Peek Freans introduces the Emerging Artist Prize

Karachi (Cliff News)Peek Freans is dedicated to spreading joy among their consumers and they do so not only through their products, but also through other alignments and initiatives. Their latest award launched in collaboration with Karachi Biennale Trust this year, aims to recognize young artists who have shown exceptional talent and potential.  This year’s winner, Arsalan Nasir, was presented with a unique medallion at the inaugural ceremony of Karachi Biennale 2019 for his work.The Karachi Biennale is held every two years to provide a platform for emerging artists to show case their work. This year, the event showcased multiple artists from all over Pakistan as well as several other countries. The theme for this year was the devastating ‘development footprint’ on ecology.While speaking to the media, Arsalan talked about the dangers of rapid urbanization in our part of the world, particularly with regards to the environment. Through his art, he wanted to depict the first and foremost repercussion of rapid urbanization – the birds of our city. These birds are in danger every day due to the rapid increase in the prevalence of tall buildings, communication towers and wires around the city. Speaking about the award, Dr Zeelaf Munir, Managing Director & CEO EBM, said “Art is the best medium to help raise social awareness and EBM wants to use that to help drive focus towards the most pressing issue of our time. Keeping in line with EBM’s history of nourishing the environment and championing positive change, we are doing our part by encouraging youngsters to use their creativity to help raise awareness about the environment.”Karachi Biennale, termed as the largest international contemporary art event by its organizers, kicked off on 26th October, 2019.

About EBM:

EBM has been baking nutritious delights for Pakistani consumers under the brand name Peek Freans since 1996. As one of the pioneers of the industry as well as a dominating market leader, EBM continues to innovate on each of the three fronts: product, quality, and communication.

 

 

PCB partners with Uber for ground breaking girls school participation program

Lahore(Cliff News)The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) today announced a partnership with Uber for the development of girls’ cricket at school level across the country through its Cric4Us Programme.The six-month partnership, which commences from the day of signing, will benefit more than 1,500 players through collaboration with schools in 14 cities namely Abbottabad, Bahawalpur, Charsadda, Haripur, Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Mardan, Multan, Muzaffargarh, Nowshera, Peshawar, Quetta and Rawalpindi.Under the six-month partnership, playing and training clothing will be provided to 850 children, while cricket equipment will be provided to 50 schools.The programme will select a minimum of four schools in every city.With women coaches and mentors given priority, 50 school-based sports staff will be provided training. Twenty-five pitches will be developed in schools across five zones.PCB Chief Executive Wasim Khan: “For the promotion of women and girls cricket and the enhancement of the player pool, it is imperative that women cricket is developed at school level.“The PCB has been undertaking many initiatives through its Cric4Us Programme and plans to exhaust all avenues to provide better opportunities for girls to take up the sport and to see it as a viable profession at a later stage. “I am hopeful that this valuable partnership between the PCB and Uber will help us in achieving this very goal. I want to thank Uber for putting its trust in the PCB for the development of women and girls cricket at school level.”GM Uber Saad Naveed Pall: “Our goal is to not only tell stories of empowered women but to create an ecosystem which enables aspiring women cricketers.“We are excited about this partnership with the PCB to provide opportunities to young girls who will go on to challenge the status quo by becoming change agents of the future.”Cric4Us Programme is a women cricket development project launched under the flagship of Women Cricket Vision 2022, which focuses on the growth of the sport in schools and provide a proper pathway for making way to the emerging and national teams. The schools’ children will also avail the opportunity of regular evening practice, so as to provide them maximum development opportunities. The schools will also play matches on regular basis, which will help children in developing the desired skill-set. 

 

Lucky Cement records consolidated earnings of PKR 1.27 billion

Karachi(Cliff News)On a consolidated basis, Lucky Cement Limited reported net profit after tax of PKR 1.27 billion after taking out PKR 0.25 billion attributable to non-controlling interests for the first quarter ended September 30, 2019, which translates into earnings per share (EPS) of PKR 3.93 / share as compared to PKR 9.14 / share during the same period last year.Further, on a consolidated basis, the Company achieved gross turnover of PKR 34.43 billion which is 9.9% higher as compared to the same period last year’s turnover of PKR 31.32 billion.On a standlaone basis Company’s overall sales volumes declined by 13.6% to reach 1.64 million tons during the first quarter ended September 30, 2019. The local cement sales volume registered a decline of 19.4% and were 1.12 million tons in comparison to 1.40 million tons during the same period last year, however, the export sales volumes of the Company improved by 2.6% to reach 0.51 million tons as compared to 0.50 million tons during the same period last year.Further, with regards to Company’s standalone financial performance, the gross sales revenue declined by 13.0% to PKR 13.93 billion compared to PKR 16.01 billion during the same period last year. The decrease was mainly due to lower sales volume and cut-throat pricing on the back of lower demand and retentions on account of stringent `Axle load’ limits’ implementation. Furthermore, Lucky Cement recorded net profit after tax of PKR 955.85 million, which is 61.7% lower as compared to the same period last year. Similarly, the standalone EPS of the Company is PKR 2.96 / share as compared to the same period last year’s reported EPS of PKR 7.71 / share.Lucky Cement shared progress on its brownfield expansion for cement production of 2.6 million tons per annum at its Pezu Plant and also informed that it has decided to further invest in setting up a grinding unit and have a fully integrated cement production capacity of 1.2 million tons per annum in Samawah, Iraq as part of the ongoing offshore joint venture project, with the existing local patner. In addition, the Company also reported progress on its investment project of 1 X 660 MW supercritical coal-based power project at Port Qasim.Lucky Cement remains committed towards improvement in the society and the communities in which it operates. In this regard, the Company extended numerous scholarships to deserving students for various leading universities in Pakistan and abroad. Keeping in view the importance and impact of women empowerment in Pakistan, the Company in collaboration with Zindagi Trust continued its support for two leading Government girls’ schools in Karachi. Providing quality healthcare has always been company’s priority and in this regard the company continued its support to Aziz Tabba Foundation. Lucky Cement always takes serious responsibility towards the environment and in an effort to further highlight the importance of environment conservation, the company continued with its tree plantation drive in and around its manufacturing sites.With the current economic challenges and macro-economic situation, Lucky Cement believes that in short to medium-term, the outlook of the Cement industry will continue to remain challenging. The cut-throat pricing and cost escalation due to `Axle load’ limits’ implementation has put adverse pressure on profitability. The cement industry is engaged with the Government to resolve the `Axle load’ limits’ issue and is hopeful for its resolution.The Company is also evaluating to increase its logistics’ fleet size to mitigate the adverse impact of the `Axle load’ limits’ implementation.

