Ever since childhood, all of us have been a victim of our parents’ daant dapat (being scolded). Most of us have experienced some unfathomable menacing comments by our elderly but also have received immense love from them.

Mostly, all desi/brown/Pakistani parents are the same. They act a certain way, especially when it comes to hosting guests. As they say, “Mehmaan bhagwaan hota hai”, meaning a guest is supposed to be respected like a god, it reflects the overall ideology of our culture and its hospitality.

Here are some relatable ____ that parents say,

1. Take out the crockery we use for guests

In every Desi household, there are two sets of crockery

1. Mismatched ones for the family members
2. Fancy shmancy ones for the guests, obviously.

2. Beta, say salam

Even if you’re in the shower/ taking a nap/ working on an important deadline, it is MANDATORY for you to leave everything and say salam to your guests because it’s an unforgiving sin, bhayee…

3. Betay, go make chai

Obviously…Chai is the calming factor of all sorts of discussions in our part of the world. Be it argument, a get-together, or a funeral, there’s no way you can’t offer chai to your guests. Guess who’s designated chai-maker of the family? *points at herself*

4. “You can have the trolly ka samaan when they leave”

In brown households, it is really a sin to pick food from the trolley before it goes in front of the guests. We’re only allowed to have the leftover snacks, that too once they leave. *Can’t wait for Khuda Hafiz, muaah muaah, bye bye*

5. “Our child is addicted to its phone”

Absolutely hate this! Am I the only person who’s hooked on their phone? No, right? Almost everyone is. Somehow, parents love pointing out everything wrong with you in front of the guests. Argh…

6.” God knows what my child does at university!”

Almost every mom has asked herself that. “Is it a university or a funfair?”, “How do your teachers let you wear that”, “Do you go to uni to study or to chill with friends?”

Ammi, why do you have to say it to others Hashtag: FeelingBeztified

7. “I don’t get these make-up classes on weekends”

Yes, this too. Parents never seem to understand why our classes get canceled at the last minute and the consequential make-up classes that we have to attend that are mandatory. *pfft*

If you’re that’s it, here’s some more for you:

8. “My child doesn’t listen to me at all”

9. “Your child is so talented”

10. “Look for a Rishta for my child”

11. Beta, aunty said you were smoking outside the house, is that true?

12. *Gives you the don’t-you-dare-take-money-from-the-guests looks*

13. “Hamara bacha tou kisi kaam ka nahi hai:

14. Aunty says, “I must have a Snapchat Account”

Oh no, Aunty, please don’t let that happen!

A little about Malam Jabba

Malam Jabba is known for the skiing resort attracting tourists from within, and outside of Pakistan. A little less than 10,000 ft above sea level and 300kms approx from Islamabad is where this magnificent mountaintop exists.
Malam Jabba has an excellent view, skiing resort, chairlift, local restaurants and some mountain top pakoras with chai you just can’t resist.

So much natural beauty, yet we’re losing tourism

This beautiful valley is often compared with the mighty Swiss Alps but is the local administration doing justice to such analogy? Several tourists in 2018 are complaining about the poor garbage disposal management and poorly developed roads that left them energy-less for any adventure ahead. This isn’t the first time Pakistan government is failing to capitalize a natural wonder in-terms of tourism. Pakistan has the potential to pull in explorers from all over the world, but the tourism only seems to fall every decade. The Rural families engaged in traditional handicraft, art or the local tourism service providing industry are witnessing a newer generation that aspires to move to Urban cities for a better hope for making a living.

With the diminishing threat of Terrorism, Swat valley is open for exposure to the world. Skiers from all over the world visit Malam Jabba every year and adore the hill station’s ethereal beauty. The skiing festival of February 2018 had 4 teams with the participation of 21 skiers. It was organized by joint efforts of Samson Group of Companies and Swat District Administration. The beauty of the mountains was applauded, however, the management of the festival was accused of being “Not ready” for the great amount of tourism. There was garbage all around the location, public washrooms were dirty, vehicles were parked one after the other without any check and balance, and roads were extremely bumpy. There were cars stuck in a mixture of mud and snow every few kilometers with some locals taking advantage of the situation by renting out metal chains to the tourists for over 1000 rupees each.

Is this the impression we want to give to potential tourists coming in from different parts of the world? Certainly not if we’re to justify the comparison between Malam Jabba and Swiss Alps.

Guess what’s up in Pakistan today? The Orange Line Metro also is known as OLMT is almost ready to go operational. It was run on a trial basis on Monday.

