KMB made a post almost a month back about the recently released Google mapping system for general utilization in Pakistan, since then I have been addicted to this tool and have seen the Karachi area being extensively mapped.

I share a screencapture of the mapping done in the regions of Shahrah-e-Faisal and one is definitely impressed at how much work a collaborative team can pull together in a short span of 30 days, this areas was barren a month back and is now peppered with accurate roads maps across the city and it continues to grow

We definitely need YOUR input as well, take a look at an area you know well and contribute in some way by adding one or two (or more) points of interests [road, name of mosque, school, shop or anything]. In all honestly it just takes a little getting used to but once you are in swing then its quite addicting. Do keep in mind that these images are a few years old (3-4) [taken before the development of Shahrah-e-Qaideen flyover] but even then, most of the city can be accurately mapped.

Join the Karachi Mapping effort here on Google Map Maker

Every new advancement in technology opens new opportunities and new ideas immerge but some ideas are so fascinating that they make it to the history. One such amazing idea was experimented a few days back simultaneously at a Hotel in Delhi and at a local café ”The Second Floor” in Karachi

The café was relived of all its furniture for the event and a floor seating was arranged. Seated in the corner on a slightly elevated stage were the Farid Ayaz and Abu Mohammad Qavvaal Party faced with a web camera and another web cam was aimed towards the audience.

On the wall were a large plasma and a projector screen showing a live views of the place where audience has to be seated in Delhi and the stage where the legendary Shubha Mudgal with her husband Dr. Aneesh Pradhan and other musicians were to perform shortly. Read more

“A breeding ground for terrorists.” ,“University of Jihad.” Those are just some of the phrases used to described the Pakistani madrassa system, a network of Islamic schools where children as young as six are taught to memorize every verse and phrase of the Koran. The Karachi Kids takes the viewer behind the shrouded curtain of a Pakistani madrassa to show a world of abuse, loneliness and transformation into radical Islam. Read more

A key witness of Benazir Bhutto’s assassination has been shot dead in Karachi yesterday on Khy-e-Bhukahri

DAWN: Khalid Shahanshah, the chief security officer of PPP co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari, was assassinated on Tuesday afternoon outside his Clifton residence, police and witnesses said. They said that gunmen on a white car sprayed him with a volley of bullets while he was stepping off his double-cabin vehicle in front of his house at Khyaban-i-Bukhari.

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Karachi sports an empty, but clean look, as all transporters are on strike protesting against the fuel hike and demanding an increase in fare prices. The transporters are negotiating for a Rs. 2 increase in their fare structure….. which will in turn most definitely impact the poor. One then has to wonder how long can a minimum wage person can survive this economic crunch, is there truly an economic plan somewhere beyond this chaos or are we simple destined to ride this never ending curve? The only good thing I see from this strike today is less chaos and I suspect less pollution.

I found this image on Flickr originally uploaded by *abro*, a well known Karachi photographer. I was extremely moved by this image to see the small gesture of generosity that it gives me hope that there are still a few good people out there who are still willing to take care of the poor. It is said that Pakistanis could easily be ranked as a nation with the highest level of philanthropy in terms of GDP. Abro writes the following words describing the image

Every Sunday, poor people, women and men gather at the commercial Area in Defence Karachi to have free breakfast (tee, paratha) and Rs.100 in cash. On Sunday 6th July early in the morning after returning from walk I found the streets were filled with men and women having free breakfast from two hotels of area. I estimated at least 800 to 1000 people was gathered there, especially women were more than men. After asking some people I come to know every Sunday poor people gather here and have free breakfast and 100 rupees in cash from this person. It means he distributes 100,000 every Sunday!

Credit for Image and text *abro* on Flickr

In light of the recent stock market debacle the government is attempting to prevent incidents like these from happening again. Today a news report appeared in Daily Times where the usage of SMS in spreading disinformation about the stock market are deemed as a Cyber Crime and ironically the FIA has been entrusted to ensure that it does not happen in the future.

Overtly it may seem to be an interesting way to solve the panic of any future stock market debacle, but I personally see it as an odd way to solve the underlying problem. One could argue that if a simple SMS message communication to my broker to “SELL SELL SELL” can be attributed to a punishable cyber crime. Then we should hold liable all phone calls made during the stock-market-rumor-mongering period as an equally important punishable crime.

• Fundamentally I believe you cannot condemn the usage of a specific medium (in this case SMS) for its probable repercussions, instead its imperative to develop safe guards to instead hold the traders on the trading floor directly responsible for their actions which may contribute to panic. Deny all you might we all some how knew that this over inflated stock market bubble was going to burst which was all the more evident considering the miserable economic indicators within Pakistan, suffice to say it was on the cards
• Secondly I shudder to see an even more powerful FIA entrusted with dispensing the Cyber Crime law at its own free will, considering the drafted of the Cyber Crime law was shady at best as it failed to provide safe guards for the innocent.

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Considering that Pasha kicked off the trend of Jobfairs a few years ago, the association has a knack for putting together the kind of event that clicks with their audience and today’s Career Expo was no exception! Read more

Following the two successes of The Karachi Anime Conventions, Metal Seinen originated to bring together Pakistan’s ‘metal youth’ to the fore. COTC is organized to propagate creative and professional progression though mutual efforts of the members by means of untraditional interests such as anime, gaming, digital art, music and performance racing.

Be there, if you are enthusiastic about the upcoming genres of Anime, Gaming, Comics, Live Music and Art. Witness the creativity of the youth of today.

Location: Bayview Auditorium
Date: 27th July, 2008
Time: 3 To 11pm
Entrance: Free
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“Of Spaces and Substance”, An exciting exhibition of beautiful photographs, the art work of a talented IVSAA graduate (2004), Sara Hashim opened yesterday for public at the Unicorn Art Gallery, Clifton.

To experience exhibition and enjoy the artwork do give this Gallery a visit, as the entrance is absolutely free without any discrimination of class or social status.

Note: Timings From Noon till 8 Pm (Except Sunday) - Exhibition continues till 25th July 2008. 

Unicorn Gallery,

Unicorn House, MCF 1-5, Shahrah-e-Iran, Clifton ( Near British Consulate), Karachi.
Phone: +92-21-5831200, 5877625,5877632.
Web : www.unicorngallery.net