Latest news with #Faiza
Telegraph
2 days ago
- Telegraph
Four die in apartment block e-scooter fire
'Fires caused by this type of battery…are extremely difficult to extinguish, since the cells tend to self-sustain when they burn, which explains the violence and speed with which the fire spreads,' he added. One resident of the block, named only as Faïza, told a local radio station she and her family narrowly escaped after hearing screams and seeing smoke everywhere. She said they had to leave everything behind as they fled. 'The flames took over the building so quickly, we didn't have time. We went downstairs and went straight out with the children,' she said. Faiza said she was friends with the mother of the two boys who died, who was away on a visit to French Guiana with her newborn baby girl. She added that she had seen the body of the boy who jumped lying on the ground. 'His feet were broken. He was burned,' she said. 'His eyes were closed. I could see that he no longer felt the pain. You could see that he was no longer there. He wasn't moving, he wasn't speaking, his eyes were closed.'
Gulf Today
27-05-2025
- Business
- Gulf Today
Pakistan to planet: Faiza Khanna and Naqsh Art Dxb's enterprising odyssey
Faiza Khanna founded Naqsh Art Dxb in 2024. It is a Dubai-based art company that deals in art and promotes it, striving to bridge Pakistani artists and the international art scene. 'The company's name, Naqsh,' Faiza says, 'carries deep cultural significance. It represents concepts such as engraving, marking, print, impression, drawing, carving, paintings, pictures, and inscriptions in the Arabic, Persian, and Urdu languages. Naqsh Art Dxb's primary goal is to showcase the best artworks from established and emerging Pakistani artists. The company is committed to providing a platform for emerging talents to exhibit their work internationally, and to foster cultural exchange and artistic growth.' Naqsh Art Dxb represents a diverse roster of Pakistani artists, including the late Mansoor Rahi and the late Mashkoor Raza; Abrar Ahmed; Awais Ahmed; Mohammed Rustam Ali; Salman Farooqi; Ashkal; Shaista Momin; Raja Chengaiz; Wassi Haider and Behzad, among others. Salman Farooqi's composition in oil on canvas. They define various artistic styles and perspectives of Pakistan. 'By connecting Pakistani artists who would not have the opportunity to meet international audiences, Naqsh Art Dxb plays a crucial role in the global art ecosystem,' Faiza says. 'The company's efforts contribute to recognising and appreciating Pakistani art on the world stage, while enriching Dubai's cultural landscape. By showcasing established and emerging talents, Naqsh Art Dxb shapes the narrative of Pakistani art internationally, fostering cultural understanding and artistic exchange. Naqsh has clients worldwide, in Singapore, UAE, UK, and US, and ships internationally.' Born and raised in Karachi, Pakistan, Faiza developed a passion for art at an early age, inspired by her mother's love for collecting artwork. Her academic journey took her across continents, to Montreal, Canada, and then to the United States. Her professional career began in the banking sector in Dubai. Following her marriage, she relocated to Singapore, where she first ventured into the art world in 2001. In 2004, she returned to Dubai and founded Naqsh. It marked her official entry into the art business. Faiza's career has been characterised by frequent travel between Dubai and Singapore. Her multicultural experiences in Pakistan, Canada, the United States, Dubai and Singapore, have undoubtedly influenced her perspective on art and business, of which she speaks to Gulf Today What is your background in art? I grew up in an environment with a great appreciation for art. Over the past 25 years, I have been personally curating and collecting artworks by the great masters of the Eastern world, especially Pakistan. Combining my love for art and my desire to share it with a wider audience, was the foundation for Naqsh Art Dxb. Shaista Momin's work in acrylic on canvas. Do you think Pakistani art is not ideally marketed? Was it a reason for the establishment of Naqsh Art Dxb? Pakistani art is gaining global recognition; but there is substantial room for more growth and exposure. The new generation of upcoming artists, for instance, rarely get a chance to partake in events such as global exhibitions, to showcase their talent. For example, there are over 400 new graduates per year from the Indus Valley School of Art in Karachi. There is possibly similar graduating cohort — if not more — from the National College of Arts (NCA), in Lahore. A very low percentage of this new generation of artists will ever reach a level of recognition in the local Pakistani art market, leave alone win global recognition. Naqsh Art Dxb aims to reach out to the talented, young, upcoming artists from Pakistan. We buy artworks from both established and new, emerging artists, instead of acquiring them on consignment basis. When we buy artworks from emerging artists, we increase their purchase price, thus motivating them. The artworks are brought to Dubai, framed here, and are photographed professionally. Catalogues of the consignments are made, posted on Instagram and forwarded to clients. This provides the young artists an interactive platform to show their artworks. Farhan Manto, Uzma Ali, Samra Malik, Behzad Warsi and Naushad Alam, are some of Pakistan's upcoming artists, who are included in our catalogues. What are the qualities that recommend Pakistani art? Pakistani art showcases Islamic influences and techniques, along with deep cultural and historical heritage. Islamic art influences have fuelled the popularity of Pakistani artists in Dubai. Master artists like Syed Sadequain Ahmed Naqvi, Abdur Rahman Chugtai, Anna Molka Ahmed, Ismail Gulgee, Ahmed Parviz, Bashir Mirza, Jamil Naqsh and Mashkoor Raza, have tremendous acclaim worldwide. Faiza Khanna among artworks. Why is Dubai's name conjoined to Naqsh Art? There would be no Naqsh Art Dxb without Dubai! Dubai is a cultural hub, attracting global attention. Various efforts such as Art Dubai, one of the greatest global art gatherings in the Middle East, reflect the changing dynamics and substantial growth of the art market in the region and globally. Our worldwide connectivity to clients has been possible only due to the strategic location of Dubai. How do you source your artworks? Artworks are sourced through my personal connections in the art world. We are in direct touch with artists and purchase in person from them. How did you build your buyers' network? Through Instagram (@ and social media, we are increasing followers and our client base. Word of mouth has also helped transform potential clients into satisfied repeat-purchasers. How do you see Naqsh Art Dxb evolving in the next 25 years? We want to be perceived as the go to house for Eastern Art. A place where people can be sure they are going to get honest and trustworthy art advice.
