The instructions are applicable to both the private and public sector institutions.

“The order’s implementation will be ensured strictly across the province,” the education secretary said.

According to sources, this decision has been taken in the view of Ramazan and monsoon starting this July.

The forecast warning of floods in interior Sindh has been the major reason behind the decision, however.

Reportedly, various examinations boards are forced to reschedule dates of papers due to floods in various parts the province.

Senior officials in the Education Department meanwhile said that the execution of the order would be ensured strictly across the province.

DECISION COMMENDED: Citizens and private schools’ associations have praised the provincial government’s decision to observe summer vacations in July and August in the province, and said that the government’s decision is really a voice of the people of Sindh and Karachi as well.

Peak Private Schools Management Association Sindh President Haider Ali has declared the said decision of the government good, and said that the summer vacations in July and August would definitely facilitate the citizens and as well as schools’ managements and their staff.

He congratulated Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah and Sindh Education Minister Pir Mazharul Haq for taking right decision following the desires of the people and educationists.

Private Schools Management Association (PSMA) President Sharfuz Zaman said that the provincial government had given a good message to the people of the province by taking such decision to hold summer vacations in the months of July and August, in which the holy month of Ramazan will be observed in the country.

He said that the decision of the Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah and the Education Minister represents the wish of millions of people of Sindh. He said that the decision in this regard is highly commendable.

Courtesy The Nation

Known as the Queen of Disco, the singer whose hits also included “I Feel Love” and “She Works Hard for the Money,” died in Florida from lung cancer, the TMZ celebrity news website said.

“Early this morning, we lost Donna Summer Sudano, a woman of many gifts, the greatest being her faith,” said a family statement.

“While we grieve her passing, we are at peace celebrating her extraordinary life and her continued legacy. Words truly can’t express how much we appreciate your prayers and love for our family at this sensitive time.”

Tributes started pouring in within hours of death on Twitter, where it became one of the top trending topics, along with “I Feel Love.”

“She was truly the #Disco Queen!” said La Toya Jackson, adding “She will be terribly missed,” while singer Mary J Blige tweeted: “RIP Donna Summers!!!!!!??. You were truly a game changer”

Harry Casey, lead singer and “KC” of fellow disco greats KC and the Sunshine Band, said he was stunned.

“I saw her several months ago at a performance, she looked great, she sang great, her performance was amazing. We got together backstage and had some good laughs and walked down memory lane.

“I’m just in shock. I had no idea anything was wrong.”

In Hollywood, flowers were placed on her sidewalk star on the storied Hollywood Walk of Fame, across the street from the world-famous Grauman’s Chinese Theatre.

Summer, who also became something of an icon in the gay community, shot to fame during the disco era of the 1970s with hits like “MacArthur Park,” “Hot Stuff” and “Bad Girls.”

The orgasmic-sounding “Love to Love You Baby,” released in 1975, was one of the first disco songs to be released in extended form, giving full vent to Summer’s erotic moans and groans.

In the 1980s her hits included “She Works Hard for the Money” and “State of Independence.”

The disco diva was born LaDonna Adrian Gaines into a large devoutly Christian family in Boston and started singing in the local church, before performing in a number of Motown-influenced groups in her teens.

Summer took her stage name after marrying Austrian actor Helmuth Sommer in 1972, anglicizing her name after divorcing him. She spoke fluent German and the couple had a daughter, Mimi Sommer.

The singer won five Grammy awards during her spectacular career, including in 1980 for best rock female vocalist for the 1979 “Hot Stuff,” but also as recently as 1997 for best dance recording for “Carry On.”

She holds the record for most consecutive double albums to top the Billboard charts — three — and first female with four #1 singles in a 12-month period, three solo and one with Barbra Streisand, according to the IMDb website.

“Hot Stuff” also got a boost from being used in the 1997 hit movie “The Full Monty,” as the track to which a group of unemployed British steel workers performed a striptease act.

TMZ reported that she had kept her illness quiet, and didn’t appear too sick only a couple of weeks ago, citing sources as saying she was focused on trying to finish a new album she had been working on.

It cited sources as saying Summer believed she developed lung cancer after inhaling toxic particles following the September 11, 2001 Al Qaeda attacks in New York.

She married singer Bruce Sudano in 1980, and they had two daughters together, according to TMZ.

