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Air Pollution Plays Significant Role in Diabetes: Study

‘I Am Eighteen’ Pakistan’s Biggest Celebrity-Studded Real Estate Campaign

An exciting new player has recently entered the cluttered Pakistan Real Estate market. Unlike the existing names, this brand really knows how to differentiate itself from the crowd.

Eighteen‘ is a luxury real estate brand by Ora Developers, Saif Group & Kohistan Builders and Developers.

The housing project, located near Islamabad, plans to create a luxury living space with apartments and villas aimed at an exclusive market segment including expatriate Pakistanis. Through this project, the builders will introduce an international style of living and architecture to Pakistan so that Pakistanis can benefit from the actual real estate.

With high ambitions, a brand like Eighteen needed to create social media blitz and establish it as a byword for quality living. The brand invited almost 11 agencies to pitch their ideas. After much deliberation, Synergy Dentsu was selected to carry the brand forward in October 2017.

The objective of the campaign from the very start was to build brand equity. The campaign suggested by Synergy Dentsu was an attempt to place Brand Eighteen apart from its competitors.

The standard structure for most Real Estate campaigns in Pakistan has been functional, tending to focus more on the size of plots, location, distance from landmarks, and ‘cliche’ elements. On the other hand, Synergy focused on giving an idea that broke away from those conventions.

The Redefining Idea

The concept presented to the brand was “I am Eighteen”. A celebrity-focused concept that personified success through the highest end brand ambassadors.

The idea focused less on the functional aspects of the housing project, and more on the attributes needed to become a part of this exclusive space. However, to create such an ambiance and quality for the brand required production values that real estate had so far not witnessed in Pakistan.


Eighteen employs European styled architecture so as to capture the look and feel required for an authentic European setting. Location scouting was done extensively and Poland was decided as the perfect shooting location.

“Today we have shown a wonderful master plan for a development which I believe will revolutionise real estate projects in Pakistan.
Ora, working with these highly respected partners, will be creating a new lifestyle destination in a world class capital City. I am very pleased to be involved with the project and very excited by what we will achieve.” -Mr Naguib Sawiris, Chairman of Ora Developers

The production duties were handed over to ArtNoir, a Karachi based production house headed by Sohaeb Akhter, who has previously worked for clients such as Zong, Gul Ahmed, Uber, Kolson and Pakistan Cables.

Once Poland was finalized as a destination, Opole and Wroclaw were selected as the two locations for the duration of the shoot.

The Stars Came Out

To truly personify the idea of Eighteen as the most premium housing society in Pakistan, required some serious celebrity presence – and the Eighteen campaign didn’t hold back on star presence!

The campaign managed to gather one of the largest celebrity casts for an ad campaign unprecedented for real estate advertising. The most powerful, influential and adored celebrity duo in Pakistan, Fawad and Mahira Khan are a part of this glamorous campaign.

In addition, the cast includes other well-known celebrities such as Wiqar Ali Khan, Sabeeka Imam, Armeena Khan and the veteran actress Atiqa Odho. The team decided to create a unique concept more akin to a short film experience derived from French cinema. The idea was to bend genre conventions of advertising especially Real Estate advertising to become a game changer for this sector.

The film focuses on the celebrities and their lifestyle as it related to the product. It tries to show what goes on in their day, from waking up in their homes to getting ready to go out with their friends. It tries to turn aspiration into a high art film experience. The ad captures the glitz and glamour of celebrity life and how Eighteen embodies this lifestyle. It portrays a setting that is decidedly European in aesthetic is now in Pakistan and within your reach.

Watch ‘I Am Eighteen’ Campaign Below!

https://youtu.be/2ZlLm5LewOs

Indeed the campaign has set a bar in the real estate market of Pakistan. Synergy Dentsu has tapped into an untouched potential using an out-of-the-box approach to highlight upcoming mega projects within the country such as Eighteen Islamabad.

What are your thoughts about this campaign?

 

Khaani: A Step Towards Justice & Women Empowerment?

With record-breaking ratings of 7.9 (source: Instagram), a powerful concept and gripping storyline, ‘Khaani’ has become the most ground-breaking show of 2018.

The 7th Sky Entertainment masterpiece, produced by the dynamic duo Abdullah Kadwani and Asad Qureshi has become one of the most successful shows in the history of Pakistani television.

