Imran Khan made an appeal to the developed world for relief funds while wearing a tracksuit. Twitter was quick to discover that the Ralph Lauren top the Prime Minister was wearing during his address is worth almost 139 pounds.
The appeal comes forward during the ongoing crisis Pakistan is facing due to pandemic. As of now, 5000+ people are tested positive for COVID-19.
My appeal to the international community, the UNSG & international financial institutions to respond positively to the dilemma confronting developing countries in the face of the COVID19 pandemic. #Global_Initiative_Debt_Relief
My appeal to the international community, the UNSG & international financial institutions to respond positively to the dilemma confronting developing countries in the face of the COVID19 pandemic. #Global_Initiative_Debt_Reliefpic.twitter.com/EfydRhfZhc
13th April 2020: According to hearts.co.uk, the cast of popular series ‘Friends’ has secretly recorded a 90-minute reunion special on Zoom.
Apparently, the cast that includes Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry and David Schwimmer were rehearsing for their reunion episode online when the episode length ‘mock rehearsals’ were recorded.
The filming of the highly-anticipated of the reunion episode was supposed to take place in March, however, due to the current pandemic, it has been postponed.
[Update: 19th March 2020]
The highly-anticipated of the reunion episode of Friends that was supposed to be filmed will now be delayed as production across Hollywood shuts down amid the coronavirus pandemic, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the unscripted special reunion episode was set to be filmed earlier next week at Stage 24 of the Warner Bros. Studio in Burbank. However, as of now, no estimated release date has been announced as of now.
It’s true and it’s official. All six members are reuniting for this one-off special.
They’ve finally heard us!
After 16 long years, the “Friends” fans have finally taken a sigh of relief after the news of their reunion surfaced the internet on Friday. However, this news is absolutely true and the original cast is finally reuniting in Spring, according to WarnerMedia.
The six super famous and loved cast members Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry and David Schwimmer will all reunite for a special one-off on HBO Ma which is WarnerMedia’s new streaming service. What’s interesting is that it going to be totally untitled and unscripted.
Excited???
Source: Giphy.com
It has also been reported that the one-off special will filmed on the comedy’s original soundstage, on the Warner Bros. Studio in California.
Moreover, Jennifer Aniston took this announcement to her official Instagram account..
Speaking of HBO Max it is said to the priciest streaming service and costs around $15 a month. That is indeed pricey! However, if we look at its competitors they range somewhere between $5 and $12 monthly. So, yeah, that is expensive.
So, we now know why it all makes sense. Don’t we? And HBO Max could not have done this in any other way. It sure is the perfect way to turn fans into customers! WOWZA.
Are you excited for this? We sure are!
For more news and updates, stay tuned to Brandsynario.
In no world, phupphos (aunt) are considered the best or the ones who would understand their nieces or nephews and there are countless memes and tweets that prove that.
However, starlet Mahira Khan who has been in constant touch with her fans via social media accounts during the coronavirus lockdown, spoke her heart out about her dearest phuppo.
The Raees actor, took to Instagram to share a picture with her two phuppos and penned down an endearing note for them.
Paying tribute to her paternal aunts, the starlet mentioned that she’s never been able to relate to the desi tales about phuppos. Although we must add, we finally know where Khan inherited her beauty from.
Here is what the stunner had to say:
“I always grew up hearing how Phopos were not always the best, stories about kids not enjoying their father’s family as much as their mothers (Might be a desi thing?). I never really got that!
I grew up in a joint family, in my dada’s home. All of us together. Even those who didn’t live with us were always around. I have two Phopos and God you all can’t imagine what they are like. They are beautiful, funny, kind and strong women. My older Phopo (Surraiya), looked after her parents along with my father like they were her babies. The woman who works for her eats with her on their table… I have never seen that anywhere.
My younger Phupo (Seema), when she moved to America with her family, worked till the day she left literally. And while I was there, her home was my safe place, till she was there I knew I would be ok.
I feel like we are who we are because of all these relationships and people we have grown up with. There is so much of my Dadi Dada in them and there is so much of them in me. I thank God every day for them and my Chachas (I have 2, but that’s for another day).”
The starlet is constantly in touch with her fans and also had a live Q&A session on Instagram and used Twitter to interact with her millions of fans this week and answered their questions.
Stay tuned to Brandsynario for the latest news and updates!
Farishta, the latest track by Pakistani singer Taher Shah graced the social media late on Friday night amid the coronavirus pandemic. The Eye to Eye and Angel singer announced the release of his new song Farishta via Twitter.
Essentially, a translation of his cult hit Mankind’s Angel, the video of Farishta is entirely animated. The video has over 1,00,000 views on YouTube, with the ‘dislikes’ far exceeding the number of ‘likes.’
After watching the video a user commented “Coronavirus: Finally a worthy opponent! Our battles will be legendary!” So, you get the basic gist of how unamused the masses are.
The song is basically dedicated to children and the visuals are animated cartoons so kids can enjoy. People were expecting something more from Tahir Shah. However, Tahir Shah produced this number which is not very different from his previous song Angel so there’s nothing new to it. This time not only Tahir Shah is being trolled but the unknown person who created the animated video of his song is also questioned by the masses.
Stay tuned to Brandsynario for the latest news and updates.
The developments in mobile technology have dramatically boosted the productivity of individuals while bringing major lifestyle changes in every society.
Today, everyone looks for affordable smartphones, to enable seamless connectivity with the world around them.
With increasing competition between these devices, the consumers seek deeper insights from technology experts, to choose the best-suited smartphones for their needs.
Thus, many teams and individuals usually evaluate, rank and highlight the features and performance of all these devices.
