This documentary was shot in four districts of Sindh including Thatta, Badin, Dadu and Tharparkar. It aims to fill the knowledge gap between climate change and its gruesome effects on men, women and children.

The people of Sindh face an onslaught of natural calamities each year, and each year the story is the same. Countless homes are lost, children die or go missing, livestock is decimated.

But alongside natural disasters, manmade hazards have brought about a whole new host of problems that have destroyed the entire ecosystem.

“Most days when my kids ask me for water, I ask them to go to sleep instead.”

Though she is a woman of few words, local resident Zahida's eyes speak volumes. The lines etched on her face are a marker of the ordeals she faces each day just to ensure her children have water to drink, and are fed enough to carry on for one more day.

This is how life is in the destitute village of Alla Bux Tewna, situated on the border of Dadu district. Each day is a battle for survival for the locals who lack basic necessities to lead a normal life.

There is no electricity, gas, schools, medicinal care or even access to drinking water; living in sheer deprivation, uncertainty is what defines life out here.

Where it snows in Sindh

Dadu has a dynamic typography, bordered by the vast Kirthar mountain range on the west and the mighty Indus River flowing along it’s eastern border.

It is a stark contrast of rain fed areas and mountain ranges, and stretches where there is no rain for months; where floods are a regular nightmare, and the ecosystem is in a state of collapse.

Dadu district is vulnerable to natural disasters caused by downhill water stream from Kirthar range, heavy rainfalls, and flooding in the Indus River. Another persistent source of frequent flooding is the poor maintenance of agricultural drainage systems.

Gorakh Hills, the highest peak of Sindh which is situated at an altitude of approximately 6,000 ft. is another element that adds to the sporadic climatic changes varying from sub-zero temperatures in the winters to a maximum of 20 degrees Celsius in the summers and 120 mm of average annual rainfall.

In winters, Gorakh Hills often experiences snowfall; a wholly peculiar experience for Sindh. Johi, however, in contrast to Gorakh experiences extremely hot temperatures up to 50 degrees Celsius.

These great differences in temperature and environment pose a great challenge to locals. The residents of Gorakh are nomads who come down with their families and livestock and settle in Johi in the winters. Gorakh Hills can never be a permanent home for them due to its harsh climatic conditions.

The struggle to survive

Over the years, locals have only seen an increase in their daily struggle. When they are safe from natural calamities, the manmade hazards come in the way of their prosperity.

Zahida like the other women, spends her days collecting cow dung for fuel and struggling to grow vegetables in soil poisoned by salt water in addition to her household chores.

Her hands have lost their colour as she wakes up each morning to make ropes. The process is tedious and rolling the Phish plant into ropes leaves her hands calloused.

The duties of the women do not end here; each day they walk 3 km to a nearby village called Faridabad to fetch water. This water, however, is saline.

Each of them carry enough buckets to balance on theirs heads while their men are migrating in search of better jobs.

For the rest of the rural population in Sindh, the anguish is not quite dissimilar.

When Tharparkar was in bloom

Eesro recalls his childhood when his village was green, everyone was happy and living a prosperous life; crops were in abundance and they had sufficient livestock and were surrounded by peacocks.

There was music in Thar, people sang songs of happiness and wealth. But now even the tunes have faded into those of despair; all they sing are verses for rain.

The district has been a witness to harsh living conditions in the past 50 years however recently; the complexities of their lifestyle have compounded.

With climatic conditions moving from bad to worse, monsoon rains have shifted causing an agricultural drought; hence there is no food.

As of late, rainfall has been a sight unknown for the past three years. Their fields are now barren, livestock is dying from malnutrition and some are lucky enough to get water at 60 feet below while others struggle to find sweet water at 600 feet below ground.

As night turn into days and days into nights again; each year the people of Tharparkar sow seeds and wake up in hope to receive rainfall.

Since the past few years they carry on each day just in hope that one day, very soon it will rain and their crops will grow again.

