USB Blog- Debut Issue; April 2012 by Usb Blog Magazine

Core Team: Usamaa Babar - CEO/Founder of USB™ Danish Rana – COO USB™, CEO/Founder of USB Blog™ Zoraiz Khushnood Mir - Director/Co-Founder of USB Blog™ Shehryar Abbasi - Managing Officer/Co-Founder of USB Blog™ Imteshal Tahir - Editor in Chief Rehmat Ajmal - Assistant Editor in Chief Editorial Team Saad Nadeem Ali Hussain Arfa Ahmad Nael Hafeez Maham Bokhari Moaz Ahmed Junaid Aftab Amber Shafi Cover Page/Magazine designer Dawar Nauman Butt Khurram Zaheer (Assistant) Marketing Head Abdullah Altaf Media Head Jaffar Xaidi Distribution Head Aizaz Tariq Butt Official Photographer Umer Shoaib Credits Anam Khurram Ubaid Ahmed Talha bin Munir Hasnain Abbas Baloch MAC Taimur Rizwan Khizer Anees Zain Shahid Saif Shahid Shahnawaz Zali

USB BLOG REPRESENTATIVES Aitchison Temur Butt

LGS 55-Main Shazra Saeed LGS 1-A/1 Jaazah Hassan LGS Defence Qirat Hameed LGS Paragon Rehman Nasir LGS JT Boys Ahmed Turab LGS Cantt Ayela Khan LGS EME Umar Rana LGS Phase V Ramiz Javed LGS Township Khurram zaheer

LUMS Aleena Khan

BNU Mehak Khan

UCL Eeshah Omer Ifra Iqbal

PIFD Farwa Ali Beaconhouse Defence Campus Rabiya Lone Beaconhouse Liberty Lahore Mahnur Ahmed Beaconhouse ALGC Taha Khan Beaconhouse CSC Zaineb Noor Beaconhouse Newlands Aamir Sohail

SICAS Ali Abbas

SKANS Umer Akram LACAS Noor Faisal Learning Alliance Bano Munir Choueifat Iman Ali

NCA Almah Malik Lahore Alma Lala Rukh Khan

FAST Hashim Baloch KIMS Zainab Aziz

Forman Christain College Farid Butt Kinnaird College Raima Imran

Lahore College Saba Tariq

Lahore School of Economics Aroosa Tariq Talha Randhawa

Government College Farhan Khan Sherwani

PAC Muneed Syed

CONTENT INTRODUCTION TO THE TEAM

TRIBUTE TO ARFA KARIM

I HEAR THE CLOCK TICK MY SECONDS

WHEN YOU’RE DONE REACHING? YOU SETTLE.

HOPE

3 4 5

CELEBRITY TALK – AKCENT

EVENT COVERAGE

TEENAGE

PAKISTAN DAY SPECIAL

WHY IT IS THAT EVEN AFTER 65 YEARS..

I’M A SON, A STUDENT AND A PTI MEMBER OUR INCONVENIENT TRUTH

15 16

FASHION TRENDS

WITH ZARA PEERZADA FOR HER AND FOR HIM BEAUTY TIPS

THE NATION’S PRIDE

17 18 20

SHARMEEN OBAID CHINOY

IT’S ALL ABOUT TECHNOLOGY

SPORTS

ZOONIQUE

MUSIC HOTSHOTS

26 28

BILAL LASHARI: HIS PROSPECTIVE CINE SCENE

30 34

MARIJUANA – IT’S A HERB! CUTS, PILLS AND SUICIDE FLAMES TO DUST

38 39 40

POEMS WHAT THE F**K FACTS!

41 42

TOP 10 SONGS

COVER STORY 11 ONE-TO-ONE WITH IMRAN KHAN 12

JAVED HASHMI

EDITORIALS

Messages from the Team

TRIBUTE TO ARFA KARIM Kaliyon ko mai seenay ka lahu dekar chali hun, sadiyon mujhay yaad karegi gulshan ki fizaen! ARFA KARIM RANDHAWA (2 Feb 1995 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 14 Jan 2012)

Arfa Karim Randhawa, each Pakistani soul is familiar with this name. It is indeed tragic that a beacon of hope has been extinguished. The child prodigy at the age of nine became the worlds youngest Microsoft Certified Professional. She was invited by Bill Gates to visit the Microsoft Headquarters in USA. Arfa Karim represented Pakistan on various international forums. She was invited by the IT Professionals of Dubai for a stay of two weeks in Dubai. A dinner reception was hosted for her there too! During that trip, Arfa was presented with various medals and awards. She also flew a plane in a flying club in Dubai at the age of ten. In November 2006, Arfa was invited by Microsoft to be a part of the keynote session in the Tech-Ed Developers conference held in Barcelona. She was the only Pakistani among over 5000 developers in that conference. As of 2011, at the age of 16, Arfa Karim studied at Lahore Grammar School Paragon Campus in her second year of A levels. She was the youngest person to be awarded the President's Award for Pride of Performance. She was further presented with the Fatimah Jinnah Gold Medal in the field of Science & Technology along with the Salaam e Pakistan Youth award. Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited known as PTCL nationwide, had appointed Arfa Karim as the Brand ambassador of their 3G wireless Broadband service 'EVO' in Jan2010. A source of inspiration for thousands, Arfa's ascendant star was cut short by a cardiac arrest in December, leading to her death in Lahore in a rainy Saturday night. A silent funeral procession was carried out in her ancestral village near Faisalabad. A Science park in Lahore now is named after her as 'Arfa Software Technology Park'.

It is too sad that prodigies die young, but Arfa's accomplishments were & are greater than many in this world. She will remain in the hearts of us all. May God grant her the heavens and the best in the hereafter. IMTESHAL TAHIR. USB BLOG.

I HEAR THE CLOCK TICK MY SECONDS PAST ME Anonymous

I hear the clock tick my seconds past me. Idle, I know not what the next minute or even second holds. Naive or dumb I sit there making plans for the next 10 years. Under graduation, graduation, work, career, family, friends, children, I even imagine an old me - an old, HAPPY, me. I have a house I built with my love, my sweat and my ambition. Its vast floors give a feel of freedom and its tanned yellow paint reminds me of the rising sun. It lights the street like the sun lights the earth after a long night. Even in a rainy night it shines like the only ray of hope. I have two children - a boy and a girl I love with all my heart and more. A partner there for me through thick and thin. Someone I cherish and love and respect. Someone who knows me inside out like the back of their hand. Someone.. who loves me the way I am. Who loves my goods as well as my bads. Who accepts me how I am. I don’t have to change for them, I don’t have to be someone I’m not to impress them. My job is truly what I always wanted to do. Help people. I went against all odds to do it and I succeeded. I finally carved my name in the bold, unforgettable pages of history. I have all I wanted and all I needed and all I ever dreamt of. I am satisfied with what I achieved and what I did with my life. I found all the love in life a person possibly could and my life is perfect.. perfect till the next moment where I feel this pinch in my heart traveling all the way till my left index finger. I ignore it and continue thinking. My children would live the life I wanted when I was a child. A life I couldn’t have. And then the pain grows stronger as the clock ticks. Free of any biasness or prejudice they shall grow, both of them. My left arm starts to get heavier and my fingers start to get numb. Me and my friends who grew old together shall sit on fine evenings telling our children about the silly things we used to think and do. My palms they start to soak in cold sweat. The back of my neck feels as if it wouldn’t be able to hold my head anymore. And with an unpredictable blow to the chest I come back to the present. My jaw is clenched together I want to scream but I can't. It's like someone is holding it shut. Panic comes over me and then it gets harder to breath. Nausea makes my stomach twirl and twist. What's going on? I can’t be dyeing - no, I still have time. I have a lot of time. I haven’t even reached proper adulthood. The pinch turns into blows of pain. I gasp for air. And immediately the unwritten guarantee of time comes to my mind. I ask myself, who said I would live to fulfill my dreams? Who assured me that my life would not end any minute? Where is it written that I am to live a long and healthy life? Time is nothing - I clench my chest tighter - And it is everything, everyone, everywhere - I struggle for air- Influencing, controlling and consuming all that exists. I fall off of my chair. On all fours I understand that time has no exceptions anywhere. May it be on the moon or in a different galaxy. May it be when I’m alone or with thousands of people. Time is cruel yet somehow righteous. Though somehow somewhere unjust. But a second once passed is lost forever and the one coming can’t be stopped by any force in the world. Time is absolute and time is infinite. Yet we waste it every day forgetting that each day is not a right but a given gift. So, every time we say “I’ll do it tomorrow” we gamble. We gamble with a little too much faith in the guarantee of waking up another day. Because in reality we reach closer to our end as the fastest hand of the clock completes yet another circle. My head feels heavier than before and my arms give up. I fall to the floor and lay there in a crooked, crumbled manner. My lungs not allowing me to pant vigorously anymore though my last weak gasps I still manage. I suddenly see the blurry faces of my mom and my dad in a constant rushed motion above me. I try to smile – I couldn’t feel my face. They are saying something I can’t understand. I can’t hear them I just see the hazy shadow of their lips move. Everything is in a slow motion. Time seemed to stop. My eyes I can’t force to keep open anymore fall shut. And finally with my remaining breath and a hand to my chest I say my Lords name. My last tears trailing from my cheekbone and making their way to the floor. I finally understood the impact of time on our lives. I finally understood even if a little too – *And so, away flew the little light of my existence on the brittle, willful wings of time.*

When you’re done reaching? You settle. Rehmat Ajmal

Often I think to myself, while escaping from where you are, you unconsciously get trapped in a place from where you would want to escape, later. From one bubble that pops, another takes shape. You shift from bubble to bubble, from street to street, not only rediscovering what’s discovered but discovering what’s undiscovered. Life…? It gives you a fair prospect to go through situations that may leave a ceaseless impact on your mind. Changing perspectives, deciding paths, manipulating decisions, dreaming realities, making you reach something or ‘someone’, making you ‘need’ what you ‘want’, it makes you float like an undecided kite. They say, ‘there’s a solution to every problem’, but they forget that there is also a problem to every solution. When life gives you chances, where you struggle, marching towards your preplanned goals, thinking about a premature victory you forget that there is a flip side to every coin. You forget that every coin gets rusty. The easiest destruction is the destruction of one’s mind, ‘words’ being the biggest weapon. Once destructed, once tired of reaching, a human mind decides to settle. That settling is not called giving up, that settling is called staying content with what one’s destiny determines. Like raindrops trying to reach the ground, and settling on one’s window. Just like that one raindrop, I’ve also stopped trying to reach the ground. I’ve settled myself on a window, waiting for destiny to dry me out.

From Rehmat Ajmal’s Blog.

Follow Rehmat Ajmal on http://rehmatajmal.wordpress.com/

Hope Arfa Ahmad

Hope is the emotional state which reinforces the belief in a positive outcome related to the events and circumstances in one’s life. It is the “feeling that what is wanted can be taken” or that “events will turn out for the best”. Hope literally opens us up..removes the blinders of fear and despair..allows us to see the big picture, thus allowing us to become creative..to have belief in a better future. Hope breeds the courage to achieve the unachievable, to expect the unexpected. It restores supports, and strengthens your faith..your belief in yourself; helps you to approve..to confide in your abilities; proving that you are capable of accomplishing your mission..of reaching your destination ..of attaining what you desire; proving that nothing is impossible. That all is not yet lost..! Simply verifying that you CAN do it! Hope helps you to reason..to trust..to have faith that there is still some possibility of fulfilling your wish..your wants..your desires..your yearning. It makes it easier to believe..to accept that whatever happens has a solid reason behind it. To hope is to risk pain, but then, risk must be taken because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing. And hope assures that there will always be a reward to compensate for any loss..suffering..shortfall..pain that you endured. It erases the sense of failure..weakness..helplessness even in the darkest moments. Hope ensures..promises a better future. It is a guiding light at the end of the long blank tunnel of despair..misery..depression you live in. It is the single beam that penetrates the thick curtain of unhappiness that envelopes you..the only blanket that covers you in distress..the only friend you have when dejected..the eradicator of loneliness..the destroyer of torments..the terminator of suffering..the barrier between the bright and dark phases of life..the burier of sorrow..and thus, the dawn of harmony..peace.. equanimity..tranquility.. And so, you can achieve your goals by depending upon..trusting..believing in hope. And it will help you by guaranteeing the best there is. Therefore..NEVER GIVE UP..NEVER BACK DOWN!

