With its new project ‘Open Heritage’, Google is offering virtual access to the world’s cultural treasures.
The partnership is a project between Google and CyArk, a non-profit organization that sets out to digitally preserve the world’s cultural heritage sites before they are lost to natural disasters, human intervention or the passage of time.
After nearly 15 years of operation — it was founded in 2003, motivated by the destruction of fifth-century Bamiyan Buddhas in Afghanistan — CyArk has recorded more than 200 monuments on all seven continents.
In teaming up with CyArk, Google Arts & Culture is opening up access to the organization’s virtual wonders with an online exhibition that covers 25 iconic locations in 18 countries.
Among them are the Ananda Ok Kyaung temple in Bagan, Myanmar, captured before it was damaged in a 2016 earthquake; the Al Azem Palace in war-torn Damascus, Syria; the ancient Mayan metropolis of Chichen Itza in Mexico; and Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate.
For many of the sites, Google has developed 3D models that allow viewers to see these cultural wonders from every angle.
Snapchat has introduced a new feature called Lens Studio. This feature now allows creators to experiment with custom AR filters!
Snap first introduced AR filters last year which became an instant hit. The company has since the allowed their users to be creative by letting them have filters of their Bitmoji characters.
Th company has announced new features for Lens Studio, including seven brand new templates for the creation of face lenses. Now, developers can create Face Lenses, with seven different templates from which to choose.
The new Face Templates include;
Face Paint
Photo: Photo lets creators overlay lenses onto a single static (head-on) photo
Distort
Trigger
2D Objects
3D Objects
Baseball Cap
According to TechCrunch, Snap is also integrating with Giphy to give Lens Studio developers access to Giphy’s massive library of animated GIF stickers.
Snap is opening up these third-party lenses to the public with the launch of Community Lens Stories. Each story will include public Snaps submitted on Our Story that highlight a community lens.
You just need to simply swipe up on one of these Snaps to unlock the lens, or browse other Lenses by tapping the ‘i’ button above a Community Lens in the carousel.
China unveiled plans Wednesday to permit visa-free travel to its southern island of Hainan, as Beijing pushes international tourism to the tropical destination in another step to open up the region
The new policy will start in May and allow travelers from 59 countries to visit Hainan for 30 days visa free, said Qu Yunhai, deputy director of the State Immigration Administration at a press conference in Beijing.
Among the countries to be included in the programme are Russia, United States, France, Britain, and Germany, according to the official Xinhua news agency.
The new rule will give Hainan less stringent visa requirements than in the rest of China, where travelers have to apply for visas through Chinese consulates abroad.
The policy “embodies our resolve and approach to move one step further to the opening to the outside world”, Qu said.
The liberalization comes as part of a package of reforms to remake the island as a free trade zone and a beacon of openness for China.
On Monday, China announced it would allow Hainan to develop horse racing and explore opening new types of lotteries connected to sports and international competitions.
Beijing also said it wants to position Hainan as a “center of international tourism consumption”, a goal which has faced slow progress despite sandy beaches and massive spending on plush resorts.
The province attracted fewer than a million foreign visitors in 2016 — compared with over seven million in Thailand’s Phuket, according to data compiled by Bloomberg News.
The new policy is being implemented by China’s State Immigration Administration, a new agency formed during a government shuffle announced in March.
Previously, some international visitors to the island could avoid China’s visa requirements if they were on a shorter trip and traveling as part of a tour group.
Saudi Arabia on Wednesday unveiled its first cinema in over 35 years with a private screening of the blockbuster “Black Panther”, the first in a series of trial runs before movie theatres open to the wider public.
Saudi Arabia on Wednesday unveiled its first cinema in over 35 years with a private screening of the blockbuster “Black Panther”, the first in a series of trial runs before movie theatres open to the wider public.
The invitation-only gala event comes after the conservative kingdom lifted the ban on cinemas last year as part of a far-reaching liberalization drive, with US giant AMC Entertainment granted the first license to operate movie theatres.
