The Express Tribune hi five - December 28

Ms DECEMBER 28, 2014

ISSUE NO. 132

Celebrating the women of 2014

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15 fresh starts for 2015 page

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inside En vogue — Bridal galore

Domestic goddess —

Celebrate the new year with roasted chicken

Section In-Charge: Sarah Munir Sub-Editors: Amna Hashmi Nisma Chauhan Feedback: women@tribune.com.pk

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Lending a helping hand

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Ms

The buzz

THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, DECEMBER 28, 2014

As 2014 comes to an end, we highlight some of the milestones Pakistani women have achieved during the year The year 2014, in particular, has been extraordinary when it comes to women in Pakistan. From an Emmy to Pakistan’s very first Nobel Peace Prize, we have achieved it all and proven that women can be just as men when it comes to following their dreams. To pay tribute to these powerhouses, MsT has shortlisted some of the many achievements by Pakistani women during the previous year. May they continue to change the world through their tireless efforts.

This inspirational, bright young child activist from Swat barely needs an introduction. Yousafzai first gained prominence when she wrote a blog for BBC, detailing her life in the war-torn Swat Valley under the Taliban regime. She began blogging regularly about how Taliban opposed education for girls and wanted to implement their ideologies across the region, until New York Times journalist Adam B Ellick decided to document her life. At just 12 years of age, the young Yousafzai soon became the voice of children’s rights and education, leading to her nomination for the International Children’s Peace Prize in 2013.

Nonetheless, it was her encounter with the Taliban that cemented her position on the international stage. Hoping to silence Yousafzai‘s activism, the Taliban shot the youngster in 2012 but she emerged even more determined than before. “Weakness, fear and hopelessness died and strength, power and courage was born,” she said, about having faced death and pulling through it all. Today, the 17-yearold has become a household name across the world, standing with her head held high and representing Paksitan at major international summits. She travels the world, promoting education and human rights and inspiring us every step of the way.

Last month, Yousafzai’s efforts were rewarded by the Nobel Laureates and she became the youngest recipient of the Nobel Prize in the history of the world.

Her work and perseverance is proof that when you have your mind set on achieving something, absolutely nothing can keep you from it. “One child, one teacher, one book and one pen can change the world” is what Yousafzai believes and she won’t rest until she has proved it.

By Nisma Chauhan Design by Aamir Khan

Over 40 years in the fashion industry and the Maheen Khan brand is still as strong as ever. Driven by a real passion for fashion and the desire to be different, Khan is ranked amongst the most successful designers of Pakistan and runs her own high-street brand ‘Gulabo’, alongside a luxury prêt-a-porter line titled the House of Maheen.

But the stylish and sophisticated Khan can be credited for much more than just two fashion lines. It was revealed earlier this year than Khan will be lending her talents to the costumes for the upcoming Disney movie Cinderella, to be released in 2015. Many of the costumes worn by the male leads, including everyone’s favourite Prince Charming, feature intricate embroidery and handmade embellishments by Khan herself!

Of course, this is hardly the first time Khan has been chosen to represent Pakistani fashion on a global platform. In fact, she has become somewhat of a veteran at it, having worked on many Hollywood movies before. Back in 1997, she collaborated with BAFTAwinning costume designer Diane Holmes on the wardrobe for the movie Jinnah.

Together, the designer duo made the outfits worn by the characters of Ratti and Fatima Jinnah and went on to establish The Embroidery House. Under this label, they have worked for the acclaimed BBC serial The Aristocrats and also the seasonal collections of Catherine Walker and Co design house. Khan has also designed the costumes for other commercial Hollywood successes like Sweeney Todd, Phantom of the Opera, Elizabeth 1 and 2, Golden Age, Alexander, Snow White and the Huntsman and most recently, Maleficent. Her talents can also be witnessed by visitors to London’s renowned Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum, as part of the get up of King Louis the XI’s statue.

Despite having accomplished so much in her career, Khan remains humble and hopes to uplift the local fashion industry by opening it to budding designers. She has, therefore, established Studio M, a platform where talented new designers can showcase their work and hopefully, follow in her footsteps.

For those of us unfamiliar with the world of animated movies, Novaira Masood is the genius behind the extraordinary, animated wings of Maleficent, the iconic Disney fairy, played by none other than Angelina Jolie. The movie released in May and became a box office hit, helping Masood add yet another achievement to her impressive list of movies. She has previously worked on many other Hollywood hits, including Disney’s A Christmas Carol, Thor, Jack the Giant slayer and even Transformers 3: Dark of the Moon.

