The Pakistani Taliban’s most recent attack, a suicide bombing in the capital last Friday, left one police officer dead and six others injured.
According to an investigation by a foreign media outlet, the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which banned and broke the cease-fire with Islamabad last month, has carried out several attacks across the nation.
The Afghan Taliban, who took control of Kabul last year, has been asked by Pakistani authorities to use their clout to persuade the TTP to make peace with Islamabad, but multiple rounds of negotiations have failed to produce a fruitful outcome.
As shelling from Afghanistan along its border with Pakistan has killed several civilians, Pakistan faces multiple security threats from both the TTP and the new authorities in Kabul. Since the current administration does not have the public support to address the security issue or the financial resources to do so, it is possible that it may get worse in 2023.
Analysts are concerned that Pakistan could wind up like its neighbour Sri Lanka in terms of being unable to pay its debts, lacking foreign reserves, and dealing with unmanageable, spiralling inflation as the year ends. After the State Bank of Pakistan unexpectedly increased interest rates to combat inflation in November, the country’s consumer price index reached a level of about 24 percent. In the fiscal year 2023, Pakistan is expected to pay back more than $26 billion in foreign debt.
The inflation rate climbed to an all-time high of 14.9% in October. The Pakistani rupee has never been lower than the US dollar, and regular people cannot afford the high price of gasoline.
The foreign exchange reserves of Pakistan have decreased to $6.7 billion, the lowest amount in the previous four years, according to the central bank of Pakistan.
According to Niloufer Siddiqui, a political science professor at the State University of New York, “Pakistan will continue to face a number of issues in the coming year; a worsening economic crisis amid a developing political instability.”
“In 2023, the government will focus on the usual short-term fixes that buy Pakistan more time but ultimately don’t end up solving the underlying problems, until the cycle plays out anew. So, we can expect Islamabad to look for more bailout funds from the usual suspects — China and the Gulf countries,” Michael Kugelman, a South Asia expert at the Washington-based Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, said.
Former Pakistani ambassador to the US and Hudson Institute director for South and Central Asia Husain Haqqani claimed that Pakistan has not made any human capital investments in the previous seven decades. Instead of luring in varied investments, it survives on textile exports and foreign borrowing. There is no indication of the crucially needed fundamental economic reforms, but it would likely avoid default through a combination of increased borrowing and decreased imports, he told the media source.
Friday’s inaugural meeting of the Committee was presided over by Najam Sethi, who was recently appointed Chairman of the Management Committee of the Pakistan Cricket Board.
After receiving a thorough briefing on the HBL Pakistan Super League 8, which is slated to take place from 13 February to 19 March, the Management Committee decided to include Quetta as the tournament’s fifth venue.
The Committee decided that PCB would work closely with the local administration to upgrade and renovate Bugti Stadium to make sure it is ready to host the HBL PSL 8 matches. Separate discussions would also take place between PCB security experts and local authorities to ensure the safety and security of all participants, officials, and spectators.
Najam Sethi said: “I am delighted that seven years after launching the HBL Pakistan Super League, I am today announcing our commitment to add Bugti Stadium in Quetta as the fifth venue for our marquee event. Bugti Stadium is the home ground of Quetta Gladiators and we still remember the incredible scenes when the Gladiators visited the city after winning the 2019 tournament.
“The passionate cricket fans of Quetta have been waiting for a long to watch high-profile cricket in their backyard and I am pleased that we will now bring HBL PSL matches to their doors. In this relation, I have already spoken with influential officials in the Balochistan province, who have assured me of their complete support from event delivery perspectives.”
The Committee also discussed Peshawar as a potential location for hosting HBL PSL and international matches, and it was decided that matches would be held there provided there were no restrictions placed by the provincial and federal governments and the stadium had facilities of an international standard for cricket, broadcast, spectators, and media.
