Mubarak ho Insha Afsar!! / Congratulations Insha Afsar !!

AoA,

More at:

http://www.dawn.com/news/1172264


Patricia

Pakistani cuteness wins in Burberry's latest ad campaign

AoA

http://www.dawn.com/news/1171591/



Patricia

Something to think about

AoA


off for some minutes to meditate about it. Brb.

Patricia

Congratulations ladies!

AoA


Daily Times


Participants of Cycle Race, taking part in the race on 

Pakistan Day outside Mazar-e-Quaid

Patricia

AoA,

Military parade marks Pakistan Day after seven-year gap

Read more at

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/national/23-Mar-2015/military-parade-marks-pakistan-day-after-seven-year-gap

Patricia

Pakistan Day!!!!

AoA.


Daily Times


 Some pictures of Pakistan Day Parade.

Pakistan Zindabad!

Patricia

Military Parade Pakistan Day 2015

AoA.


Today we celebrate Pakistan Day. Watch the Military Parade:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Uus4LuYmAU


 Pakistan Zindabad!


Patricia

20 hilarious photos that perfectly capture Pakistan

AoA,


hehehehhehehehehehehehhehehe 


https://www.shughal.com/20-hilarious-photos-that-perfectly-capture-pakistan/


Patricia

7 interesting facts about Pakistan

AoA,


http://grabhouse.com/urbancocktail/facts-about-pakistan/




Patricia

Spring Celebration - Lahore

AoA,

Daily Times

A beautiful illuminated view of the floats decorated with lights in the canal in connection to Jashan-e-Baharan Festival.

That's why I looove Lahore!!!

Patricia

View of greenery and water at Islamabad Zoo

AoA,

Daily Times

Patricia

UN calls for immediate ban on death penalty in Pakistan

AoA,

Mera Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: The United Nations (UN) has urged Pakistan to immediately reinstate the moratorium on death penalty, expressing deep concern at the increasing number and pace of executions in the country since December 2004.

“The right to life is a fundamental human right. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has stated that the death penalty has no place in the 21st century,” said a statement issued by the UN office on Thursday.

“It has also been reported that among those executed there are persons who were minors when the offence was committed. According to some estimates, there are more than 8,000 prisoners on death row,” the statement added.

The UN in Pakistan is concerned about cases where the death penalty was handed to minors but welcomes reviews of these cases, i.e. the recent case of Shafqat Hussain.

The statement said the UN has consistently called for an unequivocal end to the execution of anyone, anywhere, who is convicted of committing a crime when they are under the age of 18.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein has expressed deep regret at the resumption of executions in Pakistan, stressing that no judiciary – anywhere – can be infallible.

He noted in December 2014 that “this is particularly disappointing given that just last week, a record 117 States voted in the UN General Assembly (Resolution 69/186 was adopted on 18 December 2014) in favor of an international moratorium on the use of the death penalty.”

“There is no scientific proof that the death penalty serves as a deterrent or contributes to combating crime or violent extremism,” it said.

While the UN appreciated the need for effective counter-terrorism measures to protect people, including children, such actions must strengthen human rights and be proportionate and necessary in a democratic society.

Under international treaties, in particular the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, Pakistan legally committed itself to ensuring due process and not imposing the death penalty.

“Moving away from the death penalty will contribute to human development, dignity and rights,” the statement maintained.

“The UN in Pakistan, therefore, urges the government to reinstate its moratorium as soon as possible. We stand ready to support it in doing so and to assist in strengthening the existing justice system if so requested.”

Patricia

Pakistani bodybuilder wins title at Arnold Classic Australia

AoA,

Mera Pakistan

Mubarak ho Atif Anwar!
Congratulations Atif Anwar!

Arnold Schwarzenegger (L) poses with Atif Anwar (M), winner of Arnold Classic over 100 class. - Photo courtesy GETTY

Anwar is a former Mr Pakistan and first ever Pakistani to compete in the Mr Universe competition, where he secured the fourth position. He has previously won the National bodybuilding title as well as Mr Sindh and Mr Karachi.

Atif Anwar poses with his medals. - Photo courtesy GETTY

During the competition Schwarzenegger was seen clapping and cheering as the sportsmen and women stood in an array of poses – ensuring the judges got a view of every angle of their jaw-dropping bodies.

