Top 5 Made in Pakistani Films to Watch In 2015

01. Jalaibee

Jalaibee is a Pakistani action thriller film, shot in Islamabad, Karachi andLahore, the capital cities of Pakistan. It was rated as a 7.4/10 on IMDb, and is the highest grossing film of 2015, at Rs. 75 million.

02. 3 Bahadur

3 Bahadur translates to ‘three brave ones’, Amna, Saadi and Kamil. They are on a mission to restore peace and harmony in their community, and are unstoppable. The movie was rated as an 8.9/10 onIMDb, and is directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, the second Pakistani to win an Oscar.

03. Among the Believers

Among the Believers is a documentary, following the lives of two teenagers who are enrolled in Red Mosque, an Islamic school in Pakistan. The film was given a 7.5/10 rating on IMDb, offering its viewers an intimate and astonishing glimpse of the legions of children who are trained to devote their lives to jihad from a very young age.

04. Beyond the Heights

Beyond the Heights is a Pakistani documentary, starring Saima Baig, the first Pakistani woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest. The film premiered in Islamabad on the 5^th of March 2015, and was directed by Jawad Sharif.

05. Wrong No.

                 Wrong No. is a romantic comedy Pakistani film  released nationwide on July 18^th                   2015. Yasir Namaz, who is also known for producing the Hum Tum series,                            directed it.

Sneak Preview of Gilgit, the beauty of the North

Gilgit is situated in the North of Pakistan, just a little off from the Karakoram Highway and is the capital city of Gilgit-Baltistan. Gilgit is perhaps the most spectacular region of Pakistan because of its captivating landscape, rich cultural heritage and biodiversity, which make it a popular tourist hub.

Gilgit is home to a multitude of cultures, diverse ethnic groups and languages like the Shina and Burushaski but all the people are very hospitable and will make you feel right at home. The fact that the three highest mountain ranges in the world – the Himalayas, the Hindu Kush and Karakoram meet here makes Gilgit a mountaineer’s  paradise.

Gilgit is famous for the yearly polo festival which takes place in Shandur and Gilgit, and we recommend you plan your trip around the annual tournament.

Jovago’s Top 3

Kargah Buddha

The 7^th century beautiful rock engraving of the Buddha is Gilgit’s most famous attraction. Located on a rock near Kargah ravine, 10km from Gilgit, it is a popular picnic and short outing spot. A widely-believed legend about the Buddha is associated with this location and this makes the Kargah Buddha a significant part of the region’s unique history.

SherQilla and Naltar

Located 38km from Gilgit, trout fishing can be enjoyed in the SherQillaNullah. The route also links with the Naltar valley (famous for its lush Alpine forests), a ski slope, gorgeous glaciers, lakes and gorges. Those interested in flora and fauna will love the Naltar valley and its scenic beauty, and should definitely pay it a visit.

Water channel Walk

Breathe in the fresh mountain air along the water channel walk high above the city of Gilgit. It is an easy 2 hour walk with breathtaking views from above the valley via the Victory Monument of Taj Mughal, built 700 years ago. The valley is heavily wooded with pine, spruce, birch and fir trees.

Tips:

Restaurants:

Gilgit has many local spots which serve the local cuisine but the hotels serve all kinds of food so you can enjoy cuisine from all over the world. The best dining experiences are at the Dumani restaurant, Garden BBQ at Hotel Serena, Jutial Lounge and the Hotel Riviera.

Shopping

You could explore the Gilgit Bazaar – the well-known Chinese market and local handicraft market. Gilgit shopping can be done in stalls and small shops which sell traditional products and a few shopping centers like Habib and New Golden have opened up.

Hotels

Jovago Pakistan has the Best deals in top hotels of Gilgit like the Serena and the PTDC Gilgit motel. Book now on Pakistan’s No. 1 online hotel booking site and get the best prices.

Gilgit has a small domestic airport situated 2.3km east of Gilgit but the safest airport nearby to travel from is Benazir Bhutto International airport (Islamabad). The distance from Gilgit to Islamabad is 269km.

Survival Tips for Karachi

Karachi is the metropolis of Pakistan, the largest and most populated city which presents a colorful combination of old and new. The city of lights has a lot to offer but survival here may be tricky for those new to its ways. Here are a few tips from jovago.com that will help you get by.

