The Express Tribune hi five - June 14

Ms JUNE 14, 2015

ISSUE NO. 156

Waitressing in Pakistan

2

page

5 beauty ironies

6

page

inside En vogue —

Deepak Perwani’s latest collection

Domestic goddess —

Try the tangy flavours of Japanese cuisine

Section In-Charge: Dilaira Dubash Sub-Editors: Amna Hashmi Nisma Chauhan Designer: Umar Waqas Feedback: women@tribune.com.pk

8

page

The elegant Alisha Hashmi

2

Ms

The buzz

never wished to be mopping floors, cleaning tables or serving food to strangers with a fake smile plastered on my face but I was left with no choice,” says 20-year-old Mary Lee*, who took up waitressing last month to make ends meet. The youngest of a family of three brothers and two sisters, Mary studies, works and even pays her own school fees without complaining to anyone. “After completing my intermediate studies, it was difficult to find a stable job. My dream is to study further and one day, become a reputed teacher. But my family cannot afford this dream so I decided to take matters into my own hands.”

Taking Mary’s example into consideration, it seems that waitressing in Pakistan, as a field of work, has undergone a massive overhaul in terms of gender neutrality. What was once the preserve of unemployed young men from the lower echelons of our society has now become a viable occupation for young women to earn themselves some money. Financial constraints and a desire to improve their lives has encouraged many to adopt short-term jobs like waitressing. In fact, for those like Shabana Parveen, mother-of-three, dirty cutlery and leftover food have become a way of life. “My life is to earn for my children and I am not ashamed of what I do,” says the widowed Shabana, who is a tailor by day and waitress by night. The combined income from both her jobs helps pay rent for the two-bedroom house in Shah Faisal Colony in Karachi that she lives in.

Arguably, this trend sparked from a need for female wait staff at functions where the male and female guests sit separately. Conservative families are often uncomfortable with the idea of a man serving a hall full of women (and vice versa), regardless of the type of event it might be. “It’s a matter of privacy and comfort for women,” says housewife Saira Iman, who feels that having a man amongst so many women simply does not ‘look good.’ Therefore, female staff is the ideal solution for segregated weddings and dinner parties such as those held by Saira and her family.

It is interesting to note that what started as the need for female servers has now evolved to female ‘helpers’ - this job description includes decoration, food presentation and even babysitting the children of guests. “Helpers can look after the youngsters while their mothers socialise and enjoy themselves,” explains Akbar Ali, who has been running a waitress agency

By Yusra Salim

in Karachi for the past seven years. “Most customers wanted helpers for their events so we thought of setting up a proper service,” Akbar says. “Sometimes, during the busy wedding seasons, we have to arrange up to 25 waitresses daily as each of the catering services we provide to are conducting multiple functions in a day.”

However, in spite of this, neither Akbar nor any other agent operates from an actual, physical workplace. Many of their orders are finalised via online bookings or contracts with caterers.

THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, JUNE 14, 2015

3

THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, JUNE 14, 2015

“It isn’t an evergreen business so investing in an office will only cost us a lot of profit,” explains Muhammad Qazi, another agent based in Karachi. The agents and their clients maintain regular correspondence as none of the local caterers employ waitresses of their own. “Whenever there is any event that must be arranged, the caterers simply inform us of the date, venue and number of women they require and the rest is up to us,” adds Muhammad. “Very few of the bookings are done online. The second source is word of mouth.”

Once an order is in, Akbar and Muhammad begin the organisation process. “They call us to explain the type of event, how we should dress and the time we must reach the venue,” says 18-year-old waitress Shazia Ahsaan. “We aren’t hired but called in on an ad-hoc basis.”

Some agents like Shazia’s also provide the staff with tips on how to converse with guests and look good while on call. Shazia is also amongst the lucky few whose agents shoulder the responsibility of transportation to and from the meeting point, event venues and even the staff’s homes post-midnight. “The organisers arrange for us to be dropped home safely,” adds Shazia.

Public holidays are not given as these are generally people’s desired dates for big events. In the likely event of a large, VIP function, some agents give the staff clothes as well. Shazia receives about Rs200 for a regular event to Rs400 for large, VIP gatherings. “Remuneration is subject to the scale of the event and the profit earned from it but it remains between Rs300 to Rs500 per day,” informs Muhammad.

Of course, there is much these women have to make up for when compared to their male counterparts. They also pose fewer security costs for the agents compared to women for whom, the latter must provide adequate safety measures. “Women are called in for a maximum of five hours which includes travel time. They are also not hired full-time as we can’t pay them on a monthly basis,” says Akbar. Males, on the other hand, are often official employees with a stable income although they have longer working hours and no pick and drop services to benefit from.

But even extra assistance from one’s employers isn’t enough to appease the employee.

