“You cant build a peaceful world on empty stomachs”

Dildar Hussain lives in Allah Banno Goth with his family of 9 children. His village is located on the route to Hawksbay and Mubarak Village. To get drinking water for his family he has to travel for about 2 hours to the nearest RO plant which is at a distance of approx 15 kilometers from his village. Their area is deprived of basic facilities; there is no supply of clean drinking water and shortage of food in most households. A group of friends from Karachi first visited Allah Banno Goth in July 2015 for distribution of sacrificial meat. When they found out about the plight of this area they came back again with food/ration supplies along with drinking water for the villagers. Since then they have been visiting Allah Banno Goth and nearby villages like Lashkari Goth, Ismail Goth, Safar Goth, Jamali Goth, Faqir Mohammad Goth, Doulat Faqeer Goth, Haji Moosa Goth, Manjhar Goth (Sunehra) & Mohalla Bhand on a regular basis.

To carry on their work on a more organized level they formed Apna Dastarkhwan in September 2015 – its a group of professionals, students and like minded individuals working together to reach out to poverty struck areas near and within Karachi. The AD team identify areas with food/water shortage and regularly hold ration distribution and food camps . Apart from ration drives they also provide cooked meals for as low as Rs.10, six days a week through their running kitchens in different areas of the city. Ali Javed, one of the founders of Apna Dastarkhwan shared his team's mission, “We believe every person is entitled to two full meals daily but with 50% of our population below poverty it is next to impossible. Hunger leads to developmental problems like malnutrition, weakened immunity, stunted growth and psychological problems like rise in crime rates. Apna Dastarkhwan is trying to address these problems by meeting nutritional needs of people in underprivileged areas”.


Even though hunger is a major problem in our country, there is a lot of food that is being wasted on regular basis. According to an estimate almost 40% of cooked food is wasted in Pakistan. This wastage of food mainly comes from hotels, restaurants, weddings and other such events. To tackle this problem Apna Dastarkhwan is working with restaurants and caterers to provide them with fresh left over food for distribution. The famous restaurant Lal Qila has recently joined hands with Apna Dastarkhwan in their food drive.

As part of their Ramzan campaign, Apna Dastarkhwan is running 3 food distribution centers in the city with the biggest one at Ziauddin Hospital Nazimabad. Iftar & dinner is distributed daily among 400 – 450 people; other areas include Rasheedabad (North Karachi) & Omer Maingal Goth. For their ration distribution drive they are targeting rural Balochistan this year. During the first phase they are planning to reach at least 750 households in Shah Noorani village in Khuzdar district.

“This year we are working towards increasing our distribution centers so that we can reach out to more people. We want to work in areas where no other group/ngo is present” says Farheen Moazzam Danyaal, one of the founding members of Apna Dastarkhwan. It is heart warming to see such initiatives from young professionals who want to contribute in one way or the other to eradicate poverty and improve quality of life. Apna Dastarkhwan has made an impact in a very short span of time with their small but dedicated team working selflessly throughout the year. As they say, “you cant build a peaceful world on empty stomachs and human misery", it is vital to lessen increasing disparity in our society before dreaming for peace.

Pantene Hair Master class

Pantene has been playing a vital role in creating awareness about hair care and common hair problems that we face as routine. A hair masterclass led by hairstylist Nina Lotia was held last week to discuss the most common problems hair faces: blow dry, breakage, heat & humidity. 

A detailed question answer session was held whereby allowing participants to address the common hair problems and their solutions. According to Nina women today are very experimental with their hair. The hair are being dyed, rebonded, chemically treated very often and as a result they become dry and brittle. Dry hair are prone to breakage.

Keeping this in mind,  Histidine is being added across Pantene’s conditioner range. These conditioners when used along with Pantene shampoos provide damage repair to hair shaft and its surface leaving it smoother, manageable and moisturised.

Overall a very informative session by Nina and Pantene both in telling us the importance of a good hair care routine. 

