ISLAMABAD: It’s the last weekend before the last weekend in the last few days of this year.
For those rushing through the two weeks until 2019 starts knocking on our doors – now may be a good time to fulfill the resolutions of 2018. Or, you could opt for something that is less stressful but memorable nonetheless.
Head to the movies this weekend for Aquaman has finally splashed onto the cinema screens. The Jason Mamoa (Game of Thrones fame) starrer is the next installment from DC Comics’ universe which is making most fans dive deep into the unchartered waters of Justice League’s powerful underwater superhero.
And while popcorn serves as a good distraction from usually mundane movie scripts, it’s not real food. Enter Jinnah Market’s Wild Wings. The franchise which is celebrating its one-year anniversary on Friday is treating fans to its successful relationship too by selling their meaty goodness at half the price.
Once you have learned to fly without wings, drop by at Hangout’s Sham-e-Adab and Ghazal Night which is taking place at the National Institute of Science and Technical Education in Islamabad. Enjoy recitations of classic Urdu poetry and ghazals at the show which begins at 6 p.m. and ends at 8 pm.
Not one to single out Islamabad in our list of events lined up for the weekend, there’s something in store for Lahoris too. Get your dose of poetry at Royal Kitchen Lahore Fort’s Bulleh Shah Night. For those who buy tickets in time for Friday’s festivities, they will be treated to a rickshaw tour of Hazuri Bagh before settling in for a night of performances by What Shah, Sayeein Zahoor, and Fazal Jutt.
Did poetry tug at your heartstrings? Now let the Lahore Laugh Club tickle a few ribs, too, with their open mic, stand-up comedy night at Kickstart in Gulberg, on Saturday. For those interested in supporting new talent or trying their hand at making others laugh, tickets are available at the venue too.
For art’s sake, the Allama Iqbal Museum is playing host to ‘Stray Reflections’ a curation of work by Sehr Jalil. The exhibition will launch on Sunday is open to the public until January 6, with the collection being described as ‘visible poetry’.
Islamabad, too, has something up its sleeves for art connoisseurs with ‘No Man’s Land’ by Saadia Hussain and Mohsin Shafi on display now at The Farm in Banigala. If you venture out to the venue during the day, you can treat yourself to the lovely Nomad Market Place where farmers, artisans, and craftsman sell their wares in the delicious winter sun.
There’s something to delight all your senses this weekend
There’s something to delight all your senses this weekend
- Options range from art exhibitions, on sale restaurant specials, comedy and poetry nights
- Residents in both Islamabad and Lahore are sure to be spoilt for choice
World Bank president in Pakistan to discuss development projects, policy issues
- Pakistan, World Bank are currently gearing up to implement a 10-year partnership framework to grant $20 billion loans to the cash-strapped nation
- World Bank President Ajay Banga will hold meetings with Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and other senior officials during the high-level visit
ISLAMABAD: World Bank President Ajay Banga has arrived in Pakistan to hold talks with senior government officials on development projects and key policy issues, Pakistani state media reported on Sunday, as Islamabad seeks multilateral support to stabilize economy and accelerate growth.
The visit comes at a time when Pakistan and the World Bank are gearing up to implement a 10-year Country Partnership Framework (CPF) to grant $20 billion in loans to the cash-strapped nation.
The World Bank’s lending for Pakistan, due to start this year, will focus on education quality, child stunting, climate resilience, energy efficiency, inclusive development and private investment.
"World Bank President Ajay Banga arrives in Pakistan for a high-level visit," the state-run Pakistan TV Digital reported on Sunday. "During his stay, he will meet Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and other senior officials to discuss economic reforms, development projects, and key policy issues."
Pakistan, which nearly defaulted on its foreign debt obligations in 2023, is currently making efforts to stabilize its economy under a $7 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) program.
Besides efforts to boost trade and foreign investment, Islamabad has been seeking support from multilateral financial institutions to ensure economic recovery.
“This partnership fosters a unified and focused vision for your county around six outcomes with clear, tangible and ambitious 10-year targets,” Martin Raiser, the World Bank vice president for South Asia, had said at the launch of the CPF in Jan. last year.
“We hope that the CPF will serve as an anchor for this engagement to keep us on the right track. Partnerships will equally be critical. More resources will be needed to have the impact at the scale that we wish to achieve and this will require close collaboration with all the development partners.”
In Dec., the World Bank said it had approved $700 million in financing for Pakistan under a multi-year initiative aimed at supporting the country's macroeconomic stability and service delivery.
It followed a $47.9 million World Bank grant in August last year to improve primary education in Pakistan's most populous Punjab province.