The Women’s League was also the subject of the first deliberations by the Management Committee; further conversations will follow. The Management Committee decided to let the Pakistan Cup conclude on January 3 in the best interest of the participants and event after discussing the domestic cricket structure under the 2014 PCB Constitution.
It was decided that Najam Sethi, Shakil Sheikh, and Haroon Rashid would develop the early draft of the domestic structure, which corresponds to the PCB Constitution 2014 and share it with the Committee for further debate.
Dolmen Mall surprised its customers with the 29th edition of Dolmen Shopping Festival on Saturday, 17 December, 2022 with a grand opening ceremony that featured an applaudable parade led by a Drum Band and Dolmen Mascots, Barry the Bear and Bugsy the Rabbit, along with the Ding Dong Cat from Hilal, Sindbad mascot, Robot and many colorful balloon laden characters. Mall visitors were ecstatic to witness the acrobatic performances that followed up along with the DSF quiz and prize distribution by Sadaf Kanwal and Khalid Malik amidst confetti and in-mall dry-fireworks.
Invigorating shoppers since 1992, this year Dolmen Malls have chosen to embark on ‘A Journey full of Surprises’. Quaid’s Day was yet another festive event during this journey, with patriotic tributes to the founder of the nation made by athletes from Special Olympics Pakistan along with many other moving performances in the presence of celebrities such as Sarwat Gillani & Khalid Malik.
One of the planned surprises at the Quaid’s Day celebrations held today, were the 5 special Dolmen Draw prizes that were distributed on this occasion. The festival continues to call upon the people of Karachi to get them on-board this unique journey of surprises where the ambiance, setups and vibe of the entire event has been planned to exceed all expectations of the customers and offer something that takes them by surprise.
Customers can also get entertained through the Express Game Ticket at many stations throughout the mall. The fascinating ‘Train of Surprises’ is full of treasures and offers a virtual reality experience, the WOW box has instant prizes hidden inside, kids can meet the Dolmen mascots at ‘Barry & Bugsy House’ to get treats, friends & families can get their ‘DSF Memories’ picture captured and framed instantly at the ‘Tree of Memories’.
They can also enter the ‘Magical Castle by Prince’ and enjoy a thrilling maze setup by Continental Biscuits Ltd. DSF 2022- 23 has everything for everyone; the ladies can venture into the exclusive Beauty Zone by Cosmetic Candy, featuring free nail art, makeovers, face mask application and lots of exciting discounts while the kids can enjoy a fun filled trip to Sindbad’s Wonderland and avail their Happy Hour deals.
Adding to the lineup of exciting activities, new store launches, larger than life displays, engaging games and DSF Surprise Sales & Food Deals are some of the most exciting activities for kids, teens and adults. Customers can participate in therapeutic painting activity by Em Draws Art, face painting and life size frame coloring activity by Play Date Café along with storytelling & role playing activity by Phenomenal Classroom.
DSF 2022 – 23 is bigger than ever when it comes to customer rewards. The Grand Draw boasts a myriad of great prizes, including a luxurious Proton Saga Car, Grand Shopping Sprees by Bank Alfalah, Airline Tickets by AirSial, Home Appliances, Gift Hampers and other exciting surprises. Each customer shopping for Rs. 10,000 or more at Dolmen Mall becomes eligible to enter the Grand Draw, and also gets a chance to participate in gaming setups through the ‘Express Game Tickets’ where they can win instant prizes.
Customers can also ride to and from Dolmen Malls with a discount of 30% on Careem with promo code ‘DOLMENMALL. So, keep your schedules free for the weekend and holiday attractions with performances, acts, mascot appearances and much more.
Talking to the press, Ms. Maliha Farooq Ismail, General Manager – Marketing and Communications, at Dolmen Real Estate Management, commented: “Dolmen Mall prides itself in surpassing customer expectations and in keeping up with latest trends in retailtainmnent. Our utmost priority has always been to bring the best to our customers, which is why every year during DSF we have a different theme, and different experiences to offer. It’s our promise to every mall visitor, to come to the mall and embark on a journey of surprises with grand prizes to take back home with them.”