#Khaani ♥️🙌🏻

A post shared by Sana Javed (@sanajaved.official) on

Viewers cannot stop gushing about the sizzling chemistry between the leading actors of the show, Sana Javed, and Feroze Khan.

khaani

With the last episode of the popular drama all set to air this Monday, fans are waiting with bated breath to see the fate of their favorite character, Mir Hadi.

And this is what brings us to the most interesting angle of the show!

Shockingly, the villain of the show has become the heartthrob of the nation. But before we get into that, let’s reflect upon the show and see how the main characters have evolved over time.

Up Till Now…

Playing the titular character of ‘Khaani’, Sana Javed has done full justice to her role. Initially shown as a weak character, scared of pretty much any and everything, the growth of this beautiful girl by the scipt writer has been subtle yet constant.

Khaani has been shown to go through many hurdles and heartbreaks. From the death of her brother by the hands of Mir Hadi, the declining health of her father, to becoming the sole bread-earner for the family. Sana’s portrayal of the character has been lauded by many of her fans.

The male lead, Feroze Khan leaves you stunned with his portrayal of Mir Hadi. Initially, he is shown to be an extremely arrogant, stubborn and hot-tempered son of a rich politician, Mir Shah. However, Hadi’s character slowly grows on you with time as he comes to realize his deep love for Khaani.

Effectively portraying the subtle nuances of his role, Feroze’s portral of Mir Hadi has not just won him many praises from his fans, but has also led this antagonist to become one of the most loved character in the show.

khaani

The story progresses at a fast pace taking us through the life of the characters.

Viewers witness a happy and loving family whose contentment is shattered by the unexpected death of their only son.

From there on, every character come to terms with not just the death of Khaan’s brother but also with the drastic changes in their lives. Rahat’s soulful voice elicits a mix of feelings in you as the title song plays in the background in some of the emotional scenes.

Adding punch to the plot was the brilliant portrayal of the corrupt politician ‘Mir Shah’ played by Mehmood Aslam, his arrogant wife ‘Sitara’ played by Saman Ansari and the helpless yet hopeful mother of Khaani, ‘Sonia’ played by Salma Hassan.

This is where real and reel life intertwine to create an internal struggle with the audience of the show.

From the first episode itself, the show portrays a reality that we cannot deny- the influence the rich upper class have in our society, allowing them to get away with anything and everything -even murder!

One cannot help but feel hate and anger towards ‘Hadi’ as he shoots ‘Saarim’ over a petty argument. And instead of feeling ashamed of such a crime, the political family uses their position in the society to force Khaani’s family into pardoning the murderer of their son.

How easily such affluent members of the society are able to get away even after committing such a crime, is a question raised by the writer of the show, Asma Nabeel.

They not only bring to light such corrupt practices but effectively portray how the thought of “khandaan ki izzat” eventually silences the victims family instead of seeking justice for their son.

Raising A Voice Towards Injustice And Empowering Women Is An Integral Concept Behind The Leading Show.

Yet, as the story progresses, we love how a twist is brought in the show by making Khaani take a stand for herself and her family. The way she bravely stands up to Hadi is a sign that society is indeed progressing and Pakistani women can no longer be silenced as well as an example for us all!

The Emotional Dilemna

However, with the climax of the show just a few days away, fans are now facing an emotional turmoil. Despite being a murderer, the character of Hadi has become a “hero” especially with the females.

Although he is a murderer, the intensity of his character and his love for Khaani has led people to bash the makers of the show and even the female lead, Sana!

Fans are unable to accept the fact that Hadi will be given the death penalty and are pressurizing the makers to change the ending of the show, giving him pardon instead!

Twitteratis have lost its cool over the idea of Hadi dying!

These reactions make one think whether or not society would have supported such a person had this been a real life incident? Would the feelings of the audience be any different if the character had been played by an actor who is older and perhaps not have the same on-screen charisma as Feroze?

And lastly, it makes us question which is a more effective punishment – death penalty or a lifetime of regret over such a crime?

As the Anjum Shahzad directorial nears its end, we must applaud the makers for bringing a breath of fresh air to the current offerings on television.

A progressive show with a strong social message for justice, is exactly what the disillusioned youth of today needs!

What are your views on the show? Do you feel that Hadi should be pardoned or given the death sentence? Tell us in the comments.

Aik Larki Aam Si Drama on HUM TV: Timings, Cast, OST & Plot

Stay tuned to Brandsynario for more news and updates.

 

Paris Hilton Unveils New Skincare Line

FIFA World Cup 2018: Adidas Switches to New Football for Knockout Phase [View Photos]

A new red-colored Adidas Telstar Mechta ball will be used to play the knockout phase at FIFA World Cup 2018 Russia from 30th June onwards.

