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PFA Imposes Ban on Smoking Corners in Eateries

By
Alefyah Hasnain
-

The Punjab Food Authority has recently announced yet another ban! This time the organization has called for a restriction on smoking corners in eateries across the province.

The ban on smoking corners has met with a lot of disagreements from local restaurants, cafe’s and ‘dhaba’ owners in Lahore.

The ban would mean an immense loss of business for the eateries. As per the owners, a majority of their customers would stop coming out to eat and drink if smoking was not allowed in public areas.

Manager of Coffee Planet, Johar Town Branch, Shanawar Ali mentions how the restaurant owners are unhappy with the PFA’s decision but are still ready to cooperate with the authority.

“We want to cooperate with the Punjab Food Authority or any such notification in this regard.”

He further spoke about the arrangements made at Coffee Planet to avoid the effects of Smoking.

“The coffee chain is fully on board with smoking effects but we have already made such arrangements with highly-advanced exhaust fans. No smoke would be passed to the food area.”

Even though the PFA has asked restaurants to close all smoking corners there have been no implementations of the ban as yet. The decision of the smoking areas ban was unanimously taken in PFA’s 26th Board Meeting.

Director General, PFA, Noorul Amin Mengal has asked all restaurants to display ‘smoking is strictly prohibited here’. He mentioned that this was being done to make the environment inside restaurants safer which is currently compromised due to the smoke of cigarettes and other tobacco products.

“Cigarette smoke is injurious to health and indirectly affects the health of people including children who come to enjoy the food.”

Have anything to add to the story? Let us know in the comments below.

Stay tuned to Brandsynario for latest news and updates.

The Fantasists Take Theatre To A New Level!

By
Omair Alavi
-

You may have seen magic on TV but the opportunity to witness wizardry live has been limited in Pakistan … until now when director Usama Qazi presents The Fantasists to the audience in Karachi.

The show takes magic to a whole new level with the mentalist and grand illusionist mesmerizing the audience with their brilliance.

The show began with the usual tricks by the Mentalist where Afzaal Afridi read the mind of one of the participant however as the act progressed, he improved.

There were moments where he was brilliant at his tricks, be it returning a borrowed note in a fruit to the audience (after multiplying it in real time) or enthralling them by summoning a spirit that helped him when his hands were tied.

There was also the trick where he hypnotized an individual without him realizing that he was levitated without the aid of anything followed by another where he touched one spouse and the other one felt touched.

Interesting, isn’t it?

The final act of Afzaal Afridi was the best as he stunned the audience by showing them a piece of paper that was locked in the air that predicted what would happen in the show, even before it had happened. Since my name was on the list, I was thoroughly impressed because not even I knew that I would be visiting Arts Council for the event till late in the evening.

Grand illusionist Munawwar Khan on the other hand could make a simple piece of paper alive, join a torn piece of paper with a snap of his fingers, throw around cards while keeping the original count to 6, make snow from his bare hands, sit crossed leg in the air, saw a lady in half (or be sawed in half by them) and above all, show the audience the very trick that made The Prestige your favourite film.

Yes, he transported himself from the stage to the entrance which is quite far away – I can testify that there was no hanky-panky since I was in the front row!

The show marks the return of Usama Qazi to the theatre after a gap of 5 years; the director wishes to make The Fantasists a regular thing and plans to take the show to other parts of the country.

The Fantasists will continue its run at the Arts Council, Karachi till January 28, 2018.

Supreme Court Bans Distribution of 24 Mineral Water Brands in Pakistan

By
Ghazala Sulaiman
-

Be careful about the mineral water brand you are drinking! In its latest move, Supreme Court of Pakistan has banned the sale and distribution of as many as 24 mineral water brands.

The Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar issued the order after presiding over a three-member bench for the hearing of the distribution of ‘clean and safe’ water case.

The counsel for the mineral water company under inquiry stated that the water being provided to the public is pure and totally safe for drinking.

The company’s lawyer claimed:

“The court can summon the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PCSQA) report if required”

However, CJP commented that no influential lawyer will be able to change the verdict of the court.

“Companies should have the consciousness to provide clean water, we have to care for the people and the children.”

Consequently, the court has banned 24 companies from the distribution of water until further notice.

3 Popular Mineral Water Brands Come Under Fire!

Last week, bottled water from three companies have failed to meet the quality standards required. It comes as a shock as some renowned drinking water brands are on the list too!

A survey was conducted in Lahore and collected samples from across the city which were then sent to Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research for testing. 14 Samples were collected in total.

3 Companies Banned By The Punjab Food Authority

  1. Aquafina
  2. Kinley
  3. Springley

Samples from the Water and Sanitation Agency have also been collected, it was also reported that various samples were taken from private and government hospitals too. The results have not been received as yet.

The 14 Companies Included In Testing Were:

  1. Aquafina
  2. Sufi
  3. Kinley
  4. Aqua Safe
  5. Blu Water
  6. Sparkle
  7. Kinz
  8. Naimat
  9. Bottle Water
  10. Pure Drinking Water
  11. Nestle Pure Life
  12. Murree Sparkletts
  13. Zam Zam
  14. Springley

Out of the 14 ‘mineral water’ brands that were tested only 11 passed as being ‘Plain or Safe Water’. However, none of these were passed as ‘Mineral Water’.

