Life in chiaroscuro

Jahanzaib Haque explores a world of light and dark with Stephan Andrew.

(Published in the Nov-Dec 2009 issue of Aurora)

There is one thing that even a layman can see in the pictures of young, up and coming, photographer, Stephan Andrew: life is not easy.

A recent solo exhibition titled, ‘Trial by Existence’ held at the Photospace Gallery in Karachi, gave the public a chance to experience and engage with Andrew’s work, focused as it is on the theme of every day reality and fleshed out by characters and objects depicting the vast spectrum of existence that defines Pakistani living.

The Homexpress experiment

By Jahanzaib Haque

(Published in the Nov-Dec 2009 issue of Aurora)

While the print media struggle globally to stay competitive against the onslaught of free information on the internet, a number of business models have emerged which take a different approach to the problem.

In Pakistan, one such local venture is Homexpress – a 100% ad based free monthly magazine delivered direct to households (in fact, similar to a shopping catalogue); the ads being mainly local retailer (shops, restaurants) driven.

Since its Karachi launch in September 2004, Homexpress has grown from a four-page issue circulating to 10,500 homes in DHA and Clifton, to six different monthly issues (up to 32 pages in size) circulating to 63,000 homes in neighbourhoods across Karachi and Lahore.

Easypaisa for the unbanked

By Jahanzaib Haque

(Published in Nov-Dec 2009 issue of Aurora)

In a synergy of telecom and banking, Telenor Pakistan and Tameer Micro Finance Bank have launched ‘Easypaisa’ – a financial service which promises to introduce ‘true branchless banking’ to the unbanked majority of Pakistan.

Accoding to Yassir Shafi, Account Director, Adcom (the creative agency for Easypaisa), “Previously, branchless banking offerings were for inter-bank customers only, but the Easypaisa concept makes these financial services open to everyone.”

Banking beyond branches

By Jahanzaib Haque

(Published in Nov-Dec 2009 issue of Aurora)

The banking sector in Pakistan has been abuzz with the terms, ‘branchless banking’ and ‘ADCs’ (alternate delivery channels) of late, as a wave of interest has arisen in bringing new, technology based offerings to the market this year.

The term branchless banking refers to giving customers the option to access banking services without physically entering a branch. The four major ADCs in the market which allow such access include call centres, ATMs, internet banking and the up and coming, mobile banking.

Consequently, multiple players have opted to develop and market these services, and a number of mass media campaigns, including the most recent MCB Mobile Banking and HBL Technology campaigns have underscored this trend.

Life, the universe and Rohail Hyatt

(Published in Aurora, September-October 2009 issue)

By Jahanzaib Haque

Where to begin talking about Pakistan’s leading music producer, Rohail Hyatt?

From pop star fame in Vital Signs, to one-time CEO of Pyramid Productions; from writing the musical score for Shoaib Mansoor’s film Khuda Ke Liye, to producing names like Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and of course, creating the musical phenomenon that is Coke Studio; Hyatt is an enigma – and I am duly warned that he is ‘media shy’.

But as I sit back in Hyatt’s studio surrounded by flat screen monitors, recording equipment, musical instruments and organic trinkets, I am greeted with warmth, courtesy and the odd sensation of visiting an old friend.