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Lux Style Awards ensures power-packed star night

Singer Momina Mustehsen was the first performer of the evening with a high energy performance.
Updated 08 July 2019
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Lux Style Awards ensures power-packed star night

  • Celebrates best of the best from the entertainment and fashion industries
  • Performances and controversies ensured audiences stated entertained both online and offline
Updated 08 July 2019
Sabah Bano Malik

Karachi There was controversy, glamor, and a whole lot of style, but it was comedian and actor Yasir Hussain who ensured that his proposal to actor Iqra Aziz stole the show at this year’s Lux Style Awards (LSA).
Known as one of the most prominent award events – celebrating achievement in Pakistan’s entertainment and fashion industries – this year’s LSA edition was packed with hits and misses.
Sparkling backdrops lined the red carpet at Karachi’s Expo Center – which was transformed into a breathtaking set by show director Freiha Altaf – where the creme de la creme from the fashion, film and television industries rubbed shoulders with each other, with Instagram serving the content up in real time.




The 18th Lux Style Awards at Karachi's Expo Center opened with a breathtaking instrumental rendition of Pakistan's national anthem played on a matka (clay pot), violin, rhubab and sattar by the band Grehan 

The show itself, which began two and a half hours late, ran smoothly, with hosts Shehryar Munawar, Maya Ali, and Mehwish Hayat keeping the momentum going.
Hayat didn’t miss the opportunity to deliver a crisp comeback to online trolls – who had questioned the actor’s credibility after she was bestowed with the Tamgha-e-Imtiaz award – by saying that one could be both a “Billi,” (in reference to an item number dance song she performs) and a star at the same time.
The show, which included singing and dancing performances from Momina Mustehsen, Atif Aslam, Maya Ali, and Meera, was laced with several thank you speeches, too.




Maya Ali performed a dance number during the show from her film "Teefa in Trouble," whose director Ahsan Rahim won for "Best Director"

This year’s awards were shrouded in controversy following a sizeable boycott which began with model Eman Suleman – who was nominated for “Best Emerging Talent” – rejecting the nomination due to singer and actor Ali Zafar also being nominated at the awards. 

Zafar had been accused by fellow actor and singer (and nominee) Meesha Shafi and other women of sexual harassment. Last year’s LSAs strongly aligned itself with the #MeToo movement leaving many disenfranchised by his nomination in lieu of the accusations.Following in the footsteps of Suleman, a number of fashion fraternity members, including veteran designer Maheen Khan, director Jami, and other nominees publicly stated that they would not support the LSAs and would not accept their nominations either.At the awards, the categories which usually boast at least five nominees were whittled down but an acknowledgment of the boycott never took place.
Reacting to the withdrawals, the LSA released a statement which was widely criticized.
In a cringe-worthy, “girl power” moment, Hayat was joined on stage by fellow thespian Zara Abbas Noor for a performance which did not execute well but was as close to toeing the line of women empowerment as possible.





Mehwish Hayat and Zara Abbas Noor introducing the fashion segment at the 18th Lux Style Awards

There were some stand out moments, too, such as Ahmed Ali Butt and Uzma Khan announcing the winner for “Best TV Actor” Viewers Choice, wherein Khan accidentally read out Feroze’s name and not the category she was announcing which lead to a warm laugh and roaring applause from the room.
The House of Kamiar Rokni’s Kamiar Rokni won the award for “Achievement in Fashion Design (Bridal Couture),” and gave a resounding speech, while the award for “Best TV Writer” went to Bee Gul for “Dar Si Jati Hai Sila,” whose speech included the importance of telling hard and uncomfortable stories on TV screens. Newcomer model Mushk Kaleem won the award for “Best Emerging Talent in Fashion,” and Chapter 2 took home the title for “Achievement in Fashion Design-Pret.”




The awards had a series of recognizable faces hosting including Fahad Mustafa, who entered the stage on a rickshaw. Mustafa took home the award for "Best Actor Male" for his role in "Load Wedding" 

But the top highlight of the evening was actor Hussain proposing to the love of his life, actor Iqra Aziz. Aziz had a fantastic night bagging both the Viewers Choice and Critics Choice awards for “Best TV Actor Female.”
A complete list of last nights winners:

FASHION


Model of the year (Female)

Winner: Sadaf Kanwal


Model of the year (Male)

Winner: Shahzad Noor


Achievement in Fashion Design (Bridal Couture)

Winner: Kamiar Rokni


Achievement in Fashion Design (Menswear)

Winner: Republic by Omer Farooq


Achievement in Fashion Design (Pret)

Winner: Chapter 2


Achievement in Fashion Design (Luxury Pret)

Winner: Sana Safinaz


Best Fashion Photographer

Winner: Rizwan ul Haq


Best Hair and Make-up Artist

Winner: Qasim Liaqat


Best Emerging Talent in Fashion (0-3 Yrs.)