Courtesy Bankok Post

According to a statement, in a meeting held at the party’s Punjab Secretariat, the PTI members expressed concern over the present price hike and its consequences. The meeting was attended by PTI Punjab President Saloni Bokhari, Vice-President Nighat Mehmood, Vice-President Yasmine Khan, Talat Naqvi, Dr Nausheen Hamid Miraj, Shahnaz Perveen, Neelam Ashraf, Ayesha Khalid.

Meanwhile, a group of businessmen of the PML-N from the area of Sabzazar, including Anas Butt, Shiraz Butt and Bilal Butt, announced joining the PTI in the presence of Mian Mehmoodul Rasheed.

Moreover, talking to the media, Abrarul Haq said that hundreds of thousands of youth across the country would attend the Liaqat Bagh public meeting on May 27.

Courtesy The News

Lopez unseats Lady Gaga, who took top honors last year but falls to #5 in this year’s ranking; her visibility and earnings were lower in the last 12 months because she wasn’t touring, having wrapped her Monster Ball in May of last year and only recently launching her latest road show, the Born This Way Ball.

Rihanna and Kim Kardashian debut on the list in grand fashion, coming in at 4 and 7, respectively. The two benefited from the inclusion of a “Social Rank” among the factors, which include money earned, TV/radio presence and level of press attention, used to formulate the listing, which aims to reflect the level of influence a celebrity has in the entertainment industry. With her millions of followers on Twitter and Facebook, Rihanna came in second in the Social Rank category.

Explaining Lopez’s position on the list, Forbes writes, “['American Idol'] gave her a platform to promote her music and turn her image around. It didn’t hurt that she also split from her husband, Marc Anthony. Suddenly a single mother, Lopez lapped up the media attention and scored lucrative endorsement deals with companies like L’Oreal and Gillette. She now has a line of clothing at Kohl’s, a top-selling fragrance and she was able to secure a nice bump — to $20 million — on her’ Idol’ salary for a second season. With 6.6 million followers on Twitter and 12 million fans on Facebook, she’s also proved a master of social media.”

Oprah Winfrey held on to the #2 spot on the list and was its top earner ($165 million) despite a tough year that saw her syndicated talk show come to a planned end after 25 years and her OWN cable network struggle in the ratings.

Justin Bieber also held onto the #3 position he debuted in last year. The “Boyfriend” pop star earned an impressive $55 million in the last 12 months and garnered top 10 rankings elsewhere across the board, coming in at #3 in the Social Rank and #4 in the TV/Radio Rank.

Her long list of chart-topping singles and the press attention around her divorce from Russell Brand, in addition to her strong Twitter presence and largely sold-out California Dreams world tour, were enough to push Katy Perry into the top 10 after debuting on the countdown last year at #12. She leaps six spots in this year’s ranking, placing at #6 with a not-too-shabby $45 million earned.

Looking at the list and the various artists’ rankings in the five categories used to determine their placement, there’s a sense that the actual positions are more arbitrary than usual. For example, Lopez is #1 despite not ranking inside the top 10 in any of the categories (and is as low as #30 in money, #22 in press rank and #19 in social), while both Lady Gaga and Justin Bieber earned top 10 placement in all of them except the Money Rank, the top tier of which is dominated by multimedia moguls like Winfrey, Steven Spielberg (#10 overall), Simon Cowell (#18), Dr. Dre (#26), Howard Stern (#30) and Michael Bay (#35).

And then there’s Adele, who despite having the top-selling album in six years, three #1 singles (including the year’s most ubiquitous song, “Rolling in the Deep”), six Grammy wins and mountains of positive press, ranks at only #24, behind Glenn Beck (#23) and Jennifer Aniston (#22) and one spot ahead of Bon Jovi.

Other notable entries on the Forbes Celebrity 100 include Taylor Swift at #11, Beyoncé at #16, Jay-Z at #38, Kristen Stewart at #43 and Kanye West at #45. Further down the power rankings are Lil Wayne (#69), Skrillex (#92) and Zooey Deschanel (#96).

Courtesy MTV

The first World Telecommunication Day (WTD) was organized on May 17, 1969, the Anniversary of the signing of the first International Telegraph Convention and founding of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) on May 17, 1865. In 2005, the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) called upon the United Nations (UN) General Assembly to proclaim May 17 as World Information Society Day (WISD) to focus on the importance of ICT and the broad spectrum of issues related to the information society that were discussed at the WSIS.