A software engineer from FAST in Islamabad, Masood went on to complete her masters in computer science from the University of Minnesota in the United States. She is currently working on the next installment of the Tron movie franchise, to be released sometime next year.

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THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, DECEMBER 28, 2014

Few people are born with the ability to weave stories and manipulate words to stir our souls and Kamila Shamsie is one of those lucky ones. From her very first novel — the 1998 release titled In the City by the Sea — it was evident that Shamsie was destined for greatness. The book propelled her to international fame and she was shortlisted for the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize in the UK, followed by the Prime Minister’s Award for Literature in 1999. These were the first of many awards that she was to achieve.

Ever since then, Shamsie’s career has gone from one successful novel to another. Her second release, Salt and Saffron, led her to be included in Orange’s 21 Writers of the 21st Century list while Kartography and Broken Verses (her third and fourth releases) both won the Patras Bokhari Award from the Academy of Letters Pakistan. Her fifth book, Burnt Shadows, was also shortlisted for the Orange Prize for Fiction award.

Shamsie is a bona fide best-selling author, whose work has also been translated into numerous languages. She is also a reviewer and columnist for the UK’s leading newspaper The Guardian.

This year, Shamsie was shortlisted for the South Asia Fiction Prize — the winner for which receives $50,000 in prize money along with one of the most prestigious international literary awards. Regardless of whether she wins or not, Shamsie is already an inspiration for the women of Pakistan and address her female readers rather aptly in this quote from Broken Verses: “When you can be this, why are you ever anything else?”

Football has almost always been on the backburner in Pakistan, where cricket seems to overshadow all other sports. Considering this, one can only imagine the little importance that is given to women’s football in the country but Raheela Zarmeen is determined to change that. As the team manager for Baluchistan United FC, Zarmeen hopes to promote women’s football across the world. And for this, she has chosen to enroll into the International FIFA Masters in Management, Law and Humanities of Sport programme, starting January 2015. The programme includes classes in England, Italy and Switzerland, covering FIFA rules as well and administration and people management. It will also grant Zarmeen the opportunity to work with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and FIFA itself, upon completing her course.

Zarmeen will be the first Pakistani woman to undertake the course which is considered to be the market leader for sports management.

The 22-year-old has been a part of Pakistan’s national women’s football team for the last two years and even worked as the assistant manager during the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Women’s Cup 2014.

Although our team was eliminated during the semi-finals, Zarmeen’s hard work and skills received much praise. Aspiring to revive football in Pakistan, Zarmeen is all set to take her career into a whole new direction.

In a country where women comprise less than 1% of the nationwide police force, Ghazala Syed has made history by becoming Karachi’s very first female Station House Office (SHO). Having joined the police as an assistant sub-inspector back in 1994, she was promoted to sub-inspector in 2003, owing to her hardwork and dedication.

Syed took charge back in April this year, appointed to the Clifton jurisdiction which happens to be one of the most chaotic regions of the metropolis. She has since been working day in and day out for the security of those under her watch, cracking criminal cases and leading investigations instead of the traditional career paths most Pakistani women are restricted to.

Syed is therefore, a breath of fresh air, breaking free from stereotypes and providing a ray of hope for women who wish to do the same and further their stance in the world.

Outlawed in Pakistan a 45-minute, Emmy-winning documentary directed by Pakistani-Canadian journalist Habiba Nosheen, alongside German filmmaker Hike Schellmann, depicts the story of Kainat Soomro who was allegedly gang-raped at the age of 13. It shows the plight of the young Soomro as she fights the weak Pakistani legal system to have her alleged attackers convicted.

Although the film has yet to be released in Pakistan, owing to some legal issues, it signifies everything journalism stands for. Nosheen and her team, which also included Pakistani journalist Misha Rezvi, have worked tirelessly to report Soomro’s experiences and granted the latter the opportunity to voice her struggles to the world. Their work has garnered considerable success globally and also received the Emmy award for the ‘Outstanding Research’ category.

