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Rafi Group signed an agreement with IGI Life Insurance
Pakistan’s leading land developer Rafi Group signed an agreement with IGI Life Insurance to provide its customers investment inclusive of life insurance. The Event was held at Faletti’s Hotel in Lahore on 8th October 2021.
Being the trendsetters in the real estate sector of Pakistan through pioneering high-rise buildings & farmhouses, Rafi Group has once again achieved a great milestone in the real estate industry by facilitating its customers with investment inclusive of life insurance. Never in the entire history of the real sector in Pakistan, any land developer has proactively taken this initiative so far.
On the occasion, Chairman Rafi Group Imtiaz Rafi Butt said that we are committed to facilitate our customers with the best investment opportunities and what can be better than investment inclusive of life insurance.
CEO IGI Life Insurance Tahir Masood said that Rafi Group has become the first land developer in the real estate market across Pakistan that has taken a unique step to provide its customers a facility of life insurance. He said that the initiative will inspire others in the real estate sector to walk in the footsteps of Rafi in order to serve their customers.
Later, CEO Rafi Group Shehriar Imtiaz Rafi & Managing Director Shazil Imtiaz Rafi also spoke about the milestone achieved by Rafi Group and expressed the commitment of Rafi Group to serve its customers in best possible way.
In addition to an agreement signed with IGI Life Insurance, Rafi Group held the third ballot of Green Palms Housing Project Gwadar in the two days Open House Event organized in Lahore.
In Lahore Open House, customers showed up in large numbers & displayed a keen interest for investment in Gwadar. Rafi Group’s Sales professionals guided customers through one-on-one consultations. Many customers booked plots on the spot in Green Palms Housing Project Gwadar.
Rafi Group is the most trusted developer in the real estate sector of Pakistan with many property masterpieces under its belt, ranging from high-rise buildings to farmhouses to shopping malls. Green Palms is a flagship housing project of Rafi Group being developed to meet the upcoming housing needs of the coastal city, Gwadar. Designed in line with Gwadar Master Plan, Green Palms Housing Project is the largest private GDA-approved housing project in Gwadar situated on main Makran Coastal Highway with an area stretched over 1065 acres of land. The housing project is currently under fast-paced construction and is the best place for investment in Gwadar.
Rafi Group | Green Palms Housing Project | Event Highlights
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Pakistan Pavilion at Expo 2020 records 8,000 visitors on opening day
As thousands descended to the expo site on the first day, Pakistan saw around 8,000 people visit its colourful pavilion on the opening day of Expo 2020, Khaleej Times reported.
Steeped in history and culture, the Pakistani pavilion is divided into eight key spaces where visitors can experience the country’s best-kept hidden treasures ranging from its vibrant handicrafts to its stunning topography and lip-smacking food.
Some of the high-profile visitors to the pavilion included the Adviser to the Prime Minister for Commerce and Investment Abdul Razak Dawood and a federal minister, who toured the pavilion in the afternoon and stayed on till late evening.
Afroz Abro, lead programming and marketing at Pakistan Pavilion, told Khaleej Times: “The opening day was much busier than we expected. While during the day we recorded a good attendance of 5,000 people, by evening the crowd had swelled up and we recorded visits of around 8,000 excited people from around the world.”
Abro said: “The response has been outstanding and we have people appreciating all aspects of the pavilion, ranging from the colourful façade to the vibrant bazaar and also our custom-made Pakistani restaurant called ‘Dhaba’ that has been a great crowd-puller…We are grateful to the Expo 2020 Dubai for bringing the world to us so we could show them what Pakistan is all about.”
“After taking their reviews, we were happy to learn that coming to our pavilion dispelled many misconceptions and doubts they had about Pakistan, due to some false information they got from unreliable sources. By physically coming to the Pakistan pavilion they said they experienced the real Pakistan.”
“We are super happy at this response and we would encourage all to come to visit us and learn more about our country and culture, unravel and discover the hidden treasures of Pakistan, which is also the theme of the Pakistan pavilion that aim is to highlight the ‘unique or little-known aspects of the country,” she added.
