Urooj Mumtaz - the team maker!

After a great performance in South Africa, the Pakistan women's cricket team qualified for the Australia World Cup 2009. Team captain Urooj Mumtaz tells us about the team's prospects in the upcoming mega event... 

By Fasihullah Siddiqui

Cricket is the most popular game in our region. It's a game which inspires nearly all and is a passion for nearly half the population of the subcontinent. Pakistan has also made a niche in cricket and now is all set to make a mark in female cricket. As with  other fields, cricket has come out of its usual status of being a men's domain and women have started to make their presence felt at the crease, even though our women still have a long way to go.

Female cricket is still lagging far behind the male version of the game in our country. Female cricketers follow a strict dress code and only families are allowed to watch women cricketers at play in the grounds. They have very little international exposure and they have little access to facilities at home. There is neither any proper media coverage of women's matches on TV nor a proper central contract employment system under the PCB for female cricketers. But, it is interesting to note that despite all odds, our girls have made it to the World Cup 2009, which is no less than an achievement! "It is so exciting to have qualified for the World Cup. With so many victories to our credit in South Africa; we can now create a positive impact of women's cricket in Pakistan. With the Grace of Allah and efforts of the girls; we returned home victorious," says Urooj Mumtaz, captain of Pakistan women's cricket team. "Now we have our eyes set on the World Cup 2009 where we will have to face stronger teams. They will definitely give us a tough time since we have very little international exposure but we will try our best to make our mark," adds Urooj.

It was quite thrilling to see Pakistani women win accolades at South Africa. They topped Pool B (comprising Ireland, Zimbabwe and Scotland) and locked horns with South Africa in the final at Stellenbosch University. They showed their marksmanship with three straight wins over Ireland, Zimbabwe and Scotland. Later, in the semi finals, they battered the Netherlands.

Though they could not win the final, their overall game was remarkable; keeping in view the very low profile of women's cricket in Pakistan. "Individually, our players remained unfailing in their performances. It was also a moment of pride for Pakistan when Sana Mir took the ‘Player of the Tournament' Award. Bismah Maroof and Sajida Shah also performed magnificently with great consistency. But of course, the credit for our performance goes to team work. We played like a well-knit unit where all the girls focused to play hard," shares Urooj.

The World Cup Qualifier in February, lead the team to participate in the Asia Women's Cup in India. This was right after Pakistan's tremendous winnings in South Africa, hence a brilliant performance was expected from them against the teams like India and Sri Lanka - great forces in international cricket. However, the Pakistani women cricketers could not match the force of other regional teams - India and Sri Lanka - who rank second and fifth on the world charts respectively.

After qualifying for the World Cup 2009, the team was on cloud nine. After all it's an accomplishment to stand second behind a great team like South Africa in the ICC Women's World Cup Qualifier. However, the Asian cup proved to be a set back. Both India and Sri Lanka defeated our team by sound margins. The girls also lost to debutant Bangladesh, who stole the limelight with their first win against an ODI team. Urooj admits that the team's performance was not up to the mark in the Asian Cup. "We always knew that it would be a challenge to take on the likes of India and Sri Lanka; who are two of the best teams in the world. But we shouldn't really have lost to Bangladesh. They should be congratulated on the impact that they have made in this tournament in their inaugural appearance. As far as we are concerned, we need to really work harder in order to get back in the top ranking," says Urooj.

The defeats have not brought down our team's morale; on the contrary they have turned more powerful and determined to improve their game. "In the match against Sri Lanka, we probably would have won but our batting front let us down. We need to eliminate the habit of losing wickets in quick succession if we are to have an impact at the ICC Women's World Cup next year. We learnt from the Asian Cup that we have to practice a lot before the Australia World Cup 2009. India really set the standard during the tournament and they are going to present a tough challenge for any team when they will play the World Cup," she says while stressing the need for improving the domestic structure of women games in Pakistan. "Creating more leagues across the country will help increase the participation of girls and we can attract their attention from a grass root level."

