ISLAMABAD: In the opening sequence of Meelad Moaphi’s “Worth”, we are introduced to Darya, baby Ali and their father, Hamid, before the three set out for safer pastures against a backdrop recognizable by many in Pakistan, Afghanistan and other unstable regions in the world.
Viewers soon realise that throughout the short length of the film, the characters will be faced with very tough choices – something that's central to all our lives.
“‘Worth’ was actually distilled from a feature screenplay I wrote,” Moaphi, 32, tells Arab News from Canada where he is currently based, adding that the short film was adapted from a feature screenplay he was writing while studying for his Masters in film production at York University.
“I decided to select a single segment from the feature version and make it adaptable for a short format by modifying a few crucial elements that would give it an ending," he said
Drawn to the artform from a very young age, films for Moaphi – who was born in post Iraq-war Iran – were an integral part of his life.
“I got immersed in filmmaking practically from birth. My father (himself a cinephile) would find and collect VHS copies of Hollywood classics and expand what soon became a collection of nearly 50 films,” Moaphi, who has been making short films since 2009, told Arab News.
“We’re talking about the late 80s in Tehran, there was no internet, no video rentals, no film stores, and practically no films.”
By the time he was six and prior to relocating with his family to Japan, Moaphi had understood the nuances of films such as The Godfather, Lawrence of Arabia, E.T. and Back to the Future without knowing a single word of English. "I could fully grasp their narratives thanks to their profound cinematic syntax.”
“From that point onward, I insisted on wanting to make films without even having grasped an understanding of how they were produced,” Moaphi told Arab News.
“At first, I wanted to be an actor, since I thought they were responsible for a film’s creation. Later, when I learned that there is a crew behind the camera, I wanted to be a producer. Eventually, I learned that it was the director whose role and responsibilities corresponded best to what I wanted to do," he said.
Moaphi soon found his “Worth".
Clocking 13 minutes and 50 seconds, the film was shot in Pakistan and stars a local cast that are central to the film's theme of “parental sacrifice".
“What I wanted to explore was the idea of “parental sacrifice”: how a parent agrees to sacrifice a huge part of himself and submit to the permanent emotional agony that comes with the sacrifice, all for the benefit of their child,” Moaphi told Arab News.
“Almost only in the parent-child dynamic do we see someone willingly inflict such intense emotional pain onto themselves for the benefit of another. So I decided to create a narrative that follows a parent precisely at the moment in which he’s faced with having to undertake a heavy decision," he said.
Set against the backdrop of an unnamed foreign land, Hamid essays the role of Waqas Shahzad to perfection.
Hamid has recently lost his wife and is now faced with the decisions needed to keep his daughter Darya (Dania Jamil) and infant Ali (Syeda Ajwa Bibi) safe.
“‘Worth’ was easily the most memorable filming experience I’ve had thus far, and so much of it was thanks to the incredible time I had in Pakistan and with the Pakistani cast and crew,” Moaphi told Arab News.
“The piece initially had nothing to do whatsoever with Pakistan. The original feature script revolves around Afghan characters who flee to Iran. Long story short, due to practical issues, I wasn’t able to conduct the shoot either in Iran or in Afghanistan. Cheating Canada for that part of the world wouldn’t do the piece justice, so that’s when a friend and colleague, Shehrezade Mian, suggested I apply the script to Pakistan.”
Having had no prior relationship with Pakistan, Moaphi invited Mian on board as an Executive Producer and postponed shooting for three months to lay the ground work for the shoot where much of the detailing took place over Skype and WhatsApp.
With the help of producer and casting director, Ibrahim Khan, the team was able to hit the ground running when Moaphi arrived in Islamabad.
“Within a week we casted actors, held rehearsals, finalized crew, and locked equipment. The locations we secured, which is where most of the film was shot, were in a remote town just outside of Islamabad, called Sarai Kharbuza,” Moaphi said.
