Top 5 places to Shop for Eid

As Ramadan draws to an end, eid shopping is a key element of celebrating the festival of Eid-ul-Fitr for tourists and residents of Pakistan. As every corner of the country buzzes with zeal and fervour,Jovago.com has facilitated your eid shopping this year by compiling the best and most reasonably priced places to shop.

1. Tariq Road Bazaar, Karachi

Tariq Road Bazaar is a spread of about 1000 shops occupying Tariq Road,not only famous for variety but also for reasonable pricing. Tariq center, Mateen center, Shalimar Centre and Rabi Center (famous for Eid menswear) are among those on the street. Within these centers there is a host of small shops selling silk, satin, chiffon,cotton and lawn, perfect for your eid jora this year and the city’s finest footwear shops like Stylo,Metro shoes and English boot house.The street is also called Choori Gali because of the countless shops selling colourful glass bangles, and any woman in search of these is unlikely to leave empty handed. These bazars are nearby even if you are staying at a hotel near Jinnah International Airport.

2. Clifton and Zamzama Belt, Karachi

Concentration of shops and designer accumulation around the teen talwar belt of Clifton and ZamzamaBoulevard make it a popular place to shop for those interested in Eid designerwear.Park towers in zamzama is famous for eid drapery and shoes and Gulfway shopping Mallsells really made outfits and edgings,for those who urgently need something to wear on eid.

3. Liberty Market Lahore

Liberty market Lahore located on Main Boulevard Gulberg is an ideal spot for Eid shopping laden with a variety of Bangles and its Dupatta Gali.

Lahoris and visitors are likely to find a reasonable bargain for these products,successfully attracting crowds to the market already.

4. Mall of Lahore

The mall of Lahore is a hub of exciting outlets all under one roof.The best known brands and designers such as Deepak Perwani,Nomi Ansari and HSY all have shops here.Having men’s and women’s top brands collectively in one complex, makes for easy and exciting eid shopping as the eid collections are on the verge of release.

5. Tench Bhatta,Peoples Colony,Raja Bazaar,Moti Bazaar and Sadiqabad Market

Stalls and shops in these areas around the city selling gleaming bangles, embroidered clothes and handbags with special deals and promotions are likely to be the best place for young girls and women to find cheap and good quality eid clothing and accessories.The multi coloured lighting and decorations create a lively atmosphere to make eid shopping as memorable as Eid itself.

Peshawar – The Essence of Pakistan

Peshawar is the capital city of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which is one of the four provinces in Pakistan. It has been listed as the fifth largest city in Pakistan, with a population of over 3.5 million, situated in the Northwestern region. Peshawar is one of the oldest surviving cities in South Asia, since its historical value and heritage date back to 539 BC. This city is located in a large valley near the eastern end of the Khyber Pass, and is irrigated by the canals of the Kabul River and the Bara River.

Jovago’s top 3 in Peshawar

       Mahabat Khan Masjid

The Mahabat Khan Masjid was built in 1630, and is the city's most renowned Masjid, which is located West of ChowkYadgar. The view within the Masjid is surreal, offering an amazing view of the Minarets, an Ancient Caravanserai and the Plaza. Its interior is decorated beautifully with tiles, and the open courtyard circles around an ablution pool, which is surrounded by rooms. The prayer hall is veiled under three domes, which are embellished with geometric designs and a variety of colors.

2.       QissaKhawaniBazaar

The QissaKhawani Bazaar is Peshawar's most famous bazaar, commonly known as the 'Street of Storytellers'. During the reign of Kanishka, the traders would swap merchandise during the day, and at night they would exchange stories and tales. Today, the Bazaar is a rusticcompilation of teashops, clothing boutiques, electrical stores, a bird market and brass/copperware outlets. The famous Indian actor,Dilip Kumar, was born in this Bazaar on 11th December 1922.

        PeshawarMuseum

This treasury is located near the Old City, and is contained in a glorious VictorianMughal-Gothic hall. The Peshawar Museum houses 14,000 items, having the largest collection ofGandharan art in the world. This assortment ranges from statues depicting the life of Buddhato Herculean heroes riding a two-headed horse and wooden effigies taken from a Kalasha cemetery. Other ancient artifacts include early forms of the Holy Quran, Mughal paintings and Persian handicrafts.