Unsurprisingly, the Outlawed team has much more to its credit even before the film came out. Nosheen’s 2012 radio documentary What Happened at Dos Erres? was aired on This American Life and was dubbed “a masterpiece of storytelling” by the New York Times. The 32-year-old journalist has also received various other awards for her fine reporting skills, including a Peabody, the Gracie Award for Outstanding Reporter, the Dart Award for Excellence in Coverage of Trauma and two more trophies from the Overseas Press Club. Rezvi, too, has had a flourishing career in journalism, having worked for Thomson Reuters and CNN as a reporter before joining the Outlawed team. She is currently working on another feature film about the medical staff at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) in Karachi, in the wake of a bomb blast.

It seems like musical genius runs in the Bangash family. Cousins Zebunissa Humayun Bangash and Haniya Bangash — popularly known as Zeb and Haniya — became a household name after thier Coke Studio sessions. Apart from their albums they have recorded the soundtrack for TV serial Daam and have recently gone on air on one of the leading radio station in Houston, Rice Radio.

With Zeb’s soulful voice, Haniya’s guitar prowess and the signature Pashtun melodies, the duo has carved a niche for themselves in the Pakistani music industry. Their first Bollywood stint, a song titled Mille Ajnabi from the movie Madras Café has received much acclaim in both India and Paksitan. And what’s more, Zeb is currently the front-runner of Sandaraa, a seven-member band featuring musicians from the streets of New York City.

Nonetheless, their biggest achievement to date is perhaps their collaboration with the Indian musical legend, egend, AR Rahman. Earlier in 2014, Zeb and Haniya released eased Sooha Saha, a song they compiled with Rahman man for Imtiaz Ali’s movie Highway. We hope the dynamic namic duo continue to touch our souls with more of such ch classics, wherever in the world they might be. e.

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Ms

En vogue

House of Haroon’s latest bridal collection, a collaboration of beatiful sequins on bold colours.

Designer: House of Haroon Model: Saima Azhar Makeup: Beenish Parvez Photography: Umair Saleem Syling & coordination: Loop Jewellery: Anam Yazdani

THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, DECEMBER 28, 2014

THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, DECEMBER 28, 2014

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Lifestyle

THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, DECEMBER 28, 2014

Believe it or not, science has proven that those who make resolutions for a new year almost always end up forgetting about them. Try as you might, it is close to impossible to stick to the same plan for an entire year and most of us have given up on the concept of resolutions altogether.

But that does not mean we cannot start anew on January 1st!

Since resolutions have become so last year, why not begin the coming year by making small changes to some of the trivial things which affect our lives? Give your 2015 a fresh start by making the following changes in your lives. They are small, cheap and best of all, easy to abide by!

Design by Aamir Khan

— It may be your most prized possession but you have to treat your car like one to make us believe you! Give your ride some much needed loving and throw out the empty wrappers, old CDs and half-full water bottles we all tend to leave there. If you want to go all out, change your seat covers or have your car fully serviced from a nearby mechanic but be sure you have it sorted before the New Year.

— Thousands of folders containing old documents, pictures, music and snippets of shows and movies you have long forgotten about don’t do you any good, even if they are just on your laptop. Not only do they take up space on your memory card, they also make your desktop appear cluttered and confusing so why not get organised?

Start by going through all the folders and deleting anything you don’t wish to store any longer.

Once you have shortlisted the material that has to be saved, sort it into proper folders made for the different types of files and name every folder accordingly. This will save you lots of time when you have to go through your hard-drive next. It will also speed up your computer.

— It doesn’t matter if you are currently job-hunting or not, your resume should always be well presented, up to date and arranged in a chronological order.

Take out a few minutes from your day and update it, adding the new skills, experiences and achievements you have acquired during the previous year. It is advisable to take extra care when updating your name and contact information so that there is no delay in case an employer wishes to speak with you.

— Don’t worry, we are all hesitant to change our appearance lest it go wrong. But times change and with them fade current trends. The red lipstick you bought earlier this year, for example, has been replaced by deep maroon, burgundy and wine colours for the winter. So while trends are changing, why shouldn’t you? The new year is the perfect opportunity to try something new with yourself, be it a different hair cut or colour or even a whole new wardrobe. You will be surprised by how far a small change will go when it comes to hair, in particular.

— There is a meme doing the rounds on Instagram and Facebook these days which says “If we’re not on good terms by December 31st, you’re getting left in 2014” and we couldn’t agree more. One should welcome the new year with excitement and positivity but a negative person will never let you do that. Therefore, the New Year is the best time for you to reassess your rapport with all those you know and decide whether or not you wish to know them in the future too. Trust us, you will be much happier once you have ostracised all negative people from your surroundings. And for those who are lucky enough to stay with you, try to enhance your relationship with them even further by vowing to be more understanding and caring towards them.

