Ever since Faisal Kapadia and Bilal Maqsood of Strings bid farewell to Coke Studio after wrapping up the tenth season rumors of Noori producing the next season have been resurfacing over social media.

Noori’s manager denied the rumors previously by saying,

“The rumours are false. Noor and Hamza are not involved in producing Coke Studio 11 as of yet,”

But the rumors weren’t entirely false for in a recent Facebook post Coke Studio unveiled Ali Hamza that is one half of Noori The Band along with veteran Zohaib Kazi as the producers of Coke Studio 11th edition.

“We are thrilled to welcome Zohaib Kazi & Ali Hamza as the new producers on Coke Studio. Zohaib & Ali are both Coke Studio veterans, who have played an instrumental role in its success over the years. We cannot wait to share their brilliance with all of you, as we embark on a most exciting new chapter of the Coke Studio Pakistan journey. #CokeStudio”

Strings themselves took the throne from Rohail Hayat in season 7 and have produced four seasons since then until they bid farewell to the platform last season and went on to work on their new singles which will be released soon as the band celebrates it’s three decades of music and love.

A source has revealed,

“Hamza will be producing the Coke Studio now. Ali Noor is busy with some of his own projects and will not be able to give time to Coke Studio but Hamza will be taking care of business.”

We can’t wait to see what this new duo is going to bring to the biggest music platform of the country.

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Sana Safinaz came under the fire back in 2012 for it’s poor campaign choice and the famous brand has done it again. As some see the campaign as a representation of African culture other’s accuse the campaign for using black people as props and of culture appropriation.

Here’s what twitter had to say about the new Sana Safinaz spring collection,

One of the users said,

“#SanaSafinaz learned nothing from their infamous ‘coolie’ ad campaign a few years ago. Now they’re at it again appropriating African culture and using black people as props. Apparently #racism sells! @sanasafinazoff”

#SanaSafinaz learned nothing from their infamous 'coolie' ad campaign a few years ago. Now they're at it again appropriating African culture and using black people as props. Apparently #racism sells! @sanasafinazoff pic.twitter.com/UDofKaWsiz

— Nida Kirmani (@NidaKirmani) March 7, 2018

While another one called Pakistanis out for their deeply rooted racism,

“sana safinaz a large pakistani clothing brand using native africans and their culture as props. yall still want to tell me the deep rooted racism in pakistan is not there? try again”

https://twitter.com/sosunm/status/971535020056756225?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Ftribune.com.pk%2Fstory%2F1654567%2F4-sana-safinaz-faces-backlash-racist-campaign%2F

Some users said the campaign was very disturbing,

“I am sorry am I missing something here with this campaign? Sanasafinaz using these people as an ornament to selling their over priced lawn?? Mind blown at why they would deem this acceptable to the slightest. #disturbingAF”

I am sorry am I missing something here with this campaign? Sanasafinaz using these people as an ornament to selling their over priced lawn?? Mind blown at why they would deem this acceptable to the slightest. #disturbingAF pic.twitter.com/rVcWyXJfnF

— S H A H (@ShahTalks) March 7, 2018

One of the users said she’d be boycotting the brand this year,

“#SanaSafinaz using African culture as subservient props for a shoot is exactly why I’m not buying their lawn this time! This isn’t the first time this brand decided to appropriate a group of people who are often referred as disadvantaged #BoycottSanaSafinaz @sanasafinazoff”

#SanaSafinaz using African culture as subservient props for a shoot is exactly why I'm not buying their lawn this time! This isn't the first time this brand decided to appropriate a group of people who are often referred as disadvantaged #BoycottSanaSafinaz @sanasafinazoff https://t.co/Vpkl0wvwq2

— Heena Khaled (@HeenaKhaled) March 8, 2018

Many users thought the campaign exploited black people and reduced them to the status of accessories,

“let’s talk about the regressive, racist, downright offensive sana safinaz shoot. it’s 2018 & they think it’s okay to use black figures as accessories and exploit black culture as a means to sell overpriced lawn?matlub koi sharam hoti hai k oi hayah hoti hai.”

https://twitter.com/HaadeaP/status/971655637087252480?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Ftribune.com.pk%2Fstory%2F1654567%2F4-sana-safinaz-faces-backlash-racist-campaign%2F

So far there hasn’t been a response from Sana Safinaz.

What’s your opinion of the campaign, share with us in the comments section.