It must be mentioned here that our team's next competitive cricket event is in July. They are to play for a Twenty-20 domestic competition; where they will hopefully run a batting camp for some of the leading players. Urooj is also considering going overseas for a couple of months as part of her cricketing education. "It would be a great experience to play abroad and I think it will really improve my game too," says Urooj.

The countdown for the World Cup has begun and it is high time that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) paid heed to our women's cricket team too. In the next few months PCB needs to let the women cricketers gain as much international exposure as possible. Without enough worldwide experience, our team will find it difficult to match the quality of the opponent's game in the upcoming women's cricket mega event. The more they know about their techniques, the better they will be able to work on their game. It is great to see that women in Pakistan are moving along in sporting events like cricket and we hope our team performs better in the 2009 World Cup.

Born on October 1, 1985 in Karachi, Urooj Mumtaz is a right-handed batswoman and leg break bowler. She is currently studying dentistry from a private university. She started playing cricket against her brothers and cousins in her parent's backyard when she was just six and a half. In 1992, when Pakistan cricket team won the World Cup, she got hooked by our team's great performance.

She is a fan of South African cricketer Jonty Rhodes. While from domestic cricket, she likes Imran Khan as she is impressed by how he led the team way back in 1992. She has great leadership qualities which are evident on the fields as she is always pumping up her team's morale. She is a brilliant batswoman, a lively fielder and one of the best spinners on the team. With such talents to her credit, we are hopeful that she wins laurels for Pakistan in the future.

For a better tomorrow...

Life is gradually returning to normal in Muzaffarabad where the 2005 earthquake destroyed the entire educational structure. Thanks to foundations like READ  that have done tremendous work with regard to re-structructing of schools and education system in Muzaffrabad.        YOU! takes a look...

By Iram Noor Muzaffar

We all know that education is the key to success and it acts like a catalyst in taking nations to the road of progress. And we all are aware of the fact that in Pakistan, with a very low literacy rate, we desperately need good system of schools to provide quality education to our future generations. However, we cannot entirely depend on the government in this regard. We just cannot afford to sit back and criticise the government for it is the responsibility of everyone. Here comes the role of NGOs that are playing a meaningful role in proliferating education in different regions of Pakistan.

When it comes to Muzaffarabad and its adjacent areas, READ foundation's name instantly comes to one's mind. It's a non-profitable organisation with the sole aim of establishing self-sustainable schools in rural areas. Since its inception in 1994, the foundation has been playing an active role in offering standard schooling to unprivileged children through value-based education and training. 

It is interesting to note that the Foundation started its operations with just one teacher and 25 children and a meager amount of Rs. 25,000. Today, it is the largest indigenous educational NGO in rural Pakistan having an enrollment of 62,000-plus children (including 6,400 orphans who get free education) in its 323 schools with 2,750 dedicated teachers. The geographical spread of its school system covers all eight districts of AJK, Murree Tehsil of Rewalpindi district in Punjab and Gilgit in the Northern Areas of Pakistan.

Its commitment to spread education in the district can be gauged from the fact that despite bearing heavy losses in the 2005 earthquake the foundation resumed its educational activities only after two weeks. "The 7.6 magnitude earthquake had a devastating impact on 138 Foundation schools in Poonch, Muzaffarabad, Bagh, and Neelum districts. In addition to damages to physical infrastructure, the Foundation also experienced severe human losses, including students, school teachers, and staff. In all, 645 children and 14 teachers died across these schools. A substantial number of teachers, staff and students also suffered from emotional trauma and injuries. However, the foundation's strong presence in the disaster-hit areas since many years enabled us to respond quickly and effectively to the needs of these earthquake-afflicted children. In fact, the Foundation had taken the lead by restarting all its destroyed schools on stones collected from the debris of buildings just two weeks after the earthquake," said Mr. Mahmood Ahmed, the founding Chairperson of the Foundation.

