Zaradari And KESC
31 May 2009 Leave a Comment
in Current Affairs, Karachi, Pakistan Tags: Karachi, KESC, zARDARI
It seems that people of Karachi had fallen in love with President Zardari after his rcent visit because at that day they were able to see a continous 24 hour supply of Electricity.
RBS T20 Cup won By Sialkot Stallions
30 May 2009 Leave a Comment
in Cricket, IPL, Pakistan, Sports Tags: Final of RBS, Imran nazir, Lahore, Lahore lions, Pakistan, Qaiser abbass, RBS T20, Sialkot Stallions
Imran Nazir
Sialkot Stallions 151 for 6 (Nazir 57, Abbas 47*) beat Lahore Lions 150 for 8 (Farhat 47) by four wickets in the Final of RBS t20 tournament.
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
The tournament despite of the fact being organizaed in a hurry when T20 world cup is coming ahead, managed very well by the officials. All matches were organized well and a treat to watch . No less than a Hi Fi IPL tournament which was not so good this year. Just 5 days for such a tournament is injustice but something is better than nothing.
A hurricane half-century from Imran Nazir and a calm hand from Qaiser Abbas helped Sialkot Stallions down Lahore Lions and retain the RBS Twenty20 Cup at the Gadaffi Stadium.
Chasing 151, Nazir slammed the fourth ball of Sialkot’s innings over the sightscreen but they lost Kamran Younis two deliveries later. If Lahore thought that would slow Nazir down, they were in for a surprise as he blasted five fours off the next seven deliveries. Abdul Razzaq got his second wicket by removing Tahir Mughal but Nazir continued to go for his shots. He reached his half-century – off 17 deliveries, joint fifth-fastest in Twenty20s – as early as the first ball of the fifth over with a six over long-off.
Qaiser Abbass
Sialkot had sprinted to 57 in five overs but the dismissal of Nazir brought some relief for Lahore. Only 36 runs came off the next eight overs, and with Shoaib Malik absent, Lahore sensed a chance. However Abbas made sure there wasn’t too much drama, easing Sialkot’s nerves by crashing a boundary early in each of the final four overs. The last of those brought up the victory with five balls to spare.
The game was lost by Lahore batsmen, who failed to make the most of a blistering start provided by Imran Farhat. Sialkot’s new-ball bowlers have usually done the job for them in this tournament but they were clueless against the onslaught by Farhat, who was nearly as destructive as Nazir during his 27-ball 47, propelling Lahore to 75 after eight overs.
Sialkot’s left-arm spinner Abdur Rehman (economy rate 4.80) has been outstanding all week and he was hard to score off in the final as well. He got rid of Farhat in the ninth over to rob Lahore of their momentum, and stifled them further with a maiden in the 17th over. Lahore scrapped their way to 150, but it didn’t prove to be a big enough target for the team which had beaten them in the semi-finals last season.
Yummy Gol Gappay
29 May 2009 Leave a Comment
in Pakistan Tags: appetizer, Gol gappay or pani puri, Spicy food, Street food
Gol Gappay with all condiments
A great and spicy street food or appetizer in Pakistan is Gol Gappay. They are crispy fried dough balls, puffed and filled with boiled chickpeas, potato and onins, serves with spicy water containing cumin seeds, salt, chaat spice and tamarind. Now days a sweet chatni is also served along with them which is made from dried apricots and sugar.
They are so yummy that you can’t eat just one. Street vendors provide an easy access to the dish for the locals. Small stalls are also set up in the markets for serving the mouth watering Gol Gappay. In wedding feasts they are making their place also.
I enjoyed them today with the family when unexpetedly my husband brought them home.They were simply spicy and yumy.
Final Of RBS T20 Cup 2009
29 May 2009 Leave a Comment
in Cricket, IPL, Pakistan Tags: Fianl RBS, IPL, Lahore lions, Pakistan, RBS cup, Sialkot Stallions, T20
The Pakistani version of IPL is going towards an end with final between Sialkot stallions and Lahore lions today. going to be a competition between Shoaib Malik and Abdur razzaq’s experience. Both all rounders will have a tough time. Razzaq has proved in the previous matches that he has all the potential to come back in Pakistan team as he has been cleared from ICl as well. Shoaib malik also has equal chance over razzaq.
In the first semi finals of RBS cup Lahore Lions 125 for 7 (Farhat 33) beat Islamabad Leopards 123 for 7 (Naeem Anjum 37) by three wickets. View Scorecard.