Atif Anwar poses after winning the title in Australia. - Photo courtesy GETTY

Besides bodybuilding, the event also featured different power sports including Australia’s Strongest Man, Arnold Weightlifting & Powerlifting and Arnold Arm wrestling competitions.

Patricia

Tears, anger and agony as Lahore bleeds

AoA,

"Pray for Christians in Yohana 2 bomb blasts on 2 churches - 1 catholic church and 1 protestant church. So please pray for them. God Bless You. "

That's the message I received in my mobile today. Yes, one more attack against Christians. You have no idea how hard it is to be Christian in a islamic country.

Read more at:

http://www.dawn.com/news/1169719/


God bless us all!!


Patricia

Inspiration for other Pakistani’s!!!

AoA,

Embassy of Brazil in Islamabad

Shayan Ali: First Pakistani to master the art of Capoeira (Brazilian martial art which combines elements of dance, music, acrobatics and combat techniques) 

For details please click on below given link of “The News”

http://e.thenews.com.pk/pindi/3-13-2015/page14.asp


Patricia

Two more convicts executed in Faisalabad Central Jail

AoA,

Mera Pakistan

FAISALABAD: Two more death row convicts were hanged to death in Faisalabad Central Jail early Friday morning, local media reported.

According to reports, two death row convicts namely Sajid alias Taru and Muhammad Akhtar alias Haseena were executed in the Jail in separate cases of murder.

Akhar was awarded death penalty for raping Tassawur Bibi and killing her brother-in-law in 1999. Sajid killed school teacher Shahida and injured her husband Azhar back in the year 2000.

The convicts went through medical examination and also met their relatives before their execution.

Patricia

Indo-Pak peace

AoA,

Daily Times

Advisor to Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz has called for a comprehensive dialogue process between India and Pakistan to resolve all outstanding issues. Terming last week’s visit by the Indian foreign secretary to Islamabad a positive development, he hoped that this would pave the way for further talks to help find common ground to end differences. He also pointed out that the existing trust deficit has not been bridged. According to him, more positive initiatives and efforts are needed to end this trust deficit. All important issues including the core issue of Kashmir were discussed in the foreign secretary-level meeting that augurs well for the future course of diplomacy. The visit of the Indian foreign secretary to Pakistan was also welcomed by the US, which termed it a good initiative. The US said that it was ‘encouraged’ by the resumption of talks between the two countries. Although no breakthrough was made in the secretary-level talks, it is a positive development for all those who yearn for peace in the region and want an end to the existing hostility between the two states. During his media talk on Sunday, the adviser said that the SAARC summit 2016 would be hosted by Pakistan. He was hopeful that all the SAARC leaders including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend. It is a great opportunity for both rival states to engage in dialogue and sort out their differences, thereby improving bilateral relations.

The dialogue process between India and Pakistan is still at the very initial stage and it is not yet clear how it will proceed. There is need of political will for bringing an end to the decades long mistrust and resentment. The leadership of both countries must rise above all the differences for the establishment of permanent peace. Instead of sticking to the traditional mindset of undermining each other, both sides need to show flexibility. They must compromise in the larger national, regional and global interest. Another issue that needs to be taken note of is the role of non-state actors and spoilers who always jump into such situations and try to derail the peace process through spreading terror. In their pursuit of their nefarious agenda, the terrorists and evil-mongers do not care for borders. As hinted at by Mr Aziz, there was the possibility of an important development in the bilateral relations during the Indian prime minister’s visit to Pakistan back in 1999 but relations were disturbed again due to the Kargil war. Both the governments of India and Pakistan must be aware of these detractors of peace.

The two neighbourly states have failed to come on good terms since their independence from British rule. They are still unable to find ways and means to end unnecessary hostility and get rid of so-called superiority complex. The dividends that peace offers are unlimited and achievable through the establishment of long lasting peace in the region. The leadership of both countries must resolve all bilateral issues in a civilised manner. They must listen to each other’s opinion, address grievances and seek solutions. The trade and economic prospects between both states are enormous and cannot be ignored. The governments of India and Pakistan spend huge budgets on the defence sectors. If both states decrease their defence budget and divert a small chunk of this budget to the welfare of the common man, it will change the whole fabric of society in both countries. The masses in both countries are the real sufferers of this hostility and cannot afford any more warfare. There must be an end to the cold war insanity and serious efforts must be made for the establishment of friendly relations between India and Pakistan.