In 2006, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution calling for the annual celebration of WISD every May 17. In 2006, the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference in Antalya, Turkey, paved the way for the joint celebration of WTD and WISD on May 17. The global observance thus came to be known as World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD).

As we mark this year’s World Telecommunication and Information Society Day, member states and other sectors are enjoined to “use the power of ICTs to provide new digital opportunities to end discrimination and empower the female half of the world’s population to achieve their rightful place as equals in the world. And this effort with ICTs must begin not only from the cradle, but from antenatal health care, reaching out to the remotest communities ­ with every mother; every girl and every woman guaranteed her birthright.“

We congratulate the International Telecommunications Union led by Secretary General Dr. Hamadoun I. Toure, Deputy Secretary General Houlin Zhao, Telecommunication Standardization Bureau Director Malcolm Johnson, Radiocommunication Bureau Director Francois Rancy, Telecommunication Development Bureau Director Brahima Sanou, other Officers and Members, on the occasion of the World Telecommunication and Information Society Day. We wish them all the best and success in all their endeavors.

Courtesy Tempo

ISLAMABAD: After spending 20 years in Indian jails, ailing Pakistani microbiologist Dr Mohammad Khalil Chishti returned to

Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Interior Rehman Malik received Chishti at Shaheed Benazir Bhutto airport on his return.

On the instructions of President Asif Ali Zardari, a presidential plane was sent to New Delhi to bring home the ailing scientist.

Speaking to media representatives, Chishti said that he had lost hope regarding his return to his home country.

Moreover, he expressed gratitude to the President Zardari for his efforts to bring him back to Pakistan.

The interior minister said that the real credit goes to President Asif Ali Zardari for his efforts  for the release of Dr Muhammad Khalil Chishti from an Indian jail.

Talking to media representatives, Malik said there is no doubt that many people including Altaf Hussain, Ansar Burney, some NGOs, Indian and Pakistani media also played an active role to set free the ailing Pakistani microbiologist Dr Chishti.

However, he said, “the final stroke was played by President Asif Ali Zardari in this regard during his recent visit to India.”

He also appreciated Indian government and Indian Supreme Court in this regard.

Pakistan’s first virologist, Dr Chishti was allowed to return back home after submission of half a million rupees as security on the directions of the Indian Supreme Court.  He had gone to India in 1992 to see his ailing mother where he was implicated in a murder case.

After an 18-year-long trial, the octogenarian professor was awarded life imprisonment and sent to the Ajmer jail in January last year.

President Asif Ali Zardari had written a letter to Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh last month, seeking Chisti’s release and repatriation to Pakistan on humanitarian grounds.

Courtesy by: Dawn.com

According to an industry source, apart from John Abraham, Akshay got along with the veteran actor like a house on fire. “They’re very particular about their respective workout sessions and have a great love for food.

They bonded on these aspects during the film’s schedule in London,” recalls our source, adding that when they last met, Akki had told Mithun that he would love to work with him again.

However, little did Mithunda know that it would lead to something so concrete so soon. Buzz is that initially Amitabh Bachchan was considered for the same role, that of a don, who also happenes to be the heroine’s (Nargis Fakhri) brother. However, due to his inability to shoot extensively till September on health grounds, the makers apparently considered Anil Kapoor.

However, after many discussions within the team, Mithun was approached and soon finalised for the part. Incidentally, the senior actor is also believed to be quite pally with the director, debutant Ashish R Mohan.

Further, our source adds that there will be a number of clashing dramatic scenes between Mithun and Akshay, who plays a cop. “How their characters change towards each other also forms an interesting part of the storyline,” points out our informer.

Courtesy Mid Day

“It was important to make a point, Pakistan has made a point and we now need to move on and go into a positive zone and try to conduct our relations,” Khar said during a press conference in Islamabad when asked whether she believed Pakistan should reopen the supply route.

Asked whether Pakistan would allow a resumption of Nato supplies, Information minister Qamar Zaman Kaira, who was also spoke alongside the foreign minister, said a decision would be made in the coming days.

“There are a lot of sensitivities,” he told reporters. “How we can share things with you which are under discussion? We will share it in the next three to four days.”