The new ball has a new design and color using the color red to represent the host nation.  It is also to signify the ‘rising heat of knockout-stage football’ according to Fifa.

Pakistan Mark First Win at Hockey Champions Trophy 2018!

The name itself means ‘dreams’ or ‘ambitions’ in Russian paying a tribute and homage to all footballers and their fans worldwide! A vivid shade of red will be used to make it visible to the eyes of the fans who will be attending the matches.

According to Diaro AS, this is the first time it is ever been used in an Official Match Ball. From what we’ve witnessed through the group stages – including some marvelous strikes – the ball has been performing well.

Both the Telstar 18 and Telstar Mechta feature an embedded NFC chip.

What are your thoughts about the new ball?

Stay tuned to Brandsynario for more news and updates.

FIFA World Cup 2018: Female Voices from Tournament Spark Sexist Backlash

‘Mermaid’ Photo Wins National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year Contest

This Cool Application Will Change Your Household for Good!

Keeping up with the pace with which technology changes can be complicated, especially for those who are not tech-savvy!

With demands for smarter appliances on the rise, many find it difficult to understand and accept the new trend.

We sometimes find teaching our grandparents to use laptops challenging and some of us have to learn the use of smartphones and personal assistants. Even Millennials find it difficult to operate appliances and electronics!

Keeping their customers and their needs in mind, Dawlance has made it easier for consumers of all ages to operate their air conditioner with a simple tap!

Dawlance Air gives you the intelligent air conditioning experience to bring convenience and comfort to your life.
Get complete control of your device through this application and enjoy the new specially designed technology with advanced features!

Dawlance Air – Making Lives Easier

Dawlance Air is the name of the brand’s application. The app will help you operate your air conditioner from anywhere in the household with a simple tap.

You no longer have to get up and leave your comfy bed, chair, and make the effort to get u and grab the remote across the room anymore!

Here’s how you can download and set it up in just 5 steps;

  1. Open your Google Play Store or Apple Store and search for ‘Dawlance Air’. Download the application once it’s found.
  2. Once downloaded, open it and register with an active email address and set a password.
  3. Use the application to create and manage your profile, you can then add the device(s) you want to link with the application by tapping on ‘Add Device’.
  4. When you select ‘Add Device’, you will have to feed information into the application including the unit rate, monthly budget, and will have to scan the barcode on the indoor unit.
  5. When done, your Smartphone will automatically connect with the application once you have finished or have gained access to an internet connection. Voila!

You can now use the Dawlance Air app to use more than 6 different features with your phone!

No need to struggle with technology, you now have everything within your grasp! Control everything and make life easier with a simple tap!

India Reacts to Load Wedding Teaser

load wedding poster

With so many Pakistani movies making their way onto big screens, the fever of our local content is now making waves in India as well.

Fahad Mustafa and Mehwish Hayat’s upcoming flick Load Wedding took the internet by storm when its fun-filled teaser was released.

However, the teaser is not becoming popular in Pakistan but some Youtubers in India are going all gaga over it.

Many popular Indian reviewers have given thumbs up to the teaser and are falling in love with the chemistry between Fahad and Mehwish.

Here are some YouTubers who have reacted to Load Wedding teaser:

M Bros Reactions

The Team Of Indian Youtubers by the name of ‘M Bros Reactions’ watched the video and predicted that some dialogues are taken from Indian movie Toilet.

Overall, they absolutely loved and cannot wait to watch it anymore.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bX7nM3R9zDQ&t=319s

Immy Dee

Another Indian Youtuber Immy Dee absolutely loved the teaser and wished best of luck to the lead cast of the movie Fahad Mustafa and Mehwish Hayat.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Pbd2Dx4fUs

Apni Masti Reaction

Another duo of Indian Youtubers could not help praising the storyline and the colorful glimpse of the movie.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrlL4A4xoxw&t=1s

This is not the first time that Pakistani content is appreciated across the border. Recently, one of the popular Pakistani dramas Khaani also made waves in India and people could not stop talking about it.

Unfortunately, hardly any of the Pakistani movies or TV shows are shown in India.

What are your views on the teaser? Let us know in the comments section below.

Originally published on Very Filmi.com

Contributed by Hira Ahmed

 

Lush Launches Debut Foundation Range That Promises To Help Save The Planet As Well As Your Skin

FIFA World Cup 2018: Female Voices from Tournament Spark Sexist Backlash

Female sports journalists have made history with live commentaries on games broadcast from the World Cup — only to be vilified in torrents of sexist insults and ridicule on social media.