 

 

The next generation of China’s corporate global giants

Karachi(Cliff News)ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) has identified the 100 fastest-growing Chinese businesses emerging as global corporations – based on analyses of historical performance and their potential for future growth.Together with the Shenzhen Finance Institute, ACCA has conducted in-depth research of nearly 3,000 private enterprises listed in China and overseas.The research stems from 11 specially designed diverse indicators, with five of these measuring the companies’ historical performance and six predicting their future growth. These factors include the company’s size, growth, profitability, innovativeness, level of internationalisation, and media coverage.Sajjeed Aslam, head of ACCA Pakistan says: ‘ACCA has been monitoring China’s rising corporates and businesses, with an original report in 2014, followed by further analysis in 2016. What’s clear across all reports is the aspiration to go global, with many Chinese firms already doing so. This most recent report indicates that many of these businesses will become China’s next generation of global corporations over the next few years if they continue on their current trajectories. Businesses in Pakistan need to learn from these examples of accelerated business growth and should explore opportunities to build partnerships with them to jumpstart their own global expansion.’

Key findings include:

Internet: More high-tech enterprises have evolved into the leaders of China’s future economic growth. Among the Top 100 companies, 42 companies are engaged in the computer and internet-related sectors. Since the 2016 ranking, the number of internet enterprises has increased by 50%.

Diversity: China’s future giants represent a fairly diverse range of industries. Those listed overseas tend to be involved in the internet, software development and other related sectors. The seven companies which are listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX) are in the manufacturing, medicine and internet sectors.

Highest performers: The companies with the best overall rankings had better scores than other companies for corporate scale, growth, cash flow, overseas strategy and media coverage.

Common features: Despite not being widely-known internationally, the top-ranked enterprises have had a relatively rapid growth and support innovative development with a long-term vision and international strategy, enjoying positive media coverage and having a strong focus on R&D.The report also profiles three companies as case studies:

1)    Sunway Communication started out as a supplier of mobile device antennas in 2006 and is now a big player among global suppliers, with its focus on maintaining an technological edge, achieving organic growth, pursuit of long-term goals and grasping the best moment to become involved in the new technologies.

2)    Autohome Inc began life as a traditional media company in 2005 and is undergoing a successful evolution into the world’s most-visited car website. Even with the decline in growth and fierce competition in China’s current automobile market, Autohome was able to outperform its benchmark and recorded a 39% year-on-year growth in net profit.

3)    Aier Eye Hospital is a leader in ophthalmology with significant growth, offering various types of diagnosis and treatment, surgery and optometry services, with a network spread across mainland China, Hong Kong SAR of China, Europe and the US. The chain has treated almost 6 million patients in over 560,000 surgeries. Among all the companies ranked earnings Aier Eye Hospital achieved the highest scores in earnings quality and cash flow among all the companies ranked.To increase understanding of the impact of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, ACCA is actively collaborating with a range of strategic partners, working together to explore and define the opportunities and challenges facing countries and businesses along the routes, with special focus on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).ACCA publishes a wide range of Belt and Road focused research and insights to support its members who are already working and supporting BRI projects.

About ACCA

ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) is the global body for professional accountants, offering business-relevant, first-choice qualifications to people of application, ability and ambition around the world who seek a rewarding career in accountancy, finance and management.ACCA supports its 208,000 members and 503,000 students in 178 countries, helping them to develop successful careers in accounting and business, with the skills required by employers. ACCA works through a network of 104 offices and centres and more than 7,300 Approved Employers worldwide, who provide high standards of employee learning and development. Through its public interest remit, ACCA promotes appropriate regulation of accounting and conducts relevant research to ensure accountancy continues to grow in reputation and influence.ACCA has introduced major innovations to its flagship qualification to ensure its members and future members continue to be the most valued, up to date and sought-after accountancy professionals globally.Founded in 1904, ACCA has consistently held unique core values: opportunity, diversity, innovation, integrity and accountabilities.

