On November 4th, META APAC celebrated community day. Recognizing communities from all walks of life for their work and impact. Out of thousands of groups 31 communities from the entire Asiatic region were invited to Singapore for an exclusive and focused conference revolving around community building in the APAC region. Umbreen Mahar (Umm e Azaan), admin of Babies & Bumps represented Pakistan during the event.
The event was centered on community leaders and their committed work and passionate community-building skills and teams from META Singapore and Product team from the META HQ, USA were also a part of the event.
It is certainly a moment of pride for us and for Pakistan to be represented amidst emerging nations and their role in the digital world.
As Mary Demuth has rightly put what a home is for a woman, “I want my home to be that kind of place–a place of sustenance, a place of invitation, a place of welcome”, we can’t agree more. Every woman dreams of her own home. A home that is not made of just bricks but built with her own hands. Where every brick has a memory and a story to tell to the next generation. Home is where love resides, memories are created, friends always belong, and laughter never ends. A house is made of bricks and beams. A home is made of hopes and dreams.
Rafay Rumi has a knack for telling stories through the ad film and who doesn’t love that? We all love that, to be connected with. Ads that have touched us and are still etched in our memories.
A woman who has been brought up within the four walls of a house with restriction is fearful of the outside world. She can’t fulfill her little dreams of riding a bike or may be traveling to places on her own for fear of safety. On top of that when she lost her husband at an early age, whom she was dependent on scary. Our society doesn’t spare such a woman.
Rafay Rumi, in Faisal Town’s ad film talks of the woman who takes the charge of her house after her husband passed away. He has beautifully portrayed that women young or old can-do wonders if given a chance and a safe environment. No one can stop them.
The ad is produced by Faisal Town Group, where security and safety are ensured. A place that nourishes your dreams. As they say, there is nothing more important than a good, safe, and secure home.
The ad starts with an elderly woman carrying a planter in her hands as they are leaving the house. She touches and looks at everything for the last time.
As Robert Montgomery says, “Home, the spot of earth supremely blest, A dearer, sweeter spot than all the rest.” Home is nostalgia where endless memories are made. She never had a home of her own.
When her son gets a house, she is happy yet sad about leaving a place that had memories attached to her husband.
The director and team had beautifully shown a contrast between both young and old women. Her daughter-in-law is an independent woman. She asks her mother-in-law to pick up her daughter from her school to which she agrees. In a normal place, she might have had a fear of going out, getting lost, and maybe being insecure too. But here in Faisal Town, she is safe, where she can roam around, walk and enjoy herself without even thinking of anything. She comes across the school picking up her granddaughter at the hospital in a shuttle service vehicle that is provided by the society.
She enjoys these little moments that she had missed after her husband’s demise when she had to chin up and sacrifice everything for the sake of her son.
Her son helps her to ride a bike, a dream she had as a young girl. A sense of pride and fulfillment can be seen.
She had always dreamt of a place safe for the next generations which was honored by Faisal Town, a safe and secure place for your generations.
The ad continues with how she is at peace now that they have a home. The planter she had in her hands is now placed on the lawn. Where she and her granddaughter are putting soil and her son is watering it, therefore completing the home and being safe and secure.
The ad has touched our hearts, as we can emotionally connect with it. These days there are a lot of housing societies that do the big talk, but with no value added to it. Who doesn’t want value for their money? Faisal Town is the place of your dreams, a world that you have always wanted to make for yourself and the generations to come, the perfect Rehnay Ki Jagah!
The ad explores all the gaps that are left leaving a void for the residents of other housing societies. Faisal Town has covered it all. The cherry on top is the way the team has executed these very emotions translating them into visuals. A sense of warmth, coziness, and closeness can be felt throughout the five minutes ad.
Connecting with the audience in a not-so-traditional manner has worked its way through our hearts. We are compelled not to skip it and are glued to the ad till the end.
The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has amended the currency declaration rules for passengers travelling to and from Pakistan in a bid to modernise the declaration regime.
The FBR’s SRO1751 of Customs, issued on Tuesday, directs incoming passengers to declare the amount exceeding $10,000, and outgoing travellers to declare the amount that is $5,000 or beyond.