Sanober Ali, for instance, complains that her job at a local eatery involves much more than she had signed on for. “My job description simply asked for greeting customers at the door but here, I have to serve and clean when someone else takes off too,” she says angrily. “This isn’t what I want to be doing, nor am I compensated for the additional responsibilities.” Mary is also made to work much more than her gross monthly income of Rs12,000 warrants. “I don’t feel discriminated against here,” she says, “But the working hours exceed the pay I get.” Farzana Ali*, an evening worker at a local pizza joint, faces a constant commute to her work and back, losing up to Rs60 on transport out of a monthly salary of Rs10,000 daily. “There is no pick and drop facility for us, no matter what time we finish work at night.”

And yet, logistics are the least of the worries for most of these hardworking women. The rising demand for female waiters has, sadly, had little impact on their social standing. Many of them have been subjected to rude and inhumane treatment from those they serve but they are forced to swallow their pride. “Just yesterday, a young boy shouted at me publicaly because his order was late,” shares Farzana. “We couldn’t tell him that the food wasn’t ready yet so I just listened to him for five minutes, feeling humiliated.” Event helper Naila Asad echoes Farzana’s sentiments, saying, “The attitude of female guests is very upsetting. They sometimes treat us like beggars or as if we are earning by dishonourable means!”

Nonetheless, it is commendable how these underprivileged Pakistani women have arisen to secure their futures, albeit via a career path that isn’t too economically feasible. Only time will tell how far it can take them. *Names have been changed to protect privacy.

Yusra Salim is a reporter at The Express Tribune’s Karachi desk. She tweets as @yusrasaleemkhan

Design By Eesha Azam

4

Ms

En vogue

Deepak Perwani’s latest collection will make you feel nothing less than spectacular Coordination: Umer Mushtaq Hair and Make-up: N Pro Designer: Deepak Perwani Styling: Aatika Majid Photography: Khawer Jadoon Model: Humaira Asghar

THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, JUNE 14, 2015

THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, JUNE 14, 2015

5

6

Ms

Lifestyle

THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, JUNE 14, 2015

By Neha Javed

We all go to the ends of the earth for the perfect hair-dos or flawless skin without ever questioning our beauty regimes. If you look closely, you’ll see that almost all common beauty practices are laden with ironies that will make them seem pointless. Read on to find out how prevalent ideas of beauty aren’t what they appear to be.

This is perhaps the oldest irony in the books. We’ve all been told that if we want to grow out our hair, we must trim it off regularly. From beauty experts to our grandmother, everyone prescribes getting a cut at least once every two months to get rid of split ends, dryness and damage.

Surprisingly, a lot of ingredients marketed these days boast of being refreshing, new techniques for beauty.

The use of turmeric powder, for instance, is the latest USP for modern skincare products although our ancestors have been using it for decades to improve their skin quality and complexion.

We’ve all been there.

Everyone experiments with hair colour at least once in their lifetime.

Some of us even try out different hair colours to determine which ones compliment our features and skin tone best. In reality, however, hair experts claim that the best colour is always the one you were born with as there is no chance of it not looking good.

Spending time and money on fake lashes or lash extensions is never a good idea. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, getting fibres glued onto your real lashes can actually cause swelling and infections in the cornea and eyelids.

In fact, fake lashes can actually permanently damage your real lashes, causing them to fall out during the entire process.

As soon as we spot a pimple, our impulse is to get rid of it by squeezing. But did you know that the more you squeeze out the bad stuff, the more it spreads? So if you want to free your skin from acne, try not to touch the area until the pimple diminishes by itself.

The more lip balm you use, the more and more you need it?

Surprisingly, using lip balm over and over again creates a harmful cycle that does no real good to your lips and dries them out even further. What happens is that when skin sleeps, your body signals its bottom layers to produce fresh cells. But if you have applied balm, the moisture that has occurred is lost leaving the dead top cells to dry out slowly.

As a result your skin fails to send any signals for more new cells. Once the balm wears off, there aren’t any new cells to replace the dead ones, leading to excessive dryness.

Ever heard of a no make-up palette? This involves using just the basic make-up products that compliment your skin tone. If you’re interested, follow these simple steps and ace the palette procedure. After all, less is more when it comes to make-up!

Step 1: Moisturise and even out your skin by applying a base of a slightly darker shade. For visible breakouts or deep under eye circles, use a pigment rich concealer.

Step 2: Use a cream-based blush in warm peaches or pinks to give a natural, pink glow.

Remember not to go too pink though!

Step 3: Define your eyelids and lips by using pencils to make them stand out. Use soft, brownish tints to enhance your eyes’ natural contours without creating shadows. Also use a lipstick that matches your natural lip colour, dab it onto your lips with a finger and it will look better than applying the lipstick directly.

Tip: To make sure you’re using the lightest touch, do your makeup in daylight, if possible.

Neha Javed is a textile designer. She likes to write about fashion and beauty in her free time.

Design By Hira Fareed

Domestic goddess 7

THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, JUNE 14, 2015

By Huba Akbar

Chicken yakitori in Japanese curry

Teppanyaki Rice A Japanese favourite made right at home!

