Latest news with #Jabbar
Express Tribune
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Late payment is an industry standard: Ahmad Ali Butt
After veteran actor Mohammed Ahmed and director Mehreen Jabbar, Ahmad Ali Butt is the latest celebrity to slam Pakistani industry's recurring issue with late payments. "Late payment is an industry standard," said Butt in an Instagram Story on Monday. "Production houses, television channels and corporate sponsors all have a 60 to 90-day payment clause, and that too is hardly ever met on time." He added, "There are a few rare people who will pay you on time, otherwise everyone will make sure that you have to beg for your money, and that too in installments." On a lighter note, the actor quipped, "Work for YouTube. Be your own boss." While the entertainment industry's exploitative practices have been criticised repeatedly, the recent spotlight comes after Jabbar flagged the issue in an interview. While appearing on the podcast, Gup Shup with Sheeba, the Dobara Phir Se director said, "In the US, even with all their issues, there's a fixed schedule for payments. People know when they'll get paid. Here, you have to chase payments like beggars." She maintained that this is something that affects everyone in the industry, "Ask anyone and they'll have stories. This is across every channel and production house." Following Jabbar's statement, Ahmed took to Instagram to share his experience. In a video message, he said, "Except one production house or two, I haven't seen people being paid on time. Payments delayed by three to four months are commonplace. That too, after begging for what is yours They will still behave like they've done you a huge favour." Shining a harsh light on the very real need for timely payments in an increasingly difficult financial climate rife with bills and inflation, Ahmed took issue with the ideal notion that an artist's work is above money. "Money is everyone's biggest need," stressed the actor as though pointing out the obvious. "Especially for those people who have no form of income other than showbiz. A production house will make you do a 15 – to 20-hour shoot, but when it comes to giving you a cheque, they either refuse to pick the phone or give you a ridiculous reason for not doing so." For Ahmed, there is only one silver lining in this dire state of affairs: the fact that he is no longer alone in calling out production houses. "Thank you, Mehreen, for saying what you did," he said, a note of warmth entering his voice. "I'm glad that people have started speaking up."
Express Tribune
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Begging for survival
By now, with so many artists in the entertainment industry having gone public about production houses' inability to compensate them on time, it will surprise nobody to learn that for an actor in Pakistan, relying on paid work remains a pipe dream. Last week, it was director Mehreen Jabbar who poetically but bluntly remarked that artists have to chase their employers "like beggars" to be paid; now, veteran actor and screenwriter Mohammad Ahmed has entered the fray, backing Jabbar's every word with crystal clear precision. Joining the chorus "Mehreen has spoken very clearly about the system and the drama industry, and it makes me so glad," began Ahmed in a video posted on his Instagram handle. "She said plainly what I have been quietly saying for years. The truth is, [production houses] expect us to be punctual and stick to whatever is outlined in our contract – and yes, we do this." Having begun his showbiz career as a screenwriter in 1995 with Tum Se Kehna Tha and taking on acting roles over the years, Ahmed will be familiar to viewers from television dramas Zard Patton Ka Bunn and Sunn Mere Dil last year. With thirty years devoted to showbiz in some form or other, here is a professional who is familiar with the inner workings of the entertainment industry – and with that familiarity comes a strict personal code of ethics. Giving personal examples of the respect he has for his coworkers, Ahmed continued, "I don't think anybody can truthfully say that I have never been late to a set, nor have ever skipped a day of shooting, or left town and disappeared for days on end. I have tried my utmost to be professional and ethical." The Cake star swiftly pointed out, however, that his employers do not reciprocate or adhere to this same level of professional ethics – certainly not when money is involved. Having devoted decades to the industry and now being left with a bedrock of well-earned bitterness to show for it, Ahmed minced no words as he noted, "When it comes to payment schedules, other than the odd production house, I have never seen people being paid on time. A delay of three to four months is extremely normal." Backing up Jabbar's beggar