While women presenters and experts have slowly gained a foothold in the TV studios of sports broadcasters, live commentary of football’s showpiece tournament had until now been very much a man’s game.

Some fans desperately want to keep it that way and have vented their anger on Twitter and other social media.

“Call me old-fashioned, but women commentators, no thank you,” wrote one after the BBC’s Vicki Sparks and a male colleague commentated on a live match for Britain’s public broadcaster.

“BBC again trying to do the PC thing,” the user scoffed.

Others charged that “women commentators just don’t work”, make fans “cringe”, help stations to “tick boxes” in gender equality, and that their “squeaky voices” ruin the experience.

Former England captain John Terry posted on Instagram a photo of his TV set during the Morocco vs Portugal match in question with the caption “having to watch this game with no volume”.

After many angry replies, he deleted the post and clarified that, after he had returned late at night from holidays in the Maldives, the audio on his set was not working.

– ‘Losing it online’ –

Similar sentiments have rained down on female TV pioneers such as Claudia Neumann of Germany’s ZDF, Aly Wagner of Fox in the US, Hanna Marklund of Sweden’s TV4 and Norwegian NRK’s Lise Klaveness.

In Germany, ZDF sports chief Thomas Fuhrmann jumped to the defence of Neumann after she repeatedly became the target of fierce ridicule and gender-based attacks.

“Of course we accept criticism, including of our commentators, but what is happening with Claudia Neumann is breaking all boundaries,” he said.

“This is obviously about something fundamental — a woman commentating on a game at the men’s World Cup. Some people are completely losing it online, it’s beyond the pale.”

Support for Neumann — who had previously taken the microphone for Euro 2016 and Champions League matches — also came from the German Olympic and Sports Confederation.

The body proposed putting more women into “supposedly male disciplines” with an emphasis on high-profile events such as at the World Cup and Champions League matches.

Bibiana Steinhaus — who became the first woman to referee Bundesliga men’s matches this year, and suffered a similar backlash — also expressed her solidarity.

– ‘A men’s world’ –

German journalism lecturer Jana Wiske wrote in Der Spiegel news weekly that the situation was not surprising, given that out of 419 German journalists at the World Cup, only 49 are women.

“It’s still unusual to listen to a woman” give commentary on a game, she wrote. “Football is a men’s world, not only in Germany, so who can really be surprised by this humiliating criticism against the female commentator?”

The often backward gender attitudes were on display elsewhere in the Cup, such as when a journalist for Germany’s Deutsche Welle was groped and kissed on the cheek by a fan while delivering a live segment to camera.

DW condemned the assault on its Colombian journalist Julieth Gonzalez Theran, calling for “zero tolerance” on harassment to ensure female reporters can “do their jobs at major sporting events”.

When it comes to bringing equality to the job of commentating on matches, Germany’s other major public TV network ARD announced that in the “medium-term”, it is also looking for a female commentator for men’s football matches.

Its sports chief Axel Balkausky said that it was still difficult to attract more female commentators, given the sometimes hostile atmosphere.

“We are working on it,” he told national news agency DPA, “but we see that, given the often absurd and negative reactions, a woman must be very secure as a commentator in order to be able to deal with such situations.”

Facebook Boosts Ad Transparency as it Braces for Elections

Facebook announced new steps Thursday to let people see who is behind ads and other content on the leading social network as it braced for elections in the US and Brazil.

The moves come as Facebook strives to avoid the kind of nefarious manipulation of its platform by fake accounts that stoked division and spread misinformation ahead of the US presidential election in 2016.

“We have learned across hard issues from election interference to data privacy to fake news that we under-invested in proactively policing the ecosystem that we built,” Facebook chief operating officer Sheryl Sandberg told reporters at the company’s headquarters in Silicon Valley.

“On of the absolutely most important things we can do across our platform is really increasing transparency.”

Facebook began letting users see all ads a page is running at the social network or at its Instagram or Messenger services. The information can be accessed by clicking on an “Info and Ads” tab added to pages.

People will also be able to find out more about Facebook pages — the accounts created by organizations and companies — such as when they were created and the names behind them.

Authorization, labelling and archiving policies applied to political ads on the social network in the US are being expanded to political ads in Brazil, according to director of product management Rob Leathern.

Facebook is “very focused” on the upcoming mid-term elections in the US, with a priority on scuttling the kinds of fake accounts used to promote discord or misinformation in 2016, Sandberg said.