The biggest boom has occurred in the entry-level and mid-range devices. Smartphones between USD 150 to USD 200 have gained tremendous popularity, by providing access to greater infotainment, increasingly powerful cameras with advanced features & applications.
Consumers are met with a plethora of options when they visit the market – but let us bring our top picks of smartphones under PKR 30,000/-
HUAWEI Y7p (PKR 28,999/-)
Backed by the legacy of success achieved by Huawei’s Y series devices, the latest Y7p literally offers a flagship experience at an affordable price. The most remarkable features of this smartphone; make it the ideal choice for users with a limited budget.
Its large & crispy 6.39” display with FHD+ resolution of 1560 x 720, portrays great vibrancy and colors that are unmatched in this low-price category. The advanced Kirin 710F Octa-core processor is supported by 4GB RAM and 64GB of ROM delivers lightning-fast speed and security.
For photography purposes, it brings powerful cameras enriched with Artificial Intelligence. The triple AI camera at the back has 48MP (f/1.8 aperture) + 8 MP (Ultra Wide Angle Lens, f/2.4 aperture) + 2 MP (f2.4 aperture). On the front, it boasts an 8MP selfie camera.
With the new look and a long-lasting 4,000 mAH battery, the HUAWEI Y7p has given phenomenal performance to win the hearts and minds of mid-range smartphones.
OPPO A5 2020 – 64GB (PKR 27,999/-)
It is surely a good smartphone, but its base-variant, packed with 3GB of RAM and 64GB ROM, is priced higher at PKR 27,999/-. It does promise a lot with a 12 MP, AI-powered, Quad Camera setup & Ultra-Wide sensor at the back, while the front camera is an 8MP.
The 6.5 inch, HD screen promises superior imaging and creative expression, further enriched with a ColorOS 6, based on Android Pie. The device is powered by a Snapdragon 665+ processor. The 5,000 mAh battery ensures long-lasting performance.
VIVO Y15 (PKR 25,999/-)
VIVO Y15 is a well-equipped smartphone that is quite handy in day to day usage, according to its specs. VIVO Y15 comes in a sleek design, offering 4GB RAM and 64GB space.
VIVO Y15 is a mid-range phone but it does not justify its MediaTek Helio P22 processor as better options are available in the same price range as PKR 25,999/-. Y15 comes with a rear triple camera setup of 13+6+2 MP and 16 MP front camera.
The security system is an outstanding feature of the phone, fingerprint scanner and face detection works well if compared with its processor and RAM. 6.5-inch screen gives a charm to the phone.
Battery backup is a plus point of Y15 as it gives a backup of two days with a 5,000mAh battery. Its battery size justifies the screen size but just a big screen is not a dream variant for gamers.
Samsung A20s (PKR 28,999/-)
Samsung A20s comes with a spectacular 6.5 inches 720X1560 pixels resolution, a display feature like this enhances the display quality and colors seem more vibrant. Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 chipset comes in two variants supported by 3GB RAM + 32GB and 4GB + 64 GB. Both variants deliver speed and data-security and smooth working experience. The main highlight of the phone is its fast charging and a battery of 4000mAh with a type C port.
Camera lovers and photographers will be satisfied with its triple rear camera setup of 13+8+5 MP while the front camera is 8MP. This is also a good choice in this price range.
The coronavirus pandemic has caused chaos across the globe, with people quarantined inside their homes for three weeks and more it has given time to reflect on the essential things in life.
Celebrities and influencers seem to have lost the superior status they had in the general public’s eye. People are calling out in support for front liners to be recognised and celebrated at the next awards show and to be seen on red carpets across the globe once the pandemic is over.
This month, popular magazines worldwide have made last-minute changes to their cover photos for the upcoming months considering the ongoing COVID-19 situation. Instead of models and celebrity glamour, most covers feature frontline workers.
1. Italian Vogue
The Italian magazine said it started from scratch, shelving earlier cover plans in favour of a blank white cover, they mentioned, “It is a symbol of respect, rebirth, silence, purity, the color of lab coats and the title page of a new story that is about to begin.”
“To speak of anything else – while people are dying, doctors and nurses are risking their lives and the world is changing forever – is not the DNA of Vogue Italia,” the magazine said in the caption.
2. InStyle Editor Features Scientist on Special Digital Cover
Brown did not want to wait for the month’s issue to be published and instead produced a digital cover highlighting a scientist working 20 hrs a day since January in the wake of the coronavirus.
InStyle editor, Laura Brown says,
“Readers are saying they want to see the everyday women currently doing extraordinary things being celebrated. We need to show that we are listening to them.”
New York editor-in-chief David Haskell mentions, “We knew we wanted to make a special project, a cover-to-cover attempt to help our readers adjust to the weirdness and difficulty of mass self-isolation.”
The Editor Hattie Brett said the team decided to rip everything up and start again for the front liners issue of Grazia UK.
“Like the rest of the nation, everyone working on Grazia has been humbled and awe-struck by the way frontline NHS staff have responded to the coronavirus crisis, risking their own lives to help the rest of us. Our latest issue is dedicated to those workers, as a way of saying thanks for their selfless dedication.”
The weekly magazine looks at the way the virus has changed the work dynamics of people and companies who have been working from home since the lockdown began.
The Indian GQ counterpart has recreated 6 iconic magazine covers from the past and replaced them with the stars wearing a mask to raise awareness on the precautionary measures for COVID-19.
The situation in New York is quite grim, with having the most number of cases in the US. New Yorker’s Chris Ware touching cover shows, Health workers and the affect it has on their families.
We’re yet to see if Pakistani fashion magazines would choose to put front line workers on the front cover of their magazines instead of the usual models/celebrities to celebrate all the hard work the doctors, nurses and medical staff is putting in to fight corona in Pakistan. Keeping in mind the conditions the medical community is working in, they definitely need to be applauded for risking their lives in the line of duty.