 

Snapchat-Facebook Merger Might Mean Story-Sharing on Other Applications!

By
Anusha Sachwani
-

Recent reports have hinted that Snapchat is planning on collaborating with the social media giant, Facebook.

The merger between the two platforms would permit users to cross-share their stories on other platforms.

In the past, Facebook and Snapchat have been known to be the biggest rivals out there! FB has tried to purchase the filter application for some time now but failed to do so. Not just that, the features of Snapchat were copied by others, including WhatsApp and Instagram.

Because of the cloning, Snapchat lost a major chunk of their user database to Instagram. From today onwards users would be able to share their snap stories on the different social networking apps via the latest upgraded version of the renovated Snapchat.

CNBC has reported that more people would be downloading the application who are the active users of Facebook and Twitter. According to RS-Tech, users would be allowed to share their stories via their linked social media profiles or accounts or through texts or mailing address with a link to the webpage.

This would permit the users to view the stories who do not even have the application installed. The features would only be for the “Official Stories”, “Our Stories” and “Search Stories” and would not be including the “Publisher Stories” or “Shows” at the moment.

We are yet to see what other experiments both Facebook and Snapchat have in the pipeline.

Stay tuned to Brandsynario for more news and updates.

iPhone X to be Discontinued in 2018!

Shaan Shahid Switches Back to Anti India Mode After Arth’s Failure

By
Ghazala Sulaiman
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Before the release of Arth-The Destination, Shaan Shahid was spotted in happy spirits, promoting his Bollywood inspired flick with full passion and zeal.

But it seems the film’s poor reviews and his cold war with critics have unleashed his bitter, angry side yet again- one we have seen countless times in the past.

In his recent Facebook status, Shaan has steam coming out from his ears as he lambasts  India.

The actor was oozing a tsunami of hate in his words as he emphasized how rapidly India is taking over Pakistan’s economy.

However, we have to admit that the point he raised is a very crucial one.

The actor also took a savage dig at corrupt politicians, blaming them for the declining resources and frugal financial resources.

His fiery statement was bound to create a debate and a spree love-hate comments kickstarted on his status.

People were quick to point out that while India may be generous with their farmers, the nation also has an alarming rate of farmer’s suicide

People suggested he should join politics. Shaan for PM? Nay!

But this guy took a direct dig at Shaan and referred to how he took an idea straight out of Bollywood!

Like Shaan blamed politicians for Pakistan’s economic downfall, this follower subtly attacked Shaan and other actors for the fall of the cinema industry.

Shaan has forever stayed patriotic and chosen to stay in this country to work on the revival of the local film industry. A number of Bollywood offers flooded to his doorstep after the success of Khuda Kay Liye but the hero did not give a nod to any of them.

A lot of fingers were raised on the veteran artist when he opted for the remake of Mahesh Bhatt’s Arth in India. The star is known for his anti-Bollywood sentiments and he never fails to attack any Pakistani luminary who bags an offer across the border

What do you think about Shaan Shahid’s statement?  Let us know in the comments below.

Exploding iPhone Battery Caught on Camera Creates Panic! [Watch Video]

By
Anusha Sachwani
-

A recent video has left Apple fans shocked and in disbelief and they cannot digest what their eyes just saw!

A video of an iPhone is circulating social media. In the footage, a Chinese orientated man is seen biting into the battery to check the quality.

However, second after a flame erupts and panic takes over the entire store!

A woman who is standing beside him seems in shock as she is trying to process what just happened, and customers from nearby can also be seen trying to figure out what the sudden noise was about.

iPhone Battery Explosion Injures One!

The debate going on social media is the question of why did the battery explode after just one bite whereas others are challenging the man’s intelligence as manufacturers have strictly asked individuals not to expose batteries to high temperature and other environments.

Tech experts told that the battery could have been ruptured by the bite, causing the explosion. No one was injured in the incidents, though a number of customers in the store were shocked and escaped from the place.

Apple had announced to release a software update that will allow users to turn off a feature that slows down iPhones when batteries are low in charge.

10 Hacks to Improve Smartphone Battery Life

Watch the incident below!

https://youtu.be/C6IDgHhDpoE

Stay tuned to Brandsynario for more news and updates.

Pakistan’s PM Gets Lauded for Wearing Traditional Attire at WEF

By
Alefyah Hasnain
-

The World Economic Forum (WEF) that took place in Davos, Eastern Switzerland was attended by leaders of the free world.  Pakistani Prime Minister, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi reached Davos on Tuesday to attend the 3-day summit that is taking place from the 23rd to 26th January.

Apart from what Abbasi had to say at the forum, people are paying more attention to what he was wearing. While every other leader showed up in a three-piece formal suit, Abbasi decided to stick to Pakistani attire and wore a simple ‘shalwar kameez’ with a jacket.

Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi at the WEF in Davos

The World Economic Forum, Abbasi seen with the rest of the leaders

A majority of public appreciated the PM in cultural attire and applauded him on the gesture as it showed a true representation of Pakistan in the west.

However, not everyone was convinced of how Pakistani this actually was, and were quite sarcastic over the entire matter.