CELEBRITY TALK An Exclusive Interview with AKCENT USB Blog: Hello, its a pleasure to be here with you guys tonight. Adrian: It is wonderful to be able to talk to you . USB Blog: Alright, this is your second time here in Pakistan. What do you think about the country, the people? Adrian: The country is amazing, the people are so nice and welcoming, they love their music and they are great hosts. Mihai: The enthusiasm of the crowds during our performances is absolutely terrific. USB Blog: So how did the band come into being? Also, how important is the name Akcent to you? Mihai: It was Adrian who founded this band, he's an original member. The name is very important to us. We like to think that ever since we started recording our music, Akcent has become an important name in the music industry. USB Blog: We understand that you used to have a fourth member, Marius, but he is no longer with you. Would you like to comment on that? Adrian: Yes, Marius was a part of us, but he wanted to go solo. He wanted his album to be released before ours, but our label had plans and he decided that it was best for him to leave. He said some angry things in a press conference soon after leaving, he claimed we asked him to leave. USB Blog: Did you? Adrian: No, no. We never asked him to leave. USB Blog: Are you still in touch with him? Mihai: Yes, he is still a friend and we wish him all the best for his future. USB Blog: Right. Moving on, lets have a little fun. Adrian, who is your favourite superhero? Adrian: Superman, I guess. Mihai (laughing): Wonderwoman's his favourite, he just hides it. USB Blog: How do you guys like to unwind after a long show? Sorin: We like to check our facebook, see what our fans have to say and watch a little TV. USB Blog: Do you guys have a message to for your fans here in Pakistan? Akcent: We love you guys, we love it here and we hope you continue listening to us because our fans are the most important thing for us. Pakistan has always been an amazing place to come to, all thanks to you and your support. USB Blog: Thank you for your time. Akcent: Thank you.

EVENT COVERAGE

TEENAGE Junaid Aftab

‘Teenage’, ‘youth’ and ‘adolescence’, do these words mean anything to you? Of course, they do. How naive could I be? Everyone is, was or will be a teenager and I cherish the fact that I am one. Being a teenager is not an easy job, but not the most difficult of all either. Teenage years bring joy, but also accompany sadness and tears in one’s life. These contradicting feelings are hard to explain. Thus, in the next page or two, which I shall write, I’ll try to explain the advantages and disadvantages of being a teenager, a rather distinct teenager, I should say. A teenager finds himself in a completely different world by the time he is one, and that is one of the best aspects about it. You start to see, feel and sense things around you in a whole new perspective. That is when you are considered to be a mature person. People start to view your intellectual abilities in a realistic light. You become a man! Furthermore, as I stated, ‘Teenage years bring joy…,’ they certainly do my friend. You interact with people at school and your locality, and, consequently, you make friends, which include girls, a motive of some teenagers. Anyhow, as I was saying, a person gets the best opportunity in his life to make new friends when he is a teen’. To have fun with them, party around the streets of Lahore and scream at the top of their lungs to make everybody feel your presence. The true essence of being a teenager lies here, the joyous moments you live out every day, forget to cherish and sadly reminisce about when you’re what, 60 years old. And yes, yes, yes! How can I forget, Freedom. Teenagers are not bound to work like their parents etc. However, they have the liberty to just live out their life, to enjoy! Even if you spend all day playing football or Xbox or football on your Xbox, will the world come to an end? It certainly would not. No wonder why people say, “Abhe tou tum jawan hou, mauj karo!” However, the life of a teenager does not only bear the aspects mentioned above. With this new life come complications and responsibilities. Suddenly the level of expectations rises. If you fail and fall down, people would call you a fallen hero. No wonder they’ll offer you hand, or two, to get up and get going again, but doesn’t that sound like an insult to you. It surely does to me. And this fear of insult induces a feeling of complexity and uncertainty in the mind of the teenager. He’s reluctant to express his own opinion, actions, gestures, his own voice! Why? Just because of the fear of insult. Furthermore, teenagers like to occupy themselves in fights, more commonly known as ‘phaddas’. They try to put their muscular abilities to practice and what happens at the end of the day? They wind up breaking a bone or two or get theirs broken. It’s a misconception amongst the youth that fighting can solve their issues, or it will aid in boosting up their reputation in their circle. This shouldn’t be happening at all. Also, teenagers, of the newer generation specifically, have become slaves of fashion. Almost every teenager wants branded apparel and accessories from Next, Nike, Levi’ etc. What prompts them to? Peer pressure. A classic example of peer pressure, in my viewpoint. Every teen’ wants to dress up in the most meticulous, exquisite and appealing manner. With this urge to, they don’t realize the amount of burden they’re putting on their parents. Eventually, teenagers win the wrath of their parents, which leads to arguments, fights, and finally, everything culminates into the creation of bridges in the relationship between the teen’ and his parents. However, the fact is and will forever remain is that teenage years are the most splendid time of one’s life and as Raymond Duncan once said and I quote, “The best substitute for experience is being sixteen (a teenager)”. I am proud of having the opportunity to be able to live that experience.

Imran Khan Niazi is a Pakistani politician and former cricketer, playing international cricket for two decades in the late twentieth century. After retiring, he entered politics. Currently, besides his political activism, khan is also a philanthropist, cricket commentator, chancellor of the University of Bradford and founder and chairman board of governors of Shaukat Khanum memorial cancer hospital & research centre. Arguably Pakistan’s most successful cricket captain, khan played for the Pakistani cricket team from 1971 to 1992 and served as its captain intermittently throughout 1982–1992. After retiring from cricket at the end of the 1987 World Cup, he was called back to join the team in 1988. At 39, Khan led his teammates to Pakistan’s first and only world cup victory in 1992. He has a record of 3807 runs and 362 wickets in test cricket, making him one of eight world cricketers to have achieved an 'all-rounder's triple' in test matches. On 14 July 2010, khan was inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame. In April 1996, khan founded and became the chairman of a political party Pakistan Tehreeke-Insaf (Movement for Justice). He represented Mianwali as a member of the national assembly from November 2002 to October 2007. Foreign Policy Magazine has described him as Pakistan’s Ron Paul. Through worldwide fundraising, he has also helped establish the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital & Research Centre in 1996 and Mianwali's NAMAL University in 2008.

USB BLOG seizes an opportunity to chat with and explore the many facts of this captivating social worker, remarkable former Cricket Captain and persuasive politician.

One-to-One with IMRAN KHAN USB Blog: From an A class cricketer to a political saviour, how has been the journey so far? Imran Khan: A long journey. And like everything else, it needs struggle. A struggle means disappointments and setbacks, but to analyse that what went wrong and to pick yourself up and start your fight again. March towards your goals! In my life, a sport is the best thing that teaches you to struggle. Because if you don't have the ability to take your back and withstand the bad times while struggling towards your goals and if you don't have the capability to analyse your mistakes, you simply fade away! So having gone through a long struggle in cricket, it helped me in the struggle to where I am now. And even the biggest undertaking was to build a hospital. USB: Why did you chose politics? I mean, you could serve this country with the social work itself too. What brought you to politics exactly? IK: Never has social work ever saved a country. You can only change your country by political means; the situation of Pakistan answers that. If we go back 15 years, when I started this long haul, even then I knew that unless there is a change, Pakistan would never achieve its potential, struck between two political family mafias. That was the time when I decided to become and alternative between these family mafias. Politics is a big business. It is where they make money and where they protect that corrupt money. So, the only way to bring Pakistan to state at which it should have been, The Jinnah's Pakistan, was to come into politics.

Zoraiz and Danish with Imran Khan.

USB: In your book: 'Pakistan: A personal history', you claim that you were raised with English traditions and came to love your country later. Was that rediscovery mere political expediency? IK: It wasn't that I came to love the country later. I love Pakistan from day one. In fact in the book I say that how proud of Pakistan we were when we were growing up. Pakistan was the fastest growing country in the third world. People from abroad used to come and study in Pakistani institutions. Out hospitals were top in the class. PIA was the second best airline in the world. There was always love for this country but what I was turned by was that the English medium elitist education system had decultarized and deislamized me. What happened was that through constant questioning and then because I could look Pakistan from outside (abroad) half a year which I spent after university, I had a much better birds-eye-view of Pakistan. Hence, there was as roll of selfanalysis that went wrong. USB: What do you think about the current state of Pakistani Cricket team? IK: Pakistan is a cricket loving country which is doing well despite having no cricket structure because of a tremendous overwhelming talent in the country. There is no country which has as much talent than in Pakistan. But sadly, we do not have a domestic cricket structure which could polish this talent. USB: Whose political ideology do you vastly support? IK: Pakistan's JINNAH! I think he was the ultimate Pakistani politician. Speaking worldwide, Mahathir Mohamad of Malaysia and ErdoÄ&#x;an of Turkey. Despite the fact that these three were Muslims, Lee Kuan Yew of Singapore was a non-muslim but I like the way he changed Singapore. From $500 per capita to $33000 per capita in just 45 years was just remarkable. And forget about people saying that it's a city state. All the principle that make a city-state successful are the principle that are needed to make any state successful. USB: Why are you perceived to be an anti-American? IK: This is because I am not an obedient American slave. Here, they think that if you do not bow and accept the policies which are thrust on us, like the war on terror and raise your righty point of view, if you are against them or if you think that they are being unfair or unjust, they perceive you to be an anti-American. This is because slaves are not supposed to question their masters. I have never been anti-American. I have never been anti-any country because countries are comprised of all sorts of human beings. But, I have always been against the policies made by the US government in Palestine, Iraq, war on terror, Afghanistan and rooting towards Pakistan. In reality, these policies have hurt the American nationals more, financially and by their loss of loved ones. Plus they have created hatred amongst the war of terror but Pakistan has been devastated, so have Afghanistan and Iraq. USB: What are your hopes for the 2013 elections? IK: After an overwhelming response and need for a good leader, I can confidently say; Insha'Allah Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaaf will sweep. USB: What is your message to the youth? IK: There is only sometimes that Almighty Allah gives people a chance to change their destiny. The Almighty has now given a chance to Pakistan to change its destiny. In other words, the whole country wants a change and the current ruling mafias are totally discredited: thanks to a vibrant electronic and social media. So this is the chance in time we should not let go otherwise the younger generation will regret for the rest of their lives that we missed the chance to bring Pakistan to what it should have been Jinnah's Pakistan. This is a golden opportunity. If we grasp it, we become a different country.

WHY IT IS THAT EVEN AFTER 65 YEARS, THE COMMON PAKISTANI HAS BEEN UNABLE TO DEFINE HIS IDENTITY? Daniyal Rizwan In its short history, Pakistan has witnessed several, to say the least, chaotic regimes. The whole era has been filled with utter confusion and complete lust for power. The extent of the mayhem can be seen from the fact that half of the time Pakistan has been ruled by the military Generals and the other half by the politicians - the so called ‘lawmakers’ of this country. The founder of this country, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, wanted the army to remain in the barracks and the politicians to remain loyal to the state. Alas, both of his wishes, to this day, remain unfulfilled. There are just too many groups, schools of thought, alliances and coalitions for a small state, Pakistan, to handle. It is because of the several different ideologies and doctrines, I believe, that Pakistan has remained a divided and unsure state. Unity -a word so simple yet holding a much greater meaning. For any country, to move forward and to even hope for prosperity, unity is the vital element. The problem thus arises, when the word ‘Pakistani’ disappears and the use of regional classifications increases – Sindhi, Balochi, Punjabi and Pathan but no Pakistani. Its issues like these which give rise to a confusion about the future of the state. Who will rule the federation, a Sindhi or a Punjabi? Who will be the head of the armed forces? How many seats should the Baluchis be given in the Parliament? All these questions have been raised hundreds of times in the past 63 years and whatever the answer, they all indicate one thing – lack of unity. It is not just about regional differences. Pakistan is a country plagued by sectarian conflict. Once again against the beliefs of the founder of this country, Pakistan has been labeled as a Muslim state, instead of, what it was meant to be, a secular state. Pakistan’s core ideology has been distorted, so as to cater for the interests of certain extremist elements in the federation. Difference in religion isn't even the main problem; it is the conflicting ideologies of the different sectarian groups which have led the country to a place where no one’s sure about the future. There is a mammoth gulf among the commonalties and it is has, almost, reached the point where making things better would not even be an option. Pakistanis are unsure about their beliefs, they are killing each other for believing in a slightly different version of the same religion and, simply put, the whole system is a ‘big mess’. Whether it is the Baluchis refusing to erect the Pakistani flag in their region or the Muhajirs not accepting Pathans in Karachi, one thing is for sure, there remains a massive divide among the masses of this country. Kalabag Dam, a futuristic project, was plagued by provincial politics and internal conflicts. Had the lawmakers and the ‘democratically’ elected representatives of this country for once left their personal grudges aside for the betterment of the state, we would not be facing an almost fatal energy crisis. People are uncertain about what they want and the major reason for this ambiguity is the fact that Pakistanis do not stand united, neither on religious grounds nor on cultural ones. Whether the best way forward for Pakistan is democracy or dictatorship, I believe, is a secondary issue. The foremost action should be to draw out everyone from their local cultural norms or their religious enmities and to bring them under one word, call it a religion, ideology, culture or a creed, “Pakistani”.

