HUM Network organized a Mehfil-e-Milad recently, at Pearl Continental Hotel, Karachi, to celebrate Eid Milad-un-Nabi – an event that provided an opportunity to the women employees as well as families and friends, to come together in an atmosphere of unity and devotion to strengthen their spiritual connections and honour the teaching of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

The venue was thoughtfully decorated, featuring a beautifully adorned stage with elegant floral arrangements, where women naat-khawans, dressed in traditional attire, recited naats that impacted the audience with their beautiful and soulful rendering. The event began with a warm welcome by HUM Masala hosts Kiran Khan and Abeel Khan, who highlighted the significance of Eid Milad-un-Nabi—not only as a celebration of the Prophet’s birth but also as a reminder to embody his values of compassion, kindness, and justice in our daily lives.

The Mehfil featured inspiring naat recitations by Tahreem Muneeba, Talat Hashmi, Bushra Ansari, Samina Kamal, Maha Aslam, Sandiya, and Ayat Sheikh. A thoughtful bayan delivered by Khushbakht Shujaat encouraged attendees to strengthen their spiritual connection through reciting durood and seek Allah’s blessings through prayer and reflection.

The event was graced by Sultana Siddiqui, President, HUM Network, along with artists and media personalities such as Nosheen Shah, Sidra Iqbal, Nadia Hussain, Ghazal Siddiq, Amna Ilyas, Fauzia Aman, Masarrat Misbah, Irum Tanveer Odho, Saba Ansari, Angie Marshall and Seemi Pasha.

HUM Masala chefs Shireen Anwar, Rida Aftab, and Samina Jaleel were also present. The event concluded with a heartfelt dua led by Talat Hashmi, followed by a high tea that provided an opportunity for discussion and conversation.

When the fashion runway is used to promote a noble cause, the latter elevates its status to something above and beyond a fashion platform — it becomes symbolic and a harbinger of positivity and change. Runway SS’25 show held in Karachi focused on this noble cause.

A fashion segment highlighting the sartorial designs of unisex designer Zubair Shah and his all-white puritanical collection with its avant-garde design sensibilities, was elevated when he joined forces with the iconic Masarrat Misbah’s Depilex Smile Again Foundation to put the spotlight on acid burn survivors and their path to recovery overcoming personal challenges, familial constraints and social taboos. They stood tall as spokespersons for the DSF as ambassadors for their cause, to a standing ovation.

While the night belonged to the DSF survivors, others also made their mark with their contributions to the fashion. Bridal couturiers were aplenty with Mahi’s, Ramsha Iqbal, K. Yousuf and Lubna Mudassir all carving their niche on the fashion runway. While their sensibilities varied, what united them was their expression in design, eye for colours and choice of embellishments, and experimentation with newer trends in cuts and silhouettes.

In another distinctly iconic moment, actress and host Nadia Khan’s daughter Alizeh made her debut as a fashion model on the Runway SS’25 ramp for debutant bridal designer Ramsha Bilal. But they were not alone in their declaration that night as fashion students of the Millennium Institute of Technology and Entrepreneurship (MITE), budding young designers displayed their full potential in brilliantly sculptured costumes on sociopolitical themes brinking on the bizarre and outlandishly insane.

Sheema Kermani performing to an exclusive recording of Faiz Ahmed Faiz’s Dasht-e-Tanhai was the piece de resistance when it comes to dance performances, with the dance troupe of the trio of Naina Black, Yoshua Hussain and Shehzore Akhtar coming in a very close second with their performance to Khamaj by Shafqat Amanat Ali. Singer Syed Hasaan gave his vocal performance after the dance.

Walking away after the event suddenly made one hit the realisation that fashion outing was spiritually wholesome and uplifting, irrespective of the minor glitches.

The show had a double runway, giving a unique look, though one has to train the audience to sit and not move about during the models’ catwalk. Though there were minor glitches, the effort put in by the organisers was obvious and very commendable.

A beautiful and unusual home, carefully designed to reflect the owner’s deepest inner feelings and vision of life, where every detail true harmony with nature; blending comfort, creativity, and the natural world into a existence.

1. Your home reflects a sense of careful planning and intentional design. Could you share what inspired that vision and how you brought it to life?
A: From the very beginning, we envisioned a home filled with light and openness. That’s why we designed a central courtyard with a ficus tree at its heart, surrounded by rooms on different levels so that every space felt connected yet private too. My husband, being a doctor, needed a study that was bright and uplifting, so we placed it alongside our master bedroom on one level, while the children’s rooms were on another. We also added a drawing room and guest room to ensure privacy for everyone, and later, a home theatre to bring the family together. Both of us love gardening, so we left ample space for a large garden and chose a maintenance-free pink stone for the exterior. Even after 30 years, it has required no work, which was a blessing. Our architects were very skilled — one was also an engineer — and they designed the house to be both strong and practical. Through decades of rain and weather, we’ve never had leaks, flooding, or major structural problems. Their thoughtful planning gave us a home that has stood beautifully and gracefully over time.

