While there are many new projects being developed around the city, there are some that have seen no progress for a long while. One such project is the flyover being constructed in Landhi area. I passed that spot last night after many months and it showed no progress whatsoever. The incomplete structure of the bridge is just adding to the traffic problems that triggered its construction at first place. How ironic!

Are there any other frozen projects that you are aware of?

It’s that time of the year again. We are accepting applications for authors at Karachi Metroblog.

It doesn’t take much to qualify. You should be
* living in Karachi,
* an experienced blogger,
* knowing what blogging is all about, and
* committed enough to post regularly at KMB.

Please email me with your name, prefered email address, blog URL, and few words on how you can be a good addition to KMB authors. I will consider all applications received by Friday.

It was only a few days ago, that I was talking to a CD supplier who told me that X rated movies are one of the major source of income for the Cd manufactures at rainbow centre, he told me that people are now bored with the regular stuff and demand the ones featuring animals or children.
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The FTC Chowrangi!

Even though the news is a “little dated” (was reported in 2000) and the sample site was a handful of sites, its still good research. I wonder if anyone from KU will take it up from here and get new figures? So much research opportunities in the city let.

Surprisingly, University Road was the least polluted.

After 20,10,100, 500 and 5000, this time it is the Rs. 1000 note going through a makeover. Released today, this note will join the ranks of the others in taking currency notes of Pakistan into the 21st century.

Now only if the transition time b/w the new and the old would go over quickly. I’m getting tired of recognizing and carrying two different kinds of notes everywhere. The only note left now to be converted is the Rs. 50 one. Also, i hear a Rs. 20,000 note is in the pipeline too.

Image courtesy: State Bank Of Pakistan.

As they say where there is a will there is a way. MTP collects Rs 99 million in traffic violations in 2006 & the offenders include 75 federal and provincial ministers, 89 parliament members, 26 federal secretaries, 20 diplomats, 38 police officials.

Who says that our police hath nahi daal sakti VIP’s per. Provided proper packages & support from higher authorities no doubt they can do wonders. I don’t know how anyone here missed this interesting news, especially when Karachi desperately needs a similar system :
“IMTP had abolished the VIP culture from the capital as tickets on violations of traffic laws were issued to 75 federal and provincial ministers, 89 members of parliament, 26 federal secretaries, 20 diplomats, 350 army officers and 38 senior police officials ” Read complete story

Also do read ” Reformation that did wonders “ at wired Pakistan (or at Skyscrapper city). People having personal experience with these traffic fellows have given them full marks.

A new coffee shop called ‘The Second Floor’ is due to open this coming March on Khayaban-e-Ittehad. Second Floor is the creation of a fellow blogger Sabeen Mahmud (Beanz) who continues to engage in a number of cultural activities in Karachi, she now aims to move the coffee experience from the pay-through-your-nose type of coffee house towards a more rewarding experience where people can come and have a good intellectual experience. The Second Floor is a non-profit organization which aims to promote culture

Coffeehouse tradition is all about sparking conversations – and we’re passionate about providing a platform for people to engage with each other. Our society is insular and inhibited and we intend to break that mould. Through regular events such as poetry readings, book signings, workshops, talks, debates, film screenings, unplugged music sessions, and stand-up comedy, we hope to get people to think, question, and take action.

It would be fun to actually drink reasonably priced coffee and muffins while at the same time have a good intellectual and cultural experience. It would definitely be a nice change for Karachi to have such a coffee house and wish Sabeen all the best in this venture, and have offered her to blog about all events being scheduled at The Second Floor on KMB, so that people of Karachi can truly engage in a culturally rich coffee experience.

and the victim wasn’t even a rich or well-connected person! Its news like these which restores your faith in the local police department just a little bit.

The Kharadar Police have arrested an accused murderer just eight hours after the incident and presented him in court to avail the physical remand on Friday

” History will record the growth of various forms of ‘cancer’ in our society: the conversion of parks and playgrounds, the construction of grandiose projects on the remaining open spaces and beaches, the attempts to establish a ‘world-class city’ in Karachi, a city in which over half its population resides in katchi abadis, where a polluted and inadequate water supply is distributed, where 400 millions gallons per day of raw sewage is dumped into the sea. ”
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Its always fun to read first hand accounts of people taking back their rights. This story comes to us from zpac, about a blind man retaliating after being swindled out of money to reach a destination by the conductor.

Cantt Station is a place where many things happen. From bizarre, shocking to dramatics, I’ve witnessed so much in these 5 years. Yesterday around 6 PM, I was standing for a bus to ZamZama when I saw a bus conductor being beaten up by a sightless man. Apparently, as most conductors do, the man lied to the passenger about the location where the bus would take him. The visually challenged, trusting the responsible, hitched in. Then at Cantt. he came know that he paid for a destination he never wanted to go. So, very impressively he got the bus stopped, made a good issue out of the whole thing and started beating the conductor. Luckily, the traffic police guy (an entity that the conductors despise but are equally scared of) also came in and a lot of people surrounded the two. So the conductor became helpless and couldn’t fight back. If he would have even raised his hand, the public would have dug up his grave right there on the road. A slap, a verbal abuse, a punch, a hit from the flexi-cane and then a slap. The visually challenged man’s rage, confidence and accuracy was excellent√¢‚Ǩ¬¶ maybe better than anyone with a sense of sight who wouldnt have done anything because of the lack of guts. It strangely felt good seeing all this. Maybe now the guy wont consider the passengers to be stupid. We’re the public and we can do anything!