PEOPLE PAKISTAN SEPTEMBER 2020 by peoplepakistan

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CONTENTS SEPTEMBER 2020

EDITOR’S NOTE

EDITOR’S PICKS

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: STYLE IT UP WITH ZAHRA SARFRAZ

PEOPLE READS: IN CONVERSATION WITH SONIAH KAMAL

COVER STORY: SARWAT GILANI - THE NEW CHURAIL IN TOWN

PEOPLE TALK: CHURAILS - A SOCIAL REVIEW

PEOPLE FASHION

PEOPLE COOK

INSPIRATIONAL PEOPLE: LAILA WASTI ON BEATING CANCER

PEOPLE HEALTH: ALL ABOUT SKIN

PEOPLE TRAVEL

HOROSCOPES PEOPLE PAKISTAN SEPTEMBER 2020

EDITOR’S NOTE And we’re back again with yet another smashing issue! However, firstly, we would like to express that our entire People Pakistan team was saddened to see the damage and destruction caused by the floods in Karachi. It is the civic duty of the state to provide us with adequate infrastructure to carry on normally with our lives, as normal as we can during these strange times, but the state fails us again. Let’s hope that this time there was a lesson learned. We, at People Pakistan, sincerely hope that all of you are safe and we will continue to stand in soldarity with you in any way we can, so please do reach out to us! This issue is full of exciting content. Our cover story this month is on Sarwat Gillani, who co-stars in the critically acclaimed OTT series, Churails. She talks to us about the series and why she became part of it. Zahra Sarfraz, one of the country’s leading stylists, headlines our In the Spotlight feature, where we also share her best styled looks. Award-winning author, Sonial Kamal, talks to us about her books and other works in the People Reads section. Actress, Laila Wasti, shares with us her journey to beat cancer in our Inspirational People section. Our fashion features focus in on trends for the fall! All this and more waits for you in the following pages and we cannot wait to hear what you love and what you would like changed! SHANZAAY SHEIKH Editor-in-Chief RAMSHAY SHEIKH Co-Editor RAMEEN NAGHMAN Co-Editor

PEOPLE PAKISTAN SEPTEMBER 2020

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Our Picks 2

3 THE KIMCHI GIRL

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PEOPLE PAKISTAN SEPTEMBER 2020

Style It Up

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

with Zahra Sarfraz

Making waves in Pakistan’s fashion industry with her superlative styling skills, Stylist Zahra Sarfraz is already a household name. After graduating from Warwick Business School in the UK, Zahra dived to pursue her all time passion of fashion and styling. Let’s hear from Zahra herself how her journey began. How did you discover your love for fashion and styling? During my undergraduate I started exploring my love for street style photography. Fashion Week became my favourite time of the year, the art of putting the simplest of pieces together in the most unique fashion kept me photographing the streets of fashion week for days. The definition of fashion evolved during this period, for me it was no longer about ‘what’ I wear, it was more about ‘how’ I wear it.

How does it feel to be working with big stars at such a young age and what’s the most challenging part

Who has been your inspiration towards fashion

about it? It feels surreal, I do have my moments when I get star struck and start panicking. However, it’s important for me to hold my ground and focus on my work. My work and being trusted with it is what matters the most to me. If you’ve witnessed me at a shoot, you’ll know me to be the stress ball who focuses on her work and nothing else, I breathe when I am satisfied with what I’ve put out there. It’s challenging living up to the expectations of those I look up to.

in your growing up years? It’s funny how I’ve never had a particular source of inspiration when it comes to fashion. Since a very young age I’ve always stopped to admire an outfit put well together regardless of who is -carrying it. However, I do feel like fashion is what comes to you naturally, what your body can flaunt without you trying hard, fashion is not only being comfortable in your skin but being confident.

What was your first styling assignment? My first styling assignment was a lawn campaign with Sanam Saeed, I was working at a PR company which was handling the production and coordination of the shoot. I took the opportunity of asking my former boss and was fully supported in taking the responsibility up. I honestly didn’t even think I had it in me back then, it’s when I

PEOPLE PAKISTAN SEPTEMBER 2020

saw the looks come to life when I realised that I was withholding a passion which should be explored. Which has been your most adored or close to your heart project as yet? Working as Saba Qamar’s official stylist for the past few months has been nothing less than a dream for me. The love and respect she has given

than I’ll ever admire the label on their shoes. I am a dreamer, who believes in working hard and making sure that my success doesn’t come at the expense of others. I don’t expect perfection out of myself, I respect my struggles and my flaws because at the end of the day working on them is what will help me grow as a person. In your opinion, what is the biggest challenge girls face in Pakistani society? The lack of education and the inability to be financially independent is the very core issue in my eyes. I do feel a lot of women never reach their true potential because they are never allowed to set off on the journey. A majority of us spend our lives in the shadows of our men and I really hope that changes because being a woman of your own is the greatest blessing of all. What is your take on feminism and are you one? I believe in equality. Growing up under the protection of a very loving father and brother, who have always looked out for my best interest. I have grown to realise that their reluctance in certain matters is not because they don’t believe me to be an equal but because they are aware of the horrors of this society and all they aim for is to keep their women safe. It’s unfortunate that I can’t walk as freely on the streets of my own city unlike my brother. But this freedom hasn’t been taken away from me by the men who long to keep me safe, it’s been taken away by men who wander looking to pry on the women of this society.

to me both as a professional and individual is overwhelming. She has trusted me with my work and has given me the confidence to follow my gut. Every project that I’ve done with her holds a very special place in my heart. Who is Zahra, apart from one of the leading stylists in Pakistan? I am someone who is extremely comfortable in her own skin. I admire an individual’s values more

