New Year: Islooites embrace 2011 with a warm heart and hope

Celebrations, parties and promises of a new self for a better world.

ISLAMABAD: With massive celebrations underway this New Year’s Eve, Islamabad embraced 2011 with a warm heart and the hope that it brings peace and prosperity to the country. This New Year was extra special because it also marked the end of the first decade of the 21st century.

Using the evening as the perfect opportunity to let their hair down and enjoy the evening, residents of Islamabad went all out on Friday night. A number of private parties and dinners  were organised.

Rabea Qureshi of QR Events organised an Arabian Night-themed party complete with tribal belly dancers and fire jugglers. DJ Zina and DJ Minfo provided the music.

The fashion trends this New Year seemed to be padded shoulder tops, with drapes, flowers and broaches encrusting the shoulders. Beadwork and chunky chains adorning the shoulders added an extra pizzazz to the classic t-shirt.

Meanwhile, The Express Tribune decided to ask people their New Year resolutions and what they hoped 2011 would bring for them.

Their response:

Rabia Shahab, a recent London School of Economics graduate: I wish to figure out my life, but more importantly I hope Pakistan starts improving its global image and its citizens start loving and cherishing their country.

Samina Pirzada, head of a women’s volunteer organisation: I’d like to make important contributions towards a more prosperous, educated and egalitarian Pakistan.

Osman Khalid Butt, theatre writer, actor, director: Try and reach out to more than just the confined bubble that is Islamabad; push myself out there, creatively, so to speak. Pick up that video camera [that’s been lying in my room for almost a year now] and shoot a short film. Talk about life imitating art- I’m living the plot of “Slackistan”.

Zahra Raza, of L’atelier: We will stock up on funky tops and dresses by Islamabad’s Pashmina Ahmad and other designers including Fahad Hassan and Roma Narsinghani of Delhi.

Sharmine Aziz, school teacher: To never ever  make [New Year’s] resolutions again.

Rehman Bilour, lawyer: [I will strive for] world peace.

DJ Barrister: To make a full length album and some crazy remixes.

Zaiena Haider, designer: To be a better person and take life more positively.

Abbas Haider Khan, working in a local firm: Own 2011 and keep getting closer to my ultimate goals in life.

Ayeshah Saleem-Wakkas, former fitness instructor, schoolteacher, and a full time mother: Dance, sing more and laugh more, simply do the things that make me happy and for everyone around  me, LOVE!

Natalia Tariq, working with Open Society Foundation:  (With a chuckle) I want to channel my anger into something special and productive.

Salman Khalid, owner of Cinnamon: My plans for this year are to get into much less trouble than I have in the  past years.

Mehreen Mussaddaq, former school teacher: I want to lose weight so I can dance to “Sheela ki Jawani”!

Published in The Express Tribune, January 1^st, 2011.