Upon receiving the first shower they begin sowing seeds in their fields but then the rain stops and ultimately their seeds go to waste.

While some are in hopes for rains, others in the same district shudder in fear just by the thought of it.

A journey to the past

A precarious position

When a powerful storm in 1999, hit Yameen Jat, a village in Badin; Allah Rakhio lost more than the modest roof over his head. His boy lost his life; he was his only child.

It was past midnight, and he was in despair as he could not find a place to bury him; there was water everywhere.

“Since a burial was not an option, I kept him on my shoulder and waited. It was 1am, I got tired but the storm did not,” recounts the grief stricken Allah Rakhio.

In the aftermath, several houses collapsed, many of their relatives lost their lives, children drowned and livestock was swept away.

The saline water destroyed their fields but it does not end here, they may lose yet more as the threat of coastal breach and sea intrusion compounds each year with rising levels of the sea.

Drinking toxic water to survive

Borrowed time on evanescent land

Beautifully handcrafted boats anchored in perspective, water lilies afloat; Manchar Lake was once a unique ecosystem visited by people from far and wide. The lake’s water was picture perfect. Rare species of aquatic plants, reptiles, insects and migratory birds were once found here in abundance.

Crops such as rice, wheat, and tobacco were all grown here.

Manchar Lake, one of Asia's largest freshwater lakes, is no ordinary lake. The locals received rains throughout the year and every guest was served their famous biryani.

Fish were in abundance, and the fertile land was able to support agriculture and livestock.

While the men set out for fishing, the women prepared fishing nets, and collected the edible aquatic plants, in addition to their responsibilities of managing household chores. There was a government school on a boat, and health facilities were also provided by boat to the fishermen community living on the lake.

But fate took a harsh turn for people in Manchar Lake.

Living in thatched huts situated below sea level a few yards from an embankment, they now spend their days fishing for catch which is inadequate and poisoned. Manchar Lake has two villages settled right across one another; Khair Deen Mallah and Khan Mohammad Mallah.

In the past there were almost 50,000 fishermen living in Manchar Lake, on 2,000 houseboats. At present there are only 60 houseboats with 100 families living on the Lake.

The main reason for shifting to the embankment was the deteriorating quality of the water in the lake, due to the effluents discharged from the Main Nara Valley or (MNV) Drain.

As the water of the lake became poisonous the fish, and plants died, which led to a reduction in the fish catch, and a reduction in income for the fishermen.

The primary livelihood of the fishermen has changed, and since there are no alternative sources of income some of the fishermen have migrated to other coastal areas. These people have been fishermen for generations; they do not know any other skill.

The women say they used to live in houseboats, but now they have made thatched huts for themselves, which are fragile and not as stable as their old houseboats. They fear that these huts would not withstand a flood like the one in 2010.

The floods of 2010 and heavy rains in 2011 were the worst for the people in this area, they lost their thatched houses, and were shifted to relief camps where they stayed for three months. Coping with the floods meant shifting to safe areas, the embankment, or moving inland away from the lake.

Climate scientists predict that this area will be inundated as sea levels rise and storm surges increase, and a cyclone or other disaster could easily wipe away their rebuilt life.

But Hakim Zadi, an old resident is trying to hold out at least for a while — one of hundreds living on borrowed time in this landscape of straw huts, deplorable circumstances, desperate choices and impossible hopes.

When manmade hazards destroyed everything

All efforts in vain

There is silence everywhere. Rural communities despite having the knowledge and experiences of climate change are unable to break-out this silence.

People are suffocating as there is no one listening to their concerns and miseries. The government has failed to react and respond quickly. It is likely that many voices of this grossly neglected land will be silenced forever.