 

 

CARFIRST wins Consumers Choice Award of fastest growing tech company in Pakistan

Karachi(Cliff News)CarFirst, Pakistan’s most trusted used car trading platform, was awarded the prestigious ‘Icon Award’ for ‘Fastest Growing Tech Company In Pakistan’ at the 14th Consumers Choice Awards 2019 in Karachi by the Consumers Association of Pakistan.Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication, presented the award to CarFirst’s CEO & Co-Founder, Raja Murad Khan. The award reflects the CarFirst’s growth and its customer-centric approach, innovative products and how well it caters to the evolving needs of customers. Consumers Association of Pakistan is the largest network of consumers rights in Pakistan and gives out awards to consumer-friendly companies who offer their products and services in the best interest of Pakistani consumers. These awards are especially gratifying as the winners are selected from a wide cross-section of Pakistani consumers through different surveys conducted by the Consumers Association of Pakistan (CAP).Accepting the Consumers Association of Pakistan’s Icon Award for the Fastest Growing Tech Company In Pakistan, Raja Murad Khan, CEO & Co-Founder of CarFirst said: “It is an honour for each and every member of the CarFirst family to receive this recognition from the biggest network of consumers rights in Pakistan. CarFirst has been a consumer-centric company from the get-go, and we are proud to play our part in simplifying the lives of our consumers through technology and innovation. Today, CarFirst stands proud to have revolutionized the way used cars are traded in Pakistan, and are grateful to be known as the most trusted used car trading platform by our consumers. This award goes out to our customers – Thank you for believing in us, as we continue to work endlessly to make the car selling process in Pakistan, fast, simple, secure and stress-free. ”The event was attended by, Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication, Mr. Toshikazu Isomura, Consulate General of Japan, Mr. Wang Hua, Chief Executive Officer ZONG China Mobile Pakistan(CMPak) Ltd, Dr. Mirza Ikhtiar Baig, Chairman Baig Group, Sr. Vice President (FPCCI), Mr. Samir Mir Shaikh Chairman Standing Committee on Education, Science and Technology (FPCCI) and Mr. Jam Ikramullah Dharejo, Minister of Industries & Commerce, Co-Operation Department, renowned industrialist, dignitaries from the Federal and Provincial Government, Diplomats and Media personalities.

About CarFirst

CarFirst is Pakistan’s most trusted trading platform, with a nationwide network of purchase centres and warehouses. CarFirst was founded in 2016 and has been the recipient of the largest Series ‘A’ investment in Pakistan from Frontier Car Group, and the largest Series ‘B’ investment from OLX Group. CarFirst aims to revolutionize the way cars are traded in Pakistan by offering comprehensive solutions for all things related to cars, such as evaluation, certification, financing, insurance, live auctions, and many more. CarFirst aim is to keep adding value across the customer’s journey, improving efficiency and transparency at every milestone of the car trading process.

 

Women in FocusPK: Celebrating of Substance

Karachi(Cliff News)The PAS 2017 award winner, FocusPK held its much-awaited annual event, Women in FocusPk successfully initiated last year and focusing on dynamic women who have contributed immeasurably to society and their country at large, here, at the Governor House, Sindh, earlier today. The exclusive event was attended by corporate personalities, celebs, socialites, media and enterprising women from various professions. These awards were held in support of breast cancer awareness as a national cause for women’s health in Pakistan.The event was hosted by renowned TV and film actor and chairperson of FocusPK, Atiqa Odho. After recitation of the Holy Quran and national anthem, the host shared a background to the event. She said “This venture is very close to my heart as I feel women need to celebrate women and support one another – that is the only way to grow.” She then invited Misbah Khalid, project chair to the rostrum who spoke of her vision for the event.Among the worthy award-winners were Noorul Huda Shah, Sultana Siddiqui, Mussarat Misbah, Shazia Sayed, Momina Duraid, Frieha Altaf, Fareshteh Aslam, Fizza Ali Meerza, Erum Bintay Shahid, Maheen Khan, Sheema Kirmani, Samina Ahmed, Ameena Sayed and Seema Taher Khan. Honourable Chief Guest present to witness the remarkable evening was Governor Sindh, Imran Ismail.The programme ended with a tribute to two remarkable women, Fehmida Riaz and Asma Jahangir after which dinner and a live musical programme by Veru Shah and Fatima Shah followed.The official media partner of Women in FocusPk was HUM TV, national media partner was Ptv and PR partner was Starlinks PR and Events. Event supporters were ICI, Atiqa Odho Cosmetics, TDAP, Arkadians, AKMAN RD and Odho Consultancy.

 

 

Fashion Pakistan Week Winter Festive 2019 ends with a Sumptuous Grand Finale

Karachi(Showbiz Reporter)After two days of everything fashion, the third and final day of Fashion Pakistan Week Winter/Festive 2019 concluded in a rather extravagantly ritzy manner on Friday, October 25th at the Beach Luxury Hotel in Karachi where the last eight of the 20 designers put forward their most exquisite creations hence marking the latest trends and must haves for the Winter Festive season.Zainab Chottani commenced day 3 of #FPWF19, with an opulent collection titled ‘Khwahish’ which was a visit to an inexorable classical feminine personification of a majestic look with contemporary silhouettes. This was followed by ‘Darwaish’ by Huma Adnan who took inspiration from the pattern, prints, embroidery, vibrant colors that she sees every day. ‘Uraan’ by Nauman Arfeen illustrated the story of a man learning to let go of his son as he grows into an adult and gets married. ‘Limitless’ by Saba Asad unveiled the glamour of the new generation and ‘Talea’ by Shiza Hasan weaved in a myriad nuances of femininity, recreating a magical tale in fabric and bridal wear.Sixth designer of the night, Sadaf Fawad Khan showcased her latest bridal collection ‘Adam & Eve’ which comprised of a beautiful assortment of pastels as well as traditional colors that are forever classics. ‘Ishq-e-Raag’ by Ayesha Ibrahim juxtaposed the traditions of the Mughal with dainty details, soft feminine colors and the perfect blend of traditional craft and modern sensibility. A head-turning closing show by Deepak Perwani’s latest bridal range ‘Shalimar’ ended the night on a high note.