Anticipation had been building after the authorities announced earlier this month that Saudi Arabia’s first cinema in over three decades would open on Wednesday, but officials dubbed the event at Riyadh’s King Abdullah Financial District a “dry run”.
AMC chief executive Adam Aron said ticket sales will commence on Thursday for the first public shows on Friday.
But local authorities indicated the test screenings could last for days before an online ticketing system is formally launched. Officials earlier said movie theatres are expected to open to the public in May.
“This is a historic day for AMC. This is a historic day for your country,” Aron told an audience of government officials and industry figures as he stood before a large screen in a converted concert hall.
“Welcome to the era when movies can be watched by Saudis not in Bahrain, not in Dubai, not in London… but inside the kingdom,” he said before the screening of “Black Panther”.
Religious hardliners, who have long vilified movie theatres as vulgar and sinful, were instrumental in shutting them down in the 1980s.
The move to reopen cinemas is part of a modernization drive by reformist Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is seeking to balance unpopular subsidy cuts in an era of low oil prices with more entertainment options — despite opposition from hardliners.
“Black Panther”, a film about a young monarch of a fictional African jungle kingdom, has drawn parallels with the Saudi prince.
“This is a story about a young (royal) who transforms a nation. That might sound familiar to some of you,” Aron joked.
– Untapped market –
International theatre chains have long eyed the kingdom as the Middle East’s last untapped mass market, with its more than 30 million people, the majority of whom are under 25.
AMC Entertainment signed a non-binding agreement in December with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund to build and operate cinemas across the kingdom.
Saudi state media has said the company expects to open 40 cinemas across 15 Saudi cities over the next five years.
AMC will still face stiff competition from other heavyweights including Dubai-based VOX Cinemas, the leading operator in the Middle East.
Similar to television programming, movies are likely to face some censorship in the kingdom, where sex, religion, and politics are widely seen as taboo subjects.
Long known for its ultra-conservative mores, the kingdom has embarked on a wide-ranging programme of social reforms that includes mixed-gender concerts and a historic decree allowing women to drive from June.
In February, Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority announced it will stage more than 5,000 festivals and concerts in 2018, double the number of last year, and pump $64 billion in the sector in the coming decade.
The reform stems partly from an economic motive to boost domestic spending on entertainment as the kingdom reels from an oil slump since 2014.
Saudis currently splurge billions of dollars annually to see films and visit amusement parks in neighboring tourist hubs like Dubai and Bahrain.
Huawei shocked the world with its first triple camera smartphone HUAWEI P20 Pro. In another delightful announcement, the company is bringing its P20 Series to Pakistan by introducing the HUAWEI P20 lite.
Touted as the new selfie superstar, it features dual back cameras combined with a sleek and minimalistic shape. The HUAWEI P20 lite offers a smooth experience in a compact, yet beautiful form – a signature of the HUAWEI P Series.
The HUAWEI P20 lite is quite an upgrade on its predecessor HUAWEI P10 lite. This mid-range smartphone packs a real deal in its dual lens camera. People who love photography are in for a stunning imaging experience with its world-class camera hardware and software. The HUAWEI P20 lite has a premium professional grade camera with game-changing imaging technology to take every photo that is perfect!
All that is encapsulated in a stunning design built through excellent craftsmanship. HUAWEI P20 lite’s curved glass surface makes it classy, while the FullView display gives a phenomenal large screen experience. People can revel in its vivid colours and top-notch graphics.
HUAWEI P20 lite features a display screen with barely-there bezels and a smaller notch at the top. The aviation-grade aluminum alloy is used on both the outside frame of the fingerprint sensor and the device’s mid-frame for comfortable grip and operation.
The device also interacts and adapts with users through the EMUI 8.0. Coupled with a high-performance chipset, HUAWEI P20 lite takes full advantage of the integration of hardware and software to optimize phone performance. It also features a redesigned system interface for more intelligent human-computer interaction and better security for mobile payments.