PEOPLE PAKISTAN SEPTEMBER 2020

Where do you see yourself in the next five years? I can’t be certain about where I see myself in the next five years but I can tell you what I dream of. I dream to be working as hard as I am today. I dream to continue working with the same group of values and passion that I withhold today. I am strong believer of fate and hard work, as long as I am doing my part, I know that I am in the best of hands. peoplepakistan.com

ZAHRAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S

Best Styled Looks

PEOPLE PAKISTAN SEPTEMBER 2020

PEOPLE READ

In Conversation with

Soniah Kamal

This month, we speak to Soniah Kamal, award-winning author of the novels “Unmarriageable” and “An Isolated Incident.” From her Georgia home, she shares with us her thoughts about Jane Austen, the beauty of writing fiction, and how she stays connected during lockdown. Her books are available worldwide. decided to do was fuse the English language that I’d grown up in with the Pakistani culture I’d grown up with. In this respect, I set a classic in Pakistani society to reorient it. It’s not a sequel, prequel, based on, inspired by. It’s very much Pride and Prejudice in Pakistan and a postcolonial reorientation. “Unmarriageable” has been a commercial success in Pakistan but also worldwide. How do

You describe “Unmarriageable” as a ‘parallel

you feel about its universal success? I wasn’t expecting it. It was published, first, in the US. And it is a book that I call the three anti-tropes which is there’s no terrorism in it, there’s no woe woman, sob story in it and it’s not an immigrant novel. It’s a book that a lot of Pakistanis are really fond of because it’s not something that they’ve read and seen. There’s no terrorism in this book, number one. It’s set in contemporary Pakistan. But it’s not, also, just about arranged marriages and who’s getting

retelling’ of Jane Austen’s beloved Pride &

married and who’s falling in love. It’s social satire.

Prejudice. What do you mean by that and why were you inspired by her book? I’ve always been a Jane Austen fan. I first read Austen and Pride & Prejudice when I was 16. It seemed, to me, the quintessentially Pakistani novel. By parallel retelling, I mean that it is literally Pride and Prejudice set in Pakistan—the plotline is the same, all the characters from the original are in there, and very deliberately. Of course, I’ve added my own touches. What I

PEOPLE PAKISTAN SEPTEMBER 2020

What do you think Jane Austen would think of Sima Aunty from Netflix’s Indian Matchmaking ? I think Jane Austen would be definitely amused by Sima Aunty and the role that society has led her to play, that of the matchmaker. On the other hand, I think Austen has a practical side to her where she would realise that given certain cultures, roles of this type are, at least for the time being, necessary and do serve some purpose. peoplepakistan.com

Your collection of work spans many mediums, from books to essays to TED talks. Which medium do you prefer? In today’s world, we have so much art in different mediums at our fingertips. Books do the one thing that no other medium can do which is allow you to get into the head of the character, to the interiority and the emotions of your characters. I am an avid film watcher. And as wonderful as the medium is, it’s visual. I cannot know what the characters are thinking, what their emotions are and how they’re feeling in difficult times. But books allow that window into the emotions of characters, and that’s the great beauty of them, and they’re the only medium that allows that.

ences worldwide, doing book clubs [online] in different countries. It’s wonderful to be able to connect with a greater audience, but, also, for me, the flip side is that I’ve been able to hear and attend a vast number of festivals and store readings and all sorts of things [online.] You’ve written another novel, “An Isolated Incident”. Can you tell us about that? It’s set against the Kashmir conflict. It’s about identity between someone who’s been bought up in diasporas versus someone who’s been bought up in a country itself and the different ways they look at issues of belonging and identity and displacement. In some ways, it has a lot of themes in common with Unmarriageable.

There’s no one medium that I prefer over the other. But if push comes to shove, I will say novels. Fiction allows imagination, and fiction allows you to get to truths in a certain way which really no other medium really does. They say fiction is sometimes stranger than truth, but, for me, sometimes fiction is truer than fact. What role do you think literature plays in our society? There will always be a need and space in society for books of all kinds. Because when we read, we’re reading to see glimpses of ourselves. We’re reading to see mirrors of our own emotions in the characters that we’re reading of and how they resolve the issues in their life and perhaps how that might help us cope and resolve with the issues in our lives. So, reading is not going anywhere. How has the recent time in lockdown been for you creatively? The paradox of this time period for so many people who are in a position of privilege is that on the one hand, it’s really closed our lives down; on the other hand, online, it’s really expanded them in some ways. I’ve been connecting with audi-

Soniah Kamal is an award winning novelist, essayist and public speaker. Her recent novel, Unmarriageable, is a Financial Times Readers’ Best Book of 2019, a 2019 Book All Georgians Should Read, and shortlisted for the 2020 Townsend Prize for Fiction. Her debut novel, An Isolated Incident, was a finalist for the KLF French Fiction Prize and the Townsend Prize for Fiction. Her work is in the New York Times, Guardian, Buzzfeed, Catapult, Normal School, Georgia Review and more. Simran Chawla, author of Searching for Home, writes the People Reads each month, sharing her latest book recommendations and conversations with authors.. PEOPLE PAKISTAN SEPTEMBER 2020

COVER STORY

The New

Churail

In Town

SARWAT GILANI

n actor par excellence whose brilliance shines on celluloid, Sarwat Gilani is definitely a force to be reckoned with and she is packing the punches with her latest hit web series, Churails.