Here’s what they had to say on the PM wearing shalwar kameez in Davos! 

We sense strong sarcasm from this comment!

While some reminded him of the ‘real’ problems!

There were some who couldn’t help but be internet trolls

Stay tuned to Brandsynario for latest news and updates.

Two Pakistani Celebrities Make it to Oscars 2018

By
Ghazala Sulaiman
-

Oscar nominations 2018 are out and many might not know but two Pakistanis have made it to the 89th Academy Awards! And this time it does NOT include Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy.

Remember Ali Kazmi as the vile Sikander in Mehreen Jabbar’s Jackson Heights? 

 

For those who are unaware, Ali Kazmi has made it big in Hollywood with his movie ‘Beeba Boys’ and Breadwinner.

And now, Breadwinner has been nominated for the Oscars 2018 in the race for an Academy Award in the ‘Best Animated Feature Film’ category.

The Dobara Phir Se hero has not been directly nominated but was over the moon that he was part of the avant-garde project!

Pakistani-American, Kumail Nanjiani Has Also Bagged An Oscar Nomination!

 

Fans of the American rom-com ‘Big Sick’ will be ecstatic to know that the movie has been nominated in the ‘Original Screenplay’ category.

Produced by Angelina Jolie, The Breadwinner showcases the powerful tale of a young Afghan girl who becomes a breadwinner for her family after her father gets arrested. Kazmi has done the voice over of the character Darya in the film.

The flick has been written by Kumail Nanjiani and his wife, Emily V Gordon, who co-wrote the debut film.

The movie is inspired by Emily and Kumail’s real romantic tale before they tied the knot in 2007 and fans are now in love with the duo after watching The Big Sick.

An unsung hero in Pakistan, Kumail Nanjiani is quite a star in Hollywood. An alumni of Karachi Grammer School, he is a celebrated stand-up comedian in the West. Debuting via the TNT Series Franklin & Bash, he is now a main cast member “Dinesh” of HBO’s Silicon Valley. What’s more, he is also the co-host of the show The Meltdown with Jonah and Kumail.

Top Pakistani Celebrities Who Made us Proud in Hollywood

Heres’s the complete list of Oscar Nominations 2018

 

BEST PICTURE
Call Me By Your Name

Darkest Hour

Dunkirk

Get Out

Lady Bird

Phantom Thread

The Post

The Shape of Water

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

DIRECTING
Christopher Nolan — Dunkirk

Jordan Peele — Get Out

Greta Gerwig — Lady Bird

Paul Thomas Anderson — Phantom Thread

Guillermo del Toro — The Shape of Water

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
The Big Sick — Emily V. Gordon, Kumail Nanjiani

Get Out — Jordan Peele

Lady Bird — Greta Gerwig

The Shape of Water — Guillermo del Toro, Vanessa Taylor

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri — Martin McDonagh

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Call Me By Your Name — James Ivory

The Disaster Artist — Scott Neustadter, Michael H. Weber

Logan — Scott Frank, James Mangold, Michael Green

Molly’s Game — Aaron Sorkin

Mudbound — Virgil Williams, Dee Rees

ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
Timothée Chalamet — Call Me By Your Name

Daniel Day Lewis — Phantom Thread

Daniel Kaluuya — Get Out

Gary Oldman — Darkest Hour

Denzel Washington — Roman J. Israel, Esq.

ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE
Sally Hawkins — The Shape of Water

Frances McDormand — Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Margot Robbie — I, Tonya

Saoirse Ronan — Lady Bird

Meryl Streep — The Post

ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Willem Dafoe — The Florida Project

Woody Harrelson — Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Richard Jenkins — The Shape of Water

Christopher Plummer — All the Money in the World

Sam Rockwell — Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Mary J. Blige — Mudbound

Allison Janney — I, Tonya

Lesley Manville — Phantom Thread

Laurie Metcalf — Lady Bird

Octavia Spencer — The Shape of Water

DOCUMENTARY (FEATURE)
Abacus: Small Enough to Jail — Steve James, Mark Mitten, Julie Goldman

Faces Places — Agnès Varda, JR and Rosalie Varda

Icarus — Bryan Fogel, Dan Cogan

Last Men in Aleppo — Feras Fayyad, Kareem Abeed, Søren Steen Jespersen

Strong Island — Yance Ford, Joslyn Barnes

DOCUMENTARY (SHORT SUBJECT)
Edith + Eddie — Laura Checkoway, Thomas Lee Wright

Heaven is a Traffic Jam on the 405 — Frank Stiefel

Heroin(e) — Elaine McMilion Sheldon, Kerrin Sheldon

Knife Skills — Thomas Lennon

Traffic Stop — Kate Davis, David Heilbroner

LIVE ACTION SHORT FILM
DeKalb Elementary — Reed Van Dyk

The Eleven O’Clock — Derin Seale, Josh Lawson

My Nephew Emmett — Kevin Wilson Jr.

