Scribble your random thoughts on a piece of paper [try not to scribble down offensive language please!] 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.

Scan the Scribble Art you’ve made, and send in your entries via e-mail to: competition@ink-on-the-web.com

Last date for entry: 30th March, 2010.
Winners will be announced on 1st April 2010.

*Competition valid for Pakistan & Dubai only.

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.

It is here, as the clock approaches midnight that spirits are rekindled. However, standing united, facing a new beginning, my peers do stop for a moment and remember the past floating by. True, the year 2009 saw numerous challenges, many battles and much heartache. The economy painted a bleak picture. The woes of a common man mounted to new levels. Our land was in constant grip of terror. We lost many fellow countrymen as brave martyrs of terrorism. Indeed 2009 was a difficult year. It made the transition to 2010 a solemn attempt.

But that’s the beauty of a New Year. A moment artificial yet so profound. It brings a new dawn. It is a chance to redeem oneself. It offers a brand new path to success. It is an opportunity to rise above and make a difference. A new year brings with it the making of new goals, settings your dreams and letting your inspirations be your guiding light. Step forward with good things in mind, leaving behind every bad memory and forgetting all past mistakes. Provoke your inner smile to surface and be thankful for all the hidden blessings, life showers on you.

Take the New Year as a stepping stone for your personal glory. 2010 may bring something positive for each one of us. It may be the celebration of a new life. It may be relishing in the joy of strengthening the bonds with your loved ones, whether old or new. It may be just keeping your head high and maintaining a positive outlook for the year. Or it may be simple contentment knowing that someone out there is looking out for you and that you’ll never walk alone.

Let 2010 be your playground. We have stepped into a New Year with new hope. But remember, we want to walk away from it believing in miracles. Though there might be times, when the silver lining on our clouds may seem to diminish, we must rise above. Dance as if no one were watching, sing as if no one were listening and live every day as if it were your last. Because we will live no other way and we will cherish memory as the only certain immortality.

Ali Sher feat. Rafaqat Ali Khan – ISHQ

(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’.

“This ‘Kafi’ style of singing has been around for over 100 years and belongs to my Gharana. Ali Sher has composed and arranged this song beautifully. He is an intelligent and passionate musician and we are currently planning on doing a whole album together.” says Rafaqat Ali Khan on his collaboration with Ali Sher for ‘Ishq’.
Recorded at Ali Sher’s studio, Ishq has been roughly arranged based on the free form vocals of Rafaqat Ali Khan. With the release of this song, Ali Sher plans to collaborate with various classical and Sufi artists in the future to develop his work as a composer.

Ali Sher Profile:

Ali Sher began his music career in the early nineties, when the Pop music industry in Pakistan was still in its early experimental stages. Over the decade Ali has professionally streamlined and broadening his music and genre with three albums, musical scores for sitcoms and serials along with diverse collaborations with the likes of Ustad Tanveer Hussain, Ustad Ballu, Mekaal Hassan and most recently with Rafaqat Ali Khan.
His first Album, ‘Yadoon Main’ was released in 2001 accompanied with the successful music video ‘Shaam’. This was followed by his second album, ‘Mann Marzi’ released in 2003, which included hit singles like ‘Chan Sajna’, ‘Mein Tay Mann Lae Haar’ and ‘Hijr’. His third and most recent album ‘Beetay Pal’ was released earlier this year and is a blend of live music and electronic beat. Live music on the album is played by Mekaal Hassan, Ustaad Ballu khan, Ustaad Wajid Ali and Rana Hassan.

With more than 14 years of experience; Ali’s music has come to represent a creative blend of genres ranging from compositions to synthesized sensibilities. His music portrays a passion for culture and language and he diversifies his music by expressing his creativity through both Urdu and Punjabi vocals.
As a songwriter and composer, he has also composed music for several artists and organizations including a collaboration with Hadiqa Kiyani for her second album ‘Roshni’, the title song for ‘Dr aur Billa’ by Jawad Bashir and a musical composition entitled “Save the Nation” for the All Pakistan Endocrine & Diabetes Association (APEDA), for which he received a special award in 2008.

Ali Sher has diversified his artistic sphere over the years through his acting in sitcoms such as ‘Saath’, and ‘Yeh Tau Hona Hi Tha’; both of which were aired on Hum TV. He was recently also involved in the composition of music for acclaimed international film ‘Kashf’ which previewed in Cannes and Berlin and for the documentary ‘Made in Pakistan’, slated for international release in 2010 and aired locally in 2009.

Ali is currently working on his fourth album along with the release of his latest collaborative venture titled “Ishq” featuring Rafaqat Ali Khan of the illustrious Shaam Chaurasi Gharana. With ‘Ishq’ Ali Sher has experimented with eastern classical fusion. Composed, structured, mixed and produced by him, “Ishq” is sung in the famous ‘Kafi’ style in which Ali has incorporated instruments including ethnic percussions, muted guitar, ‘tabla’, ‘dholak’, ‘duff’ and the African ‘D.Jembe’.

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.

The seminar was organized by students of MBA (1B) of Bahria University in coordination of Miss Sobia Shujaat Lecturer “Management Sciences”, Bahria University Karachi. The event turned out to be a big success as a large number of students attended it, along with many experts and professionals in the field. Bahria University auditorium was jam-packed with students and participants.

Four guest speakers were also invited from the corporate world, to share their valuable marketing experiences with students. They were S.M HUSSAINI (CEO KASB MODARBA), MUHAMMED INTESSARUDDIN (CEO BULLS AND BULLS), MEHNAZ AHEMED (AVP CITIBANK) AND SHAHZAD QAMAR (UNIT HEAD MARKETING BANK ISLAMI).

KASB Modarba CEO S.M. HUSSAINI, speaking on the occasion, said that Islamic banking is surprisingly growing much faster outside the Muslim world, and London has taken the centre stage in Islamic banking transactions.

CEO Bulls and Bulls, Intessaruddin, while delivering his speech managed to take the limelight with his impressive and charismatic style of delivery, and was inspirational for the students owing to his indepth knowledge and experiences. He mainly focused on the fact that the youth should develop a marketing plan for themselves for the remaining part of their lives.

All the students of Bahria University participated actively in organizing the whole event, and everything went according to plan.

Bahria University, Karachi Web-presence. – [ http://www.bimcs.edu.pk ]

Part 1 – Interview with CEO of Ink Magazine

Part 2 – Interview with CEO of Ink Magazine

Ink-on-the-web’s ‘Spit & Stick’ coming soon!

Stay tuned to this space for more details in the coming days!

A Hint Of What To Expect …

“What’s Happening Behind The Scenes at Ink? – Company Progress – Team Mates’ Life Blogs – Co-Worker’s Thoughts etc.” Read about our team member’s lives, their time at Ink, their blog discussions, latest happenings, funny pictures … and much more ‘absolutely random’ stuff etc.

~ Team Ink.