ISLAMABAD: “In Flames,” Pakistan‘s submission to the Oscars‘ international feature category, has won the International Newcomer Award at the 72nd International Film Festival Mannheim-Heidelberg, ahead of playing at the Red Sea International Film Festival (RSIFF), which begins in Jeddah tomorrow, Thursday.
Earlier this year in May, Zarrar Kahn’s horror-drama In Flames became the second Pakistani film in 43 years to make it to Directors’ Fortnight, an event that runs parallel to the prestigious Cannes Film Festival. Last month, the film was independently released at the Atrium Cinemas in Pakistan’s southern Karachi city for a 12-day run which was later extended until November 9. The film has also played at festivals in Toronto, Busan, Sitges, Sao Paulo and Pingyao.
“The main prize of 30,000 euros, the International Newcomer Award, went to In Flames by Pakistani director Zarrar Kahn, who accepted the award in person,” the International Film Festival Mannheim-Heidelberg said on its website.
“In Flames is a thrilling social portrait in which a young female student fights against the patriarchal power structures in Pakistan and the demons of her own family history.”
The award’s jury members, Elisa Schlott, Denis Dercourt and Goran Stolevski, said:
“Our award goes to a filmmaker who manages to shift and play with genre while maintaining a connection both to his audience as well as his protagonist throughout the film. The main character is a young woman who is allowed to be both brave and fragile, and she is brought to life through a wonderful debut performance that complements the mise-en-scene.”
In an interview to Arab News earlier this month, Bakhtawar Mazhar described In Flames as a psychological thriller that follows the struggle of a mother (Mazhar) and her daughter (Ramesha Nawal) after the loss of the patriarch of the family. The film has been written and directed by award-winning Canadian-Pakistani filmmaker Zarrar Kahn and produced by Anam Abbas.
“Even though this film was shot in Karachi, women around the world were crying [after watching the film] and they were like, we know the struggle this character went through, we know the struggle of Fariha and Mariam,” Nawal told Arab News.
“In Flames” is also Pakistan’s official submission under the Foreign Language Film category for the 96th Academy Awards next year.
KARACHI: A Pakistani delegation has arrived in the United Kingdom (UK) as part of Islamabad’s diplomatic outreach over last month’s military conflict with India, following their “successful” talks in New York.
India and Pakistan engaged in the worst fighting between them in decades, raising fears of the prospect of an all-out nuclear war. After both countries traded heavy fire for four days, pounding each other with missiles, fighter jets and drone strikes, US President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire between them on May 10.
The nine-member Pakistan delegation, led by former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, held several meetings with representatives of the United Nations (UN), its member states and US officials to present Pakistan’s stance on the standoff with India and peace in the region.
The Pakistan delegates said the purpose of their meetings was to have peace in the region and to have talks with New Delhi on all India-Pakistan issues, including the restoration of the Indus Waters Treaty and the resolution of Kashmir dispute.
“We have explained to them [US officials] that Pakistan’s water, this is a civilization, the lives of 240 million people, their culture [depend on it],” Khurram Dastgir, a Pakistani lawmaker who is part of the delegation, told a Pakistani news channel in the UK.
“We explained this to America that their economic partnership with India, it will not bring about that development if India and Pakistan will perpetually remain [in a state of] war.”
India announced in April that it was putting the 1960 World Bank-mediated treaty in abeyance after it accused Pakistan of backing an attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir. Islamabad denied complicity in the attack that killed 26 people.
Jalil Abbas Jilani, a former Pakistani foreign secretary, said they held quite constructive talks with members of the UN Security Council during their New York visit.
“Basically, our message was that India committed an aggression and that Pakistan is a peaceful country... Pakistan wants all India-Pakistan issues to be resolved in a peaceful manner,” he said.
Pakistani senator Sherry Rehman, who was also part of the talks, said the main objective of their discussions was peace in the region.
“Our goal was peace, promote dialogue, to have the status of water treaty changed, which they [India] have unilaterally suspended, and to start a discussion on Kashmir,” she said.
