Cisco Systems Pakistan is arranging a CCIE Ignite Initiative in Karachi on 22nd June 2006 at 10 AM at Pearl Continental. The program will be conducted by Yusuf Bhaiji, CCIE Proctor, Cisco Systems. For Registrations: Areej Qureshi arquresh[at]cisco.com

So what connects Cisco’s CCIE and Karachi? Read ahead.
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I found these poor electric poles in Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Block 2 and God, they are almost the same all over the city. By their looks one can easily tell that the poor things are having a seriously bad hair day. Look at their lifeless hair, for which the credit goes to the ever efficient KESC. And all those tangled up hair growing from the lower sides of the poor thing’s head are given to it by the area’s TV and internet cable providers.
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Finally after months intense preparations the Dawn Group has finally launched its All-English News Channel known as Dawn News. The Dawn Group underwent some serious issues with the bureaucracy in the process of launching the channel quite literally pushing the launch date back by well over three months. Today at midnight precisely at 12:00am the first transmission took to the airwaves in the form of an initial test transmission. English news broadcasting will most definitely face an uphill task in comparison to the Urdu channels but I am sure the unbiased reporting style of Dawn will most probably prevail to become a great source of information for everyone.
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This whole month seem to be dedicated to print & electronic media. This story was not only very important to share but a duty, if nothing else is possible from our side. May be those at helm of affairs may have some mercy.

This article is the real bitter truth. It’s a slap to our politicians, our so called NGO’s, our self imposed religious clerics & the “educated” lawyers. It’s a slap to all of us & whole nation.

If there was one hero on May 12 it was Faiz-ur-Rehman, the Edhi ambulance driver. Read the story of a man who died on the streets of Karachi sacrificing his life for its people’s sake. A man who served around 2000 dead/injured people in Karachi & we showed such a callous attitude?. Parties are busy accusing other. They wasted two weeks & millions of rupees on their press conferences & propaganda. Did they ever, for a second, think about this Hero of nation?

After reading this story the argument about if we are in progress or regress seems meaningless. The reality is as naked as the event.

Will Altaf Hussain/lawyers/Opposition/CM & governor bother to honour this great son & hero of nation

MQM has given 3 options to its supporters. I guess this had to happen. If only they had understood the designs of PML-Q they could sit at a side keep themselves clean, especially with all the good work done in Karachi helping it to build a new image. But the mistake has been made & so will be the consequences.

Javed Chaudhry has written a column especially for MQM this time if it could understand it. The starting has a Punjab touch to it buts its a must read for everyone especially MQM leadership. My question to you is, which third mistake JC is predicting ? Read the full article

Shrek 3 takes to cinema screens in Karachi and Lahore tomorrow, Friday, May 25, 2007. The release of Shrek 3, marks a new age in the movie import business in Pakistan. This is the first time a major international movie is being released so close to its international release date.

Shrek 3 launched in the US on the 18th of May, and has not yet been released in major parts of Asia, including India.

Karachi – Universe Cineplex, Seaview, Call (021) 584-0996/584-0997
Lahore: Sozo World, Fortress Stadium, Call (042) 667-6870/667-4271

The Pakhtoon Action Committee (Loya Jirga) is now reconsidering its three-day strike call. According to what Dawn reported:
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Even though we dont have much in the form of street art here in karachi, we do get some pretty neat shair-o-shaire at times. This one, uploaded by umemlicious and suggested by asma is a prime example.

Atleast its better than all the political slogans lining the walls nowadays.

On May 19th ’07, @ Carlton Hotel Karachi I got a chance to attend the opening ceremony of World bridge campus where The Citizens Foundation was the host.
After a gap of many years, the bridge championship was once again held in the country from the 18th till 20th May at Carlton Hotel in Karachi. Both Damiani (WBF President, legendary Jose Damiani) and Zia Mehmod (Master Champion who needs no introduction in global bridge circles) are to attend this mega tournament along with numerous international players from across the world.This was a tribute to the bridge players who had helped in raising funds for teh construction of the school that in Mansehra, in the Northern region of Pakistan, in a village which lay an approximate 24 miles (39 kms) from the epicenter of the earthquake.

Foundations have already been raised in accordance to latest seismic specifications and requirements, with a covered area of 6,275 sq. ft.The school will be run by The Citizens Foundation (TCF) and will cater to 180 boys and girls between the ages of 3 to 10 and will have an all-female teaching staff.

School building will be completed by August 2007 and classes will commence then for Academic Year 2007-08.

The World Bridge Campus in the words of Zia Mahmood is, “proof that when people of diverse religions and cultures come together, nothing is impossible. We hope that these students go on to achieve their dreams and show the same love for their fellow humans as shown by those who made this possible.”

Due to the announced wheel jam strike from May 25 to May 27 in Karachi, the concert of

Michael Schiefel (Jazz Vocalist)

will be shifted to Thursday, May 24, 2007. Starting at 8:00 pm at the Arts Council Auditorium, Karachi. Tickets are available from now on for Rs. 300 at the Goethe-Institut, the Alliance Fran√ßaise and at Agha’s Supermarket.