Pak History

NED University of Engineering and Technology

2013-09-11T03:35:00.002-07:00

The Nadirshaw Eduljee Dinshaw University of Engineering and Technology (NED University) is a public university in Karachi, Pakistan. It was founded in 1922 as an engineering college, making it the oldest school in Pakistan for educating graduate engineers. In 1924, the Prince of Wales Engineering College was renamed to Nadirshaw Edulji Dinshaw University in the name of famous Parsi Businessman and owner of many factories at that time by his sons.

The NED University of Engineering & Technology, was established in March 1977 under an act of the Provincial Assembly of Sindh after upgrading of the former NED Government Engineering College, which was set up in 1922. The NED University is thus one of the oldest institution in Pakistan for teaching and producing Engineering graduates. Prior to this, the D.J.Sindh College, used to run classes to train subordinates for the Sindh P.W.D., the Municipalities and Local Boards.On August 29, 1921 College Principal C.S Shahani made a concerted effort to get Engineering Degree classes started to meet demands of Civil Engineers on the project for completion of the Sukkur Barrage. Application to this effect was made to the University of Bombay through the Commissioner of Sindh, who was ex-officio president of Sindh Collegiate Association (a registered society of subscribers for providing higher education in Sindh). The Bombay University however rejected the application on the grounds of insufficient finance and insisted on entirely separate buildings, laboratories for the engineering college as a separate institution.

After collection of donations from the Puribai and Becharbai Trust, Vishandas Fatehchand Brothers and one huge donation (for that time) of Rs.150,000 from Mr. Nadirshaw Edulji Dinshaw, the new college buildings and laboratories were constructed on separate land. The new college was originally the Prince of Wales Engineering College but later renamed in memory of Nadirshaw Edulji Dinshaw. The NED College was provisionally granted affiliation on 23-05-1923 by the University of Bombay for the first and second year courses in Civil Engineering and 78 students were provisionally admitted into first year classes in 1922. Permanent affiliation followed in February 1927.The first-full-time Principal of NED Engineering College was Mr. G.N.Gokhale who joined on 1st July 1923. Prior to this, Rai Sahib Bhupatrai had acted as Honorary Principal. The first professor (and Vice Principal) was Mr. S.B. Jannarkar who, along with Mr. Gokhale, did all the spadework in organizing and equipping the various departments and ordering the equipment for the Power House, Boiler Room, Hydraulics Laboratory, Engine Room and Machine Shops.The original NED Engineering College was housed in four blocks of buildings and two sheds. The main block was named as Seth Fatehchand Dewandas Khilnani Hall. The block housing the Power House, Electrical and Hydraulics Laboratories, and Workshops was named after Bai Puribai and Bacharbai.

Further additions were made to this block to provide accommodation for the Machine Shop on the ground floor and a (Mechanical) Drawing Hall on the first floor. The fourth block, completed in 1945, contained a Classroom and Clerks Office on the ground floor and another (Civil) Drawing Hall on the first floor. Two sheds were also built, one to house the Carpentry and Smithy Shops, and the other, alongside the Electrical Laboratory and Engine Room, to train technicians. The total cost of the buildings was just over Rs. 265,000 and the cost of equipment (including machinery, electrical instruments; models, steam, gas and oil engines; surveying and leveling instruments), books and furniture was just under Rs. 400,000. The college remained affiliated to the University of Bombay from its inception in 1922 to 1947, after which it was taken over by the Government of Sindh; renamed as NED Government Engineering College and affiliated to the University of Sindh.

Pakistan Railways

2013-09-11T03:34:00.003-07:00

Pakistan Railways provides an important mode of Transportation in the farthest corners of the country and brings them closer for Business, sight seeing, pilgrimage and education. It has been a great integrating force and forms the life line of the country by catering to its needs for large scale movement of people and freight.

The possibility of Karachi as a sea port was first noticed in the mid of 19th century and Sir Henry Edward Frere who was appointed Commissioner of Sind after its annexation with Bombay in 1847 sought permission from Lord Dalhousie to begin survey of sea port. He also initiated the survey for Railway line in 1858 . It was proposed that a railway line from Karachi City to Kotri, steam navigation up the Indus /Chenab upto Multan and from there an other railway to Lahore and beyond be constructed.

It was on 13th May,1861 that first railway line was opened for public traffic between Karachi City and Kotri, the distance of 105 miles. The line between Karachi City and Keamari was opened on 16.6.1889.By 1897 the line from Keamari to Kotri was doubled.

The railway line from Peshawar to Karachi closely follows Alexander’s line of march through the Hindu Kush to the sea. Different sections on existing main line from Peshawar to Lahore and Multan and branch lines were constructed in the last quarter of 19th century and early years of 20th century.

The 4 sections i.e.Scinde railways, Indian Flotilla company Punjab railway and Delhi railways working in a single company were later on amalgamated into Scinde, Punjab & Delhi railways company and was purchased by the Secretary of State for India in 1885 and in January, 1886 it was named North Western State Railways which was later on renamed as North Western Railways.

At the time of partition, North Western Railway’s 1847 route mile was transferred to India leaving route miles 5048 to Pakistan. In 1954 The railway line was extended to Mardan and Charsada section and in 1956 Jacababad-Kashmore 2’-6’’ line was converted into broad gauge. Kot Adu-Kashmore line was constructed between 1969 to 1973 providing an alternate route from Karachi to up country.

Pakistan Railways History

2013-09-11T03:33:00.000-07:00

Pakistan Railways forms the life line of the country by catering to its needs for large scale movement of freight as well as passenger traffic. It not only contributes to its economic growth but also promotes national integration.

Pakistan Railways endeavors to run the trains strictly in accordance to time table. The progressive freight train support organization operated by professional management and competent staff endavours to provide reliable, competitive and economical service of recognized standards to its customers.

Pakistan Railways provides an important mode of Transportation in the farthest corners of the country and brings them closer for Business, sight seeing, pilgrimage and education. It has been a great integrating force and forms the life line of the country by catering to its needs for large scale movement of people and freight.

Pakistan Railways provides an important mode of Transportation in the farthest corners of the country and brings them closer for Business, sight seeing, pilgrimage and education. It has been a great integrating force and forms the life line of the country by catering to its needs for large scale movement of people and freight.

The possibility of Karachi as a sea port was first noticed in the mid of 19th century and Sir Henry Edward Frere who was appointed Commissioner of Sind after its annexation with Bombay in 1847 sought permission from Lord Dalhousie to begin survey of sea port. He also initiated the survey for Railway line in 1858 . It was proposed that a railway line from Karachi City to Kotri, steam navigation up the Indus /Chenab upto Multan and from there an other railway to Lahore and beyond be constructed.

It was on 13th May,1861 that first railway line was opened for public traffic between Karachi City and Kotri, the distance of 105 miles. The line between Karachi City and Keamari was opened on 16.6.1889.By 1897 the line from Keamari to Kotri was doubled.

The railway line from Peshawar to Karachi closely follows Alexander’s line of march through the Hindu Kush to the sea. Different sections on existing main line from Peshawar to Lahore and Multan and branch lines were constructed in the last quarter of 19th century and early years of 20th century.

The 4 sections i.e.Scinde railways, Indian Flotilla company Punjab railway and Delhi railways working in a single company were later on amalgamated into Scinde, Punjab & Delhi railways company and was purchased by the Secretary of State for India in 1885 and in January, 1886 it was named North Western State Railways which was later on renamed as North Western Railways.

At the time of partition, North Western Railway’s 1847 route mile was transferred to India leaving route miles 5048 to Pakistan. In 1954 The railway line was extended to Mardan and Charsada section and in 1956 Jacababad-Kashmore 2’-6’’ line was converted into broad gauge. Kot Adu-Kashmore line was constructed between 1969 to 1973 providing an alternate route from Karachi to up country.

Karachi Sabzi mandi

2010-05-15T10:51:00.000-07:00

KARACHI, July 29: The New Sabzi Mandi — the brainchild of the Asian Development Bank — looks gross with dumps of filth, rotten fruits and vegetables lying everywhere and its roads flooded by rainwater.

Pools of water at some places had a depth between one to two feet while accumulations of mud could be seen around auction sheds.