Patricia

Retratos da violência doméstica contra as mulheres paquistanesas ( Imagens fortes)

AoA,

Essas fotos retratam mulheres, do Paquistão, atacadas com ácido por homens que simplesmente tiveram sua propostas de casamento rejeitada ou, muitas vezes, pelo pai que não aceita o nascimento de uma filha mulher.

O responsável pelo ensaio, fotógrafo Emilio Morenatti, constatou que, apesar da selvageria, quase todas as vítimas se calam com medo de represálias da comunidade e até da própria família.

Atenção: As imagens são fortíssimas! Pense bem antes de abrir o link.


https://catracalivre.com.br/geral/cidadania/indicacao/retratos-da-violencia-domestica-contra-as-mulheres-paquistanesas/


Patricia

Women At Work

AoA,

A Pakistani woman potter gives the final touches to earthen pots at a workshop on the outskirts of Lahore on June 9, 2011. (Arif Ali/AFP/Getty Images)

A Pakistani woman arranges bricks as she works at a brick factory on the outskirts of Islamabad, Pakistan, Monday, March 8, 2010. (Muhammed Muheisen/AP)

Patricia

!!! Zahida Kazmi !!!

AoA,

Dawn.com
Reuters

PICTURE OF THE DAY: Zahida Kazmi, 57, a widow and mother of seven children, drives a taxi in Rawalpindi.

Kazmi, who has been making a living as a taxi driver for the past 37 years, single-handedly brought up her children after her first and second husbands passed away.

Today, all her older children are married and she lives with her youngest, 13-year-old daughter. She continues to drive some 10 hours a day and earns about Rs1,000-1,500. Kazmi describes her job as “an adventure in a male-dominated world”, but a necessity to feed herself and her children.

Patricia

Polio epidemic: Three more cases confirmed

AoA,

Mera Pakistan

KARACHI / QUETTA: Three new polio cases were reported across Pakistan on Saturday, taking this year’s tally to 16. The latest cases were confirmed in Dadu in Sindh, Loralai in Balochistan and Peshawar in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

Health authorities in Sindh confirmed that two-year-old Saddam Ranu, resident of Dadu’s Makhdoom Bilawal union council, had contracted the crippling disease on February 10. Stool samples of the boy had been sent to the National Institute of Health in Islamabad, which tested positive on Saturday.

The focal person of the Expanded Programme on Immunisation said the child had not been vaccinated during routine immunisation campaigns. But the boy’s family claimed to have immunised the child around two months back, he added.

The child might have had weaker immunity because of malnutrition, a major factor affecting most of the children in rural Sindh, the official said. He added that it was the second polio case from Sindh in 2015.

The second case was reported from the Nasirabad union council of Duki tehsil in Loralai district of Balochistan.

Officials at the Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) said poliovirus was confirmed in a year-old boy, identified as Naimatullah, son of Daulat Khan Dutani. The child had never been vaccinated during anti-polio campaigns and contracted the virus on February 9. According to sources, some families in the village of Chalandar Cheena had been missed during the past several vaccination campaigns.

Health officials said it was the second confirmed polio case of the year in the province.  The third case was reported from Peshawar. The child contracted the disease on February 8.

Patricia

How Pakistanis and Indians celebrated Holi

AoA,

Mera Pakistan

The annual “festival of colours” was held on Friday in India and Pakistan, celebrated by covering each other in water and dazzling paint.
The ancient Hindu festival of Holi, which heralds the end of winter and the victory of good over evil, is marked with a national public holiday in India and sees revelers pour onto the streets.
Here are a few shots of people celebrating Holi on both sides of the border.

