Siliconstani is an identity representing Silicon Valley denizens or those associated with the High-Tech "Stan" (persian for land or place), though it could also refer to the SiliconValley-Pakistani ...
Morocco has become one of the largest winemakers in the Muslim world, with the equivalent of 35 million bottles produced last year. Wine brings the state millions in sales tax, even though Islam appears to be on the rise politically.
Can't export a drop, that's ridiculous. Seriously speaking how much longer will we bend over backwards to appease the Mullahs, who aren't the most perfect of human beings themselves, especially behind closed doors?
Following is a brief presentation about Pakistan's oldest Brewery, Muree Beer founded in 1861 and was recently listed on the Karachi Stock Exchange (KSE-100), continue reading at HuqMusings. Tobacco and Alcohol are one of the top revenue generators for the Government of Pakistan, yet Alcohol export is prohibited.
Jalaibi is a sweet meat from Pakistan and India. Made from flour, sugar syrup, and deep fried in oil. Great when it is pipping hot and dripping in its sugary syrup! The crusty surface, and the mushy syrupy innards makes it a delicious treat for any occasion!
Jalaibi goes well with a hot cup of Pakistani mixed-tea, or Chai. Don't forget to throw in a couple Aloo (Potato) samosa's...thus maintaining a health pH balance, between sweet and savory.
On September 13/14 Muslims from around the world will fast in honour of the Holy Month of Ramadan (Ramzan). You may be wondering why I say, September 13/14 - the answer lies in the fact there are two groups of Muslims, on the most part they are Sunni. One group is following a "fixed lunar calendar" concocted up by ISNA (Islamic Society of North America) and heavily skewed towards the Wahibist of Saudi Arabia. The other group are those who follow a somewhat more traditional calendar, based upon real time lunar observations. (see Hilal Sighting Committee).
For the next four weeks, Muslim's will refrain from eating and drinking, and as many Islamist scholars like to emphasize, refrain from sexual relations, from Dawn to Dusk.
So back to Jalaibi ! A delicious sweet...soak it in milk, or have it with dates, mix-tea, and samosas. Jalaibi and Ramzan go hand in hand. Without Jailabi, Ramzan is incomplete.
Ingredients: 1 cup maida ½ cup rice flour 2 cup water 2½ cup sugar 1 tsp. soda ¼ tsp. cream of tartar 6 green cardamom (Chhoti Ilaichi) 2 tsp. Rose water Saffron (Zafran) Yellow/orange food colour Oil/ghee for frying
Instructions: Mix maida, rice flour, soda and water and keep the mixture overnight in warm place.
Mix sugar, water, ilaichi saffron cream of tartar and cook to make it into thick syrup.
Deep fry the mixture in the curls using a nozzle like the one used for icing of cakes. Fry till light brown and pour into the syrup. DO NOT OVER SOAK. Remove and let the excess syrup drain out.
Serving: 10 to 12 persons
Eat your Jailabi, sweeten your soul from the harshness of the sweltering conflicts in the world. Conflicts, which could so easily have been avoided. From the Oil Wars to the wars between religious sects. All appear pointless after a pipping hot, sweet Jalaibi!
Wake up citizens of the world, wake up and taste the sweatiness of the Jalaibi. A sweetness that resides within us. A sweetness that is eternal, it is a sweet power that will wash over the harshness of the world. Bringing about order and serenity to chaos.
Khuda Kay liye, or translated as In the Name of God made its debut in Cinema's across Pakistan on July 20th. It made headlines around the world, amid opposition from Islamist clerics who have madly been issuing fatwa's, or religious edicts in opposition (see MSNBC's article, Defying the Fatwa) the file has become one of Pakistan's film industry, Lollywood's, biggest blockbuster hits.
The film is about the difficult situation in which the Pakistanis in particular and the Muslims in general are caught up since 9/11. There is a war going on between the Fundamentalists and the Liberal Muslims. This situation is creating a rift not only between the Western and the Muslim worlds, but also within Muslims.
The film depicts the educated and progressive Muslims are in a difficult situation because of their approach towards life and their western attire. They are criticized and harassed by the fundamentalists and on the other hand the Western world sees them as potential suspects of terrorism just because of their Muslim names. The movie revolves around a Pakistani young man (Shaan) who goes to the United States of America for higher education.
The interesting thing about the film is how it connects the happenings in the three continents. Unlike the usual Indian and Pakistani films based on romantic saga, dances and songs, this film is based on some very serious issues, raising a lot of controversial questions boggling the world around.
The Cast of the movie includes Shaan,Fawad khan,Iman Ali,Naseeruddin Shah,Hameed Sheikh, Austin Marie Sayre,Larry Neumann, Rasheed Naz, Naeem Tahir, Seemin Raheel, Humayun kazmi, Najeeb Ullah Anjum, Ayub Khosa, Rufus Graham, Angela Williams & Alex Edwards.
BackGround Music: Rohail Hayat
Vocals : Ahmad Jahanzeb, Shuja Haider, Farah Zala, Ammar Hassan Khawar Jawwad, Faiza Mujahid, Saeen Zahoor, Zara Madani
Lyrics : Shoib Mansoor; Bhule Shah; Faiza Mujahid
Songs Composed By : Ahmad Jahanzeb, Shuja Haider, Lagan Band, Khawar Jawad, Jawwad Bashir.
Trailer of the Movie:
Search for other clips and sound tracks on the movie here.
50-Minute Discussion on Movie on GEO TV: Guests- Hina Jilani, Robina Sehgal, Molana Ahmed Ali Qasoor, Dr Farooq Khan
Part 1/4
Part 2/4
Part 3/4
Part 4/4
AAJ TV Discussion on Controversial parts of the Movie: Host - Dr. Aamir Liaquat, Guests- Shabir Ahmed Azhari and Dr. Shakeel Ouj
A mockery of a discussion this is. How can you have a discussion when the entire panel come from the same view point?
Siliconstani is the blog name that emerged out of the concept of representing the Silicon Valley Pakistani and representing a global community whom are professional rooted in Silicon Valley, yet ethnically and ideologically have roots in the regions in and about Pakistan. Siliconstani was founded by Abdulrahman Rafiq in February of 2006 with the first post on social innovation.
Khuda Kay liye, or translated as In the Name of God made its debut in Cinema's across Pakistan on July 20th. It made headlines around the world, amid opposition from Islamist clerics who have madly been issuing fatwa's, or religious edicts in opposition (see MSNBC's article, Defying the Fatwa) the file has become one of Pakistan's film industry, Lollywood's, biggest blockbuster hits.
