SHOWCASE 2012

So I missed an amazing fashion event in Karachi recently. Here are the details and photos. Enjoy!

SHOWCASE 2012 was a four day fashion, accessories and jewellery event for excellence in design conceived by Rizwan Beyg and produced by Sky Productions. It established an independent platform for designers looking to promote their work both in Pakistan and abroad.

The event brought 36 local and foreign designers under one roof, including some new and cutting edge designers straight out of fashion school.

Some of the participating designers were Feeha Jamshed, Saniya Muskatiya, Irfan Ali, Warda Saleem,
Faiza Samee, Hira Lari, Ibrahim Hanif, Ayesha Khurram, Maheen Karim and Yasir Mirza.

For more photos, please click here.

Java Jolt: Opening the Dialogue for Sustainable Solutions

First published on Acumen Fund’s Blog

Original Link

Saiban, an Acumen Fund housing investee in Pakistan

Often we are so inclined towards action, starting something to make a difference in the world around us, that we forget to take the first step – to spark discussion about the issues we want to solve, and encourage debate and dissent necessary to determine the best way to create change.

I realized this when I attended the last of a series of “Java Jolt” coffee chats organized by the Acumen Fund Pakistan office in Karachi a few weeks ago. The initiative, designed and implemented by Huma Haque (Business Development Summer Associate) and Sadaf Rehman(Pakistan Business Development Associate), raised awareness of Acumen Fund’s patient capital approach to investing as well as different social enterprise models in Pakistan, particularly those working in the fields of healthcare and education.

“Sustainable Solutions to Healthcare Delivery” was the topic of discussion that day. Representatives from three prominent healthcare non-profits in Pakistan, LRBT (Layton Rahmatulla Benevolent Trust), Naya Jeevan and The Aman Foundation, gave us a snapshot of the different (mainly donation-based) models their organizations adopt.

All these non-profits are doing some amazing work in Pakistan. LRBT runs state-of-the-art hospitals providing quality and free eye care to the underprivileged. Naya Jeevan provides micro health insurance for the urban poor, and The Aman Foundation offers an ambulance service, community health workers and tele-health services for mother-and-child hospitals.

From the discussion that ensued, I learnt that Pakistan is amongst the most charitable nations, a fact which is rarely highlighted in mainstream media. This altruistic tradition of giving is one reason why donation-driven models dominate the social sector in Pakistan. But this also becomes a barrier to further growth of social enterprises as their work is restricted to the size of the donation pool.

The healthcare sector in Pakistan is still largely underserved even by the development community. The discussion highlighted the following aspects which need to be considered if we want to come up with sustainable solutions:

• Changing attitudes – Beneficiaries often lack awareness regarding the benefits of services like health insurance – even when it is offered at very low or subsidised rates. This becomes a major hindrance to rolling out that service and making large-scale change. Convincing people to opt for it is the first challenge one needs to overcome.

• Providing choice, not charity - There is a large number of people in Pakistan who don’t need charity. But their low income (between PKR 8,000 to 20,000) means that they have a poor standard of living, especially with respect to healthcare, housing and water facilities. What they need is more choice and an opportunity to improve their lives.  Currently these needs are being met by what was described as ‘a vast often usurious informal sector’. We need different players to participate and provide a fair system of access to all.

• Reducing dependency – In order to scale up initiatives to reach millions of people, it is worth exploring how social enterprises can be made financially viable and thus less dependent on donations or pure philanthropy. We need to think in the long-term and on a larger scale.

All in all, this informal discussion was a huge success, serving as a starting point for new ideas and a great platform for identifying socio-cultural barriers that are restricting development. Having looked at these issues from a holistic perspective, I look forward to the follow-up discussions that will further drive the momentum created by this event to find actionable answers and solutions.

Ayesha Hoda is a member of Pakistan for Acumen, a volunteer chapter supporting Acumen Fund.

A space to grieve

A short excerpt from my diary; a memory of a close friend:

“I was Zainab’s* only friend in college. She had been abused as a child by her father, both physically and emotionally. I was her confidante and lamented the lack of support she received from others.

She rarely told people about her suffering because she was ashamed of it and even when she tried to share, in bits and pieces, people would dismiss her grief saying ‘This happens to everyone. Even my dad is strict!’ They did not miss any opportunity to gossip about her ‘being weird and all’. As a result, I saw her in a lot of pain; angry and frustrated.”