1. Be careful on the roads:

For those of you who are venturing out on your own and driving around to Karachi’s malls, mosques, museums and landmarks here are a few things you must keep in mind. The only ones who obey traffic rules in this city aredriving schools and senior citizens. Be extra vigilant and expect the unexpected as cars, buses and motorcycles are unpredictable and swing out from corners and take you by surprise!

2. Do not visit public places on weekends

Even though for most of us Saturday and Sunday seem ideal to explore Karachi, you should think twice. Sea view beach no longer remains sea view beach since the only thing you can view are masses of people. This applies to other public places too, so plan your trip carefully and get things done over the week while the rest of the 9 million people in the city are working.

3. Carry cash

While generally eating at restaurants, exploring the historical buildings or shopping in bazaars in Karachi is reasonable carrying around some extra cash can get a lot of things done. Starting from the porters at the airportand pleasing other helpers along the way, carrying a few notes with you leaves you in control of your day and saves you a ton in the end.

4. Thinkbefore you pay

Some of you taking advantage of Karachi’s public transport system (rickshaws taxis etc.) may find that drivers are inclined to have a chat and mostly about deaths in the family or other issues in pursuit of money. Do not fall prey to these stories and always investigate as most of them are not true, so do not part with your money so easily.

5. Always bargain

Financial transactions in this city can be exhausting especially when locals try to exploit tourists with exorbitant prices, but don’t let that get to you. All the markets are known to welcome bargains and always fight till you can, because even though it is tiring you always get value for your money.

6. Travel in crowds

Survival in foreign cities is always easier in crowds. All the attractions in Karachi are perfect for groups: The beaches (French beach, Hawks bay), the landmarks like Frere Hall and Mohatta Palace, the malls and the restaurants. Bring friends along to make your visit here easier, more enjoyable and more secure.

7. Learn Urdu

We all love familiarity. So why not learn Urdu and get familiar with the locals. You can always use this to your advantage, as you can adapt easier and others will offer you more help. You may not have a lot in common with the people of Karachi, but learning their language is an undeniable connection which will make your trip a whole lot easier.

A world first for ACCA and the University of London: MSc in Professional Accountancy

Accountancy students will be at the forefront of ground-breaking change by studying for the world’s first integrated Masters degree programme with the University of London at the same time as taking their professional qualification with the ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants).

Taking both qualifications at the same time has been made possible through a unique partnership between the University of London and ACCA, which is the first truly integrated Masters programme with an accountancy body at professional level.  Both organisations subscribe to the access agenda and operate in 180 countries across the globe.
 

The design of the Masters degree in Professional Accountancy has been customised with two pathways for both ACCA students and its Members/Affiliates, wishing to get ahead in their career.
 

For current students, the first three essential ACCA professional papers will be credited by the University of London for its Masters degree and at this point they become eligible to register for the degree with the University.  In order to successfully pass the Masters degree, students will be required to complete two professional modules, which offer synergy between the University of London and the ACCA examination papers, as well as completing a strategic financial project.
 

ACCA Members and Affiliates, who will have already completed their ACCA professional qualification, will also be eligible to register for the Masters programme. They will be required to complete two modules, namely global issues for the finance professional and a strategic financial project, to complete the award.
 

The University of London Masters award will be delivered through the University of London International Programmes, with programme direction being provided by UCL’s world class faculty in the Department of Management Science and Innovation.

For current ACCA students, the Masters programme will start during the first week in January 2016 and for Members/Affiliates the scheduled start date is July 2016.

Jovago’s New Television Advertising Campaign in Pakistan

 

 Karachi, July 28, 2015: For the first time in Pakistan, international hotel booking site, Jovago, has launched a TV advertising campaign. The campaign highlights the ease with which Jovago customers can find and book hotels that suit their needs.  It further describes the websites new and improved user interface which is aimed at optimizing user experience.

“This is a big step towards showing our customers how invested we are in ensuring their satisfaction with our services. Through this campaign, Jovago customers can see how simple and straightforward our new and improved, customer-centric, website is.” commented Nadine Malik, Managing Director of Jovago Pakistan. The ad campaign includes a 30-second TV advert and a print series focusing on the ease of access that the website provides. The Best Price Guarantee makes this process all the more hassle-free.