— If you don’t have a fitness regime in mind, get one! It is imperative for you to take the best care of yourself, which includes a healthy, balanced diet and a stringent workout. If you are already on track with a routine, perhaps a small change to it can spice it up.

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— While this may be the last thing you want to do, especially during this festive time of the year, we recommend you go over your bank statements sometime soon. One should be aware of their current financial standing at all times, lest they overspend. Reviewing your finances will also highlight any extra, avoidable payments which might be coming out of your account, such as utility services you did not sign up for. Don’t leave your finances tied up in unnecessary things — you might need them later.

— The cabinets and closets in your kitchens, bathrooms and bedrooms are testament to how organised you are. Unfortunately, most of us forget this. We end up storing things we no longer need, buying new ones and only adding to the clutter in our living space. Admit it, everyone has that one makeup palette which expired last year but hasn’t been thrown out. Or that sweet-smelling soap you were coaxed into buying but never used. Now is the time to dispose off everything you don’t need. You will not only have more space but you can also buy new products you have been longing for.

— Next time you think your refrigerator isn’t big enough, think again! There is probably a lot of canned food or old stuff lying in its depths, along with some expired sauces and pastes. Wipe out all this unnecessary junk and revive your refrigerator.

— There is always joy in trying something different and learning from it. This year, set a big goal for yourself, such as re-decorating the house or learning how to cook and make sure you get it done. Don’t worry about the time — you don’t have to start immediately.

Take small steps, one at a time. If you are re-decorating, go for the smaller items first, like pillow cases. If cooking is your objective then start by cutting vegetables. Whatever your goal may be, keep working your way up towards it.

— We don’t mean to say that you need a personality makeover but that everyone has some faulty points that can be worked upon. Once again, start with one small change, such as sleeping more or avoiding food close to bedtime. All you have to do is take the first, baby step.

— In today’s technology-driven world, it is virtually impossible to find someone without a social media account. With more than half of the world’s population being online, it is surprising that most of us forget to update our profiles or privacy settings regularly. We advise you to look into the privacy settings you had set when you first made your accounts, as there may be some unwanted people viewing your personal data. You should also sort out your friends’ lists and manage what can be viewed on your profile. Update your qualifications, work experiences and everything else the website asks for and let people know more about your personality.

— Everyone knows that water is important for us but how many of us drink the recommended eight glasses per day? Starting 2015, promise yourself you will consume more water to keep yourself healthy and happy.

— It is unfortunate how most of us have become so busy with our lives that we have forgotten those we live with. Spending time with your neighbours will make you aware of your surroundings and allow you to meet new people. After all, you never know when you might need their assistance in the middle of the night!

— A simple smile can go a long way to cheering you up. It not only relieves stress and makes one look attractive but science has proven that it also boosts your immune system! This year, vow to smile more and be happy and content, no matter what life throws your way.

Domestic goddess 7

THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, DECEMBER 28, 2014

By Kiran Afzal • Clean and wash the chicken with water and vinegar and pat it dry to ensure that there is no moisture left. Use a sharp knife and cut slits into the breast and thighs.

• Mix all the ingredients for the butter paste, except the sliced garlic cloves and rub it all over the chicken. Put the garlic cloves in the slits made in the chicken.

Leave it to marinate for about 30 minutes to an hour.

• Preheat the oven to 220o C and place a rack in the centre.

• Line a baking tray with aluminum foil. Cut the potatoes in quarters and place them on the bottom of your square baking tray. Place onions and carrots on top of the potatoes and then the garlic cloves. Drizzle with olive oil, salt and pepper.

• Mix the rice and peas together and stuff them inside the stomach cavity of the chicken.

• Cross the legs of the chicken and tie them up with a strong kitchen thread or cord. Place the chicken over the vegetables in the baking tray.

• Cover the dish with foil and roast it at 200o C for about an hour and 15 minutes.

• When the time has passed, take off the foil and let it cook for a further 30-45 minutes until the chicken turns golden brown from both sides.

• Once roasted, let it cool for at least 10-15 minutes before carving.

• Mix the vegetables together and serve along with the chicken.

1) The butter needs to be bought to room temperature before putting the chicken in the oven.