Elaborating on the theme, Abro said: “The principal art curator at the pavilion, Noor Jehan Bilgrami, a top Pakistani artist, has put together the theme of the pavilion in a way that it tells the story of our country in a poetic way in which the past, present, and future are woven together as a tapestry that reveals its rich and layered history, culture and traditions, as well as the potential and possibilities it holds for the future. From the dawn of civilisation to the history of Pakistan to the present and to what level Pakistan aims to reach is all displayed across the different sections of the pavilion.”
The inner journey
The pavilion is divided into eight key spaces where visitors will experience the country’s best-kept treasures. It features a custom-made Pakistani cuisine restaurant called ‘The Dhaaba’ (food court) that will feature the country’s authentic, centuries-old cuisine for global audiences to savour. It also offers indigenous dishes from each region.
Pavilion visitors enter through a door adorned with hand-beaten copper triangles under a Kashi (tiled) ceiling, past earthenware pottery, jewellery and toys, replicas from the Indus Valley Civilisation that flourished in the region some five thousand years ago.
A meticulously painted timeline by artist Naveed Sadiq depicts different historical eras in miniature style, beginning with a spectacular contemporary brass sculpture (based on Mehrgarh’s pottery) by artist Fahim Rao.
A narrow passage then takes visitors on a mesmerising journey of light and shadow through the ‘Sheesh Mahal: Pathway of Mirrors’ installation, to show revival of the craft of Ayina-kari on a huge scale.
From here, visitors are transported to Pakistan’s breathtaking landscapes, the sheer scale of which reduces one to a particle of dust. Nestled in these landscapes, the two ancient communities of the Mohanas and the Kalasha are depicted through installations in wood and textile.
A dark passage leads visitors to the heart of the Pavilion where Pakistan’s sacred spaces are celebrated – heralded by drums, bells, and the whirl of a red-robed dervish. Light filters from a carved wooden jaali (grid) and exquisitely painted fresco panels inspired by the Wazir Khan Mosque in Lahore adorn the wall. Binding all these are the stunning films capturing the spirit of coexistence across mosques, shrines, temples, gurudwaras and churches in Pakistan.
A souvenir shop with art and craft works unique to Pakistan will also be part of the pavilion to allow visitors to take home a bit of Pakistani culture from its array of cultural memorabilia available. The pavilion will also host several entertainment and business events throughout the six months of the expo.
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Netflix Released the first teaser of “The Guilty”
In the midst of romantic, comedy, and horror movies, Netflix is giving thriller genre fans a treat. Recently Netflix released the teaser for its upcoming crime thriller film “The Guilty”. It is a remake of a Danish movie of the same name which was released in 2018. The original film was well received with a 97% rating on rotten tomatoes. It was directed and co-written by Gustav Möller.
Later in 2018, it was announced that American actor Jake Gyllenhaal and Nine Stories have bought the rights of the movie for the remake. Netflix bought the distribution rights for the film in September 2020. This new adaptation will be directed by Antoine Fuqua. The director is best known for his films like “The Equalizer” series, “Southpaw” and the remake of “The Magnificent Seven”.
While the trailer didn’t give too much away of the plot, it still managed to get its audience goosebumps and chills the entire time. It features a 911 call centre where our protagonist Joe Baylor (Jake) receives a distress call from a woman who has been kidnapped. While he is trying to send help for the lady he finds himself helpless and things don’t turn out well. The movie will look deep into the narrative of how Joe can rescue the victim while just being confined in a room with his phone and computer.
The film stars Ethan Hawke, Bill Burr, Peter Sarsgaard, Paul Dano, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, and Riley Keough and will have its world premiere on 11 September at the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival. It is scheduled to have a limited theatrical release as well on 24 September 2021 and will be available on Netflix on October 1.
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Day five of YLC let its young participants know deeply about History, Politics of Region to become future leaders
[Karachi, 6th Sept, 2021] Day five of the ongoing Young Leaders Conference (YLC) on Sunday was dedicated to let its participants know about the history and politics of the region as an essential component of their upbringing to assume leadership roles in the near future.
The day’s theme was “History and Politics-Iqtidar” and the champions of the proceedings were Shireen Naqvi and Faizan Arafat.
