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[ad_1] PUBLISHED July 02, 2023 KARACHI: To modern eyes, both outside and within the Muslim world, science fiction fantasy and Islam don’t seem to have too much in common. Commentators in the West obsessed with demarcating a clear East-West divide in culture and ideology have long stereotyped Islamic thought and Muslims as being obsessed with the past and lacking in imagination and creativity. But Islamic tradition, in fiction and beyond, has a rich history of exploring and embracing speculative ideas. In his though-provoking book ‘Islam, Science Fiction and Extraterrestrial Life’, historian Dr Jörg Matthias Determann aims to emphasise just that. The Express Tribune sat down with Dr Determann for an interview about the assumptions he challenges with his book and the historic and modern futurism that he says flourishes in the Muslim world. ET: How did this book came about? What specifically triggered your interest in this topic? JMD: Since I was a child, I’ve been intere...

[ad_1] KARACHI: In the realm of competitive gaming, where precision, strategy, and split-second decisions determine victory, there exists a narrative of triumph that transcends borders. Meet Arslan Siddique, popularly known as Arslan Ash, a name that has become synonymous with excellence in Tekken 7 and a beacon of hope for the Pakistani gaming community. With an astounding four-time Evo championship under his belt, Arslan has etched his name in the annals of gaming history, capturing the world's attention and propelling Pakistan to the forefront of the global esports stage. But beyond individual accolades, Arslan's journey signifies a larger phenomenon ― the meteoric rise of Tekken talent in Lahore and Faisalabad. These cities, nestled in the heart of Pakistan and each with its unique flair and fervour for gaming, have given rise to a community that thrives on competition, discipline, and unwavering dedication. As the world anticipates the dawn of Tekken 8, Arslan’s ...

[ad_1] PUBLISHED August 06, 2023 ISLAMABAD: Riaz lives in a one-room quarter in south Punjab. He is a farmer with a few acres of land and he waits for earnings every six months. He has one ceiling fan alone to endure the scorching summer heat. Yet, he received a bill of Rs 8,000 for one month, he told Express Tribune ; 8,000 for living in just one small room. Around 43 percent of Riaz's total bill was charged as taxes and surcharges. He was paying debt surcharges, financial cost surcharges, federal excise duty, income tax, TV fee and an obscure fee was included under 'other tax' which he never knew about it. The power sector is one of those sectors where owners of power plants continue to flourish while the consumers are buried under the weight of paying dues worth billions of rupees on account of hiking power tariffs. The average national tariff has gone up to around Rs 30 per unit excluding taxes and the impact of fuel price adjustment. The impact of taxes ...

[ad_1] By Afrasiab Mehdi Hashmi Qureshi | PUBLISHED July 16, 2023 ISLAMABAD: Dr Gottlieb Wilhelm (William) Leitner was a man of exceptional talent. A multilinguist and an educationist par excellence, who understood the cobwebs of theological discipline, he was also the Founding Principal of Government College University Lahore. Born in a Jewish family in Budapest in 1841, Leitner proceeded to Constantinople, where he mastered Turkish and Arabic, when he was only 10 years old. Later, at 15, Leitner was appointed interpreter to the British Commissariat during the Crimean War, at the rank of a colonel. In 1859, Leitner became a lecturer in Arabic, Turkish and Modern Greek at the King’s College, London, where two years later at 23, he served as Professor of Arabic and Mohammedan Law. (Jewish Encyclopedia). After the 1857 War of Independence, the British wanted to promote Western education, especially in the north-western parts of the subcontinent. They decided to ...

[ad_1] PUBLISHED July 09, 2023 KHANPUR: If you are looking for some outdoor fun and adventure head over to Khanpur Lake. Located just an hour and a half drive away from Islamabad, on the Taxila-Haripur road, the holiday destination offers not only breathtaking views of natural beauty but also a wide range of outdoor activities for adventure enthusiasts and relics for history lovers to explore. Nestled amidst majestic hills and lush greenery, this picturesque destination provides a perfect setting for trekkers and holidaymakers alike. There are a number of budget hotels as well as several high-end resorts offering food and residential facilities in the area. The lake was formed with the construction of Khanpur Dam in 1984. In addition, the vicinity of Khanpur Lake is home to historic treasures, including an old Mughal-era mosque and the Bhamala Buddha stupa, adding cultural and historical richness to the region. Unfortunately, the stupa site is closed for some conservation...

[ad_1] PUBLISHED July 09, 2023 KARACHI: You may have seen her in Baywatch during the original run or reruns, but there is more to the star of the show Pamela Anderson, than meets the eye. From being a nobody in the industry to becoming someone influential, and then quitting the show that made her a household name for her children, Anderson has done it all. Love, Pamela is her love letter to her fans who have wanted to know her side of the story and she does well by giving them exactly what they wanted. Don’t be surprised if you don’t find a single photograph of the once stunning Baywatch Babe inside the book, because there isn’t any photograph except the one on the cover. As a writer with a natural flare for drama, Anderson might believe that her words are good enough to tell her story and pictures would have distracted the readers from that. She may have a point because by not wasting space on images, she has come up with a perfect book that connects with the readers and ...

[ad_1] PUBLISHED July 02, 2023 KARACHI: To modern eyes, both outside and within the Muslim world, science fiction fantasy and Islam don’t seem to have too much in common. Commentators in the West obsessed with demarcating a clear East-West divide in culture and ideology have long stereotyped Islamic thought and Muslims as being obsessed with the past and lacking in imagination and creativity. But Islamic tradition, in fiction and beyond, has a rich history of exploring and embracing speculative ideas. In his though-provoking book ‘Islam, Science Fiction and Extraterrestrial Life’, historian Dr Jörg Matthias Determann aims to emphasise just that. The Express Tribune sat down with Dr Determann for an interview about the assumptions he challenges with his book and the historic and modern futurism that he says flourishes in the Muslim world. ET: How did this book came about? What specifically triggered your interest in this topic? JMD: Since I was a child, I’ve been intere...