From television to films and now to web series, Sarwat has made a solid presence in every medium. Her body of work ranges from being an emotional mess to humorous characters all the way to giving power packed dramatic performances. Apart from being an actress, Sarwat juggles between a homemaker as well as an enthusiastic social worker, always speaking up and and respresenting social issues in Pakistan. It wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be wrong to say, that if woman power had face, it would surely be Sarwat Gilani. Here is our exclusive, unfiltered conversation with Sarwat about Churails, which is now available to stream on Zee 5.

PEOPLE PAKISTAN SEPTEMBER 2020

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Photography: Shahbaz Shazi Costume for Mehwish: Farah Sanjana Hair/Makeup: Shazia Rashid Styling: Emergency Room, Ella Hussain

Firstly, congratulations and thank you for making us super proud! How does it feel as Churails is being praised everywhere? Thank you so much! It feels like we are ready for a change, it really does feel like that. The way it was received tells us a very clear picture and gives us a very clear number of mindsets that want change and I think it’s about time that we give this change to our industry, to creative people. I think that’s what happened after Churails, the communication, the dialogue. It feels great to be a part of something that could start conversations on a dining table, it truly represents our society, how women are treated in society globally. It’s so amazing to be part of something so powerful. Do you think the dominant ideology of patriarchy is settling now or it’s a long way to go? I think it’s not so dominant anymore. Everybody has a voice. Not only men have a voice in their homes but now every single person that has a mobile and an internet connection has a voice. It’s about time that we start talking and listening to everybody’s stories, not just selective stories by people who run this country. The truth is out there today. We have a step in the right direction and we are looking at changes. We are looking at changes everyday, everyday there’s awareness about womens rights and laws that are not being followed and the kind of patriarchal image that we oh so conveniently carry and I think women are now much more aware of their rights then they were but theres still a long way to go, not every women is aware of their rights. There is law being practiced in a country where women are merely consider weak and victim. Thats not just in our society, it’s being practiced everywhere, even in a elite society its being practiced in a better language in a more charming way, it’s something that

PEOPLE PAKISTAN SEPTEMBER 2020

needs to stop and change. Everyday, a women who is being stared upon on the road and is not taking any action against it is encouraging people to do that. It’s about time we stand up for ourselves. Everywhere in the world women are taken for granted and are taken as weak substitutes of trophy wives, mothers and sisters. It needs to stop. Why are women always expected to be the “best version of themselves”? Will it ever change? Being the best version of yourself should apply to everybody, no matter what age or race, it’s a gift that you will give to yourself and the world. I feel men smoking is not looked down upon but women smoking is looked down upon, although it’s dangerous for both, for everyone’s health. A women speaking up for her rights is considered moo phutt or badtameez. We are trying to say that everyone should be best version of themselves, not just women. Churails is being touted as a feminist masterpiece. What is your take on feminism? I think feminism is just being a female, praising a female. It has nothing to do with only women fight, feminism include alot of men who support feminism, they uplift their mothers, wives and sisters. Feminism is usually mistaken for these group of women who have dandas and are going out doing aurat march. Every human being has a right. Feminism is just an approach of asking people to accept females as a unique gender, a gender that brings you into the world. How was it working on a script that tackles institutional issues like racism, homophobia and transphobia alongside its plot? Did you fear any backlash? I am a motivational speaker and people invite me to speak on women rights, domestic PEOPLE PAKISTAN SEPTEMBER 2020

violence, child abuse, I’m a total churail anyway who uplifts women, I like to take women along with me and make something of themselves. That has been my approach, this resonated so well with what I believed in. We wanted people to see what is real and the cracks that we are hiding as a society. Do you think we should promote exchange of arts and culture across the conflicted borders of India and Pakistan given the current situation? Art has no boundaries, art, music, love, light, life these are way beyond these little walls that we create. It is is very appreciable of Zee 5 to have the guts to come and work with a Pakistani team and cater to a Pakistani subject and put that out. It’s been so rewarding and we are so lucky it happened to Pakistan. I hope this continues so we showcase, everytime with every project we elevate ourselves and showcase our best sides or the best where of our teams. Today in this day and age, when everything is virtual, it will be quite a silly move not to take advantage of it, if you have talent you need to put it out there, whichever platform is interested, I think you should take it. On a lighter note, Do you think we need a Halal Design’s spying service aimed to help other women identify cheating spouses in our society? Hahaha! You know what? People have actually said to me that this is a great business plan. I will kid you not, it maybe if someone starts it. There has to be a law enforcement and a little extra thing that women like these who can’t go to the police and police refuse to help them, you rather go to a place like a boutique and women taking care of this situation. This is a great story but I dont know what the end will be in that. I think this will be very good CPLC side thing to do, the CPLC does the intelligent way of dealing with crime so I think CPLC should just watch Churails.