Some people have been asking the Lux Style Awards to award the medical community with awards at the next LSA’s as these doctors and nurses deserve all the respect in the world for all that they are doing at a time when the rest of us watch helplessly.
What do you think of these covers? Let us know in the comment below.
Coronavirus pandemic is spreading like fire and the only way to fight it, is to keep ourselves protected. To prevent the infection from spreading, people are using medical masks, goggles and protection equipment. Due to the extensive use of these protective gears, there is a huge shortage of medical equipment from the market of Pakistan.
Haier Pakistan donates the 2nd batch of protective gear which included, 4000 N95 Masks, 50,000 Nitrile gloves, 4,000 Goggles, 20,000 Surgical Masks, 4,000 Face Shields and 1,500 Protective Suits to the Government of Pakistan. The material was handed over by Haier to the Pakistan Embassy in China and delivered to Pakistan on urgent basis through a special aircraft.
Hospitals and medical workers across the country are in desperate need of donations to protect the health care professionals who are fighting on the frontline. We at Haier Pakistan are here to stay with our people in these hard times and are geared up to provide support in any possible means to ease their pain. Haier donated 25,000 Ration Bags to the people to keep them and their families going through this tough time of lockdown, as a lot of them are daily wagers and unable to bear the expenses of their families due to this lockdown.
Karachi: 9th April, 2020 – Dawlance has committed a generous donation to The Indus Hospital (TIH), to help the nation fight against the threat of Coronavirus pandemic. Being the technology-leader in Pakistan’s home-appliances industry, Dawlance is committed in making valuable contributions towards the development of health care facilities. TIH is among the most credible and resourceful institutions in Pakistan, that is well-reputed for providing Free-of-cost, high-quality health-care to everyone.
As part of a new CSR initiative by Dawlance, it will provide The Indus Hospital with a generous donation of nearly 120 high-quality appliances, including more than 40 Refrigerators & Freezers, 60 air-conditioners, along with many Microwave ovens, water-dispensers and Electric-Kettles. Dawlance appliances and technologies will enhance the hospital’s capacity to overcome the COVID-19 challenge, by maintaining comfortable room-temperatures to care for the patients, while storing large quantities of Corona kits and testing-samples in the ideal ambient temperature below -20 degrees which shows the reliability of Dawlance appliances.
As the doctors and para-medical staff are the frontline force in the fight against the virus, these reliable appliances from Dawlance will equip them to save more lives, with timely diagnosis, medical-care and treatment for the increased number of patients, expected during this public-health crisis. These products will be used in TIH Laboratories, Blood centers and the Diagnostic-Vans created for Community-based screening. The 50 Mobile-Testing units will be covering many urban areas like; Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Quetta, etc.
A formal ceremony was held recently, where The Chief Executive Officer of Dawlance – Umar Ahsan Khan stated that; “Dawlance has the vision to elevate the quality of life in Pakistan. We understand that Pakistan has a weak health-care infrastructure, so we must continue to contribute generously and fulfil our national responsibility. With this effort we want to inspire the resourceful corporate sector to join the nation’s efforts in creating a better public-health infrastructure. Dawlance promises to play its role in improving the healthcare infrastructure, while also promoting education, awareness and environmental protection.”
“Over the past 4 decades, Dawlance has evolved as a consumer-focused brand. As a fully-owned subsidiary of the 3rd largest manufacturer of consumer electronics in Europe – Arcelik Turkey, we at Dawlance will continue to support the hospitals that have been designated for COVID-19 treatment, till this disease is totally eliminated. We are also engaging and informing the public at all levels, through various channels, including digital media. This is a global crisis of unprecedented scale and we pray for everyone who in impacted by it.” Umar Khan added.
Amidst this global pandemic situation, hundreds of nations are forced to lockdown their cities, to ensure social-distancing, while Pakistan has also taken extensive precautionary measures to prevent an exponential spread of this ailment. Urgent preparations are underway all over the nation, for timely diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19 patients, where the corporate entities can play a major role too.
So far, a large scale spread of COVID-19 in Pakistan is preventable as the Government has taken early and tough decisions, but only if the people act responsibly, take precautions, do not leave their homes unnecessarily and wash their hands regularly. The next few weeks are critical to contain and eliminate this disease, so the economic impact of this lockdown can also be minimized, especially for saving the poorest segments of the society. Dawlance is committed and ready for sustainable efforts for the nation, to prevent any such challenge in future too.
If you haven’t come across any of the hullabaloo surrounding packaged milk and tea-whiteners in the Pakistani media recently, you’ve probably been living on an idyllic island far away from dull reality. Lucky you.
To put in a nutshell, all packaged milk and tea-whitener brands were falsely characterized as harmful and consumers were told to stop buying them. After a long process of proving these allegations wrong, some tea-whitener brands have been labeled completely safe by the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
Here’s the thing. Misreporting is rampant. Fake news is dominant. Lines between fact and fiction are blurred every day by media hatchet jobs. Considering the above, I followed up on an issue millions of Pakistanis are affected by, daily: Tea, and the whiteners used to enhance its taste. How was Pakistan’s favourite drink being consumed? Were tea whiteners really full of preservatives/chemicals and poisoning millions of tea drinkers? Was tea really unfit for consumption because of these whiteners? Were consumers being misinformed, or was the truth elsewhere? Watch this documentary, and find out what really happened.Watch the full documentary here: https://youtu.be/bBI6CywxxI4
For those who are still confused about what the whole drama was about, here are seven things you should know about tea-whiteners:
1. Tea-whiteners are known by many other names; tea creamers, coffee creamers, dairy whiteners and non-dairy creamers to name a few.