“MEIN BAGHI HOON” Maham Bokhari Jefferson in his ‘Letter to Maddison’ states “a little rebellion now and then.. is a medicine necessary for the sound health of government.” “Mein baghi hoon” I am a rebel, these lines showed how it is well said, words are the greatest weapons, and the true importance of this statement can be understood by none but the masses who have been instilled with the deepest of awe for betterment of this country. Fellow countrymen, as the current circumstances show, there is indeed great need for the ashes to rise into a flame, and that flame was seen in the eyes of Makhdoom Javaid Hashmi. This man is either striving for change or he foresees a tornado hitting the country thus he has adopted the path with greater thorns that grants him a throne in the limelight too. While addressing a mega political rally at the tomb of Quaid-eAzam in Karachi on December 25, 2011 He said, "The youth of today have to move forward. Karachi is mini Pakistan. It represents all shades of the peoples of Pakistan." Quoting Quaid-e-Azam he said, "Minorities are our blood." Hashmi straight forwardly addressed to PTI Chairman Imran Khan, "Yes, I'm a rebel (Baghi); you invited a rebel to join PTI, Now if you have not delivered as per your manifesto I will be first person to rebel against your Party” This is not the first time that he has rebelled against the wrong citation within the society, this is not his first time of leaving a political party, not the first time of his rebellion against “dictatorship” but rather another trailer of another blockbuster to come which might make the pages turn to make history if the PTI succeeds in the 2013 elections. Political party and this in Hashmi’s case does not represent rigidity of character but rather an attribute of failing to adjust in something that does not suit his principles.

paved his way gloriously into PTI as seen during the political rally , which presented him to be the lion being carded by his followers, he claimed his power in a way that further added charm to that event and made it far more overwhelming as the words alone said it all. His book too deals with this deep issue of rebellion, its causes, its effects and how it is influential on the minutest of things. He says that not only is Khan his favourite cricketer but he is now his star politician too. The statement “Pakistan needs you” uttered by Khan is really what made him realize how it was entirely meant to be for him to now serve that party and work for change as promised. The only justification of rebellion is said to be success. That justification is yet to be witnessed by this country. They say that some books are to be read, some to be swallowed, some to be chewed and others to be learnt from but this is a book in the making which is to be felt and praised, only if Javaid Hashmi, in regard to his allegiance towards PTI, delivers justice and everything that the Pakistanis have longed for otherwise the only answer from the youth would be “hum bhi baaghi hain”.

Hashmi is a remarkably popular figure, winning three National Assembly seats in 2008 – from Rawalpindi, Lahore and Multan. He eventually vacated two of those and kept NA-149, representing his native Multan. The tides have shifted and Mr Hashmi has

I AM A SON, A STUDENT AND A PTI MEMBER Omer Malik Brigham Young University, Utah.

Zulfiqar Ali - a common man sold his cell phone to pay for his travels to Karachi, this was not a vacation for Zulfiqar He wanted to make it to Karachi to be a part of Imran Khan's historic jalsa. Such stories relate volumes of PTI and Imran's popularity for the common man of Pakistan - the common people who have suffered the most over the past decades - who have loomed in the shadows of high inflation, unemployment and loss of lives - their light in these shadows and only hope is Imran Khan. Many people debate upon the fact that Imran Khan is the lesser of two evils - thus an automatic choice for the Pakistani power. Many a times I have heard debates over forums where people ask the question - if not Imran then who? Well to all fellow PTI members and the people on the other side - Imran and PTI are much more than just the lesser of two evils. PTI is the voice of the common man - PTI is Pakistan as a whole represented. The events of 25th December were an awakening to the fact that PTI represents masses - masses represent our people - and our people in technical aspects represent our votes. PTI is by far more diverse than our provincial parties such as PML N or MQM. The crowds represent Punjabi's - Balochs - Saraiki's - Pathans - Sindhi's - your elite class, your middle class, your lower middle class or even what certain economists refer to as the people living beneath the poverty line. People from different occupations - students,doctors,entertainers, sports personalities, construction workers, retail shop owners, bus boys , drivers, political servants - you name the occupation and you could find people there . So what is it that Imran and PTI have that encourage all of these people to unite for a cause? PTI timeline has been a classical story of an underdog winning it big - some might even say it’s straight out of a Hollywood movie. Early years of being bullied - a very small minority - finally making a point. It might have taken 15 years of embarrassment - getting the shaft or not taken seriously - but let me say - seeing more than 500 thousand people rally in Karachi - even the big boys shuddered. Imran and PTI are here to stay. Imran has reached masses through an intelligent and modern day structure of social media. Projects such as JaagUtho , PTI Facebook pages and twitter have raked in millions to have a better understanding of Pakistani politics. Certainly, majority of these people are who never thought politics could interest them - let alone a small party such as PTI . It was thought to be an occupation reserved for the big shots - land lords, the Wadera's - that certainly has changed. The mark of success of Imran's endeavors have led many others to follow suit - too little too late. Innovation has also led this tsunami - calling people in Karachi - or making social media videos to encourage people to join - DJs at a jalsa or a carnival like feeling - have been criticized by many - ( although the DJ at the Karachi jalsa pushed it ) but there are the reasons of Imran's success. He is the leader of our times - he is the change we need and these are the changes we need to interest the common man to rise . Leadership within PTI has also a representation of the common heroes - new people and intelligent people. Many dispute this considering people such as Shah Mehmood or Javed Hashmi are not common people - but it could be either the stance on Raymond Davis - or the Bhagawat against military rule - these people have fought alongside the common man and for the common man. Other high individuals within the party include the social media heads and the campaign managers - never has any party in Pakistan's history given such importance to its over sea members present members - provincial heads - minority members or the much influential youth wing (ISF) So the next time the question arises - Why PTI? the answer is not because it’s the lesser of two evils - or it’s a new change - or that Imran Khan should be given a chance because everybody else has had their shot, it’s because PTI is about empowering the common man - ending the century old Waidara system and above all making people like zulfiqar ali feel that their sacrifices count for something. I am a son, a student and above all a common man - I believe in Imran Khan and PTI - Do you?

OUR INCONVENIENT TRUTH Dawar Nauman Butt

Before 2011, the only significance that the 2nd day of May had was that it marked the fall of Berlin, in 1945, at the hands of the Russians. Of course, things have changed now. Say May 2nd and the only thing that comes to mind is Osama bin Laden, and all that is associated with him – Al Qaeda, the 9/11 attacks, the Afghan Jihad, and now Abbotabad. It took ten years, billions of dollars and thousands of lives to get this man, and they found him in the least expected of places. But that is all history now; the question that still looms is why did we not know. Nearly a year on, no one has the answer. Was it complicity? Was it ignorance? Or was it just plain incompetence? Surely, the latter cannot be expected from an intelligence and security apparatus that takes up the highest share of a state’s yearly budget. If this was the case the International community is right to cast doubts about our Nuclear security setup. But none of the establishment’s upper echelons admit to such ineptitude. This only leaves us with the first question: was it complicity? Can we go so low? At least that is what most of the evidence suggests. OBL’s wife who, was arrested from the Abbotabad compound after the May 2nd raid, said in her testimony, when she was presented before court on Thursday, that the whole family had moved to Pakistan soon after the 9/11 attacks, expecting a very harsh response from the Americans. They scattered throughout the country. Before being reunited in Abbotabad she lived for a while in Karachi, then moved to Lahore, while Osama was somewhere around Peshawer. The intelligence that the American and Afghan agencies had corroborates to this itinerary, while at the same time they claim to have passed on this information to the concerned authorities over here. Locals like Dr. Shakeel Afridi spied for them, how are we to believe that no one here knew. Even the geographical setting of the whole episode – one of the most secure army cantonments in the country – makes the possibility of complicity much higher than, say, if he was found in South Waziristan or a cave in Sawat. But then the question of ‘Why’ arises. Why would we want to play such a dirty game? I’m going to make a wild guess here, and say that it was to leverage millions of dollars and sophisticated weaponry in aid. This makes sense to me as it has been done before. Does the Afghan Jihad ring any bells? The generals pumped the money to fuel the economy. The weapons put on the eastern border against an old, (more) dangerous foe. It’s like Déjà vu; just look at the magnificent golf clubs, the bulletproof motorcades and certain farm-houses in Chak Shahzad. But the party ended as an even more corrupt (and as we are made to believe, stupid, in comparison to their uniformed counterparts) civilian establishment takes over. The beans would have been spilled either way. Such a clever plan, but at what cost? To summarize it: nearly 40,000 lives and damages worth $50 billion in Pakistan alone. Instead of laughing arrogantly at the Indian Army Chief General V. K. Singh’s recent antics – how he claims the Indian Army is unfit for war among other shocking revelations, which might as well be true, given their inability to rout the Maoist rebels, among many other security failures – should we not take care of the skeletons in our closet, first? How our own generals lie to us? How the government uses our money against us? How our own agencies dupe us? This is where we should put our heads. A few inconvenient truths could go a long way.

From Dawar Nauman Butt’s Blog.

Follow Dawar Nauman Butt on http://thegreenepitaph.wordpress.com/

IN VOGUE WITH ZARA PEERZADA I have had the privilege to meet and work with people from all around the world and to embrace the culture that is inevitably embossed into their personalities. The most frequent expression of that culture and personality is through their personal sense of style that is often fashion forward and just as often is not. It’s an exciting time for fashion in general right now with more fluid interpretations of designs flowing into the markets. Here at home in Pakistan we have the option of mixing Eastern and Western trends that are now integrating the Western markets. Most people have been using the liberty of diversification to the fullest by expanding their wardrobes to include a wide variety of colors, patterns, cuts and styles and all that other fun stuff that our Eastern market is experimenting with. One of the key traits of good fashion sense is having the ability to ‘mix and match.’ I think the extent of good fashion sense lies in fearless individuality. Different people have different tastes in fashion and you may not always agree with them, or be agreed with but the only way to validate your personal style is to exude confidence. In Pakistan you see a lot of people wearing things because they think they’re ‘supposed’ to be wearing them. There is a way to follow trends without copying trends, everything looks better if it’s personalized. That’s where the fearless part comes in. Most people in Pakistan are afraid to wear anything out of the ordinary. The extent of good fashion sense lies in the ability to be unabashedly bold in your dressing. Color blocking, contrasting colors and daring cuts have been all the rage recently. The extent of good fashion sense goes beyond all stereotypes. People need to stop being self conscious and stop labeling in the face of fashion. The extent of good fashion sense lies in guys who are not afraid to wear different colors, especially for the spring/summer season you need to let go of black! The only way to express your personal style to the fullest extend is to incorporate everything around you. It’s okay to be outrageous sometimes, because it works. A common mistake people make in Pakistan is that because they don’t experiment as much with colors and cuts they over-do everything else – hair/makeup/accessories etc. all of which weighs you down. These days the trend is natural, especially for the summer season, who wants to be caked faced and covered with overly straightened hair? Keep it light, have the summer glow, soak up the season. All in all trends may change but fashion sense is something that stays with you forever. The extent of good fashion sense lies in confidence, fearless individuality and experimentation.

Fashion Trends Hamael Malik

For her The whole world seems to be changing. Men become more like women and women strive to look and act like men. Fashion just can’t stay aside of this global trend.