PEOPLE PAKISTAN SEPTEMBER 2020

Performances have been superlative and the direction is impeccable. What according to you clicked the most with audiences? The vision clicked with the audience. It was Asim’s vision which was so honest and real that it reasonated, it went through everybody’s blood lines, mind lines, heart lines. It did something to them because it was so real and honestly written. He did everything so beautifully, his team was so amazing. MoAzmi was the cherry on top, for Churails, for me. All of this emotion he’s trying to make you feel in all these episodes, it’s unreal. Apart from your own character, which character would you have loved to do? Since Sara was my white unicorn I would never leave Sara but if there was really another character that I loved, it was Batool’s character. That woman is a powerhouse, that woman herself Nimra Bucha is a powerhouse and then the character that she’s playing, there is so much inside her. Batool was unbelievable and she played it to the T! Nimra Bucha I love you. There has been backlash on showing casual drinking by women. When do you think our audience will be acceptable of such things? The casualness is just a reflection. Now if you want to accept it or not it’s upto you but it’s a reality. Women around us swear and drink. Web is a platform which is a very personal platform. It’s upto you whether you want to watch this kind of stuff or not, there comes a warning that it’s 18+. How was it working with the other churails aka Yasra Rizvi, MeharBano and Nimra Bucha? We were so lucky to have all these women on board, they are amazing, real women. They had no issues, no quarms, they had no complexes. It was just alot of fun, we were all so focused on one thing. We were very focused on our work. Now, we are so close as people, as friends. We stay in touch, we all were very happy that it was all four of us. peoplepakistan.com

you

think

Pakistan’s

entertainment

industry’s potential is still not explored as yet? YES! Pakistan has a lot of potential, it has tremendous amount of oneness, we just don’t tap into it. We will, we are trying. Our industry is great and it’s doing good but theres always potential to be better. Churails has just given people an example of how else it can be. We want to continue making great projects with our entertainment people. We should make intelligent content that can resonate with people globally. We have so much untapped talent that we dont even know about. This upcoming generation, they are so hardworking. Which has been your favourite scene from the show? The most touching and real scene was when halal designs burns and I’m sitting outside in the car. It was a really real felt scene and I loved it. How has been the response of your family on your performance and the show itself? They were very happy and they were very excited. Fahad is a big supporter of what I do and he’s really standing with me all the way. He was so happy that this happened, the response has been overwhelming from friends and family. Fahad was blown away once again with my performance and the way I looked. Thanks to MoAzmi, he shot me very well.

Sarwat ’s Rapid Fire Favourite holiday destination: Prague Favourite fragrance: D&G Oud

After such an iconic show, what is going to be your next project and how soon we are going to see you onscreen again? After such a show you generally go to a rehabilitation center and you enroll yourself because things will never remain the same for you again. I’m a turtle, slow and steady so I’m in no rush to sign anything. I’m doing so many other things onShazi the side. I’m an ambassador for Photography: Shahbaz Costume for Mehwish: Asim Special Olympics Jofa Pakistan, I work with Indus Jewellery for Mehwish: Rouge by Rooj Amir Hospital, just pulls me back from who I Hair/Makeup foracting Mehwish: Shazia Rashid Costume for Rao: Vavci Dubai am now, rather than the other way round. Hair/Makeup for Rao: Sharjeel

Shalwar Kameez or Jeans and a T-shirt: Both! Show or a book you’re hooked to these days: A bit of both Big Screen or TV: Web series

PEOPLE PAKISTAN SEPTEMBER 2020

PEOPLE TALK

ChurailS: A Social REVIEW ACTIVIST NAYAB JAN REVIEWS THE WIDELY-ACCLAIMED WEB SERIES When something causes moral outrage in Pakistan, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s safe to assume it has a lot to do with empowered women! For the past month, the talk of the town has been the web series Churails, which features an ensemble cast showcasing some of the finest actors in Pakistan. The Pakistani drama industry has been criticized at length for constantly reinforcing negative and harmful stereotypes about women. In a country like Pakistan, which ranks among the lowest in the world on gender equality, on-screen portrayals of women hold great significance. Electronic and digital media sources have the potential to influence the way society perceives women, and the way women view themselves. In such an atmosphere, Churails is a breath of fresh air, with its vibrant, complex and strong female characters. And letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not forget, some incredible male allies. So, why then, has this series caused moral outrage?

PEOPLE PAKISTAN SEPTEMBER 2020

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Pakistani society is a case study in misplaced moral priorities. A simple comparison of those issues that do and don’t cause moral outrage shows us how skewed and narrow minded our collective perception of morality is, which almost exclusively revolves around the choices, character and clothing of women. Whereas we see processions and protests against the idea of women asserting their personal and political freedoms, we rarely see the same moral outrage over the daily cases of domestic violence, honour killings, acid attacks and the rampant practice of dowry. The collective anger of our moral police over movements like Aurat March, or slogans like ‘Mera Jism Meri Marzi’, is hardly ever displayed when those same female bodies which are considered symbols of honour, are desecrated and subjected to violence. Morality, for many in Pakistan, is merely about continued subjugation and sacrifice of the female self. Furthermore, those who uncover these gross realities are considered immoral and agenda laden, because we prefer the ignorant slumber of our collective hypocrisy. A similar case of moral panic has unleashed post the release of churails, where the portrayal of women being assertive, angry and strong, has been misconstrued as immoral. Churails is the story of a group of women from diverse backgrounds and complicated pasts, who join together in their combined mission to fight various patriarchal injustices. It is no surprised that those outraged by Churails wouldn’t say a word when Pakistani dramas show female characters being beaten and subjugated to severe forms of violence. As always, the central discussion has focused on issues like smoking, or clothing, as opposed to the central message which unearths several forms of oppression women are subjected to, from slave labour to domestic violence. Our ‘respectable’ tv dramas would hardly dare to touch upon the terrifying realities of everyday sexism that women face,

and would rather depict safe and sanitized versions of female submission. For me, Churails was a treat to watch, mostly for its well laid out characters. One can disagree with the technicalities of how the story progressed, but what is for sure is that for the first time, a progressive audience was eagerly awaiting for a series produced in Pakistan. As for the moral police, they have time and again enforced their version of ‘empowerment’ on women, without consulting women themselves. What we know for sure is that slowly, women are pushing boundaries and laying down their own interpretations of empowerment, whether it’s asserting their freedom to take control of their bodies, or if its joining a group of female vigilantes who want to fight for other women. It’s safe to say that whenever a show causes moral outrage in a patriarchal society, it must be doing something right!