Credits: Sarang

Executive Producer: Dr. Khalida Ghaus

Producer: Asif Iqbal, Manzoor Hussain Memon

Director: Bilal Brohi

D.O.P: Faizan Ali

2nd Camera Unit: Jamil Alvi

3rd Camera Unit: Shameen Khan

Technical Producer: Fahad Anjum

Audio Engineer: Umar Najeeb Khan

Voice Over: Faizan Haquee

Camera Assistants: Zeeshan, Abdul Majid, Nabeel, Naeem, Waqar

Script: Shameen Khan, Bilal Brohi

Research: Shafaq Khalid, Shahnawaz Junejo, Qazi Asif, Nazia Qureshi

Ground Coordinator: Mukhtiar, Aftab Mangi

Audio & Visual Post-Production: Electrikroom Studios

Special Thanks: Ali Abbas Brohi, Anjum Nisar, Omar Sharif, Asad Ali Shah

Boxing coaches around the world operate like generals; shouting orders and even mocking fighters if they feel they can get more out of their charges.

In Pakistan, the coach does a little bit more.

Armed with a needle and thread, the trainer, Ali Bux, can be seen stitching worn out equipment alongside the ring. Punching pads and sparring gear is nowhere in sight.

“I keep telling him that he looks more like a cobbler than a boxing coach,” Pakistan's heavyweight prospect Sameer Hasan Khan jokingly says.

For Sameer and the 17 other Pakistani boxers vying for a ticket to the 2016 Rio Olympics, the air of skepticism surrounding the national camp has gradually transformed into optimism.

The run-down facilities, a lack of funds and even the torn boxing gloves represent another challenge for Sameer and his compatriots training in Karachi for the upcoming Asian Boxing Championship.

The Asian Boxing Championship is a qualifying event for the World Boxing Championship which will give fighters around the world an opportunity to compete at next year's Rio Games.

Hussain Shah the inspiration

Tightening his yellow strappings, Arshad Hussain jolts his neck sideways as a trainer puts on his gloves.

Seven fighters, chosen from all over Pakistan, wait for him in the ring as he completes the combination for a sparring session.

The 24-year-old Arshad is a Lyari local, who obtained his training from the Kankari Ground. After having represented Pakistan in numerous international games, he is now at the peak of his career. But he remains focussed at the ultimate prize: a ticket to Rio.

“We have been training here for seven months now. But it’s not about which one of us makes it to the top. We’re all like brothers here and we’ve gotten close over the course of these months,” exclaims Arshad with a humble smile.

Arshad along with his fellow boxers, staying at the Pakistan Boxing Federation (PBF) hostels, follow a strenuous regime. Their day starts well before the sun comes up.

After a quick breakfast of dates, apples and milk, all the boxers start their workouts and continue with two-hour intervals.

“We fight, struggle and eat together. In fact, we’re going to watch the movie 'Shah' along with our coach.”

'Shah' is based on the inspiration tale of Hussain Shah who grew up to a rough life in Karachi's Lyari Town in the 60s to become Pakistan's boxing legend.

Hussain Shah's life-changing moment came when he won bronze at the 1988 Olympics, Pakistan's only medal in boxing at the Games to date.

Riding on spirit alone

'Inspiration' is what Pakistan boxing coach Ali Bux is looking to tap into as he trains his fighters with meagre resources.

Bux, who won gold for Pakistan at the Asian Amateur Championships in 1980 and two bronze medals at the 1978 and 1982 Asian Games, knows a thing or two about coming up against the odds.

He carved a successful career amid similar circumstances and remained unbeaten on the national circuit for 14 years.

Expecting the government to play an active role in the upliftment of boxing is futile, according to Bux. He is teaching his fighters to turn adversity into positivity.

“It’s useless to expect anything from the government, as they have already given up on our scarce demands,” Bux says.

The PBF had requested funds from the government to hire a Cuban coach but the Pakistan Sports Board only agreed to pay up to $3,000.

“At times we need brand names on the fancy clothes we wear. They somehow add to our confidence. This is exactly what a Cuban coach would have meant for the team,” says Ali Bux.