The Pakistani delegates are expected to meet key UK officials during their visit to highlight Pakistan’s perspective on last month’s conflict and its possible consequences for the region.
British foreign minister David Lammy is the highest-profile Western official to have visited both New Delhi and Islamabad since the South Asian neighbors agreed to a ceasefire last month.
“We want the situation to be maintained, but of course we recognize fragility, particularly in the backdrop of terrorism, terrorism designed to destabilize India,” Lammy said, adding that he discussed the next steps with both Modi and Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar, but gave no specifics. “We are keen to continue to work with our Indian partners on counter-terrorism measures.”
India and Pakistan, bitter rivals since they gained independence in 1947 from British rule, have fought three wars, including two over the disputed Himalayan territory of Kashmir.
Both countries administer Kashmir in parts but claim the region entirely. Pakistan accuses India of occupying Kashmir and denying its people their right to self-determination. It regularly calls on India to abide by the United Nations Security Council resolutions and hold a transparent plebiscite in the territory.
India, on the other hand, accuses Pakistan of arming and funding militant separatists in the part of Kashmir it administers. Islamabad has denied the allegations and says it extends only diplomatic and moral support to the people of Indian-administered Kashmir.
GHARO, SINDH: As the scent of marinated meat sizzling on open flames wafts through neighborhoods in Karachi this Eid Al-Adha, few pause to consider where the fire itself comes from.
The crackle beneath the skewers and the smoke that perfumes the city’s rooftops and courtyards originate not just from the sacrifice of animals, but from a quieter, often forgotten labor force deep in rural Sindh.
The joy of Eid barbecues, the centerpiece of celebration for many families, is ignited by the enduring heat of charcoal, most of which is produced in the blistering kilns of Pakistan’s southern Sindh province. Along a dusty belt stretching from the coastal town of Gharo in Thatta district to the southeastern edge of Pakistan bordering India, thousands of kilns work year-round, fueling festive fires across the country.
Charcoal, valued for its high, consistent heat and the signature smoky flavor it imparts, is a barbecue staple during Eid. Whether it’s tender beef skewers, spicy mutton chops, or lamb cooked Pashtun-style in a rosh pot, nearly every Eid dish cooked on open flame starts with charcoal. And come Eid, demand spikes sharply.
“Our peak season is during Eid Al-Adha when people prepare sacrificial meat at home and at barbecues, and it is also cooked in hotels,” said Khushhal Khan, a kiln owner in Gharo. “This leads to an increase in our business.”
Khushhal Khan (left), a kiln owner, and a laborer walk past mud kilns to make charcoal in Gharo in Pakistan's southern province in May 29, 2025. (AN photo)
Khan owns 14 kilns. Like many in the informal charcoal trade, his work is unregistered but vital.
According to estimates from local producers, Sindh is home to over 2,000 charcoal-making establishments, each operating around 15 kilns. Combined, they produce roughly 72,000 metric tons of charcoal every month, much of which is funneled into urban centers like Karachi in the days before Eid.
“NO EID WITHOUT CHARCOAL”
The process of making charcoal is as ancient as it is arduous.
Large nine-foot mud kilns are loaded with carefully stacked wood, around 45 to 50 maunds (approximately 1.8 to 2 metric tons) per batch. Once the wood is in place, the kiln is sealed with mud and ignited through a top opening.
It then burns slowly for several days, without oxygen, transforming into dense black chunks of carbon. Managing this burn requires constant vigilance.
“If the fire is too intense, the charcoal becomes low quality,” said Niaz Khan, who has worked at kilns for two decades. “It needs to be burned at a steady, medium flame.”
Once cooled, the charcoal is extracted, sifted, and bundled for transport.
“This is not easy work,” Niaz added. “Our forefathers have been doing this work, making charcoal, and we are still continuing it.”
The next link in the chain lies in the markets of Karachi. Trucks loaded with charcoal pull into warehouses and shops like the one run by Muhammad Younus, whose family has sold fuel in the city since 1956.
