HAVING obtained their degrees from institutions as prestigious as the University of Punjab, the University of Pennsylvania, the Sindh University, the Oxford University, the Lahore College and the London School of Economics, the CVs of the newly-inducted ministers for state (both male and female) are more than impressive to look at. More so, for a nation like us who felt privileged even when the first step towards the need for ‘educated leadership’ was taken and the condition of a bachelors degree was imposed on candidates in order to contest elections, Cambridge and Columbia are too much to ask for. All these years a matriculation certificate was enough to satisfy Pakistani awam that their assembly members were parhey likhey.
With ministers in place, both federal and state, each ministry, along with the federal secretary, has been directed to identify five high priority areas and set a deadline to achieve its goals. One just has to wait and see how this trio works and whether this marriage of two ministers and a federal secretary will be a lovey-dovey one or not.
GEOGRAPHICAL DEMARCATIONS: The idea of one united free world exists only in theory as borders all over the globe continue to exist, even though the process of globalization seems to make the world a smaller place. Borders are still an obstacle to communication between people. In reality, however, there are many worlds existing side by side. The borders separating these various worlds are all different. There are natural obstacles like mountains and seas; political obstacles, where special permission of passports and visas are required to cross the frontier; or even military obstacle, such as mines, fences and walls.
The exhibition “Borders and Beyond” was an eye opener, describing what borders can mean to people. An artistic endeavour of 11 distinguished photographers belonging to different countries and continents, it presented deeply moving images of people and borders, of hopes and dreams, of expulsion and discrimination, showing by artistic means how borders determine people’s destiny in different parts of the world. The black and white photographs revealed stories about border conflicts and migration, about people who managed to get beyond the borders and others who stayed behind, about their aspirations and deceptions.
Christian Dunant, Ambassador of Switzerland, inaugurated the exhibition at the National Gallery — an occasion that also marked the end of his five-year tenure in Islamabad. Put together by the Swiss embassy, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation and the Swiss Arts Council — Pro Helvetia in collaboration with Pakistan National Council of Arts — the travelling photo exhibition depicted the powerful art of photography. “It can contribute to the ongoing global debate about the challenges related to borders, taking into account the issues of migration,” the ambassador emphasized.
It was a pleasant autumn evening in the capital as the guests mostly from the diplomatic community waited impatiently for the chief guest of the occasion —- Mohammad Khan Durranni, Minister for State for Culture to arrive. Although worth only 30 minutes, the wait seemed never ending and people talked about Swiss watches, punctuality, neutrality and Swiss banks. The overwhelming response on the opening day was a pleasant surprise for everyone.
The pictures showed borders as the dividing line between legality and illegality, belonging and segregation. People from the oppressed, war-torn or poor countries are driven to emigrate in pursuit of a safer and better life.
“Flight across borders is often seen as the only means of escaping poverty. But not many succeed in entering the Promised Land. Many are deceived en route and many are apprehended before reaching their dream destinations. And those who manage to get beyond still have to face the challenge of confronting an intolerant and unwelcome attitude on the other side of the border,” the ambassador said.
Sharmistha Sarker, the photographer from Kolkata, had specially come from India to attend the opening ceremony and shared her apprehensions before coming to Pakistan. She believed that the warmth of Pakistani people washed away the apprehensions and anxieties she had preconceived.
All smiles, Raja Changez Sultan, Director-General PNCA, was one happy person to see the good results of his efforts, getting two countries together.
“The Swiss try to help other countries and consider them part and parcel of themselves. They believe in neutrality. These pictures illustrate stories about boundaries created by nations. Civil war and acts of terrorism that separate people and cause misery and atrocities,” Raja Changez opined on the occasion.
HAVING obtained their degrees from institutions as prestigious as the University of Punjab, the University of Pennsylvania, the Sindh University, the Oxford University, the Lahore College and the London School of Economics, the CVs of the newly-inducted ministers for state (both male and female) are more than impressive to look at. More so, for a nation like us who felt privileged even when the first step towards the need for ‘educated leadership’ was taken and the condition of a bachelors degree was imposed on candidates in order to contest elections, Cambridge and Columbia are too much to ask for. All these years a matriculation certificate was enough to satisfy Pakistani awam that their assembly members were parhey likhey.