The condition of roads, where banks are located opposite to the market committee’s administrative block is not any different from the area where the sheds are located. The area is almost out of bounds for a pedestrian and if immediate steps are not taken to drain the rainwater out, the water may enter the premises of banks.

Dumps of rotting stuffs on the road make the area around vegetable sheds, located in the “C” block of the market, unmotorable and at times bogging down vehicles trying to unload the farm produce there.

Mud could be seen all around gate number one, its parking area as well as the tract between shed number one and three.

Pools of water accumulated in the fruit market section, which starts from gate number two, reach between a depth of one-and-a- half feet to two feet, inundating the police post there.

Stink permeated everywhere in the parking lot with fruits, leaves and other waste rotting in pools of rainwater.

Garbage also littered in banana sheds located in the fruit section (B-1) and along the auction centre in the cold storage area, making it difficult for the buyers to move around.

The sewage drain was choked and the overflowing water had mixed with the rainwater, creating an unhygienic atmosphere.

The fruit and vegetable wholesalers faced an unsavoury situation with interruptions in power and water supplies.

Convenor of the Wholesale Fresh Fruit Merchants and Growers Association told Dawn complained that those who were directly drawing electricity from transformers were assured uninterrupted power supply while those with legal connections suffered. He blamed the market committee for the success of the Kunda system.

Haji Javed said that the power supply problem could not be solved until power cables were laid underground.

Terming the water supply situation to the New Sabzi Mandi miserable, he said that the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board had discontinued water supply to the market since last month because of non-payment of dues by the market committee, adding that the bill amounted to Rs5.4 million.

He also blamed the market committee for flourishing trade of water tankers, saying that water, meant for consumers at the Sabzi Mandi, was being supplied elsewhere.

He said that with the passage of time, the situation in the Sabzi Mandi was becoming more complicated as no one appeared to be serious about straightening its affairs, adding that everyone, who had been accused of corruption in the Ombudsman’s report, had been re-posted. He blamed these officials for the increasing illegal allotments in the fruit and vegetable market.

Referring to the market’s original layout plan, he said that the original plan had envisaged only 1,764 shops and auction sheds, which were later increased to 4,072 in 1996 in the revised plan. The facilities in the Mandi were raised to 4,348 in the plan submitted to the ombudsman as well as the Supreme Court.

“The latest plan, which has been submitted to the city government for approval, is the 12th plan in succession, showing more than 6,000 shops and sheds,” he said.

He said that only last month, notices had been issued after the KBCA had set up its camp office there to remove encroachments and illegal constructions.

University of Karachi

2010-04-08T20:45:00.000-07:00

The University of Karachi was established through the parliament as a Federal University in 1951. However, through another act of the parliament in 1962 its status was redefined as university of the province of Sindh. On 23 October, 1950 the Karachi University Act was passed and after an amendment in 1951 it was enacted. For the first two years, the University of Karachi remained as an examination University for the affiliated colleges. In 1953 it started its teaching and research activities at two Faculties of Arts and Science. Opened with an initial intake of 50 students, the university is now a sprawling structure of 53 Departments and 20 Research Centers and Institutes, under eight faculties of Arts, Science, Islamic Studies, Engineering, Law, Pharmacy, Management and Administrative Sciences and Medicine. At present the enrolment of regular students at the campus is slightly over 24,000. There are about 700 faculty members and more than 2500 supporting staff.
On 18 January, 1960 the university was shifted to the new campus on a plot of 1279 acres located on the Country Club Road (now University Road).

The Dr. Mahmud Hussain Library is an imposing three-storey structure situated firmly in the centre of campus activities. The library was established in 1952 with the start of University of Karachi. The library previously resided in another building before moving to the present building. The library houses 350,000 volumes, some of them dating back to the 1600s. The library also proudly holds the status of being the depository of the personal book collection of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan. Teachers from over 100 affiliated colleges frequent the university, along with scholars from 19 research institutions. A loan and resource sharing system exists with other academic entities in the Karachi area. A digital library was recently provided, enabling the scholars and students to access many online books and journals.
25 librarians, 10 assistant librarians, and around 90 nonprofessional staff help maintaining the library. The library is on the upper end of the academic spectrum in Pakistan. The building includes reading rooms (six for general purposes and another six for research).

IN 24 HOURS AVERAGE HUMAN

2010-03-05T12:55:00.001-08:00

1) HEART beats 1,03,689 times.
2) LUNGS respire 23,045 times.
3) BLOOD flows 16,80,000 miles.
4) NAILS grow 0.00007 inches
5) HAIR grows 0.01715 inches
6) Take 2.9 pounds WATER (including all liquids)
7) Take of 3.25 pounds FOOD.
8) Breathe 438 cubic feet AIR.
9) Lose 85.60, BODY TEMPERATURE.
10) Produce 1.43 pints SWEAT.
11) Speak 4,800 WORDS.
12) During SLEEP move 25.4 times

FASCINATING ANIMALS, BIRDS, TREES

2010-03-05T12:54:00.000-08:00

1) SNAILS have 14175 teeth laid along 135 rows on their tounge.
2) A BUTTERFLY has 12,000 eyes.
3) DOLPHINS sleep with 1 eye open.
4) A BLUE WHALE can eat as much as 3 tonnes of food everyday, but at the same time can live without food for 6 months.

5) The EARTH has over 12,00,000 species of animals, 3,00,000 species of plants & 1,00,000 other species.
6) The fierce DINOSAUR was TRYNOSAURS which has sixty long & sharp teeth, used to attack & eat other dinosaurs.
7) DIMETRODON was a mammal like REPTILE with a snail on its back. This acted as a radiator to cool the body of the animal.

8) CASSOWARY is one of the dangerous BIRD, that can kill a man or animal by tearing off with its dagger like claw.
9) The SWAN has over 25,000 feathers in its body.
10) OSTRICH eats pebbles to help digestion by grinding up the ingested food.
11) POLAR BEAR can look clumsy & slow but during chase on ice, can reach 25 miles / hr of speed.
12) KIWIS are the only birds, which hunt by sense of smell.
13) ELEPHANT teeth can weigh as much as 9 pounds.
14) OWL is the only bird, which can rotate its head to 270 degrees.

ASTONISHING FACTS

2010-03-05T12:53:00.000-08:00

1) LONGEST ENGLISH WORD: Praetertranssubstantiationalistically --> has 37 letters.

2) BOOK WITHOUT LETTER 'e': GADFY, written by Earnest Wright in 1939 is a 50,000+ word book, which doesn't contain a single word with ' e' in it

3) WORD WITHOUT VOWEL: RHYTHM

4) BRAIN: Organ of body which has no sensation when cut .

5) CROCODILE: Only animal & reptile which sheds tear while eating .

6) No of Alphabets, which SOUND AS WORDS: 10, They are
B Bee
C Sea
G Zee
I Eye
Q Queue
R Are
S Yes
T Tea
U You
Y Why

Islamic Celebrations

2010-02-26T08:53:00.000-08:00

Thus the birth of the Holy Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, was the most significant and the most remarkable event in human history. Had there been room in Islamic teachings for the celebration of birthdays or anniversaries, the birthday of the Holy Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, would have undoubtedly deserved it more than the birthday of any other person. But that is against the nature of Islamic teachings. That is why, unlike Judaism, Christianity, and Hinduism, there are very few festivals in Islam, which provides for only two Eids(Eidul-fitr and Eidul-Adha) during the whole year. The dates of these two Eids do not correspond to the birthday of any of the outstanding persons of Islamic history, nor can their origin be attributed to any particular event of history that had happened in these dates.

Both of these two Eids have been prescribed for paying gratitude to Allah on some happy events that take place every year. The first event is the completion of the fasts of Ramadan and the second event is the completion of Hajj, another form of worship regarded as one of the five pillars of Islam.

The manner prescribed for the celebration of these two Eids(festivals) is also different from non-Islamic festivals. There are no formal processions, illumination or other activities showing formal happiness. On the contrary, there are congregational prayers and informal mutual visits to each other, which can give real happiness instead of its symbols only.

Extremism in PAKISTAN

2010-02-10T08:20:00.000-08:00

“The second set of measures towards a theocratic state sought to inculcate obscurantist views and induced a narrowing of the human mind. It involved a suspension of the sensibility of love and reason underlying the religious tradition signified in Pakistan’s folk culture.” [4]

Retracting from his solemn pledge to hold elections in October 1977, shrewd, cunning and deceitful, General Zia initiated a process of so-called accountability of politicians and sought legitimacy in his ‘Islamization’ program, which was more cosmetic than substantial.