2. Tea-whiteners are used in hundreds of countries around the world in regions including North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East, Africa and Asia.
3. The powdered creamer was first marketed in 1952 made from dehydrated cream and sugar. The original creamer did not mix well in liquid because of the protein in milk. Some years later, a new version was created that could easily be dissolved in hot liquid because it replaced most of the milk fat with vegetable oil, and reduced the milk protein.
4. Tea-whiteners are not milk. Milk contains various nutrients necessary for a healthy lifestyle and packaged milk provides a clean, hygienic and hassle-free way of nourishing our bodies. Tea whiteners should not be exchanged for the wholesome nutrition obtained from milk.
5. A tea-whitener is used in place of fresh milk to adjust the color and flavor of black tea, coffee or other beverages like hot chocolate or fruit smoothies.
6. Tea-whiteners, available in powdered and liquid forms, are convenient because they have longer shelf lives. Their ready-to-use nature makes them an easy choice when proper storage and refrigeration for milk is not possible.
7. A tea whitener generally contains vegetable-based fats, milk protein (derived from casein), fat content, sugar, and water (in case of a liquid whitener). The vegetable fat in tea creamers is commonly obtained from palm oil which is derived from plants that are not genetically modified and is safe for human ingestion.
So there you have it. No icky ingredients, no shady preservatives and no ulterior motives other than adding flavor, color, aroma, and consistency to your beverage. One advice though: choose a reputable brand and you’re golden.
Nothing makes you feel better than buying good makeup. The feeling of purchasing your favorite lip color can brighten your otherwise gloomy day instantly. Unfortunately, there comes a price tag with all our favorite makeup products, but don’t worry, we have got you covered.
Here we have compiled a list of items that are are not only less expensive but are also as good as your favorite high-end brands. These flawless make-up products which are under Rs. 1000 won’t be as heavy on your pockets as other expensive brands and are easily available in Pakistan, either online or at retail stores.
E.L.F Cosmetics Poreless Face Primer
theprettypomegranate
Price: PKR 950
This ah-mazing primer is one of the best primers ever. As they say, all good things come in small packages, this pint-sized product filled with miraculous serum is just what we’ve wanted to add to our makeup regime.
While reducing the appearances of enlarged pores and fine lines, this primer gives you a gorgeous air-brushed look. With the infusion of Tea Tree and Vitamins A and E, it has brilliant anti-aging and restorative benefits.
E.L.F’s multipurpose skin primer transforms gives you just the right amount of long-lasting, flawless matte finish.
Rimmel Perfect Match Concealer
AVANTVOUS
Price: PKR 550
Rimmel London Match Perfection Concealer is created to perfectly compliment your skin. Formulated with skin tone adapting technology, it makes easier to illuminate the eyes area and banish the signs of fatigue.
Its coverage is light and it blends beautifully, so you can use it with a foundation or go bare-faced, for a fresher, more natural look.
Atiqa Odho Contouring Kit
Beaut By A
Price: PKR 1000
Contouring can be a bit tricky, especially on Asian skins if you are a newbie. This All-in-One Face Powder and Contouring kit from veteran actress Atiqa Odho is just the perfect product for you. The long-lasting powders are light in feel and blends into the skin pretty much with any extra effort with its refined formula for smooth application.
Recommended by various industry professionals, this kit comes with SPF 30 protection with 5 amazing face powders and 3 easy to blend contouring powders.
NYX Cosmetics Powder Blush
Makeup, Fashion & Royalty
Price: PKR 800
The pressed powder blush just delivers the right amount of sheer silky color that blends flawlessly into your skin, giving a natural glow to it. The long-lasting formula is richly pigmented and is great for your everyday summer look.
Elf Baked Highlighter In Moonlight Pearls
sg.carousell.com
Price: PKR 650
This not-so-costly highlighter gives you a naturally radiant glow. Infused with Vitamin E and other nourishing agents, E.L.F’s baked highlighter is just perfect for your skin. You can apply it wet for a fuller, vibrant effect or you can use it dry for sheer pigmentation.
Colourpop Eyeshadows
DHgate
Price: PKR 900
This highly-pigmented shadow which comes in a range of colors, applies evenly to your skin, giving it an ultra-velvety feel. Its long-lasting formula adheres to your eyes, giving a soft and smooth effect.
This eyeshadow palette is a perfect mix of pearl, shimmer and matte shades. From neutral to sultry, this amazing palette offers you exactly what you need. These super bendable and pigmented eyeshadows come with the best quality at a pretty decent price.
Makeup Revolution Lip Hug
luceluxelifestyle
Price: PKR 425
You’d be impressed with the amazing creamy formula of these lip-hugs. They apply really nicely without tugging at the lips at all. These lip colors are super hydrating and easy to wear. There one for everyone with 20 different shades that leave a gorgeous sheen finish on your lips. This is just the perfect lipstick for the balance of color with comfort and staying power.
Colourpop Ultra Satin Lipstick
YouTube
Price: PKR 990
This is a creamy, bold lipstick with a satin finish. It has the same high percentage of pigments as an ultra-matte lipstick but with an emollient ingredient for added moisture. This long-staying lipstick which feels light on your lips, keeps you looking fresh for hours.
COLOR STUDIO HYPNO EYES
RedAliceRao
Price: Rs 450
These easy to grip eyeliners give you the perfect pigmented and long-lasting look. Cat eyes are a piece of cake with its short, tapered tip. The smooth formula is not runny and dries quickly, making its application easier.
The above mentioned amazing products will serve you exactly what you deserve and that too in a budget. Try them and let us know if this product worked for you.
