Japanese-Pakistani painter, lover of nature, holds first solo show in Dubai

The picture shows one of the paintings of Nadia Yoshioka, a Japanese Pakistani painter living in Dubai. (AN Photo)
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Updated 07 February 2023
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Japanese-Pakistani painter, lover of nature, holds first solo show in Dubai

  • Nadia Yoshioka is currently displaying nine paintings at solo art exhibition at Radisson Red Dubai
  • Yoshioka is represented by The Arabian Gallery, Gallery Vibes and Kawkab online gallery in Dubai

DUBAI: Nadia Yoshioka is a Japanese Pakistani painter living in Dubai. Yoshioka has shown to be always good in the arts since childhood and has won the UAE inter-school painting competition. Her artworks have been exhibited in many places around Dubai, including university hospitals, hotels and malls.

She is currently displaying 9 paintings in her solo art exhibition at Radisson Red Dubai. Yoshioka has been represented by The Arabian Gallery, Gallery Vibes and Kawkab online gallery based in Dubai. Her art is sold to private collectors across the UAE.

Yoshioka believes that being an artist is something that one is born to do and not learned at school. She has taken online courses from various teachers on different painting techniques. She is now teaching private classes as well workshops where beginners learn from her while making the class fun and entertaining.

Yoshioka works primarily in acrylic paints and currently works from home where she has created her own little studio. She also takes custom orders as per client specifications.

She shared exclusively to Arab News Japan her inspiration for art: “As I have heard from the art world, most of us are born artists but only few of them aspire to actually become an artist in their adult life. In my case, I was the one to pursue art as my career despite of graduating in business school due to my passion for colors. I’m that person who doesn’t like plain and boring things and so I have been using colors since my childhood. I had a collection of coloring books and color pencils and I would not miss a day without coloring.”

“Moving forward to my school life, drawing, shading and coloring was something natural and easier for me than other kids in my class and I used to win contests without even trying hard. However, I didn’t respect it because it was something that my family and my surrounding would not really appreciate compared to getting good grades in other common subjects. Thus, I left drawing and art in general for a very long time until I started again in my university days when I joined the art club as my extra-curricular activity as well support from my friend who now is my husband”.




The picture shows Nadia Yoshioka, a Japanese Pakistani painter living in Dubai. (AN Photo)

“During that time, I used to only paint as a hobby and post on my art page as well as displayed my paintings in the university event. I barely had any inspiration on my own because I would not take it seriously and work on it. Later on, Covid came into everyone’s lives and due to lockdown, I had extra time to do my own activities which was art. I could not even do part time job and I was pushed towards making more paintings and it started selling after a while as well as was chosen for the exhibition at a five-star hotel which boosted my confidence and motivation to even make more. My inspirations began during lockdown period from my own experience, emotions and observations of other artists work around me as well online. I visited the exhibition to see other’s artworks and searched for ideas on the Pinterest app,” she added.

About the most inspirational thing from Japanese culture that she has adapted it into her daily life, Yoshioka said: “According to my observation of Japan, I would say the country is very cultured and still hasn’t lost it traditional aspect even after being modernized which I believe, that it keeps the country unique and gives it an identity. Furthermore, I really love the Japanese culture in general but I can say that being a half Japanese myself, I have adapted some of them in my everyday life. My first one would be to be kind to everyone and be humble as well respectful to people around me. I believe that Japan is today everyone’s bucket list country to visit and everyone loves it because of the respectful people in the country. Without those kind and generous people, the country would not be standing at the top position today. Secondly, is the healthy and balanced food of Japan. I like to have fish and seafood because I have been having them since childhood it keeps us warm and full for a longer time. I like to go out to have sushi with my family during the weekends. Furthermore, I cook Japanese food too at home including miso soup, onigiri, sushi, karaage, and much more.”