The social network has enlisted third-party fact checkers in 50 states, according to Sandberg.

“We are working hard to find articles with false information on state and local levels,” she said.

Facebook is distinguishing political news stories from ads, but opting for transparency where distinctions might not be clear, according to Sandberg.

“We understand these things are different,” Sandberg said.

“Our goal is transparency, so we are erring on the side of being more transparent.”

Sandberg said the process may be labor-intensive and cause delays in some ads.

“We have definitely gotten complaints from politicians running ads,” she said.

“More manual reviews and checks mean more delays. No one likes delays.”

Separately, Twitter unveiled a new “ads transparency center” which allows anyone across the globe to view ads that have been served on the short messaging service.

“We are making it clearer than ever who is advertising US federal political campaign content on Twitter by including a visual badge and disclaimer information,” Twitter executive Bruce Falck said in a statement.

Supreme Court Orders Government to Takeover High Charging Private Schools!

Supreme Court of Pakistan is upset over the outrageous amount of fee charged by private schools all across the nation.

To address the concern, the court has issued a warning stating that unless the fee is minimized, private institutes will be deemed nationalized.

As per news report, the court clearly stated: “Call the Attorney General, tell the government to take over all private schools.”

Famous Karachi Eatery Exposes Customer for Food Tampering!

The verdict was announced by Islamabad High Court Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui which states that private schools will be barred from collecting summer vacation fees from parents.

Chief Justice of Pakistan has clearly stated, “As per the Article 184/3 of the constitution, the Supreme Court has the authority to tell the government to take over all private schools and nationalize them.”

Adding, “Poor people’s children can’t afford to study in the private schools considering the fees that they are charging.”

Despite summer vacation fees being stopped, many parents have been asked by school authorities to pay the amount, thus leading to this decision. According to the court, the government has failed to provide adequate education to the kids under 16.  The Article 25A of the constitution states that it is the responsivity of the State to provide free education to all children who are under the age of 16.

The hearing has been adjourned till 12th July 2018.

Stay tuned to Brandsynario for more news and updates.

Rain Emergency Declared in Karachi!

Famous Karachi Eatery Exposes Customer for Food Tampering!

The idea of discovering a strand of someone else’s hair in your meal is obviously disgusting. The thought is bound to make you gag but that clearly didn’t stop a man in Karachi to put his own hair in the food to scam a free meal.

The guy was caught on camera in a restaurant, ‘Maskan Mandi’, pulling out his eyelashes and putting it in the food (after eating most of the meal) to avoid payment!

Not only did he not pay for the food but was also seen blaming the management and creating an unpleasant scene.

Feroze Khan Flawlessly Shuts Down Haters!

The whole incident was caught on camera of the restaurant, who later shared the footage on their Facebook page to clarify the situation and shame the customer!

Watch the video below!

Maskan Mandi took to Facebook to expose the cheating customer!

Here’s what they had to say about the whole incident:

Well yesterday we have faced this incident from one of our customer. You can see the video and fo the justice is this fair with us and other restaurants.

The eatery further revealed how the man had come into the restaurant and after putting his own eyelashes in the food, he blamed the restaurant for it!

Yesterday one of our customer came and ordered our “Dajaj Mandi” and after eating half of the meal he started putting his Eyelashes on our meal and then called our manager and started complaining
And blah blah blah .. shouting and screaming and didn’t pay and went out.

Adding to the post, they revealed how they have cameras installed to keep a check on such incidents.

For good we have our CCTV security and one of our management member is watching and keeping eye on all customers and kitchen.

The incident has left the internet shocked and disgusted!




What do you think of the incident? Tell us in the comments.

Farhan Saeed to Sing PTI’s Official Election Anthem

Stay tuned to Brandsyanrio for more news and updates.

Pakistan Mark First Win at Hockey Champions Trophy 2018!

The boys in green have made us super proud as their names go down in history! Pakistan defeated Argentina, the second-ranked team in the world at Hockey Champions Trophy.

This is the first match Pakistan has won a match on this platform so far. The boys will face Belgium today (Pakistan vs Belgium match will start at 6 pm Pakistan standard time), 29th June, after their 4-1 win on Thursday.

Who Needs Football? Cricket Has Billion-Plus Fans: Survey

Six teams are taking part in this year’s tournament, which is the last edition of the Champions Trophy. The tournament will be replaced by the Hockey Pro League (HPL) in 2019.