Note: The prices of the products may vary from store to store.
Have you ever thought about how long the Pakistani advertisement jingles are? We at Brandsynario have come up with a list of Pakistani Advertisements that could easily be used as movie songs.
Take a look at which Pakistani TVC’s made the list!
1. Jazz TVC ft. Ali Zafar
This Jazz classic ad featuring the star-performer Ali Zafar is a must watch! The song is lively, fun and has a great energetic vibe. The hip song can be picturised on a rockstar based movie scene.
2. Lipton Ad ft. Ali Zafar
The Lipton Ad features Ali Zafar with the singer’s melodious playback as well. The ad’s jingle is extremely catchy and will make anyone want to groove to its music.
3. Q Mobile – Sohai Abro and Danish Taimoor
The ad’s playback would go well for a celebratory dance number in a movie and suits well for a wedding.
4. Gala TVC ft Noor
The tea biscuit Gala ad had the most catchy and memorable jingle that had the entire town buzzing to its tune. This would go well for a movie’s wedding sequence.
The Ufone 3G tvc, ‘Ayga Medan Mai’ featured Shehzad Roy, the song is comical, fun and can be picturised in a comedy film.
6. 7UP
The TVC has a hip vibe and would definitely hit the charts when featured as a movie song for a light-hearted commercial movie.
7. Tulsi TVC ft. the dapper Hamza Ali Abbasi and the stunning Mehwish Hayat
The sizzling chemistry between the two actors added to the romantic song is a treat to watch. The melodious tune can definitely be part of a romanticized scene in a movie.
8. Jazz TVC ft Fawad Khan & Mahira Khan
This older ad back from 2011 has a catchy jingle and can be used as a dance number in a Lollywood movie.
9. Snack City Kurleez
The cheesy jingle used in the TVC would be a perfect fit for a movie based for the youth. The song is comical and will make you LOL!
https://youtu.be/NlwlXZUVdqU
10. Cookania Cake Rusk TVC ft Sohai Ali Abro and Hamza Ali Abbasi
The commercial for Cake Rusk released in 2016 could be used for a romantic duet filmed on a movie’s leading pair, the playback and melodious tune would make the song an instant chartbuster.
What did you think of the list we compiled? Let us know if we’ve missed out any Ads in the comments below.
10 April 2020 – Around the world, the spread of COVID-19 has had a devastating impact on health, lives and jobs, including in Pakistan. We’ve had to make fundamental changes to the way we live and work, and the economic impact is affecting businesses everywhere.
Yet we’ve also heard humbling and inspiring stories of health care workers on the front lines, businesses providing vital resources and support, and families and communities being there for one another—showing us that if everyone plays their part, we can and will get through this together.
Overcoming a crisis on this scale will take a sustained effort, and we want to do everything we can to help. Since the virus first began to spread, our focus at Google has been on making sure people have the information and tools they need. But we know there’s much more work ahead.
We’re sharing the actions we have been taking and will continue to take to support Pakistan both in the ongoing short-term response to the virus, and in the long-term, concentrating on three priorities that we believe are critical to a sustainable recovery:
Promoting authoritative and reliable information;
Supporting education and learning; and
Contributing to business continuity and economic recovery
Promoting authoritative and reliable information sources
It’s crucial that people have access to health information they can trust online, so they can make the right decisions to protect themselves and those around them from COVID-19. We’ve surfaced the latest updates and health advice from international health authorities across Search, Maps and YouTube in Urdu and English. We’ve also helped promote hygiene awareness campaigns, shared travel advisories, and stepped up our work to curb misinformation spreading on Google, YouTube or through apps on the Play Store.
Image Source: Dawn
We’re going to build on these efforts in months ahead in Pakistan, that means having our own local website dedicated to COVID-19 education, prevention, and resources. This includes best practices on prevention, links to authoritative information from the Government of Pakistan and helpful tips and tools from Google for individuals, educators and businesses. The website is rolling out today and will be continually enhanced and updated with more resources.
Reliable information is vital in the fight to slow the virus’ spread and ultimately prepare for economic recovery. We’ll continue working to expand the number of authoritative sources that people can trust, and combat misinformation that can risk people’s health and hold back the global response.
Supporting education and learning
In Pakistan, approximately 60 million students may be out of school because of restrictions on movement and gathering sizes. That’s putting huge pressure on families, schools and the incredible teachers who nurture our children’s passion for learning.
To help teachers get the support they need to teach remotely, we’ve made tools like Hangouts Meet and Google Classroom available for free, provided training and tips through both Google and YouTube, and launched Teach from Home with UNESCO as a central hub for teachers around the world.
We all know the power of great teachers and inspiring lessons, and we hope these steps will help our students continue to learn for as long as schools remain closed, and return energised when the education system re-opens.
Contributing to business continuity and economic recovery
Small businesses are the heart of our economy and communities and, from small retailers to restaurants, they’ve been hit hardest by the outbreak. Global businesses like Google have a responsibility to help them withstand the economic impact and lead the way in the recovery.
We’ve launched our Grow with Google site for Pakistanis to benefit from free training, tools and events to help grow their skills, career, or business. We’ve also launched a related site on remote working to help folks work, teach and learn from anywhere.
Image Source: Grow With Google
We also recently announced an $800 million commitment to support small businesses around the world with access to finance, ad credits and grants to help meet the costs of the virus. At the same time, we have taken teachings from our programs to social media as well as the Google Primer free app to continue training small businesses in digital skills and enable their employees to work remotely.
While our efforts now have to be focused on dealing with immediate health needs and supporting communities, it’s important that we also look to the long-term. For Pakistan to move beyond COVID-19, we have to lay foundations today: helping businesses not just to adapt in extraordinary circumstances, but to rebuild and create economic growth and jobs as we move into the recovery phase.