If you want colour but believe orange, lemon and magenta are too much for you try burgundy. It looks good on almost anyone and adds glamour to the appearance. This colour is luxurious and there is. Carry the most glamorous Louis Vuitton’s ALMA MM. Inspired by the shape invented in 30’S by a Gaston Vuitton, The Alma is the classic of house, hand held, this bag is covered with a monogram Vernis leather and is closed with a padlock. Hold a Rouge fauviste for $2390.00. Available in many other colours.

BELT Complete the look with Lv frame Vernis belt of the same colour Rouge fauviste. Only for $555.00. This feminie glossy monogram Vernis leather features new initials buckles available in 80cm, 85cm, 90cm, and 95cm and in lots of beautiful colours.

ROSALIE

And for your perfect match..

NOVA

These glossy elaphe snake sandals are guaranteed to make a statement. Gorgeous, glossy patent leather shapes a peep-toe platform pump with a narrow strap and sleek wrapped heel. Adjustable strap with buckle closure and inset elastic. Approx. heel height: 4" with 1/2" platform. Leather upper, lining and sole. Made in Italy. Salon Shoes.

COOPER BY TRELISE MISTY BLUES JACKET The misty Blues Jacket by Cooper by Trelise. This versatile jacket can be worn over any outfit to add style and class. Metal clasp fasten at front behind buttons, jacket features a hit of lining around hem with peplum finish. Team up with mini dress and wide brimmed hat for additional style this season. For $595.00

This iconic ROSALIE handbag in exotic Elaphe snake skin, featuring exclusive Jimmy Choo hardware, is the perfect day bag.

For him Polo Ralph Lauren Slim Fit Poplin Shirt Slim fit shirt by Polo Ralph Lauren. Constructed in cotton poplin. Featuring a smaller shirt collar and button front fastening, full length sleeves with a button closure to the cuff, signature polo player embroidery to the chest, a shaped hem and slim fit. Slim fit shirt by Polo Ralph Lauren has been styled with chinos. For $137.87

HUGO By Hugo Boss Theto Leather Trainers Leather trainers from HUGO by Hugo Boss. Featuring panelled leather uppers with metallic insert detailing, lace-up closure with eyelets through the front and a logo engraved slider, a metallic leather logo patch to the tongue, an almond shaped toe and a slim rubber sole with a logo embossed tread.

Michael Kors MK8160 Watch

Salvatore Ferragamo Adjustable Leather Belt for AUD $422.71 Smooth Italian calfskin leather is enhanced with double gancino buckle with logo engraving.

Armani Collezioni $51.90 Colour block shirt by ASOS. Constructed in cotton. Featuring a two-tone colour block design with a button down collar, a button front fastening, a buttoned pocket to the chest, full length sleeves, a shaped hem and regular fit.

Fendi Zucca Canvas Sneakers Chic canvas woven with allover logo initials, a leather logo accent and comfortable elastic straps at the ankle. For AUD $422.71

$355.22 Black and gold coloured watch by Michael Kors featuring a chunky round face with analogue dial and gold coloured bezel, three dials to the side, and a bracelet strap with clasp to the back.

BEAUTY TIPS Sumbleen Zahra

FAIR COMPLEXION

TONERS

Usually Pakistani girls prefer fair complexion and with increasing pollution, exposure to sun, dirt and dust it is difficult to maintain healthy complexion hence it goes tan! With the regular use of following tips you can surely benefit.

> Toner is usually and preferably used after cleansing; it only helps to block the pores but also removes oil & dirt from the skin. Use of toners is usually ignored. Toners should be bought considering your skin type. There is a variety if toners available in market. • Calming toners are good for sensitive skins. • Rejuvenating toners are good for dull skin. • Anti-acne toners can be used for acne prone. • Whitening toners are effective for sunburned skins and help to balance the complexion evenly. • clarifying toners helps to remove excess oil and dirt leaving your skin neat and shiny. • Herbal/soothing fragrance-free toners are purely herbal and chemical-free hence they're appropriate for sensitive and irritating skin. • Dry skin toners help to balance the PH value of your skin with leaving it over-dried. Toners can be applied through direct spraying on face or can be applied using cotton pads. After toning, moisturizing is essential. Toners should be used within 4months after purchase as they contain alcohol. However, you can also prepare toners at home. > FOR DRY TO NORMAL SKIN. • mash a cucumber, squeeze it in a bottle, add one table of honey, miss it well, and refrigerate. Use this toner within 2weeks, and wash it off before moisturizing. > FOR OILY SKIN. • boil one cup of dried lavender leaves in two cups of water. After it is boiled place it in a bottle, add one spoon of apple vinegar and miss it well. This toner lasts for three weeks. > WHITENING TONERS. • add some lemon juice in tomato juice and apply this directly over face and neck. Wash it off after 10mins. This toner is excellent for removing blackheads.

• take 50ml of rose water, and squeeze a lemon in it. Apply this with the help of cotton pad over the face and neck. • use gram flour as soap and use it twice a day. • put some turmeric in milk and massage it over face and neck. Leave it for 20mins and then rinse off. • gram flour mask : take 2 table spoons of gram flour, 2 pinches of turmeric, one table spoon of lemon juice, few drops of olive oil and rose water. Apply this mixture for 20mins and then rinse off. • Orange is in season nowadays, fresh orange juice can be applied over face. Moreover, dried orange peel can be powdered and can be used as whitening scrub. • take 2-3 almonds, soak them over night in milk, then grind the almonds with milk to make a thick paste. Apply this paste overnight. As a result, it will have a bleaching effect on skin. • add some lemon juice in mashed strawberries and apply it for 15mins. Fair complexion is not always the real beauty, the thing that matters the most is the flawless, healthy and glowing skin whether the complexion is fair or tan. Take care, love yourself the way you are.

The Nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Pride: Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy " I don't know what Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy wanted to be when she was a 10-Year-old girl growing up in Karachi, but she ended up as a journalist and she's bloody good at it too" - Sam Wollasten, The Guardian, 3rd March 2009.

Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy, a name we all are familiar of today, brought home Pakistan's first Academy Award for her short documentary "Saving Face" on February 26, 2012. She became the first Pakistani woman to win an Oscar for the co-directed documentary which she made with, Daniel Junge. It chronicles the lives of acid attack survivors in Pakistan. The film also follows British-Pakistani plastic surgeon Mohammed Ali Jawwad who performs re constructive surgeries on survivors of such terrible attacks.

In 2010, Sharmeen won an Emmy Award for her documentary, "Pakistan: Children of Taliban". This even premiĂ¨red FiLums (2011)the largest film festival in Pakistan held annually at the Lahore University Of Management Sciences moreover known as LUMS too. Sharmeen was born in Karachi, was a student of Karachi Grammar School and later on graduated from Stanford University. She is currently a faculty member of the SZABIST Media department. She is well-known for her documentaries dealing with life in the Muslim world. She became the first non-American to win the Livingston Award. Her films have aired on such networks as Channel 4, CNN, PBS, HBO and Al-Jazeera too. Pakistan is proud of Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy. I hope that this country is blessed with such awards again and this nation witnesses Lollywood on it's peak some day.

Techno-Savvy 2012 Adil Akhtar

Nokia Oro – A luxury smartphone Is the 'new' Nokia Oro an exceptionally beautiful and exclusive smartphone that has been designed for people with good taste or is it just a Nokia C7 with a bit of bling, fancier clothes and costing nearly four times as much? The truth is that it is a bit of both. Nokia are remarkably honest about their target customers – they claim that "the main markets for this sort of a device are in the Middle East and Russia". Premium products like Nokia Oro always have been a best seller in Russia. Fortunately, the Nokia C7 that it is based on is a pretty decent Symbian handset, and Nokia are shipping the Oro with the latest version of the OS called "Anna" that has custom themes to match the handset's exclusive design. On the front is a 3.5" 360 x 640 pixel touchscreen, there's an 8 megapixel camera with 720p video capture on the back, plus support for HSPA highspeed data. It has WiFi, GPS and even NFC support. Where some other luxury handsets – including Nokia's division brand 'Vertu' – basically sell gold plated crap, the Oro is at least a very capable smartphone beneath the obvious.

iPhone 5 – What surprise does it have? A lot of rumors have been circulating about the iPhone 5. Initially people assumed that apple would be releasing their next-gen iPhone in 2011. However, the company only came up with an updated version of the iPhone 4 known as the iPhone 4s. The main selling point of the 4S is Siri, the "Assistant", a program that aims to make people live their lives easier and create the most convenient and user-friendly smartphone experience that can only be expertly delivered by the pioneer in smart phone technology, Apple. Despite the public's obsession over wider touchscreen phones, they are also yearning for iPhone 5 with slimmer form factor without being bulky and heavy. A shock-resistant casing is known to be one of the main features of the iPhone 5. Rumors are also surfacing that the screen of iPhone 5 will be scratch-resistant as well. This is great news for iPhone users who always utilize their smart phone. Knowing that your iPhone 5 is already equipped with protective features will obviously save users to cut down in the purchase of iPhone cases and protective accessories. People say that since iPhone 5 will have a wider screen, it would be more interesting and fun to add HD features to make the form factor overall useful and enjoyable more than ever. Many apple addicts believe that the iPhone % will boost a 1440x800p HD resolution. This is a big leap from the standard 960x640 resolution of iPhone 4s and its predecessors. But, apple has still not decided when to launch the iPhone 5.

Flexible Samsung Phone Samsung is poised to release a flexible mobile phone, according to reports in the International Business Times. The new Samsung Galaxy Skin will feature an AMOLED display that will allow the phone to bend around a cylinder with a 1-inch diameter. Brighter than the normal screen, the AMOLED display is also low-energy and almost unbreakable, according to the reports. Using a plastic polyimide substrate instead of glass, Samsung has produced displays that are “roll-able and bendable” and which can even “survive blows from a hammer”. The phone was developed by Prof. Haeseong Jee and Jye Yeon You. The key material of this new technology is ‘graphene’, touted as “the miracle material”. Research by scientists from Columbia University has established that ‘graphene’ is the strongest material in the world, “some 200 times stronger than structural steel”. The Galaxy Skin will offer a high-resolution 800×480 flexible AMOLED screen, an eight megapixel camera and 1 GB of RAM as well as a 1.2GHz processor. Samsung has not yet disclosed the device’s operating system, but there have been rumors about Jelly Bean – Google’s next Android release after Ice Cream Sandwich – or a new release called Android Flexy. The new core technology also allows the phone to be used as a mouse, a clock or a wrist-watch. Samsung has not confirmed the date of release.

Acer Iconia Dual-Screen Laptop: Acer is currently holding a global press event, where the company is hard at work on announcing plenty of new touchcentric devices. Acer is focusing mainly on interaction, and how new Acer-branded devices will interact with users, as well as one another. The first of those announcements centers on the Iconia, which is a dual-screen laptop. Much like the LIbretto before it, the Iconia is a notebook that features touchscreens, rather than a physical keyboard. Acerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s focus on touch-sensitive controls doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t stop at just the onscreen keyboard, either. The Iconia, as with all of their touch-based devices being announced lately, will feature plenty of new gesture-controlled options, as well as the Acer Menu that will appear if the user puts five fingers on the main display. The circular menu will let the trendy device's users to access touch-friendly videos, photos, and other options. To access the keyboard on the bottom LCD, users will just need to put both hands on the display, so that the screen can register the tip of all ten fingers. Once that is done, the software keyboard will pop up, and users can begin typing. The software keyboard stretches across the whole bottom LCD, so it should give users plenty of room to type. I am still waiting for it to be in the market and hope it does not disappoint its anxiously waiting customers!