The picture shows one of the paintings of Nadia Yoshioka, a Japanese Pakistani painter living in Dubai. (AN Photo)

About the beginnings of her career in art, Yoshioka said: “I was an artist since childhood as I mentioned above but I started working as a professional artist since the Covid-19 period when I had the extra time to do something of my own. My concept about art is that it has to be vibrant and full of colors which has not only a subject but a feeling and emotion to the overall painting. Furthermore, the art should be self-expression and not a perfect picture which makes it unique and interesting to look at. Lastly, my concept for working on art is the right choice of colors to match the interiors and overall theme of the room.”

About the challenges that she faced during the projects that she worked on, Yoshioka said: “One of the challenges as an emerging artist is that, I’m still figuring out what my niche is like how renowned artists does. Due to this, I try different mediums, techniques and style often and most of the times, it would turn out good but sometimes it wouldn’t and all my time, effort and materials would be wasted. But I am not afraid of failure as it makes us grow.”

The first solo exhibition for Yoshioka has started this month at Red Radisson Dubai, she shared exclusively to Arab News Japan the theme and main highlights of her exhibition: “My new year’s resolution was to participate more frequently in art events whether in exhibitions or conducting workshops and this year started with a collaboration with the Radisson RED Dubai located in Dubai Silicon Oasis. It is the first millennial-focused hotel in the Middle which has funky interiors and bold designs aimed at younger travelers. They support local artists and talents of all kinds which I really love about. For this solo exhibition, I’m exhibiting 9 paintings where each wall has a different theme. One wall has two paintings that focuses on landscape, the other wall has two paintings that are in the theme of pink colors, the other wall has two paintings which are of bold contrasting colors and rest all has one painting dedicated to one wall”.

“I’m really grateful that my work has been chosen to be displayed on their hallways for the month of January. As a resident who lives nearby the hotel, it’s really great that they are supporting local emerging artists as it gave me the chance to share my skills and creativity as well as to build up a unique professional experience in the visual art world. Big thanks to the organizers of this event and Tabasum, Social Media Creative at Radisson RED Dubai who was very supportive throughout the entire process of the exhibition,” she added.

About her life in Japan, Yoshioka said: ”I was born and lived in Japan till I was 5 years old as both of my parents were working and living in Niigata city and then later Toyama city, I spend some of my childhood in Japan. I enjoyed my kindergarten time and also had Japanese friends and then all of a sudden, I remember myself in Pakistan when I was sent there so I can learn the Pakistan culture as well because I am half Pakistani. I used to go to Japan often so I don’t miss out the time in Japan as well. Later on, I and my family shifted to UAE and went to Japan many years later and then we went there last July.”

“The feedback that I would give about Japanese people is that they are very different than other countries as more than 90% are Japanese nationals over there and everyone speaks Japanese which I think that there could be room for English language over there so it is easier for people coming from outside to communicate. Other than the people in Japan were the nicest, kindest, hygienic, so helpful and also very respectful I have not seen anywhere else. Even though I didn’t look full Japanese and had difficulty with speaking fluent Japanese, I felt so supported and did not feel uncomfortable. Instead, it was so nice to see Japanese people after a while because I did not encounter any Japanese here in UAE and sometimes, I used to wish that I could have Japanese friends too,” she added.

Regarding her upcoming projects, Yoshioka said: “I have big plans for my future which I am slowly working towards. For this year and near future I have planned to do more exhibitions here in Dubai and also widen my activities to not only in one city but other cities as well. To participate in contests and any other artist open calls that may be happening in the country. To make more paintings in a series and sell them with great offers. To work on commissions. Also, to do giveaways and collaborate with bloggers and interior designers. Lastly, to do monthly painting workshops here in Dubai on my own or to join an existing workshop company.”

About her recommendations for those who wants to be an artist: “My recommendations for someone who wants to become an artist whether as a hobby artist or professional artist, is to never give up and keep trying to do what you love because it is a skill that no one can take away from you and at the end you will enjoy a lot to see yourself grown and achieved so much that you would have not expected or even believed.”

“So, believe in yourself and take the next step, be surrounded by positive people and vibes. Also, to not compare with the big artists because even though there are the best artists out there, the world still needs colors and unique designs and every artist and their artwork is unique, so keep creating without thinking twice. Most importantly enjoy what you do,” she added.