International Women’s Day (IWD) is celebrated on March 8 every year. It commemorates the movement for women’s rights. March 8 was suggested by the 1910 International Socialist Woman’s Conference to become an “International Woman’s Day.” After women gained suffrage in Soviet Russia in 1917, March 8 became a national holiday there. The day was then predominantly celebrated by the socialist movement and communist countries until it was adopted in 1975 by the United Nations.

As the world celebrates women and vows to empower them so do our celebrities and this is what they had to say this women’s day.

Sarmad Khoosat

https://twitter.com/KhoosatSarmad/status/971605471277744128?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Ftribune.com.pk%2Fstory%2F1654419%2F4-international-womens-day-men-celebrating-women-lives%2F

Adnan Siddiqui

https://www.instagram.com/p/BgCRoeQgQNL/?taken-by=adnansid1

Adnan Malik

https://www.instagram.com/p/BgDr5PBB6at/?utm_source=ig_embed

Sajal Aly

https://www.instagram.com/p/BgDk2PnAgXJ/?taken-by=sajalaly

Yumna Zaidi

https://www.instagram.com/p/BgEKBoUnI_W/?taken-by=yumnazaidiofficial

Sanam Chauhdry

https://www.instagram.com/p/BgDR24FBEJ-/?taken-by=sanamchauhdry

Ali Kazmi

https://www.instagram.com/p/BgDeQFKlzye/?taken-by=thealikazmi

Meesha Shafi

https://www.instagram.com/p/BgDzKxVF-af/?taken-by=meesha.shafi

Hina Bayat

https://www.instagram.com/p/BgDHEj2HdnD/?taken-by=hinakhwajabayatofficial

Sanam Saeed

https://www.instagram.com/p/BgDENMZlx4J/?taken-by=sanammody

Sheefa Jabbar

https://www.instagram.com/p/BgDtBndl-Xk/?taken-by=saheefajabbarkhattak

We wish a very happy women’s day to every woman out there, let’s create a better world for our future daughters. God bless.

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Riz Ahmed visited Pakistan recently to speak at Lahore Literary Festival after which the Star War star spent some time in Karachi as well. The actor who hasn’t been to motherland in past 13 years said that he was overwhelmed by the experience and will be posting pictures from his trip on his Instagram soon. But what he posted is much more than just vacation pictures.

Ahmed spent some time with the transgender community and shared their story with his followers,

“The transgender community has been an established part of South Asian culture for hundreds of years. You see many many more transgender people walking around in Pakistan than in New York or London.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bf-0PSsBYvp/?taken-by=rizahmed

He further said,

“In recent times Pakistan has even had a recognised ‘third gender’ on official government documents, cementing their place in society. Despite this recognition however, they are marginalised and often earn a living through dancing, sex work or a kind of spiritual begging.”

Apart from highlighting the lives of transgenders in Pakistan he also shared some pictures of our well known truck culture and wrote,

“No one does cars, trucks & lorries like us”

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bf3MZjjh2Q7/?taken-by=rizahmed

He also paid a visit to Juna Market & Johriya Bazaar and wrote,

“Juna Market & Johriya Bazaar, one of the older bits of Karachi. Most of this huge city is much newer. Used to be only half a million people til Partition in 1947. Now well over 20million call it home, mostly from India and elsewhere in Pakistan. A city of migrants.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bfy_bleBNJb/?taken-by=rizahmed

With a following list as diverse as Emmy Award Winner Riz Ahmed’s we hope his posts will help people see Pakistan for the country it really is. We hope to see more pictures from his trip to Pakistan soon.

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The prestigious Paris Fashion Week Fall 2018 started on 27th February and was wrapped up yesterday 6th of March. Yasmeen Jiwa was the only Pakistani designer at the Fashion Week showcasing her work. Her collection was featured on March 3 at the Intercontinental Le Grand, Paris.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BZ0Uor7jZB2/?hl=en&taken-by=yasmeenjiwa

The designer was invited by British company Oxford Fashion Studio to represent Pakistan. Maheen who manages Public Relations of Yasmin Jiwa told Geo.TV.

“We were invited in June last year to participate in New York Fashion Week in September 2017 by Oxford Fashion Studio — an independent organisation based in London who scout independent/ upcoming designers from around the world to participate in fashion weeks in London, New York, Milan, and Paris,” 

She further added,

“We realised that we will not be ready for September season so we opted for February in Paris and were luckily granted it. As this was our first ever show we wanted to take baby steps in which we opted to go for a group show, we shared our show with other international designers from Indonesia, India, Norway and Canada,” 

The collection was named ‘Qous-e-Qazah’ and it combined traditional embroideries such as mirror, thread, lace, cut work and sequence with modern edgy silhouettes.