“As with any filmmaking endeavour, it was an extremely stressful period, but equally adventurous and totally worthwhile. From the cast to the crew, notably Ali Sattar, our cinematographer, and the folks at Bling Studio, who we partnered with for equipment, everybody gave it all and we were blessed to have had such an incredible team. Making this film became a highly rewarding way to experience a new country and a new culture as it plunged me directly into the heart of Islamabad, and I hope to find future opportunities to not just revisit Pakistan, but to also get involved with more projects there.”
When asked if he thought the film, which is entirely in Urdu, was one that would resonate with most people in Afghanistan and Pakistan, Moaphi said that it actually embodies the global narrative.
“Perhaps, the premise is such that the likelihood of it occurring is higher in certain parts of the world than others, but the themes of parenthood and sacrifice relate to all of us, so it’s a piece that international audiences can relate to," he said.
“Worth” began appearing on the film festival circuit this November with screenings at the Toronto Reel Asian Film Festival, the Vancouver Asian Film Festival, the Izmir International Short Film Festival (in Turkey), and the Asia Peace Film Festival (in Lahore).
At the Vancouver Asian Film Festival, it picked up the Best Short, Best Director, and Best Cinematography prizes in the Canadian category, and at Toronto Reel Asian the Air Canada Short Film prize.
“We’re extremely proud of the great start it has had and hope it can reach audiences in more in many more cities, especially in Pakistan,” Moaphi said.
Though “Worth” will not be widely available until it ends it’s film festival run, Moaphi is hoping to have it seen by Pakistanis as soon as possible.
"The Asian Study Group in Islamabad has generously asked to screen Worth in January. As a film shot in Pakistan, in Urdu, with a local cast and crew, our hope is that it can screen as widely as possible in Pakistan, and also for the Pakistani diaspora in other countries," he said.
Film on family sacrifice finds its "Worth" in Pakistan
Film on family sacrifice finds its "Worth" in Pakistan
- Shot entirely in Urdu, director says the story embodies "a global narrative"
- Modalities of award-winning piece were discussed for three months over Skype and WhatsApp
Pakistan, Iran agree to strengthen bilateral ties to tackle regional militancy
- Pakistan’s planning minister meets Iran’s Ambassador to Pakistan Dr. Raza Amiri Moghaddam
- Pakistan, Iran both blame each other for not doing enough to root out militancy in border areas
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal and Iran’s Ambassador to Pakistan Dr. Raza Amiri Moghaddam on Thursday agreed to strengthen bilateral relations between their countries to reduce militancy in the region, state-run media reported.
Pakistan and Iran are often at odds with each other over instability on their shared border. Both countries have routinely blamed each other for not rooting out militancy. Small separatist groups in Pakistan have been behind a long-running insurgency, calling for gas and oil-rich Balochistan’s independence from the central government in Islamabad.
Pakistani anti-Iran militants have also targeted the Iranian border in recent years, increasing friction between the countries.
“Pakistan and Iran have agreed to strengthen bilateral relations to reduce tendencies of terrorism and extremism in the region,” the state-run Radio Pakistan said.
Radio Pakistan said the agreement to bolster bilateral ties was reached between Moghaddam and Iqbal during a meeting in Islamabad.
“The Planning Minister emphasized the importance of enhancing connectivity through trade routes, considering the 900-kilometer shared land and maritime border,” he said.
Tensions reached a head in January between Pakistan and Iran after they exchanged airstrikes against alleged militant targets in each other’s territories. Both countries since then have made efforts to ease tensions and promote bilateral trade with each other.
Pakistan’s stock exchange closes at all-time high amid expectations of fresh IMF deal
- Pakistan Stock Exchange closes at all-time high of 67,142.12 points, registering an increase of 594.34 points from Wednesday
- Analysts link recent surge to possibility of Pakistan reaching another bailout agreement with IMF, privatizing national airline
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) witnessed its highest closing in history on Thursday as the benchmark KSE-100 index closed at 67,142.12 points, with analysts linking the recent surge to market expectations of the possibility of a successful deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for another bailout program.
