Fourth International Book Fair will be held from 26th to 30th December, 2008 at Karachi Expo Center (Hall 1, 2 & 3). This event is arranged by The Pakistan Publishers and Booksellers Association.

Start Time: Friday, December 26, 2008 at 12:00pm
End Time: Tuesday, December 30, 2008 at 11:00pm
Location: Karachi Expo Center, Main University Road Near Civic Center.

Comedy for a Cause

Since March 2000, through Concern for Children’s Community Driven Development Project, organization has made efforts to counter the deplorable conditions of Mohammadi/ Machar Colony. Mohammadi Colony is located in Karachi, behind the railroad tracks on Maripur Road. Its illegal status deprives it of water, sanitation, education and health care.

At this point CFC’s most dominating component in the Community Driven Project is Education and Using art to raise awareness and funds is exactly what CFC aimed at as part of its education component in Mohammadi colony. For the same, CFC has arranged a fundraiser, all proceeds of which will benefit this project.

Featuring: Saad Haroon and Shark troupe.

Date: 16th Nov, 2008

Time: 8:00pm

Location: Pakistan American Cultural Center (PACC)

Tickets available at CFC’s office (2203269), Muzika and Hotspot.

It was a high time that an event happened to shake this town a bit. Seventh Lux Style Awards did just that. Shook up some people and created lots of controversies.

LSA was postponed in August to be held in Karachi at the DHA Golf Club on 29th Oct, 08, with much razzmatazz and security precautions. Whatever and however the event was organized, one has to give credit to the brand for going ahead with the event even when every head in the industry was going this way and that.

I’ll steer away from the controversy wagon about who wore what and said what. That’s just an industry thing and happens all the time (e.g. Gia going bald). What I will review on however is: how I was blown away by the performance of Reshma,–a very well known Punjabi folk singer–Atif Aslam and Shehzad Roy. Their fusion performance received a resounding round of applause. Reshma also received the Lifetime Achievement Award and candidly accepted the fact that she could not speak English and would prefer commenting in Punjabi.

Yes, there were lulling minutes, when the power went down; heck, it’s Karachi after all! At least the audience didn’t have to wait for the ceremony to start for hours. Shaan and Ali Azmat did fitting anchoring of the show along their female cohorts. And for the first time, students from NAPA and NCA were recognized and four outstanding students (two each from NAPA and NCA) were awarded Unilever Scholarships.

Continue for a complete list of winners:

1. Best Film | Khuda Kay Liye

2. Best Film Actor | Shaan for Khuda Kay Liye

3. Best Film Actress | Iman for Khuda Kay Liye

4. Best Original Sound Track | Khuda Kay Liye

5. Best TV Play (PTV) | Lyari Express

6. Best TV Director (PTV) | Manzoor Magsi for Lyari Express

7. Best TV Actor (PTV)| Asif Reza Mir for Merey Dard ko Jo Zuban Milay

8. Best TV Actress (PTV) | Beenish Chohan for Pehli Boond

9. Best TV Play (Satellite) | Man o Salwa

10. Best TV Director (Satellite) | Anjum Shehzad for Pehla Chand

11. Best TV Actor (Satellite)| Humayun Saeed for Koi Tau Barish

12. Best TV Actress (Satellite)| Bushra Ansari for Vanee

13. Best Music Live Act | Strings

14. Best Music Album | Jal for Boondh

15. Song of The Year | Sajni for Jal

16. Best Music Video Director | Bilal Lashari for Sajni by Jal

17. LUX Model of the Year (Female)| Neha

18. LUX Model of the Year (Male)| Ameer Zeb Khan

19. Best Emerging Talent (0-3 years) | Rabia Butt

20. Best Fashion Photographer| Rizwan ul-Haq

21. Best Hair and Make up Artist | Khawar Riaz

22. Achievement in Fashion Design - Couture | Rizwan Beyg

23. Achievement in Fashion Design - Pret | Maheen Karim

24. Best Retail Brand | Khaadi

25. Best Menswear Designer | Deepak Perwani

26. Lifetime Achievement in Fashion (15 years +) | Mrs. Sughra Kazmi

27. Red Carpet Best Dressed Male Celeb | Atif Aslam

28. Red Carper Best Dressed Female Celeb | Tooba Siddiqui

29. Unilever Chairman’s Lifetime Achievement Award | Reshma

- Winner List courtesy Daily Times.