New year a la Karachi style

Once again its that time of the year when the world is celebrating, rejoicing, partying and welcoming the new year with moments of happiness spent with loved ones. Meanwhile Karachiites as usual will be confined to their houses waiting for the clock to hit 12 and the city echoing with deathly rounds of bullets fired in the name of celebration. This followed by bikers from all corners of the city taking over the roads with their rash driving and one wheeling antics.

Throughout the world New Year's eve is celebrated with joy and happiness, special concerts, fireworks and events are planned. But like everything else going in the opposite direction new year's eve seems like a curse for us. We shut off the entire city; all the malls, cafes & restaurants close down at 6 pm and police mobiles are deployed to stop people from entering multiple areas of the city. I have never understood the point of being such a kill joy on this auspicious occasion.  

We have one of the youngest population of the world. Depriving them of all sorts of healthy entertainment avenues like sports, music and cultural activities will surely lead them into the wrong direction. As a result most of them become rebellious and engage into unhealthy activities. The most dangerous is taking up arms and drugs. Despite the ban on display of weapons & aerial shooting the amount of rounds fired on new year's eve is just unfathomable. It amazes me every year with the kind of firing sounds I hear in that one dreadful hour. Its like we are equipped with the most modern and state of art ammunition in the world. And what a perfect day to let everyone know! 

Rash driving and accidents are also very common on new year. Youngsters on motorbikes feel kind of independence when they are riding and speeding adds to the thrill. This coupled with dangerous road stunts without any safety gear turns in to a deadly game. Now if only there were other activities for them to indulge into for this evening, I am sure most of them would not think of risking their lives on the road.

There are so many healthy activities that can be planned for this evening. Friendly matches in different areas of the city, musical concerts, funfairs, displays of fireworks, food and cultural shows can really liven up the spirit of the metropolis on new year. But sadly like every year this year too it will pass off as a gloomy and dreadful evening while we welcome the new year with bursts of firing throughout the evening.

A typical Karachi style new year check list: 
- bike serviced/tank full
- silencer removed
- one wheeling practised and excelled 
- ammos cleaned/oiled/loaded 
- shift to sea view till 2016

Sales, cat fights & dark Fridays

Recently most of us saw a shocking incident of how women behaved at a particular sales outlet and how far they can go for a mere piece of clothing. These women were mostly from well off families who can easily pay 3000 bucks for a "lawn ka kurta" but the way they behaved made a lot of us think otherwise. Another retail giant offered a 2 day sale last week on its stock that again drove women crazy. There were traffic jams, rush in the malls and mile long cash counter lines.  Later social media was flooded with pictures of the brave warriors proudly showing off their hard earned booty.

Its very heartening to see local brands grow up to become love marks and such hot favourites among consumers. But what is disturbing is the attitude of their customers. Sales happen everywhere in the world with "Black Friday" being the highlight of the season, which was celebrated here too in a grand way.  It is new to our culture and the idea of everything marked down to more than 50% is very attractive for an average shopper. Its good to see it being introduced in our country as well, but this increasing wave of consumerism is overwhelming and is evident of what is wrong with our society.

Social behaviour usually trickles down from the elites to the middle class and ultimately to the lower strata.We tend to mimic behaviour patterns of those who are considered well off, educated and cultured. It wouldn't have been too worrying if these women were from lower classes since then we could associate this behaviour for their need of acceptance and social stature. But sadly the elites or rather the upper middle class segment of our society is stuck up with severe identity crises, specially women. They are expected to behave in a certain way and maintain a certain lifestyle otherwise they are considered social outcasts.  They hardly have any particular interest in the intellectual well being of their families which is alarming since they are directly involved in the most important job in the world i.e. bringing up our future generation.

Most of their time is spent on clothes, getting their hair dyed (in a peculiar shade of red), and planning themed parties where they can show off their wardrobe and other accessories. Very few of them are associated with any community service, social/political groups, book club or libraries. It was discouraging to see very low turnover in the recently held local body elections. How many of us went out, stood in queues to cast our vote? How many of us actually tried explaining the election process to our children? Isn't it the responsibility of mothers to educate and encourage their children to take part in an event which is deemed to be the most prestigious in civilised societies. Instead our children saw women standing in long queues fighting for cheap pieces of clothing. What a brilliant example are we setting up for them!