Nayab Jan is a prominent entrepreneur, activist and journalist in Pakistan. She partners with various organisations and media outlets to raise awareness on women’s issues, children’s rights, religious freedom and tolerance, and youth related issues. PEOPLE PAKISTAN SEPTEMBER 2020

PEOPLE FASHION

Fall is Upon Us

PEOPLE PAKISTAN SEPTEMBER 2020

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As we continue to grapple with COVID19, we can definitely look forward to making most of the upcoming season. Taking inspiration from international circles, these chic appearances from fashionistas at Milan Fashion Week 2020 have a lot to say. Lots of leather, cozy oversized sweaters and plaided blazers are going to hit our fashion pages big time. From the omnipresent neutral colour combinations to a myriad of shades, there is something for everyone. The best looks served are all here and we can already think of many ways to mismatch these styles into your closet rotation. This fall, stay warm, stay safe, and wear our outfit suggestions in an effortless way!

PEOPLE PAKISTAN SEPTEMBER 2020

PEOPLE FASHION

JOIN THE

CHAIN

TRAIN

This new trend has officially gotten the high-fashion seal of approval. GLASSES CHAINS — Yes! The kind your grandma always has so she doesn’t lose her frames — are the new-new. And honestly, They’re actually really quirky and fun. Fashionistas all over have revamped the usual accessory using metal, chains, pearls, and beads to bring their look up a notch. Our very own divas have been sporting this new trend on scene and we are absolutely in love. Our verdict: Of course, it’s a YES! Bring it out guys, the perfect fall accessory!

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PEOPLE COOK

c h?

Cr a

sw e e t f o r w ee ke n

ng th i

Nutea Crêpes

INGREDIENTS 2 cups of flour 2 eggs

METHOD

Place all the ingredients in a bowl. Whisk the eggs, milk, sugar, butter and flour together in a bowl until smooth. Strain the batter into another bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for at least an hour to allow all the air bubbles to settle.

2 cup of milk 1 1/2 tbsp of butter 2 tsp of sugar Powdered sugar to dust Nutella Seasonal fruit

Heat a small crêpe pan (or nonstick skillet) over medium high heat. Swirl 1 teaspoon of butter in the pan and add a small amount of batter to the pan. Swirl the pan so that the batter evenly and thinly coats the bottom. Cook for about 30 seconds (until lightly browned) and flip. Cook for another 10-15 seconds and remove to a plate. Continue cooking the rest of the batter adding butter each time. Spread each crêpe with your desired topping like Nutella and some seasonal fruit. Dust with powdered sugar and serve warm. PEOPLE PAKISTAN SEPTEMBER 2020

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INSPIRING PEOPLE

LAILA WASTI ACTRESS on

bEATING CANCER

don't know where to begin. I don't know how it began. Such a long journey filled with all kinds of emotions to be penned down in mere words. I shall try. 2008 began as a good year for me. Married to my soulmate, Fahad, and working at Aaj TV Karachi, as Manager of the Entertainment Department, life seemed as good as could be. Long hours and tedious schedules kept me busy.

By June that year, I felt that I was gaining weight for no apparent reason. I wasn't eating much so I had a blood test done and everything seemed fine. I didn't think much about it and started borrowing baggy, loose-fitting clothes from my mother. It was while visiting the US in December, that I felt severe pain in my stomach and had to be taken to the closest medical facility, which was Shady Grove Hospital in Rockville, Maryland. They immediately had me airlifted in a helicopter to John's Hopkins' Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland as my condition

PEOPLE PAKISTAN SEPTEMBER 2020

was beyond their expertise. My best friend Azka, drove down from Connecticut to be with me in that helicopter ride. She has been my rock throughout my life. In the helicopter ride, the emergency medical technician kept talking to me in a soothing tone, all the while informing me of what was going on. My parents and husband were back in Pakistan. They, along with my brother, Rehan who was in London, were informed that I had only 48 hours to live. I cannot imagine the trauma that one phone call must have caused all of them. I distinctly remember slipping in and out of consciousness, while being wheeled in on a stretcher. A team of doctors received me at John's Hopkins' Medical Center, all working on a public holiday. It was December 25th, 2008, Christmas morning. A senior doctor said to me, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Young lady, you are going in for chemotherapy as you have the lowest blood count we have ever seen.â&#x20AC;? I understood the word 'Chemotherapy' in peoplepakistan.com

my groggy state. I asked, “Why?” She said, “Because you have AML.” I asked, “What is that?” She replied, 'Acute Myeloid Leukemia'. I managed to --register that fact and said, “Shukar Alhamdullillah. Ya Allah, you have given me this trial and you will fix it.” When I was signing patient forms for treatment, they asked me whether I would want to donate my blood for research. I thought for a second and it hit me that someone must have given their blood for clinical trials in order for me to receive the best medication. If I give my blood today, maybe it will be beneficial for someone else like me tomorrow. I gave my consent. Thus, began my chemotherapy treatment for blood cancer. My father's cousin was by my side throughout with Surah-e-Rehman recitation from YouTube on her laptop. Ami and Abu reached me in March 2009, after 3 months, during which time, I had lost all my weight, appetite, taste buds and all my hair, even my eyelashes. When my hair started falling due to the high dose chemotherapy, I asked them myself to shave it all off. I accepted everything which was happening to me with gratitude. That's it. In times of extreme pain, I would say, “Shukar Alhamdullillah.” Not once did the question of “Why me?” ever pop up in my head. Never. I was simply waiting for my husband. I was living for him. I wanted to make him proud of me. Nothing else mattered.His photograph, his voice on the phone became the strength and motivation for me to keep going on even in times of extreme weakness. The last thing I wanted was for him to be sad, and my condition had done just that. Sometimes, I would be awake but so weak that I wasn't able to even open my eyes. I would be sitting with my eyes closed but wide awake inside. Ami and Abu were devastated to see me like this, scrawny and hairless. It broke my dad's heart. Mum started cooking for me, something she had never done before as she had been working all her life. But food was a luxury I could not enjoy then. Eating and digesting food was nearly impossible,