Upholding our responsibility
COVID-19 puts intense demands on us all, and we’re determined to uphold our responsibility in this unprecedented time: to enable access to trusted information, support remote learning, back small businesses, and more. The initiatives we’ve shared today are the start. We’re standing with Pakistan to do all we can to help as we overcome COVID-19 and shape a stronger future.
Islamabad – 10 April 2020: In line with their vision to develop the digital payments ecosystem, Pakistan’s leading digital financial platform, JazzCash, has successfully launched a Digital Merchant Onboarding portal – the first of its kind in the industry.
This solution allows business owners to swiftly and seamlessly register their business accounts online via the JazzCash website and start receiving digital payments through QR codes. Customers can make payments by scanning the QR code via the JazzCash app or USSD. JazzCash is the first player in Pakistan to offer this service while complying with the State Bank of Pakistan’s regulations on digital merchant onboarding.
“In today’s world, the success of a business is also dependent on the convenience that it offers to its customers. We saw an opportunity to provide businesses across Pakistan a hassle-free registration process which allows them to offer payment convenience to their customers,” said Umair Yousaf, Head of Products (SME) – JazzCash. “This solution is of particular importance during the current pandemic, as the registration process is completely digital and customers of the businesses can make contactless payments instead of paying in cash.”
Interested business owners can self-onboard by registering themselves on the JazzCash website and selecting the JazzCash QR tab. Only three things are required to complete the registration process; personal details, a valid CNIC and live/ digital photograph. Upon successful account creation, a JazzCash QR code will be issued and ready to use within 48 hours. The all-in-one solution is simple and makes for an efficient and flawless customer onboarding experience.
Contactless payments are a safer alternative to cash particularly in the current scenario where COVID-19 has become a global pandemic. JazzCash has provided business owners the ability to self-register for receiving digital payments without having to step out of their premises and has provided customers a mean to make contactless payments. Jazz and JazzCash continue to make substantial impact on the digital landscape in Pakistan by offering best in class digital services and is stepping up its efforts in the existing scenario.
In Money Heist season 4, we want the makers to answer these questions that are on every fan’s mind and below are just a few:
1. The mystery behind Alicia Sierra and Tatiana
Source/ Meaww
In the third season, we see Berlin (played by Pedro Alonso) telling the Professor that his ladylove Tatiana knows all about the heist plan for Bank Of Spain. When inspector Alicia Sierra (played by Najwa Nimri) made an entry to interrogate Rio, we cannot stop noticing the similarities between her and Tatiana, who appeared only once for a few seconds.
So, are Alicia and Tatiana the same? Because Alicia somehow knows what will be Professor’s next move and apart from him and Palermo (played by Rodrigo de la Serna) only Tatiana knew the plan!
2. Has Rio changed sides?
Source/ Express.co.uk
Rio (Miguel Herrán) was under police custody for a long time and the police left no stone unturned to torture him. So is he still loyal to the gang? Or he changed sides? Was that bug inside his body just a distraction? He did give away one tip to Sierra, are there more?
3. Is Tokyo the only survivor out there?
Source/ NME.COM
Our narrator right from season 1 being Tokyo there is a tragic theory that likely she was the only one living out there. She is describing the gang and their great heists which occurred in the past. Could she be the sole survivor at the end?
4. Is this the end of Gandia?
Source/ FimlDaily.co
Bogotá (Hovik Keuchkerian) ends up knocking Gandia’s head on the railing and punching him unconscious. We don’t see his body after that, so it could be that he’s dead or that’s he’s just knocked out and, potentially, a key way for the thieves to escape with the gold.
[Karachi, 0th April 2020] SOC Films has released the seventh and final short-film from HOME1947 titled Dark Secrets. Indeed, HOME1947 Series is a deeply personal exploration of the lives and stories of the millions that were displaced in 1947 during the creation of two new independent states, India and Pakistan.
The final film of HOME1947 series, Dark Secrets chronicles the childhood memories from an idyllic world, of chasing peacocks and eating grapefruit, which came to a crashing end in the ensuing riots that took place during the Partition of the subcontinent in 1947
You can watch it below!
https://youtu.be/syGwamRggDU
HOME1947, a series of 7 short films conceptualized and produced by SOC Films, recreated the long-lost sights and sounds of what millions once called home and explores this world not through the words of historians and politicians, but through the eyes of those who lived through it.
HOME1947Series was first premiered as part of the HOME1947 Exhibition at the Manchester International Festival in the UK followed by exhibitions in Mumbai [India], Lahore and Karachi. HOME1947 has been co-commissioned by the British Council in Pakistan in collaboration with the Manchester International Festival and Super Slow Way.
For more information about ‘HOME1947’ and other SOC Films projects, please visit:
Disney’s parks closed around the globe due to the coronavirus but that doesn’t hinder fans to keep an eye on Disney’s updates such as watching ride-throughs of some of its most iconic attractions, making Disney-shaped foods, and even watching videos of cast members saying goodbye for now (which will make you cry, just a warning).
The Walt Disney Company hasn’t forgotten its fans and is making efforts to keep them occupied with their simple recipes. Disney just released its famous churros recipe and it’s as easy as A, B, C so we’d recommend you give them a shot while you’re at home!
Apart from the lip-smacking churros, there are a few more recipes that we’d like to share with you and we guarantee that you’ll thank us later!
1. Dole Whip
Located on the Jungle River shores in Adventureland at Disneyland Park, The Tropical Hideaway is the destination for extraordinary worldly eats. Their menu items include Dole Whip which is an ice-cream like a scrumptious treat and perfect for winters!