This is an interesting development in Pakistan, as the nation moves towards the more convenient and accessible online world in order to carry out practical tasks. The development and demand for such user-friendly and reliable tools demonstrates the need for more technological advancement and steps in that direction.

Sneak Preview of Sahiwal City

Sahiwal is a city located in central Punjab, and lies between Multanand Lahore. Sahiwal is around a four to five hour drive away from the National Highway and the fertile plains of Punjab. Irrigation in this area is provided by the Bari Doab Canal system. It has been recorded as the 22^nd largest city in Pakistan, with a population of over 200,000.

Jovago’s Top 3

1. Harappa

Harappa is an archaeological site dating back to 6000 BCE and it is about 24 km west of Sahiwal. The site adopts its name from a modern village located near the former course of the Ravi River. The ancient site adopted its name from the current village Harappa, which is 6km from this area.

2. The Shrine of Baba Fareed

This shrine is located in Pakpattan, one of the ancient cities in Pakistan. The shrine is decorated with white marble, and the tomb can house around ten people. Unfortunately no women are allowed, but exceptions were made for Benazir Bhutto and the wife of the late Haji Manzoor Hussain. The shrine is also known as Nuri Darwaza and Bahishti Darwaza, translating to the Gate of Light and the Gate of Paradise.

3. Zafar Ali Stadium

The Zafar Ali Stadium can seat 50,000 people, and was named after Maulana Zafar Ali Khan, who was one of the leaders in the Pakistan Movement. Imran Khan played his first international match in this stadium, and two One Day International cricket matches were hosted in this stadium, Pakistan v England and Pakistan v India.

Tips:

Restaurants

When in Sahiwal, a visit to Meerab is essential, serving its customers with high quality food and exquisite flavors. Two local Café’s to visit are Shawarma Hut and FazaleHaq Dera Sahiwal, for a delicious meal.

Shopping

Azaan Heights is the largest mall in Sahiwal, offering its customers with over 40 local brands, which sell everything from shoes to cosmetics. Shopping in Sahiwal is a gratifying experience, since you get to enjoy the regionally originated products.

Hotels

To book hotels in Sahiwal visit the Jovago.com site for amazing deals at the cheapest prices and flawless service by the Jovago team.

Airport

The Sahiwal Airport is located in an area, which will cause minimal disturbance to the city, and conserve the natural beauty of Sahiwal.

Top 5 Pakistani Artists

Ismail Gulgee was born on October 25, 1926 in Peshawar. He is an award winning globally famous Pakistani artist who is renowned for his extraordinary works in calligraphy, his phenomenal paintings and sculptures. Before his tragic murder in 2007, Gulgee was an engineer and a self-taught painter. He will always be remembered for his humble disposition.

2. Saeed Akhtar

Saeed Akhtar was born in 1938, and is one of Pakistan’s most celebrated artists although he is colour blind. He is an innovator, famous for painting the portrait of Quaid e Azam in 1970. Akhtar’s inspiration is his imagination, allowing him to bring his majestic visions to life on his canvas.

3. Jamil Naqsh

Jamil Naqsh was born in 1939, in Kairana, India. Naqsh’s signature style is to paint women and pigeons, and amalgamations of both. He has designed a few pieces of Islamic calligraphy, which reflect how he is not only a modern expressionist but also a traditional miniaturist.

4. Sadequain

Sadequain was born in 1930, in Amroha, and is considered as the finest calligrapher of Pakistan. Sadequain harnessed the beauty of powerful symbolism and allegorical gestures in his paintings, creating a diverse series of masterpieces. Sadequain passed away in 1987, and is regarded as an iconic artist of the 20^th century.

5. Abdur Rahman Chugtai

Abdur Rahman Chughtai (1897–1975) is the national artist of Pakistan, and is an icon of the 20^th century. His creationsinfused with the essence of Islamic and Mughal art, while maintaining the elegance of Art Noveau. Chughtai is renowned for his painting of Anarkali, and designing the logos of Pakistan Television and Radio Pakistan.