Left and bottom right: Celebrating Holi in Hyderabad, Pakistan. PHOTO: ONLINE; Top right: People are drenched with water as they celebrate Holi in the southern Indian city of Bengaluru. PHOTO: REUTERS

Left:  A boy reacts as his father applies coloured powder to his face during celebrations for Holi in Mumbai. PHOTO: REUTERS; Right: A father and son celebrate Holi in Karachi. PHOTO: AYSHA SALEEM

Top: Kids celebrate Holi outside the Bankey Bihari temple in Vrindavan, in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. PHOTO: REUTERS; Bottom: Kids celebrate Holi at the Narain Pora Mandir in Karachi: PHOTO: ONLINE

Patricia

Another woman from Swat bags Int’l Award

AoA,

Mera Pakistan

WASHINGTON: Another women rights activist from the scenic but militancy-infested  Swat Valley bagged international award. 

It is to be mentioned here that the youngest  Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai is also from Swat.

Founder of an NGO, Khwendo Jirga, or Sister’s Council, Tabassum Adnan was awarded the 2015 Secretary of State’s International Women of Courage Award in recognition of her services of women’s rights.

According to a US Department of State press release, Deputy Secretary Higginbottom presented 10 extraordinary women from 10 countries with the 2015 Secretary of State’s International Women of Courage Award.

First Lady Michelle Obama joined Deputy Secretary Higginbottom and the awardees as a special guest at the afternoon ceremony at the US Department of State.

A victim of child marriage, Adnan was married when she was 13-year-old. After suffering 20 years of physical and mental abuse, Adnan divorced her husband – which made her lose her children, home, and money.

Later she started her NGO, Khwendo Jirga, a first of its kind women-only jirga, where women meet weekly to discuss issues such as honour killings, acid attacks, and swara, or giving women as compensation for crimes.

Patricia

15th National Horse and Cattle Show Pt. 2

AoA,

Students performing dress show during Social Welfare Handicraft Exhibition National Horse and Cattle Show at Race Course Park

Daily Times

15th National Horse and Cattle Show Pt. 1

AoA,


Personnel of Military Police performing aerobatics during 15th National Horse and Cattle Show at Fortress Stadium

Daily Times

Cutting Dog Meat

AoA,

Female anchor started vomiting when she saw people cutting Dog Meat in Karachi

Watch the video here:

https://merapak.net/female-anchor-started-vomiting-when-she-saw-people-cutting-dog-meat-in-karachi/

Patricia

2015 Government Mobile Excellence Awards

AoA,

GSMA Honours the Governments of Brazil and Pakistan in Its 2015 Government Mobile Excellence Awards

“We encourage administrations from around the globe to be inspired by their achievements and adopt similar best practice measures in order to encourage greater mobile industry investment, support innovation and increase the provision of mobile services for their citizens.”

Read more at:

http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20150303005052/en/GSMA-Honours-Governments-Brazil-Pakistan-2015-Government#.VPlgD3yUfDt

Patricia

Tropa de Elite 100% Feminina

AoA,

Paquistão tem tropa de elite 100% feminina para combater Talebã

Há 1 hora

A polícia do Paquistão começou a treinar mulheres para integrarem sua tropa de elite.

As jovens policiais são preparadas para enfrentar "terroristas mulheres" integrantes do Talebã.

Elas aprendem a operar desde fuzis a metralhadoras pesadas.

O programa ganhou força depois que a milícia atacou uma escola de filhos de militares em Peshawar, em dezembro do ano passado, e matou mais de 140 pessoas.

Assistam o video:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/portuguese/noticias/2015/03/150305_mulheres_policia_paqui_lk?ocid=socialflow_facebook

Patricia

Polio Epidemic

AoA

Pakistan is one of only three countries left in which polio is still endemic and it has the highest rate of new polio cases in the world. Polio is a potentially life threatening disease, which can cause severe paralysis and muscular stiffness. Polio is asymptomatic in 90-95 percent of cases, which means that carriers of the virus can potentially pass on the disease unnoticed. Although the threat of contracting and transferring the virus can be avoided by ensuring that all children are administered the oral polio vaccine (OPV), the government’s attempts to launch anti-polio drives have been unsuccessful in the past. There have been severe threats to the security of health workers charged with administrating the vaccine from Islamic militant groups like the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). TTP has also been propagating the notion that OPV harms the children that it is given to. This narrative, particularly in the north, rural areas and other parts of the country that are deprived of quality education, has persuaded some parents to resist having their children immunised against polio and other microbial diseases. It is the lack of an educated, scientific narrative and proper awareness campaigns that has created a vacuum of knowledge and allowed this ignorance to take hold. OPV providers have been staging protests in different parts of the country against the lapses and inadequacies of the payment of their salaries and the abductions and killings of their colleagues by TTP members.