TIPS

Restaurants:

There are different eateries located in Peshawar. Tourists can get everything from international to local food. There is a restaurant names Celeste which offers its customers with a variety of cuisines, consisting of exquisite dishes from Italy, Mongolia, Thailand, Lebanon, Japan and Mexico. Habibi is famous in Peshawar for its delectable, savory and succulent barbecue, sold at affordable prices. Of course, to satisfy your sweet tooth craving here is Café Crunch, which has mouth-watering fresh cakes, pastries, and cookies you will not be able to resist the guilty pleasures served to you.

Shopping:

When shopping for women’s clothing, inexpensive fabrics, cosmetics, and luggage, Meena Bazaar is the place to be! The products sold at this market are of a very high quality and are marketed at very reasonable prices that can be further reduced by bargaining! For jewelry there is Bazaar of the Goldsmiths and Silversmiths. While shopping here, it’s important that you lookout for the traditionally designed jewelry as these pieces are one of a kind. A hidden gem, positioned towards the end of the QissaKhawani Bazaar, is the home of the Coppersmiths. They are skilled men who are internationally famous for their work. Here you will find traditionally made copper plates & glasses which are available at cheap prices, that can be further discounted by bargaining.

Hotels

Visit the Here website for information on the top hotels located in the Peshawar District. These include the VIP House, Shelton House, Shelton Garden, Luxury Palace and Shiraz Inn!

5 ways to stay hydrated in Ramadan

Those who are visiting or living in Pakistan, and celebrating Ramadan are fighting a constant battle against dehydration intensified by the summer heat. Water is the most vital fluid to fulfill our thirst; unfortunately, people do not consume enough of it. Even though staying hydrated in Ramadan may seem challenging, especially if you are traveling by road, it is all about consuming the right food or drinking water at the right time.

1. Drink at least 8 glasses of water each day

This can be done by drinking 2 glasses of water at sehri, breaking your fast with another 2 glasses and drinking four or more glasses in the duration between.

2. Consume foods with high water content

Drinking 8 glasses of water over such a short span of time may seem to be an impossible task. Fortunately, there is another way out. You can compensate for lack of water in the food you eat. Fruits and vegetables with high water content are cucumbers, lettuce, green peppers and watermelon.

3. Drink fresh fruit juices rather than sweetened juices

Sweetened juices not only contribute to weight gain but are not as effective as fresh fruit juices in quenching thirst. Fresh fruit juices are rich in water and fibre and remain in the intestine for longer reducing thirst.

4. Avoid food with too much salt and spice

Salt and spice increase the body’s need for water and therefore cause dehydration more than any other foods. This goes for all the food lovers in Karachi and Lahore who are found eating their favorite spicy food at streets after iftar.

5. Avoid drinking too much water at iftari

Consuming too much water at iftari time not only doesn’t help reduce dehydration, but causes indigestion which creates more problems rather than solving them.

7 NGO’s to Donate to in Pakistan

Ramadan is the month of giving, and is our chance to give back to society what it has given to us. This article has been composed by theJovago team, providing you with information about a few NGO’s from the hundreds that exist. Please note, we are not endorsing these NGO’s, but are just suggesting a few where donations can help save, educate and transform the lives of many individuals and animals, who our unfortunately not as fortunate as we are. The NGO’s listed below accept donations for Zakat funds as well.

Edhi Foundation

Abdul SattarEdhi founded the Edhi Foundation, in 1951. The Edhi Foundation provides 24-hour emergency assistance across the nation of Pakistan, with 300 centers across the country.

Their services include shelters for the destitute, orphans, the handicapped, free hospitals and medical care, drug rehabilitation services, national and international relief efforts, Education, Healthcare, International Community Centers, Blood & Drug Bank, Air Ambulance Services, Marine and Coastal Services.

Donations to the Edhi Foundation have helped transform the lives of millions of people. They accept donations through banks, credit cards and PayPal, and for further information please follow this link!

• http://edhi.org/donate-us/donation-through-credit-cards

The Citizens Foundation (TCF)

The Citizens Foundation (TCF) is one of the largest non-profit organizations in the field of education and was established in 1995, in Pakistan. As of April 2014, TCF has expanded its network to 1000 operational School Units, which provide education to 145,000 students nationwide.

TCF has also partnered with 141Schools.orgto help them achieve their global initiative to build 141 TCF schools across Pakistan, in memory of the lives lost.