The Silent Child — Chris Overton, Rachel Shenton

Watu Wote / All of Us — Katja Benrath, Tobias Rosen

ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
The Boss Baby — Tom McGrath, Ramsey Naito

The Breadwinner — Nora Twomey, Anthony Leo

Coco — Lee Unkrich, Darla K. Anderson

Ferdinand — Carlos Saldanha

Loving Vincent — Dorota Kobiela, Hugh Welchman, Ivan Mactaggart

ANIMATED SHORT FILM
Dear Basketball — Glen Keane, Kobe Bryant

Garden Party — Victor Claire, Gabriel Grapperon

Lou — Dave Mullins, Dana Murray

Negative Space — Max Porter, Ru Kuwahata

Revolting Rhymes — Jakob Schuh, Jan Lachauer

FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
A Fantastic Woman — Sebastián Lelio, Chile

The Insult — Ziad Doueiri, Lebanon

Loveless — Andrey Zvyagintsev, Russia

On Body and Soul — Ildikó Enyedi, Hungary

The Square — Ruben Östlund, Sweden

CINEMATOGRAPHY
Blade Runner 2049 — Roger A. Deakins

Darkest Hour — Bruno Delbonnel

Dunkirk — Hoyte van Hoytema

Mudbound — Rachel Morrison

The Shape of Water — Dan Laustsen

PRODUCTION DESIGN
Beauty and the Beast — Sarah Greenwood, Katie Spencer

Blade Runner 2049 — Dennis Gassner, Alessandra Querzola

Darkest Hour – Sarah Greenwood, Katie Spencer

Dunkirk — Nathan Crowley, Gary Fettis

The Shape of Water — Paul Denham Austerberry, Shane Vieau, Jeff Melvin

VISUAL EFFECTS
Blade Runner 2049

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2

Kong: Skull Island

Star Wars: The Last Jedi

War for the Planet of the Apes

FILM EDITING
Baby Driver — Paul Machliss, Jonathan Amos

Dunkirk — Lee Smith

I, Tonya — Tatiana S. Riegel

The Shape of Water — Sidney Wolinsky

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri — Jon Gregory

COSTUME DESIGN
Beauty and the Beast — Jacqueline Durran

Darkest Hour — Jacqueline Durran

Phantom Thread — Mark Bridges

The Shape of Water — Luis Sequeira

Victoria & Abdul — Consolata Boyle

MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING
Darkest Hour — Kazuhiro Tsuji, David Malinowski, Lucy Sibbick

Victoria & Abdul — Daniel Phillips, Lou Sheppard

Wonder — Arden Tuiten

ORIGINAL SCORE
Dunkirk — Hans Zimmer

Phantom Thread — Jonny Greenwood

The Shape of Water — Alexandre Desplat

Star Wars: The Last Jedi — John Williams

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri — Carter Burwell

ORIGINAL SONG
“Mighty River” — Mudbound, Mary J. Blige, Raphael Saadiq, Taura Stinson

“Mystery of Love” — Call Me By Your Name, Sufjan Stevens

“Remember Me” — Coco, Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Robert Lopez

“Stand Up for Something” — Marshall, Diane Warren, Lonnie R. Lynn

“This is Me” — The Greatest Showman, Benj Pasek, Justin Paul

SOUND EDITING
Baby Driver — Julian Slater

Blade Runner 2049 — Mark Mangini, Theo Green

Dunkirk — Richard King, Alex Gibson

The Shape of Water — Nathan Robitaille, Nelson Ferreira

Star Wars: The Last Jedi — Matthew Wood, Ren Klyce

SOUND MIXING
Baby Driver — Julian Slater, Tim Cavagin, Mary H. Ellis

Blade Runner 2049— Ron Bartlett, Doug Hemphill, Mac Ruth

Dunkirk — Mark Weingarten, Gregg Landaker, Gary A. Rizzo

The Shape of Water — Christian Cooke, Bran Zoern, Glen Gauthier

Star Wars: The Last Jedi — David Parker, Michael Semanick, Ren Klyce, Stuart Wilson

Stay tuned to Brandsynario for more updates.

 

This Pakistani Actress’ Photoshoot Reminds Us of Deepika’s Look in Padmavat!

By
Ghazala Sulaiman
-

It seems like there’s no stopping for our favorite ‘Baaghi’ girl Saba Qamar.

From receiving critical acclaim for her performance in her Bollywood debut ‘Hindi Medium’ to bagging a nomination in Filmfare in the best actress category, Saba has experienced it all.

Moreover, Hindi Medium won the best film award at Filmfare 2018 which shows that Saba has proven her mettle in Bollywood also and it’s good to see how she is finally being recognized for her work which is, without a doubt, outstanding!

Now, Saba has surprised us with her new bridal avatar.

Just check out her picture first and then you’ll understand why we are surprised.

At first, we thought it wasn’t Saba. Why? Because she’s honestly twinning with Deepika Padukone in this photo.

Deepika’s look from her upcoming movie Padmavat is pretty much similar to Saba’s look in the photo above.

Here’s a photo of Deepika from her movie Padmavat which was previously named Padmavati but due to all the challenges and controversies it has been facing regarding its release, the makers have finally changed its name.

So, what do you think? Don’t you think the two actresses are actually twinning in the photos above? We think they are.

Here’s a comparison photo:

And check this too from Bajirao Mastani!

We know that the two actresses don’t resemble each other at all but we can’t also deny the fact that the two are twinning in photos above.