After a low-scoring game swung from one side to the other, it was Kamran Akmal’s cool cameo and Lahore Lions’ depth in batting that steered them to the final. Needing 24 off the final two overs with three wickets in hand, Lahore had Akmal and Sohail Ahmed (List A average of 37.52) at the crease. The match was virtually decided in the penultimate over, bowled by Afaq Raheem, as Akmal slammed two consecutive sixes over midwicket, and Sohail chipped in with a boundary in the same region to take 19 runs off it.
It had been a superb spell from Raheem till that over, having taken the big wickets of Abdul Razzaq and Salman Butt and giving away only six runs in his two previous overs. It had led Islamabad Leopards’ fightback after Imran Farhat and Butt (25) overcame a top-order collapse to take Lahore to a strong 80 for 3 in 13 overs.
Islamabad had suffered a top-order wobble of their own earlier – slumping to 33 for 4 in the seventh over – and needed some big hits from the lower-middle order to set a competitive target. The cornerstone of their total was the 55-run seventh-wicket association between wicketkeeper Naeem Anjum and Imad Wasim (24*) which lifted them from 62 for 6.
Akmal’s efforts, though, made sure Lahore didn’t suffer a repeat of last year’s fate, when they bowed out to Sialkot Stallions in the semi-finals.
In Second semi final Sialkot Stallions 181 (Malik 45, Kamran Younis 43, Zia 3-28) beat Lahore Eagles 126 (Masood 39) by 55 runs. View Scorecard.
Sialkot Stallions continued to show the form of champions, marching into the finals after overpowering Lahore Eagles at the Gadaffi Stadium. Imran Nazir had Lahore regretting their decision to field by lashing 16 runs off the first over, bowled by Usman Malik. Another six and four followed in the next over before he holed out to long-on for a 10-ball 26. There was no respite for Lahore though as Tahir Mughal carted Mohammad Khalil for three leg-side sixes in a row before rounding off the third over with a boundary to third man. Sialkot were 51 for 1 after three.
The dismissal of Mughal for a 11-ball 30 in the fifth over slowed the Sialkot run-rate, and they coasted along to 133 for 4 in 15. Captain Shoaib Malik then cut loose, smashing 23 off his next nine deliveries before falling for a 27-ball 45. Sialkot lost a slew of wickets towards the end to be bowled out for 181, short of the 200 that looked in sight at one stage but still a formidable target for Lahore.
The chase never got on track. In contrast to Sialkot’s rocket-fuelled start, Lahore were out of the game by the end of the Powerplays, losing six wickets. A couple of run-outs and two wickets each for the new-ball bowlers, Kashif Daud and Naved Arif, left Lahore in ruins. No. 9 Fahal Mahmood top scored with 36, but all it did was bring some respectability to the margin of defeat.
Lays halal Certificate
29 May 2009 Leave a Comment
in Current Affairs, Health, Pakistan, Uncategorized Tags: E631, haram or halal, Lays, lays certificates, pig fat
Cool Kulfi
29 May 2009 Leave a Comment
in Karachi, Pakistan Tags: frozen dessert, Kulfi, Pakistan, Street food
When it is damn hot in the streets of South Pakistan, it goes up to 45 Celsius, everyone prefers something chilled and cold and I prefer Kulfi, the local ice cream in Pakistan. It is an ideal summer noon dessert to get a cool feeling and cheaper than ice cream. Now days it costs around 5 to 10 rupeesto get yourself refreshed.
Kulfi is a popular flavored frozen dessert of the Subcontinent, made from milk. In taste, texture and preparation, it shares commonalities with ice cream but it takes a long time to melt. kulfi is not whipped, resulting in a solid, dense frozen dessert similar to traditional custard based ice-cream. Thus, it is usually considered a distinct category of frozen dairy-based dessert.
Traditionally kulfi is sold by street vendors called kulfiwallahs who keep the kulfi frozen by placing the moulds inside a large earthenware pot called a “matka” or in a wooden box, filled with ice and salt. It is served on a plate or frozen onto a stick. It can be garnished with pistachios, cardamom and desiccated coconuts. Often it is served as Falooda Kulfi which is kulfi with rice noodles, rose syrup and other ingredients.
If you are also a fan of kulfi and trying to make it on your own here is the reciepe.
UNICEF appeal for more Funds for IDPs
29 May 2009 Leave a Comment
in Current Affairs, Pakistan Tags: Funds, IDPs, UN, Unicef
The Unicef Pakistan has almost exhausted its contingency funds and stocks of relief goods and has appealed for an additional $41.4 million for providing immediate assistance to people displaced by fighting in parts of the NWFP.