“The brand Yasmeen Jiwa has always believed in weightless glamour which is not very common in our industry. The collection was given a great deal of praise by the media and buyers present at the show. It really opened the door to new international opportunities and definitely exceeded our expectations tenfold,” 

Speaking about the show, Jiwa said,

“I’ve always been a private person and have always enjoyed my private clientele, I knew that if I ever did a show it really had to be different from anything I’ve done before and I feel this was the perfect platform for me as I got the opportunity to meet people from all around the world.”

She continued,

“The venue was one of the most beautiful venues one could ever ask for. I was also extremely impressed by the organisers the level of professionalism was extremely refreshing,”

It feels so good to see people of homeland making us proud around the globe, more power to you and your team Mam. Kudos.

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Mahira Khan has been very vocal lately be it the #MeToo or Time’s Up campaign or some other political view she isn’t holding back. In a recent interview with Newsweek ahead of her UK visit the Verna starlet had some wisdom to share.

When asked of the brief ban on Verna the actress said,

“We knew there are certain things that have been said in this film that won’t go down well with certain people, certain institutions. And they didn’t. There was a feeling of, OK, it’s been banned—now what do we do? There was a handful of people who did not want it to go out, and then there was the entire brigade of people—a society—who created an uproar and said they want this film to be released,”

She continued,

“That pressure caused them to release the film. I don’t know what the outcome of Verna would have been 20 years ago, or 25 years ago, or 10 years ago even. But today people are like, ‘We’re not going to let you ban this film.’ I actually thought, OK, this is banned, or there will be several cuts. There were no cuts in the film. It only happened because people got up and talked about it—journalists, Twitter, talk shows debating it. There was enough pressure and it got released.”

“More than anything, Verna talks about power. Whether we talk about misogyny or patriarchal society or even abuse, they’re an act of power,”

When asked of what was it about the script or the project in particular that made her sign up for Verna she said,

“When I heard the story, all I knew was there are lines in the film that I wanted to be able to say. There were a lot of other great commercial projects that were around at the same time, but as an actor, it was a hunger to be able to be part of something like this.”

Speaking about whether the “Time’s Up” campaign is crossing into the Pakistani film industry, the Bol actor said,

“There are certain themes running through the world that are very similar. Whatever is happening there is happening here. People are raising their voice there; women are raising their voices here. There’s a very similar pattern in this country as well. We are having constant debate about gender equality, we are talking about women, women in films, the kind of roles written for women. It has trickled down,” 

She added,

“I would like better stories, and I want to see better roles for men and women. As far as tackling things like pay parity, in this industry, that is also being talked about. I think most of us—me and my female co-actors—I think we all fight for our rights. I think we’re creating a good groundwork for future generations,” 

Further, regarding India recently upholding its ban on Pakistani talent in Indian films, the actor said,

“I wish it was within our hands or our control. But it isn’t. It’s something governments are deciding, and so be it.”

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A huge fiasco went on when India initially banned Pakistani artists more specifically Mahira Khan and Fawad Khan from working in Bollywood. Their movies Raees and Ae Dil Hai Mushkil where Fawad had a cameo came under a lot of fire. Consequently, there were no more projects for the stars. Recently, an Indian minister talked about banning Atif Aslam and Rahat Fateh Ali Khan. Saba Qamar who did Hindi Medium is also not going to be a part of the sequel. So, India has officially banned Pakistani artists to work in any of their media.

India Officially Bans Pakistani Artists!

Albeit almost entire industry chose to stay quiet on the topic but Adnan Shah Tipu who has worked in Bollywood previously had something to say. In a video on Shahroz Sabzwari’s facebook he said,

“Thank you for banning us. You have given us a chance to make an Amitabh Bachchan, Naseeruddin Shah and other big stars in Pakistan.You banned Pakistani players from Indian Premiere League (IPL), but then Pakistan Super League (PSL) happened.”