The recipe (for a single serving) reads at the following:
1 big scoop of ice cream
4 oz of pineapple juice
2 cups of frozen pineapple
Add all ingredients to a blender until it’s a thick drink.
Add your swirl and then you’re done.
For your reference, here’s a little video to give you an idea.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dB31VVpIUM
2. Inside out fruit skewers
Source/ Disney’s website
Ingredients
Yellow fruit: pineapples or bananas
Blue fruit: blueberries
Green fruit: honeydew melon or green grapes
Red fruit: watermelon, strawberries, or raspberries
Purple fruit: purple grapes
Directions
Choose one fruit to represent each character: pineapples or bananas for Joy, blueberries for Sadness, honeydew melons or green grapes for Disgust, watermelon, strawberries, or raspberries for Anger; and purple grapes for Fear.
Cut fruit into one-inch cubes, except for grapes and berries which can be served as they are.
String one fruit of each color onto the skewer in any order you wish.
Repeat step 3 until you have as many fruit skewers as you need.
3. Bantha Milk Hot Cocoa
Source/ Disney’s website
This sweet drink, made with white chocolate chips and tinted with food coloring, is inspired by the mysterious blue beverage Aunt Beru made for Luke Skywalker while chiding him to eat his vegetables in Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope.
Ingredients
4 cups of your favorite kind of milk
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 cup white chocolate chips
Blue food coloring
Optional: whipped cream
Optional: blue candy sprinkles
Directions
In a medium-sized saucepan, stir together milk, vanilla extract, and white chocolate chips. Add drops of blue food coloring one at a time until mixture is the desired shade of bantha milk blue.
Cook over low heat, stirring constantly until white chocolate chips have melted.
Remove from heat and pour immediately into mugs. Optional: top with whipped cream and blue candy sprinkles.
Also, from fun and easy recipes inspired by Disney Parks foods and animated stories to highlights from your favorite shows and parades, PhotoPass wallpapers and more, there are videos, games and fun facts on the way, bringing some Disney Parks magic to you once you download their app.
Who would have thought in their wildest imagination that such a day would come when working-from-home would become so mainstream. With the current situation, more than half of the world’s population is under lockdown, giving rise to unprecedented work-from-home scenarios.
Now, working from home may not be everyone’s cup of tea. Some say it makes them lazy, while others feel too cosy at home. Is your home network going to be stable enough or can you stay safe from straying away to the first distraction you see? Or what if your child decides to play games or watch movies on your phone and drains out the battery?
These might just be a few of the things that run in your mind when you consider working from home, especially if you are someone who has not worked remotely 100 percent. However, this is just a new setting to get adapted to and one of the tools we tend to rely on the most right now is our smartphone.
Not to worry, because with the HUAWEI P40 Pro’s 5G capabilities, flagship performance and long-lasting battery, you are promised a seamless working from home experience, maybe even improving your performance! Here are some of the ways Huawei’s latest flagship can help.
Ensure a strong and stable connection at all times
One of the most important requirements of working from home is a solid Internet connection that you can rely on to not drop mid-way during a conference call or while you are uploading or downloading heavy files. Your home internet connection might be able to do this, but now that the entire family is at home and everyone is connected to the WiFi, be it for e-learning or even for entertainment, it can potentially slow down your network.por
This is where you would need to depend on your mobile network. If you have access to 5G networks, the HUAWEI P40 Pro’s 5G capabilities ensure that you have nothing to worry about. Thanks to its Kirin 990 5G chipset, you are ensured a strong and stable connection that you can rely on for all your office needs, along with strong and efficient performance.
The unique architecture of the chipset also enables support for 2G/3G/4G networks as well! Simply hotspot it to your laptop and you are good to go. For using WiFi networks however, the HUAWEI P40 Pro’s Wi-Fi 6 Plus capability for an accelerated network experience comes in handy when working from home or handling multiple tasks together.
A long-lasting battery life for all your needs
This also means you need a smartphone that is capable of lasting long on a single charge as you would be doing a lot more with it. Video conferencing for office work or even with friends and family during social distancing are all battery consuming, which is all the more reason why you need a massive battery on your smartphone that charges up quickly as well. The HUAWEI P40 Pro comes with a massive 4200mAh battery and a 40W HUAWEI SuperCharge, along with support for Huawei’s wireless Supercharge features to charge your phone back up faster than ever.
Keep away from distractions
To further enhance your productivity and reduce distractions, you can use the HUAWEI P40 Pro’s Multi-Screen Collaboration* feature. With a simple tap, you can seamlessly and wirelessly stream your phone’s display on your compatible HUAWEI MateBook laptop. This allows for easy transfer between files with a simple drag and drop, enables you to use smartphone apps on the laptops screen and even allows you to control both devices with the same peripherals as the laptop. You can even pick up calls on your laptop and use the laptop’s speakers and mic.
An app for everything…
If you are looking for a few productivity enhancing apps to help you while working, the HUAWEI P40 Pro also comes with the HUAWEI AppGallery, which has a wide range of global and local apps to help you in every task. Simply open HUAWEI AppGallery, browse to categories and search through the Business and Tools categories to find the apps you need.
Take some time off and record some memories
If you have some free time, you can always take a break and enjoy the HUAWEI P40 Pro’s unique camera features. Thanks to the powerful HUAWEI Ultra Vision Leica Quad Camera setup complete with the HUAWEI Ultra Vision sensor, the largest CMOS sensors in the industry measuring 1/1.28 inches, you can enjoy practicing your photography skills on your kids or pets or even take photos of the entire family huddled up at home or practice some night-time photography thanks to the HUAWEI P40 Pro’s exception low-light photography and videography capabilities.
