Jovago brings Black Friday to the Pakistani Hotel Industry

Pakistan is in for a big treat this November. This is the first time ever  any hotel booking portal is bringing such an offer to Pakistan, and at the perfect time. There is a range of hotels to chose from because Jovago has an inventory of over 2000 hotels in more than 150 cities of Pakistan.

On the last Friday of November, that falls on the 27th, Jovago is coming with the best ever deals for its customers. We are talking about discounts of up to 50%! This is a 24 hour long sale, so you have to be on your toes if you don’t want to miss this remarkable opportunity. As winter is coming and people will most likely be travelling to northern areas of Pakistan, Jovago has come up with discounts on the best hotels from the north, including Movenpick Hotel in Murree. This means that you can book your hotels at half the original price. The hotel vouchers can easily be reserved online through Jovago’s App or website. The vouchers will be valid for the next four days.

No one expected this coming, right. We all love traveling and amazing sales like this one. So, be prepared to get a hand on this offer. Plan a weekend getaway, and a small trip at an affordable price, thanks to Jovago!

Fun Facts about Balochistan

Balochistan translates to ‘the land of the Baloch’, in many regional languages.The country is dominated by natural resources, especially its natural gas fields which supply natural gas to the entire country.Balochistan is Pakistan’s biggest province in terms of its area, covering 44% of Pakistan (134,050 square miles).

The camel is the provincial animal of Balochistan.A vast variety of languages are spoken in Balochistan, ranging from Makrani, Rukhshani, Sulemani, Pashto, Brahui, Lasi, Urdu, Punjabi, Hazargi,Sindhi, Saraiki, Dehvari, Dari, Tajik, Hindko, Uzbik, and Hindki.

The climate of Balochistan is very extreme. The highest temperature recorded was 53 degrees in Sibi in 2010.
The Gwadar Port is located in Balochistan and is an operator for the China Overseas Port Holding Company.The Sulaiman Mountains are the southern extension of the Hindu Khush Range.In Balochistan its highest peak is Zarghun Ghar at 3,578 meters (11,739 ft.)

Sneak Preview : Delicacies of Balochistan

Sajji
Sajji is a Balochi specialty, where a whole lamb or chicken is roasted on coals after being marinated in salt and green papaya paste.

Kaak
Kaak is made from flattened dough, which is heated until the shell hardens and becomes crispy.

Dampkhut
Meat is sealed in containers, left over a low flame to cook slowly in its juices and bone marrow. Dampkhut is a cooking technique that dates back to over 200 years!

Khaddi Kabbab
A whole lamb or goat is stuffed with rice, and cooked over a fire. The rice is cooked by the fats of the lamb, and enjoyed.

Kehwa
A soothing green tea, usually served with breakfast.

Explore Balochistan to know what you are missing in life!

ACCA conducts ‘popcorn Search Challenge’ in schools

The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants has been conducting a business game called the ‘Popcorn Search Challenge’ at leading matriculation, intermediate, O and A Level schools of Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad in the months of October and November.

Some of the schools which participated in the business game include Beaconhouse School System, The City School, The International School of Choueifat, Forman Christian College (FCC), SICAS etcetera.

The purpose of the ACCA Popcorn Search is to provide a platform to the student body of Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad where they can explore business ideas and develop their skills in entrepreneurship.

The challenge entails developing an Income Statement and this helps young students gain an insight into a career in accounting.
The business decisions taken by the students have a financial impact on their company – just as the business decisions accountants make.

The national final of the ‘Popcorn Search Challenge’ will be conducted in Lahore on November 26, 2015.

Tips to relax while on a Vacation

Here is how one can have a relaxing vacation :-

Choosing the perfect destination

When selecting a destination, think about the perfect place where you can relax, and the rest of the family can remained entertained without you constantly needing to be there. A beach, a mountainous region, an escape from reality!

2. Make sure it’s affordable

Do not bust your budget while trying to create the perfect holiday.Travel within Pakistan, and Jovago Pakistan will help you find the ideal package that is affordable yet luxurious!

3. Take time out for yourself

Upon arrival,  promise to take out some time for yourself everyday. Go for a walk, find a quiet spot and read a book, or enjoy and appreciate your surroundings and yourself!

4. Spend time with the people who matter

When on a vacation, spend time with the people who cherish you and who you cherish the most! Create everlasting memories that will nurture your relationship forever strengthening it.