“I have myself trained with the Cuban coaches and my students like Hussain Shah have actually competed in the Olympics.”

The gymnasium where the Pakistan team is training wears a dilapidated look. The exercise equipment, much like the gloves, is worn out. But PBF secretary Iqbal Hussain says the coaches were tapping into the spirit of the boxers.

“We did not need any sort of funding from the government in terms of training. We just needed sponsored travel and registration costs,” Iqbal says.

“Since Mohammad Waseem won the bronze medal at Asian Games in 2014, these boys have more reasons to trust their training and expect more from themselves,” says Iqbal.

Adding to the efforts of the boxing coaches is former Pakistan cricketer Moin-ul-Atiq.

“Moin has joined the boxing squad as a psychologist and a motivational speaker. He has done the same for cricket team as well,” Iqbal reveals.

“The game is not always won with power, it needs strong ideas that inspire an individual from within. As they are all from different backgrounds, we try to bring them all on the same page about the team morale and what it means to achieve something for the country.”

Boxing remains one of the few Olympics prospects for Pakistan after the much-decorated hockey team failed to qualify for the Rio Games. It comes as a big surprise then that the government is unmoved by the boxing team's plight.

But British boxer of Pakistani origin Jabran Bilal, who flew from England to join the squad but fell ill before the trials, says he had not seen such ‘fire’ back home.

“Whatever conditions I’ve trained in before, I haven’t have seen such fire. Though the equipment is not up to date, the efforts of the Pakistan boxers might just compensate for it. They have immense potential.”

The basketball court reverberates with the sound of squeaking shoes as the players surge towards the basket in one fluid move. There is a momentary silence as an anticipating crowd holds its breath, eyes transfixed on the trajectory of the ball. Then, as if on cue, all those in attendance erupt in joy as the ball passes through the hoop after a brief orbit around its rim.

There is an air of festivity in the elongated court; parents beam with pride as the coaches pat the athlete's backs as a sign of their silent approval. There are no losers in this game and it's hard to find a saddened face in the crowd. Volunteers give glasses of water to the tenacious players, who seem undaunted by the thought of the approaching challenge. They have overcome many barriers to reach this stage.

These are Pakistan's Special Olympics heroes.

The 55-member strong team, 43 males, 12 females, is participating in the 2015 Special Olympics World Games in Los Angeles, America, the biggest sporting event for those with intellectual disabilities.

The contingent, to be accompanied by a 22-member team of support staff, gathered for exhibition matches at the Benazir Sports Complex for a press meet. Enthused by the media coverage and eagerly waiting for their turn to talk in front of the camera, it is almost impossible to distinguish the players as ‘special’ athletes. They have no doubt they will return with a rich haul of medals for Pakistan.

“We will win it this time,” says Farah Vohra, Pakistan's star swimmer and torch bearer from the Asia-Pacific region at the 2011 Games in Athens.

This will be the seventh time that the country is participating in the World Games under the mentorship of Special Olympics Pakistan (SOP) which is a non-governmental organisation that has been representing Pakistan in international Olympics since 1991.

Pakistan's Special Olympics medals tally

Pakistan bagged as many as 59 medals in the last edition of the games, raising the bar considerably for athletes this year.

Preparing for Los Angeles

The participants went through stringent training sessions with five training camps held over the past six months, each 15 days in duration across major cities like Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad.

The multi-city training program was part of an exercise to prepare the athletes for a long stay away from home.

“The children stay in these camps, so that we are able to evaluate their behaviour and they are able to adjust to living without their families,” says Daniyal Alvi, coordinator of SOP’s Youth Activation Program.

For many of the athletes, it will be the first time travelling abroad without family supervision but a thoughtful regime has been a major confidence-booster.

For the families, though, the prospect of sending their children overseas has been overwhelming, evoking feelings of happiness and nervousness.