To make this shopping journey even more irresistible, Dolmen Mall is surprising its loyal customers with a Dolmen Deals book being distributed throughout the city.This exclusive coupon book offers great discounts, flat sales, Buy-One-Get-One-Free offers and free games at many brands & festival setups across all three Dolmen Mall locations. Visit the customer service desk at the mall to get to know how can you avail this book!
Follow us @Dolmenmall on social media for more DSF announcements and updates on the event or use #DolmenMall, #LetsDSF and #DSFSurprises to be eligible for digital sur’Prizes’.
Netflix is adding these shows and movies in January 2023
January is cold, so curl up with some warm blankets and the remainder of the holiday sweets and start streaming. Beginning in 2023, Netflix will be introducing a tonne of brand-new films, television shows, and documentaries. New seasons of some of our favourite shows—Ginny & Georgia and Bake Squad—as well as some true-crime stories we can’t wait to see—are being added. Madoff, my dear! Not to mention the film Pamela, A Love Story, starring Pamela Anderson.
You’ll find at least one title worth checking out, regardless of whether you’re in the mood for something family-friendly or spooky-scary.
Here’s everything coming to Netflix in January 2023:
January 1 releases:
Movies
The Aviator, 2004 (Drama)
Barbershop 2: Back in Business, 2004 (Comedy)
Blue Streak, 1999 (Comedy)
Brokeback Mountain, 2005 (Drama)
The ‘Burbs, 1989 (Comedy)
Closer, 2004 (Romance)
The Conjuring, 2013 (Horror)
Daddy Day Care, 2003 (Comedy)
Fletch, 1985 (Comedy)
Forrest Gump, 1994 (Drama)
G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, 2009 (Action)
Grease, 1978 (Musical)
I Know What You Did Last Summer, 1997 (Horror)
Jerry Maguire, 1996 (Romance)
King Kong, 2005 (Drama)
Leap Year, 2010 (Romance)
Life, 2017 (Horror)
Minority Report, 2002 (Action)
National Security, 2003 (Comedy)
The Nutty Professor, 1996 (Comedy)
The Nutty Professor II: The Klumps, 2000 (Comedy)
Parenthood, 1989 (Comedy)
Reservoir Dogs, 1992 (Thriller)
Resident Evil: Afterlife, 2010 (Action)
Road to Perdition, 2002 (Drama)
Rocky, 1976 (Sports)
Rocky II, 1979 (Sports)
Rocky III, 1982 (Sports)
Rocky IV, 1985 (Sports)
Rocky V, 1990 (Sports)
Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, 2010 (Action)
The Taking of Pelham 123, 2009 (Action)
This Is 40, 2012 (Comedy)
Top Gun, 1986 (Action)
Transformers: Dark of the Moon, 2011 (Action)
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, 2009 (Action)
Twins, 1988 (Comedy)
TV Series
Kaleidoscope (Season 1), 2023 (Crime)
Lady Voyeur (Season 1), 2023 (Drama)
The Way of the Househusband (Season 2), 2021 (Animation)
New Amsterdam (Season 1), 2018 (Drama)
Old Enough! (Season 2), 1990 (Documentary)
Survivor (Season 18), 2000 (Reality TV)
January 4 releases:
Movies
How I Became a Gangster, 2019 (Drama)
The Kings of the World, 2022 (Adventure)
TV Series
The Lying Life of Adults (Season 1), 2023 (Drama)
Madoff: The Monster of Wall Street (Season 1), 2023 (Documentary)
January 5 releases:
TV Series
Copenhagen Cowboy (Season 1), 2022 (Crime)
Ginny & Georgia (Season 2), 2021 (Comedy)
Woman of the Dead (Season 1), 2022 (Crime)
January 6 releases:
Movies
Mumbai Mafia: Police vs The Underworld, 2023 (Documentary)
The Pale Blue Eye, 2023 (Thriller)
TV Series
Love Island USA (Season 2), 2019 (Reality TV)
Pressure Cooker (Season 1), 2023 (Reality TV)
The Ultimatum: France (Season 1 – Part 2), 2022 (Reality TV)
The Walking Dead (Season 11), 2010 (Horror)
January 9 releases:
TV Series
Vinland Saga (Season 2), 2019 (Animation)
January 10 releases:
Movies
Andrew Santino: Cheeseburger, 2023 (Comedy)
The Hatchet Wielding Hitchhiker, 2023 (Documentary)
January 11 releases:
Movies
Noise, 2022 (Documentary)
TV Series
Sexify (Season 2), 2021 (Comedy)
January 12 releases:
TV Series
Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight (Season 2), 2022 (Animation)
The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House (Season 1), 2023 (Drama)
Vikings: Valhalla (Season 2), 2022 (Action)
January 13 releases:
Movies
Dog Gone, 2023 (Drama)
Suzan & Freek, 2023 (Documentary)
TV Series
Break Point (Season 1), 2023 (Documentary)
Sky Rojo (Season 3), 2021 (Action)
Trial by Fire (Season 1), 2023 (Drama)
January 17 releases:
Movies
The Devil to Pay, 2019 (Thriller)
January 19 releases:
Movies
Khallat+, 2023 (Drama)
The Pez Outlaw, 2022 (Documentary)
TV Series
Junji Ito Maniac: Japanese Tales of the Macabre (Season 1), 2023 (Animation)
That ‘90s Show (Season 1), 2023 (Comedy)
Women at War, 2022 (Drama)
January 20 releases:
Movies
Mission Majnu, 2023 (Action)
TV Series
Bake Squad (Season 2), 2021 (Reality TV)
Bling Empire: New York (Season 1), 2023 (Reality TV)
“I have enough outfits to wear this season!” said no woman ever! From work meetings to winter soirées with friends and family, our social calendars are full this winter and we are constantly on the lookout for the perfect ensembles to adorn.
Don’t fret because the right time to upgrade your winter wardrobe is here!
GulAhmed’s all-new Unstitched Winter Collection is now available at steeping low prices. Thanks to the FLAT 30% off price slash, you will not have to worry about the trickiest question of them all:
“What am I going to wear?’
Not only does this collection include fabrics like Khaddar, Linen, Karandi, Viscose, and Jacquard, but also a multitude of patterns, colors, and designs. All available in one, two, and three-piece suits; the all-new Unstitched Collection has the looks to match every mood of yours this season!
GulAhmed Winter Unstitched Sale Collection offers an impressive assortment of floral and geometric prints over a wide variety of premium quality fabric choices. You’ll be ready for all your wintertime activities this season with three-piece and two-piece unstitched khaddar and linen outfits.
Here are some of the latest trends we spotted in this coveted collection!
Single Print florals:
Matching separates have been getting popular for quite some time now but the lovely florals we spotted in the one-piece Winter Unstitched sale are truly phenomenal and versatile. The hottest trend this season has been focusing on the renewal of classical prints and it only seems natural that florals have taken prime position in this year’s Winter Unstitched Collection.
Bold Prints:
2022 is the year of change, it’s all about standing up for oneself and making bold choices, and if you are anything like us, that you also enjoy making a statement with your choice of cuts, colors, and prints GulAhmed has just the right thing in store for you!. Luckily for us all, the sale on Winter Unstitched suits includes some of the most exceptional and note-worthy, modern prints that will surely turn heads wherever you go!
Elegance Personified:
Winter is the best time to pull off those traditional looks with 3-piece shalwar suits. This collection is the perfect combination of modern with traditional in terms of prints and style. Whether it’s the bold red jora that you may have your eyes set on, or the royal blue one to appeal to a more minimalistic approach or even a pastel print for those who thrive on the lighter side of life, there are plenty of options for everyone to choose from.