HUAWEI P20 lite will be available soon in Pakistan to excite people in unique colours of Midnight Black and Klein Blue.
The director of “Ready Player One” is moving forward with his project to bring an adaptation of classic comic book character “Blackhawk” to film.
Following the success of “Ready Player One,” Steven Spielberg is staying with Warner Bros for “Blackhawk,” based on the comic book series of the same title illustrated by legendary artist Will Eisner.
The director behind “Jaws” will produce the film through his company Amblin Entertainment, rather than DC Comics owner Warner Bros and, according to The Hollywood Reporter, he is also likely to fill the director’s chair, pending confirmation.
The script is being written by David Koepp, a repeat Spielberg collaborator who is credited with screenplays for “Jurassic Park” and its sequel, “War of the Worlds,” plus “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” and its upcoming fifth part.
Blackhawk was published first by Quality Comics, beginning in 1941, and then DC Comics from 1957 to 1984.
The Blackhawks were a team of ace pilots formed during the Second World War and led by the eponymous, enigmatic Blackhawk himself.
They fought everyone from Nazis to mutant men and were pursued by numerous femme fatales.
The series was especially popular at the beginning of its run, when it was considered second only to “Superman” in terms of comic book sales.
Before “Blackhawk,” Spielberg has the “Indiana Jones 5” and “West Side Story” on his slate.
He is also involved in 19th century Papal drama “The Kidnapping of Edgardo Mortara,” starring Mark Rylance (Spielberg’s “The BFG” and “Bridge of Spies”) and written by Tony Kushner of Spielberg’s “West Side Story,” “Lincoln” and “Munich.”
“Blackhawk” was previously adapted as four-hour 1952 movie serial “Blackhawk: Fearless Champion of Freedom.”
The Amazon ‘International Shopping Experience’ feature, which is now available on the mobile browser and app for both Android and iOS, offers the ability to shop in 25 currencies and choose between shipping options and delivery speeds.
On Tuesday, Amazon announced its new ‘International Shopping Experience’ feature within the company’s app. Designed to make it easier to shop for items from the US, this latest version will provide clear information regarding available products and their total cost, including shipping.
For the moment the update brings transparency rather than new products. It’s designed to display products and their pricing more clearly. The company also states that it is “coordinating with courier services for customs clearance on behalf of the customer so there are no surprises at the time of purchase or delivery.”
For anyone downloading the Amazon app from the Apple Store or Google Play, this setting has become the ‘norm’ and will provide a catalog based on current location.
Meanwhile, those with the Amazon app already on their devices can manually activate the feature by going to ‘Settings > Country & Language’ then select the ‘International Shopping’ in the country picker. Furthermore, language and local currency can be chosen for an even simpler shopping experience.
In a release from Amazon, Thailand is mentioned multiple times as a country that could benefit from the feature, which is said to bring over ‘45 million eligible items that can be shipped to [Thailand] from the United States,’ while customers will be able to browse in Thai Baht.
It suggests that there may have been a high demand in Thailand for these services but the brand seems keen on finding solutions for many other markets.
“We are always innovating on behalf of our customers, and with today’s launch, we are making the shopping experience on mobile devices even better and more convenient for our customers who live outside the US,” said Samir Kumar, VP of Amazon Exports and Expansion. “Customers have been asking for a way to easily find and shop only for products available to be shipped to them. The International Shopping experience solves this customer need and makes it simple to browse, shop and ship more than 45 million products to over a hundred countries around the world.”
Many countries already have their own localized apps for Amazon, such as UK, France, Australia, Japan and more while other countries rely upon international shipping, which means browsing the main .com website, or app, with additional costs in foreign currencies. As for the language options, ‘The International Shopping experience’ offers shopping in 5 languages, including English, Spanish, Simplified Chinese, German, and Brazilian Portuguese.
Jennifer Lopez is giving fans the chance to channel her famous glow with an early launch from her upcoming beauty line.
