Night two of Fashion Pakistan Week was infused with high energy

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Humayun Alamgir presents “Style mara tou darna kya,” on night 2 of Fashion Pakistan Week 2019, Winter/Festive. 24th October, 2019. (Images via Talking Point)
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Humayun Alamgir presents “Style mara tou darna kya,” on night 2 of Fashion Pakistan Week 2019, Winter/Festive. 24th October, 2019. (Images via Talking Point)
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Humayun Alamgir presents “Style mara tou darna kya,” on night 2 of Fashion Pakistan Week 2019, Winter/Festive. 24th October, 2019. (Images via Talking Point)
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Maheen Khan presents her Winter/Festive collection on night 2 of Pakistan Fashion Week 2019. 24th October, 2019. (Images via Talking Point)
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Maheen Khan presents her Winter/Festive collection on night 2 of Pakistan Fashion Week 2019. 24th October, 2019. (Images via Talking Point)
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Maheen Khan closing out night 2 of Pakistan Fashion Week 2019 with her Winter/Festive collection. 24th October, 2019. (Images via Talking Point)
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Splash presents their streetwear inspired collection on night 2 of Pakistan Fashion Week 2019, Winter/Festive. 24th October, 2019. (Images via Talking Point)
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Splash presents their streetwear inspired collection on night 2 of Pakistan Fashion Week 2019, Winter/Festive. 24th October, 2019. (Images via Talking Point)
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Splash presents their streetwear inspired collection on night 2 of Pakistan Fashion Week 2019, Winter/Festive. 24th October, 2019. (Images via Talking Point)
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Stella Jean presents "Laboratorio Delle Nazioni" on night 2 of Pakistan Fashion Week, Winter/Festive. 24th October, 2019. (Images via Talking Point)
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Stella Jean presents "Laboratorio Delle Nazioni" on night 2 of Pakistan Fashion Week, Winter/Festive. 24th October, 2019. (Images via Talking Point)
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Football star Karishma Ali joins Stella Jean for a final walk on night 2 of Pakistan Fashion Week, Winter/Festive. 24th October, 2019. (Images via Talking Point)
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The Pink Tree Company presents their Winter/Festive collection on night 2 of Fashion Week Pakistan 2019. 24th October, 2019. (Images via Talking Point)
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The Pink Tree Company presents their Winter/Festive collection on night 2 of Fashion Week Pakistan 2019. 24th October, 2019. (Images via Talking Point)
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The Pink Tree Company presents their Winter/Festive collection on night 2 of Fashion Week Pakistan 2019. 24th October, 2019. (Images via Talking Point)
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"Shahi Rendesvous" by Zellburry on night 2 of Pakistan Fashion Week, Winter/Festive. 24th October, 2019. (Images via Talking Point)
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"Shahi Rendesvous" by Zellburry on night 2 of Pakistan Fashion Week, Winter/Festive. 24th October, 2019. (Images via Talking Point)
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"Shahi Rendesvous" by Zellburry on night 2 of Pakistan Fashion Week, Winter/Festive. 24th October, 2019. (Images via Talking Point)
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"Centre of Gravity" by Zuria Dor walks the ramp on night 2 of Pakistan Fashion Week, Winter/Festive. 24th October, 2019. (Images via Talking Point)
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"Centre of Gravity" by Zuria Dor walks the ramp on night 2 of Pakistan Fashion Week, Winter/Festive. 24th October, 2019. (Images via Talking Point)
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"Centre of Gravity" by Zuria Dor walks the ramp on night 2 of Pakistan Fashion Week, Winter/Festive. 24th October, 2019. (Images via Talking Point)
Updated 25 October 2019
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Night two of Fashion Pakistan Week was infused with high energy

  • Humayun Alamgir, Maheen Khan and Zuria Dor presented their collections on night two
  • Others included Splash, Stella Jean and the Pink Tree Company

ISLAMABAD: Celebrity cameos, Karachi’s hip crowd and strong fashion set the tone for night two of the Fashion Pakistan Week 2019 Winter/Festive at the Beach Luxury Hotel in Karachi. There was a delightful menswear presentation, a high energy finale and a lot of fun fashion through the night.

HUMAYUN ALAMGIR




Humayun Alamgir presents “Style mara tou darna kya,” on night 2 of Fashion Pakistan Week 2019, Winter/Festive. 24th October, 2019. (Images via Talking Point)

“Style mara tou darna kya,” which translates to “if you’re styling, what’s there to be afraid of,” was the crisp, sleek and enthusiastic collection from menswear maestro Humayun Alamgir. The tongue in cheek name housed a collection that was winter appropriate and could take a wearer from casual to black tie with classic cuts in luxe fabrics, fashion that was very obviously fashion without sacrificing wearability. The collection literally danced down the ramp on the backs of some of Pakistan’s top actors from Ali Safina to Danyal Sheikh, who did justice to the dapper duds with some high energy moves.

MAHEEN KHAN




Maheen Khan presents her Winter/Festive collection on night 2 of Pakistan Fashion Week 2019. 24th October, 2019. (Images via Talking Point)

Maheen Khan’s collection aptly titled, “Something old, something new, something borrowed, something no so blue,” was created thrown an eclectic curation of designers from the designer’s past. Digging into her archives and promoting sustainability, Khan, hot off of being the Duchess’s designer of choice, delivered a fun, lively and well thought out collection that walked the ramps on some of Karachi’s most recognizable women. The collection was true to Khan’s preference for strong fabrics and statement cuts over over-saturation of embellishment.

