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. 

I am the Change - Awards 2015

"I am the change" campaign is a yearly campaign by the Engro Corporation as part of their CSR efforts. Since its inception in 2013 the Foundation has recognised and celebrated agents of change in the social development, education and health care sectors.


This year the awards ceremony was held at the Pearl Continental Hotel in Karachi and was attended by professionals from both corporate world and development sector. The event started off with a panel discussion on how people perceive "change" and how it is important to change the way community service is being done to make a difference in people's lives. The panel consisted of Mr. Ali Ansari from Engro Corporation, Mr. Zohair Sharif from Coca Cola, Mr. Kimihide Ando from Mitsubishi and Mr. Abrar from National Foods. The panellists emphasised on the need to take responsibility as active citizens and help bring the much needed change in society by volunteering time, money and skills to empower the underprivileged. 

Zahid Mengal of Azat Foundation and Hussain Dawood 

It was amazing to see the work of all the social entrepreneurs who were nominated and their efforts towards education, skill development, livelihood and healthcare programs are commendable. Partnerships and corporate sector support will definitely help strengthen their efforts and will also streamline the way forward for future projects. 

 Mr. Hussain Dawood presented the awards to the winning projects of I am the change 2014 - 2015 campaign. The recipients included the Azat Foundation in the category of education, working to provide education and youth empowerment opportunities to individuals from various areas of Baluchistan including Noshki, Kharan, Awaraan amongst others. 

Orangi Pilot Project 

In the category of Livelihoods, the award was given to Orangi Pilot Project that continues to focus on urban development and works with the underprivileged in the arena of micro-finance and micro-enterprises, helping set up small businesses such as embroidery, footwear manufacturing and other small cottage industries reaching out to over 100,000 individuals through various projects. 

The winner in the category of Health was Child Life Foundation (CLF) an NGO providing comprehensive child health care services from emergency care to prevention. CLF provides free medicines, essential oxygen systems, medical monitors and most importantly trains doctors and nurses to help save the lives of children at imminent risk reaching out to approximately 800 child-patients every day.

Child Life Foundation 

Previous winners of the IATC Awards in the various categories include organizations such as The Dream Foundation; The Garage School; Patients Welfare Association; Karachi Vocational & Training Centre; Child Aid Association; KhwendoKor (Peshawar); Akhuwat (Lahore).

The event concluded with a mesmerizing performance by the children of Karachi Public School. The children's rendition of Ameer Khusro's  famous qawwali "aaj rang hai ri" was just the perfect ending to a heart warming event.

Children of Karachi High School

The Gender Technology Gap - A talk by Intel

Intel organized an interesting panel discussion on how women can benefit from technology and use the internet to become more independent and resourceful. It was hosted by their PR & Marketing Manager Asma Aziz.

The panel had notable women from different areas of expertise,i.e. beauty industry, content marketing/advertising, PR and the social sector. The women shared their views on how they have successfully incorporated technology into their respective business models. While almost all of them are commendable in their efforts, the story which particularly fascinated me was how technology can be used in the social sector, since this is an issue which is very close to my heart. 

It was very refreshing to hear Shazia Mirza from Manzil Foundation discussing how she managed to find a way to use technology to revamp her classrooms and connect them with the outside world. The school which she is running is in one of the slums of Karachi and mostly has students from the underprivileged class.

The dilemma of our education system is that the public schools have lowered their standards to such an extent that their students can in no way compete with students from private schools. As a result the inequality and societal gap is increasing alarmingly. To top it off, girls are specially ignored when it comes to good education and vocational training programs. 

Shazia realized this gap in the first year of running her school. after a lot of thought and research she decided to use the internet to connect her classrooms with learned teachers from all parts of the world. Screens were installed in classrooms and teachers were connected to their classes via Skype. This rather small investment made a huge difference in children. They were more knowledgeable, and confident with a lot of clarity in their thoughts. This small experiment is a proof that we can actually incorporate technology to uplift our education system without investing a fortune.

A mix of good talent and information technology can be the driving force in changing the education system and increasing literacy rate in Pakistan. A spirit of volunteering should be encouraged among professionals. This can be achieved either through a forum where professionals from various backgrounds can come together and work on small projects or they can enroll themselves for individual programs related to teaching, training or streamlining the education process in public schools.

Intel has already introduced programs targeted towards developing digital literacy skills in young girls with their “She Will Connect” program, along with the Diversity in Technology initiative to increase women representation at Intel. The program details can be viewed at their facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/IntelPakistan

Pantene Pro V - Damage Blockers

Pantene Pro-V, Damage Blocker Range 

Recently I attended the launch of Pantene's latest range of shampoos and conditioners called the Pantene Pro-V with Damage Blockers, held at Cafe 44. Now I've been seeing the ads for quite some time and wondered what water damage is all about. Most of us have felt a noticeable change in our skin and hair while we are travelling specially upcountry. Also you must've heard people saying "mujhay yahan ka pani suit nahi karta" and also getting compliments on your hair/skin once you come back from vacations. 