The star’s debut makeup collection will be released on April 26 in partnership with Inglot Cosmetics, but beauty aficionados who don’t want to wait that long can now get their hands on a special “First Look” palette.
Listed on the Inglot website at $49, the palette features three “Freedom System Eye Shadows” in the shades “Pearl,” “Pink Satin” and “Ivory.” The richly-pigmented hues range from pale beige to bronze and boast a sparkling finish. The palette also contains a “Freedom System HD Sculpting Powder” in the shade “Cocoa,” designed for shaping and contouring with a matte finish.
The “Freedom System Palette” will eventually allow shoppers to create their own unique, custom palettes with their favorite eyeshadow shades, once the complete 70-piece “JLO X Inglot” collection has been released. JLo herself is a huge fan of the concept, pointing out: “Now you no longer have to buy that 5-piece eyeshadow kit to get the one color you really want!”
The music and movie star is going all out for her debut beauty series, with the extensive collection set to focus heavily on color cosmetics for the eyes, lips, and face. It will include 20 different eyeshadows, eight lipsticks, and four sculpting powders, as well as featuring mascara, eyelashes, blusher, and bronzer.
Crisil, a rating firm, has compiled a report in which it can be seen that Pakistan has beaten India in the Telecom Sector in terms of revenue generation.
The report further states that India Telecom Revenue in Q1 2018 will further go down by 40%.
Crisil in it’s the recent report said,“The competitive intensity in the telecoms industry further intensified since January 2018 after the new entrant started passing on the benefits of a cut in interconnect usage charges to customers through lower tariffs.”
India’s revenue in the sector is suffering because of Reliance Jio ’s which focuses on providing cheap services to its users.
As per The Times of India,“Jio’s pricing moves in the month of January 2018, the impact of international termination rate (ITR) cut effective February 1, 2018, and continued ARPU down trading are likely to reflect in another quarter of sharp sequential revenue decline for the incumbents.”
On the other hand, Pakistan has successfully adapted to 3G/4G technology in recent years, and cellular users are increasing day by day.
What are your thoughts about this?
Stay tuned to Brandsynario for more news and updates.
Momina Mustehsan is the sweetheart of all Pakistani music fans. Loved for her sweet and melodious voice, she won everyone’s hearts with her song “Afreen” with Rahat Fateh Ali.
And there’s no stopping this talented lady!
A recent post on her social media account shows her singing a cover of ‘Sajni’ by Strings. The song is a new release by the band from their 30th album celebrating their 30 years in the industry.
Check out the video where she is seen singing the cover in her beautiful voice, taking the song to the next level!
And it’s not just us who are loving her here – her followers too responded positively and were seen commenting on the post.
Hailing from a non-musical background with her mother being a doctor and her father, a brigadier; Momina rose to fame as a co-singer and writer in Farhan Saeed’s single “Pi Jaun”.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvb4c1ZPtvs
She later went on to record her first studio song “Sajna” for Junoon’s album titled “Junoon 20”.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Z43DjUBOcw
However it was her record breaking performance in Coke Studio with her rendition of “Afreen Afreen” alongside Rahat that really changed her status in the industry.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kw4tT7SCmaY
She recorded another track with Asim Azhar “Tera Woh Pyaar” which garnered her more appreciation.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8367ETnagHo
It was due to her hard work, dedication and talent that earned her the coveted spot in the Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia list amongst nine other Pakistanis.
Well what do you think of Momina’s Instagram video?
Stay tuned to Brandsynario for more news and updates.
Motivation can do wonder! It feels like just a minute ago you ponder thinking life is going nowhere and there’s no need to chase dreams. Then, you come across TED Talks videos and voila! A new you emerges from inside and makes sure the goal is achieved.
One such inspiring TEDxKarachi video from 2011 is of our former skipper, Imran Khan. Known for his famous 1992 World Cup victory, Khan is an idol to thousands of people all across Pakistan and around the world.