“My child went for training across Pakistan all alone and is now in the USA for the first time. We can all see his transition to a more mature and independent person. I couldn’t be more proud,” says Irshad Ahmed, father of 21-year-old Ramil Irshad who will be fighting for gold in the 200-metre race at the Olympics.

“He was taught everything here; activities of daily life like getting dressed, washing hands, eating, buttoning and basic etiquette,” explains Irshad, beaming as he watches Ramil talk confidently about his past achievements of winning a silver and gold medal in athletics at a tournament in Karachi.

SOP has been training persons with intellectual limitations since 25 years and is also active in building awareness about special sports in school and universities.

“We give sports training to special athletes throughout the year. They approach us either independently or through schools that cater to children with special needs, there are around 35 such schools in Karachi,” explains Daniyal.

As Olympics are scheduled every four years, the duration in between is spent in challenging training sessions five days a week at the National Coaching Center (NCC) in Karachi for sports like table tennis, cycling, basketball, football, athletics, tennis, cricket, badminton, aquatics and bocce.

With the World Games approaching, athletes are selected based on their performances in School Games, Regional Games, National Games, Training Camps and World Games heats and trials.

“The athletes must have an IQ below 70 and must be diagnosed with basic intellectual disability,” says Daniyal while explaining the most basic criteria for enrollment.

At times it takes years of training till a member is selected for Olympics. For 22-year-old Saira Ikram it took ten years of practice at SOP before being picked this year for the 200-metre race. Her success is a tale of diligence and courage when all hope seemed to be lost.

“Saira has a special needs father and a mother who is ill, yet she has gone through an extra-ordinary transformation. She used to be hyper, extremely short tempered but with counseling she learned to communicate with her peers and groom herself,” says Nabila Kanwal, one of the team members of SOP.

Asim Zar: The Game Changer

Sitting on the benches with the rest of the athletes, Asim waves excitedly at the media crew; with a wide smile he beckons the photographer to meet him. No stranger to limelight, the 27-year-old was a star athlete at the 2007 Special Olympics in China, bagging two silver medals in 400 metre race and long jump.

Diagnosed with autism at the age of three, Asim joined SOP 20 years ago, but his love for sports was discovered much earlier.

“A doctor at Al-Shifa hospital told us to get karyotyping blood test done that is what helped in diagnosing him with autism,” Tehmina Azim, Asim's mother, says.

She recalls the first time Asim was brought near a pool.

“He used to be scared of dipping his feet in the water; he would run away.”

But after a bit of training, he ended up competing with regular athletes.

“Asim’s father is in the air force so a swimming coach made him compete with cadets once, and he ended up winning fourth position in that race.”

Nobody at the aquatics centre could tell Asim was a special needs child; it was only when they discovered he had speech difficulty that they realised he had some limitations.

“When he was called on the stage to take his prize, he was asked to say a few words. He couldn’t speak because of a speech difficulty. Everybody asked me why he couldn’t speak.”

But Asim's participation in the Olympics dramatically changed his personality.

“It was Ramzan and iftari time when we heard the news that he had won a medal at the 2007 Olympics. A channel ran the ticker with his name and we couldn’t believe it,” Tehmina says, her face lighting up at the memory.

Asim pitches in at the mention of the 2007 Games, claiming that he had met Jackie Chan and Arnold Schwarzenegger who had come in especially to meet the athletes. It was a a life-changing experience for him.

The family couldn’t wait for his return; it was a grand affair at the airport.

“We were all cheering for him when he arrived, everybody was so proud. He was a completely changed person after that; we could see he had undergone massive growth,” reminiscences Tehmina.

Along with Asim, Tehmina has been an active participant in SOP's team. She has been working as a Global Family Leader, Asia-Pacific region, which deals with training families on how to establish better engagement and understanding with their special child.

She feels it’s integral for all family members to be present at these occasions for building the child’s morale.

Apart from his love for athletics, Asim works at Dan Pak food factory which deals with packaging sweets that earns him Rs 10,000 monthly. “He found a girl at the factory that he likes and he wants to get married right after the Olympics,” laughs Tehmina.