Saba’s gorgeous makeover has been done by Mahid Khawar and to be honest, she is looking absolutely stunning.

Saba also posted her pictures on Instagram to which her fans reacted with love and compliments.

Well, she is indeed a queen as one of her fans mentioned in the comments.

If you also think that Saba is resembling with Deepika then do let us know with your comments.

Stay tuned to Very Filmi for more news and updates.

Newsweek to Review its Relationship with Newsweek Pakistan After Fasih Ahmed Blunder

By
Ghazala Sulaiman
-

The barbaric murder of Kasur’s seven-year-old Zainab has shown us that it is about time we take strong measures in addressing and punishing perpetrators of child sexual abuse and molestation.

In such horrific times, we need intellectual minds to unite and ponder upon ways to deal with the grave matter.

However, some recent tweets by Newsweek Pakistan’s editor Fasih Ahmed has resulted in a ferocious outcry, making us question our society’s literal minds.

The editor of the renowned publication boldly claimed that child molestation leads to great art i.e. child pornography.

The journalist remarked that sexual violence against children will always exist, regardless of innumerable campaigns against it. 

The shocking nature of his tweets made people think that his Twitter account has been hacked.

But Fasih made it clear that all of them were his own statements

His Twitter tirade is receiving massive backlash and people are enraged on his frivolous comment about something so serious.

Jeremy McLellan, a renowned US based comedian also slammed Newsweek’s Editor for making vile jokes about child rape 

This is how Fasih Ahmed, the EDITOR OF NEWSWEEK IN PAKISTAN, responded to little Zainab's rape and murder this morning. Why does he still have a job?

Posted by Jeremy McLellan Comedy on Tuesday, January 23, 2018

To make matters worse, Fasih Ahmed also misbehaved with a speaker, Egyptian-American writer Mona Eltahawy of Lahore Literature Festival (LLF), of which he was a board member.

 

Now, after the social media brouhaha,  (LLF) has declared that they have parted ways with Fasih and hold no responsibility for his personal views.

But the matter went out of hand when popular Hollywood actor and singer, Alyssa Milano came across his outrageous tweets and urged Newsweek to take action against the editor of Newsweek Pakistan.

Here’s what she tweeted!

Instantly, Newsweek rolled out a notification to disassociate itself with the views presented by Fasih Ahmed

Now a petition has been created on change.org against Fasih Ahmed and demands the immediate removal of Newsweek Pakistan.

What do you think about Fasih Ahmed’s tweets? Lets us know in the comments below.

 

 

 

 

 

iPhone X to be Discontinued in 2018!

By
Anusha Sachwani
-

KGI Securities’ Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, has stated in a recent report that Apple will not retain the iPhone X and will go with the decision of discontinuing it.

Kuo also pointed out that there has been a reduction in the demand for the set because of weak demand the iPhone X design may be a one-up with production ceasing in the summer when replacements for the fall are being produced.

KGI also expects a trio of iPhone models in the fall of 2018. He predicts the iPhone X will be “end of life” in the summer of 2018, instead of being retained as a lower-cost option in the following year. If this is the case, it would be the first time that Apple has not retained the previous year’s model to allow for a wide range of iPhones available at many price points.

iPhone X will be dead and you (probably) won’t be able to buy last year’s model once the sequels arrive. So if you want to get your hands on the first gen. iPhone X, this is the time, else it just might be too late!

What is your say on the discontinuation of the iPhone X?

Stay tuned to Brandsynario for more news and updates.

How to Turn off Instagram’s Last Active Feature

Mathira Part Ways With Husband Flint J

By
Guest Author
-

Divorce itself is pretty rough, but to survive it while everybody has their eyes on you is even harder.

Whenever a celebrity couple calls it quits, there are a lot of hearts broken. Their fans are shattered as their favorite pair heads to the divorce court.

Recently, the Pakistani actress, singer, model and TV host Mathira parted ways with her husband Flint J and we can’t be more shocked to hear about their separation.

After spending almost 4 years in wedding bliss, the duo has suddenly ended their marriage. The pair had tied the knot in a small, private ceremony in 2013  and welcomed a baby boy, Aahil into their family a year later.

Mathira appeared pretty grief-stricken while sharing the news with her followers on social media.

She even revealed the reason for their split and wish Flint J good luck for his life ahead!

To say we’re saddened by the news is an understatement. We hope the starlet remains strong throughout this rough patch in her life.

Stay tuned to Brandsynario for more updates!

 

Hajj 2018: Last Date to Submit Applications!

By
Ghazala Sulaiman
-

For all those who are willing to perform Hajj this year should know that today is the last date to submit your applications.

The 13 designated banks will continue to receive applications till working hours today.

Already, over 60,000 applications have been received from Peshawar, Islamabad, Karachi, and Lahore.

Around 28,000 applications have been received from Multan, 16,000 from Quetta, 15,000 from Faisalabad, and over 11,000 from Sialkot.

Over 18,000 Hajj applicants belong to age group of over 70 years.