In his speech, he emphasizes that one must give it all they have, even if it means being patient for years, eventually, the hard work will pay off and fruit will be better than you imagined. In a nutshell, Khan highlighted the importance of never giving up on dreams.
“I believed in myself. I never imagined myself as just an ordinary player”. -Imran khan
He talked to the audience about the mountain of struggles he had to cross. There were days when even he was unpleasant with her performances, days when he was strongly criticised, and days when he wanted to quit.
However, he knew that this was a battle he had to fight and there was absolutely no option to quit now. He worked hard at it, day and night, every second of every day, until one day, it paid off.
“It is not the defeat that destroys you, it is being demoralized by the defeat that destroys you”.
He even mentioned that the source of his inspiration was Australian bowler Dennis Lillee who was regarded as the ‘outstanding fast bowler of his generation’. Imran Khan wanted to become the next Lillee, however, his coaches said that he didn’t have it in him.
In return, he showed it to the world that he had the capability to be better than his own idol! He said all he ever dreamt was to become a fine successful player. In his own words;
“I wanted to be an outstanding player; that was my dream”.
It is one’s own hard work, persistence, and degree of desire that lead him to the point where he wants to be.
Aamir Liaquat’s sudden reunion with BOL Network has raised a lot of eyebrows. Of course, his dramatic departure from the channel made us all think that he will surely never hop on to the BOL-bandwagon again.
But it seems like we all thought wrong!
It all started when the televangelist announced on his Twitter that he will be hosting Shab-e-Mairaj’s transmission on BOL.
In an era replete with fake news stories, you might expect video evidence to provide a clearer picture of the truth.
You’d be wrong, according to Google engineer Supasorn Suwajanakorn — who has developed a tool which, fed with the right input, can create a realistic fake video that mimics the way a person talks by closely observing existing footage of their mouth and teeth to create the perfect lip-sync.
Like any technology, it has great potential for both good and mischief.
Suwajanakorn is therefore also working with the AI Foundation on a ‘Reality Defender’ app that would run automatically in web browsers to spot and flag fake pictures or videos.
“I let a computer watch 14 hours of pure Obama video, and synthesized him talking,” Suwajanakorn said while sharing his shockingly convincing work at the TED Conference in Vancouver on Wednesday.
Such technology could be used to create virtual versions of those who have passed – grandparents could be asked for advice; actors returned to the screen; great teachers give lessons, or authors read their works aloud, according to Suwajanakorn.
He noted a New Dimensions in Testimony project that lets people have conversations with holograms of Holocaust survivors.
“These results seemed intriguing, but at the same time troubling; it concerns me, the potential for misuse,” he said.
“So, I am also working on counter-measure technology to detect fake images and video.”
He worried, for example, that war could be triggered by a bogus video of a world leader announcing a nuclear strike.
Step forward ‘Reality Defender’, which will automatically scan for manipulated pictures or video, as well as allow users to report apparent fakes to use the power of the crowd to bolster the defense.
“Video manipulation will be used in malicious ways unless counter-measures are in place,” he told AFP.
“We have to make it very risky and cost-ineffective.”
While writing fake news may be cheap and easy, it is tough to manipulate video without any traces, according to Suwajanakorn.
Videos, by design, are streams of thousands of images, each of which would have to be perfected in a fake, he reasoned.
“There is a long way to go before we can effectively model people,” said Suwajanakorn, whose work in the field stems from his time as a student at the University of Washington.
“We have to be very careful; we don’t want it to be in the wrong hands.”
Pakistan will host its first golf tournament with the Asian Tour in 11 years, organisers announced Tuesday, as international sports gradually returns to a terror-hit country where security has improved.
Pakistan will host its first golf tournament with the Asian Tour in 11 years, organisers announced Tuesday, as international sports gradually returns to a terror-hit country where security has improved.
The Chief of Naval Staff Open Golf Championship is set to tee off from July 24 to 27 in Karachi, attracting a talented cast of Asian Tour stars to the US$300,000 (34.59 million rupees) event.