Women have a much deeper role to play in the advancement of society. Just about time they realise this and start contributing creatively and responsibly towards the intellectual well being of our future generations.

Zinger Reloaded

We all have fond memories of KFC when they opened their first franchise in the country. They were among the first international food chains to come to Pakistan and we literally grew up loving, craving and fantasizing their succulent, juicy fried chicken. However down the road, with so many new entrants KFC was somewhat sidelined. But then came the Zinger and once again everyone was hooked on! Zinger was the first burger of its kind that had fried chicken in it. No one could compete with Zinger and proof lies in it becoming a generic name for all fried chicken burgers sold in local cafes, restaurants and even dhabbas and thelay walas. 

Zinger Stacker is the latest in the Zinger series. This is a massive burger for serious burger fans. Two fillets of fried chicken with mayo, cheese, lettuce and jalapeños are served between a freshly baked bun. I tried it last week and I was blown away by both the size and taste. The addition of jalapeños adds a little tinge and makes it somewhat different form the regular Zinger. Overall the burger is a good addition in the their menu and is a must try for KFC lovers. 

KFC has also launched a summer drink with 2 different flavors: mint krusher and passion twist. The mint krusher with lemon juice was very refreshing to cool you down on a hot day. The addition of fresh peppermint leaves gives it a very minty and earthy flavour. 

The verdict: I went to KFC after a long time and thoroughly enjoyed my meal; glad that they have relaunched the classic Zinger which is bigger and better! 

Let's ride but be a Gentleman please!

Its September and the city is welcoming autumn in its full swing. Outdoor activities are becoming more fun as the weather has cooled down a little and what better way to enjoy it than on a two wheeler!

A motorcycle is one of the most common means of transport. Almost all men learn to ride a bike in their teens. Though somehow it is not associated with a gentleman in our part of the world which is quite the contrary and as soon as one has a stable job the first thing they do is get a car.

Bikes have a history dating back to World War II when they started getting very popular. Those were the days when baby boomers returning back from war wanted to live life to its fullest and motorcycles provided just the right amount of fun mixed with thrill, speed and adventure. At that time old classic bikes like Cafe Racers, Bobbers, Flat Trackers & Scooters were very popular. Then came 1960 and entered Honda - the brand from Japan that took over the world by storm! Their unforgettable campaign "You meet the nicest people on a Honda" was spot on. The motorcycle sales almost doubled in 3 years and kept on multiplying until they became the biggest player in the market. Their local version "main te Honda hee le saan" is also on of the most popular tag lines in our country. The most common bikes we see on the roads are mostly 70CC bikes more suitable for city commuting & transportation with low fuel consumption.

But it is the classic style of bikes that actually brings out the true essence of riding a bike. One such event taking place is the "Distinguished Gentlemen's Ride - 2015"  which is trying to revive the classic era of motor bikes. This is an international event that takes place every year on 27th September; and this year it is happening also in Pakistan - Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad.
"We are working towards bringing together motorcycle enthusiasts from all areas of the city. We see this event as a first to boost the moral of bikers and raise awareness about safety rules while riding a bike" explained Faisal Malik, one of the organisers. 

Adman Don Draper on a Matchless G3/LS motorbike

The event started in Australia inspired by a poster of Mad Men's Don Draper on a motor bike in one of his timeless threaded suits. The idea behind the event is to counter the negative stereotypes associated with bike riders in general. Most of us cringe at their rude and rough riding, loud exhaust pipes and recklessness on roads. However the riders in DGR are not only required to behave as true gentlemen but also dress like one. Yup! the participants have to dress up in their finest suits, dress shirts, jackets, ties and bows!  When I spoke to one of the participants Nabil Hasan on the mandatory dress code, he sounded a bit hesitant but nevertheless ready to follow the rules. "The only thing that's bugging me a bit is the dress code. But then what better way to be a gentleman than to wear a suit? I will be wearing a blazer, tie, Steve Madden boots and riding my Honda 1981 ".




