June 9, 2002

A meeting of minds
The Women Writer’s Forum recently organized a discussion titled, ‘Present challenges and our respect for tradition’. They invited women who have careers and command respect in society. There were writers, journalists, teachers, doctors, TV producers, social activists and actresses. All illustrious and esteemed, all full of respect for tradition and all ready to fight for their rights. The speakers included Sahira Kazmi, Jahanara Hai, Zakia Bilgrami, Tayyaba Roohi, Jahanara Rufi, Rehana Afroz, Sarwat Sultana Sarwat, Sadia Haleem, Sabiha Shah and Safia Malik while Dr. Aziza Anjum, a gynaecologist was the compere.

The talk, which began with a wish that we could wake up to reality and open up our minds to accept the changes and challenges in society, ended with quite a few accusations at the media. All the speakers were given seven minutes each to present their views. Some of the women were highly conservative in their views, while others were quite liberal. Both kinds met their counterparts halfway to bridge the gap.

Sahira Kazmi as a modern and progressive person talked about family values. She spoke of her husband and said that it was he who was actually progressive enough to let her work even when the children were young.

The accusations at the media were cleared up to an extent by Humaira, a young journalist, who explained that the problem didn’t really lie in the media but in our society.

It was a good effort by the Women Writer’s Forum to arrange such an enlightening talk. Unfortunately it was only for women. Had they invited some men too, they would surely have benefited from this meeting of the minds. — Shazia Hasan

A surprise bash
The Begs are directly or indirectly in the news regularly through the showbiz connection, the recent being the serial Chandni Ratein produced by sister Afreen Baig, with full support from the brothers Ikhtiyar and Ishtiaq who are in the denim business as well. The serial’s success has encouraged Afreen who is about to embark on another one which she plans to shoot either in Morocco or Indonesia.

Recently Ishtiaq Beg gave a surprise party for his brother Ikhtiyar and his wife Naureen on their 20th wedding anniversary. A few friends flew in specially from Lahore for the occasion. Panah the famous dancer cum teacher was the centre of attraction, standing out with her looks and the attractive red colour of her saree. Satish Anand looked as young as ever with his ever smiling face. Shazia Akhtar and Abida Zaki were seen flitting from one side to another trying to outdo each other in looks and style. Script writer Seema Ghazal could be seen sitting in one corner with a few friends, engrossed in serious conversation perhaps discussing her latest script. The evening came to an end for most after a very late but sumptuous dinner. — K.H.

What’s in a smile?
Women are becoming more aware of the technical methods of looking beautiful in this part of the world. Make overs change the looks temporarily but advancement in technology can now make certain aesthetic changes that are permanent.

Dr Rehan Shah, a dental surgeon of Fatima Dental Hospital said it was possible now to make discoloured teeth permanently white, after the introduction of cosmetic dental diode laser for the first time in Pakistan. Speaking at the inauguration ceremony last week he said that laser is the most advanced and newest technology ever used in medical sciences and other fields. Laser technology is becoming popular in dentistry due to its fast and accurate results as well as being more comfortable for the patients.

The whitening procedure is completely painless in general, and the important thing, said the doctor was that laser treatment is not too expensive.

The guest speaker, well known beautician, Rohana Iqbal said that teeth play a very important role in one’s personality and to introduce cosmetic dental laser which is part of the aesthetic getup, will change the whole concept of dentistry in Pakistan. She felt that people are now becoming more aware regarding beauty and aesthetics and this will open doors for the people who really want to have a beautiful and confident smile.

Other speakers were Dr Ejaz Aslam, a neurosurgeon and Dr Fasi Ullah Mir an ENT specialist and others.

For a cause
In light of his recent efforts towards underprivileged and special children, artist and social worker, Jimmy Engineer, held a press conference on the 23rd of May 2002, to talk about his latest project. Their team, which consisted of the heads of Star Cinema and Mandviwalla Entertainment (Nishat Cinema), and members of the SADA Welfare Foundation and the man behind all this, Jimmy Engineer, himself, revealed that as part of their latest venture, they planned to show films to underprivileged, special and even blind children from institutions such as Edhi Centre, Ida Rieu, SOS Children’s Village and Darulsukun, free of cost. As a person involved in the cause of special and handicapped children, Jimmy Engineer feels that enough lip service has been paid to such issues and that it’s about time that people put their words to action and become “a nation who practices rather then merely preaches”.

These films, such as Shrek, Jurassic Park and other English and Urdu comedies and theme movies for children, will be selected from the assortment of films available to the cinemas, as well as various other television stations in Pakistan. The shows are scheduled to take place twice a month at Star and Nishat Cinema, mostly in the mornings before the regular shows, and hope to entertain approximately 1600 children every month.

Jimmy Engineer has already been the pioneer of other programmes too, whereby he regularly arranges for groups of special and handicapped children to be taken to various restaurants and music shows. He feels very strongly about the fact that proper interest is not taken in these children who need special attention and who should be given the same facilities that normal children have. He especially sees the media as having an important part to play in conveying this message to the people and making them aware of the needs of these children. “I want the affluent people of the country to come forward and help these children”, says Jimmy.

Although many may feel that these programmes are just as much for the elevation of one’s own image as for the children and one might also question the actual judgment involved taking blind children to the movies or in showing illiterate children movies in English, which they will not understand, it is also true there are hardly any people as involved in such causes as is Jimmy Engineer, being one of very few who are actively taking part in trying to make a difference, no matter how small, in the lives of these children. — Saman Malik