The day’s proceedings were conducted with the aim that the budding leaders of tomorrow should have ample knowledge about politics and history to act as responsible global citizens. The day was intended to promote political, cultural, and historical awareness among the young participants of the conference. The conference’s different sessions also explored the need for diplomacy in the present age of turmoil for promoting peace in the global environment.
Faizan Arafat’s session titled “The History of Human Struggle” highlighted the importance of history and how it was termed the black box of cause and effect because of its opaque nature. He talked about five important points in the past 500 years’ history that shaped nations and their ways of living.
Arfa Syeda Zehra’s session titled “Sach ka Samna” was an attempt to shed light on the blind spots in our history books and made the participants aware as to how these narratives come about.
She said in her talk that a large part of our identity stemmed from our history and culture that is deep within our land. It is ironic then, how history as we know it, does show us the full picture.
“Understanding the circumstances that have brought us here today are crucial for us to understand what it means to be a Pakistani,” she said.
Justice (retired) Nasira Iqbal talked about the issue of Rights Vs Responsibilities while saying that if someone was spreading negativity and hate speech in the name of freedom of speech, he or she was not taking responsibility for their actions. “If we don’t take responsibility for our actions and their impact, and continue to exploit our rights in the name of freedom, we will move towards a chaotic and dysfunctional society rather than a society where we strive for collective benefit,” she added.
Shireen Naqvi and Faizan Arafat’s joint session “Rewind & Forward” was aimed at telling the YLC participants that our current reality is shaped by a multitude of events in our history, every one of which affects our state today. “Everything that is happening today will be history one day, and everything we do today shapes what the world will look like tomorrow,” the participants were informed.
Shireen Naqvi in her session “Alliance Formation” talked about the frequent formation of alliances by different political parties in the country to come into power and to what extent this culture affects political governance in Pakistan.
Barrister Shahida Jamil conducted the Presidential Debate of the day.
Waqar Ali ended the day by uplifting the participants to face the challenges in their lives ahead.
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Day 4 was aimed to recognise the Human Skills that are becoming increasingly important in today’s technology driven world.
Day four of the Young Leaders Conference (YLC) was aimed at providing the best guidance to its participants to choose a career path in their upcoming life in the backdrop of massive changes in the job market the world over due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The theme of the day was “Enterprise and Employment-AITEBAAR” with Champ Waleed Anwar as the star participant of the proceedings.
Speakers belonging to diverse professional backgrounds also taught the YLC participants about the skills and qualifications required to practice entrepreneurship or to enter the realm of start-ups in their practical life.
They also counselled about the fundamental changes in the businesses and industries due to heavy reliance on technology, computers, and the Internet to do professional work as the job market becomes extremely challenging due to the ever-shrinking requirement of human resources.
Umair Jaliawala, Trainer and founder at Torquie joined the conference for his session. Umair Jallawala said the people around the world had to face unexpected challenges and realities while fulfilling their professional commitments during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Companies had to rethink and reshape their structures, many failed or took a hit but some rose to the challenge and used this crisis as an opportunity for taking massive action,” he said.
He provided guidance to the participants in order to help them nurture the ability to identify a crisis associated with their professional lives and what skills set was required to tackle the challenging situation in the occupational surroundings.
Shahbaz Islam in his session said that many existing jobs would likely become obsolete soon due to the rapid rise of technology and automation.
He said research showed that around 40 per cent of the workforce would require re-skilling by 2025, causing great anxieties amongst the youth entering the job market in such turbulent times.
“However, we must realise that although technology has replaced many human jobs, this recent shift has made certain human skills more valuable than ever. Skills such as adaptability, creative problem solving and effective decision making-commonly called soft skills-are now so essential that employers have started to call them core skills,” he said.
Junaid Alam taught the participants about the fast-emerging world of start-ups and its relevance for the Pakistani youth.
Arsal Fahim spoke on the need to gain financial literacy to sharpen their professional skills through a very engaging and fun activity “Money matters”
Arif Pyarall shared his ideas about establishing long-lasting and successful ties with the industry.
Waqar Ali spoke on the marketing skills required for running a successful business while Faizan Arafat helped the YLC participants sharpen their business communication skills to be used in their upcoming life.
A very insightful session, YOU ARE HIRED, sponsored by IBEX. took place. In this session the participants came along with their resumes to sit down for an interview with a leading HR professional and they were getting feedback right away on their interview performances.