Needless to say, each designer crafted their best creations with great precision and detail. A–list models from the industry walked designer outfits down the ramp. The make-up maestro Nabila from N-Pro and N-Gents, styled the models and showstoppers with her signature finesse and style.Celebrity showstoppers further elevated the glamour on the ramp starting off with Mawra Hocane and Fahad Mustafa who walked for Zainab Chottani, Deputy Counsel General of USA Darian Arky and Noor Khan for Huma Adnan, Wasim Abbas and Ali Abbas, the father-son duo for Nauman Arfeen, Shaneira Akram for Saba Asad, Wasim Akram for Shiza Hasan, Hania Amir and Feroze Khan for Sadaf Fawad Khan, Sumbul Iqbal for Ayesha Ibrahim and Wahaj Ali and Sarah Khan for Deepak Perwani’s opulent closing.Amongst the tastefully lit lighting and décor were famous faces with the likes of Fawad Khan who came out support his wife Sadaf showcasing the latest collection, Physiogel brand ambassador Ayesha Omer, Asim Azhar, Nina Kashif, Sharmeela Farooqui and Sarwat Gilani amongst others.The glamorous evening began with the presence of renowned personalities from the world of Pakistani fashion and entertainment walked down a star-studded purple carpet in dazzling dresses and dapper attire. The glamour quotient was high as Karachi turned out to applaud the eight closing night designers. Many were seen at the Physiogel booth striking a pose, showing how Physiogel Confident they are before the collection showcase. The stylish and light-hearted actor, Ali Safina engaged the audience in conversations revolving around fashion, their personal style, beautiful skin, and the who’s who of fashion. Some also experienced the chocolatey indulgence at the glamorously decked up Chocolatto booth, ultimately walking away with picture perfect moments.Prior to his showcase, Chairperson of Fashion Pakistan Council (FPC), Deepak Perwani said a few words, “This is my last term as Chairperson of FPC and I’d like to thank everyone who supported me throughout my tenure and also the Pakistani fashion industry which is only growing by the day. I would encourage more and more designers to take part in this as our fashion industry is thriving and together, we should keep the momentum going. I encourage all designers to participate in our elections next month.” Adding to this he also said, “With a strong designer line-up, artistically choreographed shows, tastefully lit lightning and décor, the star-studded three-day Fashion Pakistan Week Winter Festive 2019 is coming to a rousing end and I couldn’t be more proud. We wanted this years’ fashion week to be grand and I think, it’s safe to say that we successfully managed to do so.”The night would not have been as seamless, without the help of Fashion Pakistan Week’s numerous partners. Fashion Pakistan as the producer of the three-day event, Nubain Ali as the show director, Production 021 as the official event management partner, Nabila and N-Gents as the official stylist, TV-One as the official media partner and Radio FM91 as the radio partner in order to get a nation-wide coverage of greater magnitude. The renowned skincare brand, Physiogel as the official red carpet sponsor. Faisal Farooqui as the official photographer, J. by Junaid Jamshed as the official fragrance partner, and Samsonite as the official luggage partner. foodpanda as the official backstage food partner, Pakola, as the official beverage partner, Bisconni Chocolatto as the snack partner with Red Bull as official energy drink partner and Talking Point as the official PR and Digital partner.

Fashion Pakistan Week Winter Festive highlighted the bold flamboyant designs on day 2

Karachi(Cliff News)The glitz and glam of Fashion Pakistan Week 2019 Winter/Festive continued on Thursday, 24th October at the grandly appointed Beach Luxury Hotel in Karachi. With 15 designers remaining to showcase their latest semi-formal, formal and bridal collections, seven of them displayed their stellar designs on Day 2 leaving fashion enthusiasts wanting more on the third and last day of the showing.The evening opened with Stella Jean, a Haitian-Italian designer who works in Rome and is considered to be Giorgio Armani’s protégé. Highlighted by the New York Times as the most convincing of all the New Gen designers in Milan, there was much to look forward to as she unveiled her collection ‘Laboratorio Delle Nazioni’ meaning an Italian-Pakistan bridge which was a multicultural collaboration with the local artisans of Chitral, Gilgit and Hunza. Following that was an energetic fashion display by Humayun Alamgir with his collection, ‘Style Mara Tou Darna Kya’ that highlighted the bold, flamboyant designs needed in fashion. The Pink Tree Company showcased, ‘Color in Technicolor’ which was an homage to old movies and the nostalgia that comes with it. Zuria Dor continued the bold take on fashion with ‘Centre of Gravity’, which was a mix of craftsmanship and the artistry of couture on rich, pure fabrics.Fifth designer of the night, Zellbury brought to the ramp their collection ‘Shahi Rendezvous’ which was a 21st century take on the bright flora and fauna of Mughal Art, with an emphasis on inclusivity and independent women. Splash showcased a global ‘Streetwear’ trend with their vibrant, funky, young designs perfect for the trend-following fashionistas. Fashion maestro, Maheen Khan closed the evening with a breathtaking collection titled ‘Something old something new something borrowed something not so blue’ showcasing the intricacy of designs and bold colors perfect for the Winter season. The make-up maestro Nabila from N-Pro and N-Gents, styled the models and showstoppers with her signature finesse and style.