SPORTS

Formula One Ahsan Ali

Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single auto racing sanctioned by the (FIA), which stands for ‘Federation International about the automobile’ (the governing body of Formula 1). The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which all participants' cars must comply with. The F1 season consists of a series of races, known as Grand Prix , held on purposebuilt circuits and public roads. There are 19 races on the calendar which are held every year, including races in Asia, Europe and the United States. The results of each race are combined to determine two annual World Championships, one for the drivers and one for the constructors. The racing drivers, constructor teams, track officials, organizers, and circuits are required to be holders of valid Super Licenses, the highest class of racing license issued by the FIA. Formula 1 cars are considered as the fastest racing cars in motorsports all over the world and they can go up to 360km/h on a grand prix circuit. Currently, there are 12 teams, and 24 racing drivers, which mean that each team has 2 racing drivers. Some of the teams like Ferrari, McLaren and Mercedes are one of the most famous brands in the world. The fact that renowned athletes like Fernando Alonso, Sebastian Vettel and Michael Schumacher (seven times world champion) ride these cars makes the sport one of the most fascinating in the world. However, it is a pity that this wonderful sport is not held in Pakistan due the current scenario prevailing in it, which is not really good news for us. Recently, our neighbor India has been able to establish a glamorous venue which has started hosting races from 2011 in New Delhi. The worst thing is that the prospects of sowing the seeds of F1 in our country are as dull as ever. The first step to challenge for becoming a formula 1 race driver , and then to advance in further categories is to shine in go kart series held in different continents. So, in order to highlight the hidden talent in our country, there must be steps taken to open professional’s style go Kart racing circuits for the children by the government or some private people, which will enable them to challenge for further categories. But sadly, no such development seems to be on the horizon. Opening up go kart venues provides the launching pad for the young kids to showcase their amazing potentials and find potential careers in F1. Even though a small country, Pakistan has always given birth to extraordinary talents in countless fields and we have stories of inspiration ranging from Jahangir Khan’s unprecedented dominance in squash in 1981-86 to the most recent story of Sharmeen Obaid winning an Oscar for Pakistan. So why not provide the opportunities to young kids to explore their abilities in this sport? Setting up an F1 track is a long way off in our country but it could be quite beneficial in other ways too. For instance, hosting an F1 race would improve Pakistan’s international image and give a much needed push to the rapidly declining tourism industry because F1 is quite popular all over the world. In my opinion, multiple go Kart projects supported by the government should be launched so as to lay the basic foundation of F1 here. Private projects like the ‘X Park’ in Lahore should also be encouraged. I hope to live till the day when Pakistan crowns its first ever F1 professional racer, I would be one of the proudest residents of my country.

Lahore, being one of the biggest cities in Pakistan, is loaded with places where you can hang-out and kill time. If you are looking to have a good time, there's a wide range of places where you can go, depending on your mood. Some of the places which one should definitely go to and check out are listed below. Located in the heart of DHA, this is one of the most popular places amongst teenagers. If you're looking for a good place to socialize and make new friends and taste some delicious ice cream along the way, Hot Spot is the place for you.

One of my personal favourites, Bistro 201 is one place where people of all age groups can go and get their money's worth. If you want to take your friends out for sheesha, or your parents for their anniversary, look no further than Bistro 201. With food ranging from Italian to pure desi, Bistro 201 is the complete package. Also, the view from their roof top at night is to die for.

If classy is want you want, Zouk is where you should be at. A wide variety of brilliant food coupled with elegance and style, Cafe' Zouk is one of those places where the fun just doesn't end.

Ever played Mario Kart when you were a kid? Ever wanted to do that in real life? Well, here's your chance. X park is an amusement park which offers gokarting, ATV racing, Mini Moto racing and much more

Looking for a beautiful place to have dinner at? A place where you can enjoy Lahore in its truest sense? The new, and much improved, Food Street is your destination. Decorated with sparkling lights and captivating statues, it really is a wonderful place to go to.

If you want to catch the latest movies in a decent environment, DHA Cinema is the ideal place to go to. Now also armed with the best 3D technology in town, it is one of the best movie theatres in the city.

If there's one place where time really does fly, this is it. Oasis offers numerous things and activities like sand buggies, archery, horse riding, cycling, tennis. etc.

Music Hotshots: ZAYN MALIK Zayn Javadd Malik (born 12 January 1993, in St. Luke's Hospital), better known as Zayn Malik, is from West Lane, Baildon, Bradford, Pakistani star. Born to to mother mother England. He is British born Pakistani.[citation needed] Born Tricia and father Yaser, he has three sisters Doniya, Waliyha and Safaa. He grew up in East Bowling, located south of the Bradford city centre. Malik was a pupil at Lower Fields Primary School in East Bowling and went to Tong High School, a state comprehensive school. He stated that as a child "I was a bit of a handful when I was a kid because I was quite hyperactive. Even in the house my mum used to put me in my pram because I was so full-on." Malik didn't fit in at his first two schools due to his heritage, revealing that when he and his sister moved schools he felt he fitted in better. In 2010, Malik auditioned as solo candidate for the seventh series of The X Factor. His audition was initially not broadcast, but was shown after the series ended on companion show The Xtra Factor. Malik was noted for becoming nervous in bootcamp, and when he was told he had to dance, he decided to remain backstage, effectively running the risk of elimination. Cowell noticed Malik missing from the dance routine and went backstage and convinced him to return. At bootcamp Malik failed to qualify for the "Boys" category and was put in One Direction. Malik dated fellow X Factor contestant, Rebecca Ferguson, which caused controversy because of the six year age difference. The relationship ended after 4 months together. In November 2011, Ferguson stated the following in an interview: "Me and Zayn just grew apart. I wish him all the best." Malik has four tattoos, his grandfather's name in Arabic on his chest, a Ying Yang sign on his left wrist, a symbol on his stomach and a peace sign on his right arm. The team of USB Blog asked Zayn some questions sneek-peeking into his life. Here it goes: Q. Since people in Pakistan are familiar with music but they are eager to know about your personality. Elaborate your personality? Zayn: Im definitely a closed book.I don’t really show my emotions, I don’t know if that will change when I get elder but its just the way I have always been. Out of all the boys id say I was the quietest and the most shy. Q. How do you manage to open up to people, specially media? Zayn: Im learning to do it now obviously have to do it for my career in interviews and stuff.Im getting better. Q. Heard about your Bromance tell us something about your first romance? Zayn: I was really young there were these triplets in school and I fancied one of them which is funny because they all looked exactly the same,I think I wrote something simple like “I like you” Q. Will the new album give us any surprises? Zayn: We’ve got a sound, One Direction’s own sound Q. We hear you all went skinny-dipping – explain yourselves! Zayn: We were doing a photo shoot and it was kind of boring, so Harry said we should take off our clothes and run down the beach. We did one lap with no clothes on, then some man with his dog turned up and the dog started sniffing round our clothes. Q. When exactly did you bid farewell to the sweet maidenhood? Zayn: “A gentlemen would never say.“ Q. Share something about you family as we barely heard about them? Zayn: I love the fact I grew up wanting a brother and now I have four; love them. Me and harry are the only mummy boys in the group. My mum used to do everything for me until the show but I have had to do things for myself since being away from her.

Q. Do you share any interest in animals? Zayn: I love them ,we have got a little puppy at home.Hes a sherpei and and hes so cute.Animal make me gooey as well. Q. How will you define your relationship with Rebecca Fergusson since you were 18 and she was 24 when you guys hooked up,any chances of getting back together? Zayn: “I’m glad it started early in my career because it was a great big lesson for me.” “I’ve moved on to be honest, we won’t be getting back together. Q. Are you actually dating Perrie Edwards? Zayn:—(He left the answer blank) Q. You are often compared to beiber, who do you think is cuter? Zayn-"I think Justin Bieber's cute looking, but it would be a bit rude and a bit ignorant for me to say 'me'." Q. Any plans for coming to Pakistan, and thankyou for taking your time out for your natives? Zayn: Soon.My mum was in Karachi last month but will definitely try coming as soon as I get done with my next album. Q. Best thing about being a boy? Zayn: I get to date girls. Q. Best thing about being in One Direction? Zayn: All the free clothes and I get to do what I love everyday. Q. Best cure for One Direction infection? Zayn: There isn’t one. Q. Favourite aftershave: Zayn: Unforgivable by Sean John. Q. Favourite grooming product: Zayn: Hair wax. Q. PJ’s, pants or nothing in bed? Zayn: Pants. Q. Bath or shower? Zayn: Shower. Q. What mobile phone do you have? Zayn: I have an iPhone 4 and I have a Blackberry too, but I don’t use it. I like the iPhone better. Q. What do you cuddle up to at night? Zayn: Nothing not even my duvet!

MUSIC CHARTS: THE TOP 10 Shaharyar Shahzad

Nicki Minaj Starships February was a roller coaster for Nicki Minaj: From performing alongside Madonna and M.I.A. at the Super Bowl to debuting new song "Roman Holiday" at the Grammy Awards, Minaj proves she's not slowing down anytime soon with the release of latest single "Starships." Arriving on Valentine's Day and produced by RedOne (Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez), "Starships" is a departure in sound for the Young Money rapper. The track begins with a sunny guitar riff that channels the shimmery singles of Katy Perry before launching into a club-ready chorus complete with Euro-pop rhythms. It's Minaj's most radio-friendly single to date, leaving her chanting the anthem: "Starships were meant to fly/Hands up and touch the sky/Can't stop 'cause we're so high/Let's do this one more time."

Fun feat. Janelle Monae We Are Young With "We Are Young," New York indie pop group fun. takes its warm retro sound into soaring ballad territory. Careful arrangements layer sharp, bright piano melodies with big, booming drums and multiple vocal harmonies, but frontman Nathan Reuss' vocal dexterity shines through as the track's strongest component. Reuss shifts from vulnerable verbal tumbling in the song's sonically

sparse intro to the grandiose declaration, "Tonight, we are young/ So let's set the world on fire" in the massive chorus. Unfortunately, Janelle Monae's guest spot is a missed opportunity, as the budding R&B star is relegated to background harmonies instead of adding something soulful and special to an already powerful hook. Still, "Young" finds fun.'s sound growing immensely, and the track is a bold statement - and possible breakout hit -- from this quirky pop group.

Kelly Clarkson Stronger Guys, if you start going out with a girl who tells you how much she loves Kelly Clarkson's latest album, run away. Fast. Kelly takes telling guys off to new levels here, to the point that you eventually start to wonder if, just maybe, it's not the guys with the problem. By the time you get to the end, the country song you're half-expecting to hear isn't Don't You Wanna Stay, her charttopping duet with Jason Aldean. It's Before He Cheats.

Gotye feat. Kimbra Somebody That I Used to Know Pop perfection does not come along often, but Gotye's "Somebody That I Used To Know" is flawless. The song is compelling enough with its intriguing, minimalist opening, tale of a relationship gone bad, and Gotye's Sting style wail on the chorus. Then we hear the female

side of this story, and "Somebody That I Used To Know" is elevated to brilliance. The song is not flashy, but it is instantly memorable and destined to be a classic.

Adele Set Fire To The Rain Adele could take the most stale song in the world and inject soul into it. "Set Fire To The Rain" is amazing song, which allows the British sensation to really soar to heights rarely seen by most female artists today. She is more than just an amazing singer, she is the biggest breath of fresh air that pop music has seen in a long time. The future success of this single is testament to that.

The Wanted Glad You Came "Glad You Came" rotates the solo vocal parts among the group members in a very democratic song process. However, it is the keyboard hook that nearly steals the show from the group. It is light, frothy, and filled with token women, but boy bands have never made their success on artistic pretension. "Glad You Came" is a cheerful, up-tempo tune that is easy to dance with, and it is little more than that.

Katy Perry Part Of Me Having narrowly missed beating Michael Jackson's record for the most Hot 100 chart-toppers from one album (the sixth "Teenage Dream" single, the fittingly titled, "The One That Got Away," only climbed to No. 3), Katy Perry takes a fresh start with "Part Of Me," the first of three new tracks from a forthcoming re-release of "Teenage Dream. And, as Perry already previewed at this year's Grammys, the song has potential to become a live favorite, perfect for fists-in-the-air sing-alongs.

Rihanna feat. Calvin Harris We Found Love There is nothing complex or particularly moving about Rihanna's new single "We Found Love." However, it is certainly breezy and catchy. She heads to the dance floor with Scottish producer and DJ Calvin Harris on this first single from her upcoming sixth studio album. It has barely been a year since "Only Girl (In the World)" kicked off the music from Loud and that album's single "Cheers (Drink To That)" is currently in the pop top 10. There is a risk here of over-exposure, but with Rihanna's track record, it is likely to just keep the momentum moving.

Emeli Sande Next To Me Emeli Sande demonstrates a fine example of craftsmanship with this one; her melodies are very catchy and her sentiment is genuine. The song explores her fondness for the man in her life as she positively boasts ‘you’ll find him next to me’, in fact throughout the entire record she sings praises for her one and only with quirky lines such as ‘you won’t find him drinkin’ at tables’ which personally reminds me of the style reminiscent to that of the late Amy Winehouse.