So, what are you waiting for?
It’s time to get your hands on the biggest bargains and whopping sales of the season with the latest Winter Unstitched Collection. Oh, and by the way, did we mention that you can just shop online and enjoy nationwide delivery at your doorstep for just Rs. 99/- only. Visit gulahmedshop.com now and get on with the latest trends of the season without breaking the bank!
Last year, news broke about Syra Yousuf and Shahroz Sabzwari, a former couple, co-starring in a film. While some fans were thrilled, others questioned whether the movie would ever be released given how the two later broke up. A feel-good love story, Babylicious, is expected to be released on Valentine’s Day.
Sabzwari took to his Instagram on Thursday with a monochrome poster of the film that sees the pair in an embrace. “Yes, guys. It’s releasing. We were just waiting for Valentine’s to come around,” he wrote.
Syra also shared the news of their film on social media and revealed that Babylicious took 12 years to complete. She wrote, “This February 2023, it will be 12 years since we became attached to this film. So very excited for you all to see it! Presenting the first look of our new movie BABYLICIOUS.”
Syra Yousuf and Shahroze Sabzwari play the key characters in Essa Khan’s film Babylicious. They will portray the love interests of one another. The director gave a hint regarding the plot of the movie, saying that it is a love story about “getting your ex back.”
When they were not divorced, both were chosen for this movie. Syra exhibited her professionalism and continued to film the movie until the very end even though she and her ex-husband Shahroz had recently divorced.
On Google’s hum to search top songs list, “Pasoori” has surpassed hugely successful bands like BTS, Imagine Dragons, and the Backstreet Boys. This year, Google released lists of the top trends. Next on the list were “Butter,” “Chaand Baaliyan,” and “Heat Waves.”
Pasoori also made it to the list of most searched songs, ranking second after the Indonesian pop song ‘Tak Ingin Usai’ by Keisya Levronka.
Coke Studio producer Xulfi celebrated the accomplishment on Instagram. “Can’t thank the universe enough. Just can’t. And can’t thank all of you, the people, enough too,” he wrote. “Thank you all from the bottom of my heart for giving us your love, your attention, and your kindness that made our, your Coke Studio’s ‘Pasoori’ the most Googled song in the world in 2022.”
Commenting on the songs ‘Pasoori’ overtook, he said, “Surreal knowing that BTS is second in the list. It’s a music act we researched before the season. And then Imagine Dragons, one of my favourite music acts, is on the list too. Just unbelievable. Congratulations team.”
Abdullah Siddiqui, an associate producer for Coke Studio season 14, also expressed his appreciation for the success of the hit song.
Singers of “Pasoori,” Ali Sethi and Shae Gill, also announced the news on Instagram. So grateful, Shae Gill commented.
The song “Pasoori” was released in February and became a fan favourite right away. Its popularity has since expanded outside of Pakistan as well. It is well-liked in India, has a Coke Studio Africa remix collaboration with Nigerian Afrobeats, and presently has 457 million YouTube views. It even appeared in Ms. Marvel and rose to the international music charts.
Modern smartwatches are better than ever. They now serve as a full-featured digital wallet, health and fitness tracker, and an extension of your smartphone, even when it is far away.
In fact, modern smartwatches even have the potential to save lives. Many of them offer features like heart rate monitoring, elevation detection, and automated emergency service connection in case of a fall. Some models also offer blood oxygen (SpO2) and electrocardiogram (ECG) measurements as extras.
The top smartwatches go above and beyond, containing a wide range of features and apps in addition to having a battery life that lasts for well over a week. Check out our top selections below after we researched dozens of the best smartwatches to see which ones would work best for different user types.
