A new year, a new beginning; but not really. We may have ranted endlessly about how disastrous 2020 had been and may have cheered that the year was finally ending, but even then we knew that our troubles wouldn’t just magically disappear on the 1st of January. We’re still living in the midst of a pandemic, the economy is still crumbling, mortality rates are at a high and our spirits still oscillate between spurts of hope and utter despair.
2020 was a sad year, and we continue to live in sad times. And one of the most dark indications of this, on the 31st of December, was when actresses and sisters Aiman Khan and Minal Khan’s father passed away. Both girls are two of Pakistan’s most popular stars and yet, they’re very young, with even younger siblings. It was tragic that on the day which is usually marked by revelry and celebration, their family was in pain.
On the brighter side, many of Pakistan’s most famous celebrated the end of 2020 and the onset of the new year in their own distinctive ways. Here’s an overview of some of the most interesting New Year posts on social media …
Newly-weds Sana Javed and Umair Jaswal rang in the new year in Dubai …
Saba Qamar sipped her tea, looking out on to the setting winter sun …
… and Saba’s co-star in upcoming web-series, actor Naumaan Ijaz, simply ate it!
Momal Sheikh and family had an open-air barbecue with dad Javed Sheikh playing chef …
Sonya Hussyn continued on with her U.S. holiday, celebrating with some fireworks …
And apparently, log fires were the rage! Feroze Khan had one and so did Ameer Gilani …
Wajahat Rauf and Shazia Wajahat were their usual cool selves, having an impromptu concert in their basement with some famous people …
Frieha Altaf went to one, two, three, four New Year’s eve parties …
… and Shahzad Roy pondered over the fireworks that went on and on and on!
My favorite celebrity post from New Year’s eve was by Ameer Gilani, because the travails of the past year have made us appreciate the people around us so much more …
Oh, and here’s a public service message, courtesy Ahmed Ali Butt!
Meanwhile, in other parts of Pakistan …
Pakistan, always livin’ la vida loca! Happy new year, everyone – let’s hope it really is truly happy.
What do you think?