Well in Karachi, it was good to see that finally there has been some action towards this. Thanks MB for your post on what each of us can do individually to make a difference. It really starts with reducing our consumption and putting the trash where it belongs (ie. not the road, your your neighbors street curb.)

Well one particular event I attended on this day was hosted by Aga Khan University, who set up three different activities for the day. Starting with a community clean up walk in Sultanabad Colony (a katchi abadis of 40,000 inhabitants). 75 students and volunteers (included local schools) showed their support for the event. It was concluded by an address by the colony’s Nazim.

In the afternoon, they invited NGOs such as IUCN, HANDS, AWARE, Shirkat Gah, WWF, EPA and Waste busters to set up stalls and inform people about their environmental contributions. It was really good to see the Windmill setup and community based arts and crafts amongst others. They also ran an audio/visual presentation featuring epic scenes from our planet.

They ended the day with a panel discussion including Mr. Asif Farooqui of Waste Busters, Mr Shahid Lutfi, former Director of EPA Sindh and hosted by Dr. Gregory Pappas, chair of CHS. It was an enlightening discussion about the serious issues being faced in the waste sector in terms of household, and industrial waste. The event had a very sound closing with comments by the Honorable Secretary of EPA Sindh, Mir Hussain Ali.

The turn out was less than expected at an AKU event, but perhaps that just reflects the lack of interest from many parties who need to take responsibility for this issue. The good news, is that there are private and public projects underway that are making a difference, but there is much more to go.

One such project that will be starting in June is by a Chinese firm under contract for 20 years to build an efficient waste management and implementation plan for Karachi. Let’s see if they can help solve our issues, however a home grown solution would probably be best.

All in all, a good day and good start to raising a voice about the topic in and around the city!

Happy April Fools from KMB! :)

To be honest, this addition isn’t much worth the hype either. For starters, walking in the room with one female companion whose first remark when we sit down is “i’m the only girl in here” doesn’t make for a good first impression. However, the menu’s looked appetizing, and they had a large list of sheesha flavors (exorbitantly priced, Rs. 250 for single flavor, and mixed flavor was Rs. 500!) So we skipped the sheesha and headed for the meals. I ordered the shwarma platter, which promised an addition of hummus and salad, I got a small serving with garnish and a spoonful of hummus.

The food was passable taste wise, despite the false advertising (the menu has a picture of chicken broast and fish, neither of those items are on the menu). That’s not all. I’ve seen poor service, on average, most restaurants in the clifton defense area have very poor service, save for the really classy places like Okra, but never have I seen a waiter so spaced out (or high on something is more like it) then here.

I could go on an complain about the fact that the music was skipping, and they simply let it skip rather than correct the problem, however I think that by now, you can get a sense of my disappointment.

Why do these new ventures invest so much money on making an ambiance and theme (that is obviously in demand in the city) and then spend nothing on training for local waiters?

So I wanted to get your suggestions on how best Rs. 5000 can be spent to have a positive influence in the city. The only condition is that it must improve the lives of local people, those that are most vulnerable and that 100% of the money goes to the cause and none be taken up in administration.

I thought about giving some money to the guys on the street, but I worried about it getting funneled into gang leaders hands. So I thought about some good NGOs that could use the money, but there are so many that do good work, and also so many that do not.

So I would like to hear some of your personal accounts for ways that you have improved the lives of others, or how you would recommend the most impact be made with the use of Rs. 5000.

So what would you do with Rs. 5000 to make the lives of others better?

This is the time, where we can do our part towards free and fair elections, and to actually expose rigging as much as we can.

These are the two ways you can get involved….

1. Take part in Election Day with an Election Comission Card: Become a volunteer and get registered with the Election Commission. Once we are registered, we can walk into any polling booth. and even hopefully oversee/scrutinize the counting. This can actually be quite exciting because we are inshallah going to try to hit close races, where the actual rigging is done during counting.

TO GET REGISTERED, we just need to get them your NIC copy and two passport sized pictures.

2. Take part as a volunteer: You can show up on election day and help out and observe the polls and interview people after they have voted.

This can be a first small step towards us trying to work towards a much fairer election and at least find out and report how the big wig political parties rig elections…

For more information and to volunteer contact Moneeza or Faris at muharik@gmail.com

Only the day before I had seen 2 on the streets! I guess the governments subsidization plan is really working afterall! This rickshaw driver was so happy and proud of his new CNG Rickshaw. He commented on the build of it, how it was stronger in comparison to the flimsy old rickshaws. He smiled and pointed to his ear and said, listen no annoying racket from the loud muffler.
The noise reduction alone made for a much more comfortable ride, as I said, I was able to think for the first time on a rickshaw.
He then mentioned how less of a pollutant it was, and that it is so much better for the environment!

Throughout the journey, on 2 occasions, individuals at stop lights came out of their cars and asked the driver how he likes the new rickshaw, one even circled it commenting on how nice it was.

I asked him the price and his response was rather surprising; he said “thanks to the government and Musharef who has helped subsidize this rickshaw for me, I can really enjoy my livelyhood now”

I looks like the driver has gotten a fresh haircut, a new rickshaw and a great new confidence on the road, knowing that the government actually helped him out, and now he’s become quite the center of attention to curious motorists and somewhat a symbol of jealousy to others still driving the old rickshaws.

It was a pleasant journey, and I for one, like today, will bypass 6 other rickshaws to get my hands on a CNG rickshaw to ride.
It just makes things that much more pleasant while on the road to work.

Have great day!

I came across this advertisement while on a visit to a clinic in Rehri Goth on Monday. I was quite surprised to see this since I’ve never come across such social public awareness messages in such simplified messaging. The question that gets me is what is it doing in Rehri Goth when it should be plastered around the city?