2) The roasting time depends on the size of the chicken. Keep checking the chicken in the oven after the recommended hour.

3) To check if the chicken is done, cut into the thickest part of the chicken i.e. the thigh. If juices run clear and the chicken is no longer pink, it is cooked through.

Design by Talha Khan

A list of notable initiatives by Pakistanis that will warm your heart Amidst all the chaos and heartbreak that has unfortunately befallen our country, there are some inspiring spiring individuals who are working to make Pakistan a better place, one step at a time. Check out our list of some positive Pakistanis whose work will restore your faith in humanity.

Pakistan is considered as one of the philanthropic nations in the world. This statement is brought to life by people like 54-year-old Parveen Saeed. a chef and owner behind Khana Ghar, a new kind of soup kitchen which offers locals subsidised meals for just Rs3 a day.

Established in 2002, Khana Ghar is located in Khuda Ki Basti in Karachi and provides two meals — lunch and dinner — to over 2,000 people per day. It began from Saeed’s own home and now works from a dhaaba where locals can purchase lentils and vegetables on weekdays and meat on Sundays. Much of its clientele comes from

the factories nearby, including labourers, widows, orphans, hans, the elderly and women and children who work as d domestic help ti h l ffor the affluent.

However, Khana Ghar is not the only venture Saeed supports. She also provides assistance to people who cannot afford school books, uniforms and cloth for funeral shrouds. She also helps out brides-to-be and their parents with wedding expenses and lends Rs500 to women who wish to set up small stalls and earn money. Saeed also arranges finances to help local men purchase carts, fruits and weighing scales to set up their own small businesses.

PHOTO: FILE

PHOTO: FILE

This enterprising youngster is the founder of the Ayesha Chundrigar Foundation (AFC) which provides shelter and healthcare to animal across Pakistan. The AFC was established as a non-government organisation with the help of Dr Khalid Hussain Memon back in 2013. AFC members are alerted via Facebook messages about animals that have been injured on the streets. The animals are then picked up and taken to the AFC premises and offered food, shelter and medical assistance.

Keeping in mind that some of the animals that are brought in serve as the main source of likelihood for their owners, the AFC provides food and medical advice to the latter as well. The foundation operates on limited resources (receiving donations of Rs500 to Rs100,000) and a handful of volunteers, from a plot in Karachi where stray animals are brought in. Even though the premises is yet to get electricity, Chundrigar’s passion for animals keeps her going and she hopes to acquire not just power but an ambulance and proper medical equipment in the near future.

You might know of Mussarat Misbah as the owner of the successful salon chain, Depilex, but did you know she also runs the Depilex Smile Again Foundation (DSF)?

Located in Lahore, DSF is a ray of hope for the hundreds of Pakistani women who fall prey to acid attacks at the hands of their families. The foundation was a brainchild of Misbah’s, who established it back in 2005 to rehabilitate the acid survivors.

Through donations, DSF provides these women not just with medical assistance but also the opportunity to earn and be independent: they are housed on the DSF premises, given vocational training and then placed in jobs around the city to help them take charge of their lives.

PHOTO: DEPILEXSMILEAGAIN.COM

PHOTO: HALIMA MANSOOR

The year 2014 is indeed ending on a tragic note for the children of Pakistan but that hasn’t deterred journalist Halima Mansoor, who works at The Express Tribune, from conducting her annual Christmas drives. Every December, Mansoor calls for donations via social media and collects funds and toys to distribute to underprivileged children as goodie bags. Last year, Mansoor managed to reach over 700 children in Karachi and 200 in Peshawar, with each goodie bag containing a toy, a workbook, colour pencils, stationery, juice, biscuits and other knickknacks. If you want to help Halima follow the link below facebook.com/xmastoydrive.

Set up in 1999, The Garage School (TGS) was established by Shabina Mustafa to grant free education to underprivileged children. The idea came to Mustafa when the daughter of her housekeeper was refused admission into a school that taught girls sewing, due to her inability to read or write. Mustafa then volunteered to teach the little girl herself, in her own garage.

From there on, word spread and more and more women from the housekeeper’s neighbourhood began sending their children to Mustafa. Now, 15 years after its inception, TGS provides no-cost education to over 250 children with the help of paid teachers, volunteers and funding from family and friends. It operates in Karachi, from two branches, one located in Clifton and the other in Neelum Colony.

PHOTO: PAKISTAN TODAY