Celebrating Valentine’s Day

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Celebrate Valentine's Day in Karachi, Hilal Park, Phase VI DHA KARACHI, restaurants in Karachi

Trendy restaurants

If you are thinking about celebrating Valentine’s Day and live in Karachi, consider heading to Phase VI, DHA.

See and be seen… Phase VI is home to several well-known commercial hotspots, including Bukhari, Rahat, Seher and Shahbaz commercial areas, where many of Karachi’s trendy restaurants, coffee shops and chai dhaabas are located. There are also plenty of spas where you can indulge yourself, not to mention gift shops, book and home stores, as well as bakeries and florists where you can find the perfect present for your Valentine.

Relax and unwind… If you are a nature lover or looking for a quiet, relaxing evening under the stars, Hilal Park is the place to go. Possibly one of Karachi’s best landscaped Parks, it stretches over a hillock and boasts of manicured gardens, walking tracks, a play-area and an abundance of greenery, making it a perfect spot for relaxation or a picnic.

Nihari – A Pakistani Favourite During The Monsoon

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anti-oxidant properties, B-vitamins, bay leaf, benefits of spices, black and white peppercorns, blood circulation, blood pressure, boost immunity, cardamom, cholesterol, cholesterol levels, cinnamon, cloves, coriander, cumin, digestion, dried red chillies, garnish for nihari, ginger, health benefits, Health benefits of Nihari, Iron, lemon, minerals, nihari, nutmeg, phosphorus, protein, red meat, regulate blood pressure, saturated, Selenium, spices, turmeric blood circulation, unsaturated fats, Zinc

Nihari is, without a doubt, a favourite dish for Pakistanis, especially during the monsoon and winter months. A slow-cooked curry made with beef      leg-shank (bong), and lots of spices, nihari is believed to have originated in Old Delhi in the late 18th century during the Mughal rule.

Surprisingly, despite popular belief, nihari actually has a lot of health benefits due to the ingredients that are used to make and garnish it.

Red meat is an excellent source of protein and minerals such as B vitamins, iron, phosphorus, selenium and zinc, all of which are required by the body in order to build and maintain muscles and bones, repair tissues, boost immunity and improve blood circulation.

Eid Shopping At H-Block Market

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Eid, H-Block Market, Lahore, Syed Wajeeh-ul-Hassan Naqvi

Plenty of restaurants

If you live in Lahore and are thinking about venturing out for a shopping marathon for Eid, or a casual evening during the last days of Ramazan, consider heading to H-Block Market, located on Khayaban-e-Jinnah.

Eid shopping at its best… Several high-end retail stores are located in H-Block Market and you can source most Eid essentials there, be they fabrics, shoes or accessories. If you are looking for a tailor, or someone to embroider intricate patterns on your clothes to give them that Eid oomph, the Market also houses several embroidery and tailoring shops. There are also home stores where you can find the accessories you need to add a little pizzazz to your home, be they lighting fixtures, decorations or colourful cushions. While there, take the opportunity to stock up on groceries at one of the supermarkets.

Fixtures for your home

Casual dining from the East and West… Over the last five years, the Market’s culinary range has expanded significantly with several eateries catering to both the desi and angrez in you and includes kababs, tikkas and shawarmas or burgers and fried chicken. Top off your meal with a few cupcakes at Frosted Fantasies, a trendy little bakery that has opened recently. If it is a fine-dining experience that you seek, MM Alam Road’s high-end restaurants are a short drive away.

Shoe and clothes shopping

The real estate take… Due to a prime location in Lahore’s upscale DHA, commercial property in
H-Block market is in high demand. Property options include standalone shops and retail space in low-rise buildings.  Prices increase by 20 to 25% every year and rentals by 20 to 30%. The area is completely built-up.

A good meal

In the nutshell… Thanks to an increasing number of shopping and dining options, H-Block Market is one of Lahore’s popular shopping and dining
go-to places.