analogy, the unimpressed actor continued, "You have to pretty much clasp your hands together and beg them to pay you. Then they dispense a cheque your way, all the while giving the impression that they are doing you a massive favour, just because they have deigned to pay you. In every project, I feel their aim is to make actors beg for money. It destroys your dignity." Shining a harsh light on the very real need for timely payments in an increasingly difficult financial climate rife with bills and inflation, Ahmed took issue with the ideal notion that an artist's work is above money. "Money is everyone's biggest need," stressed the actor as though pointing out the obvious. "Especially for those people who have no form of income other than showbiz. A production house will make you do a 15 – to 20-hour shoot, but when it comes to giving you a cheque, they either refuse to pick the phone or give you a ridiculous reason for not doing so." For Ahmed, there is only one silver lining in this dire state of affairs: the fact that he is no longer alone in calling out production houses. "Thank you, Mehreen, for saying what you did," he said, a note of warmth entering his voice. "I'm glad that people have started speaking up." Rising dissent If Ahmed sought comfort in Jabbar's slam-dunk takedown of production houses, actor Faizan Khawaja in turn found solace in Ahmed's no-holds-barred summation of the entertainment industry. The Dulhan actor has been absent from screens in recent years, and he propped up Ahmed's scathing verdict in an Instagram Story to explain just why. As a bonus, Khwaja also used Ahmed's words as an eye-opener as to why we are now witnessing an increasing number of news stories of actors spending their last years in poverty. "To all those people who aren't in the media who keep asking me why actors die alone and poor, here is your answer," began Khwaja. "Finally someone had the guts to call them out publicly. And to all those people who keep messaging me saying, 'Why have you stopped working? Why don't you appear on TV?' Well, honestly, some of us don't have the patience to endure such bull**** treatment." With both Jabbar and Ahmed having painted a picture of actors begging for money (a picture that those who have spoken up insist is accurate), Khwaja added that he would rather walk away from a career on camera than sacrifice his self respect. "I'd rather not act than beg for my dues and give another human to flex his managerial position on me," he finished. Khawaja, Ahmed and Jabbar are only the most recent actors calling out the entertainment industry's financial abuse. Last year, Dunyapur stars Khushhal Khan, Ramsha Khan also took to either an interview or Instagram to slam the lack of ethics displayed by production houses. "It's disrespectful not to pay on time because we're there on time," Khushhal had stressed in an interview with the BBC Asian Network last year, a comment that was subconsciously echoed in Ahmed's latest video. "We're giving 110 per cent every single day. The least we expect is to be paid on time." In the same interview, Ramsha added that being financially compensated was a necessity. "I have to pay my bills, man," she had remarked. Unlike Ahmed and his commitment to appearing on set, however, Ramsha illustrated that she had hit upon the perfect solution. "You either clear my cheque or I'm not coming on set," she had noted. Can there be a shift in the way an actor's rights are respected? Will production houses ever be held accountable? Jabbar had bluntly commented that she had witnessed no change in her thirty years in the industry. But perhaps now, with veterans and newcomers alike raising their voices, artists could be closer to a change today than they were thirty years ago.
Shafaq News
12-07-2025
- Business
- Shafaq News
Dream deferred: Soaring costs drive Iraqi exodus from Turkiye
Shafaq News Hanine Jabbar packed her bags and took one last look at the street she had lived on in Turkiye before deciding to return to Iraq. Living quietly in Istanbul since 2015, Jabbar cited soaring living expenses as the reason behind her departure. 'The situation in Turkiye has changed. Securing residency, paying rent, and finding adequate housing have become increasingly difficult,' she explained to Shafaq News. 'The financial situation is unbearable. What we earn no longer covers basic needs,' she continued. 