In the last few days, there had been reports of Pakhtuns being targetted in various parts of the city. Needless to say ethnic violence had to follow as seen last night. MQM cites Talibanisation as reason enough to evict Pakhtuns from Karachi. However, a sudden realization of the threat the Pakhtun community poses is suspicious.

Karachi is the trade hub of the country, and as any economist will tell you, when an urban centre is developed without enough attention to rural or even semi urban areas, rural-urban migration is only natural. Karachi thus attracts a number of migrants from not only the N.W.F.P, but all over the country. This migrant population then assimilates into the workforce and over the years has become an integral economic force in the city.

The Pakhtuns too have become an indispensable part of Karachi. Not only do they control most of the public transportation system, but a majority of cobblers, tea hotel owners, construction labourers happen to be Pakhtuns. Read more

It is being reported from various parts of Karachi that there are wide spread riots in the city, as of last count Dawn has reported that there are eight people dead and over 77 injured.

Areas affected were Orangi Town, Banaras, Orangi Town, Quaidabad, North Karachi and Nazimabad. The resulting panic led to traffic jams in different parts of the city

In Nazimabad area, miscreants forced shopkeepers to close down markets whereas rumours led shopkeepers in Light House, Zainab Market and Jama Cloth Market to close up. While the Pakistan Rangers have dispatched 45 mobiles to different troubled areas, while the city police is operating on an emergency basis.

In a high level meeting with the ruling coalition running the province has issued strict shoot-to-kill orders to the police force. At the same time its ironic to note that with chaos in the city the electronic media has maintained a strange silence, except a few scarce reports, probably coaxed into submission ‘for the benefit of the country’ Karachi Stay Safe Follow twitter hashtag #Karachi for the latest updates

hello folks,

in these tense times, it is seldom that an event of recreation comes along and when it does, we are rarely notified well in time. well my friends, you might want to check out The Forum mall on Friday, November 28, 2008 from 6:00pm onwards.

Zeb & Haniya would be performing live alongwith the boys from Co-ven and ADP.

it sure is going to be a good break from hectic evening lives to enjoy some nice grooves from the female duo that’s been making waves across the country and beyond.

cheers!

Our brave media recently went mum again and since there was again no official reason/confirmation/notice/press release ETC. every tom dick and harry has his chance to jump in for a comment. I avoided it for few days merely because i had absolutely no idea. But now, as time passes, and as it is always the case, guess who came out behind the curtain . . . . . again . . . . Read more

Fourth International Book Fair will be held from 26th to 30th December, 2008 at Karachi Expo Center (Hall 1, 2 & 3). This event is arranged by The Pakistan Publishers and Booksellers Association.

Start Time: Friday, December 26, 2008 at 12:00pm
End Time: Tuesday, December 30, 2008 at 11:00pm
Location: Karachi Expo Center, Main University Road Near Civic Center.

This happened a few weeks back but it still has the power to shake me up. It was a regular evening for me. I left work at the usual time; little did I know that I would be subject to moral policing par excellence – Taliban style – in the day light and that too in Karachi.

On my way back from work, I was waiting at signal of Hotel Crown Plaza. The driver of the taxi next to me knocked on my window, I thought there must be something wrong with the car or something so I rolled down the window and raised my eye brow in question. It was then all hell broke lose. He went ballistic, first he accused me of promoting promiscuousity by leaving home un chaperoned and then said that we, as a nation, are facing so much trouble because our women have stopped observing hijab and what not. After the initial shock and paralysis which lasted a full ten seconds, I rolled up my window and decided not to listen to his tirade.

The signal turned green and I put the car in motion but that taxi driver decided to teach me a lesson and started following me and banging my car with his hands which was very dangerous in rush hour traffic. It was then I got really scared and decided to stop by next to a traffic police constable who was manning traffic at the signal. I complained to him but he couldn’t help because the taxi driver drove on when I stopped next to the constable. He asked me to wait it out for a few minutes so I parked my car there for ten minutes. After waiting for a while, I too decided to go, but instead of taking the usual route, I took the more crowded route because I was too scared to go anywhere less crowded.

I have lived in Karachi most of my adult life, I love living here but if this is the shape of things to come, then things look very bleak.

Hear ye Hear ye good denizens of the marvelous place known as Karachi.  The government in its utmost genorosity has deemed that we have to pay Rs 10 less per litre for petrol from 12am Nov 16th. The new prices of petrol and diesel have fallen now to 66.66 from 76.66 and Diesel 61.14 from 64.14 respectively.

This is great news not only for the people who were overburdened by the rising petrol cost but specially for the lower income classes of the city which will now have their bus fares slashed down due to the falling diesel price.

Although Ogra (i think Ogre is more appropriate) have managed this great feat today, its been a long time coming as the price of crude oil has been down to 53USD a barrel from 140USD for some time now. Still “der aye par durust aye”

I sincerely hope that the roads of this city of lights will be full of cars at night again as it has been looking like a ghost town after 10pm for too long :)

Now if we could get 5500MW from somewhere we seriously have a shot of turning this back into the awesome place it was some years ago.

Working with the CDGK, Crosby Asset Management is organizing an initiative to plant trees all across the city. The idea is to shed the concrete and dust laden Karachi image to bring out a city that’s cleaner, greener and healthier.

As part of this program, the city govt and Crosby Asset Management will be doing a tree plantation campaign near the City School PAF chapter. Students from the school will also be participating in this plantation drive

Join and lend a hand in helping making Karachi cleaner, greener and healthier.

Date: Nov 16 2008
Time: 1 pm onwards
Location: Opposite City School PAF Chapter.

Comedy for a Cause

Since March 2000, through Concern for Children’s Community Driven Development Project, organization has made efforts to counter the deplorable conditions of Mohammadi/ Machar Colony. Mohammadi Colony is located in Karachi, behind the railroad tracks on Maripur Road. Its illegal status deprives it of water, sanitation, education and health care.

At this point CFC’s most dominating component in the Community Driven Project is Education and Using art to raise awareness and funds is exactly what CFC aimed at as part of its education component in Mohammadi colony. For the same, CFC has arranged a fundraiser, all proceeds of which will benefit this project.

Featuring: Saad Haroon and Shark troupe.

Date: 16th Nov, 2008

Time: 8:00pm

Location: Pakistan American Cultural Center (PACC)

Tickets available at CFC’s office (2203269), Muzika and Hotspot.

The two-month peak egg-laying season of marine turtles is going on in full swing at the sandy beaches of the city. Sandspit and Hawkesbay are among the most important nesting beaches around the globe where the highly rare marine turtles — Olive Ridley and Green Turtles — come to lay their eggs.

So we planned to visit sandspit on last Sunday morning but after roaming on the beach we found out that peak time of turtles laying eggs is from 9:00 PM till 4 AM (Purana time). But luckily we found out some small turtles which were ready to go into sea in the morning. There is only one man for several kilometers long coast who collects eggs in morning and put them in wild life’s incubators. Most of eggs on the beach were destroyed by dogs and some were eaten by crows.

Read more