The ministers’ comments offered the clearest indication yet that Pakistan is ready to reopen supply lines, even though Washington has so far refused to apologise for last year’s attack and end drone strikes in the country as demanded by Pakistan’s parliament.

Speaking to media representatives, the foreign minister said Pakistan was negotiating with the US and Nato on the same terms that were approved by the parliament for the process of re-engagement.

Moreover, the minister said that the parliamentary recommendations had proved that only a minority of Pakistanis were opposed to normal relations with the Western world.

Pakistan wants to continue to be a facilitator and enabler for the international community, said Khar, adding that the issue is not just that of relations with the US but with 42 countries that have stakes in Afghanistan.

The government is likely to face domestic backlash for reopening the Nato route given the rampant anti-American sentiment in the country and vocal opposition by hardliners.

The move could also, however, free up over a billion dollars in US military aid that has been frozen for the last year.

Pakistan closed transit routes to Afghanistan after a Nato cross-border air attack last November killed 24 Pakistani soldiers at the Salala checkpost on the Pak-Afghan border.

Nato Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen had hinted on Friday that Pakistan could miss out on the Nato summit in Chicago on May 20-21 if it failed to reopen supply routes in time.

Pakistan is keen to attend the summit that will largely focus on the Afghan war, and an invitation is likely contingent on the country allowing troop supplies to regsume.

The conference in Chicago, to be attended by more than 60 leaders and heads of state, is regarded as a crucial summit which will map out a future for Afghanistan after most foreign troops withdraw from the warn-ton country by the end of 2014 .

Courtesy Pakistan Observer

The comic-book adaptation thundered to another record, capturing $103.2 million and an easy first place, according to studio estimates.

Its haul marked the highest second weekend of all time, an encore to its record-breaking debut of $207.4 million a week ago. “The Avengers,” which has done $373.2 million domestically and $628.9 million overseas, crossed the $1 billion mark in 10 days.

That left little chance for Johnny Depp and Tim Burton, whose television adaptation “Dark Shadows” met the lower end of analysts’ expectations.

Courtesy Chicago Sun Times

Addressing a programme on the occasion of Mothers’ Day, he said “I promise that PTI will bring back the money plundered by corrupt politicians.”

He said the days of the political mafia were now over as they were heading towards the final doom.

Imran said that the current setup would have to depart as it could not withstand the PTI “tsunami” anymore.

He also announced that under Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s government, women would get their due share in property. “PTI will make sure that no one can take away women’s rights,” he added. The PTI chairman said that his party would stand by the weak and provide justice to all.

“The law of the country will help women, who would be provided with legal assistance by the government,” he said. Khan assured a gathering of women that his party after coming into power would ensure women’s due share in property.

Paying glowing tributes to the country’s mothers on Mothers’ Day, he said the gathering was recognition of mothers’ role in society.

Courtesy Pakistan Observer

* It is the time to express gratitude for hardships a mother bears in bringing up a child

ISLAMABAD: People across the globe, including Pakistan, are celebrating Mother’s Day today (Sunday) to share their sentiments and express profound love for their mothers.

The day to honour motherhood is celebrated on second Sunday of May and is a time to appreciate mothers and mother figures, expressing gratitude for the hardships they bear in bringing up a child.

Like every year, the day will be marked with the same spirit and enthusiasm and public and private organisations as well as schools will arrange colourful programmes in connection with Mother’s Day celebrations.

The mother’s week celebrations started from Monday and private channels have been telecasting special transmission in this connection since then, while they will present different plays and shows to highlight the importance of the day and recognise the amazing role of mothers.

Though Mother’s Day celebrations take place at different times in the world but the feelings with which people celebrate Mother’s Day are the same.

Several other countries celebrate Mother’s Day on different dates depending upon what they have decided about the specific day.

People send their mothers cakes, cards, flowers, terry bears, small fruit or gift basket, sweets, candies and chocolates. In the recent years, the most dedicated gifts for the Mother’s Day have been flowers, perfumes, cakes and special sweets.

Mothers are actually the guiding force and are responsible for developing the character and personality of a child. Mothers shape the lives of children and Mother’s Day is the opportunity to pay tribute to them for their contribution.