According to the Advisor to Chief Minister of Punjab, Khawaja Ahmad Hassan, four more trains sets have recently reached Lahore. They government officials state that once the new metro is operational, it would be comparable to the finest across the world including Moscow’s Kaluzhsko-Rizhskaya.

Public transport has always been a major issue in our part of the world. It’s great to know that a new system would be facilitating over 250,000 people(PakistanToday.com).

Moreover, it is also going to lessen the burden on the insane traffic on the roads which entails numerous roadblocks, accidents, and most importantly pollution to our environment, every day.

Another important issue that OLMT is going to resolve is of employment. It has been a crucial point of our economy which has led to innumerable crimes and anarchy. People have already started to apply for vacancies at the new transport system.

Resources tell that the project has a 12 km long portion of the track, from Dera Gujran to Lakshmi Chowk. It would be completed within the ongoing week, according to Government officials.

If you’re thinking what makes the OLMT so hyped  on social and mainstream media, here’s what you need to know:

It’s not the first time that PML-N has provided a service like this one where it benefited hundreds and thousands of people but also went against the demands of thousands of citizens.

People are protesting and debating all over the country as to halt the project since the idea was proposed. The reason being: The Orange Line Metro

The areas through which the Orange Line Metro passes had been of great sentimental, cultural, and religious importance to many people. The Express Tribune stated this morning, “A retaining wall has also been constructed for the preservation of tomb of Baba Mouj Derya situated near the track and work for fixing stone on façade of Anarkali Station has been commenced.”

Hence the Orange Line Metro Train has been controversial since its inception. It’s also true to say that everything has its pros and cons. Hope this new venture can be more of a benefit than a loss to the population of Lahore. Let us know your opinions about the new public transport which has been the hot topic of our newsfeed.

While there are too way too many cardinal sins of social media, here are a few picks for this week.

1. Thou Shalt Not Use Excessive Hashtags 

For social media marketing, hashtags are essential and engage the audience at a massive level. However, overusing them puts off the reader at times.

Another SMM DON’T is tagging a large number of people which is considered to be bothersome because some people don’t like to be notified about posts that are irrelevant to them.

Death by hashtags #InstaDeath #BadImpression #Dont #Do #I

2. Thou Shalt Not Upload Irrelevant and Untimely Posts

Nothing bores a social media user than seeing bland posts in their newsfeed. As a social media marketer, an important consideration is to be careful about the timing of the posts. Moreover, don’t upload posts that have the same content or are off-topic.

Source:1911addicts.com

Pluto re-emerged in 2015… Get your hands on our newest deals… How do I run for president?!

3.Thou Shalt Not Pay for Fake Followers 

The concept of millions of likes on Facebook and Instagram pages sounds fascinating and grand. Some apps have been introduced recently that boost the number of likes or followers which are not genuine. A social media manager must realize that such shortcuts are not fruitful and they end up paying more for bogus followers.

Source: tumblr.com

Don’t let your imaginary friends fool you

4.Thou Shalt Not Use Inappropriate Captions and Descriptions

Being moderate is the key to success on social media. Having too many images, texts, and tags ruin a post. The trick is to sell your product by using minimal words yet attempting to convince the audience. Additionally, giving appropriate captions to photos enhances the message being put forward. Words are as important as images and they need a balance in between.

Remember the ABC’s of content writing: accuracy, brevity and clarity. Bingo!

5. Thou Shalt Not Use Stock Images

Research tells that visual information is more retainable than textual. Therefore, it’s better to update pictures along with text so that the user can comprehend the message easily.

Moreover, don’t use stock pictures as they give a very unprofessional image. Your brand is your identity, therefore value it and use original photos and content for the page. Make your posts valuable in the eyes of the user. Another notable consideration is to use your logo company name as the display picture.

Remember: Belle fell for the Beast because of who he was

6. Thou Shalt Have Uniformity in the Content

Often at times, the social media team members of an enterprise lack communication and end up posting either too much information or irrelevant material. One bad mistake can make the user abandon your brand forever. It is important for all the team members to discuss the content before posting so that every individual is on the same page.

Source:metro.co.uk

7. Thou Shalt Not Publish Without Proofreading 

Since your posts are representing your brand, it is crucial to check and recheck before publishing online. The digital media audience believes in credibility and tends to lose their trust with one single mistake. Hence, it is mandatory for the team to collectively participate in proofreading before it goes on board.