Working in cooperation with the government, United Nations, and the partners, Unicef is providing drinking water, nutrition, health support, education and protection to children and families wherever possible.
Over half of the displaced are children and humanitarian efforts have been strained by a rapid increase in the number of people fleeing fighting in the Malakand division.
The number of displaced people has reached about 2.5 million. A large number of them have poured into camps and host communities. They have few possessions and are in urgent need of safe water, clothing, food, shelter, healthcare and protection.
Difficulties of access combined with shortages of essential supplies and funding are hindering efforts to provide life-saving support to children and women. Many of the newly displaced are yet to receive any assistance, and only around 10 per cent of them are in camps serviced by national or international humanitarian agencies.
In the coming months, Unicef plans to expand its services and provide humanitarian assistance to displaced children and women both in camps and in host communities.
Irresistable Mangoes
28 May 2009 Leave a Comment
in Health, Pakistan Tags: Mango, Pakistan, summer fruit
Mangoes are the most widely eaten fruit in South Asia and some other parts of the world and are one of the top sources of Vitamin A and also have a good amount of essential minerals. The mango is indigenous to the Subcontinent Cultivated in many tropical regions and distributed widely in the world, mango is one of the most extensively exploited fruits for food, juice, flavor, fragrance and color, making it a common ingredient in new functional foods often called superfruits.
Experts maintain that mango is some sort of comfort food, imparting deep psychological satisfaction, because of their stomach soothing properties, due to the presence of an enzyme. Although at the start of season, mangoes are available in small numbers in the markets. But in coming days, all the markets would be flooded with huge varieties.
The most popular varieties of Mangoes in Pakistan are Sindhri, Saharni, Langra, Dusehri, Neelam, Bangapali, Alphanso and Chaunsa. The fruit has arrived early this summer and now being enjoyed by all.
Round Up of RBS T20: Day 2
28 May 2009 Leave a Comment
in Cricket, Pakistan Tags: Cricket, Pakistan, T20
Group A
A blistering century from captain Abdul Razzaq gave Lahore Lions their second win as they beat Quetta Bears by 74 runs at the Gaddafi Stadium. Razzaq, who came in at No.3, took a couple of overs to settle in and then opened up, smashing eight fours and as many sixes in his innings of 109. The blitz included 28 runs off an Irfan Ismail over that helped propel Lahore to 214 for 6. Razzaq received excellent support from Salman Butt (31), and Nasir Jamshed (58), with whom he added 162 for the third wicket, as Lahore batted Quetta out of the match.
Quetta, in response, were never in a position to scale down such a massive target, struggling to 24 for 3 at one stage. Their captain Taimur Ali resisted with 42, and wicketkeeper Bismillah Khan chipped in with 26 to help them recover somewhat, but a good bowling display saw them finish on a disappointing 140 for 9. As a result, Quetta find themselves at the bottom of the Group A table with two successive defeats.
Mohammad Hafeez was the star for Faisalabad Wolves yet again as they beat Rawalpindi Rams by 27 runs at the Lahore City Cricket Association Ground. Hafeez boosted Faisalabad to a challenging score of 170, stroking an unbeaten 79 off 56 balls including 11 fours. Not that Rawalpindi was without a chance. They had restricted the opposition to 21 for 3, but Hafeez was supported ably by Khurram Shehzad, who made a 51-ball 65 to help his team recover. Sohail Tanvir was impressive, taking 3 for 24 but his efforts were in vain.
In their reply, Rawalpindi faltered from the outset, losing wickets at frequent intervals. Opener Naved Malik threatened with a quickfire 50, smashing seven fours and two sixes, but was short of support from the other end. Hafeez did the damage once again, taking 3 for 14 to take his team to the top of the Group A table.
Group B
A 118-run opening stand between Babar Ali (58) and Sohaib Maqsood (59) laid the foundation for Multan Tigers‘ successful run-chase against Karachi Zebras at the Lahore City Cricket Association Ground.
Karachi had posted a competitive score of 158, thanks to half-centuries from Shahzaib Hasan and Fahad Iqbal. They were comfortably placed at 140 for 2, but lost their way a little, losing four wickets for 18 runs. Kashif Naved, the left-arm fast bowler, took 3 for 20, and played an important role in stemming the flow of runs.
Babar and Maqsood led the reply with the latter being the more aggressive. Multan’s job was made easier by an 18-ball 30 from Rizwan Haider who struck two sixes and a four to complete the job, and hand Multan their first win. Karachi, on the other hand, has lost two in two.
