An exhibition of provocative and powerful work by ten highly acclaimed artists who explore the limitlessness of aesthetic dialogue towards the expression of our current events will be opening at KOEL Gallery on 21st of May 2009.

 

The participation artists for this exhibition include: 

   Abdul Jabbar Gul, A.R.Nagori, Afshar Malik, Ghalib Baqar, Jamal Shah, Qudsia Nisar, Nahid Raza, R.M.Nadeem, Salima Hashmi, Sumaya Durrani.

 

The exhibition will continue till the first of June 2009.

 

Koel Gallery:

+92 (21) 5831292

F-42/2, block 4, Scheme 5 Clifton , Karachi

International Museum Day is celebrated each year on 18 May since 1977. Theme for this year is “Museums and tourism“. I came across a report on GEO early morning that Pakistani people have completely lost their interest in Museums. I recently had a chance to visit Karachi Museum, situated near DJ Science College and it was evident that people have llittle interest in such activities. There were only few visitors although the Karachi museum is a great place to go as Museums are an important means of cultural exchange, enrichment of cultures and development of mutual understanding, co-operation and peace among peoples. The staff there was quite cooperative to assist in any queries we had. I was just wondering how many of you have had a chance to visit the Karachi Museum.

Witnessing myself the city being turned into a junkyard by KBCA+ leadership especially during and after 90s the city perfectly presents an orphaned child right now. Cowasjee article today (with a broken link in between, remove the space) and this one in JANG by Khalid Ansari is again an evident of the state of affairs. As if this city already had less issues to deal with now this latest menace.

Many people take KBCA related issues lightly and they don’t realize that it’s actually KBCA which seeds the first plant of destruction when it allows illegal constructions. With this come the issue of space, then the water electricity and gas and phone connections for that building/plaza, then the issue of digging roads and not filling em back. Then comes the issue of congestion in that area, and with it come illegal encroachments by pushcarts and then comes the issue of traffic in that area, suffocation and air-less space. This all makes that area a good ground for breeding of different diseases. Now imagine what this city has been turned into in last 25 years with such a huge scale of illegal (and sub standardized) constructions and occupations. Is there any hope of a reversal of all this to bring the old face back?

One more case of jis ki lathi . . . . . Kashif blogs a story about Nissan Chevrolet showroom that placed personal NO PARKING notice for citizens. We would like to know the LAW that gives them this right. Is this not a violation of Clause 15 of constituion regarding ” Freedom of movement” ? (wakeel hazraat guide  please ...) Moreover, moving on from this specific case my main point was, it has become a common observation these day that people/owners/companies are placing these NO PARKING boards anywhere they deem fit for their purpose. I had once a minor argument with a security guard near Nursery on this and i guess many others might have fierce verbal exchange too. While the state of our LAW enforcing dept. is “well known” i guess the mainstream media should start highlighting this issue and bring it to the notice of the higher officials. I also think it all goes back to the increased lack-of-space (land mafia ??) issue in our city and the fact that the karnamaz our KBCA (cowasjee covers it extensively in his columns) did after 80s is finally showing the results.
Resolution: Not allowing illegal constructions , ensuring parking space in designs, strict enforcement of the first 2 :)

I just received fb-mail that venue of Relief Camp has been shifted from PAF Base Faisal to Park Towers because of Security Reasons.

For any further queries you may contact on following number:

Numbers:
Fawad Afridi: +92321-2437256
Naveed Mansoor: +92334- 3893330
Talha: +92321-2007664
Arshad: +92321-8227388

Or FB event page:

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=86430380805

The Voice of the Civil Society (VOTCS) earlier organized a hugely successful mass letter campaign to the President, PM, CJ and COAS protesting against atrocities committed against the people of Swat and other areas.

The time has come to support and help our countrymen in a more consolidated manner. These are citizens of Pakistan, who are desperate and living under miserable conditions in camps and make-shift abodes. Visualize an environment where they don’t have a roof over their head and no basic needs (food, medicines and education for their children) being fulfilled.

PLEASE DON’T LET THE TALIBAN’S TURN AROUND AND TELL THE IDP’S THAT THEY WERE ABANDONED BY THE CIVIL SOCIETY!!! We have done the easy part by lodging our protest to the relevant authorities against the Taliban’s, but the actual people suffering need our help. So here is the plan;

Donation camp at the Carlton Hotel – Karachi, from May 15 to 17 of May, 2009 (Between 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m).

They will be collecting the following items for the internally displaced people (IDP) from Sawat, Buner and other areas who are pouring in to Islamabad and other areas. WE WILL BE MORE AFFECTIONATE TOWARDS INDIVIDUALS, WHO OFFER CASH DONATIONS!!!!!
(more…)

MRP is organizing Relief Camp for Swat Refugees in collaborations with Pakistan Air Force on

PAF Base Faisal & at Delton’s (main kh-Shaheen)
on May 16 & 17th.

They’ll be requiring following items:-

1. Tents
2. Clothes
3. Kitchen Items
4. Food

Members, who want to help & support through Cash please note down the account number:-

MRP (Mission Rescue Pakistan)
Account Number: 005028071-001
Bank: HSBC (Schon Circle Branch)

For any more details please feel free to contact us.

Facebook Event

Numbers:
Fawad Afridi: +92321-2437256
Naveed Mansoor: +92334- 3893330
Talha: +92321-2007664
Arshad: +92321-8227388

 The KB Thespians, once again present Oscar Wilde’s “The Importance of being Earnest”.

Being their second play of 2009, this will be the third time in as many years that The KB Thespians have brought this comedy of manners to the stage in Pakistan.

With an all new cast with both new and known faces, The KB Thespians invites you to come and be a part of what will be undoubtedly an evening not soon forgotten.

Cast:

Sabiha Zia as Hon. Gwendolen Fairfax

Batool Habib as Ms. Laetitia Prism

Sobia Shah as Lady Augusta Bracknell

Amna Khan as Ms. Cecily Cardew

Salik Abbasi as Jack Worthing

Omer Malik as Rev. Frederick Chausable D.D.

Tahir Shamim as Lane/Merriman

Abdul Aleem Shekhani as Algernon Moncrieff

Directed by: Abdul Aleem Shekhani

 

Venue: Southend Club Auditorium,

          Khayaban-e-Rahat, DHA.  

Date & Time: 8:00pm Sharp,  22nd, 23rd and 24th of May 2009.

 

Passes available at Agha’s Supermarket and at the venue.

For Further Details Contact: 0334-313-2523  

Today I received this email from a close associate and a very active civil society activist Naeem Sadiq, who shares his experience at Agha Khan Hospital. The email was not actually hitting out at AKU but was more or less finger pointing to the Urban Militia [good key word I must say] that roams around the city as if they own each piece of the land. It is the beauty of citizen journalism that such reports are brought to the attention of the public with the hope that it can possibly instigate a positive change.

Illeglally Parked car outside the Private Ward of AKU

AKU was once perceived as a disciplined, professional and caring hospital. It followed rules, provided excellent health care services and even operated a good patient welfare scheme. We were proud of the great hospital built by Prince Karim Aga Khan in the middle of the town.

The AKU has gradually chosen to bid farewell to its founding principles and make compromises, more so when it comes to dealing with the powerful and influential urban militants.
(more…)