In February 1979, General Zia fixed a fresh date for holding of general elections and promulgated the so-called Hudood Ordinance 1979 (a unfair, unjust, un Islamic and intrinsically a draconian law) that dealt with the offences of drinking, adultery, theft and false allegations.

After a trial that lacked transparency and procedural propriety, Bhutto was sent to gallows in April 1979 on the false charge of ordering the murder of a political opponent.

Once the purpose of eliminating Bhutto was achieved, the general elections scheduled for November 1979 were postponed indefinitely.

Simultaneously, General Zia unleashed a reign of terror against his detractors and publicly flogged the PPP workers, students, journalists and lawyers who opposed his draconian measures.

In 1979, General Zia also promulgated Zakat and Ushr Ordinance that authorized the government to deduct what may be referred to as Islamic wealth tax at the rate of 2½ % from bank deposits that fall under the category of savings. The amount so deducted was to be distributed amongst the needy through some 32,000 zakat committees.

Those who became members of these committees developed a vested interest in prolongation of Zia’s rule.

In line with his ‘Islamization’ program, General Zia constituted in 1980 a Shariat Bench in each of the High Courts with the power to declare as repugnant to Islam any existing law, excluding fiscal laws.

Subsequently, in the same year, a Federal Shariat Court (FSC) was established to replace provincial Shariat Benches probably to simplify the structure of the judiciary and avoid pronouncement of conflicting judgments on matters related to shariah.

The FSC also had appellate jurisdiction in cases decided at lower levels under the shariah laws. The final judicial authority in the shariah matters was to be the Shariat Bench of the Supreme Court.

This brought about great elevation in the position of the ulema and they reached the corridors of power.

Husain Haqqani, who had once worked with Zia, observes:

“To serve alongside Western-educated jurists, Zia nominated representatives of the Islamic parties as judges of the Federal Sharia Court, the first time traditionally educated ulema had held that position since the introduction of English common law under British rule.” [5]

Under the instructions of General Zia, the performing arts were discouraged and strict censor was imposed on cinema and TV programs. The women artists and anchors on TV were to cover their head with dupatta (Hijab) and wear dresses that were not sexually attractive.

The themes of drama were changed to depict conservative values. The number of programs presenting Hamd (praise of Allah), Naat (praise of the Holy Prophet P.B.U.H.), Tilawat (recitation of the Holy Quran) and Tafseer (explanation and exegesis) were, qualitatively and quantitatively increased.

The radio and TV started airing the Azan (call for prayers) regularly. Advertisements in newspapers and on hoardings were not to carry photographs of women that may be considered obscene. Women were banned from participating in sports before the male crowd.

The Zia Administration issued directives to its various departments to arrange for observance of prayers and take break for that purpose.

Special sites were spared for observance of congregational prayers in government and semi-government offices and public places, including airports, railway stations, parks, markets, hospitals, educational institutions etc.

The sanctity of the month of Ramdhan (Holy month of Fasting) was strictly observed. The cafes and restaurants remained closed during the daytime. Even hawkers were not allowed to sell eatables during fasting hours.

For this purpose, Ehtaram-i-Ramazan Ordinance was promulgated in 1981, which prescribed punishment for violation of Ramazan’s sanctity.

With effect from 1 January 1981, the banks were required to introduce profit and loss sharing accounts that were claimed to be interest-free.

Subsequently, Banking and Financial Services (Amendment of Laws) Ordinance, 1984, was promulgated that introduced various concepts of so-called Islamic banking, including mark-up, hire-purchase, rent-sharing, licensing, leasing, musharika, modaraba etc.

In the field of education, the Quranic verses were used to describe natural laws and phenomena in textbooks of physical sciences.

The subject of Pakistan Studies became a vehicle for creating hatred towards the Hindu community and the students were indoctrinated in so-called ‘ideology of Pakistan’, for which truth was compromised and history murdered. [6]

The textbooks of Islamiat became a source of controversy between various sects of Islam. The isnads (degrees) conferred by madrassahs were made equivalent to university degrees, on the basis of which appointments were made in educational institutions.

There was talk of opening of separate girls’ universities. Urdu was made medium of instruction in government schools that effectively closed the minds of students by placing constraints on their access to knowledge.

General Zia’s ‘Islamic’ measures appear to be hypocritical. He never attempted to introduce the substance of Islam i.e., social and economic justice. Instead, the feudal lords and industrialists were given free hand to exploit the people. Unlike Bhutto’s time, the gap between the haves and have-nots increased rapidly under Zia.

As expected, General Zia’s program of ‘Islamization’ became controversial and imparted irreparable damage to the social fabric.

In Islam, there are various versions of shariah known as fiqahs since more than a thousand years. There are also several sects or maslaks (schools) that differ on beliefs of secondary nature but quarrel as if these differences are related to the fundamentals of Islam.

Often the ulema hailing from these various maslaks do not hesitate from issuing the fatwa (religious decree) of takfir (infidelity) against the rivals.

During the freedom struggle, Jinnah had taken due precaution not to get involved in sectarian issues. [7]

Zia’s legislative measures purportedly conformed to Sunni-Hanafi school of Islam and were at once resented by the minority Shia community that adhered to fiqah-i-jafaria.

As early as April 1979, an All Pakistan Shia Convention was held at Bhakkar to discuss the implications of General Zia’s legislative measures for the Shia community. It was on this occasion that Tehreek-i-Nifaz-i-Fiqah-i-Jafferia (TNFJ) was founded under the leadership of Mufti Jaffer Hussein, which became the most representative of Shia organizations.

Encouraged by the Iranian revolution of 1979, Pakistan’s Shia community adopted a tough stand on the Zakat and Ushr Ordinance of 1979 and refused to allow the government to deduct any amount from the deposits of Shia account holders.

On the call of Wifaq-i-Ulema-i-Shia (Federation of religious Clergy of Shia) Pakistan and Imamia Students Organization, the Shias converged in Islamabad on 5 July 1980 and virtually seized the capital city until the government conceded their demand of exemption from zakat deduction.

Under the Islamabad Agreement signed on the occasion, the government also promised to prescribe separate courses of studies in Islamiat for the Shia students.

Imam Khomeini played an important role in resolving the issue and obtained assurance from General Zia that the Shia demands would be met. (8]

The Iranian Revolution had inspired Muslims throughout the world by successfully confronting the United States and presenting a practical example of Islamic polity. Its radicalism was a threat to anachronistic regimes of the neighboring countries where despots ruled without popular participation or consent.

Pro-American Saudi monarchy particularly felt threatened from the trend set by the Iranian Revolution and feared that its spillover effects might destabilize the region. The show of strength by the Shias in Pakistan disturbed the Saudi dynasty and soon the Saudi government decided to counter Shia influence in Pakistan by supporting Sunni jihadi organizations that had been emerging since 1979 in the backdrop of the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan.

In August 1983, Mufti Jaffer Hussein died and TNFJ faced split in its ranks. One faction of the party called a conference at Bhakkar in February 1984 and elected Allama Syed Arif Al Husseini as its President.

Allama Syed Arif Al Husseini was able to secure support of Imam Khomeni and was appointed the Imam’s representative in Pakistan. [9]

Since the Islamabad Agreement had not been fully implemented, the TNFJ under Al Husseini resorted to agitation in which several shias were killed in July 1985 and the situation became very tense. The politics of TNFJ was seen with misgivings by the Sunni ulema.

In September 1985, Maulana Haq Nawaz Jhangwi, Maulana Ziaur Rehman Farooqi, Maulana Eesarul Haq Qasmi and Maulana Azam Tariq, all known for their anti-Shia views, founded Anjuman-i-Sipah-i-Sahaba, which was subsequently renamed as Sipah-i-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP).

Apart from sectarian differences, the emergence of the SSP represented class conflicts. An analyst has observed, “A feudal system has been operative in jhang (a District of Southern Punjab) for a very long time and most feudal landlords in this area belong to the Shia sect.