Farah Vohra: The Superstar

“Meet our star athlete,” is the introduction we get before meeting Farah Vohra, the 22-year-old who created a name for herself in aquatics at a very young age.

There seems to be nothing that Farah has missed out on; she participated in the Swimming Championship at the 2011 World Games, National Games, Swimming Championship at Karachi Club, City Games, Friendly Games in Ludhiana, India, Sindh Women Championship, the list is endless.

A smiling Farah looks down shyly at the mention of these wins, but it only takes a few seconds to break the ice with her. Soon, the swimmer initiates the conversation by telling us to visit her website which has “more details of her achievements.”

Farah started swimming as early as 12 years of age at the Karachi Club, her comfort in the water made it evident that she was destined for greatness in the pool.

It is often said that people who have restricted abilities display an augmented level of skills in other areas. For Farah, it was no different.

Born with Down’s Syndrome, Farah has overcome her limitations to make way for a record-breaking career in aquatics. She became the youngest member among all participants in the swimming competition at the 2011 Special Olympics in Athens.

‘Let me win but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt’ is a slogan that SOP has built upon. Farah frequently repeats this line like a mantra for this is what she has believed in all her life.

“I know that we can win this year as well,” says a high-spirited Farah. Unlike many of the players, it is not her first time abroad. She shares candidly about her experience abroad, making new friends and having roommates.

She mentions humorously how her mother had strictly told her to be careful about the drinks being offered.

“She told me to only have juice and water, and I only had that,” says Farah obediently, pointing to her mother who stood at a distance, smiling at her from time to time. “You can speak to her too if you want to know more about me.”

But Farah seemed to have all the answers.

She has not only excelled in swimming but is now working as a teacher’s assistant for children with Down’s Syndrome at the International School of Studies in Karachi, where she completed her Matric.

“I teach them English, Urdu and Math and honestly at times it gets very difficult to control the kids,” says Farah, matter-of-factly.

What does the future hold for this energetic youth?

“I will keep taking part in further competitions and travel to different countries.”

For Farah, there are no limits.

Hamza Ahmed Abbasi: The IT Fanatic

As the orange ball swooshes through the net, 20-year-old Hamza smiles, satisfied with the result.

The slim athlete who got his basic schooling at the Institute of Behavioral Psychology, is now in senior two, which is the second of five senior classes.

“The doctor thought Hamza had epilepsy when he was born, but he showed none of the symptoms so we sent him to an O level school,” says Hamza's mother.

He was diagnosed with a low IQ and showed signs of slow learning; but this did not have an impact on his sharp memory, which his parents believe is still one of his strengths.

Born in Peshawar, his disability was not diagnosed till he reached middle school and his grades were subpar.

After diagnosis, the administration agreed to let him study at the same school, but a resource teacher was assigned to help him individually.

Seeing no considerable improvement in his learning skills, his parents then sent him to the IBP School where he discovered his talent in playing basketball.

“I have seen a vast improvement in his body language and communication skills. It won't be incorrect to attribute it all to the coaches and caretakers at the camp, especially Ms Ronaq Lakhani, who treated Hamza and all of the others like her own children,” says Hamza's mother.

Hamza is a relatively new addition to the squad, who had joined in 2013 and with remarkable progress, was quickly taken up as a defensive player on the basketball team for the 2015 Special Olympics.

Among the 17 players at the camp, Hamza seemed especially proud of himself and brims with self confidence.

“We have two practice matches every day, we have been training hard and I don't see why we won't win.”

Aside from basketball, he has done a course in computer studies, and wants to pursue a career in IT. His family believes he has exceptional computer skills and can do extraordinary things with it.

Hamza chats away about the things he has discovered on the world wide web, most important to him being Skype.

“I have way too many Skype friends, and most of them are not from Pakistan,” gloats Hamza.