Following Banks Are Now Receiving Hajj Applications: 

  1. United Bank Limited
  2. National Bank of Pakistan
  3. Muslim Commercial Bank
  4. Allied Bank Limited
  5. Agriculture Development Bank Limited
  6. Bank of Punjab; Bank Alfalah
  7. Meezan Bank
  8. Habib Metropolitan Bank
  9. Dubai Islamic Bank Limite
  10. Faysal Bank Limited
  11. Askari Bank Limited

Hajj 2018 Applications Now Available at Banks! [View List]

 

Balloting Date

Balloting to choose pilgrims would be held on January 26

Hajj Inquiry Number

051-9205696

Hajj 2018 Policy Details

Hajj quota for Pakistanis 179,210
No. of Pilgrims to be managed by Government 120,000
Seats reserved for citizens over 80 years of age 10,000
Northern region Rs. 280,000.
Southern region Rs. 270,000.
Extra Amount to be given for Animal Sacrifice Rs. 13,050

 

  • A person performing Hajj through Government Scheme has been declared not eligible for applying for Hajj, the only exception is mehram accompanying a woman for Hajj.
  • Accompanying a Mehram has been made mandatory for each Haji women.
  • However, over 45 years women of Fiqia-e-Jafria would be exempted from the condition.
  • For the first time, three private airlines have been included in Hajj flight operation between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, apart from PIA.
  • The successful pilgrims could see the status of their application on the ministry’s website, www.mora.gov.pk and www.hajjinfo.org.

 

Here’s How You Can Be A Part Of NESTLE’s Largest Saucepan Record

By
Alefyah Hasnain
-

Pakistan is known as the chai-drinking nation. The country’s love for tea knows no bounds and the land is brimming with passionate lovers of the beverage

This time around NESTLE EVERYDAY is gearing up for something special for mix tea-lovers in Pakistan. Can you guess what it could be?

NESTLE EVERYDAY announces the most exciting world records set across the globe. It is building the ‘World’s Biggest Saucepan’ to celebrate the undying love for mix-chai Pakistanis have.

Take a Look at The World’s Largest Saucepan in making!

To make the saucepan the largest in the world, everyone must show their support by voting on the NESTLE EVERYDAY website! Every vote counts and with each vote, the saucepan gets bigger!

Here’s the dapper Pakistani Hero Fahad Mustafa Explaining just how exciting this world record is!

The excitement is building day by day with the votes reaching a whopping number of 15,624 cups and increasing each second!

NESTLE EVERYDAY is making a unique world record that will put Pakistan on the global map as the most chai-loving nation in the world!

The creme de la creme of Pakistan’s entertainment fraternity is becoming a part of this massive record!

The official attempt will be held in Lahore on the 26th of January, 2018. 


Here’s how you too can become part of the world record! Vote for your favorite mix chai and contribute to make the world’s largest saucepan.

How You Can Vote and Participate in a Guinness World Record with NESTLE EVERYDAY Mix

  1. Show your support by visiting the Facebook page for  NESTLE EVERYDAY
    or give a missed call on 90131

Follow the instructions and be a part of this avant-garde record.

Have you done your part by voting for a Khas cup of Mixed Chai? Let us know in the comments below.

The Curious Case of Mughal Steel’s Latest TVC!

By
Ghazala Sulaiman
-

It is said that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. However, in the mad world of marketing, sometimes imitation is better known as inspiration!

Time and again, Pakistan’s advertising industry has been compared to its counterpart, India who has been churning out some of the best-attention grabbing campaigns. Currently, there are few local brands that manage to stand out and break through the clutter!

The local advertising fraternity has often has been accused of plagiarising content from the neighboring nation.

A popular mobile brand has been often accused of making TVCs heavily inspired from our neighboring nation. Not to forget, a lifestyle clothing brand also rolled out an ad featuring Wasim Akram which was a xerox copy of an Indian ad by Binani Cement endorsed by Amitabh Bachchan.

A few months ago, Do Pakistan, a condom brand, received massive backlash for blatantly duplicating Nirav Modi Jewelers TVC featuring Priyanka Chopra and Sidharth Malhotra.

THE CURIOUS CASE OF MUGHAL STEEL COMMERCIAL

Recently a TVC by an emerging brand, Mughal Steels has created a buzz on social media. The commercial is being lauded by critics for its ‘tug-at-your-heartstrings’ storytelling and breath-taking visuals.

With its product of Earthquake resilient steel bars, the brand played with the unexpected and went uber imaginative with the details. Bonus points for the bright colors and ingenious emotional appeal.

The agency, Aura Communication and production house, IDcreations has surely flexed their creative muscles to get it right. So much so, the campaign is being dubbed as the first commercial of 2018 to be the epitome of awesomeness on social media!

Just when the brand was basking in glory with the success of the campaign and winning praises , some naysayers highlighted that Mughal Steel’s TVC has a striking resemblance to an ad by Ambuja Cement.

Compare and contrast, and decide it for yourself!

