recently, i took my amma to watch rang de basanti playing in michigan. we were probably the only two pakistanis there. but i can safely say, i wasn’t moved any less than any of the indians present. because emotion is universal. so is love for your land. and with the stark parallels between our two countries in terms of the issues we are faced with today, i could very effortlessly apply everything in that film, to pakistan. at the risk of sounding cheesy i will say, that as the tears rolled down my face in the last half hour of the film, i wanted nothing more but to go home. back to pakistan. back to karachi. where i hope to, very soon, make a concrete contribution in my own way.
after crash won the 2005 oscar for best film, oprah said that it is a movie every american should not just watch, but own. after you watch the film, which deals with the ever so pervasive issue of racial profiling in the U.S., you know exactly what she means by that statement. until a pakistani film maker takes on a project with the same vision as the creators of this film, i would suggest we make do with the indian version and watch it, if not own it. it does have it’s short comings in terms of certain aspects of the storyline (i don’t believe in the use of violence to solve problems), but i think someone out there needs to organize multiple rang de basanti shows in pakistan if that hasn’t been done already. really.

Being a dentist, was I in for a shock to see this new roundabout in the city of Karachi promoting a toothpaste. I feel commercialization is probably the easiest way to develop our nation but this seems to be taking it a bit too far.

The first comment that would naturally come to the mind of a dentist like myself, Yeah! that’s good for business BUT whats with the dab of toothpaste sticking out the end. It looked more like ‘Poop’ than any toothpaste, have a closer look at the picture and tell me what you think about this latest development by the creaitve minds of Touchme and the Minto brand. Creativity and common sense does not seem to go hand in hand with these people.

-but i have nothing to write these days.
every day i open the window, and look outside the window but other than the traffic jams and road repairs and new billboards and all the other things that already get mentioned- i am drawing a blank.
from past experience, its a sure sign that i need to go away somewhere, leave karachi behind for a few days…weeks…fall in love with it again and be dying to return.
what an erratic relationship.

I go to PC lobby every once in a while to study. The peaceful atmosphere in the mornings help me concentrate better. Today when I went there I found out that access to wireless internet is no more free. They charge Rs. 100 per hour. What a bummer! The only reason I went there was because I could use internet for my research. Now I need to find another place that opens 9 in the morning and has wireless internet facility. I will pay for the coffee but not the internet.

This picture depicts the Aalmi Mushaira at National Stadium yesterday night, where almost 40 poets (from here and abroad) gathered to tantalize the audience with their poetic creations.

For a complete report, go HERE.

This stalled truck at Kashif Center caused a congestion that stretched all the way to Nursery.

The World Social Forum 2006 begins in Karachi today. This is a fantastic opportunity for Karachiites to hear renown personalities such as Tariq Ali and Desmond Tutu speak, along with striving to make a difference. The one time registration fee for the event is Rs. 100 – for more details log on to WSF 2006 or head over to the venue:

Venue:
• Friday, March 24: City Sports Complex, Kashmir Road , Karachi
• March 25-29: KMC Sports Complex, Kashmir Road , P.E.C.H.S, Karachi

I was roaming around the city and its outskirts yesterday, when my brothers cell phone started showing this network availibility on the screen. When i checked mine, it too was out out of network signals for Ufone.

Can you guess the locations?
PS…this is not one of the standard “where in karachi” quizzes..!

23rd March was a national holiday to mark the Pakistan Day Celebrations, I happened to head over to the PAF Museum for just sightseeing. It seemed as if the entire Karachi had showed up. I present you a few pictures I took during the fun fair organized on the grounds of the PAF Museum

The creative mind of a few local Pakistanis Yasir Memon & Naveed – has created this nifty utility for those individuals in Pakistan stuck behind the Government supported censorship on our Internet

The way this service works is that you can simply go-to
http://www.pkblogs.com/blogname
where blogname is “blogname.blogspot.com”

Alternatively head on over to www.pkblogs.com – you get NO ads or any annoying pop-up to disturb your surfing experience, the service converts all inside and outside links

Continue to take part in the DON’T BLOCK THE BLOG Campaign