If cloth-banner advertisement were a measure of success, the UPS business in Karachi has seen unprecedented growth during 2006 and continues the pace this year as well. Once considered an expensive accessory exclusive to sensitive computer devices, printers and fax machines, a mutated local incarnation of UPS devices has found new uses – and a huge new customer base.

Building on the fact that cheaper UPS can work as reservoirs of power for the not-so-sensitive appliances such as ceiling fans and tube-lights, the local technicians have flooded the market with UPS that cost around Rs 10,000 and can typically serve a house-hold with 3 fans and 3 tube-lights for 3 hours.
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And this is not taken from the website. This comes to you from a very (read extremely) satisfied customer! Yesterday a bunch of us decided to go check out what this park was all about. So 7 people, loaded in two cars enterred the premises at around 5:30 PM. The first thing you notice is a lack of signs leading upto the adventure park. We noticed since we started making our way towards the safari park. only to realize we’re heading in the wrong way. After changing directions and walking for another 10 minutes, we finally entered the gates of Go Aish.

The first attraction which greets you is the high rope course and the wall climbing course. We tried out the high rope first. The first thing they do when you sign up (its 100 for the short one and 200 for the long one) is strap you up, and take you through a training course. That was a good thing, since it cleared up a lot of confusions, and made me aware the safety straps could support my weight. The trainers words are “you have to satisfy me that you know the drill before i let you go up there, otherwise you’re just going to remain here”. Cleared that in the first go, so that wasn’t much of a problem.
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The so labeled “more Muslim than Muslims” has taken oath as ACJP in Karachi & with it little focus shifted to Khi too & possibly last for a week considering how eager media is to cover its every bit with opportunities always in abundance (1,2,3). On other front Qazi, as “they always do” finally dragged religion successfully into this.
May God give him some sense.

While everyone, including the silent Altaf bhai has finally spoken too, its now media’s turn to play on its home ground & discuss after benefiting perfectly. So today’s main papers (DAWN, NEWS, JANG & DT) had enough “stuff” on main pages. Cowasjee had, as always, a good article today titled “Straaaaawberry jam” recalling a story about his meeting with president Zia just to free his “secured” tiffin basket (no no , it didn’t have Zia’s secrets, was just a lunch his wife had for him) & in actual sense summarizing as a whole the Army Mentality thus possibly concluding that it’s the Army behind this game & not the poor PM (& also sympathy qualified goats Durrani & W. Zafar).
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Americans, especially in the armed forces, aren’t exactly the most popular people in Pakistan, but I came across the story of one based in Karachi who went looking for a nature thrill in this most unnatural of cities. Click here to read Tom Garrett’s encounter with nature.

In a show of satirical vehicular literature skills which are abundant in Karachi, this bowser (water tanker) carries the word ‘frooto‘ on the rear end of its reservoir tank.

Water tankers are infamous for the bad quality water they provide – courtesy a full matrix of water-mafia of which water-tankers are just one component. Of course, this does not mean that the water that Karachiites get from the pipeline system is close to being potable.

You don’t have to look beyond the physical condition of the vehicle itself to get an idea of what quality of water it contains. Naming the content of this ‘frooto’ (an old brand name of a popular fruit juice product) is like adding insult to the injury.

It’s just the beginning of Rabi-ul-Awwal and Karachiiets have started to show their devotion to the Holy Prophet, Muhammad (SAW) by turning the whole city into a light show. A lane I passed today in Block 5, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, was all decorated with green tube lights and bulbs in red, green, yellow and blue. The ambience of colors spreading everywhere with light was sure creating a wonderful display, but is this the only way to show one’s devotion towards Allah and his Prophet (SAW), indeed not but as we tend do waste so much money at several other festivities then why not have a light show for this day as well, but yes if we let our shadows downcast the poor, all this light show will mean not much.

I just heard (rumour/urti huee khabar) that Ireland has been disqualified — five of their players tested positive for drugs. And since Ireland has been disqualified, the match has been “given” to Pakistan.

Info on this, anyone?

PS: No, this is not confirmed yet, so all the sattey-baaz people out there might want to hold their horses. :P

Zawwer Hussain and Shagufta Rizvi bring to you an exhibition of their paintings at Majmu’a Art Gallery. The exhibition will commence today at 6 p.m and will continue till March 29th.

Shakil Ismail presents his works in jewelry, wall hangings and sculptures at the Shakil Ismail Art Gallery. This exhibition starts today at 5 p.m and will remain open for public till March 28th.

Not many in the local Karachi government let alone the common man here, I imagine, would be fully aware of what a great controversy the global warming phenomena has caused at the world stage in more developed countries. The Wikepedia page on Global Warming Controversy has all the details but the short summary, I suppose is, that there is wide spread difference of opinion on the possible causes and effects of the recent rise in our planet’s temperature, with some people believing human factors have a definite involvement, while others, the so-called environmental skeptics, including some scientists themselves, argue that the former concerns are exaggerated.

Regardless of which side of that debate you are on, I’m sure you will, like every Karachiite like to see a greener, cleaner and healthier Karachi. Unfortunately though, such is the nature and impact of environment related issues, that any moves to improve things, or even suggestions to improve things, invariably acquire the state of a political debate. Take for instance, the recent ban imposed by the Sindh provincial government on plastic bags below 30 micron weight, which Umar wrote about yesterday as well.
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Just found a classy pic of Karachi on the Siemens Global website.

The one I have uploaded here is a reduced version, 1200 x 502 pixels, weighing just under 120kb.
The orignal one that can be found here, is much higher resolution and size, measuring 2200 x 1200 pixels, weighing almost 500kb.