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Ink’s CEO, Fariha Rashed, was recently interviewed by popular international online magazine, The Saturday Post.



March 8th, 2010 – Being a part of a massively successful musical group means you are constantly on the move and facing new adventures every day. The boys from The Bilz & Kashif have been busy putting the final touches on their sophomore album, Breaking Barriers – but somehow they have found time to get involved with some other pretty cool projects along the way.

The Bilz & Kashif, known for fusing Bhangra music with Urban/Pop and electro will headline Canadian Music Week’s Spotlight on India on March 12th. The weeklong festival will feature Billboard charting acts like Our Lady Peace and Ke$ha.  How does it feel to represent the growing urban sound of South Asia? Kashif says, “This is probably the best thing to happen for Canadian artists like us. This event has been a major part of the industry for a while and for CMW to acknowledge the growth of South Asian artists makes us really proud to headline this segment. Thanks to BlueBand Musiq for making this happen. We’re moving forward and breaking barriers!”

The Bilz & Kashif offered an exclusive gift for their fans on Valentine’s Day – a free download of their version of the popular song ‘BedRock’ by Young Money entitled ‘Candy Girl’ which features The Bilz & Kashif alongside Nivla & Drega. The promotional video for “Candy Girl” charted #9 on YouTube’s most viewed song in two days. The Bilz & Kashif will be releasing another free promo track featuring a U.K rapper early this month along with a house version of “Against All Odds” remixed by DJ Notorious (Mumbai). Visit their Facebook page for more details.

While The Bilz & Kashif strive to bring their sound to a worldwide audience, their North American appeal has landed them a feature article in Street Report Magazine. The publication, based in Atlanta, has featured top platinum selling artists from the music industry including Usher, Ludacris, Plies & T.I. Vicious says “The editor hit me up on Twitter and just fell in love with our latest video – Against All Odds. She’s been in the loop since our 2 Step Bhangra days and acknowledged the struggle and consistency we deliver every time we put something out.”

In today’s industry, what is a hit record without a hit video? The Bilz & Kashif’s latest video, ‘Against All Odds’ which has gained over 100,000 views in 3 months on YouTube, has entered the 2010 Reel World Film Festival in Toronto in the music video category. The video chronicles the boys’ struggle to make it in the music industry – supporting themselves by day and honing their craft by night. Their inspirational message to follow your dreams is masterfully captured in the video.

While all of these other exciting projects have been going on, The Bilz & Kashif have found the time to finish Breaking Barriers. The album features a great fusion of South Asian, Pop/ R&B and electro sounds. The album will be available for pre-order on iTunes next month.

In’s CEO, Fariha Rashed, was recently interviewed by popular online social magazine called PARTYLICIOUS.
To read go here:  < Link >

With Ink’s online competition!

Scribble your random thoughts on a piece of paper in a way that it becomes a masterpiece of art! Be as creative as you can – use a ballpoint pen only. You can include characters, and other images – but the words you scribble will be the most important part of it.

We’ll choose 3 winners who will receive a Goodie Bag filled with prizes –> t-shirts, original movie DVDs, original music CDs, all issues of Ink, a Radio 1 FM91 gift, and much more! The winners will also be featured, along with their Scribble Art, in the Apr – Jun 2010 issue of Ink. Continue

By VICTORIA TAYLOR for Ink-On-The-Web

The Jenkins-Penn Haitian Relief Organization (J/P HRO) has recently launched the “Beat the Rain” campaign, aimed at raising funds to support the effort to protect the hundreds of thousands of Haitians who are living in tent cities and camps as the rainy season approaches. With the rainy season comes the additional threat of cholera, tuberculosis, typhoid, tetanus, and malaria, so in order to save lives J/P HRO is hoping to provide secure, temporary homes in the region, as well as to call upon local officials to expedite the inspection process so that Haitians can return to their homes. Sean Penn, one of the founders of J/P HRO, said: “When the rain comes, it’s going to be a public health disaster. It could easily be on the scale of the earthquake itself. What we’re trying to do is prevent it. The inspection process is too slow and people are not being let back into their homes. There is enormous risk if they are not relocated or given better means of shelter soon. Disease is spreading already- tuberculosis, typhoid, tetanus, malaria. There were incredible hygiene problems within the neighborhoods prior to the quake. This is a new disaster waiting to happen, if we do not take action now and do something to prevent it.”
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Oven baked Italian Pizza in Islamabad, for the first time.
By Zarmeen Sipra

The other day, I had the opportunity to interview and enjoy an evening at a popular eatery in Islamabad – Pizziano. Its oven baked pizzas are now not only enjoyed at the owner’s lush garden, but due to the winter cold, Zehra Valliani, a woman of substance, a woman of strength, and a woman of entrepreneurship, has started a comfortable and cozy place, a casual shed with heaters burning, and art work on display.