“This charcoal comes from interior Sindh, from areas like Badin, Gharo, Thatta and Sujawal,” Younus said from his store in Karachi’s old city district.
“On normal days, most buyers are hotel owners. But during Eid Al-Adha, the demand increases because every household … is preparing to cook the sacrificial meat.”
Coal is stacked in Gharo in Pakistan's southern province in May 29, 2025. (AN photo)
Normally, Younus sells around 150 kilograms of charcoal per day. But during Eid season, that figure can jump to 400 kilograms or more.
Purchased from kiln operators at around Rs2,200 per maund (40kg), the charcoal is sold at retail for about Rs100 per kilogram.
“Some people buy two, five or even 10 kilograms,” he said. “In every home, cows are slaughtered, meat is kept, children do barbecues on rooftops, families hold gatherings inside their homes and parties take place.”
A laborer collects wood near mud kilns to make charcoal in Gharo in Pakistan's southern province in May 29, 2025. (AN photo)
“ROOFTOPS COME ALIVE”
In Karachi’s packed neighborhoods, rooftops come alive after the Eid sacrifice.
Families, especially young men and children, light coals in metal grills and prepare platters of marinated meat. The flames flicker, music plays, and conversations stretch into the night.
“We invite our relatives, make our rooftops lively and there is a bustle,” said Jabir Khan, a city resident shopping for charcoal. “The barbecue becomes a festive event.”
Despite rising prices, charcoal remains central to the Eid experience in urban Pakistan. It is not just a fuel, it’s a cultural bridge that links the sacrifice to the celebration, rural toil to urban delight, and labor to memory.
“Without charcoal, there is no barbecue,” Jabir said simply.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistani pilgrims on Saturday heaped praise on the government of Saudi Arabia for undertaking “impressive” arrangements for pilgrims during this year’s Hajj.
The comments by Pakistani Hajj pilgrims were shared by the country’s Ministry of Religious Affairs on Saturday as Muslims marked the beginning of Eid Al-Adha in Pakistan and other parts of the world.
More than 115,000 Pakistani pilgrims arrived in Saudi Arabia this year under both the government scheme and private tour operators to perform Hajj.
“I had a very good Hajj experience,” Nadia Sarfaraz, a Pakistani pilgrim from Karachi, said in a video message. “Everything went smoothly and we have no complaints against anyone. The Saudi government is providing support here and our own [Pakistan’s] government is helping a lot too,” she added.
Rabia Babar, a Pakistani pilgrim from Islamabad, praised the Saudi government for facilitating pilgrims, especially women, throughout the Hajj.
“There are separate lifts for women. In Muzdalifah, where we spent the night, the area was fully carpeted,” she said.
This year’s Hajj saw authorities implementing a range of heat mitigation efforts alongside a wide-ranging crackdown on illicit pilgrims — resulting in noticeably thinner crowds and a heavy security presence at holy sites in Makkah and surrounding areas.
“There were [water] coolers and drinking water available everywhere,” Babar said. “They had large refrigerators, and they were providing us water bottles and even shower facilities.”
Faraz Latif, a Pakistani pilgrim who had arrived in the Kingdom from the southwestern city of Quetta, praised both Pakistan and Saudi Arabia for undertaking impressive arrangements for Hajj pilgrims.
He said maintaining cleanliness was pilgrims’ responsibility, urging them to learn patience and adopt it in their lives even after the Hajj was over.
“It will help you not just during Hajj but throughout your life,” Latif said.
The first Pakistani flight carrying Hajj pilgrims back to the country is scheduled to arrive in Karachi on June 11.
ISLAMABAD: With sacrificial goats commanding million-rupee price tags this Eid Al-Adha, many in Pakistan’s capital are seeking solace not in the livestock markets, but in a humbler tradition: a chilled bowl of falooda — a silky, rose-scented dessert layered with ice cream, nostalgia, and just enough sweetness to lift a heat- and inflation-weary soul.
A dessert with Persian roots, falooda made its way to South Asia during the Mughal era, evolving from a frozen, rose-infused noodle pudding in Iran to the vibrant, multi-textured treat beloved across Pakistan today.