Don't Mess with Karachi

“PROLOGUE KARACHI”, a beginning of era which will bring forward the city’s better or worse side. The citizens of Karachi will see a new dimension through the camera lens of our young aspiring photographers who have shown and highlighted those areas which are ignored. It covers subjects like architecture, litter, traffic, scenery, society, people, etc.

This Photography exhibition is a part of “Don’t mess with Karachi” anti litter campaign will bring the citizens from all income class and groups under one roof which will flourish the feeling of unity and togetherness for the cause. The event will help in raising funds which will be utilized installing the dustbins in the city.

Featured Artists:

Ahmed Shajee Aijazi
Anthony L’Huillier
Asim Butt
FurSid (Abdul Qadir)
Mahjabeen Mankani
Mohammad Mikail Soomro
Shahalae Jamil
Ume-Aiman Ahmad

Venue: Sadequain Gallery, Frere Hall, Opposite Marriot
Duration: 05:00 PM To 04:00 PM
Date: Sat, 08 Nov 2008 To Thu, 13 Nov 2008
More Info/Contact: 5370437 or Email: info@deal.com.pk

Takht-e-Mughlia

Chef Zakir has become a sensation with his cooking show on Masala TV. Few days back I discovered that he owned a restaurant, which was doing rather well. After inquired about its reputation, I found good reviews and decided to check it out with friends.

What I discovered was something delightful, worth the price and ideal for a family/friends gathering. “Shaan-e-Mughlia” is the name and it boasts open air spacious lawn, truckloads of finger-licking food just as Chef Zakir cooks it. The ambiance, greenery, structured and spacious seating arrangement was surely a breath of fresh air.

The place is running on sheer word of mouth, people referring other people. Without much advertising, it is heavily pre-reserved and crowded. So, a good idea would be to call in and reserve before you show up. Also, there is a long waiting list to avail the ‘takht’ seating.

More in Pictures:

The Cooking Hub

Spacious Lawn

Iftari Hustle

Address: Just beside Millennium Mall, Old Drive-in building, opposite Askari IV in Gulistan-e-Johar.
Contact: 4823604

In conclusion, seriously, you can’t taste all the dishes, even if you want. The variety of food is good as well from local to oriental dishes. Currently, Iftari deal is Rs. 700 inclusive of tax, including mineral water and drinks. If you want to relax and take a load of people somewhere, this would be *the* place to go.

This would ideal for the people who have Saturdays off but what about the ones who don’t? Comments?

May God Save Us!

Few days back, our current President of Pakistan visited the last resting place of Quaid-e-Azam in Karachi. On the Tomb’s diary, he left the above message. What spelling, what verve. Do I have to say more?

For those who want to write for the media or join the profession as reporters or editors, here is a workshop on how to become a good writer/ journalist/editor. It will be conducted by M. Khalid Rahman, former senior sub editor, Dawn.

“Good writing is difficult; writing good prose more so,” says Khalid Rahman. “It takes special writing skills to make your writing so interesting that a reader loves to read all of it. Writing for a newspaper or magazine is different from what you learn to write at school or college; it becomes all the more challenging when you are competing with several writers for media space.

Duration of the workshop: Three days (Fri-Sun Sept 19-21; 10:00 am to 2:00 pm). Six sessions of two hours each.

Entry Fee: 5,000 PKR (including course material and hands-on training) per participant.

Venue: Institute of Media Skills M-5, Office Floor, Avanti Terrace, Allama Iqbal Road, Block 2, PECHS, Karachi.

Contact: 021-4534719; 0321-9229331. Registrations have already started.

Stay safe!

Update: Dawn adds, the explosion occurred on Sharah-e-faisal, one of Karachi’s busiest main roads at approximately 11:35AM. CCPO Wasim Ahmed confirmed that the device was a remote controlled bomb planted on a bicycle. However, it has not been confirmed if the bomb was specifically targeting the official.