Opposed to this the majority of investors, industrialists and businessmen of the area are Sunnis. Divergence of interests led to confrontations in Jhang and Chiniot.” He has further claimed:

“Independent sources and police records confirm that Anjuman-i- Sipah-i- Sahaba was created by a group of eighteen businessmen from Jhang and discussions were held with Maulana Jhangvi to set down the outlines and goals of the organization.

Extremism in PAKISTAN

2010-02-10T08:18:00.000-08:00

In Pakistan, the relation between Islam and state has been a matter of great controversy. From the time of its inception, the opinion in the country has remained divided as to whether Pakistan is to be an Islamic/‘shariah’ state or a ‘modern’/‘secular’ Muslim-majority state.

The roots of this controversy could be traced to the various statements of the founder of Pakistan, Mohammad Ali Jinnah, which he gave during the independence movement and at the time of the emergence of Pakistan.

For example, in his 1940-article entitled “The Constitutional Future of India”, Jinnah stated:

“The British people, being Christians, sometimes forget the religious wars of their own history and today consider religion as a private and personal matter between man and God. This can never be the case in Hinduism and Islam, for these religions are definite social codes which govern not so much man’s relations with his God as man’s relations with his neighbor. They govern not only his law and culture, but every aspect of his social life, and such religions, essentially exclusive, completely preclude that merging of identity and unity of thought on which Western democracy is based, and inevitably bring about vertical rather than the horizontal divisions democracy envisages.” [1]

In marked contrast to the opinion expressed in the above-mentioned article, Jinnah as the designated Governor-General stated in the first Constituent Assembly of Pakistan on 11 August 1947:

“ . . . You may belong to any religion or caste or creed . . . that has nothing to do with the business of the state . . . We are starting in the days when there is no discrimination, no distinction between one community and another. We are starting with this fundamental principle that we are all citizens and equal citizens of one state.” He added, “. . .you will find that in course of time Hindus would cease to be Hindus and Muslims would cease to be Muslims, not in the religious sense, because that is the personal faith of each individual, but in political sense, as citizens of the state.” [2] The ‘two-nation theory’ had served its purpose and was duly repudiated. The two ‘nations’ __ Hindus and Muslims ___ were once again to be regarded as two ‘communities’ after independence.

Jinnah’s pronouncement of 11 August 1947 explicitly envisaged creation of a secular state in Pakistan. In doing so he was representing religious diversity of Pakistani society and plurality of Pakistani culture.

But the Ulema (Clergy) considered it a betrayal of the cause for which the South Asian subcontinent was partitioned into two sovereign states. Since then the ‘Objectives Resolution’ of 1949, the 22 Points of the Ulema framed in 1951, the anti-Ahmediya agitation of 1953, the ‘Islamic’ provisions of the Constitutions of 1956, 1962 and 1973, including the declaration of the Ahmediya community as being outside the pale of Islam through a constitutional amendment in 1974, General Zia’s ‘Islamization’ program and the ‘jihadi’ culture have reflected the conflicts and compromises between the adherents of diverse opinions as to the role of Islam in Pakistan.

Notwithstanding popular aspiration to establish some form of Islamic polity___ a legacy of the freedom struggle ____ the ethos of Pakistani society did not reflect religious extremism, at least till 1979.

In fact the society was prepared to accept many liberties in every-day life that the strict observance of Shariah would have denied it.

With economic development and exposure to foreign influences, it was opening up to modernism and adopting many western values. Ayub Khan’s period would be particularly known for this trend, for he had a penchant to modernize Pakistani society and his Family Laws Ordinance of 1961 is a testimony to the fact.

One has nostalgia for the social scene of the 1960s. There was no bar on performing arts, provided the presentations were apolitical.

The cinema halls offered latest Pakistani, Indian and Hollywood movies that as a part of urban culture were watched by families in decent environment.

Almost every urban locality had its wine shops and some sort of mini clubs for the youth. For the elite, the gymkhanas and nightclubs in the cities offered good venues to enjoy liquor, gambling and dancing.

There used to be prominent advertisements of floorshows with semi nude photographs of foreign performers in the newspapers. The racecourses attracted a lot of people on weekends.

The rich organized New Year parties without any hinder. Musical shows and functions without any impediment. Foreign tourists thronged the market places in the cities. Co-educational institutions were mushrooming.

The programs of Qawwali, (a form of recitation of Sufi poetry in the traditions of Hazrat Amir Khusro-the renowned Mystique and inventor of this form of religious rendition in praise of Allah, Prophet Mohammed (PBUH), and religious saints), was quite normal and used to draw huge audiences. Besides, rendition of Urdu Poetry in the well entrenched form of Mushaira was built into our lives and used to be a great form of _expression of our culture and traditions. The city life, particularly big cities like Karachi and Lahore, were known for these traditional forms of _expression of our aesthetic values.

The Coffee shops were built in to our day to day lives and were venues of diverse political, social and cultural debates, discourses and discussions. In short, there was no transformation in urban or rural culture that could have been specifically attributed to the creation of Pakistan in the name of Islam. Alas the traumatic events of 1971, culminating in the abject surrender of Pakistan armed forces in East Pakistan, did jolt the nation. Since the military ruler of the time, General Yahya Khan, and some of his close associates were notorious as drunkards and womanizers, the people blamed their waywardness as responsible for the disaster.

In the immediate aftermath of the tragedy, the unruly mobs attacked and burnt wine shops, nightclubs and cinema houses to vent their shock and grief. In this passing phase, there was much talk about the East Pakistan catastrophe as being a divine retribution for nation’s sins in deviating from the path of Islam and the dire need to revert back to what was popularly perceived as the real raison d’etre of Pakistan. With East Pakistan gone, Pakistan lost much of its religious diversity. Under pressure from the religious parties, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, who assumed power after the East Pakistan debacle, agreed to declare Islam the state religion of Pakistan in the Constitution of 1973.

He used the Islamic Summit Conference held at Lahore in February 1974 to project himself as one of the foremost leaders of the Islamic world. He also consented to declare the Ahmediya community as non-Muslim through a constitutional amendment in September 1974 after serious riots broke out on the issue.

By adopting such measures, Bhutto wanted to strengthen his Islamic credentials vis-à-vis ethno-regional and religious parties and compensate for his failure to deliver on economic front. But despite all this, Bhutto was never averse to cultural permissiveness and the ethos of Pakistani society did not undergo any change on that count.

His social liberalism was anathema to religious parties and the Casino, which Bhutto planned to construct on the Clifton beach, became a symbol of Bhutto’s cultural openness.

Considering himself firmly entrenched in the office, Bhutto advised President Fazle Elahi Chaudhry in the first week of January 1977 to dissolve the National Assembly and appoint 7 March as the date for next general elections.

In no time the hitherto divided opposition joined hands to form the Pakistan National Alliance (PNA) to confront Bhutto’s Pakistan People’s Party from a single platform.

In his desire to secure two-third majority that could have enabled him to amend the Constitution, Bhutto and his erstwhile colleagues and the then administration went for the overkill and the elections were massively rigged.

The PNA declined to accept the results and demanded resignation of Bhutto and holding of fresh elections under the supervision of the judiciary and the armed forces. The PNA picked up the slogan of ‘Nizam-i-Mustafa’ to infuse religious fervor in the movement that it launched to remove Bhutto.

The call for establishment of ‘Nizam-i-Mustafa’ became a rallying point and the urban populations, especially the bourgeois classes, were mesmerized by the romanticism of the utopia offered.

The workers of Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) and the pupils belonging to the madrassahs of Jamiat-i-Ulema-i-Islam (JUI)) spearheaded the PNA agitation to remove Bhutto from power.

With the involvement of foreign hand, the movement gathered momentum and the government became ineffective in maintaining law and order. Even the use of troops failed to stop the processions chanting slogans of ‘Nizam-I-Mustafa’ that daily poured out from the mosques. As a last resort, Bhutto agreed to introduce ‘Islamic system’ in the country and announced ban on gambling, wine, floorshows and the like.

There was to be no more racecourse or nightclub culture in the country. He declared Friday ___ the Muslim equivalent of Sabbath ___ as the weekly holiday.

Bhutto’s announcement to introduce ‘Islamic’ measures was taken as his weakness and a last ditch effort to save himself. Ultimately, as a result of the negotiations that had been in progress, the PNA and the PPP came to terms on holding of fresh elections in October 1977.