“Our talented members are excited to return to Pakistan,” said Josh Burack, Asian Tour Chief Executive Officer, in a statement.
Regular Asian Tour events have been absent in the country since 2008, when a tournament was canceled over security concerns amid a wave of militant attacks across Pakistan.
All international sporting events were later suspended in Pakistan following an attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team bus in Lahore in March 2009.
But successful military operations in the country’s northwest and urban centers have largely beaten back militant groups and dramatically improved security nationwide.
As a result, the country has hosted back-to-back Pakistan Super League cricket starting in 2017, in addition to a limited over series against Zimbabwe, the World XI, and Sri Lanka.
Pakistan’s Chief of Naval Staff Zafar Abbasi, whom the tournament is named after, lauded the return of the Asian Tour.
“This is great news for golf in Pakistan. We are thrilled to welcome the Asian Tour and its talented members to our beautiful country,” said Abbasi.
Pakistan hosted its first Asian Tour event in 1989, which was won by Filipino star Frankie Minoza.
The country’s only Asian Tour winner remains Taimur Hussain who triumphed at an event in Myanmar in 1998.
Here’s some good news for all those who frequently travel by bus: a new bus service has been launched in Karachi.
The project titled “People’s Bus Service” was formally inaugurated on Tuesday in a ceremony held at the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board office.
Faisal Siddiqui, CEO Daewoo Pakistan said that the project would launch today, April 18 with a total of 10 air-conditioned buses.
The fare of these buses would vary from Rs.20 to Rs.40 and the routes would include Dawood Chowrangi and Landhi till Tower.
It will be seen on Shahrah e Faisal from 7am till 10pm.
Syed Nasir Hussain Shah, Singh Minister for Transport, Labour, and Information, inaugurated the project at the event.
Also present on this occasion were Sindh Transport Secretary Saeed Ahmed Awan, Mass Transit Director General Mohammad Athar, President of Karachi Transport Ittehad Irshad Bukhari, Chairman of Daewoo Company of Pakistan Shehryar Chishti, CEO Faisal Siddiqui, Umar Lodhi, Water and Sewerage Board Managing Director Khalid Shaikh and officers of the Sindh Mass Transit Authority.
According to the minister, this initiative was taken by the government of Sindh to provide a better quality bus service for the people. Initially, he said, the bus service has been started with 10 buses but the number of these buses would be increased gradually.
“We are thankful to Daewoo for its support. It started its business in the city after providing services in Lahore. The number of these buses would be increased to 50 without the support of the government.”
He further revealed that concrete steps had been taken in the transport sector to provide better and quality transport service and system to commuters under the direction of Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah.
What are your views on this initiative?
Stay tuned to Brandsynario for more updates and news.
In any country, the media plays a pivotal role in shaping and creating perceptions. It’s one of the most powerful sectors of the economy, increasing public awareness and giving people the freedom of speech.
However, with great power comes great responsibility!
Today, life in the absence of media is unimaginable. But many a time ‘sensationalism’ overtakes and can eclipse the fundamental aim of mainstream media.
To get ratings, negative and sometimes fake news is spread, taking over our daily lives, overshadowing all that is positive around is.
Consequently, the image of developing countries like Pakistan in the eyes of the world suffers at the hands of mass media.
Because of extreme manipulation of facts, the nation has become the target of shaming, especially when it comes to the safety and security of tourists, specifically women.
Pakistan has forever been a land known for its rich culture, beautiful snow-capped mountains, picturesque sceneries, succulent cuisine and heart-warming hospitality of its people.
However, media, being the strongest tool of communication, continues to showcase Pakistan in adverse ways and obstructive angles.
The truth is NOT Always what it seems!
Often, Pakistan has been spotted topping lists like ‘Most Unsafe Countries for Women’, ‘Worst Tourist Places to Visit’ etc.
If so was the case, why would tourists visit and fall in love with our beautiful destinations?
Why would they be all praises about the people and the environment?