5. Go with the flow

Nothing will go as planned if you create a tight schedule with no room for spontaneity. Savor each moment and do not aim to do too much in one day!

6. Nourish and Recharge your body

Be sure to indulge in delicious food and endless hours of sleep, recharging your body and preparing it for the adventures that lie ahead!

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The Borders of PakistanThe Borders of Pakistan

Pakistan is situated in the Middle East, and is positioned in both the eastern and northern hemispheres. It shares its borders with the Arabian Sea, Iran, Afghanistan, India and China! Its borders cover a distance of about 6,975 km in length – excluding the coastal areas! They stretch from the south to the mountain ranges in the north, with peaks as high as K2 at 28,251 feet!

The following paragraphs cover a few interesting facts about the neighboring countries and seas of Pakistan!

Pakistan and China 
The Karakoram Highway, also known as the Eighth Wonder of the World, lies on the border between Pakistan and China. It connects Sinkiang Uighur of China and Gilgit–Baltistan of Pakistan and is one of the highest paved international roads in the world.The border is 523 kilometers long and is situated in the northeast of Pakistan. The famous Sino-Pakistan Agreement made the border between the two countries official, andwas passed in 1963.

Pakistan and India
On August 17, 1947 the 2,912 kilometers long border between Pakistan and India on the west was made official. It was known as The Radcliffe Line named after its founder Sir Cyril Radcliffe.One of the significant places for both countries on the border is Wagah. It is the village from which the Radcliffe line was drawn separating India and Pakistan and is the only road border crossing between them. Every evening ‘the lowering of the flags’ ceremonyis conducted there and people from both the nations bare witness to it.

Pakistan and the Arabian Sea
The coastline of the Arabian Sea which covers 1,046-kilometreslies on the south of Pakistan.The Indus River and its tributaries flow into the Arabian Sea serving as an instrumental route between Pakistan and other countries for conducting trade.

Pakistan and Iran
The border between Pakistan and Iran is located on the west side, and is known as the Pakistan-Iran Barrier.It is 909 kilometers long and a 700 km concrete wall that is, three feet wide and 10 feet high has been built to stop the flow of illegal border crossings.

Pakistan and Afghanistan
The border between Pakistan and Afghanistan formally known as the Durand Line is located on the west of Pakistan. The Durand Line is named after Sir Mortimer Durand, who was the foreign secretary of the British India. The border is 2,430 kilometers long, and was established in November 1893 after an agreement between Afghanistan and the British Empire.

Explore the city of Bahawalpur

Bahawalpur is one of the major cities in Punjab. It is the capital ofBahawalpur district and the 13th most populous city of Pakistan. Bahawalpurhas a royal history, and is now a much developed metropolitan city. It can be considered as a mega city in terms of real estate, parks, markets and institutions.

The city is situated near the prehistoric and ancient cities of Uch andHarappa, which were once a domination of the Delhi Sultanate and Indus Valley Civilization. As Bahawalpur has been home to most of the kings and nawabs, it is a vital attraction for tourists and history lovers. These kings built palaces for themselves which are a basis of tourist attraction.

Bahawalpur is well-known for its legendary carpets, embroidery and pottery. The Punjab government has given notice to such amazing hand work and has set up a Craft Development Centre from where handicrafts can be purchased. Some of souvenirs manufactured in Bahawalpur are Flassi, Gindi, Changaries, Khalti and more.

Jovago’s Top 3

Noor Mahal
The Noor Mahal is abeautiful palace in Bahawalpur which was owned by the Nawab of Bahawalpur. The palace was created by NawabSadiq Muhammad Khan (IV) who was passionate about constructing spectacular buildings. Most of the palace’s raw materials were imported from England and Italy and was furnished with top quality foreign gears. The palace was complete in 1875.

It has 32 rooms altogether. The interior of the palace is an incorporation of Islamic and sub continental styles. The building was acknowledged a “restricted monument” in September 2001 by the Government of Pakistan’s, Department of Archeology, but it is now one of the main attractions for anyone wanting to visit.

Derawar fortDerawar Fort is a large square fortress in Bahawalpur located in Cholistan desert. Built by a Hindu Rajput, Raj JajjaBhatti, the fort has a majestic sight that one cannot miss if visiting Bhawalpur.It was. However, the fort has been depreciating over the years, and needs instant repair if not renovation.