The agreement to this effect was to be signed at noon on 5 July; but in the early hours of that date the Chief of Army Staff, General Mohammad Zia-ul Haq, imposed martial law on the country.

In his very first address to the nation on 5 July 1977, General Zia stated:

“I must say that the spirit of Islam demonstrated during the recent movement was commendable. It proved that Pakistan, which was created in the name of Islam, will continue to survive only if it sticks to Islam. I consider the introduction of Islamic system as an essential prerequisite for the country.” [3]

General Zia had no qualms in exploiting the fair name of Islam for his political ends, i.e., survival at all cost; and JI had no scruples in supporting the most ruthless military ruler of Pakistan in his design to self-perpetuate himself.

In JI’s view, he was a messiah or Saladin destined to redeem the country that had gone astray after independence. With mosque and military as his constituencies, General Zia played havoc with the state institutions and the civil society during his eleven-year stint.

Commenting on General Zia’s rule, The Encyclopedia of Pakistan observes:

“In attempting to restructure . . . state and society into a theocracy, the government undertook two kinds of initiatives:

First, measures designed to (be) subordinate to executive authority, institutions of state and civil society such as the judiciary and the press, which if allowed to function independently could check governmental power.

Karachi Green Project

2010-02-06T01:01:00.001-08:00

This just about covers almost all the major roads in Karachi. Imagine what Karachi will look like if all the green belts on these roads actually become green instead of the brown or grey that they are at present. The plant that is being planted in all these places is called button mangrove. It grows really fast and looks like it doesn’t require much water either as it is growing in places where normally only weeds used to grow.

Another interesting thing is that the long disputed “Kidney Park” a 62 acre empty space between has also been included in this project. Kidney Park is located amongst a densely populated and has been a target of land grabbers for quite some time and the current government was rumored to be in cohots with them. But it looks like either those rumors were false or the government had a change of heart, either way it is good for the citizens.

The following psychological problems are summarized

2010-02-02T08:19:00.000-08:00

Depression - This section describes the various types of depression, including major depresion, dysthymic disorder, non-specific depression, adjustment disorder with depression and bi-polar depression.

Anxiety Disorders -Different anxiety problems are reviewed including panic disorder, post traumatic stress, social anxiety, agoraphobia, generalized anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder and specific phobias.

Schizophrenia - Schizophrenia is a chronic, severe, and disabling brain disease. Here, you will find information about the causes and treatment of schizophrenia, including information about new medications being developed to combat this illness.

Childhood Disorders - Childhood psychological problems related to behavioral control problems, including ADHD, conduct disturbance, and oppositional behavior are discussed. Separation anxiety, a common problem in young children, is also reviewed in this section.

Impulse Control Disorders - Psychological problems involving loss of control are described in this section. Anger control problems are usually diagnosed as intermittent explosive disorder by psychologists, and there is a separate discussion of Domestic Violence problems. These problems are described in this section: Pathological gambling, Intermittent Explosive Disorder, Domestic Violence, Kleptomania, Pyromania, Pathological Gambling, and Trichotillomania.

Personality Disorders - General characteristics of all personality disorders will be summarized, with more detailed information about obsessive compulsive, narcissistic and borderline personality disorders.

Adjustment Disorders - The general characteristics of adjustment disorders are explained, as well as presenting information about life stressors that lead to adjustment problems, such as marital conflict and job stress.

Family Problems - Sometimes family conflicts occur because one or more family members has a psychological disorder, such as those described above. However, family conflicts also arise because of communication problems, parenting issues, school problems and sibling conflict. These issues are described in this section.

Talibanisation not possible in Karachi, says Afghan C-G

2010-01-26T06:26:00.002-08:00

Talibanisation is not possible in the city because of the existence of modern culture, democracy and flourishing business, said the Consul General of Afghanistan, Abdul Ahad Khaliqyar.

He was talking to newsmen at Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation (SIUT) on Wednesday after attending certificate awarding ceremony for Afghan doctors trained by the SIUT who will work at the first kidney centre in Jalalabad donated by the Government of Pakistan.

“Talibanisation is impossible in Karachi because it has very different culture,” he said. He said there might be Talibanisation in the tribal areas of Pakistan because there “the culture is same.” He believed in Afghanistan, Talibanisation is also restricted to certain areas.

“There is trouble in only three to four provinces out of the total 34 provinces of Afghanistan,” he explained, adding that these troubled provinces are near the Pak-Afghan border.

He appreciated the new democratic government in Pakistan hoping that the relations between the countries will be improved. He added that the SIUT’s efforts to train Afghan doctors and paramedical staff will help improve relations between the countries, which are neighbours and enjoy a combined historical tradition and relationship.

The consul general added that there are seven medical colleges and one medical university in Afghanistan. He said that there is no data available about the existence of kidney diseases in Afghanistan.

Dr Salahuddin, who was trained by the SIUT doctors, said that no one can separate Afghanistan and Pakistan because both the countries have the same religion, culture and geography.

He said that the SIUT had planted flowers of love and brotherhood in Afghanistan with the training programme to help the poor patients of the country. “We do not have connections with politics as we want to serve the ailing humanity,” he said. He recalled that the government of Pakistan had also helped a lot for Afghans during Jihad there.

One of the trainees, Mir Wais Barakzai added that they were greeted with good behaviour whenever they showed their Afghan identity here. He said their visit to Hawkes Bay was memorable where they enjoyed beautiful view as Afghanistan had no sea.

Pakistan sends ‘life-savers’ to Afghanistan

2010-01-26T06:26:00.001-08:00

The Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation (SIUT) has trained Afghan doctors and paramedical staff as a gesture of goodwill towards the people of Afghanistan. The doctors and paramedics will work at a kidney centre in Jalalabad, which has been donated by the government of Pakistan, said Dr Adibul Hasan Rizvi.

Speaking at a ceremony to award certificates to the Afghan doctors and paramedical staff after their six month training here on Wednesday, Dr Rizvi said that Pakistan is sending a team of doctors who are going to save lives. He regretted that Pakistan is often accused of sending terrorists to Afghanistan but expressed pride over the fact that the SIUT is sending life savers to the country.

Giving a background of the training, he said that Pakistan proposed to donate a kidney centre at Jalalabad to serve the poor and underprivileged, who suffer from kidney diseases. The incident of kidney disease is high in Afghanistan while treatment facilities are limited.

Pakistan had set up an Afghan Trade and Development Cell in the foreign ministry to establish a kidney centre at Jalalabad named after a leader of the country, Abdul Rab Nishter. This included construction of ‘Nishtar Kidney Centre’, training of doctors, paramedical staff, bio-medical engineers and a rehabilitation facility. The government requested the SIUT for the training of a team comprising 18 doctors, paramedical staff and bio-medical engineers.

The SIUT agreed to train the team for six months at their own expenses without charging the government of Pakistan as a goodwill gesture towards Afghan brethren, Rizvi added. He said that the doctors were trained to investigate and treat patients suffering from renal failure. They were trained in dealing with critically ill patients suffering from kidney diseases and renal failure. They were also trained for insertion of central lines for dialysis and making arterio venous fistula.

During the course of the training the paramedical staff—nurses and technicians—was trained to take care of patients during dialysis and also taught how to handle and take care of machines. Bio-medical engineers were trained in handling and maintaining dialysis machines, water treatment machines and monitors. “Today they have completed their training and this is a great day,” Dr Rizvi exclaimed, adding that these trained people will serve the poor patients of their country with dedication and sincerity.

Dr Anwar, one of the trainers said that Sardar Abdul Rab Nishter kidney centre will be the first centre of its kind in Afghanistan. Meanwhile, Prof. Aijaz, also a trainer added that the kidney centre was supposed to be completed in 2007 but it could not be done probably because of deteriorating relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Abdul Ahad, the consul general of Afghanistan, in his brief speech on the occasion said that such efforts will help improve the Pak-Afghan relations. He added that he feels pleasure while visiting the SIUT and added that he had great regard for Dr Adib Rizvi who had dedicated his life for this noble cause. He also thanked the SIUT professors and doctors who trained Afghan doctors.

Inquiry demanded into suicide attempts

2010-01-26T06:25:00.001-08:00

Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) on Wednesday has demanded an inquiry against a private medical college in Mirpurkhas, where three students attempted suicide on Tuesday, reportedly after failing their MBBS examination.