The camera setup also includes a 50MP Ultra Vision Leica Quad Camera, 40MP Ultra-Wide Cine Camera for recording movie 4K quality videos, a 12MP 5x Optical Telephoto Camera and a ToF Camera. This setup, along with AI also paves the way for unique features, such as Audio Zoom to bring audio and video closer while zooming, HUAWEI Golden Snap for perfect snaps of everyone, AI Remove Passerby to remove someone extra from your photo and AI Remove Reflection to remove unwanted reflections.
The current situation does demand a change in the everyday setting, but that does not mean it has to disrupt your everyday functions. With the HUAWEI P40 Pro, you can continue everyday tasks just as before, allowing you to easily adapt to this new environment. Thanks to its 5G capabilities, solid performance, long-lasting battery life and productivity-enhancing features, the HUAWEI P40 Pro is the perfect tool to help you work better from home.
As reported byThe New York Times, around 150 Saudi Royals have been tested positive for the coronavirus. 70-year-old, Saudi Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz Al, Saud-the governor of the capital Riyadh is in intensive care after contracting the infection.
It is believed that the Saudi Royals in the family have brought the virus after returning back from Europe, the newspaper reported while addressing doctors, hospitals and people close to the family.
The kingdom like all the governments in the world took precautions in an attempt to contain the deadly coronavirus by banning pilgrimages to Mecca and Medine – two of the holiest sites in Islam and also by placing its major cities under 24-hour lockdown.
Image Source/ The Nation
Kristian Coates Ulrichsen, a professor at Rice University who studies the kingdom, told the Times, “If it is reaching into the family, then it becomes an urgent issue.”
Up till now (9th April), the country has reported 2,795 cases and 41 deaths. However, the Saudi health minister, saying the number of infections in the weeks ahead “will range from a minimum of 10,000 to a maximum of 200,000.”
According to the newspaper, the 84-year-old, King Salman is in isolation near the city of Jeddah while Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and many of his ministers are in isolation on the coast of the Red Sea.
For more news and updates, stay tuned to Brandsynario.
The coronavirus pandemic has caused our country to impose a lockdown, all businesses, local bazaars, shops and restaurants have been closed down to curb the spread of the virus.
Karachi without its hustle and bustle of food streets is a scene no-one has witnessed before! During this difficult time where everyone remains indoors to stay safe and also miss out on our favourite eateries, renown restaurant Kaybees talks about some of the popular restaurants all over Karachi and their famous dishes that everyone misses during lockdown.
Kaybees Pakistan pays tribute to other popular eateries all over Karachi!
Caution: This list will definitely make you drool and reminisce the good old pre-lockdown times!
Kaybees is mentioned for its Oreo Cone and Super Soft serve ice-cream in 6 flavours, don’t we all miss this. Tooso for its delicious club sandwiches and Panwari for its Gola Ganda
Hot N Spicy rolls are a favourite for all while Student Biryani on a Friday is all that you need! Chop Chop Wok with its customised bowls is also added to the list by Kaybees.
It is great to see local eateries supporting each other during this crucial time where they are all closed down and facing terrible losses.
California/Broadway Pizzas, Burger O Clock Burgers and Big Bash’s Pizza Fries, ever ordered pizza fries as a post midnight snack? Well, weren’t those the best times.
They Chips FTW!
Ala Rahi, Clucky and Karachi Broast! Our city has it all!
Did Anyone say Nihari?
Easy Donuts, OPTP Fries and Espresso! Kaybees mentions Espresso with friends, life in quarantine has made us think of the simple things in life we took for granted such as hanging out with friends over a cup of coffee.
Kaybees ends the post with a message of hope and positivity.
Let’s hope brands keep promoting each other this way instead of belittling each other as normally seen. Kudos to Kaybees for paying tribute to Karachi’s popular eateries.
Connectivity is the key driver in today’s time when the world is going through the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. With social distancing in practice and lockdown in place, people across the nation are trying to keep themselves busy and maintain healthy mental well-being, as they stay at home. In such times, the demand for a smooth and seamless internet has increased manifold.
Whether it is to get news updates or work from home or simply for entertainment, the dependency and usage of social media has become a necessity rather than a luxury. Even for kids and university students, learning has also gone online in the current situation, along with watching movies and playing online games. Even while indulging in activities like cooking and baking for the first time, we require internet to look for delicious and easy recipes.
Check out this video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCbsWVNjlvw
Telecom operators all over Pakistan are coming up with campaigns and strategies to provide ease and convenience to their customers during these trying times. PTCL, being a national company, too, has taken numerous measures to cater to the connectivity needs of both its employees and customers, as almost all employees are working from homes except for frontline workers. To enable connectivity anywhere, one such product being utilized is PTCL CharJi, a user friendly, portable Wi-Fi Hotspot Device.
If you are on the hunt for the perfect blend of data volume, speed and value-for-money, look no further. Along with providing you with a fantastic internet service, PTCL CharJi is also very affordable for the common man, with its tax-inclusive monthly packages and generous monthly data volumes.
Amidst the ongoing Covid-19 crisis, as people spend more time at home, PTCL is supporting and incentivizing staying-at-home by facilitating the increasing demand for data through its CharJi device. It recently launched an Unlimited CharJi package which allows endless browsing, streaming and downloading at any hour of the day. Unlike other MBB devices, this unlimited volume in CharJi is available to you 24/7 at only Rs. 1,999 per month, with no hidden charges. (Fair usage policy applies).
Not only this, PTCL has also enabled customers to conveniently recharge from the safety of their homes through PTCL Touch App and a myriad of other quick bill payment options available on their website. This offer is valid for both active and inactive CharJi Subscribers, so hurry up and simply Dial 1218 to change your package today!