What is heartening to see is that life is gradually returning to normal in this tragedy-hit areas where the earthquake destroyed the entire social and material fabric of these poor and underprivileged communities. With the support of local and international humanitarian community, they've now got their own homes again while the reconstruction of other physical infrastructure is also taking pace. It is expected that with the construction of new schools, the quake-afflicted young children would be able to get better educational facilities than they had before the earthquake. This entire process of rehabilitation and reconstruction has also created a big economic activity in the region that would ultimately benefit the local populations both in short as well as long terms.

Mahmood told You! that a number of philanthropists and oragnisations helped the foundation in the reconstruction process by giving generous donations. Among the cooperate sector, P&G has been most instrumental in its efforts. "The Foundation is working with the multi-national under a long term strategic partnership, titled 'Safe Schooling for Building Futures' in earthquake-affected areas of AJK. Until now, the company has sponsored two schools in Muzaffarabad - equipped with all modern educational facilities along with trained and qualified teaching staff. The first P&G-READ Foundation School at Gojra in Muzaffarabad is the largest school in the town," he added.

Recently, the second P&G School at Lamnian - 50 kilometres from main Muzaffarabad city village - was jointly inaugurated by Sardar Farooq Tahir, Deputy Speaker of the AJK Assembly, Yaseen Attas, P&G's External Relations Director for Arabian Peninsula and Pakistan and Qaisar Shareef, P&G Pakistan's Country Manager. Housed in beautiful pre-fabricated classrooms equipped with syllabi-based modern teaching and learning resources, the school will educate 150 students in a safe, seismic-compliant structure, among whom six orphan children will get free education. "This is for the first time after the earthquake that children in the remote village of Lamnian are benefiting from quality education in the safe environment," said Afzaal Ahmed, another active member of the Foundation.

He also explained the working of the schools. "The Foundation has a stringent system of monitoring and supervision of its vast network of schools. The medium of instruction in these schools is English. The minimum fee in our schools starts from Rs.150 to the maximum of Rs.1,000 but the fee in schools depends largely upon the quality of education in schools, facilities provided and paying capacity of the local community. However, orphaned children enrolled in our schools get education totally for free. All their educational expenditure like stationery, school bags, uniform, shoes, and school fee, etc. are met by the Foundation. The Foundation meets the educational costs of these children through donations. A donor may sponsor one or more children.

"As far as the salaries of teachers are concerned, it depends upon the income of schools that they collect from children as tuition fee. The schools have autonomy of making their own budgets locally with the consultation of management of school system."

According to Mahmood and Afzaal the future looks promising and they have ambitious plans to expand their network of schools in Punjab and Sindh also. But due to the disastrous earthquake, right now they are more focused on the rehabilitation and reconstruction of their existing school system. "Under the Vision 2020, we have set a target of 1000 schools with over 200,000 children in our schools. Our mission is to give access to quality education to all children of (rural) Pakistan," vowed a committed Mahmood.

For further information, visit: www.read.org.pk

Flirt with glamour

This summer wear bold and strong colours; choose shiny textures to get a glamorous and sophisticated look

This summer makeup is stronger than ever. After years of telling women to choose between strong eyes or lips, both can be strong. Evening makeup can be more dramatic, especially if you are attending a party or function where the lights will be dim. Don't be afraid to wear bold and strong colours and experiment with new products. If you love to wear the latest makeup trends, this is the best time to wear them. You have to choose dark colours, and shiny textures to get a glamorous and sophisticated look. Pick your best feature and wear the boldest colours. To look glamorous, you need to know just how to apply makeup correctly and achieve the desired, finished look. Here you go:

Smooth face

Before the base cover all the imperfections: blemishes, spots with a corrector and around the eyes apply a gently a liquid concealer, so it won't mark lines of expression around the eye area. It is important to use a product especially for your face type; oily, dry or combination.

The right foundation

You must remember that your foundation is not a mask. Your foundation is designed to even out your skin tone and hide any blemishes, but most of all it must look natural. Use a foundation type that you find the easiest to apply in a hurry. If you find liquid foundations too fussy, opt for a powder foundation. Generally anything that can be applied with a makeup sponge or a brush is quick and easy to apply.