The tradition of Mother’s Day started with ancient Greeks who celebrated their annual spring festival in honour of Rhea, the mother of many gods and goddesses in the Greek mythology.

Ancient Romans too celebrated a spring festival by the name of Hilaria in honour of Cybele, a mother goddess, some 250 years before the holy Christ was born.

Courtesy Daily Times

Courtesy Daily Times

Dr Chishti is Pakistan’s first virologist. He had gone to India in 1992 to see his ailing mother where he was implicated in a murder case. After an 18-year-long trial, the octogenarian professor was awarded life imprisonment and sent to the Ajmer jail in January last year.

President Asif Ali Zardari had written a letter to Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh last month, seeking Chisti’s release and repatriation to Pakistan on humanitarian grounds.

Following high-level diplomatic talks between the two countries, Chishti was released from the Ajmer central jail.

After Chishti’s release, Manmohan’s government argued in the apex court that it was not in favour of his repatriation to Pakistan saying that in that case Chisti might not return for future hearings in the Indian apex court.

Courtesy Pakistan Observer

KARACHI:

We remember him best as part of a duo — Zoheb Hasan shares with The Express Tribune his personal experiences. From a “terrible” loss of losing not just a sister but also a performer to cancer, to his current social and philanthropic activities, Zoheb shares with us how he has seen the Pakistani music industry evolve through the ages.

Currently in Karachi on a short visit from London, we got a sneak peak at what’s dear to Zoheb.

You made a comeback by launching ‘Kismet’ in 2006, and you disappeared again for six years. What happened?

Zoheb: Well, not really. Formally nothing. We paid tribute to Nazia Hassan by holding a concert on March 9 in 2002 at the Karachi Gymkhana. The tribute was held in her honour, during a time when I felt at immense loss, after Nazia. So we did that concert, which was very inspiring for me. Junaid Jamshed performed, Salman Ahmad was there and Hadiqa Kiani too was a part of the concert. Biddu came all the way down for the show, and visited Pakistan for the first time ever. To be honest ‘Kismet’ was done because of a lot of ‘peer pressure’. However, I couldn’t give it much time, since I was travelling a lot at that time for business from Karachi to London. My wife Gina said I should do a musical theatre instead and she said she would right the script. However, what we ended up doing was a play called ‘Kismet’ for Geo, for which the music was done by me.

What are your current plans?

Zoheb: I plan to host a TV show, first from Karachi, then from Dubai. It is going to be a very, very different talk show. I won’t share the details here just yet. That’s something you will have to wait and see!

Has Pakistani music evolved since you left the music industry?

Zoheb: It’s great. So many people have come up and created good music, like what we did and started off 30 years ago. Technically, I’d say everything is superb. Now they do linear editing and everything is digitally sounded. Quality is so much better. There is stuff that a composer can easily toy with when it comes to mixing it with sound.

Music and arts is all about trial and error, after 30 years people have come so far, but what I believe has been the down side of this is the actual act of composing. Songs are not fully written, since people don’t want to think too much. They just want to be spoon-fed.

How have the last 11 years of your life been without Nazia?

Zoheb: These years have been terrible, not just for me, but for the entire family. More so for my mother though. She still refers to Nazia in our daily talks. But what I believe is that we have learnt to move on, if not for anybody else’s sake, at least for her son’s sake. My father has become very quite, he doesn’t speak much and Zahra, my little sister, asks me a lot of things about Nazia, because when Nazia passed away, Zahra was just a kid. So these things will never go away. It’s the unfortunate bit that will always be a part of our lives.

Would you like to perform at Coke Studio, if given a chance?

Zoheb: Yes, if they offer. Rohail Hyatt, I know is a talented guy. If he asks me, I won’t say no. Coke Studio is an interesting concept.

What are your future plans?

Zoheb: I want to do, as much as I can in life, in terms of doing things. I want to help Pakistanis in need. I don’t have any political ambitions; I just want to help people on humanitarian basis. I was an advisor to the governor of Sindh with a social agenda in mind. People, who are not in the same position as we are, should be helped by those who can help. I just recently launched an SOS Lyari campaign and I had two options infront of me: either take a passive role to this and let fate play its natural course or actually work towards helping others. So I opted for the latter, with a two-fold agenda in mind: immediate relief and a long-term rehabilitation programme. I want to address this problem across the country, for there is not just one Lyari but several others.