#10

Flo Rida feat. Sia Wild Ones Flo Rida sings about breaking loose and getting crazy on ‘Wild Ones,’ a new song expected to appear on his next album, ‘Only One Rida (Part 2).’ Though the uptempo track makes use of synths, it never reaches electropop territory. It’s more of a straightforward dance tune, with good vibes and an infectious melody. Flo Rida’s ‘Good Feeling‘ is still riding high on the charts, but ‘Wild Ones’ seems like a worthy successor, should the rapper decide to make it his next single.

BILAL LASHARI: HIS PROSPECTIVE "I am a male Pakistani Muslim Poet. I don’t count myself in good poets neither in the bad, it is truly on the readers to appraise me. I am an introvert person with a lot of goals in head always figuring out how to achieve them. It seems like, i haven’t figured out myself yet, i am discovering myself and i will keep on doing so" - Bilal Lashari. Here are a couple of poems that became popular: Ground Beneath Her Feet Her beautiful face struck through my heart, And her smile made me feel, To just prostrate on, The Ground beneath her feet... She entered my life like a divine being, A beauty nowhere else to be seen, The unforgettable moments i still hold in my memory, When i saw her for the first time; in sheen... Her melodious voice harmonized my heartbeat, And rhythmic pattern of words so sweet, Just compelled me to be, The one who prostrate on the 'Ground beneath her Feet'

Hopes Note: I had penned this poem keeping the current situation of my beloved Country (Pakistan) in my mind. Pakistan isn't a terrorist state but it is badly affected by it.

I hope this country becomes a model of peace, Birds go home and we could Happily Sleep. I hope that window opens and let the light comes in, So that we go out from this darkness and wash away our sin. I hope this Chaos turns into Serenity Slowly, So that no more Head hangs lowly. I hope no sorrow prevails in any beautiful eye, So that everyone could recognize Happiness whether if its disguised. I hope to see only pleasure and glory, Neither War nor anything that's gory. I hope unbelief get turned into faith, and Satan get lost somewhere in haze. I hope everyone struggle till die and fall, Just like a tree in thunderstorm stands tall. I hope poor and rich stand together, Not only on judgment day but in this life forever... After reading this you'll conclude that I’m on dopes, But I’m just a person promulgating my HOPES......

Apart from poems, there is a big number of music videos that he has directed and produced. Some of which have brought him to the major award nominations and also bring some to home. Bilal Lashari is the new video director in town, but he's quite a sensation already. The four videos he has made are captivating and they are as innovative as they are diverse. Bilal talks to Instep about the creative process and taking it further? Last year was a volatile year for entertainment; the industry virtually came to a standstill by October. But like everything corrosive, it unearthed some exceptional talent, especially in the line of music. While album launches were being delayed, concerts cancelled and the top line of video directors like Saqib Malik, Jami and Asim Reza were taking a long break from making videos, in stepped Bilal Lashari. With merely four music videos - Abrar ul Haq's 'Islamabad', Overload's 'Dhamaal', Jal's 'Sajni' and recently Atif Aslam's 'Hungami Haalat', Bilal brought back an artistic consciousness that had been invaded by videos of bands playing in old, demolished monuments. (Either that or incredibly macabre videos of young kids electrocuting themselves in a bath tub.) Other than Zeeshan Parwez, who also raised the bar with thought provoking videos like Ali Azmat's 'Teri Perchaiyan' and Hashim's 'My Moment', Bilal Lashiri's work cropped up overnight, like a proverbial bean stalk. His videos were technologically sound and they were intelligently conceptualized. 'Islamabad' depicted Abrar as a US President in search of "Ishq"; 'Dhamaal' honed percussion with the wild movement of horses and an angry sea; 'Sajni' brilliantly retold the 'Beauty and the Beast' story whereas 'Hungami Haalat' simply blew one away with its rock mode. The videos were innovative and yet they were diverse. People were sitting up to take notice. These are videos worthy of being nominated for any award. And yet amazingly, despite the maturity of thought, they stem out of a very young mind. 26 year old Bilal is a young undergraduate in Motion Pictures and TV, studying at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. "I've been traveling back and forth to get this work done," he spoke to Instep. Bilal took the backward route into video direction. While generally the best directors had moved from directing ************** to music videos, Bilal began his journey with the creative instead of the corporate. "I just felt it's a good way to get your name out there," he said. "Eventually I will get into ads as well." The "exhausting and sometimes frustrating process" was crammed into summer vacations and numerous trips to Pakistan. When in the US, he was also offered to assist Shoaib Mansoor in the making of Khuda Kay Liye in America. According to Bilal, "I was totally blown away by the script when I read it but I had to quit the film because of the delays it was facing." He decided to focus on music videos, polishing his skills while at it. Much to everyone's surprise, Atif's 'Hungami Haalat' was the first video he shot, almost two and a half years ago, though it was only recently released on TV. Bilal was traveling, Atif was inspired to write the song at an airport and somehow the whole concept came together that way. 'Hungaami Haalat' "Shooting 'Hungami' was a crazy and frustrating experience," remembers Bilal. "It was the first time I was working on 35mm and we had a moderate budget; the sponsors came in much later. But I did everything - even the shooting - myself. We went for the whole terrorism thing and brought in a bit of everything, including global warming. I had fun with effects and ended up throwing in a bit of everything I could. But it's not an experience I'd want to repeat." Confessing to being a bit of a control freak, Bilal **** that the experience just got a bit too much. As with most "control freaks", he does the direction, cinematography and post work as well. With 'Hungami', he even took up shooting. But the hard work paid off. Despite the video facing a two year delay in release, it won him a Best Music Video award at University. He got the same award, plus one for Best Cinematography, for 'Islamabad' as well. 'Islamabad' "I don't think 'Islamabad' was my best work," says Bilal, "but the Americans loved Abrar. They found the song so unusual. They are generally used to a very sanitized look and this mix really worked for them." It worked in Pakistan as well as people were extremely amused to see a skeletal 'Thriller' like portrayal of the Capital that is often alluded to as 'the city of the living dead.'

The learning process continued and by the time Bilal shot 'Sajni', he according to him, â&#x20AC;&#x153;was no longer a control freak." 'Sajni' "I asked Neil Lisk - who had worked with Shoaib Mansoor on Khuda Kay Liye - to shoot the video and help with the cinematography. We had a really great budget and the group was easier to work with than Atif. In fact I'd love to work with them again. My job as a director is to allow others space for creativity and I could do that in 'Sajni'. It was teamwork." The maturity spoke for itself in the slick way the video was shot. Though the story, adapted from the fairy tale, wasn't quite original, the way the video was shot certainly was. Bilal cast an unconventional model - Juggan Kazim - in the role of Beauty and wove the story around love. 'Sajni' was as lyrical as 'Islamabad' was satirical 'Dhamaal' Then came Overload's 'Dhamaal' which was "the most difficult video to shoot." "Technically it was a different ball game and a whole lot more difficult. Though it apparently looks really simple, it wasn't. Performance videos are always tough to shoot on 35mm. Plus when it's an instrumental, the tempo is constantly shifting and you have to move with it. 'Dhamaal' was about simple, clean images. By then I really did want to get out of complicated imagery." Bilal is ready to head back to the states these days but the story, rather story telling, isn't over for him yet. He's already worked on Atif's next song 'Rabba' and is in talks with Ali Azmat for 'Gallan', which is the working title from a song from Ali's next album Klashnifolk. That's quite an exciting platter for a new comer. Bilal is extremely talented but he's also been lucky with the budgets his videos have gotten. It's bizarre, but all four of his videos have been sponsored by four different telecom companies: 'Hungami by LG', 'Sajni' by Wateen, 'Dhamaal' by Mobilink and 'Islamabad' by Telenor, though Bilal mentions that the LG sponsorship came much after 'Hungami' had been completed. But what's interesting is that many of the respective artists are also 'faces' of the telecom companies they have been sponsored by and it's the subsequent interest in promoting their brand ambassadors that inspires companies to dole out huge budgets for making and promoting these videos. It's a healthy trend, as long as it doesn't get carried away by the sponsor, as the Tulsi sponsored ads once did. "It's okay as long as the companies do not interfere with the creative process," **** Bilal. It's more than fine; it's fabulous, we think. It makes an artist's product more appreciable and it makes the whole process lucrative and beneficial for the industry. All this has convinced Bilal Lashari to return to Pakistan once his studies commence; he graduates in three months. He has been inspired and motivated by his experiences, though he is quick to add that some have been "frustrating". He also appreciates the path that has been caved by senior directors like Saqib, Jami and Asim. "They've paved the way for us with their boldness," he says. While at some point last year, when Pakistan's instability was at its peak, he had his doubts about coming back, now Bilal is convinced he wants to. And he beleieves the next step for him will be making a feature film in Pakistan. He seems like a doer, and since he has worked under Shoaib Mansoor's shadow, there's a good chance he just might be able to do so very soon. Awards Lux Style Award for Best Music Video Director "Shor Macha" Lux Style Award for Best Music Video Director "Sajni" MTV Pakistan Music Video Awards 2008 - Best Pop Video "Sajni" Awards @ Epidemic Film Festival @ Academy of Art University

Best Music Video 2008 "Sajni" Best Music Video 2007 "Islamabad" Best Music Video 2006 "Hungami Halaat" Best Director 2008 "Islamabad" Best Cinematographer 2006 "Hungami Halaat" Best Editor 2008 "Sajni" Best 16mm Short Film 2005 "Ordinary Stimulation"

Bilal Lashari has also shot his first full-length feature film called Waar, in collaboration with ISPR. The film has been produced by MindWorks Media with Hunt Lowry, producer of “Donnie Darko” and Warner Bros.’s smash hit “A Walk to Remember” and numerous other well known films. Waar (to strike) is an action/thriller and drama film, written by Hassan Waqas Rana and stars Pakistan’s actors, Shaan Shahid and Shamoon Abbasi. The storyline has been inspired by the war on terror in Pakistan and its effects on the world but with a very stylised interpretation of it. The English-language film (Waar) has been shot at various locations in and outside of Pakistan, from the beautiful hills of Islamabad to the second best tourist destination in Pakistan, Lahore to the fascinating valley of Swat (the Switzerland of Pakistan), where a major military operation was launched two years ago. The film has been receiving a lot of attention due to rumours of a release by Warner Bros. The Internet Movie Database (IMDb) slates the release date as June 1, 2011 and the estimated budget is reported to be a whopping $2,000,000 (Rs170, 000,000). The film being produced by one of the major film studios in America, Warner Bros, will be first screened at some major international film festivals and after its successful screening at the festivals, it will be released worldwide. The 140 min feature film is currently in it’s post-production stage. Waar is expected to have a summer release.

ON SET

CINE SCENE GOL CHAKKAR Candy bhai is back, but he’s not alone this time. Now we meet his real friends and even his little nephew, Teddy. What might be an ordinary day in Jinnah Market spirals out of control when the gang heads over to Pindi, a place where Candy’s antics are much less appreciated. The boys have stepped on the wrong toes this time, the toes of men; the paws, of Shera. Last year, Shahbaz Hamid Shigri and Aisha Linnea Akhtar of InCahoots Films brought us “Sole Search”, a short independent film that introduced viewers to the world of the Jinnah Boy. Yes, the Jinnah Boy. For those of you not from Pakistan’s capital, Jinnah boys are an intrinsic part of the Islamabad fabric – the guys that hang around Jinnah Market sporting slicked-back hair, loud knock-off designer clothes, and oft-cringe-worthy comments for passing ladies. In Sole Search, an American born Pakistani meets the quintessential Jinnah Boy, Candy Bhai. Hilarity ensues. This summer, Candy Bhai is back in the feature length film Gol Chakkar. Directed and produced by Shigri and Linnea (who starred together in “Slackistan”), the film reunites us with Candy and introduces us to a misfit cast of merry characters, including Teddy and Shera . Here’s what the director had to say about the film; [After Sole Search] We realized we weren’t quite done with Candy and his world. Sole Search was always an experiment. It was quite amateur, rushed, and I was a lot less experienced and knowledgeable on the whole process at the time… I don’t think [Gol Chakkar] really is a sequel. Candy Bhai is in it, but that’s about it. It’s a feature film with seven new characters. We just wanted to expand on what we thought was a pretty nifty idea the first time.