SPLASH




Splash presents their streetwear inspired collection on night 2 of Pakistan Fashion Week 2019, Winter/Festive. 24th October, 2019. (Images via Talking Point)

High street brand Splash presented a streetwear collection on night two for both men and women featuring midi dresses, separates, athleisure inspired pieces and a vibrant play of color and print contrasts. Some stand out pieces included a checked print midi dress in autumnal tans and purples and a grey checkered boyfriend cut blazer.

STELLA JEAN




Stella Jean presents "Laboratorio Delle Nazioni" on night 2 of Pakistan Fashion Week, Winter/Festive. 24th October, 2019. (Images via Talking Point)

Haitian-Italian designer Stella Jean brought her Chitrali-influenced collection which she first walked at Milan Fashion Week to the ramps of Karachi. “Laboratorio Delle Nazioni,” was a dreamy collection for the fashion girl who aspires to have a touch of that born and bred in Italia look. Pinstriped suits in pastels and candy colors, sun dresses and gowns punctuated with iconic Chitrali embroidery was a great example of fusion done right.

THE PINK TREE COMPANY




The Pink Tree Company presents their Winter/Festive collection on night 2 of Fashion Week Pakistan 2019. 24th October, 2019. (Images via Talking Point)

Color, nostalgia and peek aesthetic, The Pink Tree Company delivered a collection that, as they are known to do, embraced technicolor and seamlessly blended it into traditional Pakistani silhouettes and fabrics. Inspired by the words “life in technicolor” from the Wizard of Oz, The Pink Tree Company made a collection that sparkled, glittered and vibrated some life into a winter wedding collection that can often skew dark and jewel toned.

ZELLBURRY




"Shahi Rendesvous" by Zellburry on night 2 of Pakistan Fashion Week, Winter/Festive. 24th October, 2019. (Images via Talking Point)

“Shahi Rendezvous” by Zellburry was inspired by flora and fauna imagery present in Mughal era art. The western wear collection was spunky and spirited with the designers cleverly incorporating print and cut juxtapositions across pieces. Some stand out pieces included a matching set of harem pants and statement sleeves in a trending winter color burnt rose.

ZURIA DOR




"Centre of Gravity" by Zuria Dor walks the ramp on night 2 of Pakistan Fashion Week, Winter/Festive. 24th October, 2019. (Images via Talking Point)

“Center of Gravity,” by Zuria Dor was split into shows within one, with nine pieces from their Paris collection walking alongside their Winter/Festive bridal offerings. Zuria Dor presented a chic capsule from Paris which played with floating fabrics and structure play as well as a wedding collection that was upbeat. Like Pink Tree Company, Dor shucked the call to embrace darkness in winter and presented a wonderful collection of bold colors and intricate embroidery, eye catching without leaning to heavy.


World Bank approves $400 million to expand water, sanitation services in Pakistan’s Punjab

Updated 12 December 2025
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World Bank approves $400 million to expand water, sanitation services in Pakistan’s Punjab

  • Project aims to improve access for 4.5 million people and curb waterborne diseases
  • Program to prioritize women’s participation and climate-resilient urban infrastructure

ISLAMABAD: The World Bank this week approved $400 million for a new project to expand access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene services for around 4.5 million people in Pakistan’s most populous Punjab province, aiming to curb waterborne diseases and reduce long-term public health costs.

The project, known as the Punjab Inclusive Cities Program (PICP), is the second phase of the World Bank-supported Pakistan Urban Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Services Multiphase Programmatic Approach. It will focus on rehabilitating water supply networks, sewerage systems and wastewater treatment plants, while expanding stormwater drainage infrastructure across 16 secondary cities in Punjab.

Punjab faces persistent challenges in providing safe drinking water and adequate sanitation, with many urban households relying on contaminated sources. Weak infrastructure and limited hygiene services contribute to high rates of waterborne diseases such as diarrhea, typhoid and hepatitis, which disproportionately affect children and low-income communities.

“Reducing child stunting is essential for Pakistan’s future. Through the Punjab Inclusive Cities Program, we are investing in safe water, sanitation, and hygiene services to break the cycle of malnutrition and disease that holds back so many children from reaching their full potential,” the World Bank quoted its Country Director for Pakistan, Bolormaa Amgaabazar, as saying in a statement.

“In collaboration with the Punjab Government, the program represents a significant step forward in improving urban infrastructure and strengthening local institutions, thereby laying the foundation for healthier communities and a more prosperous Pakistan.”

Child stunting, a form of chronic malnutrition that leaves children too short for their age, is often linked to repeated infections, poor sanitation and unsafe drinking water, and remains a major public health concern in Pakistan.

Beyond water and sanitation, the project will also support solid waste management systems to improve sanitary waste disposal, extending services to an additional two million people in Punjab’s urban areas. The program will strengthen the capacity of local governments, including efforts to improve revenue generation and long-term service sustainability.

“The program complements infrastructure investments with capacity building and revenue generation, helping to ensure that service delivery is well sustained,” the statement quoted Amena Raja, Senior Urban Specialist at the World Bank, as saying.

“It will also help Punjab’s cities better withstand floods and droughts, ensuring urban development is both environmentally responsible and resilient to climate change.”

The program includes a gender-focused component, prioritizing the hiring of women in decision-making roles, establishing gender-compliant service desks and supporting skills development. It also aims to mobilize private capital to support water and sanitation services in Punjab’s secondary cities.

Pakistan has been a member of the World Bank since 1950 and has received more than $48 billion in assistance since. The Bank’s current portfolio in the country comprises 54 projects with total commitments of $15.7 billion, while its private-sector arm, the International Finance Corporation, has invested about $13 billion since 1956.

Earlier this year, Pakistan and the World Bank signed a first-of-its-kind agreement for a plan to focus $20 billion in lending to the cash-strapped nation over the coming decade on development issues like the impact of climate change as well as boosting private-sector growth.