• To donate to The Citizens Foundation, click:
  http://www.tcf.org.pk/Donate.aspx
• To donate towards the mission of building these schools, click:
  141schools.org/donate

Rising Sun

The Rising Sun was discovered in 1984 by Dr. and Mrs. Abdul Tawwab Khan, and began their journey with only 2 special children at first. It now nurtures 415 enrolled children and 68 through its home-based rehabilitation services The Rising Sun is the largest Institute in Pakistan providing education, speech therapy, physiotherapy, hydro & sensory integration therapy, vocational training, physiotherapy and speech therapy to children with intellectual (cognitive) impairment cerebral palsy and autism.

• To support this institution, your assistance is crucial! To donate, click: http://www.risingsun.org.pk/risingsun/donate-from-pakistan.aspx

CARE Pakistan

The CARE Foundation began in 1988 in Sheikhupura, and was founded by Seema Aziz. The first school attracted 250 children on its first day, and has flourished nationally, now with 352 schools providing high quality education to approximately 180,000 students. CARE has introduced an English Program into their curriculum, providing a high quality education in English to 2,991 students. Their aim is to educate 1/9 million children in Pakistan by 2018! Invest in their education and you are investing in the future of Pakistan, transforming it into a bright one. Donations of as little as Rs 700 will sponsor a child’s education per month!

• For more information regarding donations, click:
  http://www.carepakistan.org/donate.html

Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation (SIUT)

Four decades ago SIUT started its journey as an eight-bed ward in Burns Unit of Civil Hospital Karachi. Today, it houses over 500 beds and facilities spread over 400,000 sq ft. It is regionally recognized as one of the most well equipped centers for renal diseases and transplantation. Its mission is to ensure free quality health care to every individual without discrimination, to treat all its patients with dignity and utmost respect, to create public awareness in the society at large for prevention of diseases and to carry out research for better medical care, thus enhancing the capacity building of medical professionals.

• To help them achieve this goal, and expand further, your donations are pivotal! Click: http://siut.org/Donate-Form.html

Ayesha Chundrigar Foundation (ACF)

Animals are often ignored in our society, so we thought it was important to include a NGO which could aid animals. The Ayesha Chundrigar Foundation (ACF) was founded in 2013, and is now the second non-profit organization in Pakistan, which aims to rescue deserted, maltreated and wounded animals. The shelter now homes over 200 animals, consisting of dogs, cats, donkeys, goats, kites, horses and turtles.

To help ACF expand and continue their journey, your donations are essential! For food donations and volunteering queries, please write to ayeshachundrigarfoundation@gmail.com

DarulSukun

Sr. Gertrude Lemmens, a Dutch nun, founded Dar ulSukun on 17^th February 1969. Originally, Dar ulSukun was a home for the abandoned children with disabilities. As the years progressed, the scope of service has expanded and now offers work for socially displaced girls, women, senior citizens, and education/scholarships for the underprivileged and family adaptation schemes; not in the main cities like Lahore , Karachi or Islamabad but in all small towns and cities.

• For Dar ulSukun to continue being successful, your contributions are imperative!
  Click here for donations:
  http://www.darulsukun.com/donate/#.VZI2WBOqqko

Warid Offers Double Free Minutes for Postpaid Subscriptions

Warid Telecom has introduced yet another exciting offer for postpaid customers. Now with “Double Bundle Offer”, new Warid Postpaid customers, Port-in customers and subscribers switching from Warid Prepaid to Postpaid can enjoy double free minutes at no additional cost for 3 months.

For example, subscribers on W500 plan enjoy 250 free on-net minutes and 250 free off-net minutes, but with double bundle offer customer can enjoy double the regular benefit by getting 500 free on-net minutes and 500 free off-net minutes. Most importantly, this offer is available at no additional cost, and same benefit will be provided every month for next 3 months.

Customers can simply dial *450*1#, or send “Double” to 4000 to avail this offer.

Warid Telecom currently boasts largest postpaid & LTE customer base in Pakistan, with over 640,000 postpaid & 100,000 LTE customers.

As the operator continues to offer a wide array of customer centric, reliable & quality services, this number continues to grow exponentially.