2. What are the other distinctive highlights of your home?
A: What I treasure most is how almost every room overlooks the garden. That connection to greenery makes the house feel alive. The garden itself is not manicured in the traditional sense; it has a natural, slightly wild quality that we deliberately maintain. Over the years, the trees we planted have grown tall and majestic, becoming more striking than the house itself. There’s one tree in particular. it was only a few hundred rupees when we bought it, that has grown into something truly remarkable, standing proudly in front of the house. Later, we added a treehouse, which has become a highlight for our grandchildren, but the trees remain the real soul of the place. Along with the courtyard, the natural light that filters through the rooms, and the way every corner of the house has a view of greenery, these features are what make our home distinctive and memorable.

3. Is there a particular space or feature in your home that gives you an extra sense of comfort, a spot you find yourself drawn to most often?
A: I find comfort in two spaces above all. The drawing room is one of them, because it looks directly onto the garden, and that view alone brings a sense of peace. The other is our bedroom, which we designed to meet our needs in every way. It’s more than just a place to sleep, it has bookshelves, a study area for my husband, a sofa, and a TV, so it becomes a place where we can work, read, and relax together. The comfort of the bedroom lies not only in its design but also in the way it reflects our daily life and routines. These two spaces, one for quiet reflection and one for shared comfort, are the parts of the house I value most.

4. Homes often hold little stories within their walls. Are there any special moments that make this house especially meaningful for you?
A: This house has witnessed some of the happiest moments in my life. Both of my children were married here, and now my grandchildren live and play here, filling the space with laughter and joy. That alone makes the home deeply special to me. I also cherish the fact that my mother and my in-laws were able to spend time here during their lives. They came from Lahore and other places, and seeing them enjoy this house gave me immense happiness. In many ways, the house became a gathering place for family across generations, and that has added to its meaning. Of course, life always comes with trials, but this house has carried us through both joyous occasions and difficult times, holding those memories within its walls.

5. The treehouse has a creative almost magical touch. What inspired you to bring that idea to life in your home?
A: We had always loved the idea of a treehouse, but we couldn’t manage to build one when our children were small. When the grandchildren came along, it became a dream we wanted to fulfill for them. For nearly a decade, we searched for the right person to build one the way we had imagined, not plastic or fiberglass, but something natural and authentic. Eventually, we found a young architect from Karachi who worked with bamboo. He had designed schools and community buildings in Sindh using this material, and we felt he was the right person. With a team of Bangladeshi craftsmen skilled in bamboo, he built the treehouse with great care and artistry. It’s now been standing for about three years, and it feels like a magical extension of the garden — a place of wonder for the children, and a reminder of how long-held dreams can come true.

6. Is there any specific incident, or memory, with this house?
A: One memory that has stayed with me involves the sculptor Shahid Sajjad Sahib, who once visited our home. I admired his work and told him it was beautiful but beyond my budget. He looked at the tree outside and said, “What could be more beautiful than this? You don’t need my art when you already have such beauty in your own garden.” His words struck me deeply. That tree had grown with us, becoming a part of the house’s identity, and he made me realize how priceless it really was. It was a reminder that nature itself can be the greatest work of art, and that perspective has stayed with me ever since.

7. Managing and maintaining a house of this size can’t be easy. What kind of challenges do you face in its upkeep, and how do you and your family work together to handle them?
A: Like any household, we face our share of challenges, but we are fortunate to have a reliable and long-serving staff, many of whom have been with us for years. Their presence makes the day-to-day running of the house much smoother. Because of our area, the exterior stone requires occasional polishing, but otherwise, the interiors remain well maintained. Our lifestyle also helps keep everything in balance. My husband and I start our day early, waking before dawn to pray and then play golf, returning home by 7:30 a.m. — just as the staff begins their work. By mid-morning, most of the household tasks are completed, and the house is in order. This rhythm keeps life simple and organized, and instead of feeling burdened by the size of the home, we find peace in the way everything flows together.

8. Every home has its own charm, but attachment runs deeper than design. If you were offered another beautiful house, would you be open to moving?

A: Like anyone, I would prefer not to leave my home, but I’ve always believed that a house is ultimately made of walls and bricks — it is the people inside who give it life. When we returned from America, friends told me I would miss my house there, but I reminded them that my family was with me, and that is what mattered most. That being said, this house does hold a deep emotional connection. My children grew up here, and my son in particular feels so attached that he refuses the idea of moving anywhere else. For him, this space is irreplaceable. I share his sentiment — as long as it is God’s will, I would like to stay here. For me, the house is more than just shelter; it is a vessel of memories, love, and family history, and that is what makes it priceless.