Release : Date Summer 2012 Genre : Comedy/Drama Starring: Ali Rehman Khan, Hasan Bruun Akhtar, Usman Mukhtar, Salmaan Ahmed Shaukat, Uzair Jaswal, Adil Gul, Saboor Pasha, Asad Ali Shigri Directed By Shahbaz Shigri & Aisha Linnea Written By Aisha Linnea Screenplay By Aisha Linnea & Shahbaz Shigri Produced By Shahbaz Shigri, Aisha Akhtar

KAPTAAN Written, produced and directed by Pakistan born and UK based filmmaker Faisal Aman Khan, the story of ‘Kaptaan’, a biographical film, follows the incredible life of Pakistan’s cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan. His life post the world cup victory in 1992. It follows the events that have shaped up his life. From being ridiculed in Cricket to being labelled as a playboy. Imran’s marriage with Jemima Khan and later what problems aroused in his relationships with Jemima. It centers on how Khan’s disappointment at Pakistan’s dismal state of affairs triggered him to enter the political arena. From the tragic death of his mother, to his efforts and endeavours in building the first cancer hospital in Pakistan. The movie talks about Imran Khan’s journey in his life and the entire transformation of a person from on field to off field. It is a story about a loving son, who set himself on a journey from which he would never return, a journey of selflessness, a journey of self realization, a journey into the ocean of his people… It is a tale of love so strong it crossed all boundaries, a man who gave up that love for his people, a hero who defied a dictator, a man who stood up for justice. His is a life more inspiring, motivational and relevant than any other man who has faced himself and asked the basic question of being. A hero, a living legend, a visionary, the lion of Pakistan, IMRAN KHAN!

The background score of the movie, has been composed by Farhan Zameer, which has a very uplifting and reflective feel. The director has also roped in a number of local bands and singers who have lend their voices to the movie including Noori and Abbas Ali Khan. And as Imran Khan has been a great fan of late Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan hence the soundtrack features two songs of the late Ustad – ‘Sanu Ek Pal Chain Na Aave‘ and ‘Yeh Jo Halka Halka‘.

Release: Fall 2012 Genre: Drama Starring: Abdul Mannan, Saeeda Imtiaz, Naveed Akbar and Usman Aslam Directed By Faisal Aman Khan Written By Faisal Aman Khan Screenplay By Faisal Aman Khan Produced By Production Manager: Farman Ali, Producer: Faisal Aman Khan, Executive Producers: Farhat Faheem and Asim Khan

WAAR Waar (to strike) is an action/thriller and drama film. It has been written by Hassan Waqas Rana and stars Pakistan’s actors, Shaan Shahid and Shamoon Abbasi. It is also said to star Sadia Hyat Khan, a new comer in the industry. While it is thrilling to hear news of a Pakistani feature backed by a major studio, the subject matter fails to excite. The storyline has been inspired by the war on terror in Pakistan and its effects on the world, but with a stylised interpretation of it. It is something that cinema goers worldwide have been exposed to over and over again. One hopes that Rana has penned a script that finds a new and refreshing angle to explore war and terrorism. This English-language film has been shot at various locations in and outside of Pakistan, from Lahore, to the beautiful hills of Islamabad and the breathtaking Swat Valley, where a major military operation was launched two years ago. Some parts of the film have also been shot in Istanbul, Turkey. The soundtrack of the film has been done by Qayaas, a Pakistani band. According to Khurram Waqar, the lead guitarist of Qayaas, “Inquilaab”, “Khayaal” and “Pal” are all part of the soundtrack. The presence of Qayaas in the film makes the project sound even more interesting. The film will first be screened at some major international film festivals and will then be released worldwide.

Release Date Genre Starring Directed By Written By Produced By

This film is not ‘masala’ but neither is it parallel cinema – it is midway, and is aimed at intelligent viewers from any background. The story is relevant to present Pakistani culture with its emerging middle class challenging the gentry”, told Sarah in an interview to Daily Times. Tamanna after 2007′s “Khuda Kay Liye” will surely open another brave and un-touched topic of the society of not only Pakistan but the whole Indo-Pak region. This film is not only important for the revival of Pakistan film industry but will also open doors for Pakistani people to show to the whole world that they are not what they are actually depicted by the international media and they have this positive side as well where film makers are now opening such social taboos through their artistic skills. This film can also help the Pakistan film industry to get an international recognition which they lost somewhere in late 80s and 90s. Genre

Drama

Starring

Salman Shahid, Feryal Gauhar, Hameed Sheik Omair Rana

Directed By

Steven Moore

Written By

Munnu Bhai

Produced By

Sarah Tareen

FATIMA Fatima is an upcoming Pakistani Urdu language film directed by Sean Ali. The film is produced by Sanam Hasnain and Michel Ray. It stars Ayesha Khan Riasat and Sana Humayun..

Fatima is a small town girl living in the slums of Pakistan; She is a girl who June 2012 wants to from childhood become a lady Action Thriller who shall change the society in all good means.AliFatima, Shan Shahid, Shamoon Abbasi, Hamza Ali Abbasi, Azmat,the character is itself a motivational, self constructed women who does not fear Aisha Khan, Meesha Shafi anything, she tries to remove the hypocrisy in Pakistan Bilal Lashari with women rights yet on the other hand her two friends Hassan Waqas Rana Shakeel and Asma help her in all ways to create a better living society. Hassan Waqas Rana

TAMANNA The movie, which is being termed as the first full-length Pakistani feature film directed by British director Steven Moore, is nearing completion. Produced by the young talented Lahore-based producer Sarah Tareen, the movie features Salman Shahid, Feryal Gauhar, Hameed Sheikh and Irfan Khan in the lead roles. The story sees a famous film director named Shehreyar (played by Shahid), who is fond of playing games, inviting a man named Riz (Hameed Sheikh) to his house. The plot develops into a feud between these two characters, who fight over a woman in a story which deals with love, adultery, robbery and murder. “The story is essentially about class snobbery, adultery and ego. We have purposefully chosen realism and artistic integrity over sensationalism, because we want this film to be taken seriously internationally and have a long shelf life. Our general philosophy is to stay away from politics and religion and to concentrate on class and social issues.

Fatima will show all traditional events happening in Pakistan, and also show the good side of Pakistani culture. Fatima is not a anti-Muslim film nor does it have any issue with the Political situation in Pakistan, it’s a film based on non-fictional characters and story, and it also gives a clean message to the world that the women and men in the society can change the entire prospective of the country by just a small vision. Fatima is also inspired by true events, and certain situations in the film are shown to prove that yet even today in this Era things will not change, and neither will they turn bad into good.

Release Date

To Be Announced

Genre

Non-Fiction

Starring

Ayesha Khan Senior, Sana Humayyun

Directed By

Sean Ali

Written By

Sean Ali

Screenplay By

Dan Bhimla

Produced By

Micheal Ray & Saman Hasnain

Talaash - The Answer Lies Within Talaash: The Answer Lies Within is an upcoming film written and directed by Reema Kagti. The project is jointly producedby Excel Entertainment and Aamir Khan Productions, and features Aamir Khan, Rani Mukerji and Kareena Kapoor in pivotal roles. The soundtrack is scored by Ram Sampath along with lyrics by Javed Akhtar. Principal photography for the film occurred during MarchNovember 2011 taking place primarily in Mumbai, Pondicherry and London. The film is psychological thriller in which a cop, a housewife and a prostitute get entangled in a mystery that links their lives in unexpected ways. Release: 30th November 2012 Genre: Drama/Suspense Starring: Aamir Khan, Rani Mukerji, Kareena Kapoor Directed By: Reema Kagti Story by: Reema Kagti, Zoya Akhtar Distributed By: UTV Motion Pictures Produced By: Ritesh Sidhwani, Aamir Khan, Farhan Akhtar Studio: Excel Entertainment, Aamir Khan Productions

Housefull 2: The Dirty Dozen

Housefull 2: The Dirty Dozen is an upcoming Indian action comedy film directed by Sajid Khan and produced by Sajid Nadiadwala. It is the sequel to the 2010 hit, Housefull. The film features actors from the first movie Akshay Kumar and Ritesh Deshmukh, with new additions included to the cast such as John Abraham, Asin, Jacqueline Fernandez, Zarine Khan, Shazahn Padamsee and Shreyas Talpade. It also features veteran actors such as Mithun Chakraborty, Randhir Kapoor, Rishi Kapoor and Boman Irani in supporting roles. It is the story of four fathers, four daughters and four prospective son-in-laws and as the second half of the title suggests, they are the dirty dozen. Each father

wants his daughter to marry the richest son-in-law, Each daughter thinks she is marrying the richest sonin-law. Each son-in-law is pretending to be the richest son-in-law. Each character is flawed, unscrupulous and extremely entertaining. The good news for the audience is that none of these people can stand each other and all of them are under one roof, in one house as the first half of the title suggests – HOUSEFULL. Release: April 5, 2012 Genre: Comedy Starring: Akshay Kumar, Asin, John Abraham, Jacqueline Fernandez, Ritesh Deshmukh, Zarine Khan, Shreyas Talpade and Shazahn Padamsee Directed By : Sajid Khan Written By: Tushar Hiranandani, Sajid-Farhad Produced By: Sajid Nadiadwala

Joker Joker is an upcoming fantasy adventure film and the first 3D film directed by Shirish Kunder. The film will star Akshay Kumar opposite Sonakshi Sinha. It will be the fourth Hindi film to be released in both 2D and 3D formats after Haunted – 3D, Ra.One and Don 2. Talking about the film, Shirish says, "By now I guess its common knowledge that Joker has been my dream project, but the media and people keep saying that it's a superhero film, however it’s not. In fact though it was earlier designed and scripted to be a superhero film I have changed it and reworked the entire story of the film. The new Joker, since I had the rights to the name, will be like any other commercial Bollywood pot boiler, but one thing for sure is that Joker will differ in terms of its innovation, unlike anything what we have seen till date." Release: 31st Aug 2012 Genre: Fantasy, Adventure Starring: Akshay Kumar, Sonakshi Sinha, Jaaved Jaaferi, Shreyas Talpade, Minissha Lamba, Vindu Dara Singh, Asrani, Sanjay Mishra and Alexx O’Nell Directed By: Shirish Kunder Produced By: Farah Khan, Akshay Kumar

The Avengers The Avengers is an upcoming American superhero film produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Pictures, based on the Marvel Comics superhero team of the same name. It is the sixth installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The film is written and directed by Joss Whedon and features an ensemble cast, which includes Robert Downey, Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Tom Hiddleston, and Samuel L. Jackson. In The Avengers, Nick Fury, director of the peacekeeping organization S.H.I.E.L.D., recruits Iron Man, the Hulk, Thor, and Captain America to save the world from destruction. Whedon has hinted at the possibility of The Avengers 2, recently saying that a sequel should be "more personal" and "more painful." Whedon told Total Film that there is a "nod" to a sequel in the movie, but that his focus was on making a good first installment and didn't worry about the possibility of The Avengers 2. “We DO give a nod to a greater problem than the one solved in this film. I'm a great believer in the idea that if you make the first one to be a "first one," then you have already failed. As much as we want to service the idea of a film in a franchise, I want this to be a satisfying film experience. I don't want people to go out saying, "When's the next part?" I want people to say, "Oh, I want to see that again!" Release: 4th May 2012 Genre: Action/Science-Fiction Starring: Robert Downey, Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Tom Hiddleston, Samuel L. Jackson Directed By Joss Whedon Written By Kevin Feige Screenplay By Joss Whedon Produced By Marvel Studios and Walt Disney Pictures

The Amazing Spiderman One of the world’s most popular characters is back on the big screen as a new chapter in the Spider-Man legacy is revealed in The Amazing Spider-Man™. Focusing on an untold story that tells a different side of Peter Parker’s story, the new film stars Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Rhys Ifans, Denis Leary, Campbell Scott, Irrfan Khan, with Martin Sheen and Sally Field. The film is directed by Marc Webb from a screenplay written by James Vanderbilt, based on the Marvel Comic Book by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko. Laura Ziskin, Avi Arad, and Matt Tolmach are producing the film in association with Marvel Entertainment for Columbia Pictures, which will open in theatres everywhere in 3D on July 3, 2012. The Amazing Spider-Man is the story of Peter Parker (Garfield), an outcast high schooler who was abandoned by his parents as a boy, leaving him to be raised by his Uncle Ben (Sheen) and Aunt May (Field). Like most teenagers, Peter is trying to figure out who he is and how he got to be the person he is today. Peter is also finding his way with his first high school crush, Gwen Stacy (Stone), and together, they struggle with love, commitment, and secrets. As Peter discovers a mysterious briefcase that belonged to his father, he begins a quest to understand his parents’ disappearance – leading him directly to Oscorp and the lab of Dr. Curt Connors (Ifans), his father’s former partner. As Spider-Man is set on a collision course with Connors’ alter-ego, The Lizard, Peter will make life-altering choices to use his powers and shape his destiny to become a hero. Release: July 3, 2012. Genre: Action/Science-Fiction Starring: Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Rhys Ifans, Denis Leary, Campbell Scott, Irrfan Khan, Martin Sheen and Sally Field Directed By : Marc Webb Written By: James Vanderbilt based on the Marvel Comic Book by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko Produced By: Laura Ziskin, Avi Arad, Matt Tolmach

MARIJUANA IT’S A HERB!