Group C
Hyderabad Hawks opened their account in the RBS Twenty20 Cup at the Gaddafi Stadium with a comfortable eight-wicket win against Peshawar Panthers, who suffered their second consecutive defeat in as many days. Peshawar fell away after a good start, to post 148, and the target was easily overhauled thanks to Faisal Athar’s unbeaten 55 and Azeem Ghumman’s steady 40.
Peshawar were in a good position to post a bigger score when they were at 86 for 1 in the 12th over. The top three, including captain Younis Khan, made starts but couldn’t push on. Hyderabad too got off to a good start, with their openers adding 61 in eight overs. Faisal, walking in at No.3, hit three sixes and six fours in his 37-ball knock. Rizwan Ahmed joined him in an unbeaten stand of 74 to help Hyderabad finish the formalities.
Group D
Half-centuries from Captain Khalid Latif and Fawad Alam boosted Karachi Dolphins to a formidable score, one that they were able to defend comfortably against Abbottabad Rhinos – who lost their second consecutive game – at the Gaddafi Stadium. Karachi piled on 209 as Latif blasted a 50-ball 81, and added 106 with Fawad, who was equally ruthless, smashing 11 fours in his knock of 70.
Abbottabad were dented early in their innings, Mohammad Sami striking twice in the third over to remove the openers, though captain Adnan Raees and Fawad Khan did stage a recovery with a 61-run stand. However, it proved inadequate as Fawad chipped in with two wickets to remove both of them, and produced a run-out to seal a convincing 52-run win.
SUMMARIZED SCORE CARD:
Group B: Karachi Zebras v Multan Tigers at Lahore – May 26, 2009
Multan Tigers won by 8 wickets (with 9 balls remaining)
Karachi Zebras 158/6 (20/20 ov); Multan Tigers 161/2 (18.3/20 ov)
Group C: Hyderabad Hawks v Peshawar Panthers at Lahore – May 26, 2009
Hyderabad Hawks won by 8 wickets (with 6 balls remaining)
Peshawar Panthers 148/6 (20/20 ov); Hyderabad Hawks 150/2 (19/20 ov)
Group A: Faisalabad Wolves v Rawalpindi Rams at Lahore – May 26, 2009
Faisalabad Wolves won by 27 runs
Faisalabad Wolves 170/4 (20/20 ov); Rawalpindi Rams 143/7 (20/20 ov)
Group D: Abbottabad Rhinos v Karachi Dolphins at Lahore – May 26, 2009
Karachi Dolphins won by 52 runs
Karachi Dolphins 209/5 (20/20 ov); Abbottabad Rhinos 157/7 (20/20 ov)
Group A: Lahore Lions v Quetta Bears at Lahore – May 26, 2009
Lahore Lions won by 74 runs
Lahore Lions 214/6 (20/20 ov); Quetta Bears 140/9 (20/20 ov)
© Cricinfo
Khussa: A Traditional Footware
27 May 2009 Leave a Comment
in Beauty, Pakistan Tags: Khussa, Traditional footware, wedding footware
Footwear is considered an extension of one’s personality. Well-maintained footwear says things about the owner, with cleanliness as the most important concern. Although the intricacy of this craft may have been lost to modernization, their influences are still present in shoes today.
A Tradition continues as this Traditional Pakistani shoes made by craftsmen engaged in this art for generations. Elegant Pairs with Embroidery and crafted by hand are most hot item among young and old alike. These shoes give a distinctive style to personality. Born in history of land of five rivers, it is almost impossible to quote the origination of this kind.
The people of the subcontinent are very traditional by nature. Pakistanis also possess a very rich cultural heritage. Among the list of our traditional heritage is the popular Khussa shoe which is worn by men as well as women.
At the Lahore Museum, there is a variety of archaic shoes (Khussas) which were popular in ancient times displayed in the Islamic Gallery. These centuries’ old-fashioned shoes became most popular in the subcontinent during the Mughal Era. They came to be known as Salim Shahi after the nickname of Emperor Jehangir.
Most of the Khussas are made in the country-side. The shoe is very popular in the villages. Village cobbler makes Khussas on order for the peasants who know its comfort and durability. Now days it is popular as formal wears in “Mehndi Ceremony” when most the girls are dressed in traditional dresses along with Khussa. The embroided variety with many colors attracts every girl. Gents also wear it but it is more oftenly used at weddings by the groom, as it compliments Sherwani( Traditional Groom Dress for wedding) very well.
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