It all started with bowling. Area 51, as many who go there will recognize it for its music, sheesha and bowling lanes rather than their impeccable service (which leaves MUCH to be desired) regardless, bad service is not criminal, however, inability to make decisions without consent of the ‘Man in charge’, to me is. I asked for an order of fries, now I like my fries with Masala, and since I picked up the European habit of eating fries with Mayo, I asked for Masala fries and Mayo.
“Well, im sorry sir, that’s not on the menu”
“Yes it is, here, masala fries, and here, mayo fries” I informed the waiter.
“Yes, but sir, which one do you like?”
“Masala and mayo fries please”
“That cannot be done sir, it’s not on the menu” he, now a bit more stern, replied.
What ensued was a brief conversation with the management who then tussled over the ordeal for awhile, and then finally came to apologies that I would have to order two fries.
Now I may be culturally insensitive to asking for such flexibility. The fries meant nothing to me, it was the dialog that I will never forget. Customized orders are a no go, and area 51 isn’t the only place to deny me my masala and mayo fries…

Then it was the garbage artwork that so many fine artists contribute to the cities flourishing and blemished streets. I I was driving along Shar-e-faisal with a friend, who rolls down the window a bit and then tosses a chocolate bar wrapper out the window, astonished, I said that was wrong and he shouldn’t have done such a thing. To which he replied,
“Yea i know its not the best thing to do, but look at it this way, this road is cleaner than most, and that is because many people are hired to clean it. Do you think that if I threw this wrapper away in a garbage can that it would find its way to a landfill?”
“Well, thats the idea isn’t it?”
“Well no, most garbage bags just get tossed on the side of the road anyway, this way if I throw litter on shar-e-faisal, I know at least that the garbage is going to be picked up and put in the right spot.”
An interesting, and all too true excuse for why things are..

Then it was the movie theater. Cineplex Seaview is a great spot to hit once in a season, since that is how often they update their movie selection. Regardless, one day I was particularly feeling homesick, and when i’m in need of an escape I would goto the movies alone and just forget everything for those 90 minutes. This time (approximately 3:00pm on a Friday) I went to the theater. However upon entering, the manager kindly came up and informed me that I could not watch a movie by myself, that this was a family place an if I didn’t have a girlfriend, mother or sister with me, that I wouldn’t be entering. Now I can respect the family policy, last thing any family wants is to go somewhere and have a bunch of immature rowdy men causing ruckus. However on a Friday at 3pm, with not a single other patron in the theater, I was representing that batch of rowdy men. The only solution the manager could come up with was that I enter with another couple, who agrees to accompany me in the elevator up to the theater. After finding a nice young couple that entertained my request, I got to see my film (Movie title was ‘Cursed’, and personally I wouldn’t highly recommend it).

Each case had its good reason for why these policies and methods are in place. So does this make me a vain gora, or is there something inherent in this society that goes unnoticed, and unchecked? A general apathy towards doing anything away from what they are told to do? And sticking to policies, even if they don’t make sense in some situation.

I have many more examples which I may share in later posts regarding this “Thats just the way things are…” series.

Here is the list, in no particular order

1. Pizza Hut party deal, makes you feel like a kid again, for fun you could always compete for who can pack the most salad on the included salad bar deal.
2. Afreedi Inn, sitting on charpai’s and eating karhai is loads of fun.
3. Masooms/ Latte lounge has a great environment for sheesha, and celebrate get togethers.
4. Boat Basin never disappoints, and you can usually get a snake charmer to entertain, and order a large array of foods.
5. BBQ Tonight roof top or party room is a great place for meat lovers to rejoice. The food is delicious as well.
6. Sea view is great fun, get some pani puri, camel rides, roasted corn and then run around on the beach
7. House parties, invite Dhol wala’s to play and make/order the best desi treats like; chaat, pani puri, bun kebabs, gulab jamun, samosas etc.
8. Crab boating at the docks, is such a great and relaxing place to enjoy the rocking of the boat, eat some delicious crab and fish, and enjoy the company of your friends/family, no taking pictures though!
9. Beach hut gives you all the fun of seaview with the privacy of your friends/family, just be sure to bring out the rung to colour the earth! (and each other)
10. Deja Vu is great venue for events good food and a chance to crack jokes about someones age (if they are old enough to remember everyone on the walls.)

I realize most of these places are in the Clifton/Defense part of town. It would be great to hear about some other places or little places that one can have a great time at.

Where do you go to celebrate?

Cairo is a city of nearly 20 Million people, and like Karachi, is a raging metropolitan city where there exists a strong divide between the rich and the poor. Wikipedia says that Karachi is growing at roughly 5% a year (mainly attributed to Rural-Urban migration), so that means that by 2013 Karachi will have over 20 Million people. In just 6 years!

My friend described the scene to me that Cairo itself is far worse than Karachi and even worse than Delhi in terms of traffic, pollution, garbage, congestion, much more polarized society, more beggars and people trying to rip you off for more than they deserve and generally the tempers are shorter. Obviously this was a short term visit, but impressions last.

His first reaction was that this is where Karachi is heading within the next 10 years as economic and social rifts widen, traffic gets worse and pollution is on the increase.

Wondering if it is possible to learn from our friends in Cairo about what went wrong and how we can avoid such a fast paced population increase, when can’t even sustain our current population effectively.

Interesting also to note that there are benchmark cities that can be used to see what things could be like. I myself have yet to goto Cairo, and if it wasn’t for the Egyptian history and pyramids, im not sure I would be excited about visiting.

I would be interested to hear some of the solutions that are being brought forward to deal with these issue, whether governmental programs, or civil society involvement. I would also be interested to hear about other stories people could share about Cairo or perhaps other cities that are facing similar challenges.