Mohatta Palace is located in Karachi and was originally built to serve as the summer house of Shivratan Chandraratan Mohatta, a Hindu Marwari businessman. Located in what is now known as Clifton, the palace used to stand tall as the ocean would creep up during the summers. The structure is built from yellow stone from Jodhpur and the local pink stone from Gizri. This incredible structure houses various rooms and is an amalgamation of the incredible architecture that the subcontinent has been renowned for.

Mohatta Palace is an elaborate building that pays homage to the era of intricate detailed work with intricate details which are present in almost every portion of this magnificent building. Carving, peacock motifs are found on every corner of the building’s stonework along with floral motifs such as Marigolds and Hibiscus. The octagonal pillars give the building a distinctly unique identity that sets it apart from it counterparts. Soon after partition, it was designated as the center place for Ministry of Foreign Affairs until 1964, when Fatima Jinnah made it her residence. The Mohatta Palace would serve as her headquarter for election campaign against Ayub Khan. Till her untimely death the palace used to be known as “Qasar-e-Fatima”. After Fatima Jinnah’s death, her sister Shereen Fatima occupied the ground floor for many year until her death in 1980 whereupon the building was sealed off.

In 1995, the Sindh Government took over the palace as a means to convert it into a museum dedicated to showcasing the artistic and cultural heritage of Pakistan. After several years of deliberation the building was finally opened again in 1999 to serve as a public museum.

2. Badshahi Mosque

Perhaps one of the most visited and recognizable landmarks that pays tribute to the Mughal cultural and historical significance is this landmark from Lahore. Built in 1673 by Emperor Aurangzeb in his tenure of fanatical religiosity, the landmark has well served to attract large crowds of both local and foreign visitors due to its expansive courtyard, distinctive red brick that has a unique cooling effect, and the four towering “Minars”. But perhaps, the most controversial reason it is famous for is its location as it lies just adjacent to the “Heera Mandi”, an ancient residential colony of courtesans, musicians and artists that Aurangzeb in his time had ostracized tirelessly. A sikh temple, housing the remains of the Sikh ruler Ranjit Singh is also constructed in it’s vicinity which gives the mosque an interesting contrast with its small and pearly white construction.

Being the second largest mosque of Pakistan, it has a housing capacity of over 56,000 people. From army headquarters, to stable for horses as well as storage for ammunition and guns during wars pre partition, the mosque has seen its fair share of a colorful and eclectic crowd. After partition however, the mosque was officially handed over to the Muslim community and re-established as a praying area. The mosque provides an intimidating yet peaceful feel with its towering minarets, intricately carved archways, and the imposing red sand stone.

3. Lahore Fort

Directly opposite the entrance of the Badshahi Mosque, across the Hazuri Bagh, lies the monolith of Mughal splendor and strength. Spanning a massive 20 hectares (that’s the size of almost 20 football fields) it houses one of the most artistic and culturally important history of the Mughal time. The forts original constructing is contestable, since there is no evidence to date when it was built. A coin dating from the time of Mahmud Ghaznavi from the many lawns suggests that the fort was occupied by people previous to Akbar making it a popular destination. It houses 12 must see attractions that made UNESCO declare it a “World Heritage Site”.

The fort, though obvious in its name for what it was used for still has multiple usages. From keeping armies, to giant gardens, to summer houses and courtyards for dancing, the expansive structure was a all in one for Akbar and the following rulers to come. However, the forts history has been a bloody tale, with excavations unearthing evidence of previous inhabitants. There are also inconsistencies in the overall structure and lawns to which archeologists suggest the fort had been there since a long time. After Aurangzeb, the last of the significant Mughal rulers, the fort became a battle field among Sikh, Marathas and other parties eventually falling into the hands of Ranjit Singh.

4. Shalimar Gardens

Shalimar Gardens, is a Mughal era garden complex designed after Kashmir’s unique “terrace” style landscape as well as the Timurid gardens that were built in Iran and Central Asia in the 14^th century. The gardens were built at the apex of Mughal power and creative prowess in the time of Emperor Shah Jehan in 1964. The garden spills over a area of 16 hectares with five different levels.

The Shalimar garden were generally used by the Emperor to entertain guests. The land had to be acquired by the local Arain Mian family of Baghanpura and was built under the supervision of one of the noblemen from Shah Jehan’s court. The Arain family handed over Ishaq Pura, for the garden to be materialized in return the administration and running of the gardens were handed over to the Arain Mian family and has been in their possession since 350 years.