The PMA central secretary general, Dr Habib Rehman Soomro said in a statement that in order to earn money, the medical college had a tendency of failing around 50 students each year because it would give admissions to extra students, violating the rules of Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) as well. This year, around 34 students were also declared to have failed their exams.

He said that the PMDC had given permission to the college to admit only 50 students but it allegedly gave admissions to 100 students. He said that since only 50 students were registered at the PMDC, the private medical college could not show the admission of 100 students. As a result, allegedly, the college was constantly failing the students.

Soomro also said that the medical college takes exorbitant amounts for its admission while its annual fee came around to Rs0.4 million to Rs0.5 million. He said that the college has no “complete department” of any medical science and wondered how it was allowed to operate.

Accordingly, Soomro urged the PMDC, chief minister Sindh, federal health minister to take notice of the incident and hold a high level inquiry.

Educated con-men nabbed by police

2010-01-26T06:23:00.001-08:00

The Investigation staff of the Gizri police station has arrested two youngsters who pretended to be Military Intelligence Majors and pressurised several station house officers (SHOs) into releasing several inmates, besides being involved in other kidnapping cases. The police also recovered bogus army uniforms, identity cards and arms from their possession.

On August 3, four unknown individuals, riding in a Toyota Corolla with registration No GE-018, kidnapped a trader Mohammed Shakir s/o Mohammed Hadi from N-Lane, Phase IV, DHA. The accused along with the kidnapped, were intercepted by constable Ghulam Abbas while going towards main Gizri Avenue at which they fled the scene. In this regard police registered FIR No. 325/2008 u/s 365-PPC at Gizri Police station. The car was obtained on rent and the original number plates were found from the car.

During the course of the investigation, Station Investigation Officer (SIO) Gizri, Faryad Hussain Bhatti arrested three accused persons namely Hassan Ahmed, Khaqan Javed Qazi and Rafique along with two TTs, one nine-mm pistol and seven cartridges. Moreover, two Army Major ID cards and uniforms were found from their possession.

The accused, Ahmed and Qazi, both belonged to reputable families. Both of them were close friends and residents of the Defence Housing Authority (DHA). Ahmed said that he is an expert in computer graphics and is a student of MBA, while Qazi said that he is a student of BCS and belongs to Gujranwala. The accused told the investigators during the investigation process that they had the lust for money and power and made various plans. In this regard, they were helped by Abbas, a criminal who was the mastermind behind all their activities. Abbas told them to kidnap residents from posh locality such as Defence and PECHS and form a gang of fake army personnels, made up of labourers and guards. Qazi was assigned to fulfil this task.

Qazi said he searched for suitable people and selected eight to nine persons who were hired for Rs10,000 to Rs20,000 and told to act as police guards. Later he went to Darra Adam Khel and purchased three pistols from a man, Aziz Khan Afridi before returning back to Karachi. Moreover, Abbas the mastermind also told Ahmed to purchase army uniform and create ID cards of army personnel.

SIO Bhatti revealed that upon investigation, Hasan disclosed that he had expertise in this field and had purchased army uniforms from Malir Cantonment by showing fake Army ID cards of Military Intelligence that he created. Abbas further instructed the duo to hire a flat to detain the abductees, which Qazi duly did by renting a flat in Defence in the Building 90C. After that they were introduced by Abbas to a man who provided the duo cars on rental basis. Ahmed was supposed to make official number plates to make the cars look like they belonged to the Military Intelligence.

After planning by Abbas, Ahmed and Qazi along with their accomplice went to kidnap Adnan Shaikhani from Ferozabad area, but failed. During the attempt, the two friends wore army uniforms and rode cars with fake government number plates. In the same incident, a police guard posted for security at a minister’s residence inquired about their presence at which the accused persons asked the guard to step back as an encounter will take place in a moment. Soon a police patrolling mobile came and the suspects fled.

The duo informed Abbas of the botched attempt who told them to kidnap a gold trader and demand money from the family. As per plan, they managed to kidnap the trader but were caught by the police. The investigators also disclosed that the accused visited various police stations of the city in their fake Army uniforms and identified themselves as Majors from Military Intelligence (MI) to release suspects held by the police. Further probe is underway.

Power crisis grips Karachi

2010-01-26T06:20:00.000-08:00

Power outage has become the main issue in the city, adding miseries to the masses and negatively affecting industrial and commercial activities. In this hot and humid weather, the citizens are experiencing power failures for up to 18 hours, sparking widespread resentment against the privatised Karachi Electricity Supply Corporation (KESC).

Like the previous power crisis, this one is also reportedly blamed on the mismanagement of the power utility. There have been reports that the KESC was allegedly not generating electricity to save the fuel cost. Similarly, it was not purchasing power from Independent Power Producers (IPPs) for the same purpose.

Moreover, the National Transmission and Dispatch Company (NTDC), a subsidiary of Pakistan electric power company (PVT.) LIMITED (PEPCO) previously reported to have disconnected the power supply to the KESC over outstanding dues amounting to Rs13.7 billion. Therefore, the NTDC demanded a repayment of three billion rupees, otherwise the power supply would have been cut off, which it did, causing immense hardships to 16 million people and crippling economic activities of the city.

Admittedly, the energy crisis has become the most daunting challenge for the new government.

However, this is an old phenomenon as according to an Asian Development Bank study regarding the power supply in Asia, Pakistan, since its creation, has only made two significant developments in the power sector. These are, namely, IPPs for the power generation and National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) for the protection of consumer rights. Although, the latter in the words of the Senate body had failed to fight for consumer rights with the city based party protesting against the 30 per cent increase in the power rates.

But the problem became particularly acute during the last decade partly because of the silt build-up in the two major hydel reservoirs, Mangla and Tarbela and the slow growth of IPPs among other reasons.

Tarbela had an original storage capacity of 11.62MW in 1974, which has reduced to 8.24 and will further lose up to 5.40MW by 2025. The IPPs have grown at a snail’s pace during the last six years, adding only 27MW, according to the study carried out by the AKD Securities. Transmission losses because of the poor quality infrastructure and a significant amount of power theft were the other reasons. The financial health of the power utility is also a key concern.

The concerned KESC officials believe that the utility needs at least Rs15 billion to Rs20 billion to emerge from the present crisis. The misuse of power in many areas is another facet of the power crises which involves the tampering with the main lines. The KESC management is unable to control all the wastages. They say that if a main power supply line is appropriate for six families, it is being used by 60 families due to illegal connections.

A large number of people, who do not have legal connections, use electricity by greasing the palms of the concerned meter reading officials and billing department. This corrupt culture affects the people who pay their bills honestly and benefits those violating the laws.

This shows the unavailability of the civic sense. Although people have been complaining about the power outages for ages, yet the KESC often claims that it is doing better. There have been allegations that the power utility officials have been looking at this problem as “spectators”.

However, the technical experts sent by the federal government led by the power secretary said that the transition status prevailing in the KESC is another reason behind the power supply crisis. As the new management took over the power utility, the officials hoped that the situation would improve.

Meanwhile, a large number of tailoring shop owners, Public Call Offices and local clinics operating in deprived areas have been facing this problem. Even a few clinics and 24-hour hospitals situated in these areas claim to have installed vaccination facilities. But it is again a question of whether the vaccines in these centres are able to maintain the required temperature or not.

A survey needs to be conducted in order to understand how these health centres providing vaccine facilities to the unaware masses are functioning accordingly. There are already reports about the sale of spurious drugs and certain markets have been openly selling the same at the cost of public health.

Besides these concerns, there are some other issues such as inflation, which has increased in Ramazan as the authorities’ efforts of setting up a district price control committee, increase in punishment and fine against hoarding through legislation and setting up fair price markets have not brought desirable results so far.

The increase in food prices is partly a result of the rise in the prices of fertilizers while certain elements have created its shortage, prompting the farmers to protest against it. The water shortage is likely to affect the wheat production, which will be compounded as India has reportedly blocked the Chenab river flow to Pakistan.

Inflation will further increase the poverty and inequality. According to the ADB report, if there is a 10, 20, and 30 per cent increase in the food prices, the number of poor people will rise by 7.5m, 14.67m and 21.96m respectively.