Winner: Mushk Kaleem — Model


Lifetime Achievement Award

Winner: Nabila’s


FILM


Best Film

Winner: Cake


Best Director

Winner: Ahsan Rahim for Teefa in Trouble


Best Actor (Viewer’s Choice)

Winner: Ali Zafar for Teefa in Trouble


Best Actor (Critics Choice)

Winner: Fahad Mustafa for Load Wedding


Best Actress (Viewers Choice)

Winner: Mehwish Hayat for Load Wedding


Best Actress (Viewers Choice)

Winner: Sohai Ali Abro for Motorcycle Girl


Best Playback Singer

Winner: Atif Aslam for Thaam Lo in Parwaz Hai Junoon


MUSIC


Best Song

Winner: Ya Qurban by Khumariyan


Singer of the Year

Winner: Mohsin Abbas and Sohail Haider for Na Jaa


Best Emerging Talent

Winner: Saakin for Saqi-e-Bewafa


TELEVISION


Best TV Play

Winner: Suno Chanda on Hum TV Network


Best TV Play Director

Winner: Kashif Nisar for Dar Si Jati Hai Sila


Best TV Writer

Winner: Bee Gul for Dar Si Jati Hai Sila


Best TV Actor (Viewers Choice)

Winner: Feroze Khan for Khaani


Best TV Actor (Critics Choice)

Winner: Nauman Ejaz for Dar Si Jati Hai Sila


Best TV Actress (Viewers Choice)

Winner: Iqra Aziz for Suno Chanda


Best TV Actress (Critics Choice)

Winner: Iqra Aziz for Suno Chanda


Best Original Sound Track

Winner: Khaani by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan


Best Emerging Talent

Winner: Rida Bilal for Khudgarz — Writer

Topics: Pakistan lux style awards Ali Zafar Mahira Khan fashion style

Security guard shoots and injures two Chinese nationals at Karachi factory — police

Updated 13 sec ago
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Security guard shoots and injures two Chinese nationals at Karachi factory — police

  • Incident follows two Chinese nationals killed in suicide bombing in Karachi last month
  • Beijing has recently publicly spoken out about security threats to its nationals in Pakistan
Updated 13 sec ago
NAIMAT KHAN

KARACHI: A security guard at a factory in the southern Pakistani city of Karachi shot and injured two Chinese nationals on Tuesday, police said, in an incident that is likely to put further strain on recently fraying relations between Islamabad and longtime ally Beijing.

China, breaking with tradition, has recently publicly spoken out against security threats to its workers and nationals living in Pakistan, where hundreds of them work on Beijing-funded projects linked to the over $60 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). 

Last month, two Chinese nationals were killed in a suicide bombing near the international airport in Karachi. In March this year, a suicide bombing killed five Chinese engineers and a Pakistani driver in northwestern Pakistan as they headed to the Dasu Dam, the biggest hydropower project in the country. In 2022, three Chinese educators and their Pakistani driver were killed when an explosion ripped through a van at the University of Karachi. A blast on a bus killed 13 people in north Pakistan in 2021, including nine Chinese nationals.

The latest shooting took place at a factory in Karachi’s SITE industrial area, after which two injured Chinese citizens were rushed to Liaquat National Hospital.

Deputy Inspector General of Police South, Syed Asad Raza, said the factory guard opened fire at the Chinese nationals after an argument. He did not name the factory, specify whether the Chinese nationals were employees there or what the argument was about. 

“According to preliminary investigation, the guard opened fire after a heated argument with the Chinese nationals, leaving two Chinese citizens injured,” Raza told Arab News. 

“Two Chinese nationals have been brought to hospital. Both are under treatment,” Dr. Amjad Rizvi, a hospital spokesman, told Arab News. 

Sindh Home Minister Zia ul Haq Lanjar has directed police to conduct a “thorough investigation,” his office said. 

Pakistan said in a joint statement last month it had agreed to increase security for Chinese citizens and projects in the South Asian nation, as Beijing called for urgent security measures following an escalation in militant threats in the country.

China has pumped billions of dollars into Pakistan over the years building infrastructure under the Belt and Road Initiative, while also running a strategic port and a major mine in the country.