The actor has worked in numerous Bollywood projects such as Himesh Reshammiya’s Kajraare and Arshad Warsi’s Welcome to Karachi. Talking about his experience while working across the border, Tipu said,

“I have worked in India. People showed me a lot of love. But what does this ban mean? You don’t get our bread and butter. It is up to God.Your ban doesn’t change two facts. Facts that no one should ever forget. First, your paternity. Second, your nationality. My father’s name is Ghazanfar Ali Shah. I’m from Faisalabad, Dhobi Ghat, Pakistan. That’s not going to change,” 

The Maalik star further added,

“I did a film in 2007. I wasn’t starving back then. Therefore, because of your ban, neither Fawad Khan nor Rahat Fateh Ali Khan will starve. Pakistan is my mother. If I say anything to your mother, you will feel offended. Likewise, if you say anything about my mother, will I be ecstatic about it?”

He concluded,

“So, here’s what I have to say. Go play your game, we will play ours. You’ve banned us. Thank you very much.”

“Pakistan above all.”

All his followers on facebook had nothing but love for this man for taking a stand while the rest of our industry is restraining from giving any response.

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Imran Abbas has been giving hits after hits. Khuda Aur Mohabbat Season 2, Muhabbat Tum Se Nafrat Hai and now Noor ul Ain, all his recent shows have been extremely popular. But one thing was super common among all his shows, his lover boy avatar. Good news for Imran’s fans is that he is making a huge change as he will play a negative character in the next iDreams production named Koi Chand Rakh Meri Shaam Par. The play is written by Maha Malik and is directed by Siraj ul Haq.

And another good news for the fans, you will be able to see the famous Maheen and Waqar together again. Imran will star opposite Ayeza Khan again:

It is good to see Imran showing versatility. Are you guys excited?

Saba was ruling the TRP charts with Baaghi for which she bagged the best actress award in LSA 18 this year. Now she is coming back with Badshah Begum. Gohar Rasheed will be starring alongside her. After Digest Writer, we will see the pair again in Badshah Begum on HUM TV. The play will present a story from the Mughal Era and is already anticipated as a very big project.

We will keep you updated about Badshah Begum. Are you guys excited for the play? Share in the comments section!

Saboor Aly celebrated her birthday with her friends and she looked absolutely gorgeous. Her close friends Sadaf Kanwal and Amar Khan celebrated her day with her. With red balloons and a beautiful cake, Saboor looked super happy during her birthday celebration. Here are the pictures from her party:

Happy Birthday, Saboor!

This year marks the thirty year anniversary of the Faisal Kapadia and Bilal Maqsood powerhouse duo and the duo is all set to release eight singles to celebrate three decades of Strings as Express Tribune revealed and we feel aesthetic.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bf0dR5eHhC9/?utm_source=ig_embed

The duo took the Coke Studio throne from Rohail Hayat since seventh season and has produced four seasons back to back until they bid farewell to the greatest music platform of country last year.

Strings Bid Good Bye To Coke Studio!

The first two tracks amongst the eight brand new singles to be released are Sajni and Urr Jaaon.

It has been years since we have enjoyed a pure Strings-ish track and the wait is finally over now let’s hope the new tracks were worth the wait. Boarding the hype train nonetheless.

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‘Zun Mureed’ has been making headlines for quite some time now and for all the right reasons, the play talks about domestic violence and it’s impact on the families, the play also happens to be Nadia Khan’s first show after a seventeen year long break.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lkk1CZncL2E

Team Zun Mureed was seen on Jago Pakistan Jago on 2nd of March 2018 for the promotion of their play and to explain everything that this play stands for the play was aired on Hum TV later that night. After the morning show lead actor Omair Rana took to his facebook and talked about how upset he is over the type of treatment this play got from this morning show. He seemed offended by how the true essence of the play was tarnished in order to gain ratings.

Hina Bayat also shared the same views and apologized to the viewers for what they had to witness that morning, she further said that whatever stunt was pulled during the show was absolutely without their consent team Zun Mureed never agreed to any of it.

She further continued,

Our morning shows haven’t offended someone for the first time, the utter cringefest that our morning shows have become needs to be stopped instead of normalizing or even worse trivializing this subject. These shows have a massive viewership which puts an even huge responsibility on the shoulders of creators of these shows, take the high road for heavens sake, for the love of God put content over ratings. Peace.

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The release month of Cake is here and the music is being put out now. The first song Meri Duniya by The Sketches is out. The song has a soothing tone and totally compliments the overall look of Cake. The song is written, composed and sung by the Sketches. With Amina Sheikh, Sanam Saeed and Adnan Malik in the video, here is the song:

Do you like Meri Duniya and are you looking forward to Cake? Share in comments!

Pakistani censor board is making a lot of headlines for different reasons for quite some time now. They banned Verna which had no such scene which demanded a ban. Then recently they released Padmaavat which had many issues without a single cut while banned PadMan without even watching. Now, they have banned the upcoming Anushka Sharma starrer horror flick, Pari.