All tourists who have visited Pakistan over the years have expressed the longing to come back one day and plan a longer trip.
Foreigners enjoy visiting exotic holy sites including Katas Raj Temples and Pond in Kallar Kahar, Punjab.
Katas Raj is known to be a popular destination for tourism
The conglomeration of temples of Katas Raj are over 1500 years old. The site, situated near Chakwal in Punjab, is considered holy for the holy Hindu community. The temples are located near the M2 Motorway in Chakwal district.
The temples are surrounded by a pond, which according to Hindu mythology was created from the teardrops of Shiva, who wandered the Earth inconsolable after the death of his wife Sati.
Katas is driven from Sanskrit and means tearful eyes. The pond is a favorite tourist spot because of its interesting history and gorgeous view.
Recently, the media has been claiming that the pond had dried up, however, that is not true! Claims of Shiv’s tears drying are damaging the tourism sector, causing a hit in business and discouraging visitors to stop by and enjoy the enchanting site.
Recently, a group of tourists visited Pakistan and debunked the statement of it not being safe for women!
The group was thrilled to be able to see the real Pakistan and not how the media portrays it to be!
That’s not all! One of the daring darlings even hopped on to ‘Super Savari’ and showed the world that foreigners, women, in particular, are loved by the locals and there is absolutely no threat to them unlike how the media portrays it!
So much for highways being unsafe for women!
Another example of this marvelous gesture was seen internationally when Cassandra ‘Cassie’ De Pecol decided to visit 196 countries, Pakistan being of them.
The ambitious adventurer dared to show the world the real image of Pakistan.
She visited Mazar-e-Quaid, met with Mayor of Karachi Waseem Akhter, and even took part in tree plantation activity hosted by Asiatic PR and Pata.
She even toured the Mohatta Palace in Karachi and took a stroll down road-side markets to purchase savvy souvenirs expressing her wish to plan another trip soon!
Pakistan Super League is an example itself as for the last 2 years, several international players including Darren Sammy, Ravi Bopara, and others have expressed how Pakistan has become a second home to them!
They also shared on their social media about how overwhelmed they are by the affection showered on them by the locals.
Not to forget West Indies had just toured in Pakistan in April, and after a successful T-20 series, the men in maroon have returned home safe and sound.
One should never judge a book by its cover!
Pakistan is a country rich in culture and natural beauty. From the beautiful beaches to some of the highest snow-capped mountains, tunning valleys, and beautiful terrains, it has sights that will mesmerise and beckon return.
Credits: Farhat Kapadia Mehboob @fkmgreatescapes
Above all, what people find most endearing is the hospitality of its citizens. Even if the media taints it in a derogatory way, the warmth radiating from the soil envelopes all in its glory.
So instead of focusing on some bad reviews, one should keep an open mind and see things for what they really are, rather than how it seems. Experience traveling to Pakistan at least once in your lifetime!
Part II of HEC’s “Indigenous Ph.D. Fellowship For 5000 Students” has been introduced by the HEC. Those students who wish to finish their Ph.D. from an HEC recognized university or a level awarding institute. Offered for the academic year of 2018-19, they can be used for diverse areas of studies and discipline.
The intent behind this initiative is to develop a highly qualified human resource in diverse fields of study. Through this, the potential of research and development of local universities of Pakistan can be improved.
The focus of the project will be a comprehensive one and will not just be for students of certain fields. It will include all fields of Social Sciences, Life Sciences and Humanities apart from Science and Technology.
The HEC hopes that through this project, the researchers would not only help academics in Pakistan but also contribute towards the socio-economic growth of the country.
In order to facilitate the scholars and develop them as an asset for their respective departments, the scheme will fund universities to upgrade their research facilities and laboratories.
Those students who intend to apply need to fit the following criteria.
16 years of education with Bachelors or Masters completed
18 years of education, enrolled in Masters or MPhil
18 years completed with Masters or MPhil3.0
Currently enrolled in a Ph.D. Program
Apart from that, the HEC would be conducting an aptitude test in the following categories within a month of the closing date of application.