Pakistani PM seeks business community’s support to double exports in five years

Updated 6 sec ago
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Pakistani PM seeks business community’s support to double exports in five years

  • Pakistan’s total exports during the current fiscal year, or July-March, stood at $22.93
  • Pakistan wants to double exports through focus on textiles, agriculture, mining and IT

KARACHI: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday sought support from Pakistan’s business community to double export volume during the next five years of his government’s term.
Addressing business leaders in a ceremony held in the southern port city of Karachi, Sharif said the government, in consultation with the business community, would form a comprehensive policy framework to ensure export-led growth and resolve Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserve crisis. 
Pakistan’s total exports during the current fiscal year, or July-March, stood at $22.93, which it wants to double through a focus on sectors like textiles, agriculture, mines and minerals and information technology.
“You are actually the backbone of the national economy as without your support, the government cannot bring the country out of economic crisis,” the prime minister told the business community, urging it to sit with his government to resolve issues and challenges.
“We should get together in the larger national interest. The brilliant minds should together find ways to overcome the challenges and problems hindering the country’s development and prosperity.”
Sharif’s meeting with the business leaders came as Pakistan is seeking a new long-term and larger IMF loan, with finance minister Muhammad Aurangzeb saying Islamabad could secure a staff-level agreement on the fresh program by early July.
The global lending agency has confirmed its executive board meeting for April 29 to discuss the approval of $1.1 billion funding for the South Asian state, the second and last tranche of a $3 billion standby arrangement with the IMF, which it secured last summer to avert a sovereign default and which runs out this month.


ADB highlights special focus on climate action, social equity in post-floods Pakistan

Updated 25 April 2024
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ADB highlights special focus on climate action, social equity in post-floods Pakistan

  • The bank provided $180 million for climate-resilient, low-carbon municipal services in Punjab province last year
  • It also worked to increase female inclusion in agriculture sector by helping them handle pesticides and fertilizers

KARACHI: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) announced on Thursday it deployed significant resources in Pakistan last year to aid the country’s economic recovery from the devastating 2022 floods, while supporting the government in other areas, including climate change, food security and gender parity, for sustainable and inclusive development.
The Philippines-based international financial institution began its operations in December 1966 and has since been promoting economic and social development in Asian and Pacific regions. Pakistan, one of its early members, has received ADB assistance over the years and developed many urban services and social sectors with its help.
In its Annual Report 2023, the ADB highlighted different areas in which it provided assistance to Pakistan during the last year.
“ADB signed a loan of $180 million to help develop climate-resilient and low-carbon municipal services for up to 1.5 million residents in the Punjab cities of Bahawalpur and Rawalpindi,” the report said.
“For Bahawalpur, the project includes a new recycling facility, a landfill with measures to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and leachate, and new equipment and vehicles for citywide waste collection,” it continued. “For Rawalpindi, the project will, among other deliverables, construct a water treatment plant to process 54 million liters per day and implement distribution systems to serve around 82,000 households with metered connections.”
The report said the bank also signed an emergency grant of $5 million with the authorities in Islamabad to top up its flood assistance of $475 million from 2022.
“The grant supports farming households, including those headed by women, in the most flood-impacted area of Balochistan Province,” it informed. “It provides about 60,000 households with climate-resilient rice seeds sufficient to cultivate around 54,000 hectares, and includes measures to strengthen on-farm resilience to disasters triggered by natural hazards.”
The ADB also worked to improved agricultural productivity in the flood-affected Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province while trying to bolster the inclusion of women in by providing around 28,000 of them with training on seed cleaning and storage practices as well as on the safe handling of pesticides and fertilizers.
“ADB is also working to improve conditions for Pakistani women seeking to establish or expand their own businesses, particularly access to finance without the need for credit history or collateral,” the report added.
The bank also signed a $250 million loan for power transmission strengthening in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab provinces to help achieve environmental sustainability and climate resilience in the country’s power sector.
“The project aims to expand the national grid and enhance grid stability to improve energy access in the country, where only 80 percent of the population has access to electricity,” it said. “Upgrades under the project are expected to help supply 2 gigawatts of additional clean peak power and avoid about 13,700 tons of greenhouse gas emissions every year.”
ADB said it also provided a $300 million policy-based loan to the country for sustainable, broad-based and inclusive economic growth by strengthening the government’s capacity to generate domestic revenues to reduce budgetary constraints and restore macroeconomic stability.
“The program will help Pakistan improve tax administration and compliance, including through digitization,” the report said. “It will also enhance public expenditure and debt management, and increase trade and investment flows.”
Additionally, the bank committed $360 million under the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) program to help upgrade 330 kilometers of the national highway in Pakistan.
“This span of roadway links Pakistan’s hinterlands to CAREC Corridor 5, a vital trading route between landlocked Central Asian countries and the ports of Gwadar and Karachi,” it explained. “By enhancing the climate and disaster resilience of the highway, ADB is helping overcome high risks of road flooding and opening up a bottleneck to regional trade.”