Mehak Khan

Marijuana, whose botanical name is cannabis, has been used by humans for thousands of years. It was classified as an illegal drug by many countries in the 20th century. Over the past two decades, there has been a growing movement to legalize marijuana, primarily for medical purposes.

Scientists have learned a great deal about how THC acts in the brain to produce its many effects. When someone smokes marijuana, THC rapidly passes from the lungs into the bloodstream, which carries the chemical to organs throughout the body, including the brain.

The marijuana (hemp) plant, of course, has an incredible number of uses. The earliest known woven fabric was apparently of hemp, and over the centuries the plant was used for food, incense, cloth, rope, and much more. This adds to some of the confusion over its introduction in the United States, as the plant was well known from the early 1600′s, but did not reach public awareness as a recreational drug until the early 1900′s.

In the brain, THC connects to specific sites called cannabinoid receptors on nerve cells and influences the activity of those cells. Some brain areas have many cannabinoid receptors; others have few or none. Many cannabinoid receptors are found in the parts of the brain that influence pleasure, memory, thought, concentration, sensory and time perception, and coordinated movement.

For most of human history, marijuana has been completely legal. It’s not a recently discovered plant, nor is it a long-standing law. Marijuana has been illegal for less than 1% of the time that it’s been in use. Its known uses go back further than 7,000 B.C. In 2002, marijuana was the third most commonly abused drug mentioned in drugrelated hospital emergency department (ED) visits in the continental United States. Marijuana mentions rose significantly (24%) from 2000 to 2002, but showed no significant increase since 2001. Taking changes in population into account, marijuana mentions increased 139 percent from 1995 to 2002.

The short-term effects of marijuana can include problems with memory and learning; distorted perception; difficulty in thinking and problem solving; loss of coordination; and increased heart rate. Research findings for long-term marijuana use indicate some changes in the brain similar to those seen after long-term use of other major drugs of abuse. For example, cannabinoid (THC or synthetic forms of THC) withdrawal in chronically exposed animals leads to an increase in the activation of the stressresponse system and changes in the activity of nerve cells containing dopamine. Dopamine neurons are involved in the regulation of motivation and reward, and are directly or indirectly affected by all drugs of abuse

Marijuana’s use has particularly increased among teenagers. According to a December 2011 government report, one out of every 15 high school students smokes marijuana on a near daily basis, a figure that has reached a 30-year peak even as use of alcohol, cigarettes and cocaine among teenagers continued a slow decline.

CUTS, PILLS AND SUICIDE Imteshal Tahir She felt like there was no point going on with life. She lay there, motionless. She turned over with a sinister smile and took the bottle of pills in her hand. Yes, she was ready for it. Gazing at the sunset outside the window, she thought how 'usual' would it look like - lying on the bed with foam trickling down her lips. She tightened her grip around the pills and gave her room a last look. Slowly her fingers turned blue with the load of her life. Usually people, mostly teens- slash their wrist, take pills..cut themselves or attempt suicide to 'ease' themselves from some pain or the other, usually are trying to escape the feelings of rejection, hurt or loss maybe. Others may be angry, ashamed or guilty about something. Some feel unwanted, unloved, victimized or like they're a burden to others. Friends! We all feel overwhelmed by difficult emotions or situations sometimes. So why do teens today cut themselves whereas another person in the same tough situation, does not? What makes us so resilient?? A few years back, a new trend has precipitated. "I hate you" these words are heard and thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s it. Off we are to slash our wrist or cause pain to ourselves! Hey guys! Hang on! This is 'wrong'. We are the youth. Where are we off to? Ups and downs, happen in life, but it does not mean that we just give up. Come on we all have experienced someone or the other do this right? Either your friend, cousin, sibling or even maybe you yourself may have gone through this! Recently this 'trend' of self-pain and suicide has increased and it is seriosly alraming! Injuring yourself on purpose by making scratches or cuts on your body with a sharp object is what is happening today, most people who cut are girls, but guys self-injure too. Teens today may cut themselves on wrist, arms, legs or even bellies. Others may self-injure like burning their skin with the end of a cigerate or a lighted match. Cutting is usually a teens attempt at feeling better, not ending it all. So you have a friend who has tonnes of problems with life? Okay. Help her/him. Be an informed friend. Talk about it to her/him. Remember there's nothing cool about cutting. Beware of people or websites that suggest there is! Acknowledge your friend's pain. I.e let your friend, who cuts know that you get what they're going through by saying things like ''we know how it feels yaar, you've been through alot'' !! Hey! You must act as a role model, learn and make others learn that coping with strong emotions is a good factor of a human being. I hope you and me make a good role model for such people in the future. Remember you are loved. Your parents, friends, family all love you. Make a healthy society and show that you are strong!! Till next time astala vista guys. Geo or jeenay do.

‘Flames to dust. Lovers to friends. Why do all good things come to an end?’ - Nelly Furtado These words had been buzzing in my head all day, begging me to find an answer, screaming out for me to hear them. But all I could hear was silence. The gods didn’t want me to know. The gods didn’t want me to know anything. Axons, dendrites, theories X and Y, cameltoes, legal inquiries, bad music, listening to other people speak on the phone is what I’m subjected to seeing and hearing every single day of my life. I don’t even know where the day goes. I go to class. I stay at the library, after hours, in fear of going home to an empty house. And soon. Night falls. It becomes darker than I fear hell to be. And I keep praying for the sun to rise again. I told him I couldn’t sleep until the first ray of sunlight hit the skyline. He laughed it off. I didn’t have anyone else to turn to. Even sleeping scares me. Regardless of what time it is. The second I close my eyes, their faces swarm my head like millions of little flies. The annoying kind. The kind that don’t go away. And sometimes. I don’t want them to go away. Their memories are all I have left of them. They’ve taken the rest away. To some far off place which I have no access to. So, the dreams that used to make me smile during starless nights, now, wake me up, with the urge to scream so loud the Heavens hear me. They hear me. But I can’t. My neighbour’s an ass. The say it’s better to have loved and lost that to never have loved at all. The truth is. I loved him. Maybe a part of me still does. But I had to bury that part somewhere deep down, with everything else, if I wanted any hope of a normal life. But I loved him. And I lost him. They comfort me saying he lost me. But inside, we all know the truth. We all know who lost who. They say if you love someone, you have to let them go. I loved him. He let me go. One by one. They all did. As if it was some kind of obligation. It was only when I looked in the mirror- at the darkened skin, around my sunken eyes, the deep gashes on my arm and the tear tracks running down my cheeks, ending up nowhere in particular- that I realized exactly what I’d lost. Half my soul, my entity, my mere existence was gone. Where? That I needed to find out. And then, I remembered the countless nights I’d spent, looking out of the window, filling the paper-bin with heaps of discarded poetry-about discarded love, thrown away so brutally, it ended all hopes of a happier tomorrow. Happiness? What exactly was happiness to me? An emotion I no longer felt? No. Happiness was knowing he’s happy. Wherever he is. Whoever he’s with. As for me, my happy ending had been set alight in orange flames and put on top of the burning carcass of my heart. That, too, by the one I never wanted to let go of. But God, He has His own ways. One after the other, my fingers were plucked off of him. Till my grip loosened. And with the last finger, they heard a snap; like a wishbone broken in two. He got the bigger half. He got his wish. And it hurt. Not the fact that my finger was in two separate pieces. But that my heart was in a million. And the sad part? I was ready to let him go. Only, not like this. Brutally. Heartlessly. I was going through my old stuff. And I found a paper that said ‘Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.’ And then I spent an hour thinking of what exactly mattered, to anyone, anymore. The mourning of the loss of loved ones. Both dead and alive. Feeling alive, or trying to. I read Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, and thought what a load of crap that was. None of it was true. Being loved? Food? Shelter? Sex? Self-esteem? And the best one. Self-actualization? It was shameful how he’d let people to believe that all of that stuff actually mattered.

‘Stand still, and I will read to thee, A lecture, Love, in Love’s philosophy.’ -John Donne

POEMS Next Time by Moaz Ahmed It doesn't matter, O' sweet darling, if you don't remember me this time, Next time. The world has come to halt, you and I are breaking apart, but I do not fear this time, Next time. So what? So what, if I waited for you for hours but you didn't show up? Who am I to pass judgement this time? Next time. The God waits a lifetime to pass a judgment every time! Next time. My wait shall be over, so shall my longing. Not this time. Next time. Those days may have not returned by this time, days of roses and wine, but they shall return, Next time.

I Caused You To Stay Close by Ghalib Khalil Standing on the roof Wind blowing my hair All alone was I Without you here Because of me who Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d come to be Others stared only at me Then it began to storm Salty tears of fresh rain on me I jumped off my roof Sure to feel more pain but in vain You caught me without any harm Even in the awful beating Through the thundering rain All the fear of loneliness And all the pain within me You are my shield and Coat of Arms My flag to me show the way After all the awful things I said Even closer now you stay.

Quotes to remember! It is the bold man who every time does best, at home or abroad. - Homer Marriage is one long conversation checkered by disputes. - Robert Louis Stevenson When written in Chinese, the word crisis is composed of two characters. One represents danger and the other represents opportunity. - John F. Kennedy If you want a thing done, go - if not, send. - Benjamin Franklin Good artists exist simply in what they make, and consequently are perfectly uninteresting in what they are. - Oscar Wilde

WHAT THE F**K FACTS! •

"China has lent more money to other developing countries over the past two years than the World Bank"

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"The wingspan of a Boeing 747 is 100ft longer than the length of the Wright Brothers' first flight.

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Octopus blood is pale blue

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A survey found that 33% of Americans wear pyjamas to bed, while 22% sleep naked

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The Washington Post loses $1.10 per copy.

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The total time spent on Facebook worldwide each month is around 1.3 million years!!!

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The song "3" by Britney Spears is 3minutes and 33 seconds long.

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Did you know your feet are bigger in the afternoon then in the morning?

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In Cleveland-Ohio, it is illegal to catch mice without a hunting licence.

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When the first independent prime minister of India, pacifist Jawaharlal Nehru (1889-1964), was featured in Vogue, his distinctive close fitting, single-breasted jacket briefly became an important fashion statement for the Mod movement in the West. Named the Nehru jacket, the prime minister’s coat was popularized by the Beatles and worn by such famous people as Johnny Carson (1925-2005) and Sammy Davis Jr. (1925-1990).

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The longest tennis match in history lasted 11 hours and 5 minutes.

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Wearing headphones for just one hour will multiply the number of bacteria in your ear 700 times

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There are 62,000 miles of blood vessels in the human body – laid end to end they would circle the earth 2.5 times.

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Bacteria normally found 30km above the earth have been identified as highly efficient generators of electricity. 105 Watts per cubic metre to 200 Watts per cubic metre.

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Did you know, you've just wasted 5 seconds of your life reading this.

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A baby is born every seven seconds.

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The number of births in India each year is greater than the entire population of Australia.

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A red-haired man is more likely to go bald than anyone else.

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Men can read smaller print than women, women can hear better than men. Women can also smell better than men.

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Human thigh bones are stronger than concrete.

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A group of owls is called a Parliament.

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Dragonflies have 6 legs but can't walk.

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The names of all continents both start and end with the same letter.

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The tongue of a blue whale is as long as an elephant.

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Turtles can breathe through their butts.

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King cobras rarely attack humans, but one bite contains enough venom to bring down an elephant.

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When eating chocolate, a chemical is released in your brain. The same chemical that gives you the feeling of being in love.