Hamara Karachi festival starts off tomorrow (June 7, 2008) at 7:30-8:00pm, Beach View Park. This festival has been organized by Hamara Karachi Foundation. Musical concert & Fireworks would be the main attraction this time. Different events have been organized in this regard. Eventions’s (the event management company for this festival) CEO Aslam Khan briefed about different preparations being done to make the event successful & expects a 25k+ audience in an event that was long overdue for a city that is mainly known to outside world for security reasons rather than any entertainment related event. KMB would love to spread the word and would encourage people to go to this event with their families. Following pics taken today show organizers putting their act together for a grand show. Let’s hope the end result come out good for Karachi’s image.

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boat basin……

can anybody figure out why the water is like this?

seemed like some chemical released.

Date: June 4, 2008 at 6pm (The exhibition will continue till 18th June)

All interested people are cordially invited.

Location: Goethe-Institut Pakistan, 2, Brunton Road, Civil Lines, Karachi. [Tel: (+92-21) 566 1633-6]

Goethe-Institut / Max Müller Bhavan Mumbai organized a photography workshop with a special focus to capture and present images of India through the lenses of well-known young photographers from the South Asian region.

The workshop was conducted by the Berlin-based photographer Andrea Kuenzig. This exhibition comprises images created by participants during this workshop. Two of these participants, Sohail Abdullah from Karachi and Clare Arni from Bangalore will be present to talk about their work.

The topic “Urban Changes” has a large canvas and as such the approaches of photographic aploration are manifold. In their endeavour to present their perception of “Urban Changes” the photographers got an opportunity to identify their individual forté in this field and develop his / her own stylistic approach in photography. They primarily focused on the development of urban and rural structures in the era of globalization, using photography as an art form and also a medium for juxtaposition.

For further information about this program, contact the Programme Coordinator Ms. Mona Mala or visit their website.

This a play based on two stories by Ismet Chugtai. The Tehrik – E- Niswan group usually does a good job so i am looking forward to catch this one at the Arts Council. Tickets are available at the gate and Agha Supermarket as well.

It’s that time of the year again! The heat is at its oppressive high and that is exactly what the mangoes need to ripen and turn a bright yellow.

The farmers in interior Sindh believe in another week, the world’s heavenliest fruit will be ready to be transported to Karachi. ‘Desi’ mangoes are already on their way but the ‘Shaakhs’, i.e, Sindhri, Anwar Ratol and Chaunsa etc, are yet to ripen. The farmers will be working at breakneck speed next month to make sure they get the mangoes off the trees before they fall to the ground themselves.

Then which of the favours of your Lord will ye deny?

I usually leave my house at around 9:30am to go to my office in the I.I Chundrigarh Rd Area. Having set all my clocks one hour ahead on the night of the 31st of May 2008. I set out as usual for the morning commute today. Surprise surprise i encountered almost nil traffic on the way and got here at exactly 9:45am, please note the usual commute takes 30-40 mins atleast.

Along the way all the major markets appear closed, the electronics one near Marriot Rd, the whole sale ones as well. When i got to my office only one member of my staff stood waiting. The rest trooped in at 10:45am surprised and confused as to why the boss is pissed.

It appears that this confusion is going to remain for a good while as some people are just not willing to comply with the DST application. I spent an hour yesterday convincing my grand mother to set her clocks forward but she has refused to do so as according to her, there is only one time not two times.

So as the whole city is confused, would it not have been better for the government to first take out ads in all major newspapers to explain the application of DST first? Would someone explain to me how all this confusion will result in the salvage of electricity? Oh wait i understand…its 11:18am and there is still no electricity at my office, this is how it shall be saved and the burden on the KESC lessened.

Bravo DST!!

Karachi Traders Association has demanded to declare Karachi as a “Disaster Area/Zone” & provide concessions in taxes. This issue is raised when government announced that all shops should close at 8 PM due to shortage of power supply. What do you think is this the right decision to close markets at 8 PM or trader’s association demand for tax exemption is right?