Pakistan’s planning minister discusses enhanced educational ties with UK delegation

Updated 25 April 2024
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Pakistan’s planning minister discusses enhanced educational ties with UK delegation

  • Ahsan Iqbal proposes faculty training, research collaboration and UK campus expansions in Pakistan
  • He says UK universities should develop specialized knowledge clusters through Pakistani scholars’ expertise

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s planning minister Ahsan Iqbal met a delegation from the United Kingdom, said an official statement on Thursday, to discuss the possibility of fostering closer ties and enhancing collaboration between the educational institutions in both countries.
British universities are a popular destination for Pakistani students due to the quality of education and the strong historical and cultural ties between the two countries.
Many students from Pakistan go to these educational institutions on scholarships offered by various organizations, such as the British Council, UK government and universities themselves, while others fund their studies independently.
The Pakistani planning minister presented various recommendations during his meeting with the delegation led by Steve Smith, the UK government’s International Education Champion, along with officials of the British High Commission.
He proposed faculty training programs to bolster academic expertise across borders, encouraging UK universities to establish campuses in Pakistan to promote educational accessibility and harnessing the expertise of Pakistani scholars in British universities to develop specialized knowledge clusters on the country.
“Pakistan envisions a future where universities in Pakistan are categorized into the Champions League (having first-tier universities) and the National League (having second-tier universities), driving excellence and accessibility in higher education,” Iqbal said during the meeting.
He highlighted the imperative for joint research initiatives, pointing at the importance of establishing joint research groups and fostering collaborations between PhD scholars from both countries.
The visiting delegation official reaffirmed the British government’s commitment to building international partnerships in education, citing the presence of over 20,000 Pakistani students in his country and 8,000 students who are pursuing degree programs in Pakistan with UK’s financial support.
The two sides also discussed procedural issues while pointing to the need for streamlined regulations, with a particular emphasis on minimizing hurdles for universities and strengthening the link between research institutions and economic growth.
They agreed to hold further dialogue and take concrete action toward implementing the planning minister’s recommendations to further solidify the foundation for enduring academic cooperation between the two countries.


US ambassador optimistic about Pakistan-IMF talks ahead of key funding meeting on April 29

Updated 25 April 2024
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US ambassador optimistic about Pakistan-IMF talks ahead of key funding meeting on April 29

  • The IMF has confirmed its executive board’s meeting to discuss the approval of $1.1 billion for Pakistan next week
  • Ambassador Blome says the IMF’s positive feedback will further encourage investors and help Pakistan’s ailing economy