Celebrity showstoppers ramped up the style quotient, starting off with Karishma Ali for Stella Jean followed by the dapper boys; Shehzad Sheikh, Agha Ali, Fahad Mirza, Ali Safina and Asad Siddiqui for Humayun Alamgir, Navin Waqar for Pink Tree Company, Hina Altaf for Zellbury and Areeba Habib for Maheen Khan’s sumptuous closing.Prior to the show, the purple carpet was abuzz with celebrities, media, stars and fashionistas clicking up a storm, many of whom were seen at the Physiogel booth striking a pose, showing how Physiogel Confident they are. The stylish and light-hearted actor, Ali Safina engaged the audience in conversations revolving around fashion, their personal style, beautiful skin, and the who’s who of fashion. Many also experienced the chocolatey indulgence at the glamorously decked up Chocolatto booth, ultimately walking away with picture perfect moments and decadent desserts.Many prominent personalities attended day two, including Momal Sheikh, Khalid Malik, Zara Noor Abbas, Sarwat Gilani and many Embassy Consulates including The US CG Robert Silberstein, German Consul General Eugen Wollfarth, Italian Ambassador Stefano Pontecorvoste with his wife Lidia Pontecorvoste, Mike Nithavarnkis from the UK Embassy, key TDAP members and Zahir Rahimtoola amongst others.“Fashion Pakistan Council is proud to present a three-day fashion extravaganza and there is definitely much to look forward to at this year’s Fashion Pakistan Week Winter/Festive. We have a perfect mix of many known, upcoming designers from across Pakistan and an international designer, Stella Jean showcasing their creativity in breath-taking ensembles while setting the perfect trends for the season,” said Deepak Perwani, Chairperson of Fashion Pakistan Council.The night would not have been as seamless, without the help of Fashion Pakistan Week’s numerous partners. Fashion Pakistan as the producer of the three-day event, Nubain Ali as the show director, Production 021 as the official event management partner, Nabila and N-Gents as the official stylist, TV-One as the official media partner and Radio FM91 as the radio partner in order to get a nation-wide coverage of greater magnitude. The renowned skincare brand, Physiogel as the official red carpet sponsor. Faisal Farooqui as the official photographer, J. by Junaid Jamshed as the official fragrance partner, and Samsonite as the official luggage partner. foodpanda as the official backstage food partner, Pakola, as the official beverage partner, Bisconni Chocolatto as the snack partner with Red Bull as official energy drink partner and Talking Point as the official PR and Digital partner.

 

Discover Wonderful Indonesia by Silk Thai Airways

By: Zahid Hussain Karani

The Republic of Indonesia is rich with natural resources. Indonesia is world’s largest Palm oil and second largest coal exporter, with a strong economy of around $188b exports, making it
world’s 25 th  largest exporting country. Recently Indonesian President Joko Widodo emphasized that the tourism industry should become the biggest industry in Indonesia in terms of foreign exchange earnings. Indonesia – a huge archipelago that consists of more than 17,000 islands –has so much to offer to (foreign) tourists, such as beautiful beaches and countryside, flora &fauna,divingspots,wildlife, culture, culinary, historic relics as well as vibrant city life.Thecountry with largest Muslim population is rich of halal tourism and friendly citizens, making it a safe destination for tourists. In many international rankings – such as the Most Beautiful countries in the World Index or the Global Muslim Travel Index – Indonesia is ranked highly. It means that the international community acknowledges Indonesia's beauty. However, despite all Indonesia continues to lag behind its regional counterparts in terms of foreign tourist arrivals
(specifically trailing behind Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore).Taking it into account, Indonesia is taking several steps to enhance tourism in the country,
recently the Government of Indonesia, invited a number of Journalists from Pakistan, in an effort to show it's country's real image to the people of Pakistan especially. A seven member Pakistani media team undertook an eight days tour of Indonesia in an annual Familiarization Trip
Programme 2019 hosted by the Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia specially Consul General, Mr. Toto Prianamato and Tourism Ministry of the Republic of Indonesia. The
programme is meant to apprise journalists, travel writers, tour operators and opinion builder of
Indonesia most popular tourist destination.The Pakistani delegation was flown to Indonesia by Thai Airways International whose marketing
manager for Pakistan, Rashid Siddiqui, went the extra mile to provide comfort to the Pakistani journalists. The service of the Thai Airways was also world class and deserves praise,the hospitality and services is excellent. During the eight days trip the delegation visited Bali,
Lombok, Jakarta and Bangkok. The delegation landed on Bali Island which is the perfect holidays.Travel to Bali in Business Class and enjoyed World class awarded business lounge at Bangkok airport, Business Class seats and enjoyed, Thai warm and renowned 

hospitality’s and during fights its very comfortable and served fabulous foods etc.Destination as offers everything for all age group be it youth Honey Mooners, families or senior citizens. The tour began with a trip to Ulu Watu Temple as more than 80 percents of Bali Island population practises a.unique brand of Hindu culture. Throughout Bali a tourist gets to see beautiful and Magnificent Temple. The island offers a tantalising blend of rich heritage tastefully weaved into modern Tourist Facilities. There are many water sports "Toya Devasya Water

Sports" like Banana Boat, Donut Slider, Fly Board, Jet Ski, Flying Fish, Natural Hot Spring and Waterpark in Bali. We next visited Lombok Island which is Bali’s neighbour, and very
environment conscious. It is a tropical paradise whose main attraction are three islands known locally as Gili.