Nina Lotia & Aamina Sheikh

The quality of water is actually an important part of our daily beauty regime. Most of us wash our hair on daily basis or every other day. Our hair is stripped off their natural oil whenever we wash them and if we are using hard water it goes through more damage. The water in our region i,e, Middle East and South Asia is mostly hard water with high content of minerals such as copper and limestone which makes the hair dry, brittle and more prone to hair fall. 

Pantene is known for solutions to all kind of hair damage: be it colour treatment, sun damage, split ends, dryness etc. It has come up with a new range of shampoos and conditioners preventing hair damage caused due to water. A detailed presentation given by renowned hair stylist Nina Lotia explained a lot about what our hair goes through during daily washes. She shared her experience of visiting the Pantene lab in Singapore and described how the product actually works through washes to reduce damage and recover hair. The new Pantene Pro-V range is gentle enough to be used everyday. The beautiful actress Aamina Sheikh (Pantene's beauty ambassador) was also present at the event. She answered various questions from the girls and shared her haircare tips with the audience. 

Nina Lotia & Aamina Sheikh

The new range includes the Pantene Pro V shampoo, conditioner and oil replacement. Although I have only used it twice so far, I can feel my hair becoming  smooth and manageable (just like how your hair feel after protein treatment!)  The oil replacement balm left my hair a bit limp in the first use but I reccomend using it sparingly  and not on the roots. A little quantity (dime size) is more than enough for shoulder length hair. 

Overall another good quality shampoo with the promise of softer, manageable hair from Pantene. 

The Pantene team 

Daniel Wellington in Karachi!

Its mid of January and Karachi has finally shed some centigrades. Pleasantly chilly and windy evenings are the best part of winters in Karachi. For the winters my go to outfit for evenings is a comfy pair of jeans with sweater & shawl or a simple leather jacket.

This time I am doing a casual evening look with a sweater and my newly acquired Daniel Wellington watch in Classy Winchester. I am carrying a classic Hub leather bag good for both office and evening wear. 

I had been an avid follower of Daniel Wellington watches on Instagram. There is no exaggeration in admitting that I fell in love with their watches the moment I laid my eyes on them. They are simple yet modern, no fuss, highly eye catching time pieces. They have an element of sophistication due to their classic dial; but then you can choose a strap available in vibrant colours to give the watch a totally high fashion, off the ramp look. The "NATO " straps are obviously inspired by nato troupes and have been the latest trend in watches. The straps are available in various colour combinations and are fun, functional and easily interchangeable. I ordered my watch through www.aliexpress.com and it arrived in 5 days. 


I am wearing a knitted beige pull over from Zara with my boot cut Levi's for a casual weekend dinner. The watch is accessorised with a lapis and jade bracelet. 



Bag: HUB 
Sweater: Zara
Jeans:  Levis
Shoes:  Charles & Keith
Watch: Daniel Wellington 

Firehouse - A review

Last week we were invited to the launch of Firehouse a recently opened grill and steakhouse located in Badar Commercial. It was a fun event all set with a photo booth, colourful backdrop along with funny props for both kids and adults. The idea of an exclusive steakhouse is very tempting for a Karachiite since there are no speciality steakhouses in the city. The place is quite spacious and bright with striking yellow and black interiors.

Peri Bites at Firehouse

For starters we ordered the peri bites. They were huge with an abundant filling of cheese served with the perfect mayo sauce. They reminded me of Nandos when I used to go there once every week just for the peri bites. Firehouse is my go to place for them now!

For main course we ordered the Medallion steak in beef and the Chicken Tarragon steak. The Medallion steak was served medium rare with char grilled exterior and a rare done interior; just the right amount of flavour and heat with a nice pepper corn sauce. For sidelines we ordered grilled vegetables and potato gratin. The serving size is quite big and filling. The steak was as good as the ones served in Arizona and Roasters,  in fact a little on the finer side. The vegetables were slightly overdone as I prefer mine a bit crunchy. Potato gratin a personal favourite was delicious with a creamy cheesy sauce between thin layers of potato. 

Chicken Tarragon Steak at Firehouse

Beef Medallion Steak at Firehouse 

Chicken Tarragon steak was served with the classic white sauce. For sidelines there was spinach purée and baked potato. The chicken was nicely grilled, well done and the sauce was creamy and hot. The sidelines need improvement with fresher veggies and more tasteful options to choose from. 

The staff was very courteous and the host was personally going from table to table to attend to the guests. Overall a nice place specially for families with good food and reasonable prices. Since its quite spacious it can be a good place for parties and birthdays with a very appropriate menu.  However more options should be included to cater to those looking for fine dining and variety.