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Jettison the mould GOVERNMENTS come and governments go. With the installation of each new government, the hapless nation used to hold its breath in the hope and expectation that things were at last going to change, change for the better, that is....		Go the Chinese way GHULAM KIBRIA likes to describe himself as a development consultant. His seven books look at the way countries have developed over the years. They also examine closely how some less fortunate countries, such as Pakistan, muffed opportunities...
Tale of a worthy ‘wardy’ I WAS summoned by Ajab Khan’s diminutive maternal grandmother. She is an affectionate old lady. Most of us in Kangal Colony call her Nani (grandmother). She doesn’t live far away from my abode. I hastened to her. She appeared disturbed. I held her wrinkled hand, and asked, “Are you alright, Nani...		A heartless woman IN ONE of his stories, Maupassant writes that if you are asked have you ever been in love and your answer is ‘yes many times’, then you have never been in...
Mismanagement of Nullah Leh AROUND two million poverty-stricken people — mostly slum dwellers — living across the bank of the cruel Nullah Leh (country’s largest sewerage channel) are living in fear of devastating floods, that the monsoon rains may bring this year....		Talking about women’s rights WOMEN’S rights in this country have long been a far cry. Specially the rural woman, who is not only unaware of her rights, but is exploited in the name of honour....
End of the English summer AS THE Pakistan second innings began, there was something of a clearance-sale about it. For reasons that were hard to decipher, Wasim Bari opened the innings with Mohammad Ilyas. One had...		Rediscovering the world of books IN PAKISTAN, ideas and initiatives with great potential have a nasty habit of losing steam mid-way. There are countless examples where the efforts of one particular government or individual lost favour of the following rulers...
The dark side of herbal medicines EVERY year Pakistanis, spend millions of rupees on a wide variety of alternative therapies. Many often abandon the treatments of their regular doctors. ‘Herbs’ are back in vogue. Apart from acting as curative agent in therapies, they are used for decorative purposes...		In search of daffodils AS SOON as we were out of Rochester I remembered the good advice of my English friend Johnny that you have to be friendly with the driver who gives you a...
Capturing souls SHAH Abdul Latif Bhitai a great poet gave new meaning to love and depth to feelings. His poetry encompasses the whole of life, from its small segment of the earth to the endless mysterious heaven .His experience of things are powerfully intense....		Jinnah and Aligarh WHY did Jinnah take to Aligarh in the late 1930s and early 1940s as he did to no other institution? Because he had recognized all along that Aligarh represented “a great power house of Muslim thought and culture and learning”, and was the “intellectual capital” of Muslim India, to quote the Aga Khan...
A debate with misplaced focus A LOCAL television network seems to have decided to refer everything under the sun to the mullahs for their final say. And the mullahs have been found ever ready to sit in judgment and pass their verdict in accordance with Islam as they have understood....		Media has to do more, better RECENTLY, a spate of features and comments appeared in various snewspapers in which the coverage of the Iraqi War by Western newspapers and channels was criticized. The writers correctly berated the...
The English Lion roars ENGLAND gained a huge psychological advantage ahead of their five-match Test battle with an emphatic trouncing of South Africa in the triangular series’ final in what was the Proteas’ first-ever One-Day appearance on the hallowed turf of Lord’s....		In the grip of a healthy rivalry THE new-look England One Day side appears to have come to terms with the many fears and uncertainties that are part and parcel of any rebuilding process. This comes across not...
The confusion is over WHILE the Pakistan Hockey Federation has yet to decide the fate of Sohail Abbas and Wasim Ahmed, at least the confusion surrounding the whole issue has been taken care of. The...		Why bother about the P-bomb? THERE was a time, not long ago, when the finger-wagging Americans warned Pakistan to keep a lid over its Population bomb. Now, all they shout about is our A-bomb and want it capped. As for hoi polloi...
Of neighbours, crows, cuckoos and ... A FRIEND once asked me who wore the pants in my family. We were having tea. He explained that if the wife called the shots, then she’s the one supposed to be wearing the particular piece of clothing. I didn’t reply because both...		Need for a social change THIS letter is with reference to the article, In the name of culture (June 29). In this article, the writer has raised several issues and questions regarding culture, authority, civil service...
Mosaic: Rise in air pollution fatalities IN THE first half of the 20th century, burning coal for heat and to power factories were the primary sources of air pollution. Today burning coal (now to produce electricity) still...		Newsmaker EVERYONE knew about it, but no one really bothered to reveal the hard-hitting facts until Airguide Spring 2003, in an online survey, asked customers to rate the services provided by various airlines. The criteria for rating included....