cipated in the help create curiosity among stu - Khan, Sheema Kermani, Arif ‘Jugni’ and a few other Sufi songs. event in thousands. dents and teachers for maths and Lohar, vocalists from Gilgit- Clad in a black kurta shalwar with science. Baltistan, Pappu Saeen, Tehseen golden embroidery along with a The first day attracted the atten - Courtesy: Dawn Sakina and Rahat Fateh Ali Khan. group of four drummers, they cre - dance of 6,000 students from more The evening kicked off with a per - ated magic. than 100 schools of Thar. Teachers, Jordan's King Abdullah formance from Balochistan. Clad in entrepreneurs, science specialists, II arrives in Islamabad their traditional attire, the perform - Then came renowned drummer, gov ernment officials and local po - on two-day visit ers presented Sufi poetry. Though Pappu Saeen, whose charismatic litical leaders atten ded the festival where students exhibited their sci - the performance was in Balochi, it performance had the audience Jordan's King Abdullah II arrived entific skills and introduced innova - was well received by the audience dancing to the beat of his drum. in Islamabad on Thursday on a tive concepts to the visitors. owing to its melodious music. Till the filing of this report, two-day visit on the invitation of Tehseen Sakina and Rahat Fateh President Mamnoon Hussain, Talking to reporters, the organisers Next was Sheema Kermani who Ali Khan had yet to perform. Radio Pakistan reported. Courtesy: Dawn maintained that the latest Stan -

First-ever transgender scout batch takes oath in Karachi

In a first, as many as 40 transgen - ders took an oath to become mem - bers of the scouting community at a ceremony held in Karachi.

It was the first instance in the coun - try when transgender youth were The purpose of the king's visit is to welcomed into the Pakistan Boy provide the two countries an Scouts Association (PBSA), a na - opportunity to explore ways and tional scouting organisation and means to further strengthen one of the largest volunteer forces cooperation in diverse areas, in the country. particularly in expansion of The young transgenders, wearing bilateral trade and enhancement of scout scarfs, took the oath at the investments in Pakistan, the ceremony and were educated about who is the only transgender from IPC Sindh Boys Scouts, while ad - state-run news service reported. scouting rules. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to be admit - dressing the ceremony said PBSA ted to PBSA so far. "is open to all, without distinction King Abdullah received a guard of TransAction Alliance president of origin, race or creed". honour upon arrival and was Farzana Jan while addressing the PBSA, which has nearly 700,000 presented a salute by a formation ceremony said the transgender members, aims to train young boys Scouting was founded in Pakistan of three JF-17 Thunder community in Pakistan is extremely in first aid, civil defence, camping as part of the British-Indian branch fighter jets. happy to be welcomed into the and hiking, community develop - of The Scout Association. The scouting community. ment projects and emergency re - PBSA was officially founded in He was greeted by Prime Minister sponse and holds regular camps, 1947, immediately after independ - (PM) Shahid Khaqan Abbasi "We feel that we are recognised as hikes, speech contests and other ac - ence and became a member of the at PM House, where a formal equal citizens of Pakistan and we tivities such as tree planting camps World Organisation of the Scout reception was held in his honour. are glad to see that the level of our and peace camps. Movement in April 1948. Courtesy: Dawn Courtesy: Dawn acceptance is increasing," said Jan, Atif Amin Hussain, Commissioner 7 98pc foreign cricketers ready to visit Pakistan for PSL

have had similar success in convinc - ing their international talent to play in Pakistan, saying: "Overall, 98pc of the players have agreed to come to Lahore and Karachi. Some are left and hopefully they will also agree soon."

Captaincy role for Imad Wasim explained Karachi Kings owner Salman Iqbal significantly in 2017 when a bunch on Wednesday claimed that upto 98 of international players visited Pak - per cent of foreign cricketers are istan, first for the PSL final and ready to come to Pakistan for the then for the World XI vs Pakistan playoffs and finals of the 2018 Pak - series. istan Super League (PSL). Later in the year, also vis - The country's flagship T20 league, ited Pakistan, reiterating the Pak - which kicks off on Feb 22, will see istan Cricket Board’s stance that its playoffs and the final played in the situation in Pakistan is now Lahore and Karachi respectively. under control and conducive for cricket. Foreign players, in the past, have shown great reluctance in visiting Kings owner Iqbal, during the Pakistan owing to the country’s launching ceremony of the team's volatile security conditions. official kit, delivered more good team’s roster have agreed to travel to Iqbal also commented on the news to Pakistani cricket fans, say - Pakistan if their team qualifies selection of the franchise’s captain, However, that reluctance waned ing that all the foreigners on his Imad Wasim, explaining why the "Six of our seven players are ready team chose a newcomer such as to come and play in Pakistan [from him to lead the side when far more the beginning]. Eoin Morgan, who experienced players options were has commitments to other leagues, available. [is the sole exception]. He will be coming late and will be leaving "In the last two seasons, we changed early." captains several times so now the management has decided that there "This is good news for all of us that should be a young captain who can players have agreed to come here stay with us for a long and can and we hope everything stays well," prove to be helpful, not only for us he added. but for the national team too," he said. Iqbal claimed that other franchises Courtesy: Dawn

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