At its best, falooda is an edible symphony, a tangle of thin vermicelli swimming in cold milk, softened basil seeds (tukhmalanga) floating like miniature pearls, and a generous scoop of vanilla or kulfi ice cream crowning the glass. The final touch is a fragrant pour of rose syrup, turning the whole concoction into a pink-hued celebration of summer — and now Eid.
Nowhere is this more evident than at Bata Kulfi Falooda, a small, family-run dessert shop in Islamabad’s bustling I-8 Markaz marketplace.
There, amid the clatter of spoons and the hum of Eid shoppers, customers line up for what’s become a seasonal staple, the shop’s signature Matka Falooda, served in traditional clay bowls that keep the dessert ice-cold, even under the blazing June sun.
“We first opened in Peshawar [northwestern city] in 1962,” said Shah Faisal, the shop’s manager, as he rushed between customers to take orders. “In 2015, we brought the same taste to Islamabad. Nothing has changed. The ingredients, the method, even the feel of it, it all comes from Peshawar.”
During Eid week, Bata Kulfi Falooda’s signature Matka Falooda becomes more than a dessert. It’s a celebration in a bowl.
“It’s a memory in every bite,” said Muhammad Kamil, a 27-year-old student who had just returned from a livestock market, saying he was stunned by the jaw-dropping prices.
“Right at the entrance, we saw a goat priced at Rs1.5 million [$5,350]. A little further in, there was a sheep for Rs2 million [$7,140],” Kamil said as he waited for his bowl of falooda.
“After seeing a goat worth Rs1.5 million, only ice cream could cool us down, otherwise it would’ve been hard to keep the spirit of sacrifice alive.”
Determined to celebrate in his own way, Kamil turned to falooda, at a far more palatable Rs450 ($1.60) per bowl.
What drew him in, he said, was the comforting presentation: the cold earthen bowl, the soft noodles slicked with syrup, and the melting scoop of ice cream sinking slowly into the milky depths. He’s even considering gifting bowls of it to friends this Eid.
Indeed, with families across Islamabad and beyond rethinking how to celebrate Eid this year, it may not be the size of the goat that sets the mood but rather the shared sweetness of something simple, familiar, and deeply rooted in tradition.
So, while this Eid may see fewer families walking home from markets with goats in tow, many are still finding ways to savor the spirit of the season with a humble bowl of falooda, which is doing more than just cooling people down — it’s lifting spirits, one spoonful at a time.
According to shop manager Faisal, falooda easily outpaces even their famous kulfi in popularity during the Eid holidays.
“In this heat and with everything getting so expensive, people still want something festive,” he said. “And falooda brings joy that doesn’t cost a fortune.”
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday exchanged Eid Al-Adha greetings with the leaders of the Muslim nations of Jordan, Uzbekistan, Qatar, Tajikistan and Malaysia, thanking them for their efforts to bring about peace during Islamabad’s conflict with New Delhi last month.
Pakistan marked Eid Al-Adha, one of the two most important festivals of the Islamic calendar, on Saturday. Muslims mark the Eid Al-Adha holiday in Pakistan and around the world by slaughtering animals such as sheep and goats, and the meat is shared among family and friends and donated to the poor.
Sharif conveyed Eid greetings to Azeri President Ilham Aliyev, his family and the people of Azerbaijan, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said in a statement.
“The Prime Minister thanked President Ilham Aliyev, once again for Azerbaijan’s unwavering support to Pakistan during the recent Pakistan-India crisis, that demonstrated the strong bonds of brotherhood between the two countries,” Sharif’s office said in a statement.
The Pakistani premier also exchanged Eid greetings and similar calls with Qatar’s emir, Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon, Malaysian Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Jordan’s King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein.
Sharif’s office said the Pakistani prime minister and these leaders vowed to enhance their bilateral cooperation and further strengthen ties.
Nuclear-armed nations India and Pakistan engaged in the worst fighting between them since 1999 last month before US President Donald Trump announced he had brokered a ceasefire on May 10.
