January 9, 2005

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Educational anomalies THE pervasive influence of donor agencies on policymaking of countries like Pakistan continues to be denied by the authorities and vehemently criticized by some experts. The authorities deny such an influence because they are aware that policy-making under such conditions is unlikely to meet the needs or demands of the people they purport to serve. Otherwise, why would there be a crisis of legitimacy?...		A prescription for enlightenment DR Fathi Osman teaches at the Institute for the Study of Islam in the Contemporary World in Los Angeles. He believes that the curricula for lower, secondary and higher education should be formulated and evolved by the people of the country where they are taught. However, he is also of the view that experience and knowledge can be acquired by sending people to other countries....
With or without uniform A television news reporter was collecting views of the people on the street on the only burning issue in Pakistan: should or shouldn’t our president remain in his uniform? Everything else in the country is praiseworthy. No robberies. No murders. No gang rapes. No corruption. No hunger. No poverty....		A different experience A MARRIAGE ceremony marks the beginning of a couple’s new life. However, for the bride’s relatives, the wedding is often received with a variety of opinions. Some of them feel...
The French connection LAST year, while at the humanities department of the engineering university where I study, I read a peculiar notice. The language in which the notice was written wasn’t anything that I...		An invaluable gift of nature WE most often lament over the destruction of beauty near the cities or where the word ‘development’ occurs. The beautiful lake-forest of Makhi was drowned following the construction of Chotiari Dam; a lush green caravan of shisham or tali trees was pulled off overnight from the snake-like banks of lower Nara for a new barren dike of the sandy reservoir....
‘Online’ with the latest trends WITH 2005 gradually opening its eyes to a fast paced world on the run each day, timing seems to be the name of the game. Tomorrow — the time that gives...		Slither of the plumed serpent A cool breeze fluttered across the dry Yucatan landscape promising the respite or a shower very soon. Ahead of me yawned an unending stretch of stones and columns, of shrines and arenas in silent array. A mottle of tourists dotted the sandy flatness below me....
Ashtray of world smokers ALL over the world, the habit of smoking is on the decline. Awareness coupled with health conscience governments are making sure that our future generations at least know the dangers of smoking. However, here in Pakistan, the situation is absolutely disheartening....		Vanishing forests THE slaughter of forests in the Malakand division continues. Trees are being ruthlessly harvested and sold in the black markets by the timber Mafia at throwaway prices as the concerned authorities...
Piracy and hypocrisy THE child goes ecstatic looking at the huge collection of pirated CDs of different games in the shop. His father allows him to pick four of them, which cost a mere Rs100. Had they been original, the cost would have been a whopping Rs20,000 to Rs24,000. (A single CD costs between $40 and $100)....		Hot Seat WHETHER it are the genes or just a coincidence one cannot be too sure, but veteran Indian actress and director Pooja Bhatt seems to have a lot in common with her...
The writer explains IN response to this column published on Dec 26, 2004 Ahmad Nadeem Qasmi has written a letter to me. He wants me to put things in perspective as explained by him...		The death of rowing THE activities of the Sindh rowing as well as those of the canoeing association have virtually come to a halt at Chinna Creek as the Karachi Port Trust (KPT) has taken over possession of the Merchant Navy Club following the expiry of its lease. And there seems no chance of revival as work to convert the place into a modern clubhouse has already begun....
The forgettable series THE very juxtaposition — the Pakistan Cricket Board, the Selection Committee, the Coach and the Team — seems to have lost the equilibrium inasmuch they have steadfastly kept on trumpeting their...		One game, two champions THE Pakistan Hockey Federation has perhaps some of the poorest advisors in the game. This is evident from the new format under which the 52nd National Hockey Championship is being held...
When in doubt, duck! WE all have seen the light at the end of the tunnel and it seems out. No surprise then that 2005, like its predecessor, will officially be declared the year of ducking — whenever in doubt, duck. This is the government’s mantra....		Glowing tributes THE New Year’s eve was one of the coldest and wettest nights of the season in the capital. Big hotels were asked not to arrange any functions. But private parties were...
Tipping tricks BETWEEN entering a restaurant and leaving it, you pass through several stages. Hunger is one of them, matched by another crucial stage usually called, ‘leaving a tip’. Depending on who and where you are, the tipping part gets to a point where it becomes an intense battle of egos between the customer and the waiter....		A noble dream WITH reference to the article A noble dream (December 26), it is indeed the need of the hour to promote interfaith understanding. But until such a huge reform takes place under...
MOSAIC: Pollution and animal behaviour HYPERACTIVE fish, stupid frogs, fearless mice and seagulls that fall over. Animals around the world are increasingly behaving in bizarre ways, and the cause is environmental pollution....		Newsmaker THE world has come together to lend a helping hand to probably the century’s worst natural disaster, one that hit more than a dozen countries in Asia and Africa....