Dawn reported that travellers could declare currency manually at the customs counter, or they can do the same electronically through the customs system. Passengers can also file declarations remotely through the online operated WeBOC system.
The publication reported that since the forms are available online, no traveller will be checked while they pass through the green channels at Pakistan’s airports.
Previously, the FBR did not add the provision of currency declaration for passengers, according to a Customs official, but now, they have included it in line with best practices adopted by most countries.
Talking to Dawn, Member Customs Mukarram Jah Ansari said that the new order will modernise the country’s regulation rules as earlier, the passengers were bound to even declare small amounts.
In India, incoming travellers have to declare $5,000 and in the United Kingdom, inbound and outbound passengers have to declare cash when it exceeds $10,000.
Two-day annual property event saw a record-breaking 20,000 people attend, with over 60 exhibitors showcasing more than 200 of the most significant property developments in Pakistan.
H.E Sultan Butti Bin Mejren, Director General of the Dubai Land Department opened the Pakistan Property Show describing Zameen.com as a “pioneer in organizing such interactive events in the Gulf region.”
Notable media personalities from Pakistan moderated a panel event exploring real estate opportunities in the country.
Dubai, United Arab Emirates; September 12, 2022: Huge crowds gathered at the fourth edition of the Pakistan Property Show over the weekend at the World Trade Centre in Dubai to explore major investment opportunities in the Pakistan property market.
Over 60 exhibitors showcased more than 200 of the best and most trustworthy major property developments in Pakistan. A record breaking 20,000 people attended the two-day event which was organised by Zameen.com, Pakistan’s largest real estate enterprise. The annual event targets around 4 million overseas Pakistanis in the Gulf region and those interested in real estate projects across Pakistan’s the major cities.
During the event,H.E Sultan Butti Bin Mejren, Director General of the Dubai Land Department stated: “It was a great honour to inaugurate the Pakistan Property Show. Dubai is proud of its cultural and religious diversity, particularly the large community of Pakistani expats that have helped the emirate become a hub for business, real estate development, and tourism. Zameen.com is a pioneer in organizing such interactive events in the Gulf region.”
Commenting on the huge success of the Property Show, Mr. Zeeshan Ali Khan, CEO of Zameen.com said: “Once again, the Pakistan Property Show in Dubai was a huge success. Over 20,000 attendees demonstrate strong interest in finding the right investment opportunity in Pakistan’s property market. In Dubai, we have brought over 60 exhibitors offering the cream of investment opportunities available on the very ripe Pakistani real estate market at the moment.”
During the two-day event, an important panel session was held which was moderated by popular TV anchors Syed Shafaat Ali and Shiffa Yousafzai. Panellists discussed ‘Why real estate continues to be the best investment in Pakistan,’ providing attendees and online viewers with invaluable insights into the current state of the property sector and its future prospects. Speaking on the panel were prominent media personalities, Waseem Badami, Muhammad Maalik and Zameen.com’s CEO, Zeeshan Ali Khan.
The purpose of Pakistan Property Show was to provide overseas Pakistanis with direct access to some of the best and most promising real estate projects from their respective hometowns.”
The Pakistan rupee continued to depreciate against the US dollar Wednesday in the interbank market as the local unit remained under pressure due to a rise in dollar demand.
The local unit was trading at 223.50 after losing 2.08 against the dollar in the interbank market during intraday trade, up from yesterday’s close of 221.42.
The rupee’s depreciation follows a fluctuation in the demand and supply position of the greenback in the currency market.
Albeit, traders and dealers had expected the rupee to trade within a range of 218-19 in the coming days — the situation has quickly changed as the floods have overshadowed the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) loan disbursement.
Initial estimates suggest that Pakistan suffered a massive economic loss in the range of $10 to $12.5 billion as a result of the devastating floods — and the government also plans to cut the Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) by billions.
The local unit largely remained stable last week as the market sighed in relief when a $1.16 billion loan tranche arrived after IMF revived a bailout package for a cash-strapped country.
YouTube service was disrupted in parts of Pakistan on Tuesday evening ahead of PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s address at a party power show in Peshawar, according to NetBlocks — an organization that tracks internet outages.
NetBlocks noted that the disruption came despite the Islamabad High Court lifting the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority’s ban on Imran’s speeches.