The reason given for the ban includes the usage of Quranic verses as well as Hindu mantars in some magic spells. The reason sounds legit but with Pakistani censor board, one never knows. The film was cleared by Sindh and Punjab but got a ban in Islamabad.

Let’s see how the ban situation furthers!

It came as a shock to all fans and colleagues when Ayesha Khan, one of the top line actresses of Pakistan Showbiz Industry announced her departure from the industry. Since her very first drama, Ayesha has been a very successful artist and has never looked back.

With many hits including dramas like Mehendi, Wasl, Khuda Mera Bhi Hai and Barri Aapa and films like Waar and Jawani Phir Nahin Aani in the long list of her career, she has made the decision to leave at the very top of her game. Here is what she posted:

We wish Ayesha All the best for her future and may she garner love, respect and success in all the phases of her life!

There is a lot of tension going on between India and Pakistan on the cultural front. It all started with the bans imposed on Fawad Khan and Mahira Khan after both got stardom across the border. Things have gotten more serious recently when an Indian singer turned politician Babul Supriyo asked for a ban on Atif Aslam and Rahat Fateh Ali Khan. He asked to redub the songs sung by the two artists in two upcoming Bollywood movies.

Due to this ban, it has been reported that Atif Aslam has refused to promote his upcoming song for the movie Daas Dev. Though he initially was going to promote it, but the increased tension and the ban have made Atif take this decision.

What are your thoughts on this situation? Share in the comments section below!

A three day National Artists Convention and CPEC Cultural Caravan were held at the Pakistan National Council of Arts. At its conclusion, the Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting has announced Pakistan’s first ever Film and Culture Policy. Pakistani cinema is flourishing for a few years now and after facing a lot of challenges, our film industry has come out with many good movies which impressed the audiences as well as did good business.

With India’s ban on Pakistani artists and no ban on their content from Pakistan’s side, it came as a good move to at least give support to our own cinema. The policy came into effect immediately and states the following points for the betterment of Pakistani cinema:

• The film industry has been acknowledged formally as an industry.
• Establishment of finance fund as well as a film academy will take place.
• Directorate of films and publications will be restored
• Film Studios will be built under public-private partnership where the government will supply land and 80% rebates will be given for the construction of cinemas.
• There will be no duty on importing film equipment.
• Artists will be included in the health scheme.

Whether this policy gets implemented or not is a different debate but it is a good step in promoting our own culture and facilitating the artists and filmmakers.

Last week ended on a tragic note, from the air strikes in Syria to Sridevi’s death sadness loomed all over us. After witnessing such atrocities humanity wept all around the globe but even in such times some of us find in our hearts to spread hate speech.

People soon started comparing the two events and judged people over which atrocity they decided to post about on their social media. As pathetic ugly and inhumane as it sounds this is what happened, we saw internet divided over Syria or Sridevi.

While humanity kept reaching another low Armeena Khan took upon herself to talk some wisdom into people’s heads, to at least those who’d listen.

This is what she had to say,

https://www.instagram.com/p/BftjswgneKc/?utm_source=ig_embed

Let God be the judge of our actions and stop spreading hate especially in times when humanity needs to stand together. Hatred is a baggage it gets you nowhere. The world is already full of hatred and war it doesn’t need more of it, what it truly needs is kindness. Albeit no religion preaches hate Islam of all the religions is the most kind one, a true Muslim does not hate for he knows that Allah does not hate. May the Lord have mercy upon us.

A huge fiasco went on when India initially banned Pakistani artists more specifically Mahira Khan and Fawad Khan from working in Bollywood. Their movies Raees and Ae Dil Hai Mushkil where Fawad had a cameo came under a lot of fire. Consequently, there were no more projects for the stars. Recently, an Indian minister talked about banning Atif Aslam and Rahat Fateh Ali Khan. Saba Qamar who did Hindi Medium is also not going to be a part of the sequel. So, India has officially banned Pakistani artists to work in any of their media.

The FWIC notice openly is calling Pakistan the nation who has unleashed a war like situation in their country. So, Pakistani artists are officially banned while our channels are still showing Indian content and none of our stars had the audacity to say a word about these allegations.

It was the time we should have showed too that “Nation Comes First”. Our industry is flourishing by leaps and bounds which should have provided confidence to artists to take a stand for their and their country’s dignity.

What are your thoughts on this? Share in comments!