Topics: Chinese nationals in Pakistan Pakistan China Ties

Toxic smog wreathes India’s capital, Pakistan’s Lahore as winter nears

Updated 54 min 33 sec ago
Reuters
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Toxic smog wreathes India’s capital, Pakistan’s Lahore as winter nears

  • Punjab government has blamed pollution wafting in from India for Lahore’s worsening air quality 
  • Authorities in Punjab have taken emergency measures in wake of unprecedented pollution levels
Updated 54 min 33 sec ago
Reuters

NEW DELHI: A toxic smog shrouded the Indian capital on Tuesday, driving air quality in some areas into the “severe” range ahead of winter, when cold air traps pollutants and brings a spike in respiratory illnesses.

The mix of smoke, emissions, and dust is an annual problem for authorities in New Delhi, with vehicles, construction dust, and smoke from farm fires in the adjoining northern states of Punjab and Haryana among the major contributors.

“The outlook for the subsequent six days: the air quality is likely to be in the ‘very poor’ to ‘severe’ category,” said the earth sciences ministry.

The city’s overall score on an air quality index kept by India’s top pollution authorities was ‘very poor’ at 384, the ministry added, and was likely to stay there until Thursday.

An index range of 401 to 500 falls into the ‘severe’ category, implying it affects healthy people, but is more serious for those already fighting disease.

Ministry data showed farm fires have increasingly swelled the pollution over the last three days, for a share of more than 23 percent on Monday, from about 15 percent on Saturday.

About a third of the city’s 39 monitoring stations showed a ‘severe’ score of more than 400 on Tuesday, said the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), well short of an air quality score of zero to 50 that it rates as ‘good’.

Swiss group IQAir also rated Delhi the world’s second most polluted city on Tuesday, after Lahore in neighboring Pakistan, where authorities also took emergency measures in the wake of Sunday’s unprecedented pollution levels.

The government in the eastern province of Punjab, home to Lahore, has blamed deteriorating air quality on pollution wafting in from India, an issue it has vowed to take up with its neighbor through the foreign ministry.

Topics: smog Pakistan India Pollution Winters Arab News Pakistan

Pakistan, Uzbekistan businesses explore joint ventures in Tashkent meeting

Updated 51 min 36 sec ago
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Pakistan, Uzbekistan businesses explore joint ventures in Tashkent meeting

  • The business-to-business meetings spanned a variety of industries, including textiles, food processing, engineering and logistics
  • Pakistan is seeking to promote closer economic ties with regional and international allies to bolster its fragile $350 billion economy
Updated 51 min 36 sec ago
SAIMA SHABBIR

ISLAMABAD: Representatives of more than two dozen Pakistani companies and over one hundred leading Uzbek enterprises met in Tashkent and discussed joint projects in diverse sectors, the Pakistani commerce ministry said on Monday.

The discussions took place at the Uzbek-Pakistani Business Forum, complementing the 9th intergovernmental commission meeting on economic cooperation between Uzbekistan and Pakistan, according to the Pakistani ministry.

These business-to-business (B2B) meetings spanned a variety of industries, including textiles, food processing, engineering and logistics, underscoring the shared commitment of both nations to explore collaborative business opportunities.

Addressing the forum, Pakistan’s Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan highlighted Pakistan’s investment-friendly environment and encouraged Uzbek businesses to consider collaborative projects in Pakistan.

"He emphasized that such interactions pave the way for deepened commercial ties and contribute to regional economic stability," the commerce ministry said.

Uzbekistan’s Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade Laziz Kudratov echoed these sentiments, welcoming Pakistani enterprises and emphasizing the Uzbek government’s commitment to fostering a supportive atmosphere for international partnerships.

"Initiatives like the Business Forum play a crucial role in propelling trade and investment forward, creating new opportunities for entrepreneurs," he was quoted as saying.

The development comes as Pakistan seeks to enhance regional connectivity with landlocked Central Asian states by providing them access to its warm water ports. It recently offered Central Asian states to become part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project, under which Beijing has pledged around $65 billion in energy, infrastructure and other projects in Pakistan.

The South Asian country narrowly avoided a sovereign default last year and has since sought to promote closer economic ties with regional and international allies to bolster its fragile $350 billion economy, which has been suffering from a prolonged macroeconomic crisis.

Topics: Pakistan Uzbekistan Ties Pakistan Tashkent

Iranian FM arrives in Pakistan to discuss Middle East situation, bilateral ties

Updated 05 November 2024
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Iranian FM arrives in Pakistan to discuss Middle East situation, bilateral ties

  • Seyed Abbas Araghchi’s visit takes place amid surging regional tensions between Israel and Iran
  • Islamabad, Tehran have had a rocky relationship despite agreements on trade, energy and security 
Updated 05 November 2024
Shahjahan Khurram

ISLAMABAD: Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi has arrived in Islamabad on a two-day official visit to hold consultations with the Pakistani leadership on the evolving Middle East situation and discuss bilateral ties with Pakistan, state-run media reported on Tuesday. 