The largest of these island is Gili Trawangan which only allows green transport likes animal horse cart or bicycles which are only mode of transports. Another popular attraction is water sport and snorkeling between the three Gilis which opens a vast and wondrous underwater world. Another must visit site in Lombok is Sukarara village famous for its weaving craft.These textile are much appreciated by women who visited from all over world. Lombok is also the home of a colourful and vibrant Sasak culture, Lush Forests, Scientific waterfalls and
an active volcano, Mount Rinjani. The last two day of the tour were spends in Jakarta,we explored old Batavia, its harbour once was abuzz with ships from the East and the West Batavia
was then known as “The Queen of the East” and as “The Jewel of Asia”. The harbour acted as the meeting points of East and West. The merchants who traded here become the master of
fabulous wealth. The harbour front still reflects those glorious days in the beautiful ancient buildings of the past which have been preserved. During they stay throughout Indonesia our
delegation had authentic Indonesian meals specially Sea Food.On the last day in Indonesia, Pakistan Ambassador Mr. Abdul Salik Khan, his wife invited
journalist delegation for dinner at his official residence. Same night .a Pakistan high Laval Navy delegation headed by Rear Admiral invited by the Ambassador and his wife, some high ranking Indonesian Army officials also invited, we had talk on mutual interest, on the occasion Mr.Sajjad Haider Khan, Minister/ Deputy Head of Mission, Mr. Jamal Nasir, Second Secretary of
the Pakistan Embassy were also present. Our return journey began the next day our journey is not ended and we travel from Indonesia to Thailand ” Land of Smile” with the courtesy of the Thai Airways and will write and share our experience in my next article.

GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT BALI:

Bali is a small island and is one of the biggest tourist destinations in Asia. It is the most wealthy and mostly predominantly tourist island. Bali is one of 17.000 islands of the Indonesian archipelago and
is located just south below the equator between the Bali Sea and the Indian Ocean, and east of Java and west of Lombok. With an area of 5.780 km 2 , the island is the most westerly located island of the Small Sunda Islands, and currently, has more than 4.225 million people who are predominantly
Hindu. The capital of Bali is Denpasar and the most famous places are Seminyak, Kuta, Ubud,Sanur, Nusa Dua, and Canggu.The official language on Bali is Bahasa Indonesia however, the island also has its own language
Balinese (Basa Bali). The distance from Amsterdam is 12.140km and the average travel time by
plane from Amsterdam is 16 hours. The time difference between the Netherlands is 6 hours by the
clock to summer time and 7 hours with the clock to winter and the sun in Bali, at around 6:00 am and
sets around 18:00.Because Hinduism is seen everywhere along the road or in the countryside and at each house
features a temple where many times a day an offering is placed. These offerings are made from natural materials and filled with food, flowers and burning incense, the offerings are used to appease the gods and to keep the evil spirits away. The main and most important temple of Bali is Bali's
mother temple, Pura Besakih, located on the slopes of the sacred volcano Gunung Agung, which,
with its 3031m, is also the highest mountain in Bali and hosts daily ceremonies.The palm-fringed beaches of Bali are predominantly obsidian black or brilliant white and there are
many beautiful coral reefs with colorful fish in the clear blue water all around the island. These places are ideal for snorkeling or diving, these spots over beautiful caves or shipwrecks. The south sea is very suitable for surfing and offers world-class waves. The slopes of the volcanic mountainous
landscape are very famous and offer the characteristic terraced green rice fields (sawah), which are
part of the World Heritage list and make Bali a feast for the eyes for any tourist.

Money
The currency on Bali is the Indonesian Rupiah (Rp abbreviation). Bali is an island where most is paid
in cash. The tourist places have many good exchange offices; it is better to avoid the ones in the
small backwater alleys. Good exchange offices keeping the pricing very good and mostly mention
the rate clearly on digital signs. Everywhere on the island, at gas stations, banks, mini markets,
shopping centers or just along the road, are ATM's where you can withdraw safely. Always stow your
bank cards safely in the safe of your villa or apartment.

Weather
Bali is located just south of the equator and has a dry and wet season (monsoon). The monsoon is
from November to May and The dry season is from May to November. During the day, temperatures are constant around 30 degrees Celsius regardless of the season. There are exceptions in the mountains where it can be considerably cooler and 21 degrees Celsius in the evening.The dry season during the dry (Kite) season it is often cloudy and there is a slight sea breeze from the southeast and the humidity is lower than in the wet season. The days have an average of 9
hours of sunshine and most of the rain that falls is short and in the night. The average water temperature is a lovely 29 degrees.Monsoon season different from areas such as Vietnam, Singapore, Philippines, Bali is not bothered by cyclones or hurricanes, and the chance of a tropical storm is small. During the months of December and January, prolonged heavy tropical showers can occur during the day or in the evening. Around the months of December and January during the monsoon, there is risk of violent
short rain showers, however, the rain is most experience as very refreshing and welcome.The climate is ideal to enjoy a wonderful holiday. The average temperature on land during the day is
30 degrees with seawater temperature of 29 degrees and the cool sea breeze together with lots of suns forms the ideal weather for a holiday!Many beautiful beaches, great diving sites, restaurants, nature, activities and wide nightlife or just resting further components are why Bali is the ideal holiday destination for young and old, whole year round.

