KARACHI – Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai has joined American fashion brand Coach as part of its new storytelling platform, &Coach, which aims to promote authenticity, self-expression and cultural storytelling.

The initiative is part of the brand’s broader “Courage to Be Real” campaign, designed to engage younger audiences through collaborations with creatives, activists and influential cultural figures from around the world.

As one of the campaign’s featured voices, Malala highlighted issues of female empowerment and equal opportunities for young women. Images shared by the brand showed her alongside members of the Pakistan women’s national football team, drawing attention to the importance of creating spaces where girls can pursue their ambitions and interests.

The campaign centres on the message “Just Being Girls”, celebrating freedoms that many young women across the world continue to seek, including access to education, sports and public spaces.

Reflecting on the campaign in a social media post, Malala said the phrase represented the freedom and opportunity for girls to pursue what they love, whether through reading, sports or spending time with friends.

According to Coach, the &Coach platform is intended to foster deeper connections with audiences through storytelling and cultural engagement. The company said the initiative reflects a growing desire among younger generations to define their own identities rather than follow traditional ideas of success and aspiration.

The campaign also features several prominent figures from the worlds of entertainment and fashion, including Charli XCX, Avantika Vandanapu and PinkPantheress, alongside a number of emerging creative voices.

LAHORE – Pakistani YouTuber Rajab Butt has come under criticism on social media after sharing a video of a food distribution initiative organised during Muharram.

The digital creator, who commands millions of followers across YouTube, Instagram and TikTok, recently distributed around 1,000 burgers among underprivileged people as part of a Niaz arrangement. The burgers were sourced from a restaurant owned by social media personality Momin Saqib.

Videos shared online showed the food being packaged and distributed by Butt and his associates. The footage quickly attracted attention on social media, where users debated the nature and presentation of the initiative.

While some appreciated the charitable effort, many critics questioned whether the event was being used for promotional purposes. Several users argued that the money could have been directed towards other forms of welfare, including medical assistance for those in need.

Others suggested that the inclusion of a well-known restaurant and the extensive coverage of the activity gave the impression of a marketing campaign rather than a purely charitable undertaking.

A number of comments also criticised the public display of the initiative, with users debating whether acts of charity should be documented and shared on social media platforms.

The discussion has generated significant engagement online, adding to the list of controversies that have frequently surrounded the popular content creator. Rajab Butt has not publicly responded to the criticism at the time of writing.

KARACHI – Actor and singer Danyal Zafar is set to headline a new television drama following his ongoing performance in Zanjeerein, where he plays the role of Sarbuland Khan.

Zafar, who made his television debut with the Ramadan special Taana Bana, has since appeared in dramas including Stand Up Girl and Farrar. His portrayal in Zanjeerein has drawn positive responses from viewers, with fans closely following developments in the series and anticipating his next project.

According to reports, the actor will star opposite Komal Meer in an upcoming drama currently under production. Meer, known for her performances in a number of television projects, recently took on a more challenging role in Goonj, a drama inspired by real-life events.

The new serial is being filmed in Nathiagali and is written by Radain Shah and directed by Shahid Shafaat. The project marks another collaboration between the writer-director duo, whose previous work on Duniyapur received widespread attention.

The drama is tentatively titled Raqaas and is expected to air on Green Entertainment.

Further details regarding the plot and release date have yet to be announced.