In retrospect, as an adult, I realize that no outsider could have altered Zainab’s childhood but it would definitely have made things better for her if she had had a strong support system.

While the local media extensively covers child abuse, quoting statistics and describing different forms of abuse, I feel that there is still generally a lack of understanding, of this crime and its impact, on the part of people who are not victims or who do not know any victim closely. They are specially indifferent toemotional abuse because one cannot really see it or prove it to anyone. People who were not there do not understand where and how exactly the line was crossed.

Even extended family members and relatives of victims sometimes fail to grasp what they have been through. If for some reason (like the death of the perpetrator), the abuse comes to an end, people expect such children/teenagers to be okay and just like everyone else. They need to “move on” because their suffering is over.

In reality, the suffering is far from over. In fact, once such children (who were never really allowed to be children), grow up, they realize the full import and tragedy of what happened to them and how it has left them scarred. But due to lack of counselling and empathy from those around them (in a large number of cases), they live in a lot of emotional turmoil for a long time, feel flawed and are vulnerable, no matter how strong and successful they may appear to be.

As in Zainab’s case and other similar cases I’ve witnessed, relatives and acquaintances, despite being aware of the abuse, tend to judge victims if they have strange behavior patterns, angry outbursts or if they get involved in wrong/casual relationships. Some merely probe about what happened for the sake of gossip while others provide advice such as ‘You should not criticize your own father/uncle, after all you have the same genes!’ (in situations where the victim has been abused by a close family member).

It’s sad to note that such statements are made by educated people who do not really lack awareness. One can only imagine what happens to abused children in the lesser educated circles!

It is all well to say that there should be a movement/law against child abuse and we need to fight for child rights. But let’s face it, at the end of the day, how many of us will actually launch such a movement and follow it through? How many of us will go beyond saying that this is really wrong?

It is easy to hold placards and campaign against such crimes as an outsider (though I am not saying this should not be done). But I feel that what is really needed is a society where we stop becoming supporters of the perpetrators either by looking down on the victims of abuse, excluding them from our circle and/or by being apathetic.

We do not have to be activists to make a difference. As individuals, there are things we can do to lessen the suffering of such children (and later adults). Uttering a kind word, providing a shoulder to cry on, being a sympathetic and patient listener; small things can make a big difference. In short, we need to give child abuse victims, rather any victims, the space and freedom to grieve and to vent out their feelings. Acknowledgement that they have been through a very tough time and due to no fault of their own can greatly help with the healing process. They need somebody to tell them they are not “victims” but survivors! 

*Name has been changed to protect privacy.

10 things I love about Grey’s Anatomy

Published on Express Tribune Blogs

Original Link

I was never really fond of medical dramas, but after a friend’s recommendation, I started watching Grey’s Anatomy and was instantly hooked to the show.

With the seventh season currently being aired on ABC (which several of my friends follow religiously on the internet), here’s a list of ten things I love about the show:

1. The play of words: Dialogues were the first thing I liked about Grey’s. Emotional, funny, close to life – many strike a chord and are easy to recall (‘the truth freakin’ hurts’). Hence, apart from following the seasons, I have been an active user of Addicted to Grey’s Anatomy application (quotes section) on Facebook.

2. Meredith Grey: Played by Ellen Pompeo, she is pretty and vulnerable. You feel like protecting her and at times, knocking some sense into her. Emotionally distressed most of the time (in her ‘dark, twisted corner’), she is still more lovable and consistent than Christina, Izzie and the other characters.

3. Derek Shepherd: Even though several people who I’ve asked, like Mark Sloan (Eric Dane) more, particularly in seasons five and six, my personal favourite remains Derek (Patrick Dempsey). The Chief of Surgery in the sixth season and Meredith’s husband, he is the kind of guy you would trust and want to be with.

4. Life is one long song: According to Mark Kimson of The Guardian, Grey’s Anatomy has popularised the “songtage” or musical montage segments. The music gives the necessary breathing space to viewers, amidst all the drama, while generating positive publicity for the tracks used. I am not a regular listener of English albums but began enjoying The Fray‘s “How to Save a Life” after I heard it on the show.

