Pakistani brands embrace Black Friday: here's a list of sales on right now

For years, we have heard about friends and family braving the cold and battling crowds in the United States to grab unbelievable discounts the day following Thanksgiving, that is Black Friday.

Now, Pakistani stores are finally jumping onto the bandwagon. This year brands across Pakistan are embracing Black Friday as a day to grant shoppers massive markdowns.

Looking at all these Black Friday sales, are we experiencing mild cultural confusion? Yes! Do we care? No!

Here's a definitive list of brands slashing their prices... get ready, set, shop!

1) With Daraz.pk kicking off the trend by announcing their Black Friday website wide sale with discounts going upto 84%, many local designers and stores decided to join in on the fun.

2) Sapphire is having a flat 50% off sale on all items in store, as the brand turns one today.

Fight like a girl: How the Punjab police is breaking stereotypes with its new recruits

Sub-Inspector Shahida is one of the many young women who have recently joined the Rawalpindi Police Force after clearing the Punjab Public Service Commission exam. She is conscientious, educated, and confident — exactly the image that Pakistan, whose population balance tips towards the young, needs to have.

In our dominant patriarchal culture, the induction of such a large number of young women did come to me as a bit of a surprise. So much so, I was wondering if the government had privatised the police department!

This interesting exchange with Shahida took place by chance a couple of days ago, when I was visiting my friend, a superintendent of Police in Rawalpindi. Upon entering the Rawalpindi Police Headquarters, I saw a couple of young uniform-clad women, looking very professional.

The colour of their uniform was the same as that of their male colleagues, but something else captured my attention. They were all wearing pantaloons.

This was definitely not something I expected policewomen in Punjab to wear. They usually dress in the traditional Shalwar Kameez.

Also read: Badge of honour: KP's female cops break new ground

I was very curious to know how these policewomen were different from the rest. When I asked my friend about it, he said these newly-recruited ladies had to undergo a rigorous police training, including an Elite Commando course.

Elite training? I was puzzled. This training is considered to be the toughest in police, not just for women, but also for men. It has the same reputation as that of the SSG trainings conducted by the army. “How did they do all this?” I inquired, on which my friend suggested that I should meet them to find out for myself. 

I walked out of his room towards the spacious veranda of the police station. I found the young female police inspectors busy with their work. Seated in their rooms, they were listening to the complainants, conducting themselves with thorough professionalism.

Women police officers are inducted in two cadres; Officers and Ranks. Officers start at grade 17 as Assistant Superintendents of Police, and those in Ranks join at grade 14 as Sub-Inspectors.

For the first time in the history of Punjab Police, last year, 76 women joined the police department in Punjab as Sub-Inspectors.

During my visit, I also met Sabrina who told me that she travelled from Taxila to Rawalpindi every day. That was nothing new. But imagine a woman wearing a police uniform, driving daily from Taxila to Rawalpindi and back on a busy GT road.

I asked her if she ever felt threatened, or if she carried a weapon. “I am the weapon,” she said.

Her confidence was almost infectious. For a minute, I thought I was having a conversation with Sun Tzu, Zen Buddhist warrior and author of ’The art of war’. She was very calm, composed and self-assured as she spoke.

And she was not the only one; all these young officers seemed firm and determined. This experience held a novelty for me. Part of the credit for their level of self-confidence goes to the training they received.

I asked how their families felt about their working hours. I was told they had full support. The new generation, along with their families, wanted to make the best use of opportunities provided by a growing economy like Punjab’s. To them, working for the Punjab Police means a secure future.

The Punjab Police is primarily male-dominated and the province has a rigid patriarchal culture. It is no secret that most of the postings and appointments, not just in the Police but in other departments as well, are handed down on political affiliations.

Also read: Footprints — Female wardens back on bikes

Considering these circumstances, I wonder if these women would ever be posted as SHOs (Station House Officers) not just in women thaanas (police stations) but elsewhere too?

Would these women ever be brought into mainstream policing?

Would they really be able to bring about a positive change in society's approach towards females?

Women certainly have limitations when it comes to the culture or environment of an institution and it is not their fault. “Men can sit together in the office for hours. They can be friends with their bosses, while we can’t. We cannot get chummy with our seniors,” said Shabnam.

