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    A Fashionista in Pakistan

    Written by: Zahra Rao
    Posted on: August 04, 2015 |

    Fashion Blogger Hassan Tariq

    “I have to look presentable, that’s it”, says Hassan Tariq, with a simple shrug of the shoulder.

    As I sit across him on a bean bag, I realize that my interviewee isn’t the sort of young man who would walk into a room and heads will turn, eyes will stare and all talk will cease. He is the kind of a young man who walks and talks with a certain sophistication that makes him a breath of fresh air.

    Hassan Tariq Fashion Bloge

    Hassan's feature for a fashion magazine, catering specially to men's Bridal fashion

    Born and bred in Islamabad, Hassan Tariq has always had a knack for fashion. He believes that having grown up watching his family celebrate and embrace fashion in their everyday lives, he too came to accept it as a natural part of his life. It was the simple, everyday acts like his grandfather stopping him to fix a slouching jumper he had on, or his mother matching and contrasting colors with great expertise, which instilled a passion for style in him. For his bachelors, Hassan graduated with an honors degree in Economics and minored in History from Queens University, Canada. The multicultural Canadian environment further inculcated an appreciation for diversity within Hassan.

    Following undergraduate studies, Hassan pursued work in the development sector, where he catered to social minorities in Canada. Upon his return to Pakistan, Hassan tried his hand at teaching, but came to settle down in advertisement, and is currently working as Associate Creative Manager at Synergy Advertising (Pvt.) Ltd. He is also pursuing an MBA along with his full-time job.

    Despite an established career, Hassan felt that he needed an outlet for his interest in fashion, which came about one summer eve, a year and a half ago. “I was sitting in my drawing room and I saw this post online, which contained some interesting pictures. I made a collage out of them and received great feedback when I uploaded it. That was when I thought, why not start my own page online, with regular posts about men’s fashion?” He created a logo, and named this creative space ‘Men with Panache’. Since then, Hassan has been managing this international blog, which has an overwhelming following of 23,900 on its more than 3,500 posts. He prides his blog for its outstanding quality; although work gets slower given his hectic routine, including his job and the MBA degree, he refuses to sacrifice quality for quantity.

    Hassan Tariq's blog post showcasing formal footwear by renowned designer

    Mr. Tariq's blog post showcasing formal footwear by renowned designer

    It was more recently that Hassan felt the need to start a blog that would cater to a more local audience. ‘Men with Panache Pakistan’ has a budding following, and the quality and variety of the published content shows great promise. Be it an upcoming local model clad in exquisitely colored traditional shalwar kameez, or a foreign icon rocking casual pants and a T-shirt, you will find it all on MWP Pakistan. Hassan’s attention to detail adds finesse to the project; in want of educating his audience, he regularly updates his blog with ongoing fashion events, many of which he himself has attended. Trending fashion designers with their new and hip collections have also found space in Hassan’s virtual world. The blog is quite refreshing as it shows the Pakistani male in a light quite different from what we are accustomed to seeing; the Pakistani man has been empowered with style and self-awareness, all while dressed in his traditional attire. My favorite post would have to be the one introducing handcrafted khussay by Mohsin Naveed Ranjha as “formal foot wear, fit for a king”, for it shows heartfelt appreciation for Pakistan’s talented male fashion industry. Not only does MWP Pakistan catapult Pakistani fashion into the next generation, but it also demonstrates that fashion need not be an alien concept for the masses.

    What is most inspiring about Hassan, though, is his optimistic take on men’s fashion within Pakistan. He describes Pakistan as a blooming country with great demographics and history, which, if leveraged, can really show Pakistan as a progressive, modern country. He believes that “we have the right tools; it’s just about having a vision and implementing it”. Having ancestral lines going back to both Arabs and Hindus, Hassan is very appreciative of Pakistan’s “beautiful, diverse gene pool”. “I think we need to play on that, and position ourselves in such a way that it brings out the best of us”, he says, his voice full of hope.

    Amidst negative stereotypes and generalizations against Pakistan in recent years, upcoming motivated youngsters like Hassan Tariq really do stand tall as a symbol of hope. We need only wait a little longer to see them push Pakistan into the age of tomorrow.


    As the new year begins, let us also start anew. I’m delighted to extend, on behalf of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and in my own name, new year’s greeting and sincere wishes to YOULIN magazine’s staff and readers.

    Only in hard times can courage and perseverance be manifested. Only with courage can we live to the fullest. 2020 was an extraordinary year. Confronted by the COVID-19 pandemic, China and Pakistan supported each other and took on the challenge in solidarity. The ironclad China-Pakistan friendship grew stronger as time went by. The China Pakistan Economic Corridor projects advanced steadily in difficult times, become a standard-bearer project of the Belt and Road Initiative in balancing pandemic prevention and project achievement. The handling capacity of the Gwadar Port has continued to rise and Afghanistan transit trade through the port has officially been launched. The Karakoram Highway Phase II upgrade project is fully open to traffic. The Lahore Orange Line project has been put into operation. The construction of Matiari-Lahore HVDC project was fully completed. A batch of green and clean energy projects, such as the Kohala and Azad Pattan hydropower plants have been substantially promoted. Development agreement for the Rashakai SEZ has been signed. The China-Pakistan Community of Shared Future has become closer and closer.

    Reviewing the past and looking to the future, we are confident to write a brilliant new chapter. The year 2021 is the 100th birthday of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan. The 100-year journey of CPC surges forward with great momentum and China-Pakistan relationship has flourished in the past 70 years. Standing at a new historic point, China is willing to work together with Pakistan to further implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, connect the CPEC cooperation with the vision of the “Naya Pakistan”, promote the long-term development of the China-Pakistan All-weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership with love, dedication and commitment. Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan said, “We are going through fire. The sunshine has yet to come.” Yes, Pakistan’s best days are ahead, China will stand with Pakistan firmly all the way.

    YOULIN magazine is dedicated to promoting cultural exchanges between China and Pakistan and is a window for Pakistani friends to learn about China, especially the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It is hoped that with the joint efforts of China and Pakistan, YOULIN can listen more to the voices of readers in China and Pakistan, better play its role as a bridge to promote more effectively people-to-people bond.

    Last but not least, I would like to wish all the staff and readers of YOULIN a warm and prosper year in 2021.

    Nong Rong Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
    The People’s Republic of China to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
    January 2021