Lombok Indonesia
Lombok is an island in West Nusa Tenggara province, Indonesia. It forms part of the chain of
the Lesser Sunda Islands, with the Lombok Strait separating it from Bali to the west and the Alas
Strait between it and Sumbawa to the east. It is roughly circular, with a "tail" ( Sekotong Peninsula ) to the southwest, about 70 kilometres (43 miles) across and a total area of about 4,514 square
kilometres (1,743 square miles). The provincial capital and largest city on the island is  Mataram.Lombok is somewhat similar in size and density, and shares some cultural heritage with the
neighboring island of Bali to the west. However, it is administratively part of West Nusa Tenggara,along with the larger and more sparsely populated island of Sumbawa to the east. Lombok is surrounded by a number of smaller islands locally called Gili.The island is home to some 3.35 million Indonesians as recorded in the decennial 2014 census Lombok island is the most popular holiday destination in Indonesia’s among world wide travellers and holiday makers. Lombok located East of Bali, it’s take 25 minutes by flight and taking 1 hour by
fast boat. The fabled Gili Islands drawing visitors for action both in and out of the water, mighty Mount Rinjani luring climbers, and the big breaks on the south coast a magnet for surfers.

About Lombok Island
Lombok Often touted as the ‘next Bali’, Lombok offers its own unique version of Indonesian culture and society at a much slower pace than its more popular neighbor to the west. In Lombok, there are certainly similarities to Indonesia’s other islands, such as volcanoes, beautiful beaches, clear warm waters, jungle terrain and plenty of traditional villages which have yet to be grossly modernised.However, the low-key character of Lombok’s tourism means that visitors need to do more of the legwork to find the really special sights on this island. The island’s major highlights, like the 12,000foot Mount Rinjani and beach resorts at Senggigi and Kuta, are already well into the tourism development phase, making them popular destinations. Yet conditions rarely reach what could be
considered overcrowded and even at the peak of Lombok’s high season, you’ll find far fewer tourists than on neighboring Bali. Most visitors come to Lombok to enjoy the warm weather and lovely beaches. Swimming, snorkelling, diving and surfing are all big activities here, and the sublime Gili Islands just offshore provide even more tropical splendor without the hustle and bustle of other Asian beach resorts. Balancing the natural beauty of Lombok is an interesting cultural scene defined in
part by the traditional Sasak animists which dominated the island before the arrival of Islam in the 18th century. Traditional crafts such as pottery, textile weaving and basket making are practiced with skill and finesse, and a visit to a traditional Sasak village is well worth the effort. Accommodation in
Lombok comes in all classes, from five-star luxury spa resorts, to chain hotels and rustic beach bungalows.Modern and convenient hotel facilities ensure visitor needs are well-catered for.
Lombok makes an ideal destination for travellers who have seen Bali or are tired of Java’s congestion, but aren’t ready to explore the hinterlands of Sulawesi or Flores. If you want to visit
Lombok, don’t wait too long; it is on the fast track to becoming one of Asia’s next great travel
destinations.

Short History

Lombok’s history began with a group of animist farmers called the Sasak, who created a small
kingdom sometime before the 17th century. The Sasak made their way to Lombok long before most
of Indonesia’s other ethnic groups settled among the 13,000 odd islands of the archipelago. It is
believed that the Sasak migrated from either Burma or northwest India, but few archaeological
remains exist to verify this theory. In the early years, Lombok was made up of dozens of tiny clans,
each ruled by a Sasak prince. There was constant fighting among the clans, which the neighbouring
Balinese princes used to their advantage when they conquered the island. The Balinese ruled
Lombok from the middle of the 1700s until the 1890s, when the Dutch arrived on the scene and
backed the indigenous Sasaks. The Balinese were driven out after a series of bloody fights and
Lombok became part of the group of islands known as the Lesser Sunda Islands.Hefty taxes imposed by the Dutch pushed most of Lombok’s peasants into poverty and opened the
door for Chinese businessmen to exploit the economic vacuum. Things continued in this rather
repressive manner until Indonesia declared its independence in 1945. Sukarno, the first president of
Indonesia, tried to regroup Lombok into a larger cluster of islands known as Nusa Tenggara, but the
island group proved hard to govern.
When Sukarno was ousted in 1965, Lombok was thrust into a dark period of murder and oppression,
along with many other parts of Indonesia. Anyone considered subversive by the new government,
such as communists and ethnic Chinese, was killed or displaced. Initially the new president.Suharto’s rather harsh New Order plan brought growth and stability to the island, until prolonged
famine reached a crippling peak in 1973. Most of the locals moved away from Lombok as part of the
transmigration programme implemented by the government.
With little agricultural work and few resources, Lombok fell into a quiet lull until 1980 when tourism
development began to catch on. Touting itself as a quieter, more natural alternative to Bali, the
tourism industry has slowly but steadily grown. Unfortunately, during the wave of development along
Lombok’s coastline, many traditional landowners were displaced as outside businesses took over
the land.Indonesia was thrust into political turmoil during the late 1990s, in response to widespread
corruption. Lombok was caught up in the civil unrest, and students in Mataram and Praya held
protests resulting in a major drop in the tourism industry.
Since the riots in 2000, tourists have continued to arrive in Lombok. Now considered a safe and
stable travel destination, Lombok is a popular alternative to its more developed neighbour, Bali.