Apple Watch Series 8
The Apple Watch 8 is the most advanced model thus far. In terms of functions, it isn’t a significant improvement over the Apple Watch Series 7, but it does have a better design and a bigger screen. The skin temperature sensor, which can help with cycle and fertility tracking as well as sleep tracking, is something new in the Apple Watch Series 8 compared to the Series 7 model. The long-awaited low-power mode, which can increase the current Apple Watch’s battery life to 36 hours, was also included in the Series 8’s debut. Additionally, the Apple Watch 8 has a new crash detection capability that makes use of better motion sensors to provide immediate assistance when you may need it most.
The Apple Watch Series 8 is a fully functional health tracker and communications device otherwise. This wristwatch contains watchOS 9, which has the newest and best features the Apple Watch experience has to offer. This is the finest smartwatch for you whether you want to use it for exercising, taking calls on the go, or using the top Apple Watch apps. Obviously, if you have an iPhone.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro
Samsung is obviously not content to watch while Apple keeps updating and enhancing the Apple Watch. With a longer battery life than the Apple Watch, Samsung’s most recent Galaxy Watch 5 Pro delivers many of the same cutting-edge health tracking functions, including blood oxygen monitoring, ECG, and sleep tracking.
The Galaxy Watch 5 Pro now has a skin temperature sensor, body composition readings, and other features that are generally found in high-end GPS sports watches that cost twice as much as the Watch 5 Pro. Samsung-powered Google Wear OS 3 is used by the Watch 5 Pro. This indicates that although it supports Google Assistant, Google Maps, Google Wallet, Google Play Store, and other Google apps, it still has the appearance of a Samsung smartwatch.
Its operating system has been tailored to the watch’s rounded shape and simulated revolving bezel. The watch features fall detection, texting, phone calls, and other features. It also supports sophisticated fitness statistics like VO2 Max and advanced running dynamics data.
Fitbit Sense
The Fitbit ecosystem is strong, with a large user base to encourage you to meet your daily activity and fitness targets. The watch data is analyzed by the smartphone app, which is great and provides a tonne of information, recommendations, and insight. These new Fitbit watches perform most functions well with both Android and iOS, while Android smartphone owners benefit more from support for rapid text message answers.
The Fitbit Sense incorporates extra sensors on the rear and a stainless-steel ring around the watch face to enable advanced health metrics like ECG and skin temperature. You can purchase the Fitbit Versa 3 and forego some sophisticated wellness measures if you want to save $70.
The embedded GPS receiver in this watch, which will enable you to track your outside activities more precisely, is a considerable upgrade over prior Fitbit watches.
Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 3 Ultra GPS
Aiming to appeal to owners of Samsung phones, Google and Samsung have teamed up to provide Samsung with exceptional timepieces. For owners of other Android smartphones and iPhones, there are Google Wear OS watches available. The second Mobvoi model to use Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Wear 4100 platform is the TicWatch Pro 3 Ultra GPS, which is the brand’s most recent timepiece.
The TicWatch Pro 3 Ultra GPS is among the greatest Wear OS watches now on the market. It sports a novel layered display design that layers an LCD display on top of an AMOLED display to provide users with a longer battery life. The watch has a massive 577 mAh battery and is built to withstand the elements with IP68 and MIL-STD-810G durability ratings.
Wear OS is a very capable wearable platform, even though it does not have the same level of support as the Apple Watch. It offers a large selection of watch faces, a tonne of well-known third-party apps, voice support for Google Assistant, advanced health tracking, and stress tracking. The TicWatch Pro 3 Ultra GPS is a very powerful GPS sports watch that contains all the most recent sophisticated health indicators, including blood oxygen monitoring.
Apple Watch SE
The Apple Watch SE is a hybrid gadget that combines an older Apple Watch design with the processor from the Apple Watch Series 8. Despite not having all the features of the Series 8, the $249 wristwatch stands out for its excellent fitness tracking and safety features. It is a wonderful alternative for individuals looking to test out Family Setup because it also has an LTE option.