“People keep adding me and I don't reject any requests. We talk about sports, the weather, everything.”

Apart from his love for computers, Hamza also wants to start swimming and later coach basketball to others like him.

“Win or lose, it doesn’t matter, what’s important is that they will grow and learn with the opportunity that they have been given,” says Hamza's mother, who is overjoyed at the fact that her son will now be an international star.

The jovial player grins cheerfully at the thought of going to the United States, and expects that the conditions there will be better than at home, expecting no power outages.

“I imagine America will be a place where the electricity will not disappear at odd hours of the night; I also think the people will be very nice over there.”

Hammad bin Numan: The next Michael Jordan

“I love Michael Jordan and Shahid Afridi and follow both of them religiously,” is the first thing that the 21-year-old Hammad tells about himself.

It is hard to believe that the talkative youth has any sort of disability; surrounded with friends cheering him on as he practices some free throws. Hammad is easy going and instantly like-able.

But his personality was very different just a few years ago when he had struggled to make friends and had experienced social anxiety.

“He found a lot of kids like him at SOP and it became easy for him to adjust. He has become bold and more determined ever since he joined the camp; everyone in the neighbourhood knows him now and he has befriended people of all ages,” says Numan Mehboob, Hammad's father.

Initially based in Dubai, Hammad used to go to regular school in Sharjah, before he was diagnosed with having a low IQ.

After moving back to Karachi, he got enrolled at the IBP School and completed his matriculation.

His skills with the ball were not discovered until he was brought to SOP in 2014 where he first started playing basketball.

“I didn’t know how to play before I came here but the coaches taught me how to shoot, how to pass and dribble and now I've made it to the Special Olympics,” says a zealous Hammad.

But to be a regular player on the team, Hammad had to first work on his fitness.

"When Hammad first stepped at the camp, he was told he was overweight, so I made him an exercise plan for him which he followed perfectly and lost five kilograms in four months," says Mr Numan.

Before the selection for the Special Olympics, Hammad participated at the national games and earned a silver medal in basketball.

It is not difficult to gauge the people who have been behind Hammad's drastic personal growth and improved skill set.

When conversing with the centre player, it becomes evident that his family has played a major role in his development. He frequently mentions jogging with his father early in the morning and training under him.

The courageous father has four children all of whom face a similar disability, but his perseverance has remained unshaken.

“I have never thought of my kids as a liability, Hammad has proved himself to be an asset. I know my children may never be capable of getting an MBA degree or become engineers, but they can do so many other things,” says his father proudly.

For Mr Numan, the key to success has been to block out societal pressures and its negativity.

“I don’t care how people look at them I only care how I look at them, and I am very proud that they are my kids.”

Hammad will be going to the US with high hopes of meeting his idol, Michael Jordan. “I'm 100 per cent sure he will be there.”

Pakistan will be competing in nine of the 26 sports at the Games, namely, aquatics, athletics, badminton, basketball, cycling, football, power lifting, table tennis and tennis.

This year’s edition of Special Olympics, said to be the largest sports and humanitarian event anywhere in the world, will feature 6,500 athletes from 165 counties. In addition there will be 30,000 volunteers to handle the anticipated crowd of 500,000 spectators. The Games run from July 25 through August 2.

Credits

Writers

Yumna Rafi

Mustafa Siddiqi

Video and photography

Ibtisam Zahid

Editor

Taimur Sikander

Four years earlier Asif had told Aasif that he should think about retiring, the sort of way selectors tell sportsmen in a non subtle way they are about to be sacked. These two friends had barely talked since then.

Now, Asif Papamshi was calling, begging, for Aasif to come back for the 2003 World Cup.

Aasif Karim did play, and Kenya and this 39-year-old insurance broker made the semi-final of a World Cup. In their penultimate game against the bullies of cricket and the soon to be back-to-back World Cup winners Aasif did something magnificent. After eight overs he had the figures of six maidens, two runs and three wickets. Aasif Karim did what top teams couldn’t do in that World Cup, or that era, embarrass Australia.