She also said that their confidence springs from looking up to female police officers at higher ranks within the department. “Although things are still difficult, times are changing and we get a lot of encouragement from our male colleagues.”

Also read: Meet Pakistan’s fearless female police commandos

Women in these police stations work alongside men. The men I met were more senior, both in terms of rank and age. However, it came to me as a pleasant surprise that they welcomed the idea of young women joining the police force.

Tahir Naqvi, 50, told me about his experience with the new recruits. He said one day during the month of Muharram, security was on high-alert and a procession was expected to go through the area. Traffic was blocked and barriers erected. At this point, a female police officer, who had recently joined the team took a bold decision. She told the sergeant to allow the traffic to pass as people with young children had been stuck for a long time.

He was astonished to hear this and asked her if she knew what she was doing. “Yes Sir, I do,” she had replied.

“They are not like our generation. They are energetic and willing to learn. We wish them good luck,” said Naqvi.

Women are fast becoming change agents across the board; whether its education, sports, medicine, businesses or the police department. This is the right time to tap their potential as women constitute more than half of Pakistan’s population.

I witnessed firsthand how the Punjab Police is changing for the better. Young and educated women and men are joining its ranks. It seems that thethaana culture that the previous generations witnessed would soon be history.

The police department — if it consistently pursued its policies — would eventually evolve into a more responsive and gender equal institution.

Size isn't everything: This little eatery in Islamabad may serve Pakistan's best burger

ISLAMABAD: Every once in a while, a quirky little eatery opens up that captures the imaginations of the residents of the capital. In the same way that Islamabad’s restaurant-goers were once drawn to the old Tiramisu and its impeccable cooking and indulgent desserts, a newcomer has captured the imaginations of the city.

Upon first entering The Warehouse, you could be forgiven for thinking, “Is this it?” But what this restaurant lacks in square footage, it aims to make up for in service and presentation.

If you’re lucky enough to find a spot to sit, the menu is a simple one-pager, and most of the choices on it are binary. In soups, there’s Asparagus or Roasted Tomato; Panini options include Cheese and Tomato or meat.

The salads though, are a feast for the eyes as well as the palate. Here too, one can choose between a Mediterranean or a meat-based option.

The seating is designed in such a way that customers have a clear view of the kitchen area.

Here, chefs in hairnets and aprons sous-vide burger patties in the style of celebrity chef Heston Blumenthal. This is a method where the meat is vacuum packed and cooked slowly for a long period of time in water. In fact, a lot of the cooking methods – especially the way the coffee is brewed – are innovative and unique.

Regulars also praise the personalised service at the bistro. Ammar Mumtaz, the young entrepreneur behind the restaurant, can often be seen moving from table to table, checking on people’s orders, recommending items to new customers and getting feedback.

The Warehouse is the owner’s second foray into the culinary landscape of Islamabad. His first outing, the Burning Brownie bakery-cafe, has been a big success. In fact, the Rasmalai Cheesecake – one of the best items on the menu – was probably created at the bakery itself.

A lot of people Dawn spoke to also praised their burgers. Journalist Madiha Tahir called their burgers, “The best I’ve had in Pakistan.” “The meat is done medium rare, as it should be,” said development professional Sarah Ahmed.

However, the restaurant’s pièce de résistance, their steaks, have not been available for over two weeks now and a sign outside the door proclaims that they will be serving steaks after Eidul Azha, ostensibly when meat becomes more widely available in the market.

There are obviously teething problems: Asma Saigol complained that certain items on the menu, such as the burgers and steaks, are not available at all times. The restaurant has also had issues with meal timings and has had to implement a very narrow window for lunch and dinner.

The drinks, however, are delightfully presented. Fruit smoothies, iced teas and light cocktails are served in jars and there are actual tea bags in the iced teas. The Citrus Breezer and the Strawberry Iced Tea are quite popular among patrons. Educationist Fiza Waheed especially recommends the Hazelnut Frappe, saying “it’s the best in town.”

But if there’s one item on The Warehouse menu that is a must-have, it is the Roasted Tomato Soup. As Mr Mumtaz explains to new customers, the soup is infused with roasted garlic and smoked hickory, and served not with a regular breadstick, but a crispy, dried piece of Afghani Nan. The soup is perfectly well-balanced in terms of spice and is guaranteed to leave everyone wanting more.

