We at Destinations are deeply humbled by the overwhelming acclaim our second anniversary collector’s edition has received from all quarters. With a high fashion editorial at Sadiq Garh Palace, we are happy to put the spotlight back on the forgotten legacy of Bahawalpur. Industry insiders to regular subscribers and friends – with this note, we would like to thank you all; you inspire us to do better each time.
This time our cover story features the biggest star on the Pakistani TV landscape, Fahad Mustafa – the man with the Midas touch. From drama serials to game shows and movies, everything he touches turns to entertainment-gold. Over an informal brunch conversation with leading journalist and media producer Fifi Haroon, he talks about almost everything under the sun – from life to love, his home province Sindh, fun, work, family, and his upcoming two films.
As temperatures soar all across Pakistan this month, Karachi is experiencing an intense, dangerous heatwave. Three years ago, in 2015, the debilitating May heatwave claimed an estimated 1200 lives. Blaming climate change and the stripping of the green cover for this large number of lives lost, eco-entrepreneur Shahzad Qureshi was propelled to take action. Since then, he has been working on growing an urban forest in a forgotten park in Clifton. Environment activist Afia Salam pens an inspirational tale of this green revolution which aims to protect the environment one tree at a time.
If you want to escape Karachi’s exhausting summer altogether and get away for the weekend, we recommend the nearby Gorakh Hill station. City dwellers Safinah and Danish Elahi head off to this quaint hamlet and camp out under the open skies. The cool climes, the starry night, the easy charm of the rolling hills – their short R&R is rejuvenating.
Summer escapes are always welcome. Those yearning for greater heights and breathtaking views can make a trip to the magical valley of Hunza. Ace travel photographer Mobeen Ansari captures the beauty of this princely state in a series of spellbinding pictures that are sure to inspire a trip up north.
But not all trips are made by road. These days, most journeys start and end at airports. The capital city of Islamabad finally gets a much-needed modern airport. Amongst its most defining features is the diverse range of artwork that lines the walls of the colossal space of this purpose-built facility, lending a glimpse into the country’s rich crafts heritage as well as the opportunity to view the work of Pakistan’s contemporary artists, many of whom are now making their mark on an international canvas. Approaching the domestic and international check-in counters, you will come across large-scale murals by internationally renowned artists Imran Qureshi and Aisha Khalid. We offer a close-up of their extraordinary works.
Flip through for all this and more. Hope the images you see inspire you and the stories you read, interest you. Happy reading!