Weather
Lying just south of the equator, Lombok consistently enjoys 12 hours of sunlight a day and warm
temperatures throughout the year. There are two distinct seasons on the island: the rainy season
from October to March and the dry season from May to September. Throughout the year, daytime
temperatures normally remain in the 27°C to 32°C range.
Lombok’s rainy season is also when the island experiences its highest levels of humidity. Rain
showers come in the form of brief but powerful afternoon thunderstorms. If you can bear the hot and
humid conditions, you’ll have the island to yourself as this is Lombok’s low season. As the wet
season tapers off in April, temperatures begin to drop and the countryside becomes lush with green
vegetation. May through June is considered the most pleasant period for a visit, as the days are
reliably sunny and not too hot.
The west coast of Lombok generally experiences the coolest weather on the island, and the inland
regions the hottest. The island’s high season for tourism spans July and August, with equally busy conditions around Christmas and New Year. Hotel rates are higher during these peak months, andpopular destinations like the Gilis and Rinjani can become uncomfortably crowded.

Alkaram Studio hosted an exclusive sundowner at first day of FPWF 19

Karachi(Cliff News)The pioneering Fashion Pakistan Council (FPC) commenced the first day of Fashion Pakistan Week 2019, Winter/Festive with pomp and grandeur on Wednesday, October 23rd at Beach Luxury Hotel in Karachi. The three-day fashion affair featured some of Pakistan’s most cutting edge designers who showcased their formal, semi-formal and bridal collections, highlighting the latest trends of the season.Prior to the show, Alkaram Studio hosted an exclusive sundowner in collaboration with the Fashion Pakistan Council. The sundowner held at Coté Rotié on the 22nd was a first look at the collection ‘La Vie En Rose’ with hints of pinks, blushes and corals in the chic and luxurious décor. Invitees were designers showcasing at #FPWF19, as well as FPC members, socialites and big names in the fashion industry. The event was also in collaboration with Pink Ribbon Pakistan for Pinktober.This season, Fashion Pakistan Week hosted a line-up of 20 exuberant designers and their ensembles created with impeccable craftsmanship and finesse. Five sent diverse collections down the runway on day one. The show was opened by Alkaram Studio who displayed inclusivity and diversity of cultures in an extravagant hour-long showcase of their Luxury Pret collection titled ‘La Vie En Rose’ followed by ‘Gul-e-Nar’ by Boheme, ‘Lost in my French Garden’ by Gogi Hasan Riaz, ‘Tirana’ by Yasmin Zaman and a grand closing with ‘Mahnoor’ by Ayesha Farook.

The make-up maestro Nabila from N-Pro and N-Gents, styled the models and showstoppers with her signature finesse and style.Outfits on the ramp saw the use of feminine blush tones, pink roses and an array of different techniques never been seen before. Prints in the form of rich deep bandhani dupattas, traditional Sindhi fashion with a mix of modern techniques and striking colors. The inspiring and enchanting beauty of French gardens was paid homage to where ensembles featured an array of cuts and colors perfect for the modern woman. Sharp silhouettes, vibrant colors, and classic couture to flamboyant looks in silk, organza and old French embellishment techniques were also seen on the runway. Deep colors and rich fabrics of Pakistani formal wear with loose jackets and elaborate sleeve details added a fresh twist to the pieces. Much of the clothing featured flat braid work with a strong emphasis on gold and geometric designs. Men’s clothing was dapper and crisp, and used a clean color palette of muted tones. Celebrity showstoppers added the razzmatazz on the ramp starting off with the Muneeb Butt and Ayeza Khan for Alkaram Studio, Saboor Aly for Boheme, Nimra Khan for Gogi by Hasan Riaz, Sarwat Gilani for Yasmin Zaman and Fauzia Aman for Ayesha Farook’s opulent closing.The evening was all about glamour and style as Karachi turned out to applaud the five opening night designers. The Physiogel Red Carpet was buzzing with celebrities, media, stars and fashionistas clicking up a storm, many of whom were seen at the Physiogel booth striking a pose, showing how Physiogel Confident they are before the collection showcase. The stylish and light-hearted actor, Ali Safina engaged the audience in conversations revolving around fashion, their personal style, beautiful skin, and the who’s who of fashion. Many also experienced the chocolatey indulgence at the glamorously decked up Chocolatto booth, ultimately walking away with picture perfect moments and giveaways.Many prominent personalities attended day one, including Hajra Yamin, Azekah Daniyel, Alishay Adnan, Maheen Khan, Aamna Aqeel and key media personnel amongst others.Deepak Perwani, Chairman of Fashion Pakistan Council stated, “We are thrilled for this year’s Winter Festive collection and you should be too. Fashion has progressed and so has the Council, in so many ways. There is more versatility and adversity this time around and what designers are now coming up with is what we call real fashion. With an exceptional line-up of 20 designers spread out on all three days showcasing the latest trends of the season – this fashion affair will be grander than we’ve seen before.”The night would not have been as seamless, without the help of Fashion Pakistan Week’s numerous partners. Fashion Pakistan as the producer of the three-day event, Nubain Ali as the show director, Production 021 as the official event management partner, Nabila and N-Gents as the official stylist, TV-One as the official media partner and Radio FM91 as the radio partner in order to get a nation-wide coverage of greater magnitude. The renowned skincare brand, Physiogel as the official red carpet sponsor. Faisal Farooqui as the official photographer, J. by Junaid Jamshed as the official fragrance partner, and Samsonite as the official luggage partner. foodpanda as the official backstage food partner, Pakola, as the official beverage partner, Bisconni Chocolatto as the snack partner with Red Bull as official energy drink partner and Talking Point as the official PR and Digital partner.