– Syed Wajeeh ul Hassan Naqvi

Karachi’s New Chinese Strip

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Block 4 Clifton, Café Ayalanto, Café Flo, Café Koel, China Kitchen, Chinese meal Karachi, Clifton Block 4, Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China Karachi, Red Emperor China Bistro, salons, Sattar Buksh Café, schools, spas, Xander’s

China’s five-star flag flutters at the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China

Less than 10 years ago, if you lived in Karachi and wanted a Chinese meal you either headed to Block 2, Clifton where China Town and Jade Garden are located, or the well-known Kow Loon and Yun Tuang restaurants on Tariq Road. However, today, Block 4, Clifton, could well be termed Karachi’s new Chinese food hub, since several Chinese restaurants have opened there recently. Coincidentally, the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China is also located there.

The white exterior of the Red Emperor China Bistro

The Chinese Trinity… First came China Kitchen, right across the street from Abdullah Shah Ghazi’s mausoleum, with menu offerings that ranged from Wasabi prawns to the famed Peking Duck (China’s national dish), stuffed crab claws and lobster in black bean sauce. Canton and Red Emperor China Bistro followed with equally extensive menus. Canton’s menu highlights include chicken and vegetable wontons and deep fried Red Snapper served with chilli sauce. Meanwhile, the Red Emperor China Bistro has indoor and outdoor seating; pagodas lend the restaurant’s atmosphere an ‘ethnic’ feel; favoured dishes include salt and pepper calamari and sticky fish.

To Zamzama For Valentine’s Day

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bakeries, buying presents, cafes, dining, gift shops, prepare for Valentine’s Day, restaurants, salons, shopping, Valentine baskets, Valentine's Day, Zamzama

If you are serious about Valentine’s Day, consider heading to Zamzama, whether it is to prepare for the day by looking good and buying presents for loved ones, or to celebrate it by dining in style.

Looking good… Zamzama is dotted with several high-end salons for women and men where you can get a hair-cut, a massage, a facial or a mani-pedi and ensure you look your best. Most salons offer Valentine’s Day deals, providing premium services such as chocolate facials and hair treatments at a bargain, so look out for them.

There are plenty of florists at Zamzama

Flowers and gifts… Whether you are looking for roses, lilies or sunflowers, you can find them all at one of the many florists that line the boulevard. And while there, make sure to stop at one of the gift shops there where you will find Valentine baskets filled with chocolates, teddy bears, embossed cushions, jewellery and engraved trinkets.

A Buzzing Neighbourhood

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Area 51, Bay View Academy, Carlton Hotel, commercial buildings, Creek Club, DHA, DHA Golf Club, DHA School and College and The Centre for Advance Studies, Do Darya, golf, high-end apartment complexes, investment in Phase VIII, Marina Club, Neuplex Cinema, property prices, residential and commercial projects in Phase VIII, restaurants, shopping malls, Sunday Bazaar, The Place, water sports, zones in Phase VIII DHA

High-end residential and commercial projects in Phase VIII

The last five to seven years have witnessed the rapid development of several residential and commercial projects in Phase VIII, DHA. As a result, it is a popular and coveted residential neighbourhood.

Projects in the pipeline… Several development projects are underway in Phase VIII, including shopping malls, commercial buildings, restaurants, as well as high-end apartment complexes, some of which afford views of the Arabian Sea. Several well-reputed educational institutions have a presence and include Bay View Academy, DHA School and College and The Centre for Advance Studies, offering residents easy access to quality education for their children.

Bargain shopping at the Sunday Bazaar

Fun, shopping and food… If you are a bowling enthusiast, then Area 51 is a

In Memory Of Allama Iqbal

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Allama Iqbal, Allama Iqbal Campus, Bano Bazaar, College of Pharmacy, Indo-Saracenic style, Khan Baba Restaurant, Malik Nihari, Mall Road, Mohan Lal Road, Moneeza Burney, Pak Tea House, Pakistan, Pakistan’s national poet, Panorama Shopping Centre, University of Punjab, Urdu Bazaar, Waris Nihari

Allama Iqbal’s portrait in the University’s gallery

In the midst of the historic landmarks and bazaars that define Lahore’s Mall Road, stands the Allama Iqbal Campus of the University of Punjab. It is named after Pakistan’s national poet, a close friend of Mr Jinnah who envisioned Pakistan’s creation; he was born on this day, 137 years ago.