Mughal Steels TVC

Mughal Steel TVC

It is a real pleasure when the concept and the product are integrated into the story. Such concepts are special since we as ad men understand the beauty of such work. A lot of hard work has gone into crafting the shots and the story. Kudos to the director and the art team especially and to the entire production team for their support in the peak heat season of July on the roofs of old Lahore city. And a big thank you to the client and agency for giving us the opportunity for crafting such a beautiful commercial.Client: Mughal SteelAgency: Aura Communication Talent: Citrus Talent & MukhtarHair& Makeup: Madiha Qaisar Wardrobe & Styling: Aysha Rahim & Adnan Jahangir Production Management: Tryangle Productions Art & Set: CinescapesProduction designer: Zain KhanEdit (offline & online): Imran MushtaqGrading: Aood Waiyaatti (So Good)VFX: Vertex MediaSound & Music: Kami1st AD: Umar Khan2nd AD: Nida Khan, Nasir Riaz & Abdul WahidDOP: Shahzaman BalochCo-Director: Armughan Hassan Director: Zaheeruddinproducer: Emaad Ishaq KhanProduced by: iDcreations (Pvt) Ltd.

Posted by iDcreations on Thursday, January 18, 2018

Ambuja Cement TVC

Chhatein

The "Chhat". That special place without walls. Relive its wonderful memories with "Chhaton ke zamane". Beautiful poetry penned and narrated by Gulzar Sahab. Write to us with #ChhatPeMilteHain in the comments and let us know your special story. #AmbujaPlusRoofSpecial #AmbujaCement Visit: www.ambujaplus.com

Posted by Ambuja Cement Limited on Friday, January 12, 2018

There are immense similarities in the TVC. However, a little bit of research revealed that this time it is India who is the guilty party and NOT the Pakistani brand.

It turns out, Mughal Steel had kickstarted shooting for the campaign back in July 2017. Ambuja Cement released the ad on 12th Jan 2018. Meanwhile, Mughal Steel rolled out their TVC on 18th January. The latter surely could not have copied the former in such a short time!

SO IS THIS A CASE OF COPY OR A MERE COINCIDENCE?

We reached out to Hasan Raza, CEO of Aura Communication to know the real story behind the TVC and solve the mystery associated with Mughal Steel TVC !

Brandsynario: What was the concept behind Mughal Steel Bars TVC?

Hasan Raza: In SMCG it was challenging for Aura to establish the new Steel Brand in Pakistan so for our Brand communication Planning 2017, we strategically developed a Customer and Consumer capsule planning.

Maximum steel bars are used in roofs and the brand’s target consumer is the person who earns enough money to make a new home and lives in a joint system with growing children. He needs space for the rest of his siblings in addition to his family.

The “Insight” here was that there are lots of good memories attached to the rooftop where most happy moments are made. We collected their life events and made a bridge between the consumer and Mughal Supreme.

Brandsynario: Why was the TVC’s release delayed?

Hasan Raza: In the first stage, we decided to develop a role of the constructor to endorse and lead the Mughal supreme brand, so it was a more functional approach to clearly state the benefits and in the 2nd stage, we had our consumer insight based ad to own the consumption areas.

To save time and cost we decided to shoot two communications in one go in July 2017. We launched the 1st communication in August and decided to launch the 2nd (rooftop) Communication In Feb 2018 after 6 months. 

Brandsynario: Do you think Ambuja Cement copied the TVC or was it a mere coincidence?

Hasan Raza: We are pretty certain that our TVC film was leaked as there are multiple similarities in the shots and art direction. It was a grand shoot with 150 to 200 people present.

Usually, for the color treatment, music, vo etc every film travels in different hands, this film was also graded from Thailand. Having said that, both the films have been very creatively shot and are visually stunning with great copy.

THE CAT IS OUT OF THE BAG!

Hence, it is cleared that Ambuja Cement was heavily inspired by Mughal Steel’s stellar idea. And for once, a Pakistani brand can proudly say that, even though it’s in an embryonic stage, the brand has crafted a memorable campaign with eye-catching visuals, strong brand identification, and a brilliant narrative.

 

Government Announces Clearance of Imported Vehicles at Karachi Port

By
Anusha Sachwani
-

The Ministry of Commerce has made the decision to clear all imported used vehicles from Karachi port.

The decision was taken after almost 7,000 imported cars were stuck at the port, because Customs does not have the right structure to clear the payments.

Younus Dagha, the Commerce Secretary has confirmed that the imported cars will be charged on the old duty structure and tax rates.

He further added, “All Pakistan Motor Dealers Association representatives will be meeting the Commerce Secretary in coming weeks to further discuss the future plans regarding the new import duty as well as the payment structure.”

FBR Exempts Import Duty Payment Conditions on Imported Vehicles, Temporarily!

Karachi to Experience Winter Spell Once Again!

By
Alefyah Hasnain
-

The chilly winter mornings are being dearly missed by Karachites. The Meteorological department has now announced that winter is yet again returning to the metropolitan city.

Looks like the citizens of Karachi will have to hold on to their warm winter clothing for a few more days!

The MET Department has claimed that the impact of Snowfall in Quetta will lead to a cold spell in Karachi.

A drop in temperatures is expected in Karachi however, no rain is expected in the city. 

The forecast yesterday by the weather department mentioned continental air is prevailing over most parts of the country. A shallow westerly wave is likely to enter in Balochistan on Monday and likely to affect the country with rain. However, it was also reported that Karachi would not be receiving any rain as it was forecasted at only 20%.