Your final decision will depend on whether you want to spend an extra $150 for a brighter display with an always-on option, an ECG monitor and skin-temperature sensor, and a bigger display when deciding between the Apple Watch Series 8 and Apple Watch SE (2022). The SE is a very capable option for iPhone owners if those tools aren’t a deal-breaker for you. Even watchOS 9, the most recent version of the Apple Watch operating system, is included. It features a low-power mode, brand-new watch faces, an improved workout interface, a new compass function, and a new Medications app. Even watchOS 9, the most recent version of the Apple Watch operating system, is included.
A virus has reportedly afflicted 14 team members, including eight players, ahead of the first Test against Pakistan in Rawalpindi, dealing a severe blow to the English cricket team.
Tomorrow (December 1), England will play the first Test in Pakistan for the first time in 17 years.
Ben Stokes, the captain of England, as well as other squad members and officials, were reportedly impacted by the virus, according to a BBC report.
‘On the eve of the first Test against Pakistan in Rawalpindi, the England squad, including captain Ben Stokes, has been struck by a virus,’ the report added.
The traveling team of players and coaches received a recommendation to relax at the hotel on Wednesday for about 14 people.
Only five people participated in an optional training session, out of a total playing squad of 16.
The only players who showed up for today’s optional training session were Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Keaton Jennings, Ollie Pope, and Joe Root, according to a brief statement from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).
Liam Livingstone, an all-rounder for Lancashire, will play in his maiden Test match, while Ben Duckett, a batsman for Nottinghamshire, will make his first appearance in the team since 2016 and will open the batting alongside Zak Crawley.
Following the first match in Rawalpindi, the second Test will be played in Multan beginning on Friday, December 9, and the last Test of the trip will begin on Saturday, December 17 at the National Stadium in Karachi.
Tell us about your journey. How did you decide to pursue a career in music?
Since childhood I used to participate in every function in school college and always won. Everyone at our house was very fond of music especially Madam Noor Jahan, Abida Parveen ji and Reshma ji. I grew up listening to their songs and felt a strong connection whenever I listened to them.
What are your hobbies outside of singing?
I was very artistic since childhood. There is no artist in my family other than me. As a child I was very fond of painting. I love cooking, gardening and traveling, especially up to the northern regions of Pakistan. I like to explore the world. I want to know everything, I am curious whether it is history or science.
Has your perception of the entertainment industry in Pakistan changed in any way? Would you like to share your experience?
I have been in the industry for 10 years and I don’t think anything has changed for women here. Today A woman still has to work as hard as she used to in the past. This is not only about the industry but about the whole world. A lot of educated people are coming into the industry but there is no change. If we talk about music, the music industry is going a long way undoubtedly.
Did you have any trouble with your parents when you decided to pursue music as a career?
I believe that artists all over the world are chosen by Allah and I feel very blessed that Allah has chosen me and the most beautiful thing about being an artist is that I connect with my audience. Being an artist I consider myself very close to Allah.
What’s your favourite part about being a musician?
My mother belongs to the medical field and she did not want me to take up music at all because I am from Nankana Sahib, famous for Baba Guru Nanak. People there do not know anything about the media industry. I did not go home for two years and stayed in the hostel. Gradually, when my mother saw my progress, saw my studio and now my mother is my biggest fan.
Name any 3 music icons.
There are so many legends in Pakistan’s media industry whose work we listen now and forever because of which it will be difficult to choose three, but if I have to choose only three then Madam Noor Jahan, Reshma Ji and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan Sahib.
What was your inspiration behind new album?
Whenever I do anything related to music, I really connect with the audience by putting myself to their place and thinking about what they are thinking and feeling. The audience is my inspiration. Four songs have been composed in different music Sufi and folk.
Any advice you have for aspiring musicians?
Whenever I go for an interview or as a judge in a music competition, I always advise them that art does not need a platform, if you are talented, learn to believe in yourself and your talent. If you have talent, it doesn’t mean you should be overconfident because learning is very important. If one wants to make a career in music, respect your seniors a lot because success will follow anyone who respects his seniors.