Evening glow

Brush bronzing powder over the top of your foundation or tinted moisturiser for an instant evening glow. For this, use a large round brush, dip it into your bronzing powder and then knock the base of the brush against a hard surface. This will disperse the powder from the tip of the brush allowing you to get a very natural looking glow all over the face.

Broad brows

Brows are stronger this year, so don't over tweeze, just keep them groomed and arched. Add highlighter to the brow bone; it adds glam to the entire eye area. For us, mature girls, it gives us an instant eye 'lift', a makeup trick for younger looking eyes.

Bold eyeliner

Eyeliner that is infused with tiny glitter particles is an easy way to add a little glam and glitz to your evening look. Glitter pencils add a dazzling shine and light-catching effect to the eye area. Keep the liner just on the top line, either thick or thin depending on how dramatic you want your eyes to be.

Thick eyelashes

If you love your eyes, wear two coats of mascara - making sure not to make it look dirty. To avoid over lapping messy lashes just use a clean brush and comb them through and style. It is best to use a waterproof mascara, just to be on the safe side. Use a mascara that is not more than three months old (for hygiene reasons).

Bright shadows

This summer, there are some beautiful light, bright, and shimmery eye shadows on the market. Make your eyes the centre of attention with a little sparkle. Choose one colour that is most flattering for you. With shimmery eye shadows, it is always best to stick to one colour unless you are very experienced in application and blending. This will also cut down on the application time. Apply the shadow starting above your eyelashes and take it up just past the crease in your eyelid. Blend lightly so you don't have a visible line.

Matte lipstick

Your evening lipstick shade can also be bolder than your daytime lipstick shade. While the hottest runway looks involve wearing a fiery orange red lip colour, most of us aren't even close to looking like Audrey Hepburn or Ava Gardner; so it's best to go with a strong matte lipstick peach or pink. (lipstick, not lip gloss). The key to great looking lips is a lipstick that's satiny, a silky look that's not too dewy and not too matte. 

Now, we can actually 'flirt with glamour' this season....which is exacty what we girls love to do.

Take a deep breath

Women should be really careful when it comes to lung diseases as they are at a higher risk to develop them. 
LAM is another such disease which may be rare but can uncontrollably grow, damaging the lungs to a dangerous level...  

By Abdul Wasey Durrani

Most lung diseases are prevalent in females, even when we talk about cancer we find that it is more common in women. Lungs are one of the most important and sensitive organs of the body, and need to be well guarded against diseases. Similarly, lymphangiole-iomyomatosis (LAM) is another lung disease which may be rare but is exclusively known to affect women of child-bearing age. In some unusual cases it has even affected post menopausal women and a scant number of men. It is characterised by the growth of an abnormal type of muscle cell in the tissues of the lungs including the air passages, blood vessels and the lymph vessels. As the disease progresses, these abnormal muscle fibres form obstructions in the airways and vessels by their continuous growth into the lung cavity.

Although these cells are not cancerous, they grow uncontrollably inside the lungs damaging it even further. Ultimately their obstructions result in an inadequate supply of oxygen to the rest of the body.

Causes

There are no known causes of LAM till this day. However, some researchers believe that it may be linked to a genetic fragment of another disease - tuberousclerosis- which is prevalent in females too.

Symptoms

LAM typically causes shortness of breath and palpitations. In its early stages, the shortness of breath occurs only during strenuous exercise but as the airways of the lungs and blood vessels progressively continue to get blocked; this loss of breath becomes more frequent and may even occur while a person is resting. It also causes hardening of the lungs which further reduces their respiratory capacity.

Other common symptoms of LAM are chest pain and the occasional coughing-up of blood. Furthermore, cysts may form in the lungs and then rupture due to pressure from the surrounding walls. These ruptured cysts cause leakage of air into the lung cavity, known as lung collapse (pneumothorax).

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of LAM can be difficult because many of the early symptoms are similar to those of other lung diseases; such as asthma, emphysema or bronchitis. Often the person with LAM first goes to the physician complaining of chest pain and shortness of breath upon exertion. In order to have a definitive idea of whether a patient is suffering from LAM, a number of tests may be carried out. The most definitive are a CT scan and when possible, a lung biopsy. Other tests include chest X-rays, blood tests and pulmonary function tests.