Instagram will pause features that users have campaigned against and complained make the social network too much like TikTok, according to a report in the Platformer tech newsletter.
Celebrity sisters Kim Kardashian and Kylie Jenner were some of the most vocal users to have posted messages on social media this week calling for the company to “make Instagram Instagram again” and stop trying to be like TikTok.
The slogan sprang from a Change.org petition that had received more than 229,000 signatures as of late Thursday. “Let’s go back to our roots with Instagram and remember that the intention behind Instagram was to share photos, for Pete’s sake,” the petition read.
Karachi [Pakistan] July 29th, 2022 – The Young Leadership Conference’ 2022 on the theme “Pehchaan” started bright and finished on a brighter promising future. The immense 6-day conference loaded with knowledge, information and new experiences come to an end.
In this year’s theme, “Pehchaan” participants learned and experienced various topics and aspects. Starting from “Realization & Personal Leadership” to “History, Politics & Religion” participants aimed to embark on a journey of finding themselves and pushing themselves to unlearn the complexities, focused on how to be set free from the chains of stereotypes and taboos. They also explored how art is regardless and plays a significant role in bringing people together and how to avail opportunities whenever there is a problem. They also came to explore different aspects of history, politics & religion.
The last of YLC’22 is meant to be not the conclusion of learning but the start of the journey as independent and responsible individuals. Those who recognize their responsibility towards society as a Young Leader and carry forward the impact of the conference to a larger community through the Social Action Projects. The goal of the day is to instill active citizenship by conscious, thoughtful, critically engaging and practically responsible action.
After the participants were given the time to get ready and have breakfast, day 06 day started with a day briefing session by Ali Haider and Khushboo Dahri as day champs!
A detailed panel discussion was conducted by DKT where important issues like family planning and family health were discussed and how such awareness is important as a healthy individual can raise a healthy family and only a healthy family can contribute to building a healthy society.
Ali Haider then briefed about the SoL programs and their offerings while Kamran Rizvi shared the YLC Alumni Success Stories Documentary and Social Action Programs where he explained SAP is about individuals working together to address critical issues in their communities. It involves people contributing their time, effort and resources for the betterment of their society as a whole.
Later, a generous and delicious lunch was sponsored by participants’ favorite chain KFC Pakistan which they enjoyed a lot.
The fruitful 6-day program had a lot to serve its participants. We witnessed them learning, exploring and enjoying the once-in-a-million experience yet this was not the end since the motive of this conference was about recognizing and releasing “Pehchaan” it meant to unlock that consciousness of humans which encourages us to be aware of our responsibility as humans, showing humility and spreading love.
The productive conference concluded on high notes and participants were seen greeting and appreciating before bidding farewell to YLC!
The event has been sponsored by many notable organizations; Peek Freanz (EBM), FNF, J, DKT, Ibex, Habib Metro Bank, KIA Motors, KFC, Bookmyspot, Raagistan, Hubco, KAPCO, MSS, Catalyst, Amwaj, Torque, Nucleus, upstairs, carving, Alif, SoLf, Torque,while Jang Press, Geo, The News and Suno FM 89.4 will be performing their duties as official media partners and official radio partners respectively.
Karachi [Pakistan] July 28th, 2022 – The Young Leadership Conference on developmental and leadership skills is about to conclude on high notes where lots of inquisitive individuals got themselves flourished with strategic skills, knowledge and new experiences. The conference has only one day remaining but yet it has a lot to serve to the participants.
With this year’s theme “Pehchaan” our honorable speakers had already addressed from “Realization & Personal Leadership” to “History, Politics & Religion” where we aim to embark on a journey of finding ourselves and pushing ourselves to unlearn the complexities, focused on how to be set free from the chains of stereotypes and taboos. We also explored how art is regardless and plays a significant role in bringing people together and how to avail opportunities whenever there is a problem.
YLC’ 2022 – the agenda of day 05 was “Rethink – History, Politics & Religion” the objective of the day was to encourage participants to reflect on these particular issues while having a thorough understanding and exploration that will further empower them with a constructive approach while Shireen Naqvi served her duties as the day champ!