Pakistan has three Hockey Champions Trophy titles under their belt, along with finishing as runner-up seven times in the tournament’s history.

Pakistan’s Squad for Hockey Champions Trophy

M Rizwan Sr (captain), Imran Butt, Amjad Ali, M Irfan Sr, Mubashir Ali, Aleem Bilal, Ammad Shakeel Butt, Touseeq Arshad, Rashid Mahmood, Tasawar Abbas, Abu Bakar, M Irfan Jr, Arslan Qadir, Umar Bhutta, Shafqat Rasool, Ali Shan, Azfar Yaqoob and Aijaz Ahmed.

Who do you think will win the match today?

Stay tuned to Brandsynario for more news and updates.

FIFA World Cup 2018: Top 16 Teams Rank Ahead of the World Cup’s Knockout Stages

Chaand Nawab Makes a Comeback with a Message for Shehbaz Sharif!

We all remember iconic reporter Chaand Nawab, the famous personality which inspired Nawazzudin’s character in the Bollywood Blockbuster Bajrangi Bhaijaan.

Chaand Nawab became famous for his viral news clip in which he is seen being disturbed by passers as he tries to do a special coverage for Eid.

Well, it looks like he has made a comeback, and this time, it is with a message for Shahbaz Sharif!

This message came after Shahbaz Sharif he stereotyped Karachiites as “pan khane wale” and called the ‘City of Lights’ Karanchi! Which stirred a lot of backlash on social media!

Shahbaz Sharif’s Epic Mic Drop Moment will Make you ROFL!

Social Media Reacts to Chaand Nawab’s Comeback

Here’s how social media is responding to Chaand’s comeback!

What do you have to say about his message?

Stay tuned to Brandsynario for more news and updates.

Sanju Movie Leaked Online in HD!

Sanju Movie Leaked Online in HD!

The most-awaited Bollywood movie of the year ‘Sanju’ is finally hitting the cinemas today worldwide.

The dramatic and controversial life of the Indian superstar is receiving an overwhelming amount of love from fans and celebrities alike.

Imran Khan Breaks Silence Over Baba Fareed’s Shrine Visit Controversy!

 

However, in a shocking turn of events, Rajkumar Hirani’s film has leaked online!

Social media users have posted screenshots of the torrent download link.

Twitterati also claims that an HD print of the film has been leaked.

The following leaked scene from the movie is also making rounds on social media!

Reviews for Sanju have started pouring in and as expected, the biopic has blockbuster written all over it!

Bollywood critics have given the movie a 10/10 rating!

Seems like the biopic has clearly proven true to ‘Kar Har Maidan Fateh’

With an ensemble cast of Ranbir, Sonam Kapoor, Paresh Rawal, Manisha Koirala, Vicky Kaushal, Anushka Sharma and Dia Mirza, Sanju will be unveiled to more than 5000 screens around the globe.

Iqra Aziz Finally Hits Back to Haters Over Her Viral Pictures!

 

Will you be watching Sanju? Let us know in the comments below.

Imran Khan Breaks Silence Over Baba Fareed’s Shrine Visit Controversy!

PTI Chairman, Imran Khan, and his wife, Bushra Manika, have become the victims of a major controversy yet again.

A video of their visit to  Baba Fariduddin Ganj Shakar’s shrine in Pakpattan on Wednesday night went viral yesterday. The clip showed Khan and his wife paying their respects at the tomb.

The whole episode sparked a heated debate, igniting tempers and creating a social media storm!

https://youtu.be/B3_EdqElb1M

Soon after the video went viral, Twitterverse started bashing Khan for prostrating at the door of the shrine.

Ex-wife, Reham Khan too expressed her opinion on the video stating:

Popular singer and songwriter, Fakhr-e-Alam too had something to say about the video.

The uproar led to the cricket champion to come on national television to clarify his stance on the matter.

Signifying his actions as an act of respect, Imran revealed:

Sajda is only for Allah, I only kissed the floor of the mazar out of my respect for the great individual that he was, for his services to Islam. This makes you more humble and removes your ego.

He further stated:

Sufism speaks about removing the “main” the ego in an individual, people see these things superficially and declare fatwas without knowing the religion, without even knowing the facts whether it was a kiss or sajda.

The PTI Chief was seen accepting his flaws and adding how he has changed over the years.

I never claimed I was an angel all my life but the fact is that I have changed myself from the kind of person that I was 22 years ago

The power couple visited the shrine where they were met by the shrine’s custodian, Dewan Ahmed Masood Chishtiplaced flowers in front of the Bahishti Darwaza. “Kaptan Khan” was also seen distributing sweets among the locals.