hence, liquid intake through IV only. Chemotherapy makes you throw up constantly, with or without food. The lack of taste doesn't help either. I wanted to go to California and get treatment there as Los Angeles is where I had studied and longed to be. Maryland was cold and a stranger to me. I just wanted some sort of familiar comfort around me. The doctors at Johns Hopkins Hospital asked me to stay but without patient consent, they could not carry out any treatment, so they had to give in to my wishes. I requested them to pump enough blood in me through a transfusion, in order to fly out.. Abu flew back to Pakistan and Ami and I took a flight to Los Angeles. Fahad finally got his visa in April, 2009. I went to the airport to receive him as my second round of chemotherapy had just finished. He was so happy to see me. His pain of waiting for so long was apparent in his eyes. I just wanted to take all his sorrows away. I was admitted to LAC-USC County Hospital. Fahad was by my side throughout the ordeal and was my biggest support and made me laugh with his sun walk. Yes, its the opposite of a moon walk! He treated me like a precious, delicate flower. I cannot thank him enough for his patience and kindness. He would personally dress my PICC line - its the tube from the arm to the heart - and would take care of everything for me. I couldn't have asked for a better person in my life. So lucky and grateful for him. I turned out to be a high risk patient so I was referred to The City of Hope Hospital in Duarte, California, which is about an hour away in the outskirts of LA. Many chemotherapies and radiation therapies later, my skin was black and I was unrecognisable but ready for my bone marrow transplant. Just like your DNA, your blood has a design known as the HLA. The preferred donor has to be a 9/10 match with the patient's blood design. People usually do not find a matching donor for years. I thought that Pakistan would be the place to find a donor or South East Asia as ethnicity would count. I got to know that PEOPLE PAKISTAN SEPYTEMBER 2020

Pakistan does not have a Bone Marrow Registry. The best match is usually a sibling. My brother was sent a testing kit to London but he was a 55% match. Eventually, the National Bone Marrow registry found 19 donors for me. My second lease of life was on 9/9/2009, the day of my transplant. I call it my second birthday. Everyone sang Happy Birthday for a new life was beginning. Little did I know that this was just the beginning of another trial. In October 2009, Fahad and I finally came home to some semblance of a normal life. Mum went back to Pakistan. Friends from all over the world called and prayed for me every single day. My dearest friend Faiza, Ali, my sweetheart Imran Abbas, Fahad's Phuppijaan, Daadi, Choti Dadi, and cousin Junaid, all called on a daily basis. My best friend, Azka called several times a day. So blessed to have her in my life. May God bless them all, Aameen.

hip replacement. Mum and Fahad were my caregivers throughout. Mum left in May and my right knee collapsed in June. Fahad and I cried silent tears that evening. I had a knee replacement on June 15, 2011. My mum wanted to come but she wasn't well so Fahad managed everything alone, day and night, my knight in shining armor. Mum got sick and I travelled to Karachi wheelchair bound. I spent a month with her. We celebrated her last birthday in December 2011. She was alright. After I left, her health deteriorated again. She was lonely without my father. Fahad and I told her to move to LA with us. She was set to travel, and looking forward to coming to us with bags

One day we went to the hospital for a regular check up and were asked to be taken right away for some tests. I had Graft Versus Host disease. It is where the donor's blood does not recognise the body and the body thinks of the blood as foreign and attacks it. If this war goes beyond a certain point, it can prove to be fatal. I was admitted to hospital once again. As my immune system was compromised and I couldn't fight this war, steroids were pumped into my body, instead. Steroids are a double edged sword. They fought my war for me but by the time they were weaned off slowly, they ate up my bones. I went home and after a month or so felt discomfort in my left femur. I couldn't put weight on my left leg so back to the hospital we went. They recommended a bone decompression surgery where they drill cement into the femur to prevent it from collapsing. Slowly and steadily, after using walkers and crutches for months, I got slightly better but the cement didn't hold. My femur collapsed. My father passed away on January 24, 2010. I couldn't go as I wasn't allowed to travel. Mum came for my surgery, which was a total

PEOPLE PAKISTAN SEPTEMBER 2020

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Tahira Wasti, renowned Pakistani writer, actress and mother of Laila Wasti, was one of her largest support systems during her cancer treatment in the US. packed,and ticket booked, but was too weak. I took a flight down to bring her myself. I reached late in the night. She whispered that she loved me. The next morning, on March 11, 2012, she passed away looking into my eyes. That broke me and my left shoulder collapsed with the stress. I couldn't lift my arm to comb my hair or even wash a plate. Slowly, with pool therapy, I regained enough strength in my shoulder to be able to do everyday tasks. I decided not to be sad as my parents would have never wanted that for me. They will always be with me. Above all, Fahad is my guardian angel who is priceless and my MVP. God bless him, Aameen. Shukar Alhamdullillah. I found out the name of my donor. He is German. Blood is blood. We are Facebook friends and twins now. My blood group changed from A-Negative to APositive. At the end of the day, aren't we all simply the same? Just human beings. God is great and kind. If we give ourselves up to Him and have faith in only Him, He can make miracles happen.