The garden is representation of heaven on earth but also symbolizes a poetic connection of man and nature living together in harmony. The expansive garden had to be laboriously constructed to mimic waterfalls of Kashmir and is regarded as an engineering marvel. Along with Lahore fort, these gardens also carry the title of “World Heritage Site” by UNESCO. The intricate canal works, coupled with the marble inlays with carvings are a delight to look at and as a result the gardens are relatively cooler than the rest of city where temperatures can peak to almost 49 degrees. The garden also has a total of 410 fountains and an ecosystem of trees that bear fruit such as oranges, mangoes, apricots and many more.

5. Islamia College

Perhaps the most influential colleges of Pakistan, the Islamia College is the centerstone for the Pakistan movement and has had the future leaders of Pakistan grace it’s halls. Built on a personal initiative by Sir S.A Qayyum and Sir George Ross-Kepel, the college was a direct contemporary of the Aligarh Institute.

In 1901, after N.W.F.P (currently known as KP) was annexed from the Punjab, many of the youth found themselves travelling far and wide for quality higher education. With an idea for a college already in their mind, a trip to Aligarh convinced Sir Qayyum and George to build not only an outstanding educational institute but also a place that could cultivate leaders. Thus in a meeting with likeminded peers, the idea was brought forth and an immediate fund raising campaign was initiated. The people who were part of the meeting were the first donators. Mir Rahim Shah Kakakhel donated not only cash but also promised to build the hostel building which stands to this day with the name “Rahim Shah” ward. Nawab of Dir furnished a cash of 5 Lakh rupees as well as 400 trees. Other notable clans of NWFP such as the Afridi’s were also the fore runners in making the realization of the college a reality.

The Islamia College Peshawar was so monumental in making the next generation of leaders that Muhammad Ali Jinnah visited the college 3 times and also bequeathed a generous portion of land in his last will.

Pakistani authors have written such amazing books that have received attention in the international literary circles and it is genuinely disappointing to see how our youth does not read local books enough. The beauty of these books is the cultural context which gives color to the story being told. If you are an avid reader and want to get started with the Pakistani literature, here are some books to get you started:

1. Moth Smoke by Mohsin Hamid

This debut novel by Hamid revolves around a banker, Darashikoh Shezad, who loses his job, falls in love with his best friend’s wife and gets involved with drugs. The way Hamid has portrayed this side of the society explored the topics of adultery and drug abuse is just exceptional. Characterization of this book is out of this world and Hamid managed to pull off the female protagonist, Mumtaz, perfectly.

2. A Case of Exploding Mangoes by Mohammad Hanif:

A Case of Exploding Mangoes, a dark comedy, is a perfect blend of fiction and non-fiction. The plot is about the death of General Zia and Mohammad Hanif did a great job in depicting a relatively sensitive topic in a humorous manner. This book is about love, betrayal, tyranny, family, and a conspiracy trying its damnedest to happen.

3. Our Lady of Alice Bhatti Mohammad Hanif:

Another great book by Mohammad Hanif portrays the struggle of women in the Pakistani society. It challenges the cultural taboos attached to the society and keeps you hooked throughout the book. This is not your ordinary love story; it’s full of second chances, thwarted ambitions, and love in unlikely places.

4. Ice Candy Man by Bapsi Sidhwa:

If you are interested in the history of Indo-Pak separation, this is one book you must read because it is not written from a Hindu or Muslim perspective, but that of a Parsi. The events are described as experienced by a Parsi child which enhances the beauty of this novel. Bapsi Sidhwa explored the religious differences between the two communities in a very subtle manner.

5. Tender Hooks by Moni Mohsin:

A satire on the elite society of Pakistan, this book is guaranteed to give you a good laugh and you will genuinely enjoy reading this book. It is a follow-up to Moni Mohsin’s “The Diary of a Social Butterfly”. Set in Lahore, this book is a social commentary on the high-society and how it remains unaffected by the events happening in the country.

These are only a few names of the great books our authors have written. If you have more suggestions, please mention it in the comments.

Be it Karachi to Pindi or Kansas to Paris, Pakistanis can be spotted with a few staple/ standard informally qaumi(national) things that they do no matter where they go. It is an utter happiness to see another Pakistani when you’re traveling abroad; you can relate to them more and realize that all of us are the same in one way or the other. Listed below are some trademarks of every Pakistani going abroad

1.Social Media Update aka #TravelDiaries Farz Hai: How many times in a month do you encounter falana falana falana traveling to falana from Benazir Bhutto International Airport, insert: emo quote about being passionate about travel and wanderlust.
Yep, you got it. Except going to the loo, we update almost everything that goes on the day, hence, travel update is mandatory. That also reminds me how one of my colleagues gets sad every time his/her friend travels, it just ticks the wanderer inside him/her (despite traveling the whole world already! Pfft.)