What is surprising is the absence of a concerted advertising campaign, either via mainstream or social media. The bistro’s popularity, in fact, owes a lot to word-of-mouth communication, with friends recommending it to each other and word getting out that way. But perhaps that is for the best: one can’t imagine how the restaurant would ever fit more customers than it is already receiving.

Hello, aloe: 6 reasons this potted plant is a must-have in your garden

A number of cosmetics, especially skin care products, claim to contain aloe vera as an ingredient.

It may have gained importance lately but it is not a new invention and has been in use for hundreds of years. In fact, it is said that the Egyptian beauty queen, Cleopatra, is believed to have used aloe vera cream in her beauty regimen for promoting health and physical well being; ancient Egyptians used Aloe vera for curing infections, dermatological disorders and as a laxative and Hippocrates — the father of medicine — too used the plant for its multiple medicinal benefits.

Close to home, ancient Ayurvedas of India used aloe vera among other things as a laxative, and to treat eczema or psoriasis, while in the Arabian medicine, fresh aloe vera gel is rubbed on the forehead to get rid of headache or rubbed on the body of a patient to cool it in case of fevers.

Aloe vera contains is high in vitamins and minerals; it contains vitamins A, C, E, B1, B2, B3 and B12; proteins, lipids, amino acids, folic acid and minerals such as calcium, magnesium, zinc, chromium, selenium, sodium, iron, potassium, copper and manganese, which are known to keep our health in good condition, and their deficiency gives rise to various ailments. The presence of these compounds makes it an important ingredient in cosmetics and traditional medicines.

Aloe vera produces two substances, gel and latex, which are used for medicine. Aloe is clear, jellylike substance found in the inner part of the aloe plant leaf, while the latex comes from just under the plant’s skin and is yellow in colour.

Detoxification: The consumption of aloe, which is a gelatinous plant food, helps absorb toxins while passing through the intestinal tract and eliminate through the colon. This helps proper elimination of waste from your body and helps in detoxification.

Skin care: Aloe is known to heal wounds and is great for applying topically to burns, abrasions, eczema, psoriasis and bug bites. It acts as an analgesic, acting to help relieve pain of wounds. Due to its high water content aloe is good for hydration, moisturising and rejuvenation of skin. As an astringent, it causes the contraction of body tissues typically used to reduce bleeding from minor abrasions. Topical application of aloe to the burn area reduces pain and heals burns quickly.

Reduce inflammation: Certain substances in aloe help to slow down or inhibit inflammation; applying gel externally can ease muscle and painful joints due to stiffness and help improve joint flexibility. But the secret lies in using freshly prepared gel.

Helps digestion: Aloe is known to soothe and cleanse the digestive tract and helps improve digestion. An interesting thing is that it helps with both constipation and diarrhoea; that is because it helps to regulate the elimination cycle. It is good for people with irritable bowel syndrome as well as acid reflux.

Weight loss: Aloe vera juice is an easy and natural weight loss solution; it reduces weight by stabilising the metabolic rate and helping burn fat.

Hair care: If your hair is dry, brittle and damaged, have split ends and dandruff then regular use of aloe vera is the answer to your problem; it will make your hair smooth, soft and damage free.

Precaution and warning: Despite having so many benefits aloe should be used with caution, especially if used in the long-term as this can lead to loss of electrolytes, especially potassium. Also its use should be avoided during pregnancy, menstruation, if you have haemorrhoids or degeneration of the liver and gall bladder.

Burj Khalifa to open for sunrise

DUBAI: It will soon be possible to watch the sun rise over Dubai from the world’s tallest building.

The Burj Khalifa announced on Thursday it is selling tickets on the United Arab Emirates’ weekend of Friday and Saturday for sunrise viewings.

The building’s management says the sessions start from 5:30am with viewings every 30 minutes on the 124th floor until 8am.

Weekend viewings previously started from 8:30am. Tickets are 125 dirhams ($34) for adults and 95 dirhams ($26) for children ages 4 to 12.

Children under 4 can enter for free.

The spired 2,717-foot (828-metre) tall Burj Khalifa opened to the public in January 2010.