Ingredients • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Chicken (boneless) 1 kg Coffee (brewed) 1 tsp Salt (to taste) Onions (diced) 2 Garlic (minced) 2 tbsp Ginger (grated) 1 tsp Carrots (diced) 2 Chicken stock 1 cup Brown sugar 1 tsp Coriander powder 1/2 tsp Tabasco green pepper sauce 3 tbsp Ginger pepper sauce 2 tbsp Chili sauce 3 tbsp Tomato paste 1 and 1/2 tomatoes Tomato ketchup 2 tbsp Chili garlic sauce 3 tbsp Garlic paste 1/2 tsp Cocoa powder 1/2 tsp Cloves (ground) 1 pinch Worcestershire sauce 2 tbsp

Method • Place the chicken in a medium-sized bowl and mix it with brewed coffee and brown sugar.

• On a heated grilling pan, cook the chicken for about 10 minutes, turning each side once it is done.

• Heat oil in a pan and cook all the sauces, salt, tomato paste and ginger/garlic paste together. Keep stirring for about a minute and then add chicken stock. Cook the prepared chicken in this mixture for about five minutes.

• In a separate pan, heat a teaspoon of olive oil and add the vegetables, coriander powder, tomato ketchup, cocoa powder and a pinch of ground cloves to it. Cook the ingredients for about three minutes or until they become crunchy.

• Once cooked, mix the vegetables with the chicken and cook until the chicken is tender.

• Serve the dish in small, antique Japanese plates for good measure.

Complete your home-cooked Japanese meal with a steaming cup of aromatic Teppanyaki rice.

Ingredients • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Rice (boiled) 2 cups Olive oil 4 tbsp Chicken (boneless) 1/2 kg Shrimps 1 small bowl Onion (chopped) 1 Carrot (diced) 1 Green onion (chopped) 1 bowl Yellow bell pepper 1 Mushrooms 1 small cup Cabbage (finely chopped) 1 cup Garlic (crushed) 1 tbsp Brown sugar 1/2 tbsp Mustard paste 1/2 tbsp Honey 2 tbsp Teriyaki sauce 3 tbsp Green pepper sauce 2 tbsp Garlic pepper sauce 1 tbsp Soya sauce 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce 1 tbsp Mushroom soy sauce 2 tbsp Sesame oil 1 tsp Sesame seeds for garnishing

Method • Mix all the sauces together in a bowl and add the chicken and prawns to it. Mix the ingredients well and set the bowl aside for about 15 minutes.

• In the meantime, heat the olive oil in a pan and fry the crushed garlic in it. Add the vegetables and cook them for about two minutes and set the pan aside.

• In a separate pan, mix the marinated chicken and prawns with the brown sugar and mustard paste and cook until the meats become tender.

• Add in the boiled rice and mix well.

• Garnish the rice with some sesame seeds, coriander and sautéed vegetables before serving.

Woman of the week 8

During an ev ent.

With my husband, Hasan Mandviwala.

Fashion designer

With Hasan Man dviwalla and ne ice and

We know you adore those sky-high stilettos that give you a boost of confidence with every click but heels are so not good for the hot and humid summer months. Besides, why subject your precious feet to such discomfort when the shoe-niverse has such gorgeous flats to offer? Complete your look for sun-kissed beaches to formal parties with the right kind of flat shoe. After all, who said only killer heels can make a statement?

Follow this short guide to chic flats to find the best style for you.

These stylish shoes are inspired by the ancient Greeks and they make you look nothing less than a goddess.

Pair them with a stylish loose kurta for an edgy look and if you really want to stand-out, then wear ankle-high gladiators with cigarette pants or capris.

Lace shoes are ideal for long walks along the beach or the park as they are very street-friendly. Comfortable and super cute, espadrilles will also protect your feet from an unwanted tan. If jeans are too warm for the current temperature, flaunt your espadrilles with a pair of palazzos for an uber chic, hipster look.

We can’t talk about flats and leave out the crafty and elegant kolhapuris we all love to wear. These handcrafted leather slip-ons are your best friend in the summer and look great with almost every outfit, be it a pair of tights and a kurta or jeans and a blouse.

nephew.

Thinking about looking fashionable? Buy yourself a pair of flat mules. Not only do these come in different styles, they are an accolade to your collection of flats. Straight pants and a fitted blouse are just what you need to make mules look impeccable.

From stylish flat pumps to sandals, ankle-straps are fast paving their way into the hearts of women around the world. They are easy-to-wear and very manageable with fitted bottoms and a loose T-shirt.

Want to give yourself a vintage look? Grab a pair of ballerina pumps with unique embellishments like bows and brooches for that classic Audrey Hepburn elegance. These look best with a pair of simple palazzos and loose tops.

What was once considered men’s formal footwear is now trending for women as well. From Bollywood diva Sonam Kapoor to Alexa Chung, leather shoes have been doing the rounds for a couple of years now and surprisingly, these divas have been flaunting them with both casual outfits and office wear. Wear them with straight pants and fitted shirt to get the most out of the look.

Design By Maryam Rashid