Treatment

Because LAM disease usually affects women of childbearing age, physicians have come to the conclusion that the hormone oestrogen might be involved in the abnormal muscle cell growth that characterises the disease.

Although there is no evidence that there is a relationship between oestrogen and LAM, the treatment of LAM has focused on reducing the production or effects of oestrogen. Two major treatments for the disease are administration of medroxy-progesterone (a drug containing the hormone progesterone) or removal of the ovaries (oophorectomy). The response to treatment has been highly individual and no therapy can be claimed as the most beneficial for all LAM patients.

There is another treatment i.e. the oxygen therapy which may become necessary if the disease continues to worsen and the lung function is impaired. For some severe LAM patients, lung transplantation is an established therapy too. The percentage of survival of patients for one year after transplantation is approximately 70 per cent and for three years is approximately 50 per cent.

Effects

In the early stages of the disease, most patients can go about their daily activities like attending school, going to work and performing common physical activities, such as walking up a hill. In more advanced stages, the patient may have very limited ability to move around and may require oxygen full-time.

Patients with LAM should follow the same healthy lifestyle recommended for the general population - eating a healthy diet, getting as much exercise as they can along with plenty of rest. And of course they also need to take some precautions; first and foremost... no smoking! Also travelling to remote areas where medical attention is not readily available or to high altitudes where the cysts in the lungs can expand and rupture are highly not recommended to the people at risk of LAM.

In patients with normal lung function, there is probably no risk associated with pregnancy. However, in patients with compromised lung functions, pregnancy is not advised.

Prognosis

LAM is a severe disease and generally provides a poor prognosis for a patient. The survival time following the diagnosis of LAM is uncertain. It was initially reported to be less than 10 years but recently there have been reports of patients surviving up to 20 years after being diagnosed. The reason for this apparent increased in survival time is still unknown to the doctors.

Letters

Dear Nadine,

I am a 28-year-old married woman and I hate my in-laws. They have made my life hell by constantly trying to create trouble between me and my husband. Right from the beginning they have been nasty with me, especially my mother-in-law. Initially, they had a problem when I did not get pregnant straight away. Then I had a girl and they started taunting me that I would never beget a son. By the grace of God, I got a son also. Now, they have issues with how I raise my children, what I cook, the way I decorate my home etc. I have been taking all this but of late they have started talking in a derogatory manner about my parents. I objected when they did it, and told my husband that I had misbehaved with them. Nadine, I am an educated girl, well able to take care of myself by getting a job if the need arises. Do you think I should split up from my husband? Whenever I complain he downplays everything and tells me that his parents are old and I must not take to heart what they say. He doesn't say a word in my defense and doesn't let me speak up as well. I especially can't take it when they use foul language for my parents. My parents have not taught me to retort or argue with my elders, but should elders take advantage of their position? Besides, why should I take this behaviour from anyone? I am an intelligent human being and just because I am a woman... can people degrade me at will? When I discussed this problem with my sister-in-law, she told me that old people become cranky and I must sympathise with them as they are old and sick. She also accused me of being hard-hearted. This problem is spoiling my relationship with my husband, whom I really love. And he also loves me. Minus his parents, he is a wonderful, loving person but he is what can be called a 'chuntiyun bhara kebab'. What should I do?

Wife in agony

Dear wife in agony,

First of all, try to relax. You do have serious problems, but you sound too emotionally charged. My dear, things often go wrong, and one must think and do what is best to improve one's situation. Severing relationships is too easy, but dealing with the aftermath is akin to eternal torture. You have two kids also, so how can you speak about separating from your husband so lightly? Do you know what it entails for children? As a mother, please give some thought to the happiness and well being of your children.

You have stated that your husband is a 'wonderful, loving person'. So you don't have a problem with him. His parents are a part of the package deal called marriage, so you cannot remove them from his life. Please don't misunderstand what I am saying, for I understand what you are going through. But I advise patience to you. Handle the situation which is no doubt bad... but temporary.