The international community has begun to fear the polio epidemic in Pakistan. By a directive of the World Health Organisation (WHO), anyone travelling outside the country must now prove that they have been immunised. The US has already shut down two of its consulates and discouraged US citizens from travelling to Pakistan for, amongst health reasons, fear of security threats. It is becoming increasingly difficult to obtain visas to other countries and at the risk of further travel restrictions or even complete isolation from the rest of the world, the government is under intense pressure to crack down on polio. The new polio drive in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa began on Monday and over 500 parents have been arrested for not allowing their children to be vaccinated. Although it is tragic that the government has allowed the situation to get this far, it seems as though the threat of arrest is the only way to convince misguided parents to allow the administration of OPV to their children. There have to be broad based awareness campaigns, particularly from religious leaders, to counter the extremist narrative and the government must protect and adequately compensate health workers and arrest the people who threaten them. Under the status quo, extreme measures need to be taken to prevent the spread and export of the disease, but alternatives must be explored to prevent the further alienation of people who already consider the anti-polio campaign a threat to their families. 

Daily Times

Brazilian literature in Urdu

AoA,

EMBASSY OF BRAZIL IN ISLAMABAD inaugurated two books of classic Brazilian literature, published in Urdu and English:

On 4th March 2015, the Ambassador of Brazil, H.E. Mr. Alfredo Leoni, and the Director-General of the National Library of Pakistan, Mr. Ch. Muhammad Nazir, inaugurated two books of classic Brazilian literature, published in Urdu and English languages, at a ceremony at the National Library, in Islamabad.

In order to make Brazilian literature better known in Pakistan, the Embassy of Brazil in Islamabad decided to publish the translation to Urdu and English languages of two major novels of the Brazilian literature of 19th century: “Iracema”, by José de Alencar, and “Posthumous Memoirs of Brás Cubas”, by Machado de Assis. These two books are pillars of Brazilian literature and important tools for the understanding of Brazil and Brazilians in the years after the Independence of Brazil from Portugal, in 1822. The publication of these two books has been sponsored by the Brazilian National Library Foundation.

About book“Iracema”:
First published in 1865, “Iracema” is certainly one of the most important books of Brazilian romanticism, but also of Brazilian literature as a whole. An indianist (Indigenous) novel, it has also been called a fictional-historical novel, an epic-lyric narrative, a poem in prose, a poetic novel, a mythic poem. The obvious difficulty in defining this work shows its many facets: legendary, narrative, poetic, lyric, mythic.

The story of “Iracema” revolves around the unexpected appearance of a Portuguese warrior in the lands of the Tabajara indians, on the shores of Ceará, in the early years of the 17th century. The Portuguese Martim meets the beautiful and young Iracema (whose name means "honey-lips") while wandering lost in the forest, and an unexpected and forbidden love is born.

About book “Posthumous Memoirs of Bras Cubas:
“Posthumous Memoirs of Bras Cubas” caused a big impact in the literature scene of Brazil in the end of 19th century. Narrated by the title character, a single rich empty man who decided to tell his life after he died, the book changed radically the style of Brazilian literature. It represented a rupture to the established romanticism of those years. Realistic in style and structure, the book is plenty of wit, irony and subtle criticism of Rio de Janeiro’s rich and privileged elite, especially its futility, frivolity and laziness.

The author of Posthumous Memoirs of Bras Cubas, Machado de Assis, is the most important Brazilian writer of all times. In 1897, Machado de Assis together with other intellectuals founded the Brazilian Academy of Letters. Machado was indisputably acclaimed its first President. He chose as patron of his chair in the Academy José de Alencar, the author of “Iracema”, who had died twenty years earlier. Machado had a great admiration for José de Alencar, of whom he had been a close friend.

FB: Embassy of Brazil in Islamabad