Araghchi was welcomed by Pakistan’s Additional Foreign Secretary (Afghanistan and West Asia) Ambassador Ahmed Naseem Warraich upon his arrival in Islamabad, a foreign office press release said. 

Araghchi’s Islamabad visit takes place after last month’s escalation in hostilities between Iran and Israel, with both countries firing missiles at each other. Israel carried out strikes against Iran on Oct. 26, saying it was responding to missile attacks conducted by Tehran earlier in the month.

Since the deadliest attack in its history on Oct. 7, 2023, Israel has been fighting Hamas in Gaza and since late September, it has been at war with Hezbollah in Lebanon. Both Hezbollah and Hamas are allies of Iran. Pakistan, a major ally of Saudi Arabia, shares a long border with Iran.

“Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi arrived here late Monday night on a two-day official visit to hold consultations with Pakistan’s leadership on the situation in the Middle East and bilateral relations,” state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) reported. 

The APP said Araghchi will meet Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar during his two-day visit. 

“This visit provides an important opportunity to advance cooperation and dialogue between Pakistan and Iran on a wide range of areas including trade, energy and security,” APP said. 
Pakistan and Iran have had a rocky relationship despite several commercial pacts between the two countries on trade, energy and security. Both countries signed the $7 billion Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project agreement in 2004 but 20 years on, the project remains incomplete. Tehran has completed the pipeline’s construction on its side of the border while Pakistan is seeking a US waiver to go ahead with it due to international sanctions targeting Tehran. 
Pakistan and Iran are also often at odds over instability on their shared porous border, with both countries routinely trading blame for not rooting out militancy.
Tensions surged in January when Pakistan and Iran exchanged airstrikes, both claiming to target alleged militant hideouts in each other’s countries. Late Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi visited Pakistan in April on a three-day visit aimed at strengthening bilateral relations and easing tensions. The two sides also signed memorandums of understanding in the fields of trade, science technology, agriculture, health, culture, and judicial matters. 

Topics: Pakistan Iran Ties Iran Seyed Abbas Araghchi

Pakistan reports fresh polio case from Balochistan, taking 2024 tally to 46

Updated 38 min ago
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Pakistan reports fresh polio case from Balochistan, taking 2024 tally to 46

  • Poliovirus detected in male child from Killa Saifullah district, says polio eradication program
  • Pakistan’s immunization campaigns suffer from misinformation campaigns and militant attacks
Updated 38 min ago
NAIMAT KHAN

KARACHI: Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province has detected a fresh poliovirus case in a male child, the country’s polio eradication program said on Tuesday, taking the total number of cases reported this year to 46 as Islamabad struggles to clamp down on the infection. 

The National Institute of Health’s (NIH) laboratory confirmed detecting the virus in a male child from Killa Saifullah district in Balochistan, the program said. 

“This is the second polio case from Killa Saifullah, where several environmental samples have tested positive for WPV1,” the Pakistan Polio Eradication Program said. “So far, 23 cases have been reported from Balochistan province, 12 from Sindh province, nine from KP and one each from Punjab and Islamabad.”

Pakistan and Afghanistan are the only two countries where polio remains endemic. Since late 2018, Pakistan has seen a resurgence of cases and increased spread of poliovirus, highlighting the fragility of gains achieved in the preceding years when cases dropped in 2023 to six, from 20 in 2022 and just one in 2022. Misinformation about vaccinations and attacks by militants on polio teams have been major impediments to immunization campaigns.

At least seven people, including five school students, were killed and 23 injured in a blast in southwestern Pakistan that targeted a polio vaccination team vehicle on Friday, police said. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. Last Tuesday, a policeman was killed in an attack on a health office that manages door-to-door polio vaccination campaigns.

The attacks have coincided with Pakistan’s third nationwide polio campaign this year, launched last week with the aim to administer vaccine drops to more than 45 million children.

Pakistani Prime Minister’s Focal Person for Polio Eradication, Ayesha Raza Farooq, has said that the government is revamping its polio eradication program to make the country free of the virus by mid next year.

“WPV1 has been detected in 76 districts, indicating widespread circulation of the virus and a continued serious risk to children’s well-being from a disease that can paralyze them for life,” the polio eradication program said. 
“Multiple doses of the oral polio vaccine and completion of the routine vaccination schedule for all children under the age of five is essential to keep them protected.”

Topics: Polio poliovirus Balochistan

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