Courtesy Tribune

‘Jalwa’ revolves around a young man’s dream of a mysterious woman, who keeps disappearing after showing her ‘Jalwa’. It’s a lover’s appreciation of some very powerful emotions like mystery, drama, love and want of an almost surreal divine beauty. The beauty of this song is in its almost tangible feel of an early morning dream that takes the viewers’ imagination to a different world.

The video features leading fashion industry icon Sara Gilani and a renowned name of music industry DJ Shahrukh. The video has been directed by Shahrukh Sheikh, with post work by Murtaza Ali, and music production by DJ Ali Mustafa.

“N1 is working on two music albums simultaneously. ‘Inqilaab’ was our debut release from our first album on revolution. ‘Jalwa’ is our debut release from our second album that focuses on commercial music. The song has an almost dreamy feel to it and we hope it will do very well on the charts,” said Naimul Abd, the man behind N1.

Courtesy Daily Times

Addressing a rally at Mirpur Bhutto in Larkana district, Bhutto said Nawaz Sharif’s view point was closer to that of him. “Now, we are members of Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz and will continue our struggle from the new platform,” he added.

Mumtaz Bhutto, a senior political leader who was nicknamed as talented cousin by the PPP founding chairman Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, said President Asif Ali Zardari was not eligible for holding any public office, adding that the incumbent rulers did not know anything except how to loot the country.

Mumtaz noted that he was labelled as a Sindhi nationalist contrary to the fact that he was a strong supporter of federation.

He said the federating units were still deprived of their rights despite the passage of 18th Amendment.

Criticising the PPP over its policies and failures, he said the ruling party did nothing to arrest the killer of late Benazir Bhutto.

In his speech, Nawaz held President Asif Ali Zardari for Prime Minister Gilani’s actions resulting in violating the Supreme Court orders.

“Gilani is a convicted prime minister. He should not hold the office any more, as he is now violating the court orders and Zardari is responsible for the situation.”

A convicted person could not serve as prime minister of any country in the world, he added. Nawaz said Zardari exploited the mandate given by the people after Benazir Bhutto’s martyrdom, adding that Zardari was unfaithful to the people of Sindh and had pushed the country to the edge of destruction, adding that the government’s policies were a threat to democracy.

He said the PPP and Zardari cashed the assassination of Benazir Bhutto but did nothing to address the miseries of people, while the people suspected of Benazir Bhutto’s murder had gathered around President Zardari. Nawaz vowed to bring the killers of Benazir Bhutto to justice.

“People of Sindh are facing poverty, joblessness, loadshedding and worst law and order situation, but the issues have not been addressed by the PPP even after the passage of five years,” he added.

He said the PPP had violated ‘Charter of Democracy’ which was signed by the slain leader of the party.

The PML-N chief said the government did not exist when floods wreaked havoc in Sindh and destroyed properties of millions of people.

“People of Sindh know that the PML-N had successfully eliminated poverty from Sindh through various developmental schemes, and we can repeat the same if provided the chance of serving the people again. We will make Pakistan an Asian Tiger and there will be laptops in hands of students instead of weapons,” Nawaz promised.

Sharif said the life of a common man had been made miserable by the bad governance of the current government, but the PPP leaders were enjoying the benefits of ruling without showing any concern for the countrymen.

He welcomed Mumtaz Bhutto into his party’s ranks and said they would work together for the uplift of Pakistan.

In an attempt to expand the influence of PML-N in Sindh, a PPP stronghold, Nawaz is also scheduled to hold meetings with some other Sindhi nationalist leaders.

Courtesy The Nation

LAHORE: Famous film star Shabnam came face to face with a group of youngsters here on Tuesday, promising her expectant admirers that she will provide them with a real tour of her life and career through an autobiography she plans to write.

She was given a warm welcome upon her arrival at the FC College with her composer husband, Robin Ghosh. This set the tone for a frank interaction between the two artistes and the students and faculty of the college.

Moved by the enthusiasm and the inquisitiveness of her audience, Shabnam was at her most relaxed and introduced the youngsters to a trait that has become rare in artistes with time: she was her usual humble self, more inclined to greet the questions with a smile than proudly flaunting her star status.