The DGR ride this year is happening simultaneously in more than 400 cities across the world. The rides are being organised by volunteers in each city. Apart from bringing motorcyclists together, DGR aims to raise money and awareness into men's health issues specifically prostate cancer.
One of the participants Anas Khan is already pumped up for the big day, "I am very excited for DGR to be happening in Karachi. I have made my bike from scratch with a lot of hard work and time. I would love to interact with other classic bikers in the city and ride together for a good cause" 

DGR style guide

The event is open to all the gentle ladies as well which are not many in our city but are urged to join.

Details of the event and registration info can be found at the following link:
http://www.gentlemansride.com/rides/pakistan

My journey into the world of stocks!

Stocks: as in shares traded in the stock exchange. Yes this blog is about investing in the stock market. But more about a layman's experience and how you can do it too! 

I first stumbled into the world of stocks about 8 years back when I subscribed for an IPO of a power company. I had no background knowledge about stock markets and how shares were traded. A friend got me the subscription form and filled it herself. I was only interested as she told me that I would make profit on my investment and would be able to buy a new phone! So I got the shares and sold them after 6 months making quite a hefty profit. It was a remarkable achievement for someone who never had a clue about the stock market. It also appealed to me as a means to make some extra money. 

After that one transaction and few more, I took a break due to my job and family commitments. Meanwhile I kept saving some in mutual funds, though a very meagre amount!  During this time my brokerage company stayed in touch calling me frequently asking when would I be putting in money again. It was only last year that it occurred to me that I must start trading again and I am so glad I did! I took out my savings, sold some gold which actually depreciated over time and put them all in the brokerage account. Since my first buy was a power company I bought my first shares of a power company again. I struggled to understand local terms like "laoo maal" "dehaan", "tezi" "mandee" "item" whenever I spoke to my broker but it was a fun learning experience and now even I can proudly speak that lingo :)

My biggest learning from trading is that only the optimists can survive, its not a place for pessimists. When you buy a stock it is just like buying a little part of the company attached to it. When the company will make profit you will too and vice versa. When buying a particular share there are fundamentals and then there are technicals but above all there is a sentimental feel to it. I very strongly believe in my gut feel which lead my decisions. As long as you are well informed, have done all possible research and know what is happening on the economic front its very rare that you will end up making a wrong decision. A lot of people think of the stock market as an up scale casino and are hesitant to enter as they merely think of it as a gambling platform. This concept is very outdated and misleading. All the stocks traded in the market have a company behind them and more so have a story linked to them. Investing in the right stocks can offer capital growth as well as a role in the overall economic well being of the country. 

The best area to put your money is into the blue chips. Obviously once you get the hang of it you can look for timely opportunities as they arise and shift exposure from one sector to the other but blue chips are always a safe bet. It is advisable to invest in a company whose business you actually understand or whose products you use commonly; for instance food producers, textiles mills, electricity providers, cement manufacturers etc.  There is a lot of information and research available about stocks online. Social media is making it more accessible for people like us by giving real time assistance to new comers. There are specialised groups which are educating new investors and also mentors who can help you understand market dynamics. I am lucky to be connected to the right people for guidance and support and have gained a lot of insight by reading research reports and various discussions. 

We as a nation do not have a saving culture. In fact our savings to GDP ratio is the lowest in the region. This is primarily because of lack of awareness among people and uncertainty on the economic/security situation. But saving can start from as little as Rs. 2000 per month which can grow into Rs. 24,000 in one year, plus if you are investing the amount into stocks it can easily grow to about 20%-30% (purely based on my experience)

Being an optimist I am really looking forward to the future of Pakistan which looks very bright to me. The economic front looks promising with new projects in pipeline, improving law and order situation and a democratic government completing its full term. The interest rate is at its lowest in the history of Pakistan, giving a clear message to get money out of bank accounts and invest in businesses. The biggest investment is coming in infrastructure and electricity sectors, macros look good and its just a matter of time when the effects will reach the common man. With strict regulations and checks in place the stock exchange can be very lucrative for small investors looking for better returns.This is the right time to start investing in our own market which is destined to develop into one of the world's best emerging market.