Some difficult decisions have to be taken by the new government. The ruling party leaders often talk about the “new social contract” and it is time they implement the same. The United Nations in its new report “overcoming economic insecurity” says “a modern state can not advance to high levels of economic and social development, internal order and peace without cooperation forged through a social contract.” This social contract can be secured through a fair distribution of resources, which will also maintain the social and economic order.

It is heartening to note that the former mayor of Bogotá, Enrique Penalosa is visiting the city. Previously, when he was in Mumbai, he had said that public space is like the human body. Since no one can give his/her finger in return of millions of rupees, this principle should also apply to public spaces, which cannot be sold for financial gains.

Regarded as the best mayor of the world, interestingly Penalosa has developed a bicycle track up to 20 kilometres long in Bogotá.

One hopes that our city planners will learn from his experiences as allegedly land is being used in the city without taking into account the social and economic considerations.

Another issue is the extra-ordinary powers of the Nazim, which are reportedly creating differences between the provincial coalition partners.

Karachi Life

2010-01-23T22:40:00.000-08:00

Karachi is not just a city. It is a unique city in many ways. To begin with, it is a metropolis in the strict sense of the word, characterized by an accelerating rate of suburban growth. Its rate of growth has been phenomenal, particularly since the emergence of Pakistan. From a medium-size city of less than 500,000 population in 1947 it grew to well over five million in 1981 and, according to most conservative estimates, has now exceeded 6.5 million mark. With increase in population there has been simultaneous increase in its a real extent, as indicated by the figures - 233 sq. Ian. in 1947 to 1300 sq. Km. in 1986.

Like any other major metropolitan center, Karachi is inhabited by a wide variety of communities belonging to different religious and linguistic groups drawn from different parts of Pakistan. Aside from Urdu-speaking n-migrants (Muhajirs) who still form the biggest ethnic group, there are considerable number of people from N.W.F.P, Kashmir, Punjab, Baluchistan, and of course from different parts of Sind of which it is the capital city. In this way Karachi like other leading cities of the. world has developed into a National Metropolis. No wonder, it is often described as miniature Pakistan, which is really is, just as Bombay is mini-India, London is mini-England, and Paris is mini-France.

Pakistan Locked in Debt Cycle: Economic Survey

2010-01-10T08:03:00.000-08:00

The budget documents and the figures available in Economic Survey of Pakistan for 2008-09, revealed that Pakistan has now trapped into vicious circle of debt repayments as debt liabilities have been exceeding the estimates of total foreign receipts.In the fiscal year 2009-10, the government is expecting a supply of $2.5 billion dollars as loans from donor countries and multilateral agencies, whereas the total allocation for debt repayments and servicing of foreign debt in 2009-10 stands at $2.53 billion dollars. Hence, the government is raising debt to pay debt and the relief impact of the expected foreign loan is difficult to see.Â ÂAs on June 2009, Pakistan’s external debt liabilities were $50.1 billion, whereas the domestic debt liabilities were estimated at $46.97 billion and the total floating debt, which consists of short term domestic borrowing instruments such as Treasury bills, was estimated at $24 billion dollars. The total outstanding debt is therefore $119.9 billion dollars; roughly 57.6 per cent of the total Gross Domestic Product (GDP).The Prime Minister Advisor on Finance Shaukat Tarin in a post budget press conference gave the break up of the $2.5 billion dollars which the government has been expecting in next fiscal year.According to Tarin, the government has been expecting one billion dollars from USA under the Kerry Lugar bill support, $840 million from International Monitory Fund (IMF), $800 million from World Bank (WB), $600 million from Asian Development Bank (ADB) and $23 million from Islamic Development Bank (IDB).Â The government also has commitments of $2 billion for FY-1009-10 from the Friends of Democratic Pakistan (FODP) which will raise the estimates of foreign receipts to $4.5 billion. However, the government itself is unsure about the realisation of $2 billion pledges from FODP. The advisor to the PM on Finance is on record as saying that the government will pursue an additional $4 billion loan from the IMF in case payments fail to come through.

Facts about Ashura

2009-12-26T04:14:00.000-08:00

Fasting on the 10th Muharram i.e. Ashura was obligatory on the Muslims before the fasts of Ramadan were made obligatory.
Fasting on the 10th of Muharram expiates the sins of the previous year.
Musa (as) and the Bani Israel were saved from the Pharaoh by the parting of the sea on 10th Muharram.
Prophet Musa (as) as a sign of gratitute to Allah used to fast on the day of Ashura and Jews did the same.
Prophet Muhammad (saw) on hearing the fast of Musa (as) also ordered the Muslims to fast on this day and himself did the same.
Prophet Muhammad (saw) decided to fast on 9th Muharram as well to differentiate from the Jews but he passed away before he could do so.

The Duty of Enjoining Good and Forbidding Evil

2009-12-26T04:13:00.000-08:00

The Qur'an and hadith lay great emphasis on the duty ofal‑'amr bil ma'ruf wa al‑nahy `an al‑munkar, and it is recognized as one of the most important duties of Muslims in general and the `ulama' in particular.

Unfortunately this duty is discreetly shunned by the dhakir who is averse to disturb the complacence of his audience and to venture to guide them at the cost of his own popularity. The strategy of con nivance, though full of perils in the Hereafter, yields immediate returns. The strategy of reducing (seemingly, elevating) the wajib al‑ita'ah Imams of the Ahl al‑Bayt (A), obedience to whom is obligatory, into holy inimitable metaphysical figure‑heads to be admired and implored in supplications for worldly benefits, may serve to attract applausing crowds but does no service to the religion of God and does no justice to the great teachers of mankind, which the Ahl al‑Bayt (A) in fact were.

In some cases the attitude goes further than mere connivance, where the dhakir tries to soothe and appease bad religious conscience by proving on his own authority that absence of obedience to the commands of the religion of the Ahl al‑Bayt (A) will not hurt the believer as long as he remains their passionate admirer, as if such a thing were possible. When such disastrous attitudes are consciously cultivated among the people, when the mourning assemblies‑which were original ly instituted to propagate the message of al‑Imam al‑Husayn - are held without paying any attention to al‑'amr bil ma`ruf wa al‑nahy`an al‑munkar and to the sublime goals of al‑Imam al‑Husayn and the sacred purposes behind his resistance against the regime of Yazid, it is not strange that those goals should gradually lose their relevance in the Muslim society, and theahkam should become unimportant for the Muslim masses.

Future China Pakistan Relations

2009-12-19T09:45:00.000-08:00

China –Pakistan relations began in 1951 when Pakistan was among the first countries to break relations with the Republic of China or Taiwan and recognize the People's Republic of China. Since then, the two countries have regularly exchanged high-level visits resulting in a variety of agreements. The China has provided economic, military, and technical assistance to Pakistan. The alliance remains strong.

China strongly supported Pakistan's opposition to Soviet involvement in Afghanistan. The China and Pakistan also share a close military relation, with China supplying a range of modern armaments to the Pakistan defense forces. Lately, military cooperation has deepened with joint projects producing armaments ranging from fighter jets to guided missile frigates. Chinese cooperation with Pakistan has reached high economic points with substantial investment from China in Pakistani infrastructural expansion, including the noted project in the Pakistani port in Gwadar.
Diplomatic relations

Diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China were established on 21 May, 1951.