When your parents-in-law start acting nasty, invent some excuse and absent yourself from their vicinity, especially if they say bad stuff about your parents. Talk to your husband when you are not angry - so you can be rational - and explain to him that your parents mean as much to you as his parents mean to him. Ask him if he would stand the same treatment at the hand of your parents. You must convince your husband to at least speak up about this problem, as only he can put a stop to this. If he says he is unwilling to discuss this issue with his parents, ask him to give you an independent place and keep asking him to do that. In this way he would feel compelled to talk to his parents about not abusing your parents.

Tell your husband that if he does not do the needful, you will tell your parents-in-law not to speak like that and would leave the room the moment they start doing it. Your husband would not want you to argue with your in-laws, as it would culminate in a civil war. So he will have to do something about it. I hope this matter is resolved amicably but please don't break your home because of it. You don't have a problem with your husband and you both love each other. So please don't take any hasty decision. Just because you are educated doesn't mean that you should take relationships lightly. Besides, education makes people sensible, and teaches them to weigh pros and cons. Are you doing that? Good luck!

Dear Professor,

I am a final year medical student madly in love with one of my classmates for the past four years, yet never had the courage to tell her and I sought your help in the matter. You graciously advised me to talk to her but now the problem is that I have decided to tell her about my feelings but cannot find the courage. The reason is that I have never spoken to her in the last four years and now a proposal out of the blue seems very weird. Don't you agree? So heeding your advice, I decided to talk to her before it's too late but my shyness came into play. Many a time I decided to speak my mind but words deserted me and my legs gave way.

Another issue is that she is a year older; you told me that mental compatibility is what's important. But, how do I know if age is  not a matter for her or her family? Also, she has a very sober and dignified personality and no guy can fool around with her, so I feel very shy at the prospect of talking to her for the first time in four years and that too about a proposal that I want to send! But most of all, I don't know how she will react; it just scares me when I think of what will happen if she refuses. I am extremely desperate and have been thinking about killing myself, but I know that suicide is haram.

I really want to tell her but just can't muster up the courage. Please help me as this matter is affecting me greatly. In a year we will graduate and then I might lose her forever. Help and guide me once again as to how I should approach her or handle the situation.

Shy guy

Dear shy guy,

Since you are too shy to muster up the courage required to propose a girl, leave it to your parents. Talk to your mother and send your proposal through a proper channel. If the girl's parents have a problem with you being a year younger than her, they would make their excuses. But did you ever hear 'Those who dare win'? You have been totally passive hoping perhaps that angels would come to help you! I have yet another saying for you: God helps those who help themselves. So, instead of waiting for things to fall your way, make a spirited effort. Which of course, means that since you think that the age problem might affect your chances, get your act together and ask the girl if she would have a problem marrying someone a year younger than she is. Otherwise, like most fellow countrymen, leave everything to God and wait for His verdict. Best of luck!

Of colours and styles

Rezz Aly Shah, Rubab, Mrs. Naveed Qamar, Sobia Mustapha, Natasha and Aleena... 

Recently, beautician
Sobia Mustapha launched her salon featuring a fashion show in Isloo to mark her presence in the fashion world... 

By Sana Akhtar

Islamabad is very cool and calm most of the year, which is why  people there don't get to see glittery events taking place that often. Launches, award ceremonies, anniversaries and such events usually happen in the cities like Karachi and Lahore. However, designers, beauticians and artists are now trying to take entertainment and culture to the somewhat silent city in an effort to make it as happening as the other two hubs. Recently, beautician Sobia Mustapha launched her salon featuring a fashion show in Isloo to mark her presence in the fashion world. It was formally inaugurated by the wife of Finance Minister Naveed Qamar and attended by a large number of people.

The top brigade of TV channels and media practitioners flew in from the major cities of Pakistan to attend this event. The show was choreographed by Rezz Aly Shah, who is behind a lot of high profile affairs.

The ensembles with striking colour combinations and innovative cuts were designed by Sobia Zuha while the traditional jewellery with customary embellishments of precious and semi-precious stones was designed by Naveen. Each jewellery item was carefully chosen to go with either the embroidery or to contrast the overall dress. After all, it is about mix and match these days.