The Shabnam-Ghosh pair may not have been strangers to most in the jam-packed auditorium. They have a permanent place in the annals of Pakistani cinema and household names here. Given their status, it was no surprise that one question they were repeatedly asked was: “Why has the Pakistan film industry gone to the dogs?”

“I am not responsible,” came the answer from the smiling lady guest dressed in green and gold. “I left the industry in 1999 and don’t know what happened afterwards.” She did, however, underscore the importance of government support if the “lifeless” industry was to be resurrected. “Director, producer, musician, writer, actors… they all combine to make a good film. You need to gather the team,” she said.

Exactly, then what forced one team member to leave Pakistan in 1999? “I left Pakistan for the simple reason that I wanted to spend time with my family in Bangladesh,” Shabnam said and spoke about the bright prospects of a co-production involving talent from Pakistan and Bangladesh.

But it wasn’t just an instance where the young had got nostalgic about how rosy it once had been. Far from it. The young crowd did ask Shabnam about her on-screen chemistry with Nadeem, just as they asked her the secret behind her flowing black hair.

“This runs in the family. Besides, coconut oil helps,” the star replied with her trademark smile. And she did display her powers
to hold captive and enthrall the gallery with a standard yet unique sounding “Lahore, Lahore aye” at one point during the interaction.

Courtesy DAWN

Shifa’s consultants Dr. Kamran Rasheed and Dr. Aysha Junaid also participated in the walk and apprised the participants about the thalassemia disease, its prevalence, symptoms, diagnostic process and its management. They said that with estimated prevalence of thalassemia around eight percent in Pakistan, it has become a major health concern for the nation. They requested the masses to donate blood to thalassemia major patients to save their lives.

They stressed on the need to start extensive awareness campaign among the masses to prevent the disease. They believed that blood screening before marriages, counseling and awareness programs on thalassemia at all levels can reduce the risk of thalassemia among children. The experts said the prenatal diagnosis (a test during pregnancy) is also an effective strategy to control thalassemia.

They said thalassemia is a genetic blood disorder in which abnormal hemoglobin chains are produced. Hemoglobin is an important protein that helps transport oxygen in the blood. The defective hemoglobin chain formation leads to severe anemia, one of the key symptoms of the disease. They further said that the inheritance of malfunctioning genes from both parents results in thalassemia major that is the severe form of thalassemia. Whereas, single parent inheritance of imperfect gene causes thalassemia minor that is not so harmful.

The experts said that for thalassemia major, monthly basis blood transfusions are the common management option. Bone marrow transplant (BMT) is the final treatment choice for thalassemia major patients, which has proven to be a successful permanent management option, they said while adding that we have done a number of BMT procedures at Shifa and the patients are leading normal life after this major procedure.

Dr. Aysha Junaid urged the masses to support the thalassemia major patients by donating blood. She insisted that people should register themselves as blood donor voluntarily to save precious lives. “Donating blood is saving life,” she advocated.

Courtesy Pakistan Observer

KARISMA BY NAME and full of charisma by nature, this Kapoor sister’s assertive and confident approach to every aspect of her life is the first impression that apparently overwhelms those in her presence. And despite speaking to the 37-year-old actress over the phone from India about her latest project Dangerous Ishhq, there was still enough of that spirit measured with elegant charm to leave a lasting impact. For what ensued in the conversation went well beyond the ins and outs of the movie.

The result from 15 minutes with the amiable Karisma was an insight into where she sees herself in the grand scheme of the movie industry, the legacy her kin must maintain (her great-grandfather Prithviraj Kapoor entered Hindi cinema in 1929 founding a dynasty that has lasted four generations) and just the slightest hint of a vulnerability that made this beautiful and compelling woman all the more intriguing.

Many people are calling Dangerous Ishhq your comeback, but isn’t it true you believe otherwise?

A hundred thousand times people have called it that [a comeback]! I believe that is a slightly negative term. I was on a sabbatical. I was on maternity leave and now I’m back to my job. Angelina Jolie, Julia Roberts and Kate Winslet all had kids and just returned after without any fuss. You wouldn’t call what they did a ‘comeback’ in Hollywood. So I think people in India should see it like that.

I wanted to do a movie because I’d spent a lot of time with my family and it was time to return.

What made you decide on this film?