5. There is no solution for life and death, save to enjoy the interval: It is wonderful how humour is entwined with the serious medical cases and life-and-death situations depicted, especially in the first few seasons. The characters continuously compare what is happening in their troubled personal or love lives with the pain and suffering they witness every day at the hospital. They frequently laugh at each other and at themselves, enjoying mundane things.

6. Unpredictability: It’s generally hard to guess what is going to happen next: whether a certain patient will survive or not; a couple might break up or that bomb inside a patient’s body might just explode! I often find myself sitting on the edge of the couch, actually praying for things to turn out right.

7. The Mc-nicknames – Dr Derek Shepherd (McDreamy) and Dr Mark Sloan (McSteamy) are nicknamed by Meredith’s circle of friends based on their good looks and attitude. These add an interesting and fun element to the show.

8. Unique medical cases: Even though I can barely watch the surgeries and blood often shown, some of the cases are quite interesting and inform you about a number of rare diseases and ailments. They make you shudder but you still want to know how the doctors are going to find a cure. I’ve seen several people, on their way to becoming doctors, follow the show closely.

9. The ‘soap’ factor: Despite the continuous portrayal of disease and death, this American drama retains the soap opera quality of inconsistency, in terms of storyline, death of characters no longer wanted on the show, the continuous back-and-forth in Meredith and Derek’s relationship and even changes in sexual orientation of characters - If nothing else these aspects help one remember that it is only drama!

10. Seattle Grace: This fictional hospital, based in Seattle in the show, seems to be full of cute and highly competent surgeons, apart from having a handsome, large building and state-of-the-art technology. No wonder there is a Facebook group called ‘If I Ever Need Surgery – Take me to Seattle Grace Please.’

The Pakistani myth of the foreign enemy

In the past one year, an acquaintance of mine has often told me in times of emotional distress: “It’s not about other people. It’s always about us,” trying to make me realize that other people actually have very little control over my actions and emotions.

I struggled with this concept and blamed others for my mood swings and inner turmoil. It’s rather strange that I have finally seen the truth in her statement by comparing it to what has been happening in my country: Pakistan.

Since childhood, I have always heard most people blame “foreign” powers, mainly India and the West (read: United States) for the problems faced by Pakistanis. We were taught in History classes and in ancient Urdu books that there was an unequal distribution of resources during partition in 1947 – that India got the bigger share, which is why we were unable to progress in many fields.

I have witnessed the same attitude throughout the last 26 years of my life: “We are not successful because Country X has done this to us.”

I have seen people even deny historical facts and give more weightage to conspiracy theories. There is always a justification for the plight of Pakistanis and a sense of helplessness. The latest issue which has once again brought Pakistan in the limelight is the killing of Osama Bin Laden, who was hiding in the city of Abbottabad in Pakistan. It has given birth to countless conspiracy theories.

Several Pakistanis are still in denial: “we are in this situation because of so and so…” and do not want to acknowledge that there is a great likelihood that some people in the military and the government are supporting terrorists.

Although one cannot deny that foreign powers have had a huge role to play in shaping the present situation in Pakistan but are they solely responsible for the increase in terrorism? What about the rampant corruption in Pakistan? Are the foreign “invisible” hands also responsible for the daily target killings in the city of Karachi? Did they promote injustice for rape victims and make the Land of the Pure a place where even Muslims can no longer comment on Islam or its laws due to the threat of blasphemy charges?

No. We have done this to ourselves. We are our own enemies, blind to our flaws, making life unbearable for each other and thus ourselves. If the country’s greed for foreign aid and its misuse has landed it in the present position, we cannot really blame other countries for the uncertainty, insecurity and chaos.

What we need to realize is that even as an individual one has a lot of strength to overcome obstacles and improve life. People will always try to take advantage. But you do have a choice and can succeed by having the will to do so.

A country of 180 million is not as helpless as many Pakistanis seem to believe. In my opinion, a lot has to do with believing the myth that all our troubles originate from foreign sources.

The obsession with alcohol and adultery

For quite some time now, I have been thinking of writing on how the major and only vices, in the eyes of a large section of Pakistani society, are drinking alcohol, a woman’s “vulgar” dressing, adultery or even free interaction with the opposite sex.