Models who flaunted Sobia's creations on stage were Natasha Hussain, Rubab, Aleena Khan and new comer Sarah. They managed to enthrall the audience with their stunning looks and stylish outfits. But, it's not just the formal and bridal dresses that need appreciation; the makeup should be praised as well.

Makeup for every model was done by stylist Sobia Mustapha. Her command over her work can be gauged from the fact that she did not apply the same makeup technique to every model like most makeup artists do. Instead, she gave each model a different look according to their face cut, skin complexion, dress and even jewellery.

Talking on the occasion, Sobia Mustapha said that it is the first beauty salon of its kind in the capital where all types of beauty techniques would be available under one roof. "We have hired Chinese experts for nail treatment as they know of various nail decorating styles which are not known here. And, I believe that in this competitive era, you have to constantly come up with something new and different in order to survive in any field. That's why, experts at my salon avoid repetition whether it's in makeup or hairstyles," shares Sobia.

The event also showcased the blend of light makeup with heavy dresses and jewellery. Natasha adorned a maroon and purple dress with heavy sequin work but her makeup was subtly pink and blue. Same goes for Aleena who was attired in a dark brown sharara but didn't look overdone or out of place. Rubab's outfit was fluorescent blue with red gems while her jewellery was in gold and feroza. Still, her makeup was done in light brown shades with a tinge of blue on the eyes.

Over all, the show was well organised with the right kind of back ground music which was inspiring, up-beat and well coordinated. As Sobia plans to open salons in Karachi and other cities too, we hope to see more good work in the fashion fraternity from this talented woman.

Food for Thought
Mango Kheer
Photography by: Naqeeb ur Rehman

Well summer is back with full force. With it, we have the king of fruits storming into our markets and our kitchens; the mighty mango. So, people with a sweet tooth and a taste for something yummy  in collaboration with Mrs. Zeba Zahid brings you a delicious Mango treat. Happy mangoes!

Ingredients:

Mangoes          4

Sugar  1 cup

Milk     1 litre

Cream 1/4 cup

Kesar  1/4 tsp

Cardamom powder          a pinch

Cashewnuts          1 tbsp

Pistachio          1 tbsp 

Almonds          for garnish

METHOD:

- Start by peeling the mangoes and beating the pulp into a smooth creamy mixture.

- Boil the milk; add the almonds cashewnuts and cardamom powder. Cook for five to six minutes.

- Add sugar to the milk and stir till it is completely dissolved.

- Now, add kesar and mango pulp in it. Stir till the mixture becomes thick and smooth.

- Garnish with almonds or diced mangoes.

- Serve it chilled.

WHO WILL WIN

This week, YOU! brings you eight fantastic females who made it big enough to enter the LSA by making a mark both in the field of acting and direction ... 

By Fatima Zakir

Music, drama, theatre, plays... our entertainment industry is growing day by day. What began as one TV channel way back in the '60s, airing everything from news to dramas, now has turned into a scenario where we have a separate channel for every genre of entertainment - be it music, drama, or simply news. Of course, it brought forth a lot of artists amongst which women carved a niche of their own. Now, they are not just confined to acting but have ventured into film making and production as well.

But, there should be a driving force that gets them going in their fields. This is where the awards come from. The most prestigious award ceremony to honour the showbiz people of our country is the 'Lux Style Awards' (LSA) and they are back this year with yet another bang. The organisers, Catwalk Productions, recently released its entertainment nominations which started the entire buzz about this year's LSA. And, You! has randomly selected eight nominees. Read on...

And the award goes to...

One of Pakistan's top fashion models, Iman Ali made her cinematic debut in Khuda Ke Liye last year, for which she gained critical acclaim too. She stars as Maryam, a British-Pakistani girl, who is in love with a non-Muslim British man while her father forcefully gets her married to her fundamentalist cousin. The LSA doesn't have nominations for celluloid instead they give out special awards for outstanding performances of the year. Her stirring portrayal of Maryam deserved her special award for the best actress.