Kamran Z Rizvi conducted a panel discussion on the need to secure a specialization in the particular field of study of youth for becoming successful professionals.
The day ended with Extra Corp by Waqar Ali, a simulation in which team SoL aware participants about inclusion, diversity and acceptance of others. This whole simulation revolves around only one fundamental, that is, no matter what color, cast, gender you are. Everyone is equal and nobody is superior to others.
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Watch: Wasim Akram’s emotional video of reunion with daughter after 10 long months
Former Pakistan cricket captain Wasim Akram has reunited with his daughter Aiyla after being 10 months apart from her and his wife.
The legendary bowler shared the beautiful moment of finally meeting his daughter, sharing a short clip of their meeting on his official Twitter account.
“Finally seeing my daughter after 10 months apart,” Wasim Akram captioned the video on his Twitter handle.
Fans believe the video was shot by his wife Shaniera Akram, even though Akram did not credit anyone on the viral video.
Akram articulated his appreciation to his wife Shaniera, an Australian social worker, for taking such good care of their “little princess”.
“Thank you, Shaniera, for raising such a beautiful little princess while we have been apart,” Akram further wrote.
The post became an instant hit on Twitter.
Wasim Akram was away from his family for the last 10 months due to COVID-19 travel restrictions. Due to travel restrictions, he was in Pakistan, his wife and daughter were in Australia.
The 55-year-old, last month, traveled to Australia to unite with his family and after spending his compulsory 14-day quarantine, he was permitted to meet them.
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Day three of YLC highlights artistic, cultural diversity of Pakistan for its budding leaders
Day three of the ongoing Young Leaders’ Conference (YLC) on Friday was all about highlighting the relevance of Pakistani arts and culture for the youth in the country for making them ready to assume a leadership role in the near future.
The theme of the day was “Arts, Culture, and Society-Aiwaan” and the Champ Arsal Fahim was the main highlight of the day. Different speakers of the day also shed light on the artistic and cultural diversity Pakistan possesses as the unique feature of its society.
The English Biscuit Manufacturers (EBM) was the sponsor of the day in line with its firm commitment and resolve continuing for near about 20 years to support YLC in the best interest of budding leaders of Pakistan. The EBM’s support this year has been especially noteworthy that it let the YLC takes place despite continuing coronavirus emergency that otherwise interrupted many such events all over the world or confined its proceedings to the digital medium only. A musical concert as a part of the day’s proceedings to enrich the cultural exposure of the YLC participants was also sponsored by the EBM. The YLC organizers expressed special gratitude to the EBM for its unwavering commitment every year to organize the event.
The EBM was also represented on the occasion by its Brand Manager Shayan Rasool who talked about the concept of Alif.
Through encouraging counter-narratives, cross-pollination of idealism, and self-expression, day three sought to create an intellectual space, promoting diversity and pluralism in Pakistan’s society and beyond its borders while providing an opportunity for the YLC participants to connect with the art, culture, society, and moral ethos of Pakistan.
One of the keynote speakers of the day, Yousuf Bashir Qureshi in his conversation with the YLC participants highlighted the importance of arts in today’s modern world driven by industrialization and technology. “Art beyond drawings and paintings is a shared experience and its most essential function is to express and make sense of the struggles and emotions of society. It is a way of bringing people together and the greatest form of storytelling,” he said.
Junaid Iqbal in his lecture highlighted the importance of family, culture, religion, gender, educational background as the compelling factors that influenced the thought process of a person and shape the way he or she sees the world.
“Developing individual thought empowers us to stand apart from the crowd and allows us the confidence to voice our opinions without the fear of being judged. Additionally, if you are in a position of power, it is also crucial to ensure that your voice does not overpowers others but instead encourages individual opinions,” he added.
Nida Kirmani spoke on the concept of gender equality while saying that as almost half of Pakistan’s population being women, the need for gender equality and representation in the home, workplace, media, and politics is crucial.
Her session was aimed at bringing forth the factual realities of gender inequality and bringing context by highlighting its relevance in today’s Pakistan in order to understand that gender equality is not just important for women but equally important for men and the development of Pakistan.