What did you think of the video of Imran and his wife, Bushra at the shrine? Tell us in the comments.

Sania Mirza Gets Body-Shamed Over Latest Pregnancy Picture!

Stay tuned to Brandsynario for more news and updates.

Rain Emergency Declared in Karachi!

Gear up Karachiites! A rain emergency has been declared by Pakistan’s Meteorological Department (PMD) following the forecast of heavy rain showers on Friday (today).

Heavy showers with high and gusty winds are expected not just in Karachi but in other parts of the country as well.

Iqra Aziz Finally Hits Back to Haters Over Her Viral Pictures!

While widespread showers are yet to begin, rain has been reported in various areas of the metropolis like New Karachi and around Shahrah-e-Faisal.

This forecast has led to the city authorities to declare a state of emergency as a precautionary measure for the city and its residents.

What’s more, the Karachi Water and Sewerage board have readied its water drainage machine generators and cranes.

They have also instructed its field staff to remain on a 24-hour alert for in case any unfavorable situation arises.

However, despite the advanced warning issued by the Met Office as well as the Supreme Court’s order to clear all the storm-water drains in the city, the residents are still facing issues.

Reports of clogged drains due to garbage has posed a serious threat to not just the residents of those areas but also to the overall health of the citizens as well.

Storm-water drains in Khamost Colony and Teen Talwar, Clifton as well as the 28-kilometer long Gujjar Nullah still remain clogged and not restored to their original width.

Are you excited by the rain predictions? Tell us in the comments.

Imran Khan & Bushra Manika’s Visit to Baba Fareed Goes Viral!

Stay tuned to Brandsynario for more news and updates.

 

FIFA World Cup 2018: Top 16 Teams Rank Ahead of the World Cup’s Knockout Stages

After 15 days of triumphs, tears and controversy, the World Cup’s group stage drew to a close on Thursday.

Here, AFP Sport ranks the 16 teams to have made it through based on their performances in Russia so far.

1. Croatia

Three wins out of three, including a thumping of Argentina, sends Croatia through top of arguably the toughest group in the draw. Fears the corruption scandal would affect the players have not materialized while Nikola Kalinic’s hint of rebellion was swiftly dealt with. Luka Modric has been arguably the player of the tournament so far.

2. Belgium

Wins over Panama and Tunisia were backed up by a victory over England and even if the latter match was played between two second-string line-ups, Belgium have hardly put a foot wrong. Romelu Lukaku and Eden Hazard are both firing and, after being rested against England, fresh. This team can go far.

3. Uruguay

Also through with maximum points, Uruguay’s advance through a kind Group A has gone rather unnoticed. Led by the imperious Diego Godin, they are yet to concede a goal in Russia and at the other end, Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani are up and running. They have three goals between them.

4. Brazil

Neymar’s histrionics have proven tedious but the striker is getting sharper with every game. As he has regained fitness, Philippe Coutinho and Paulinho have filled the void while the depth of attacking options came up trumps against Costa Rica. Marcelo’s back injury is a concern.

5. England

A young squad arrived with low expectations but a late win over Tunisia was followed by a storming 6-1 victory over Panama. Defeat to Belgium can be put down to a heavily rotated side and with Harry Kane leading the race for the Golden Boot, England are growing in confidence.

6. Sweden

Few would have expected Sweden to progress at all let alone finish top of Group F. Only Toni Kroos’ 95th-minute winner spoiled an unbeaten record and Sweden responded with an emphatic win over Mexico. What Sweden has lost in Zlatan Ibrahimovic, they appear to have gained in discipline and spirit.

7. Spain

They certainly would have taken this position when Julen Lopetegui was sacked two days before the start of the tournament but Spain has been a mixed bag. In spells, they were excellent against Portugal but defensive errors and the worrying form of David de Gea are both big asterisks. There is room for improvement.

8. Portugal

On the one hand, Ronaldo has four goals already and as Portugal proved two years ago, he can take a team a long way, particularly with a sound defense behind him. But when Ronaldo missed a penalty against Iran, they drew 1-1. If their star man has an off-day, what else have Portugal got?

9. Colombia

Had Carlos Sanchez not been sent off in the third minute of their opening defeat to Japan, Colombia might be among those considered dark horses in the knockout stage. James Rodriguez was superb against Poland but then forced off injured against Senegal. His absence would be a huge blow.