After the participants were given the time to get ready and have breakfast and day brief by Shireen Naqvi, the fifth day started with a session by Moiz Khan on How Factual is the History where he defined the majority of people think of history as “a collection of facts about the past” or making claims about the past based on what people at the time recorded but what history is actually all about. Since we are more likely to have sources written by “winners” designed to highlight why they were heroic in their victories. Sometimes what we hear or read is not entirely factual; the biasness needs to be recognized to escape the trap we are setting for ourselves.
The day champ Shireen Naqvi then in her session Formation of Narratives – Construction and Deconstruction engaged participants in an activity that makes them understand what narratives are, how they are formed and how they can be deconstructed
Followed by a session Tameer se Takmeel Tak conducted by Javed Jabbar where he explainedwe often argue or disagree over why Pakistan was founded or what the Quaid’s Pakistan was like, but is this argument still valid today? Or the conversation right now should be more practical. The reality is, Pakistan does exist, and we all call it home. Now it’s up to us to decide if we want to continue living the way we already do or find some common ground to live together peacefully and develop as a nation.
Later, Ali Hameed in his sessionClash of Civilizations & Pakistani Youth explained that The Clash of Civilizations is a theory that claims that in the post-Cold War world, conflicts will mostly arise from people’s cultural and religious identities and how we as responsible individuals might overcome this conflict without contributing to it.
An immensely addressed session on Create Your Own Island was conducted by notable speakersShandana Gulzar and Faizan Arafat where they briefed participants that we frequently criticize the situation we find ourselves in and occasionally wish we had the power to make changes. They asked participants to design their own island. Through this simulation, they hope to teach them about global politics, the formation of nations, and the formation and maintenance of alliances during difficult times.
Maalik Khaskhely conducted the last session of the day on Turning Activism into Action where he briefed that for every nation to grow, it is very crucial that rather than only identifying the problems and issues they must work on solutions. He further discussed how to take personal responsibility and turn activism into action.
The productive day of the conference concluded with Qawali night where participants were seen enjoying the amazing performance of Hamza Akram Qawal before bidding farewell to YLC!
The event has been sponsored by many notable organizations; Peek Freanz (EBM), FNF, J, DKT, Ibex, Habib Metro Bank, KIA Motors, KFC, Bookmyspot, Raagistan, Hubco, KAPCO, MSS, Catalyst, Amwaj, Torque, Nucleus, upstairs, carving, Alif, SoLf, Torque,while Jang Press, Geo, The News and Suno FM 89.4 will be performing their duties as official media partners and official radio partners respectively.
Lahore: Zameen.com – Pakistan’s largest real estate enterprise recently signed a Digital Marketing Agreement with House Building Finance Company Limited, Pakistan’s oldest housing finance institution.
This partnership will enable HBFC and Zameen.com customers in getting housing finance for purchase and construction of their properties across Pakistan.
The partnership between Zameen.com and HBFC was celebrated during a recent ceremony in Lahore at Zameen.com’s Head Office.
Zameen.com’s senior leadership including Senior Director Sales Central Mr. ShujaUllah Khan, Director Sales Mr. Muhammad Hasan, Manager Corporate Business and Banking Mr. Muhammad Umar Farooq, and Assistant Manager Corporate Business and Banking Ms. Zaira Javed along with HBFC Group Head – Business & Operations, Mr. Faisal Murad and Unit Head – Corporate Communication & Media Relations, Syeda Zauwia Riaz were also present.
Speaking on the occasion, Zameen.com’s Senior Director Sales ShujaUllah Khan said, “Zameen.com is committed to the development of Pakistan’s real estate sector. Millions of customers visit our platform for their home buying and renovation needs. Addition of HBFC to our list of partners would enable our customers to benefit from the schemes of HBFC and realize their dream of home ownership”
Commenting on the occasion, Zameen.com’s Director Sales Muhammad Hasan said, “The agreement would make it convenient for people to avail HBFC’s housing finance facility. Using housing finance facility, customers can build or purchase their dream home anywhere in Pakistan and become homeowners.”
Speaking on the occasion Mr. Faisal Murad, GH- Business & Operations said, “This strategic alliance between HBFC and Zameen.com shows our commitment towards facilitating Pakistanis in constructing and purchasing their dream homes at affordable rates and at their convenience.”
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