'The cost of living in Turkiye is now comparable to Dubai, but without the same level of services.' Jabbar's account reflects a broader reality. According to data from the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK), consumer prices in Turkiye increased by 71.6% year-on-year as of June 2025. The inflation rate had peaked at over 85% in late 2022 before stabilizing, but prices of essentials—particularly food, housing, and transportation—remain substantially higher than pre-2020 levels. According to a May 2025 report by the Turkish Union of Chambers of Tradesmen and Craftsmen, average residential rents in major Turkish cities have surged by more than 140% over the past two years, outpacing wage growth and deepening the cost-of-living crisis for both citizens and foreigners. In 2023, thousands of Iraqis who had spent years in Turkiye began returning home due to mounting difficulties in obtaining or renewing residency permits—despite owning property or running businesses. The trend continues. Official data from Turkiye's Presidency of Migration Management shows that over 17,800 Iraqi nationals left Turkiye voluntarily in 2023, many of them citing economic hardship and bureaucratic hurdles. Stalled Progress Tamara Faiq, who lived in Turkiye for six years, explained she was unable to achieve her goals and chose instead to immigrate to the United States. 'In the US, one can study, work, and eventually get citizenship. In Turkiye, there is no path for immigrants to advance. Time passes without progress,' she reflected. Faiq pointed to additional obstacles beyond living costs, including delays or denials in issuing residency permits. 'Many Iraqis spent years trying to secure legal residency in Turkiye, but most applications were rejected. The approval rate now is around 1%." Her experience aligns with legal reports indicating that by mid-2024, Turkiye rejected approximately 98.7% of residency renewal applications submitted by Iraqi nationals, particularly in cities like Istanbul, Ankara, and Antalya. Analysts point to policy changes aimed at limiting foreign residency, especially in regions classified as 'saturated.' Economic Strain Iraqi journalist Mustafa al-Wasiti, who works in Ankara as a correspondent for an Iraqi TV channel, recounted that his $1,500 monthly income was sufficient in his first year but no longer covers expenses. 'I worked for several media outlets just to cover rent, utility bills, and communication costs,' he noted. 'The apartment I once rented for $200 now costs $500. Financially, it's become extremely difficult.' Al-Wasiti, tied to his job and accustomed to life in Turkiye, indicated that returning to Iraq is not an option. 'The amount I earn would be considered high in Iraq but is barely enough to survive here.' He estimated that only a small number of Iraqis remain in Turkiye, most of them unable to leave and exploring other options such as immigration to the US. Mazطn al-Maamouri, another Iraqi resident, shared that he used to get a monthly remittance of $700 to $800 from Iraq, which was once sufficient. 'Early this year, workers received wage increases, but prices rose even more. Rent, public transport, and food costs all surged—prompting many Iraqi families to return home,' he remarked. Tightened Rules Turkish economist Jalal al-Bakkar attributed the Iraqi exodus to stricter rules on tourist and property-based residency. 'Authorities imposed new financial conditions on property-related residency permits and placed tighter controls on tourist visas. This pushed out long-time residents,' he observed. He added that the Turkish Lira's depreciation further raised costs. 'Iraqis were the top foreign buyers of real estate in Turkiye until 2023, but now property ownership no longer guarantees residency—putting their status at risk.' According to the Turkish Statistical Institute, Iraqis purchased more than 10,000 properties annually between 2018 and 2022, making them the top foreign investors in the Turkish housing market. However, property-based residency rules were amended in early 2023, requiring higher property values and longer holding periods to qualify for legal status. Turkiye's economy has been hit by a series of crises, Bakkar outlined, including the 2023 earthquake, national elections, and global inflation. 'The Russian-Ukrainian war drove up prices of essential goods. Turkiye relies on Russian gas and has economic ties with Ukraine. All of this has weighed heavily on the Turkish economy,' he explained. The 2023 earthquake in southern Turkiye caused economic damage exceeding $34 billion, according to World Bank estimates, straining public resources and prompting the government to tighten social spending and migration controls. Over the past two decades, conflict and instability forced thousands of Iraqis to seek safety in neighboring countries, with Turkiye becoming a major destination. But rising costs and tighter regulations have driven many to return—while others wait, hoping for a chance to resettle in Europe. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), more than 11,000 Iraqis currently residing in Turkiye are actively seeking asylum in Europe, with Germany, Sweden, and the Netherlands being the most sought-after destinations.