Bahawal StadiumThe Bahawal Stadium is a very famous cricket ground in Bahawalpur. It is the second largest stadium in Asia in terms of area.This ground is used for many other sports, cricket being the core. The stadium has a capacity of 15,000 spectators. The first test match in Pakistan was held at the Bahawal stadium while the second test match held here was between India and Pakistan, a news that still excites the people of both nations.

TIPS

Restaurants
Bahawalpur has a rich culture of dining out. There is a range of cuisines and restaurants be it 5 star to roadside cafes. Names like Four seasons, Kebabish grill, The Grand regency are a must try! To complete the dining experience, the city has a wide variety of desert shops.

Shopping
A number of shopping centers are under construction in Bahawalpur. Shahi Bazaar, Machli Bazaar, Farid Gate and The Mall are the main shopping markets. Apart from that, major shopping malls, which are highly in trend, include Bobby Plaza, Takbeer Shopping Mall, Time and Prince.

Hotels
Bahawalpur is host to many hotels that are a good choice for accommodation. There are 5 star hotelspresent including Pearl Continental. Other than that, there is a list of reasonable hotels that are perfect for planning a low budget trip to the city. You can check this list at Jovago’s website with further deals and great offers.

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Karachi: Live on Snapchat

5^thNovember, 2015, the day that gained immense highlights. This is the day when the city Karachi went live on Snapchat. Pakistanis, especially Karachiites, were in extreme delight as Karachi made it to Snapchat’s live story. Karachiites were informed a day before about this news through snapchat and it was something no one could wait for.

Snapchat aims to showcase insights from different cities around the world that come from the very own residents of that particular city. Just like every other city, Karachi gained much popularity through Snapchat’s initiative.

The story was all about things that perfectly define Karachi. The sun shining bright early in the morning, the beauty of the Arabian Sea, the famous monuments like Frere Hall and our founder’s tomb,traditional food and the very special ‘chai’ are some of the various highlights of the story. It proved to the people around the world that Karachi iscertainly ‘the city of lights’.

As much as we enjoy visiting other cities from all over the world virtually(thanks to Snapchat), we are sure the rest of the world had a great virtual tour of our beautiful.The Karachiites participated actively in sending in their stories to be featured on the live story. Snapchat could not feature each one of them for apparent reasons but we hope thatSnapchat comes back to our country and the world gets to explore the truer Pakistan.

Social media is a key part of today’s era and absolutely anything can be conveniently passed on for the rest of the world to see. We should get inspirations from Snapchat’s initiative that wants to promote the goodness of the world. As Pakistanis, we must take the responsibility of representing the bright side of our country and be optimistic about it.

How to Stay Motivated at Work

Jovago has come up with a list of things to do which can help you stay motivated at work:

1. Exercise before you work!Exercising before you work activates your neurons and is the perfect alarm. Wake up half an hour early, and perform a short work out routine. Whether its yoga, lifting or cardio, push yourself and get your body moving!

2. Create a to-do list for the dayCreate your list upon arrival and continue adding tasks that can be both related to work and unrelated. Physically writing your goals helps increase the responsibility felt to complete them on time!

3. Plan to have frequent meeting with your mentorHaving a mentor who supervises you and updates you on your progress and areas that can be improved is truly empowering. It helps to establish a relationship with them, and helps you understand your workplace and what is expected of you!

3. Take 10 minutes off, for every 50 minutes you workThe key to maximizing your hours at work is to take as many breaks as possible! Short breaks can be set aside for a walk, a powernap, and a time to write or eat. These breaks can be viewed as rewards for completing your work on time!

5. Build a relationship with a reliable colleague Getting to know your colleagues is essential. Grab lunch or go for coffee with them after work! This will help you stay motivated during your working hours, as surrounding yourself with like-minded individuals is a great form of inspiration.

5. Set goals, and celebrate your milestones!Setting short-term and long-term goals about your career path and future aims helps you to map out your personal road to success. Once achieved, celebrate your winnings and accept any moments of failure as points of learning along the way.

5. Sleep wellAfter a long day, it is important to energize yourself. Sleep early, or take a nap after work. Help to maintain a balance so you do not over work yourself.

Finally, do not forget to utilize your leaves and plan a trip to Murree to ease your hectic routine and continue working with full vigor.