The benchmark index settled at 67,142.12 points on Thursday at the close of trading, registering an increase of 594.34 points or 0.89 percent. This makes it the stock market’s highest closing in history, the previous highest being 66,547.78 points a day earlier.
Pakistan and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) reached a staff-level agreement last Wednesday which would pave the way for the release of $1.1 billion for the cash-strapped South Asian country. Pakistan has expressed its interest in securing a new loan under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) program with the IMF.
Financial expert and journalist Faseeh Mangi said the Pakistan Stock Exchange is one of the best performers in the world “in a rally that started last year after Pakistan avoided a default.”
“The latest surge is on possible IMF deal, PIA sale,” Mangi wrote on X on Wednesday, referring to the government’s plans to privatize Pakistan International Airlines, its national airline.
Topline Securities’ Deputy Head of Sales Ali Najib said the index had finally breached the 66,000 barrier, saying it could be attributed to “positive vibes from the IMF, rejuvenated foreign interest at historically low valuations and progress on SOE privatization.”
Shehbaz Sharif, who was elected prime minister for a second term earlier this month, faces the daunting challenge of negotiating a long-term financial bailout program with the IMF. Pakistan’s fragile $350-billion economy is in desperate need of external financing to shore up its foreign exchange reserves and escape a looming macroeconomic crisis.
For Pakistan, committing to a new IMF program, however, will mean committing to steps needed to stay on a narrow path to recovery. This would limit policy options to provide relief to a deeply frustrated population and cater to industries that are looking for government support to spur growth.
Inflation touched a high of 38 percent with record depreciation of the rupee currency under Sharif’s last government from April 2022 to August 2023, mainly due to structural reforms necessitated by the IMF program. Pakistan continues to be enmeshed in economic crisis with inflation remaining high, hovering around 30 percent, and economic growth slowing to around 2 percent.
Tickets for Pakistan’s home series against New Zealand to go on sale from today
- Pakistan will play against New Zealand in Rawalpindi and Lahore venues from April 18-27
- Series will help prepare both sides for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024 in USA and West Indies
ISLAMABAD: The tickets for Pakistan’s upcoming T20I home cricket series against New Zealand will go on sale from tooday, Friday, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said in a statement on Thursday.
The five-match series is scheduled to be played in Rawalpindi on April 18, 20 and 21 and in Lahore on April 25 and 27.
“In the first phase, the pre-booking of the online tickets will start on Friday at 5pm at pcb.tcs.com.pk,” the PCB said. “The sale of physical tickets along with outlet addresses will be announced in due course.”
The PCB said tickets for the Rawalpindi leg of the matches will be available at a minimum cost of Rs500 ($1.80) and the maximum will be available for Rs7,500 ($26.98) for the VVIP Gallery. Additionally, hospitality seats will be available at a maximum amount of PKR 15,000 ($53.97) except for the first T20I where the hospitality seats will be available for PKR 12,000 ($43.17).
For the Lahore leg, ticket prices start at Rs300 ($1.08) for the general seats while the maximum ticket prices will be Rs6,000 ($21.59) for the fourth T20I while Rs7,000 ($25.19) for the fifth T20I (VVIP Gallery).
The series will be important for both sides as they gear up for this year’s ICC T20 World Cup 2024 which is scheduled to be held in June in the USA and West Indies.
Pakistan will lock horns with arch-rivals India on June 9 for a big-ticket clash at New York.
Pakistani interior minister, KP CM vow to improve coordination amid surge in attacks
- Five Chinese nationals were killed in northwestern Pakistan on Tuesday in a bombing
- Interior minister, KP chief minister vow to bring perpetrators of attack to justice
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s interior minister and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur on Thursday vowed to strengthen coordination between the center and the province to improve the law-and-order situation, the KP CM’s office said, amid a surge in terror attacks in the province.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvy arrived in Peshawar to meet Gandapur on Thursday to review the province’s law and order situation two days after five Chinese nationals and their Pakistani driver were killed in the country’s volatile northwest.