Express Tribune
16-04-2025
- Sport
- Express Tribune
Karachi's 'Burqa Batter' goes viral, earns praise for cricket skills
Listen to article Faiza Azam Khan, a Karachi-based banker and passionate cricketer, has taken social media by storm with a viral video showcasing her impressive cricket skills — all while wearing a burqa. Known online as the 'Burqa Batter,' Faiza's story has resonated with audiences across Pakistan for her bold display of talent in a traditionally male-dominated sport. Despite working full-time as a bank officer, she dedicates her weekends to playing cricket at Karachi's Frere Hall, where she trains and competes alongside male players. In an interview with a private TV channel, Faiza explained that she has been pursuing professional cricket training for the past three years. She emphasized that wearing a burqa has never hindered her performance or passion for the sport. 'Burqa is my identity, not a barrier,' she said. 'I want to show that modesty and sports can go hand in hand.' Faiza shared that she has always received encouragement from her family and the public. 'People appreciate my performance,' she noted, adding that she has never encountered any harassment while playing. Her gameplay — including cover drives, pull shots, and hooks — displayed in the viral video, has drawn admiration from viewers and cricket enthusiasts alike. Her coach, Shazia Khan, praised Faiza's technique, comparing it to that of national-level players. 'If given the opportunity, Faiza can become a valuable asset to Pakistan's women's cricket,' she said. Social media users have widely shared Faiza's story, hailing her determination and skill. Her journey from banker to cricketer is being seen as an inspiration, especially for young women aspiring to break barriers in sports while staying true to their values.
Express Tribune
21-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Where does Faiza Saleem draw the line with jokes?
During an interview on the podcast Excuse Me with Ahmad Ali Butt, comedian Faiza Saleem shed light on the boundaries she follows in her professional life in order to make her content enjoyable on a mass scale. "I try to be mindful online because I know elders and children are watching me. So, I am a little bit careful with the content I put out - as much as I can be, since the content needs to be funny as well," she said. "You know how these things tend to be filtered? About ten more of those filters are imposed on women," Faiza revealed. "Religion, politics, sex, innuendos, foul language, remove all these things from the equation. We need to stay away from many of the taboo topics. So, that's something you need to think about a lot when posting online because people of all kinds, all ages, are watching you." However, the experience seems to differ when it comes to a live performance, where Faiza is allowed some leeway. "For improv or stand-up, I'm not that careful since it's a closed environment. And there's also the fact that most people who come to my shows know what they are paying for and what they're going to be getting. "Even then, I have noticed that there are certain people who make faces and leave halfway through," she countered, adding that this prompted an announcement in the beginning of the shows that if someone wanted to scowl, they were welcomed to take their leave right away instead of disrupting the show later on. "They shouldn't just have all the fun then be offended in the end and call me out on social media." In 2016, Faiza founded The Khawatoons, Pakistan's first all-women comedy troupe, which has been going strong for over eight years now. "We make sure to announce that the show is catered to an audience of a certain age group. Children are not allowed on the shows, so of course parents shouldn't be bringing them along. Still, some do bring their kids even though we strictly tell them not to," Faiza told Ahmad. Despite the fact that she has the freedom to push her comic boundaries during improv, restrictions are ever-present, though Faiza deems them necessary in certain settings. "We also have to assess the kind of audiences that we're receiving. Corporate shows are very proper; we follow certain guidelines there, which is important. That's the benefit of improv comedy. You have the opportunity to gauge your audience's likes and dislikes and move forward accordingly," she said. "There is a flow and a structure to improv, how we'll go about the day and such, but nothing is scripted," she said. "There's training for that, rehearsals on how to improvise, but nothing is written beforehand. There's only a basic outline." Making her own rules Faiza, who worked on the sitcom Hum Sab Ajeeb Se Hain, confessed that she is sceptical about signing on TV shows frequently. "If you do one thing well, you will likely be type-casted in the future. You'll get similar offers, which isn't something that I prefer doing. I am very picky about television," she shared. "This is especially the case when you become used to social media. Then it becomes difficult for you to abide by someone else's directions and work for longer hours than you usually do," she added. "Whereas when you go viral on social media, it offers a kind of instant gratification that is difficult to find elsewhere."
