It’s yet another gloomy morning. I’ve had a hearty breakfast. I’m now listening to The Current on CBC Radio, sipping on the remaining coffee. Another day, another COVID story. I look out the window; the mist is blurring out the trees in Queens Park. An older man narrates his battle with COVID. He’s South Asian. […]
I just noticed that after recognizing global Forbes 30 under 30, they’ve gone regional with Forbes 30 under 30 “Asia”. I’m sure “Pakistan” is next, followed by a “Lahore” version, followed closely by “DHA”, “LUMS”, “Aitchison”, and “Youth” chapters. In other words, Forbes has created a gift that keeps giving, keeps validating. Originally posted here.
That’s what Nanabu (maternal grandfather) would have said to me if he was still here. In fact, had I stepped in wearing headphones, he would have been even more direct: “Aye ki kannan ich tootiyan laaiyan ne? Kudh enan nu.” (“What are these taps in your ears? Take them out.”) Taps, because in-ear headphones do […]
Around this time last year, we were operating The Charcoal Grill as a once-a-week delivery-only #restaurant. Orders grew WoW till early June. Then, all summer, it seemed like there was no more #COVID in Toronto. Restaurants and bars were allowed to reopen, and people thronged the beaches, pools, museums, and parks. Turns out, #fooddelivery in Toronto is an anti-cyclical business; […]
Folks who were relationship managers at banks in Pakistan ten years ago, move to Canada, get an MBA and join local banks as relationship managers. That’s the price of clean air, the blue passport, and good, public education for their kids. UPDATE: Please don’t consider this a snide remark against anyone in particular. I feel […]
Soon after I decided to run a restaurant (instead of another PM gig in tech), I got a call from a friend in San Francisco. I’m out of my mind, he said, and that this is the worst “financial decision” I could ever make! I agree, I said. It’s not a financial decision, it’s emotional. […]
Late last year, the Government of Pakistan launched the Roshan Digital Account (RDA). They’re meant to enable (and encourage) expats to send money to Pakistan legally. With those funds, you can transact locally (pay bills, send e-transfers, etc.), invest in the stock market, or purchase Naya Pakistan Certificates (NPC) and make up to 11% per […]
When we spoke in April last year, I told you I had left tech to join a restaurant, pivoted it online, and was now “finding our place in that (new) normal”. I was both new to the service industry, and to Toronto (and still am!). Three months later, you probably saw me on Business Insider […]
27th March, 11: 15pm. I called Zubair and Sabina: “We lost money in March again, and April is going to kill us. I’ve looked at our expenses — we need to dramatically cut costs and save cash.” The lockdown had already started in Toronto. Like every other business, we had shut down and were now isolated in […]
Waqt ki qaid mein zindagi hai magarChand ghadiyan yehi hain jo aazad hain Life is a prisoner in the grip of time,These are the only short moments that are free End of 2010, I had finished college, lost control of my startup chOpaal.pk, failed at starting another, ended a long relationship, and was ready to start […]