Source: Giphy.com

2. Mandatory Phone Call: ID? Check. Passport? Check. Charger? Check. A phone call to Ammi, Abu, Taya, Chachi, Mami, Mamoo, Khaansama, Mali, Boss, Neighbors? Phew! It isn’t necessarily an attempt to imply that you’re showing-off your ecstatic travel but our Pakistani life revolves around so many people that it is sometimes important to keep everyone in the loop. One wonders who’s going to look after dad/ If the Khaansama has the extra key/ If the boss still remembers the email you sent him/her, also to double-check their reaction. (oops, I hope mine isn’t reading!)

Source: Giphy.com

3. Selfies With Fellow Passengers: Confession: I have done this. Only once!
Well, it’s kind of fair when you’re doing 16 hour long flights with boring layovers and chapters of sleep deprivation!( Oh god, don’t even get me started). Anyway, Pakistanis are known for their hospitality, perhaps that’s what brings them at ease while conversing with people of all ethnicities and regions.

But first, let me take a selfie.

Source: Letras.com

4. Rishta Aunty’s Paradise: What’s our mom’s and aunty’s favorite hobby: Matchmaking! Yes, you got it right. Be it a wedding, birthday party, or a long journey, an efficient Rishta aunty never leaves a chance to let her skills go unnoticed. They’re the living example of cctv cameras. How to spot on? As soon as they ask you, “aur bete aap kya karte ho? Ammi Abu kya karte hain?” That’s a smart trick that aunties do because the poor victim can’t even escape while on a plane/ train/ bus. Tadaa!

Qabool hai.

Source: Gfycat.com

5. Take Homemade Food Along: Many coolios consider it a cheap stunt but I feel it’s a good and healthy practice to take along a home cooked snack when you travel. A lot of Pakistanis are looked down upon for doing that. Remember the 90s when we used to go to picnics and would take along ghar ka khana, it was so much fun, right? *expects you to nod*. Why not though? A. It’s healthy
B. It’s clean, you know nothing fishy is going on
C. It suits your taste buds and the chances of it going wasted are less.
*Takes a bite of her homemade chicken while typing this blog*

Source: theodysseyonline.com

6. Fill-in Cash in Every Pocket( Zaroori Hai, Bhai): Something I’ve seen only my Pakistani friends and family do. We live in a country full of muggers and pocket-pickers, however, we have sought the way around to make ourselves go less-broke. It’s a brilliant hack to keep some cash in breast-pocket, some in the wallet, some in the jacket pocket, whatever pocket you know. Also keep a tab of it somewhere in a small diary/ the notepad on your smartphone. You won’t get completely mugged, trust me on this.

Source: giphy.com

7. Lota FTW: Definition of lota: “a round water pot, typically of polished brass” – Oxford Dictionary

As a Pakistani, you miss your country the most when you’re at a high-end cafe in the West and there’s no jet-spray(a.k.a Muslim shower) or Lota in the loo. Oops, daisy! No paper-towel, no toilet paper, nothing satisfies us more than water while in the loo. Hence, if you see someone carrying water bottles or lota(which is a bliss), you know they’re from the subcontinent origin. No shame in our game, bruh!

Source: blogs.tribune.com.pk

8. Cigarettes in bulk?: Every time I ask a friend if they want something from Pakistan, their first reply is, “Marlboro ki dandee” (one big stick of Marlboro cigarettes). Reason being,
Pakistan has cheaper cigarettes than most places.
Pakistani brands are unmatchable to international ones.

Source: popkey.co

9. Shalwar Kameez Because Qaumi, Comfy, and Cool: Alright, let’s get this straight. There’s no other comfortable attire than shalwar kameez. We dig the comfy and homely feel it gives us. It’s also suitable for all kinds of weathers unless of course, it’s freezing! Qaumi, comfy, aur cool hai jee.

Source: memegenerator.net

10. Caffeine Please?!: Chai chahaiye! Anytime, anywhere, any kind. Us Pakistanis live on chai and coffee. It’s really simple to spot a Pakistani while traveling abroad: the teabag says it all. Just like cigarette packs, we love taking along our own brand of tea wherever we go in the world.

Source: Gify.com

Yours sincerely,

A Dil Say Pakistani