A Drum circle activity was also part of the day. The participants of the YLC were given the opportunity to present their different cultures in the Cultural Night.
The day ended with a captivating EBM-sponsored musical night featuring renowned Sufi and folk singer of Pakistan Sanam Marvi.
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Second day of YLC highlights need to achieve mental, emotional well-being of youth
[Karachi, 3rd Sept, 2021] The second day of Young Leaders’ Conference (YLC) on Thursday was all about emotional and mental well-being of the adolescent brains against the backdrop of coronavirus pandemic that has given rise to the psychological problems all over the world due to prolonged lockdown regimes.
The theme of the day was “Developmental Leadership-ALMIYA” as Waqar Ali was one of the keynote speakers of the day. The day started with an energizing session, briefing on the upcoming proceedings, and giving a wrap-up of the proceedings of the day one of the YLC.
The topics discussed during the proceedings included inclusiveness, psychological well-being, emotional intelligence, and mental health of the youth.
The proceedings of the day were conducted with strict adherence to the government-prescribed standard operating procedures against the spread of coronavirus.
The participants of the YLC were informed that Developmental Leadership is all about expanding one’s mind-set. It empowers us to come together and have difficult conversations, regarding subjects that may be considered taboo in our society, with an open mind and a greater will to understand.
With 64 per cent of Pakistan’s population comprising the youth, it is imperative that we address matters of emotional, physical and social well-being with great importance.
From mental health to social hygiene and from sustainable development to climate change, it is our responsibility to grow and take initiative, said the speakers of the day two of YLC.
The goal of the day was to develop a growth mind-set and get a conversation started among the participants. Even though our cultural roots encourage us to be accepting, it is often done only when convenient. With a day specifically about Developmental Leadership, the organizers hoped to equip the youth with tools to be informed about the world around them, empathize with others and encourage them to promote growth within and in the communities around them.
Other important speakers of the day included Nisha Rao and Taha Sabir who spoke on the issue of emotional intelligence.
Different sessions of the day were held on the topics of inclusive communities, self-defence, emergency medical services, sign language, emotional intelligence and its impact on mental health, defining fears instead of goals.
The day also had Asad Ibrahim’s session. He helped the participants understand the meaning of Alif on a spiritual level. He also did a meditation with the participants to make them feel relaxed and calm.
The day ended with Waqar Ali’s activity titled “Your dinner is locked until…”
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Young Leaders Conference enters its 20th year with 225 participants coming together from more than 70 districts and cities across the nation
The first day of Young Leaders Conference (YLC) started with a very thought-provoking concept of self-realization. The day was all about decluttering our minds from everyday chaos and starting afresh. Waqar Ali, CEO School of Leadership introduced the concept of Alif with a new perspective and discussed the importance of diving within to see beyond what eyes can see. The day was led by Uzair Ausaf, CEO Cube Consulting who inspired the youngsters with his spellbinding stories and insightful experiences that made them believe that their dreams can become reality if they have faith within and are ready to take that first step. The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
English Biscuit Manufacturers (EBM) and School of Leadership celebrated two decades of impact with hundreds of lives touched. Leadership from both organizations shared how they find YLC as a platform for youngsters to build confidence and get relevant exposure that can equip them with the mindset to transition from good to great. The 20th YLC displayed the true essence of Alif with youngsters reflecting to unearth their true potential, finding right questions to ask the universe and stitching it all together Attiyah Inaam, Senior Manager Corporate Communications, Sustainability & PR represented her company at the Conference on Day 1 and delivered a very powerful and motivational speech to the participants in which she talked about the 20 years of partnership between SoL & EBM. She also talked about EBM and how the company has empowered more than 600+ youngsters through sponsorships and support. “Whatever the mind of a man can conceive and believe, IT CAN ACHIEVE.”
Cake cutting ceremony took place in celebration of 20 decades of partnership between both the organizations.
Keeping in mind the recent pandemic, compliance with strict SOPs was ensured for everyone’s safety.
The day put forward the thought of taking a break from the routine and getting rid of those self-created limitations that paralyzes ones’ growth. It expressed the importance of inculcating values and morals of Alif and carrying them as a guiding principle to their life.