It’s the first woman-centric 3D movie in India. When I was narrated the story I was very intrigued. I’m sure many people have been to a tarot card reader or a palm reader. Well, this is about past life regression, which is along the same lines as these practices. It is about searching for one’s soul and knowing what one was in a past life.

My character Sanjana is also a role that I have never done before. That’s what I needed right now. I’ve been lucky enough to have played such a variety of parts, but with this one I wanted to do a movie that was totally different and a step above. I’m talking in five different dialects in the movie because it is a period film when we regress through different lives. There was intensive research for the dialect, clothes and locations. I also had to study past life regression.

How did you study the regression process? Did you have it done for real?

A lot of my friends had done it, but I’m too scared to find out about my past life. I studied it and talked to my friends about how it feels, but personally I just couldn’t do it. I didn’t want to know what I was or what I went through and I have claustrophobia, which makes me nervous to be out of control.

What was it like being back on a film set now you have a family to think about?

The first few days, people asked if I was nervous to face the camera again, which I wasn’t. I’d been doing a lot of endorsements and TV work even when the kids were small, so it wasn’t the fact that a camera was on that gave me any bad feelings. It was that I was away from them for so long to do a feature length film that was tough.

Many commentators note that since films including last year’s The Dirty Picture and the recent Kahaani the impression has been created that female character driven films are suddenly in vogue. But couldn’t one argue that your films such as Fiza (2000) and Shakti (2002) gained an equal amount of praise over a decade ago?

Women-centric films are doing well now there is no doubt. I’m in one right now! But, yes, ten years ago it was also the case, so I think these things go in cycles. I feel a good artist and good script will always do well, no matter whether the actor is male or female, but it’s true that trends go in and out of fashion.

Presumably Dangerous Ishhq will be a catalyst for further roles, which means you will be competing with your sister Kareena for movies and roles, doesn’t it?

There can never be any competition between my sister and I. I feel so happy and proud that she is the number one actress today. We have both already done so many different roles. When I went on maternity leave, she took the family name and mantle forward.

Is that notion of family legacy important to you?

For us we wanted to contribute our little bit to it and the film industry. By the grace of god me, Kareena and Ranbir are all getting the opportunity to contribute to our family heritage.

We were brought up in a very formal way. Only over time did we discover that we came from a film family that has now been in the business for generations. Still, I was very young when I went to see my grandfather shooting and that sowed the seeds for what I wanted to do later on as I’m sure it did for my father and my grandpa himself.

And what about when your kids come to you wanting to act in movies?

I feel my kids will be proud of their background. I don’t mind what they do and how they carry on the family name, but if it’s in films then I will of course support them.

There have recently been many rumours circulating about your relationship with your husband. Is there anything you wish to clarify?

My private life is just that – personal- and I like to keep it that way. I really don’t like to talk about it.

]]> http://desiakhbar.com/site/living-dangerously/feed/ 0 http://desiakhbar.com/site/lady-gaga-teacup-fetches-75k-at-japanese-auction/ http://desiakhbar.com/site/lady-gaga-teacup-fetches-75k-at-japanese-auction/#comments Tue, 08 May 2012 05:47:37 +0000 Zahabiya Modi http://desiakhbar.com/site/?p=41283 A TEACUP and saucer used only once by pop diva Lady Gaga sold for more than $75,000 at auction, the sale’s organiser said Monday.

US singer Lady Gaga drinks tea from a “Pray for Japan” engraved teacup during a press conference in Tokyo.

With more than 1300 bids, the weeklong auction finished Sunday with a top offer of ¥6,011,000, according to Yahoo Japan, which managed the charity event.

Payment was required before the winning bid could be confirmed, it said.

The cup was used by Lady Gaga at a news conference in Tokyo three months after the massive tsunami of March last year, which swamped a large stretch of coastline.

Lady Gaga told reporters at the time that she would auction the cup, marked with her lipstick and bearing the Japanese message “We pray for Japan” along with the star’s autograph.

All the money raised will be used to help young Japanese artists who want to study in the US.

The teacup was one of a number of items being sold to raise money for those affected by Japan’s worst postwar calamity and was the second most expensive lot, behind a crystal piano used by a Japanese rock star.

The natural disaster killed some 19,000 people on Japan’s northeastern coast and sparked the world’s worst nuclear accident since the 1986 Chernobyl disaster.

Courtesy Herald Sun