Hats off to Rubina!

After a long hiatus, Rubina Ashraf has donned the director's cap by directing a serial on the theme of 'Vani', the first TV serial to presently explore this controversial practice and its repercussions on the urban and rural society. With just a few plays under Rubina's directorial umbrella she managed to be among the nominees for best directors this year. Now, that's what we call an achievement!

The one and only

After years and years of mesmerising performances, Bushra Ansari once again won hearts through her performance in 'Vani'. Whether it's a serious role or a comedy, no one can doubt Bushra's skills on screen. That's one reason why the people are still fond of veteran artists because the reality they put into characters is not everyone's cup of tea.

Seasons gone by and still...

While we are talking about Vani... it's imperative to mention yet another seasoned artist who bagged a nomination for best actress in the upcoming LSA. Yes, we are talking about Saba Parvez. She portrays a true woman of our society who runs an NGO working against the custom of Vani but when her own son falls in love with a victim, she abandons the poor girl. She gracefully displayed many shades of her personality and stood out as a true artist.

Not just a pretty face

Javeria Abbasi is one actress who is nearly always on screen because of her good looks and of course admirable acting. This year she has been nominated for best actress for her performance in 'Najia'. In the serial, Javeria transitions through a phase of forced marriage when she dislikes her husband to a point when she actually falls in love with him. She is also being nominated in the best actress (terrestrial) nomination for her serial Sukhan.

From big to small screen

We all know our Lollywood actresses but never really took them in high esteem. But, that doesn't mean we don't have acting talent there. Recently, Resham appeared in Man-o-Salwa and blazed the screens with her strong acting. The story written by Umera Ahmad made her transform from a girl-next-door to a glam diva. Let's see if her transformation on screen wins her an award off screen too.

Bold and beautiful

Savera Nadeem is a rare combination of sobriety and glamour. From performing a role of a bold girl in Inkaar to a de-glamorised role in Sawan; Savera seems to be the director's perfect choice. This year she has been chosen for her serial Shikwah, which addresses the issues of society by displaying the power of truth, accuracy and love. Of course, Savera turned out to be one of the best performers of the serial.

Fresh and charming

It has not been long since Beenish Chohan started acting but within a short span of time she has managed to make her mark in the industry. She is among the nominees for best actress (terrestrial) for her play Pehli Boond. Her performance has gained her accolades from the masses but let's see if she grabs an award too.

Chatter Matter
Countdown to LSA has begun!

Get ready for the fun and excitement as the year's most prestigious awards are back in the country. Yes, we are talking about the Lux Style Awards! The journey which started off in 2002 has now entered its seventh year of honouring the stars for their great performances throughout the year. Recently, a press conference was held at Karachi Marriott Hotel to unveil the venue and month of the ceremony. After flying off to Dubai and Malaysia, this year's LSA will be held in Lahore because of the city's cultural history and values in art. The date has not been decided yet but it will take place by the end of August. Hmm... it sounds exciting! With this, they have introduced scholarships for media students to excel in their fields. A digital method of voting has also been introduced where you can vote for your favourite stars online and via SMS. Woah! It already seems bigger this year but for the whole event, we will still have to keep our fingers crossed.

Ramchand's music hits the stores!

We heard about Mehreen Jabbar's Ramchand Pakistani screening internationally but what about it's screening at home?  Well, for all those who have been desperately waiting for the movie, there is a news... the makers of Ramchand Pakistani recently held a press conference to release its music. Now, we can see the movie release somewhere near too. The music has been composed by Debajyoti Mishra who was behind the soulful music of Bollywood movie 'Raincoat'. Shobha Mudgal did a great job with Debajyoti's music by rendering her strong vocals on mellow tunes. And, guess what! The successful duo added another strong voice, Shafqat Amanat Ali, to their list for Ramchand Pakistani. To add more magic, the lyrics have been written by Anwer Maqsood. Hmm, our hopes are already high from the music score of the movie. Let's just hope the movie is as good as we are expecting it to be.