To top off this act NEPRA has also already raised the electric tariff to where it stands now by 15% from July 1st. These new owners belong to a Dubai based group and will if things work out be taking charge officially in the end of November this year. To put it simply if your house consumes 1000 units your bill will escalate by about 30-45% more than what it is right now.

As if the populace of this city is not already back broken from the exorbitant increase in prices of its daily edibles and what not, we may have to suffer further humility at the hands of the KESC “if” this new ownership takes over. Interestingly enough on an average basis starting from March onwards till October Karchites go through 4-5 hrs of non electricity in spite of paying their bills.

I wonder if the proposed ownership plans to also do something about the numerous “Free” users of KESC in this city as well or perhaps the entire communities of people living on koondas, at the behest of honest consumers who may have to suffer almost ridiculous bills due to this proposed new increase!!

I wish i knew why our government never does anything to give us some relief.  Oh right i keep forgetting that is not why people join politics in Pakistan.

Alas my fellow Karachites I think the time of charags may come before bicycles here.

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Perhaps this was a rare occurrence but in that instant the entire line of cars braked and stopped. People ran out  and gave them water, someone called an ambulance and helped them in when it arrived, the guards outside Avari wheeled their motorbike to the side and promised to keep it safe for them in the parking till they came back. In about five minutes the traffic started again but my mind stopped back there.

We often tend to blame our country, we often tend to scream and cuss at our leaders but do we ever look into our ownselves and ask what we have ever done for this land? Do we even realize what our ancestors gave up when they arrived in Karachi?  Or how the people who lived here opened their arms to them.  My own family was sheltered by a Hindu one in the old saddar area of Karachi. My own parents traveled first to Bombay by train and after that horrifying journey boarded a steamer to come here with nothing but hope.

This accident showed me something, it showed the good of the common Pakistani, it gave me hope for this land. For even if our politicians leave no stone unturned to take us as far back as possible the people of this land are hard working, hearty and good folk and one day god willing we will make it somewhere.

So let us today make an oath, let us try till the next 14th of August to forget that we are Mohajirs or Pathans or Sindhis or Baluchis or Punjabis. Let us first try to make ourselves worthy of the freedom that so many died for! Let us first call ourselves Pakistanis and be proud of it. This world may heap it all on us, and land every blame at our doorstep but do not forget who we are, we are the flag bearers of a rich country, we carry the wealth of freedom!!

Long Live Pakistan & Happy Independence Day!!

Will we have monster traffic jams in the evening?? Probably, however right now is the time to sit and enjoy the rain or if one can, to take a quick bath outside as the monsoon rain is quite refreshing. The spirit of this city is quite visible in these rains as well because the sad faces of the general public seem to have lit up when drenched as is evident from my office window. If it continues pouring like this everything should close soon.

As far as i am concerned though I welcome the rain simply because i love it, it makes everything look fresh and new and the smell of wet soil is just divine.

So here is to the rain with a hot cuppa in my hand, what is your rain story?

Update: Skies are darkening even further, serious downpour expected wooohoooo

These animals are mostly smuggled in through our grand airport at Karachi, remember how the deportees broke loose there? and are then delivered to their owners home. Two companies are operating in this regard one with offices in Defense and the second with offices in F.B area

Conservation has no place in our society and thus we are along with the SWD (Sindh Wildlife Department) happily looking the other way as these maginificent beasts are being escorted to their cages in posh gardens to be shown off at high teas and such. This is also a dangerous activity as recently PESCHS was in uproar over two lions which escaped from their cages and were seen roaming the streets.

So before we convert our gardens into minizoos and play havoc with the life of fellow citizens by keeping such dangerous carnivorous pets can we stop and think a little? Can the SWD please also do something in this regard as some of the species being smuggled in are endangered.

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Responding to this positive step many people are now returning to the stock market to cover their losses which has increased the trading levels and helped the market recover around 650 points since yesterday. This obviously does not help the people who have already had their life savings wiped out, but at least it will help the future investors to make more “secure” investments.

The whole area of Lyari is divided amongst the Ghaffar Zikri and Rehman Dakait gangs, they collect bhatta, run diesel from Gwader and engage in the drugs trade openly and without fear of punishment. They also provide a safe haven for most ransomists who kidnap people and keep them in Lyari till the ransom is received.

2 days ago, the rangers entered the narrow lanes of this area and set up pickets and are now carrying out a siege and search mission to recover kidnapped persons, arms and drugs as well as drug traffikers. Finally someone is doing something for the residents of Lyari, I hope after this the authorities will shift their focus on a city wide scale as well to counter the spurt of increasing robberies and crime.

The criminals of this city need to be taught that crime does not pay so that new entries into such gangs can be eliminated.

Mustufa Kamal came on tv to ensure the families of Karachi and the zoo visitors that the city government is in the process of acquiring an elephant to give rides to the children for which tenders have been opened and is allocating a proper budget for the zoo as well.

The city government has ensured the uplift and reopening of some parks around the city and by doing so have added to options for people going out with their families here. If they can do the same for the zoo in Karachi it would indeed be marvelous.

Off course the news channels mentioned were quick to point out that this happened after “they” ran a news story on this but who cares? As long as the end result is good the process does not really matter eh???

So here is a small thank you from this concerned parent to the authorities for taking notice, well done sir!

I recently tried to impart the same joy on my child but was shocked to see the conditions at the zoo. Most of the cages are empty, the animals having died or are in the process of dying, the shetland ponies present earlier which would give rides to children are also gone. Upon my inquiries i found that the male had passed away upon separation from the female and the female was also sick and being treated.

Worst of all even the cages with animals in them are so dirty that it amounts to cruelty to keep animals in this way. If the Zoo has no resources to import animals why cannot local varieties be introduced? Why can’t the services of sweepers and cleaners be acquired to at least spruce up the place a little?

I appeal to our local government to please see that the Zoo is restored back to its original state. The citizens of Karachi have little in the means of family activities options as it is, please do not take this away from them as well!!!

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.

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!!