Other requirements include:
The student must be a national of Pakistan or Azad Jammu & Kashmir
Candidates applying for Masters or MPhil should not have 3rd division or D Grade in their entire academic career transcript
Candidates applying for Ph.D. must have minimum 3.0 CGPA or 1st division in Masters or MPhil
Candidates availing any other scholarship of HEC are ineligible to apply
A full-time program, applicants can apply only through the HEC portal by May 7th, 2018.
Young Pakistan Army cadet, Shehroz Shahid has made the nation proud by winning an international award from the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst.
This award is given to those who display the highest merit and best performance overall in education, training and physical fitness during their training period.
Shehroz, who began his training almost two years ago at the Royal Military Academy after graduating from Pakistan military, joined the army with a desire to work for his country.
The Royal Military Academy is serves as an initial officer training center with an aim to be the center of excellence for leadership. It is one of the several military academies in the UK and provides training to all the British Army officers as well as men and women from other countries.
Throughout his training at RMA, his dream was to ensure that Pakistan’s name be announced at an international stage. Upon receiving this honor, his dream came true.
Chief of General Staff for the British Army General Sir Nicholas Patrick Carter presented the award to Shehroz.
Following this, Shehroz will be returning to Pakistan to pursue his dreams of serving his country in the military.
Stay tuned to Brandsynario for more updates and news.
Karachi water shortage had sparked an unrest in the city! The citizens have lost their cool, and this horrible heatwave is just adding more fuel to their anger!
As per reports, almost the entire city including both commercial and residential areas are facing water supply issues. The reports further add that many residential areas are unable to call water-tankers as they are not supplying the fluid as well.
The main reason for this outbreak of angry protests comes due to water theft and power outages at the pumping stations. Residents shouted slogans against the water board authorities and even threw stones at the police!
The managing director of Karachi Water and Sewerage Board said that the residents of the unaffected areas should be thankful. However, people have commented with the names of the areas which have been facing this issue, and it seems like its all of Karachi.
“Where did the water go? What is happening in Karachi?” Retired Justice Amir Hani Muslim, head of the Supreme Court-mandated water commission asked Karachi Water and Sewage Board (KWSB).
KWSB MD Khalid Sheikh subsequently appeared before Justice Muslim, who asked: “Do you read the newspapers? Do you know that you are being abused?”
Sheikh explained that water was being sent to homes in tankers on people’s phone calls and even text messages.
At this, Justice Muslim asked: “Why is there no water in taps at homes? You have destroyed the supply and distribution system!”
The MD said that he understands people’s woes, adding that the board was facing problems because of K-Electric as well since the supply of electricity has been intermittent.
“You do nothing until water lines burst and water enters people’s homes,” Justice Muslim hit back, before asking how sewage water gets mixed with clean water, states Dawn.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omxlh4e8GXM
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Everyone looks forward to a relaxing holiday! Well, nothing is more joyful than an extra day off in the week when you can just relax at home, chill with your friends and get a break from studies or work.
Now yet another holiday is in store for Pakistanis and we couldn’t be happier!
We’re Pretty Sure This Is How You’re All Feeling Right Now!
According to Pakistan’s official Holiday Calendar of 2018, the 1st of May will be a public holiday on the account of Labor Day.
This means all schools, institutions and public organizations would remain closed.
However, let’s not forget the significance and the idea of Labor Day.
Celebrated all across the globe, the day marks the struggle of workers and their unlimited struggle to serve the nation.
Labor unions throughout Pakistan organize seminars, rallies, and parades where union leaders deliver speeches to acknowledge the nation’s labor force, enlightening the people about the problems which are being faced by them.
It is important that we don’t forget those who serve the society and take out time to give something back to praiseworthy labors of Pakistan.
Apart from enjoying the day off, don’t forget to remember the unsung heroes. Appreciate them and show them the respect they deserve.