Stunning crockery and homeware For orders, please DM on Instagram: @onyourshelf001

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PEOPLE HEALTH

All About Skin Dr. Amna Ahmar is the founder of Cleo Clinical Care (@cleoclinical) and The Skin Theory line of products. She has been practicing dermatology and cosmetic dermatology for the last 8 years. She holds a Masters in Clinical Dermatology from the University of Cardiff, UK and is a faculty member at the Cardiff University. At her clinics she offers dermatological care, management of skin, hair and nail disease. She has also been doing laser therapies since 2013. She performs all types of aesthetic and cosmetic procedures and dermatological surgeries at her clinic in Lahore. Do you think taking care of skin has really come

aspects of life and push their limits .

into practice with the boom of social media? I do believe social media and camera phones – are a revolution in all aspects. They have helped create awareness, multiple bloggers and magazines play a big role in educating people and lastly social media provides a platform for people to share their daily skin care routines from which people get inspired. Everyone wants to look great on their gram, and in reality having great skin is the way to look gorgeous naturally when filters can’t hide the flaws. I would also like to add that social media has also created a negative impact by creating standards, which are not achievable for everyone – so I always counsel my patients to have a realistic approach in all

PEOPLE PAKISTAN SEPTEMBER 2020

What is the most common concern of young girls in Pakistan? The most commonly seen concern is whitening and complexion enhancement. People are misled – in fact they are looking to even out skin tone and they end up looking for whitening options, which can lead to disastrous effects. People commonly present with complaints of hyperpigmentation due to acne marks, tan, melasma etc. I diagnose the cause and manage accordingly. Hair fall is probably the second most common issue. With the advent of latest studies and technology, cosmetic procedures like fillers and whitening peoplepakistan.com

injections are taking place. How safe are these in the long term? All aesthetic procedures are safe if done by a qualified and experienced dermatologist. One must inquire the brands of products being used and have full discussion with their doctors before starting with the procedure. In my opinion the earlier you start managing your health and skin the better it is. I always say the age you start is the age you stay. Acne is also a major issue for many people, so when should you start treatment for it? Acne is 100% treatable and curable! The earlier you start the better it is. As then the damage it causes is less. What works best for acne prone skin according to you? Acne Prone skin â&#x20AC;&#x201C; daily cleansing preferably with Salicylic acid face wash by The Skin Theory, you must must use a sun block and add benzoyl peroxide or retinol based products in your night time routine. How important is it to follow a daily skin routine? Following a skin care routine is the only way you can have healthy, nourished and radiant skin. I design customized plans for all my patients at Cleo. You are more then welcome to come see me and have yours designed. Do you offer any skin refreshening treatments for brides-to-be? Yes we have all types of skin refreshing, glow, brightening and nourishing treatments. My Clinical Facial is one of the most asked for procedures. Do you have any tips for our readers? My message for everyone is WEAR SUNBLOCK always! I pray for happiness for everyone â&#x20AC;&#x201C; that is the real ingredient for a healthy glow after seeing me at Cleo! PEOPLE PAKISTAN SEPTEMBER 2020

PEOPLE TRAVEL

Los Angeles

Adventures in La-La Land

alm trees, sun-soaked beaches, the glitz and glamour of Hollywood - Los Angeles has it all. Los Angeles, which literally translates to the City of Angels in Spanish, is a massive city and you definitely need more than a day or two to explore all that is has to offer, even more so if you have younger travelers with you.

fare. If you fancy something simple, quick and quintessentially American in California, then grab some burgers at In-N-Out Burger (in-n-out.com)! After lunch head straight to the Hollywood Walk of Fame, where you can try to find the name and handprints of your favourite Hollywood star and walk all the way to the TCL Chinese Theatre.

Start the day off with an early breakfast at the Great White (greatwhitevenice.com) restaurant in Venice Beach, ordering from their wide array of savoury and sweet menu options such as smoothie bowls and breakfast burritos to prep for an exciting day ahead. Our recommendation is to try the house-made ricotta hotcakes - they were to die for!

Next it is time to head to Griffith Park, where you can stop and take a customary picture with the infamous Hollywood sign. Carry on hiking all the way

Take a stroll from Venice Beach (venicebeach.com) all the way to Santa Monica Beach (santamonica.com) - a 45 minute walk but you will defintely get a feel for what Los Angeles is all about - lots of skate parks, grafitti and street artists. Once you reach Santa Monica Beach, you can decide to sunbathe and enjoy the beach for a bit before heading over to Santa Monica Pier (santamonicapier.org) for some rides and games. Head over to West Hollywood and grab lunch at Night + Market (nighmarketla.com) for some Thai

PEOPLE PAKISTAN SEPTEMBER 2020

peoplepakistan.com

Top Left: Rodeo Drive, the heart of designer shopping.Top: Hollywood Boulevard. Left: Mickey and friends at Disneyland Park. Bottom Left Middle: Griffith Park and Griffith Observatory. Bottom: Skybar in Los Angeles.