Zehra Valliani started her career after being trained by her father Siraj Valliani (late) who was in the travel business in Islamabad, Pakistan. Zehra was lucky to inherit the entrepreneurial talent from him, and has used that not only at “Pizziano”, but has also started her own clothes line known as “Zehra V”. With so many things already going on, she is also in partnership with a Dubai based company, being their representative here in Islamabad. She is still using her travel and tour agent skills. She is a woman who is not a quitter, but a go-getter; a woman who likes to move with time, and is a symbol of womanhood in its true sense. She encourages the many other young women in Pakistan to come forward, and use their talents, skills, and ideas. Her idea is to work hard for the progress of society, of the country, and herself. She wants to serve the local people in Pakistan with the best service in any industry, whether food, clothes or travel. Zehra Valliani is out there doing it all, and proving to be an achiever. Continue

Please note that completely owing to Ink’s own fault, this article of Ayesha’s was incompletely printed in the current Jan – Mar 2010 Gold Issue of Ink. We are therefore uploading it here in full! Apologies to Ayesha and our readers for the mishap!

By Ayesha Ali Khan

Growing up in suburban Lahore, New Year’s eves used to be a quiet event. Yet excitement for the New Year was evident in the spirit of every child and adult. New Year’s Eve was the celebration of a new beginning. Something to be jubilant about. It was a time for a simple gesture of wishing health and wealth to all, and the best that life could give to all. Indeed, the New Year promised a bright future. Even today, the charm of the New Year’s Eve continues to thrill. Despite the face paced life, it offers a chance for friends and family to come together and celebrate a joyous occasion. It is a new hope harbored into an old fashioned cheer.
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Ali Sher feat. Rafaqat Ali Khan – ISHQ

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(Lahore: 15 December 2009) Following the successful release of his third studio album ‘Beetaye Pal’, Ali Sher introduces his work as a composer on a collaborative single with Rafaqat Ali Khan entitled ‘Ishq’.

Originally written by Ghulam Farid Khan, Ali’s composition is inspired by the Sindhi Bharwain Rag and is a fusion of both Eastern and Western instruments such as Ethnic Percussions, Muted Guitar, ‘Tabla’, ‘Dholak’ and ‘Duff’. He has also incorporated African instruments such as the ‘D.Jembe’ and ‘Congo’.

Rafaqat Ali Khan, who hails from the illustrious Sham Chaurasia Gharana is renowned for his work in various Bollywood productions including the Hrithik Raushan hit ‘Krrish’. In harmony with his family generational legacy, Rafaqat Ali Khan brings the classical ‘Khayal Gayeki’ inspiration and tradition to Ali Sher’s composition.

Speaking about this collaboration, Ali Sher has said, “I’ve always wanted to collaborate with Rafaqat Sahab, but never got a chance. I’ve seen him perform numerous times, and have been mesmerized by the depth and passion with which he sings. I believe Rafaqat Sahab’s ‘Gayeki’ is deeply rooted in our heritage and I am thrilled to be a part of ‘Ishq’. Continue

Karachi, 7 December 2009: Selsun Blue launched its new anti-dandruff shampoo that claims to be at least twice as effective as any other anti-dandruff shampoo in the market.

The event spanned throughout the day: in the morning, prominent stylists displayed their cutting prowess, sampled the shampoo and were highly pleased with the results; this was followed by a glamorous fashion show competition between Pakistan’s leading design schools; later, prominent artists such as Abid Ali and style diva Saba Ansari, along luminaries like Sohail Asghar, Sadia Imam, Shagufta Ejaz and many others graced the event with their presence and expressed their support for upcoming designers.

A petite starlet commented “I am willing to switch for the sake of my crowning glory and such a switch is healthy”

In many ways the event acted like a platform for the emerging talent of Karachi. There is no dearth of talent in the country, and more initiatives like this will augment the new generation’s aspirations and hopes to work harder. Continue

BAHRIA UNIVERSITY
Marketing seminar at Bahria University

“WE MUST LEARN TO MARKET OURSELVES”

- City Nazim

City Nazim stresses for marketing strategy from individual to nation

KARACHI , December 12: City Nazim Karachi Syed Mustafa Kamal stressed upon the MBA students of Bahria University that “We must learn to market ourselves as an individual, as a city and as a nation”. Mustafa Kamal was speaking as chief guest at a seminar “Market Expansion and Growth Strategies” held at Bahria University ( Karachi campus) The City Nazim emphasized on the fact that our total population consists of 65% youth, which is a big plus point for any nation to develop itself. Continue