Many debates and conversations, sooner or later, end up with discussing such behaviour. Faiza Rahman’s recent blog ‘I don’t care, alcohol is fun’ on Express Tribune forced me to finally pen down my thoughts.

Even in her short piece, this prevailing mindset becomes quite apparent. The question I would like to ask her is: are not cheating, lying, corruption, intolerance, honour killing, beggary, bribery, rape, murder also big sins/crimes? They have a much greater impact on the society as compared to somebody’s hangover. Have you ever asked a classmate not to cheat in exams?

I agree that there should be laws regarding drunk driving and drug abuse, and also a support system to help addicts. But I feel that the blogger in this case is actually more concerned about preserving the ‘face-saving’ aspect of society. Interestingly, what she found disturbing were her friend’s clothes and not the eve-teasing and lack of modesty on the part of the desi crowd. Boys will be boys?

Moreover, she seemed to feel bad about being labeled a ‘fundamentalist’ but expects others to be nonchalant when she comments on what she considers a lack of proper conduct on their part. Is she not exercising ‘liberty’ in making such comments?

We live in an ideal world…err!

Yes, we should follow all the dictates of state and religion. But the question to ask is: are the laws of our state actually in conformity with our religion? Even if some of them are, how many are actually being implemented? Has the ban on alcohol prevented people from consuming it?

Many personal issues are very subjective and you cannot expect everyone to agree with you. It is also important to differentiate between a sin and a crime.

All human beings will commit sins and they will choose which sins to commit – which is why even God has given everyone a free will. The real problem in the case of our society is that we have become too concerned about what others within our small social circles are doing – especially if somebody is having an affair or drinking – without understanding the implications of our responses. While we may not be conspiring with the Taliban, many of us start imposing our personal beliefs on others, and thus promote intolerance. Instead of analyzing our own actions and trying to become examples for people to follow, we start criticizing, which in reality makes no difference and in my opinion, is done to just reinforce our “piety” and add to the list of our “good” deeds.

Nabila Changeth!

Published in Slogan (Feb ’11)

Hair has always been her medium of expression. Her clientele changed as she became the most
expensive from the most affordable hair stylist. She is the perfect match for a beauty brand like L’Oreal.

Only one name comes to mind: Nabila Maqsood, Pakistan’s style icon and now also a lifestyle brand. The lady recently launched her first coffee table book “Nabila Changes” at the Commune Artists Colony amidst many admirers, including leading designers Safinaz Munir, Deepak Perwani, Umar Sayeed, Sonya Battla, Amir and Huma Adnan; photographers Tapu Javeri and Amean J; and models Aaminah Sheikh and Tanya Shafi.

Inside the book, which is sponsored by L’Oreal Professionnel, we find Nabila ‘freed from the
shackles of tradition’. Through the images we see a glimpse of who she has been, the people and
physical spaces that have influenced her and mostly, her 25-year journey in the world of fashion.

In this autobiographical account, she appears in different roles – as a young mother, a hair stylist, a creative consultant, a makeover specialist – and experiments with her clients’ looks. But one theme is constant: reinvention.

With time, we see how she and her salon, set up in 1986, evolved gracefully. She proudly writes of the launch of the first independent men’s salon, of the very first spa and eventually the first nail bar in the country, with help and inspiration from Zain Mustafa.

‘Styling for me is beyond conventional prettiness,’ Nabila reveals, mentioning how she created hybrid solutions appropriate for the Pakistani market. This is reflected by several of the photographs – shot by some of Pakistan’s leading photographers like Amean J., Tapu Javeri, Rizwan Baig and Khawar Riaz – that fill the pages. These include prominent faces like Ali Zafar, Wasim Akram, Hadiqa Kiyani, Shaan, Bibi, Zoella, Iraj, Babra Sharif as Marilyn Monroe and so on.

Nabila never advertised and was her ‘own best publicist’. Her success story is simple, yet enticing, with just the right amount of personal details and emotions interwoven with the text and photographs.

With a modern, minimalist look, comprising black-and-white as well as colour images, the book
bespeaks style and sophistication. The transition is smooth, from one chapter to another, though one feels that much remains to be said and revealed – possibly in another coffee table book.

Like Nabila’s styling work, it is evident that the same attention to detail has been given while
compiling “Nabila Changes”. Definitely a collector’s item!

- Ayesha Hoda