up to Griffith Observatory (griffithobservatory.org), which houses some wonderful space and science exhibits, but more importantly, it is the the most stunning vantage point to catch the sunset over the Pacific Ocean. For dinner, head to Providence (providencela.com) on Melrose Avenue and experience the Michelin star cuisine that this seafood restaurant has to offer. We highly recommend splurging on the chefâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tasting menu. if you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t fancy seafood, go to Orsa & Winston (orsaandwinston.com), which was awarded the best restaurant in Los Angeles in 2020, and opt for the tasting menu. Finish off the night with mocktails at Skybar (sbe.com) on the Sunset Strip or go to Elevate Lounge (elevatelounge.com) in Downtown Los Angeles to dance the night away with panoramic views of the city! No trip to California is complete without visiting the two parks - Disneyworld Park (disneyland.disney.go.com) and Universal Studios (universalstudioshollywood.com). Spare a day for each and your inner child will totally come out! Do check out the Harry Potter rides in Universal Studios and the character parade and fireworks at night in Disneyworld Park. And for the ladies, if you have time to shop, check out all the PEOPLE PAKISTAN SEPTEMBER 2020

HOROSCOPES

ORPI SC

For the people born in this water sign, September will be emotionally tense

C PR I O

N R

The incoming September will make you feel like you don’t care about the material world at all. You will attach great importance to your inner and spiritual being. Libra might just realize that reality isn’t about the physical essence; only it’s also metaphysical. You will be excited about learning this. Primarily, we recommend getting information from more sources in order for you to make a subjective opinion.

In September, take care of yourself, because in this period you might not feel very good when it comes to health. You could get attacked by a virus or in worse case, bacteria, that you won’t shake off easily. Sagittarius should slow down their life pace and be under as little pressure as possible. Also, work on strengthening the immunity - pay attention to sufficient consumption of vitamin C and regular sleep and drinking regime. Exercise does wonders as well, so if you, for example, start doing yoga, you can’t take a wrong step.

This month will show relationships worth keeping and those not. If you are in a long-term relationship and there has been an unresolved issue hanging in the air, maybe now it’s the time to open it again, and then clarify. Family will be affected by this energy as well. Who stands behind

PEOPLE PAKISTAN SEPTEMBER 2020

your back and who doesn’t? That will surface now. It’s highly possible that the result will be completely different from your ideas. Be ready for everything.

ARIU QU

R L IB A

TTARI GI

With the start of the new month, work will come to the foreground. In the workplace, there will be strong nervousness and uncertainty, and you might even feel that you are on the verge of a complete nervous breakdown. Burnout syndrome is a real thing and if you are not satisfied with your work, learn to say no. Your mental health is of much higher value and if you can’t seem to calm yourself, try meditation, for instance. September will represent a career test, from which Virgo has the potential to come out stronger than ever.

- you’ll hardly avoid nervousness. There is a lot going on in both your career and personal life, and you should learn to calm yourself. An absolutely ideal way to do so is doing sports, journaling, meditating, doing breathing exercises, healthy eating and self-education. Scorpio will then gain value in their own eyes, and their life will take place in a much more peaceful state of mind.

RG VI O

September will be a month of selfreflection - Aquarius will evaluate their life to date and analyze their mistakes, as well as the successes. Don’t wallow in the past for too long though. Just objectively look at your former behaviour, as it could be very beneficial for you. You will, therefore, be able to avoid the steps that you made in a wrong way. However, nobody’s perfect, so don’t punish yourself too much. Also, don’t forget about your health, because you could get sick from all the stress.

SCES

In September, you will hold fear about what might go wrong within you. In your behaviour, you will be very careful, and before you do something, you will think twice. However, beware of ending up doing nothing. Even though the pace is now slowed down, it doesn’t mean you should stagnate. What about taking up a peaceful hobby like needlework, running or visiting cultural performances? Pisces will be perfectly tuned to these activities. peoplepakistan.com

IE AR S

In September, don’t go for any mental work. Aries will be prone to nervousness and indiscriminate behaviour, which could lead to burnout syndrome. The horoscope implies that now it will be better to have some rest, eventually engage in some handwork. You won’t have any problems with manual tasks, but should you think about something more, it might not go very well.

URUS TA

With the onset of September, you will slowly deplete your energy reserves, and most of the things will get back to normal. Don’t expect any thrill in work or romantic relationships. Dedicate your time to family. In this month, your close ones will need your support - you will need theirs too - and the mutual vulnerability will only get you closer. You are Taurus, so you are able to give them extra motivation and zest for life. Appreciate these valuable moments.

MINI GE

If you’ve been fond of a person for some time, September is an ideal time to make the first step. For their potential

partner, Gemini will be charming and convincing, meaning having great chances for a serious relationship. Therefore, watch out for health complications, which could be induced by stressful events in the family circle. It’s necessary to take care of your body, so don’t forget to exercise and eat a diet full of vitamins and minerals.

NCER CA

With the influence of Venus, this month will be charged with emotion externally, it won’t be noticeable, but inside, you will be fighting. Thanks to that, your empathy will be heightened, because you’ll realize that you never know what others might be going through. Cancer will be a good listener for others, but they should not forget about their own mental health. The horoscope implies that it would be good to slow down a bit, speaking of practical stuff. There’s no need in rushing anything, rest and peace of mind will often get you forward more quickly.

L EO

Follow us on Instagram and With the onset of this month, you probably won’t avoid conflict. It could seem that Leo intentionally seeks interactions where they are able to express their anger and discontent. September will force you to blame others for your own mistakes. Before you venture into an argument, think twice if it’s worth it. Words have the ability to heal, but also to hurt. You could regret your arrogant remarks later.

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PEOPLE PAKISTAN SEPTEMBER 2020