The Allama Iqbal Campus of the University of Punjab

Remembering Allama Iqbal… Established in 1882, the University of Punjab is considered one of Pakistan’s leading public research universities. The campus houses several buildings built in the Indo-Saracenic style – resplendent with domes, arches and intricate brick work. Inside the College of Pharmacy building there is a gallery dedicated to Allama Iqbal; you can view portraits and photographs of the great man there, as well as paintings based on his poetry.

Get Ready For Ramazan

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bachat bazaars, besan, chickpeas, Committee, cooking oil, coriander, Eid, festivities, flour, frozen foods, green chilli saplings, green chillies, herb garden, home-grown fruits, home-made recipes, hygienic, iftar, imli, kitchen garden, lemon, masalas, milk, mint, non-perishables, nutritious, pakoras, parathas, puff pastry, Ramazan, religious fervour, samosas, sehri, Shaban, sugar, Uzma Nawaz, vermicelli

In addition to the festivities and religious fervour that mark Ramazan, exorbitant expenditures due to lavish sehri and iftar get-togethers causes much stress and anxiety.

Here are a few tips to make this Ramazan less taxing on your pocket:

Try home-made recipes. Instead of purchasing parathas, samosas and pakoras from your local bakery, opt for homemade food that is hygienic, nutritious and costs significantly less. People lacking in cooking talent – or time – can buy frozen foods, which are substantially cheaper in the long run. An even cheaper option is buying puff pastry for samosas and rolls and making them at home.

Look out for bargain deals. Keep an eye out for bachat bazaars that offer value deals on items such as sugar, besan, cooking oil, masalas and chickpeas. Remember to stock non-perishables, such as pre-packaged juices and milk, flour, imli and vermicelli before Ramazan; this can result in substantial saving. People planning to revamp their houses for Eid should lookout for home stores offering special discounts on furniture and electronic appliances.

Mummy Treats

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blow dry, breakfast, brunch, cake, coffee shops, cupcakes, Facebook, foot massage, high tea, iPod, mall, Marylou Andrew, Mother's Day, MP3 music player, music, photographer, retail therapy, salon, shopping spree

I have to admit that my perception of ‘treats’ is somewhat limited to delicious baked goods but there are a whole host of things you can do to make Mother’s Day a really memorable one for that wonderful woman in your life.

Cake makes the world go round. What is a celebration without cake? Not very special. Bake a batch of cupcakes (different flavours would be nice although time consuming) and decorate them in an array of pastel coloured icing. Break out your prettiest china, throw in some savouries and serve up a decadent high tea to your mum. If you are not a whiz in the kitchen, take mum out for high tea or brunch in high style.

Romantic Forests In Bhurban

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apartment complexes, aromatic, B Khan, bakery, bank, barber’s shop, Bhurban, birds, blacksmithshop, blue magpie, blue-throated, boars, boots, buzzards, commercialisation, deciduous, desi, dhaaba, earth, emerald green, fir cones, forests, fox, fresh milk, fruits, Growing, hawks, Hiking, Himalayan barbets, holiday homes, household, houses, housing, Kashmiri, Kashmiri Bazaar, leopard, monkeys, Pearl Continental Hotel, pied woodpeckers, pine trees, popular, porcupine, prices, resinous, romantic walk, russet, shops, spoors, spruce, tourists, upscale dining, vegetables, wild flowers, wildlife, yellow-billed, yoghurt

View of Azad Kashmir from the top of the Bhurban ridge

With endless miles of stunning forests still managing to cling to life in the otherwise over-exploited Bhurban, putting on your walking boots and taking off for a romantic walk, on marked hiking tracks, is a wonderful way of escaping the world. These stately, incredibly dense forests are, in some places, composed of nothing but magically aromatic pine trees ornamented with resinous fir cones, and in others, are a mixture of pine, spruce, and deciduous trees with wild flowers rambling and growing in the rich earth.