Pakistan-China Military relations

The People's Republic of China's relationship with Pakistan has often been regarded as all weather and time tested. This friendship for both the Asian countries holds great importance and is priceless in terms of common interest and geo-strategic alliance.
In recent years the friendship has deepened even further and China has several defense treaties with Pakistan.
China has been a steady source of military equipment and has cooperated with Pakistan in setting up weapons production and modernization facilities.
The two countries are also actively involved in the joint venture of several projects to enhance each others' military needs, including JF-17 Thunder fighter aircraft, K-8 Karakorum advance training aircraft, space technology, AWACS, Al-Khalid tank,missiles and many other projects. The two countries also held several military exercises together to further deepen and enhance cooperation between the two armed forces. Also China is the largest investor in the Gwadar Deep Sea Port, which is strategically located at the mouth of the Strait of Hormuz. China and Pakistan also have deeper ties in Science and Technology. China has supported Pakistan's Nuclear Program and helping Pakistan's to build more Nuclear Plants. China and Pakistan also sign an agreement of Civil Nuclear technology. China and Pakistan also cooperating is Space Technology, which is resulting as Pakistan's sending satellites and being a part of Asia's Space Race.
Following are some of the most important events in relations between the two neighbors.
1999 - A 300-megawatt nuclear power plant, built with Chinese help in Punjab province, is completed. China is helping to build a second 300-megawatt nuclear plant due to be finished by 2010.
2001 - A joint-ventured Chinese-Pakistani tank, the MBT-2000 (Al-Khalid) MBT, comes into full production.
2002 - Chinese Vice Premier Wu Bangguo attends ground-breaking ceremony for Pakistan's Gwadar deep-sea port. China provides $198 million for $248 million joint project.
2007 - China-Pakistan joint-ventured multirole fighter aircraft - JF-17 Thunder (FC-1 Fierce Dragon) is formally rolled out. 2008, Pakistan starts mass production of the aircraft.
2008 - China warns US of war against Pakistan, during which former President Pervez Musharaf visits China, Musharaf raised issues of US attacks inside Pakistan.
Pakistan's foreign office (the first foreign issue to speak of Tibet) speaks for more than 3 times per month on the Tibet issue, calling for the world to stop opposing China and the Olympic games.
Pakistan welcomes China's Olympic torch warmly. Pakistan became the first country not to protest against Tibet when the torch arrived. China as a result thanked Pakistan for its continuous support.
2008 China and Pakistan sign an FTA free trade agreement. It is the first such agreement signed by the two countries. As a direct result China will open new industries in Pakistan and Pakistan would be offered free trade zones in China.
2008 China vows to help Pakistan in civil nuclear technology by building and helping in the Khusab Nuclear Programme providing technology to Pakistan for better maintained of civil nuclear plants.
2008 Pakistan and China to build first ever train routes near Karakrum Highway.
2008 The F-22P frigate, an advanced state-of-the-art Chinese navy frigate, comes into service with the Pakistani Navy.

Pakistan and Bangladesh

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When the British partitioned the Indian subcontinent, they created a nation called Pakistan for the Muslims in then region. Pakistan consisted of two regions – West Pakistan and East Pakistan – separated by 1,100 miles of Indian territory. East Pakistan seceded from the nation, causing a civil war. India joined the conflict on the side of the East Pakistanis. In 1971, East Pakistan became the independent nation of Bangladesh. Bangladesh had many reasons for separating from Pakistan:

• Bangladesh is only one-fifth the size of Pakistan, it has a larger population.

• The two nations are very different. Pakistan is a mountainous nation with many ethnic groups, while most people in Bangladesh share the same culture. 98% of the people of Bangladesh speak Bengali, yet less than ten percent of Pakistanis speak Urdu, their official language.

• By 1970, East Pakistan paid more taxes than West Pakistan, but the government was dominated by West Pakistanis.

• A violent flood in 1970 killed more than 300,000 Pakistanis. Many people in East Pakistan accused the government of delaying shipments of food and relief supplies to the victims.

Bangladesh faces some of the greatest challenges of any nation in the world. It is the ninth most populated nation in the world. Bangladesh has half the number of people of the United States, but they are squeezed into an area less than the size of Wisconsin. Bangladesh is located on a delta formed by the Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers. The rivers often flood, killing many people. Crowded conditions and natural disasters have made famine, or great hunger, a common problem in Bangladesh.

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Bangladesh came to today's shape through a long history of political evolution. Bengal was probably the wealthiest part of the subcontinent up till the 16th century. The area's early history featured a succession of Indian empires, internal squabbling, and a tussle between Hinduism and Buddhism for dominance. All of this was just a prelude to the unstoppable tide of Islam which washed over northern India at the end of the 12th century. Mohammed Bakhtiar Khalzhi from Turkistan captured Bengal in 1199 with only 20 men.

Under the Mughal viceroys, art and literature flourished, overland trade expanded and Bengal was opened to world maritime trade - the latter marking the death knell of Mughal power as Europeans began to establish themselves in the region. The Portuguese arrived as early as the 15th century but were ousted in 1633 by local opposition. The East India Company negotiated terms to establish a fortified trading post in Calcutta in 1690.

The decline of Mughal power led to greater provincial autonomy, heralding the rise of the independent dynasty of the nawabs of Bengal. Humble East India Company clerk Robert Clive ended up effectively ruling Bengal when one of the impetuous nawabs attacked the thriving British enclave in Calcutta and stuffed those unlucky enough not to escape in an underground cellar. Clive retook Calcutta a year later and the British Government replaced the East India Company following the Indian Mutiny in 1857.

The Britons established an organizational and social structure unparalleled in Bengal, and Calcutta became one of the most important centers for commerce, education and culture in the subcontinent. However, many Bangladeshi historians blame the British dictatorial agricultural policies and promotion of the semi-feudal zamindar system for draining the region of its wealth and damaging its social fabric. The British presence was a relief to the minority Hindus but a catastrophe for the Muslims. The Hindus cooperated with the Brits, entering British educational institutions and studying the English language, but the Muslims refused to cooperate, and rioted whenever crops failed or another local product was rendered unprofitable by government policy.

At the closure of World War II it was clear that European colonialism had run its course and Indian independence was inevitable. Independence was attained in 1947 but the struggle was bitter and divisive, especially in Bengal where the fight for self-government was complicated by internal religious conflict. The British, realizing any agreement between the Muslims and Hindus was impossible, decided to partition the subcontinent. That Bengal and Punjab, the two overwhelmingly Muslim regions, lay on opposite sides of India was only one stumbling block. The situation was complicated in Bengal where the major cash crop, jute, was produced in the Muslim-dominated east, but processed and shipped from the Hindu-dominated city of Calcutta in the west.

Inequalities between the two regions i.e. East and West Pakistan soon stirred up a sense of Bengali nationalism that had not been reckoned with during the push for Muslim independence. When the Pakistan government declared that `Urdu and only Urdu' would be the national language, the Bangla-speaking Bengalis decided it was time to assert their cultural identity. The drive to reinstate the Bangla language metamorphosed into a push for self-government and when the Awami League, a nationalistic party, won a majority in the 1971 national elections, the president of Pakistan, faced with this unacceptable result, postponed opening the National Assembly. Riots and strikes broke out in East Pakistan, the independent state of Bangladesh was unilaterally announced, and Pakistan sent troops to quell the rebellion.

The ensuing war was one of the shortest and bloodiest of modern times, with the Pakistan army occupying all major towns, using napalm against villages, and slaughtering and raping villagers. Bangladeshis refer to Pakistan's brutal tactics as attempted genocide. Border clashes between Pakistan and India increased as Indian-trained Bangladeshi guerrillas crossed the border. When the Pakistani air force made a pre-emptive attack on Indian forces, open warfare ensued. Indian troops crossed the border and the Pakistani army found itself being attacked from the east by the Indian army, the north and east by guerrillas and from all quarters by the civilian population. In 11 days it was all over and Bangladesh, the world's 139th country, officially came into existence. Sheikh Mujib, one of the founders of the Awami League, became the country's first prime minister in January 1972 ; he was assassinated in 1975 during a period of crisis

The ruined and decimated new country experienced famine in 1973-74, followed by martial law, successive military coups and political assassinations. In 1979, Bangladesh began a short-lived experiment with democracy led by the overwhelmingly popular President Zia, who established good relationships with the West and the oil-rich Islamic countries. His assassination in 1981 ultimately returned the country to a military government that periodically made vague announcements that elections would be held `soon'. While these announcements were rapturously greeted by the local press as proof that Bangladesh was indeed a democracy, nothing came of them until 1991. That year the military dictator General Ershad was forced to resign by an unprecedented popular movement led by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and the Awami League.

Democracy was re-established and the economy ticked along at a 4.5% growth rate, which hardly made it an 'Asian tiger' but was at least respectable. Political dog-fighting between the BNP and the Awami League became acrimonious in the run up to national elections in February 1996 leaving the country strike-ridden and rudderless. The election was marred by violence and boycotted by the three main opposition parties, resulting in a BNP shoo-in. However, low voter turnout and reports of ballot-box stuffing by polling officials raised serious questions about the government's legitimacy and in April 1996 Prime Minister Begum Khaleda agreed to stand down and appointed an interim caretaker administration, pending new elections scheduled for 12 June 1996.In the elections Awami League got the largest number of seats. Sheikh Hasina Wazed, the leader of the Awami League, was sworn in as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh Government.