10. Mexico

A convincing defeat to Sweden has tempered expectations slightly but Mexico showed enough in their opening two games to suggest they can be a real threat. They beat Germany 1-0 but should have scored four or five while Hirving Lozano on the left has been one of the players of the tournament so far.

11. France

They remain unbeaten but, save Germany, there is no team to have disappointed more. Tactical upheaval and painfully ponderous performances suggest Didier Deschamps is still working out how to make the most of his talented squad. Is Nabil Fekir the answer? Out wide or up front? France has more questions than answers.

12. Russia

A blistering start, a strong middle and a discouraging end. After thrilling wins over Saudi Arabia and Egypt, Russia was dealt something of a reality check by Uruguay. But the hosts have proven their doubters wrong and shown they will be no pushovers, particularly in Moscow, where they play Spain next.

13. Switzerland

Controversy and the threat of suspensions could have diverted focus but Granit Xhaka and Xherdan Shaqiri escaped punishment for their politically charged celebrations against Serbia, and their goals carried Switzerland through. They did just enough but, in truth, not much more.

14. Denmark

Denmark held France to a goalless draw and Christian Eriksen is continuing to show himself as one of the finest playmakers in the world. Those are the positives. But there was also a turgid draw against Australia and a win over Peru that might well have been different had their opponents scored a penalty.

15. Japan

Japan took four points and their only win came against Colombia, who played with 10 men for 87 minutes. They then scraped through ahead of Senegal on fair play points. Perhaps it would be harsh to say Japan were lucky but a shaky defence can only last so long against better opponents.

16. Argentina

Four minutes away from going out and seemingly saddled with a coach without authority, Argentina’s progress could hardly have been bumpier. They ran out of ideas against Iceland, were outplayed by Croatia and survived only thanks to a last-gasp win over Nigeria. They are through though, and they still have Lionel Messi.

H&M Profits Pulled Down by Stock Mishaps, Declining Prices

Swedish ready-to-wear giant Hennes and Mauritz (H&M) on Thursday said profits fell in the second quarter as too much stock, triggered by logistics problems, pulled prices further down amid declining sales in key markets.

H&M’s net profit fell by 21 percent to 4.6 billion kronor (446 million euros, $515 million) from March to May, burdened by the transition of its logistics system to make the supply chain faster.

“These transitions are complicated and can result in temporary interruptions, as unfortunately occurred during the second quarter in some of our major sales markets,” H&M CEO Karl-Johan Persson said in a statement.

“Total sales for the quarter were not satisfactory, which meant that inventory levels were still too high at the end of the period,” he added.

Sales in the US, Germany and France, the company’s three largest markers, fell by 13 percent, two percent and five percent, respectively.

“Things are looking tough for H&m…Karl-Johan Persson keeps reiterating that the tide will turn but today’s report shows it’s not the case,” Joakim Bornold, an economist at Nordnet bank, told AFP.

H&M share prices fell early Thursday by 3.3 percent on the Stockholm stock exchange but later rose, reaching a rise of 3.8 percent in midsession trading.

Christopher Lyrhem, an equity strategist at the Swedish SEB bank, said some investors were covering short positions they had taken in H&M stock before the announcement, which could explain the sharp rise.

But the effect was working only in the short term, and it was not certain that “major buyers” were investing in H&M shares, he told AFP.

– ‘Could have been worse’ –

Turnover rose by 1.5 percent to 60.4 billion kronor, thanks to dynamic sales in Northern and Eastern Europe.

“The only positive thing I can highlight about today’s report is that it could have been worse,” Joakim Bornold said.

Year-on-year, inventories rose by 13 percent, a proportion the group described as “too high” and attributed to imbalances in the range of shops.

H&M said it would seek to correct this during the third quarter sales period, which would lead to additional discounts.

“The inventory is large because of fashion mishaps but also logistics and distribution problems which are more serious,” Bornold said.

“We are transitioning our logistics systems to make our supply chain even faster, more flexible and more efficient,” Persson said.

While expanding its online offering, H&M continues to open stores in new markets including Ukraine and Uruguay in 2018 and Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2019. The group has 4,801 stores worldwide.

Nordnet’s Bornold said it would be necessary to close old, unprofitable shops. In the first half of the year, 65 stores closed.

H&M remains the brand’s flagship brand and most new openings will be under this name.

The group also operates Cos, & Other Stories, Monki, Weekday and Cheap Monday stores, whose sales are growing both online and in stores.

“Everyone is wondering why they’re opening so many stores? One should ask why they’re not closing more?” Bornold said.