ISLAMABAD: US Ambassador Donald Blome expressed optimism over the ongoing negotiations between Pakistan and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Wednesday, as the global lending agency confirmed its executive board meeting for April 29 to discuss the approval of $1.1 billion funding for the South Asian state.
The funding is the second and last tranche of a $3 billion standby arrangement with the IMF, which it secured last summer to avert a sovereign default and which runs out this month. Pakistan is now seeking a new long-term and larger IMF loan, with finance minister Muhammad Aurangzeb saying Islamabad could secure a staff-level agreement on the fresh program by early July.
Ambassador Blome praised the performance of the country’s economic team in a meeting with the newly elected Senate chairman, Yousaf Raza Gillani, at the Parliament House wherein he also discussed strengthening of US-Pakistan bilateral relations.
“Acknowledging the positive economic indicators of Pakistan, Ambassador Blome noted the downward trend in inflation and high dollar reserves, stating that the IMF’s positive feedback would encourage investors,” said an official statement issued after the meeting. “He highlighted the flourishing gaming industry in Pakistan and called for enhanced [US-Pakistan] cooperation in the digital sector.”
The American envoy also noted the potential for further economic cooperation between the two countries in his conversation.
Pakistan’s $350 billion economy faces a chronic balance of payment crisis, with nearly $24 billion to repay in debt and interest over the next fiscal year — three-time more than its central bank’s foreign currency reserves.
Pakistan’s finance ministry expects the economy to grow by 2.6 percent in the current fiscal year ending June, while average inflation is projected to stand at 24 percent, down from 29.2 percent in fiscal year 2023/2024. Inflation soared to a record high of 38 percent last May.
With input from Reuters


In Rawalpindi, 77-year-old tea shop named after India’s Ludhiana is still a hit with customers

Updated 25 April 2024
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In Rawalpindi, 77-year-old tea shop named after India’s Ludhiana is still a hit with customers

  • Ludhiana Tea Shop owners migrated from India’s northwestern city at the time of Partition in 1947
  • Customers say they come from far-off places to relish the taste of tea at the shop which they find unique

RAWALPINDI: At a small tea shop in Pakistan’s garrison city of Rawalpindi, Nazar Hussain pours piping hot tea from a kettle into small cups and hands them away to eager customers, many of them regulars who have been frequenting the shop for decades.
This is the scene from a typical evening at Ludhiana Tea Shop, located in the narrow streets of Rawalpindi’s old Lal Kurti area. The tea shop takes its name after the northwestern Indian city of Ludhiana, from where its owners migrated to Rawalpindi in 1947.
“My grandfather named this business in the memory of his hometown in India,” Hussain, who took charge of the shop in 1976, told Arab News, adding that he also sold dairy products and ghee.
“We are a family of milk sellers,” he said. “In India, we used to do the same. We were milk sellers and we used to own buffaloes.”
The shop has been serving tea to customers for the past 77 years. Agha Asghar Saeed, 72, is one of them and has been coming here since he was young.
“I was born here. I spent my childhood here, my youth and now my old age as well,” he told Arab News. “I’ve been having this tea since then.”
During the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, Saeed would break his fast at home but have tea at Ludhiana Tea Shop.
“I am addicted to this tea,” he explained.
But what inspires such loyalty in customers?
“You have to buy good quality milk,” Hussain said, adding that he purchased pure and organic milk for his shop that was a bit expensive. “Not everyone knows how to buy good milk.”
He maintained that most milk sellers in Pakistan did not sell pure milk, making him take several sips while buying to check the fat content.
Just like the milk, he continued, the quality of the tea leaves was also important.
The price of one cup of tea used to be around five paisas several years ago.
“Now, we sell it for Rs60 (22 cents),” he added.
The rich taste of Ludhiana Tea Shop means Muhammad Hasnain and his friends visit it every day rather than go to other tea shops in the neighborhood.
“Obviously, everybody wants a good bang for their buck,” Hasnain told Arab News. “The most important thing for anyone is that the quality should be good, and both quality and quantity are good here.”
Ludhiana Tea Shop offers customers deep-fried sweet and savory snacks, such as pakoras, samosas, jalebis and spring rolls, delectable items popularly consumed in Pakistan with tea.
Muhammad Shoaib Khan, a man in his 30s, informed he visited the shop with his friends at least a couple of times every day.
“We come on our bikes and travel for at least 1.5 kilometer on every trip,” Khan told Arab News. “It roughly adds up to 6 kilometers.”
Despite the cost of petrol, which has surged in recent times, Khan said he visited the shop for tea because it was worth it.
Hussain said he understood why customers came from far-off places just to have a cup of tea at his 77-year-old shop.
“Everyone cannot make good tea,” he said. “They don’t pour their heart in it. They lack passion. Making good tea is something that can only be done from the heart.”