The incident took place in KP’s Shangla where a bomber rammed his explosive-laden car into the vehicle of Chinese engineers and construction workers on Tuesday.
The attack occurred in an area vital to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which encompasses various mega projects crucial for Pakistan’s economy. The victims were en route to Dasu Dam, Pakistan’s largest hydropower project, when they were targeted.
“To improve the law-and-order situation in the province, both agreed to improve the coordination between law enforcement institutions on the federal and provincial levels,” a statement from the KP chief minister’s office said.
The two condemned the attack on the Chinese nationals and expressed their condolences to Beijing and the families of those who had been killed in the attack.
“The two expressed their resolve to bring all those involved in the incident to justice and put an end to terrorism,” the statement said.
Gandapur said it was his government’s top priority to ensure law and order in the province and to safeguard people’s lives.
Pakistan’s foreign office said on Thursday that Islamabad had enhanced the security of Chinese nationals after the attack.
Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said both Pakistani and Chinese governments were in contact after the tragic incident on March 26, adding they were fully committed to bringing the terrorists, along with their facilitators and abettors, to justice.
No group had claimed responsibility for the attack but suspicion was likely to fall on separatists and the breakaway Gul Bahadur faction of the Pakistani Taliban, known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan or TTP.
The TTP is a separate group, but a close ally of the Afghan Taliban.
The TTP denied being behind the suicide bombing in a statement Wednesday, saying: “We are in no way related to the attack on the Chinese engineers.”
Tuesday’s attack came less than a week after Pakistani security forces killed eight Balochistan Liberation Army separatists who opened fire on a convoy carrying Chinese citizens outside the Chinese-funded Gwadar port in the volatile southwestern Balochistan province.
Pakistan says security of Chinese nationals enhanced after deadly attack
- Pakistan’s foreign office says the government fully understands Chinese security concerns after the attack
- It points out Pakistan has built a fence, introduced one document regime to secure its border with Afghanistan
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s foreign office said on Thursday the government has further enhanced the security of Chinese nationals only days after a deadly suicide bombing killed five of them along with their Pakistani driver in the country’s volatile northwest.
The incident took place in Shangla, located in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, where the bomber rammed his explosive-laden car into the vehicle of Chinese engineers and construction workers on Tuesday.
The attack occurred in an area vital to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which encompasses various mega projects crucial for Pakistan’s economy. The victims were en route to Dasu Dam, Pakistan’s largest hydropower project, when they were targeted.
“I can reassure you that Pakistan has further enhanced the security of Chinese nationals,” foreign office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch told reporters in a weekly media briefing in Islamabad.
She said both Pakistani and Chinese governments were in contact after the tragic incident on March 26, adding they were fully committed to bringing the terrorists, along with their facilitators and abettors, to justice.
“At this point, we are focusing on investigating the terror attack and ensuring that the dead bodies of the deceased are transported to their home country,” she added. “This is the first priority at this stage.”
Asked about the security concerns raised by the Chinese officials following the attack, Baloch said the Pakistani government fully understood their concerns.
“We are engaged with the Chinese officials at very senior level to discuss the arrangements for the safety of Chinese nationals and for the investigation of this particular terror incident,” she informed.
The foreign office spokesperson said Pakistan would continue to work with the Chinese authorities to ensure the safety and security of Chinese nationals, projects and institutions in Pakistan.
“We have no doubt that the … terror attack [in Shangla] was orchestrated by the enemies of Pakistan-China friendship and together, we will resolutely act against all such forces and defeat them,” she emphasized.
In response to a question regarding Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif’s statement regarding the necessity for stronger border controls between Pakistan and Afghanistan, she clarified he was elaborating measures already taken by Pakistan to regulate travel between the two neighboring countries.
“Pakistan-Afghanistan border is an important border, and Pakistan has, over time, taken several measures to secure the border, including erecting a fence along the border,” she continued.
“Pakistan has also introduced one document regime under which individuals can travel to Pakistan on the basis of valid visas on their passports,” Baloch added.