The partners and sponsors for YLC 2021 are EBM (Founding Partner), ibex., Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom, KIA Motors, PTCL – Ufone, KAPCO, KFC, nofea, HABIB METRO, J., Feroze 1888, HUBCO, Sightsavers, SOL Foundation, Catalyst Corp, Street17, UPSTAIR Solutions, Dreamworld Resort, Hotel and Golf Course, Carving Productions, Amwaj, Health Matters, SWVL. The Learning Partners are connectHear, Nucleus Consulting, Carnelian, Cube Consulting, Torque, and Bookmyspot. The official Media Partners are Jang Media Group, Geo News, and The News while the official Radio Partner for the event is Suno FM 89.4.
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Ranveer Singh: Sanjay Leela Bhansali is a ‘master puppeteer’
Actor Ranveer Singh on Monday penned a special note to mark national award-winning filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s glorious 25 years in Indian cinema.
Ranveer Singh dug out two behind-the-scenes pictures which feature him on the sets of his films with the iconic director. Sharing the pictures, he penned a long note in the caption in which he described what working with the legendary filmmaker actually means.
“My bond with SLB is very deep. I have done my best work with Him. He is a master of his craft and a true artist. Whenever you are directed by him you have a tremendous growth spurt as a performer. He challenges you, he pushes you to deliver a performance that’s visceral, spirited and comes from a place deep within you. He enriches and inspires you. He nurtures his actors and extracts their very best performances,” Ranveer wrote.
Ranveer Singh, who had collaborated with Sanjay for the blockbuster films- Goliyon Ki Rasleela Ram-Leela, Bajirao Mastani, and Padmaavat explained that working on a Bhansali film puts an individual in a creative flux, and after the process, one feels like evolution has occurred within him.
“He has an ability to raise the stakes of the conflict in shooting a film scene, such that achieving that gold standard, that degree of excellence often feels like moving target, and he makes you feel like hitting that target is a matter of life and death,” the 36-year-old actor wrote.
He further shared that the director pushes one in a way that propels and ensures that “you win this hard-fought battle with your own constructs”.
The Gully Boy actor shared that Sanjay expands one’s bandwidth as a performer, compelling a performer to find new depths within themselves.
“His pursuit of excellence is relentless. That’s what sets him apart. That’s what makes him so great. He is limitless. And His craft is limitless. And when you work with him, you believe that you are limitless,” added Ranveer who will reportedly be seen in Baiju Bawra – a Bhansali film.
Referring to him as the ‘master puppeteer’, the actor shared, “I often say working with SLB is like a rite of passage for a creative individual. He brings something out in you that even you didn’t know you had and in doing so reveals the real you to your own self.”
Apart from Ranveer, his wife, and actor Deepika Padukone, Ajay Devgn and Alia Bhatt also congratulated the filmmaker on completing 25 glorious years in Bollywood.
Sanjay made his directorial debut with the film Khamoshi: The Musical in 1996, and since then he has never looked back. He went forward to build a strong legacy of passionate cinema through films like Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (1999), Devdas (2002), and the recent productions — Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela (2013), Bajirao Mastani (2015) and Padmaavat (2018).
The dynamic filmmaker’s movies are known for their storytelling, performances, their music, costumes, set designs, dance moves, and powerful dialogues. Sanjay has skillfully employed Indian culture and tradition in his movies, capturing cinematic experiences not seen before.
Meanwhile, Ranveer is all set to make his TV debut by hosting Colors’ quiz show The Big Picture.
Apart from this, the actor will be seen in movies like 83, Sooryavanshi, Jayeshbhai Jordaar, Cirkus, the Hindi remake of a blockbuster hit Anniyan, and Karan Johar’s next directorial venture titled Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani alongside his Gully Boy co-star Alia Bhatt.
Sanjay, meanwhile, will come up with his much-awaited film Gangubai Kathiawadi starring Alia Bhatt in the lead role. The film, which marks Sanjay’s first collaboration with Alia, is based on the book Mafia Queens of Mumbai written by S Hussain Zaidi.
This project will also see Bhansali Productions collaborating with Jayantilal Gada’s Pen India Limited and the reunion of Ajay Devgn and Sanjay after the 1999 iconic film Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam.
Gangubai Kathiawadi will release in theatres once the current pandemic situation in the country eases.
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