Important Points:

• Free minutes are equally split (50-50) between on-net and off-net
• Offer is valid for three months only for one subscriber
• Upon package change, offer will no longer remain valid
• Subscriber can activate offer once after activation & may not change it later
• Double Bundle can be continued upon monthly rental and deposit payment
• Old acquisition offer, Free for 3, is also available to new subscribers
• This offer is not available to corporate, existing postpaid & W4000 subscribers

QMobile W1 – The handset that adds productivity to your life

QMobile has been launching handsets, bar phones and smartphones, which have been fulfilling users' needs and taking the market by storm. Keeping its traditions of providing the highest quality smartphones, QMobile recently launched W1, the company's first Windows-based smartphone. Running on a 1.2 GHz Quad Core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, the W1 is an attractive handset that is manufactured with precision and has every feature which smartphone users need.

The W1 by QMobile, a dual SIM handset, supports up to 32GB of micro SD memory so you can store videos and images. The smartphone has a smart camera at the front and a 5MP rear camera with LED Flash, which works without any glitches in any lighting conditions.

QMobile, powered by Windows 8.1 operating system, has a 4-inch WVGA display that shows all pictures, videos, and content in bright colors. It also makes it easy for you to scroll through social media websites and other websites. The 3G supported W1 has GPRS/EDGE for internet connectivity while WAP/MMS lets you remain in touch with your friends and family.

Equipped with a Wi-Fi and GPS/AGPS, the W1 also has Bluetooth, video players, FM Radio, and an Audio Player to keep users entertained when travelling or during their pastime. With the W1 you can remain in continuous contact with your friends over social media and can exchange all content, through email, SMS, and MMS, without any hassle. A smartphone with so many features consumes battery however W1 has a 1950 mAh battery that runs for longer durations. Having simple features and an attractive design, the W1 is a handset that will add productivity to your personal and professional life.

Destination of the Week- Skardu- The town of splendor:

Located in in Gilgit-Baltistan, Skardu is a town as well as the capital of Skardu District.Located on the junction of River Indus and Shigar, Skarduis the gateway of some of the world’s highest peaks that lies in Karakoram Range such as K2, the Gasherbrums, Broad Peak, and the Trango Towers.  Every year thousands of climbers visit Skarduto hike and reach the top of these peaks. The beauty of the town is exceptional, it is adorned with grey-brown colored mountains, and a trio of Upper Kachura lake, Lower Kachura Lake, and Satpara Lake.

The climate of Skarduis moderate and protected from intense heat as the mountain setting blocks out the summer rain to the region.However the winters are very severe, and effect transport in and out of Skardu.

Jovago’s top 3:

Satpara Lake:
Satpara Lake is a natural and main stream lake of Skardu. It is located at an elevation of 2,636 meters (8,650 ft.) above the sea level. It has fresh water and tourists can go trout fishing and row boating on the lake.  In 2002, the government of Azad Kashmir decided to build a dam on the Satpara Lake which is still under construction.

SkarduFort:
Skardu Fort, also known as Kharphocho Fort,is located above the town towards the east. The fort was built during the 8th century by Rmakpon dynasty rulers of Baltistan. It is an enormous landmark comprising of a seven-story building. Skardu fort is a major tourist attraction that provides a panoramic view of Skardu town, the lush green fields of the valley and the River Indus.

Deosainational park:
The Deosai National Park is located in Skardu at the boundary of the Karakoram.It is located around 4,114m above the sea level, and is one of the highest plateaus of the world.It was established in 1993 to protect the habitat of Himalayan brown bears and now it is home for a variety of wildlife such as Himalayan ibex, red fox, golden marmot, gray wolf, the Ladakh urial, the snow leopard, and over 124 resident and migratory birds. Summers and spring are the best times to visit Deosai when it is covered by radiant wildflowers, several kinds of flora and fauna and a wide variety of butterflies.

Tips

Restaurants
In Skardu, most of the prices at the restaurants are very affordable. Restaurants servetraditional Gilgitcuisine;Marzan, Skampo-Sha, Sha-chu, Shabaly and Khulak- a special breakfast made by using barley and butter. There is a very famous tea named looney- chathat is being served after meal.

Shopping
As Skardu is very popular for tourism, there are a lot of shopping malls where you can find traditional dresses, hats and other local souvenirs.

Hotels
Jovago Pakistan has many hotels and guest houses in Skardu with different price ranges. Book now on the No.1 online hotel booking site of Pakistan and get the best prices.