Express Tribune
12-07-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Bodies of nine slain passengers sent home
Mourners in Multan carry the coffin of a victim of the latest terrorist carnage in Balochistan to graveyard. PHOTO: ONLINE Listen to article The bodies of nine passengers martyred in a terrorist attack in the Sardhaka area overnight were sent to their hometowns in Punjab for burial on Friday, as the provincial government expanded the scope of law-enforcement agencies (LEAs) to launch decisive actions against the perpetrators. Those slaughtered in the late-night terrorist attack belonged to the Lahore, Gujrat, Khanewal, Gujranwala, Lodhran, Dera Ghazi Khan, Muzaffargarh, and Attock districts. They included two brothers Jabbar and Usman from Dunyapur. Balochistan government spokesperson Shahid Rind said that Fitna al Hindustan, a term used for Indian-backed terrorist organisations in Balochistan, had carried out attacks at three different places. The terrorist attack occurred near the boundary between the Zhob and Loralai districts. The bodies were brought to Zhob, where they were received by Deputy Commissioner Usman Khalid and Border Military Police Commandant Asad Khan Chandia. The victims, who were travelling from Quetta to Lahore, were identified as Muhammad Irfan, Dera Ghazi Khan; Sabir Hussain, Gujranwala; Muhammad Asif, Chowk Qureshi; Ghulam Saeed, Khanewal; Muhammad Junaid, Lahore; Muhammad Bilal, Attock; Bilawal, Gujrat and Jabbar and Usman, Dunyapur. The funeral prayers for brothers Jabbar Toor and Usman Toor were held at Government Boys High School, Dunyapur in the Lodhran district. Relatives said that the victims were traveling to attend the funeral of their father. Meanwhile, Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti ordered the law-enforcement agencies to launch an immediate and decisive action against those involved in the Sardhaka massacre, authorising them to act beyond the "usual limits of the levies and police jurisdictions, if required". The chief minister chaired a security meeting in the provincial capital to review the law and order situation in the province, and received a briefing from the Balochistan inspector general of police on the Sardhaka incident and the updates on the ongoing investigation and security operations in the area. "The pursuit of these terrorists will continue until they are brought to justice. There will be no compromise on enforcing the law in Balochistan," the chief minister said, adding that security forces have been authorised to act beyond the usual limits of levies and police jurisdictions. 'Barbaric act' President Asif Ali Zardari described the killing of passengers as a "barbaric act" and said that it was part of Fitna al-Hindustan's broader conspiracy to destabilise Pakistan. He reaffirmed the state's commitment to purge the country of Fitna al-Hindustan and their facilitators at all costs. Similarly, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned Sardhaka massacre, terming it "blatant terrorism". He asserted that the perpetrators would be dealt with through full state force. "The blood of innocent people will be avenged," he said, blaming India for supporting such acts against unarmed civilians. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi denounced the killings as "cowardly barbarism" by "Indian?sponsored terrorists and their local facilitators", vowing nationwide pursuit and punishment of the perpetrators. He reaffirmed the state's commitment to thwart all plots against national peace and integrity. (WITH INPUT FROM APP)
Hypebeast
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hypebeast
Willy Chavarria x adidas Originals Double Back for a Second SS25 Drop
Summary Following the unveiling of yet another captivating new collaborative endeavor on theParis Fashion Weekrunway just under two weeks ago,Willy Chavarriaandadidas Originalsare back with another innovative and highly intentional new release. The pair (who continues to reign supreme as one of contemporary high fashion's favorite collaborative units) first presented the initial installment of its Spring/Summer 2025 collaboration back in May: an assortment of apparel, accessories and footwear that reveled in South Central Los Angeles' Chicano heritage. Today, the duo lifted the veil on the second part of the seasonal collection, which graciously expands upon the groundwork laid in the original ready-to-wear range. On the footwear front, adidas dips back into the archives to revive theadidas Jabbarsneaker – the silhouette created specifically for Kareem Abdul Jabbar in 1978. Chavarria's fine lines mesh effortlessly with the Three Stripes across the rest of the revived Jabbar apparel line, which includes co-branded athleticwear, including track jacketing and wide-legged track pants, heavyweight hoodies, and other loose-fitting silhouettes. Fresh silhouettes designed by Chavarria and adidas span a basketball jersey, gym shorts, and another tracksuit. Explore the second installment of the Willy Chavarria x adidas Originals Spring/Summer 2025 collection in the lookbook above and expect the range to drop at bothadidasandWilly Chavarria's official webstores on Thursday, July 10 at 10 a.m. EST.
