Learning from Iranian cinema: Pakistan’s capacity to revive its film industry on December 21, 2017Islamabad: Iranian cinema is vibrant, creative, innovative and at the same time critical, earning it a niche in the world’s cinema industry. Its cinematography and unique film directing style that promotes originality so the viewers feel connected with the story as his/her own instead of objectifying and commercializing certain elements of the society. Pakistan is […]
Non-implementation of notification causing Rs 34bn loss per year on December 19, 2017ISLAMABAD: The government inaction and lack of interest is causing the country Rs 34 billion every year despite a notification issued by the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQC) on May 19, 2017. The PSQC, which falls under the Ministry of Science and Technology, issued a notification, which states that to ensure food security […]
‘Only art can counter the current wave of radicalisation in Pakistan’ on December 16, 2017Islamabad: Jamal Shah wears several hats. He is an actor, film maker, singer, painter, sculptor, teacher and now an efficient administrator running the Pakistan National Council of Arts as its Director General for the last one year. To say the least, he personifies performing arts. But how does he manage so many things at one […]
The future of Pakistan on December 4, 2017The recent interview to The New York Times by the 32-year-old Muhammed bin Salman, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia in which he laid down his vision for Saudi Arabia in the coming years is heartening and troubling at the same time. Heartening indeed for progressive and liberal Muslims who believe in pluralistic societies and […]
Prison or shahadat: no other option on November 21, 2017ISLAMABAD: Weddings got postponed, burials of the loved ones remained unattended, work and education affected and some participants sustained injuries because of the stone pelting from police. This is what I observed when visited the sit-in that has been keeping Islamabad at a standstill for the last two weeks. It took me almost an hour […]