The best thing about Islamabad is that you don’t have to plan a picnic in advance, but just get up on a Sunday morning and drive for two hours to be at a picnic spot. In this regard, winter is the best season for adventure-seekers and explorers.
An exciting trip on a bright and sunny December Sunday, organized and attended by some 215 enthusiastic Rotarians, their families and their friends, was the steam train safari from the Rawalpindi railway station to Taxila. The entire trip was extremely enjoyable for all involved. The train left the station and arrived at Taxila in less than an hour. Women and children took the Kinchis to the Taxila Museum while the hale and hearty walked the 10-minute distance from the station.
The museum tour was followed by a lunch, after which the passengers returned to the Taxila station for homeward journey with a brief stopover at the Golra station to see the ancient railway museum. It was a wonderful trip that will be remembered for a long time.
THE ILL-INFORMED MEDIA
Journalism is believed to be the fourth pillar of state. Journalists — whether belonging to the electronic or print media — are supposed to be responsible members of society. But lately it has been witnessed that many members of this community don’t seem to be well-equipped to carry out their duties. If they write on sensitive health issues, their information on diseases like Aids and its modes of transmissions appears to be insufficient. If human rights issues are under discussion, it seems that they need to be updated on matters such as the violence against women. And when it comes to the topic of child abuse, their research on such a grave issue lacks depth and insight.
Recently, an organization working on the issue of child abuse brought to light the intricacies involved in exposing the identity of a child who has gone through the trauma of being molested or abused by an older teacher, relative, acquaintance or a complete stranger. While discussing the issue some journalists were of the view that the identity of the victim (male or female) should be dealt as classified information not revealed to the press, while some others thought that carrying a story of “a faceless and nameless victim of violence might not get any space due to the absence of authentic and verifiable data.” It’s time our journalists did their homework before working on a story. They should avoid giving such tasks to civil society to do it for them.
AN ALL-MALE DOMAIN
As the temperature went down to 10 degrees, the cold Islamabad breeze took its toll on the people. “I challenged the thrill of the chill and entered a huge hall, and was transfixed on the entrance to see a sea of strangers — only males” is how a journalist friend from Karachi felt who came to attend the 17th APNS annual award ceremony in the capital last week.
“I ventured further in inching my way uneasily to the front, thanks to the seating arrangements, hoping to see some friendly faces. I did, but just some of them which I could count on my fingertips since I didn’t know the who’s who of this tinsel town,” she added ruefully. Even the executive committee of the APNS was male-dominated, save for one woman, chief executive of The Financial Post Qudsia K. Khan.
No different was the group on stage — from the prime minister to all the governors and chief ministers, and the information minister, with only one female acting as the facilitator. “And why, in God’s name, can’t the APNS do away with the huge and ugly two-coloured circular and pleated satin lapel badge?”
Well, that’s not fair. The Rs1,000-plus dinner per head at the hotel hosting the grand event was a blend of Mexican, Lebanese and South Asian delicacies to start with. Tortillas with salsa dips already put on the table, the waiters began to serve the pre-plated feast with Arabian Sea prawns salad, goat cheese and spinach stuffed chicken, and fish tikka, mutton chops and Kastori kebabs for our desi bhai log. Tira misu and chocolate mouse cake was lethal, too good to be true.
“Of course, the prime minister was quite charming ... but I wish the function was better organized so that everyone, other than just the photographers, could have a glimpse of the award ceremony that was dominated by advertisers. But then that’s where the money comes from,” said another friend.
What was missing, felt a friend, were women, either wives of the men present that day or female faces from the advertising and journalist communities, enough to balance the equation and saving the occasion from being a ‘stag affair’. By the way, aren’t our press clubs just that — an all-male domain?
The best thing about Islamabad is that you don’t have to plan a picnic in advance, but just get up on a Sunday morning and drive for two hours to be at a picnic spot. In this regard, winter is the best season for adventure-seekers and explorers.