Weather Outlook For Next 24 Hrs:

Mainly cold and dry weather is expected in most parts of the country. However, Balochistan and Sindh temperature is likely to decrease by one to two centigrade.

Weather Forecast Predicts Showers to Begin From Tuesday

Stay tuned to Brandsynario for latest news and updates.

Police Arrest Zainab’s Rapist & Murderer

By
Anusha Sachwani
-

Nothing is more painful for a parent than the loss of their child. For parents, their children are their world.

Unfortunately, two parents lost their angel who was mercilessly raped, murdered, and left in the trash.

With weeks of no luck in catching the culprit, despite his sketch being rolled out very prominently, the police claim to have caught the prime suspect, Zainab’s neighbor, Imran. However, the sketch was given by the police and the face of the culprit in the CCTV footage conflicts.

Police in Kasur on Tuesday claimed to have arrested the man responsible for the heinous rape and murder of seven-year-old Zainab. The 24-year old was on friendly terms with the family and was often dropping by.

Imran was picked up initially by the police but was let go without testing his DNA after the family intervened and identified him as someone familiar and trusted. However, when he was freed, he ran away and fleed to Pakpattan to take cover.

On the orders of the District Police Officer (DPO) certain individuals were rounded-up again including Imran and their DNA tests were conducted. According to the report, Imran is the person who had raped and then killed Zainab.

According to police sources, Imran has confessed to his crime. A detailed DNA report is now being awaited. Imran had shaved his beard after the CCTV footage of him taking Zainab went viral. This helped him in avoiding any trouble with the police.

According to the spokesperson, a confirmation on the suspect being Zainab’s killer will be given after a detailed DNA report is received.

“We are waiting on confirmation from the forensic report. Details will be provided at 6 PM. He (Imran) was among the 600 peoples whose DNA test had been conducted.”

The spokesperson further said that circumstantial evidence pointed towards Imran’s involvement in the case. “The suspect is currently under interrogation.”

This is a developing story, we will update the story as details are shared.

Stay tuned to Brandsynario for more news and updates.

7-Yr Old Minor Raped & Murdered, Celebrities Condemn Using #JusticeForZainab

Sahir Lodhi’s Morning Show Gets into Legal Trouble!

By
Ghazala Sulaiman
-
ishq ramazan

Morning shows in Pakistan are all about getting the most ratings and creating the most noise!

Their hosts are known to do absolutely whatever it takes to be in the spotlight!

From doing fake marriages on the screen to inviting people who have been married more than once, they have done it all.

Channels have landed themselves in hot water countless times and PEMRA has slapped hefty fines whenever they cross a toe out of line!

Seems like they never learn!

Last week, Sahir Lodhi’s morning show created a massive social media brouhaha after a dance segment on his program created a crass controversy.

In his show, children were dancing on vulgar songs, not to forget their dance steps are also not suitable for children of their age.

According to the Express Tribune, Lahore High Court has finally taken notice of this issue and his directed PEMRA to take relevant action on the matter.

An application was filed against Lodhi’s dance show and the petitioner had stated that dance performances by minor girls in Lodhi’s show were creating a negative impact on the society, resulting in incidents like the Kasur tragedy.

The petitioner added that Pemra was not taking strict actions to ban such shows and requested the court to take necessary actions in this regard.

This is not the first time Sahir Lodhi has come under fire. Last year in Ramadan, PEMRA issued a show cause notice to the anchor and has asked him to offer an apology to its viewers for the controversial remarks aired about the founder of the nation Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah.

Let’s see what action PEMRA takes against the host this time!

PSL 3 Tickets Go On Sale; Here’s How You Can Buy Yours!

By
Anusha Sachwani
-

PSL 3 is around the corner and everyone cannot wait to grab the best seats in the stadium! Tickets for 13 Sharjah matches for the third edition for the league.

The website called Q-Tickets has started sales for matches in Sharjah and Dubai. According to the tickets, the first match will take place on February 28th between Islamabad United and Quetta Gladiators.

National Stadium Looks Amazing After Renovation For PSL 3

The first match of the new franchise, Multan Sultans will be played against Karachi Kings on March 2nd, 2018.

The tickets have been divided into 4 different sections; North Stand, East Stand, West Stand and Members Enclosure. The price of the tickets has been set accordingly, starting from AED 20 (North Stand) going up to AED 150 (Members Enclosure).

Ticket Prices

Ticket rates for Sharjah (Weekend Single Match): North Stand AED 30, East Stand AED 50, West Stand AED 90, Members Enclosure AED 180

Ticket rates for Sharjah (Weekend Double Match): North Stand AED 40, East Stand AED 60, West Stand AED 100, Members Enclosure AED 200

PSL 3 2018 Players Draft: Schedule, Timings, Details & More

Commentary Panel

Keeping up with the top-class commentating standards established in the first two seasons, the third season takes a bigger leap with an assembly of superstars.

HBL PSL household names Ramiz Raja, Danny Morrison, Alan Wilkins and Bazid Khan would be joined by Australian stars Michael Slater and Damien Fleming while former West Indian Test opener Daren Ganga also makes his HBL PSL commentating debut.

We are still awaiting details for the tickets for the matches in Lahore and Karachi.

Stay tuned to Brandsynario for more news and updates.

 

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