This was the 23rd year of Aasif’s career, before that day, virtually no one in the world knew he played cricket, no one really noticed before that World Cup that his nation played cricket. He had been an invisible servant to an ignored team for over 20 years.

That was his one day. To many cricket fans, it is one that they won’t ever forget.

Aasif’s career, is one of the most remarkable in cricket. He started with taking the wicket of Duncan Fletcher with his first ball in international cricket, then going on to take the wickets of Rizwan-uz-Zaman, Shoaib Mohammad, Mike Atherton, Rahul Dravid, Dilip Vengsarkar and Ricky Ponting, before facing Sachin Tendulkar on the last ball he faced for Kenya. In between he played as a junior at the French Open, was on a tennis scholarship in an American college, played Davis cup tennis and captained Kenya at the Nigerian Presidents Cup.

Aasif’s story is preceded by that of his father. Yusif Karim, a 16-year-old immigrant in Kenya’s second city, Mombasa. One day he will have a road named after him. One day he will be known as the king of the Mombasa courts. One day he will father a cricket empire. But for 25 straight years he won the Mombasa residents singles championship. He won it in his teens, and in his 40s. On top of that he was good enough with the bat in hand to be offered a County Cricket opportunity.

Now Aasif’s son, Irfan Karim, is playing for the Kenyan cricket team. After only nine ODIs he has two hundreds and an average of over 40.

All three men are featured in ‘The Karims: a sporting dynasty’ which is a documentary (and eventually will be a book) on this magnificent family. The tagline for the film is “Three Generations. Two Sports. One Family”.

The documentary is funded by Aasif Karim himself. Kenya discard their sports heroes, there are no museums of sport, no ministry of sport. This is a country with many heroes, but none they remember. Aasif is terrified that his family’s achievements will be forgotten as many of Kenyan’s greatest athletes have been.

The documentary is in no way perfect, if you only watch high end Alex Gibney level documentaries, the lack of production values will be a real shock to you. It is a self-funded documentary from a country without top end production values.

But the heart and the work that has gone into this film from the Karim family is what makes it connect with people. It has been nominated for film awards in India and Iran. This is almost a film about the community around this family, and the nation they come from, as much as their sporting endeavours.

Even with it being self-funded, Aasif has still managed to get sub titles into several languages, including Urdu. He wants his story to inspire others. He believes sport can change people’s lives. And has just started the Safinaz Foundation to do just that in Kenya.

Whether on or off the field, the Karims have had to overcome so many obstacles, all have given their lives for sport, despite the fact they have never made any money off it.

This film starts when Kenya was a segregated place and Yusuf Karim was starting against the MCC and Basil D’Oliveira while signs in some of the nation’s cricket clubs still said “No Dogs, No Asians”.

The film veers from a social documentary to one that could almost be on the most dysfunctional Pakistani cricket team. It has a real heart, and should have been made by a hungry young film producer, not the family themselves. Thankfully they did make it, as this is too good a story to overlook.

Aasif Karim wants Bollywood to make his documentary into a feature film. Aasif Karim wants the President of Kenya to come to his book launch. Aasif Karim wants to build a Sports Museum in Kenya. Aasif Karim wants you to know he is proud of what his nation and his family can do. Aasif Karim wants to inspire the next generations to achieve just as much.

Much like his sporting career, if he has to do it on his own, for many decades, unpaid, most of the time being ignored, he will. By watching his film, and telling his story to others, you can help one of the true heroes of cricket.

Jarrod Kimber

A man who does words for ESPNcricinfo | @ajarrodkimber

We advanced into Lyari with feelings of apprehension and excitement to meet the artist who had been recently discovered for his impeccable portrait of the Obamas. As our vehicle drove deeper into the neighbourhood, the environs began to appear unfamiliar and archaic, but none more so than your average time-worn Saddar street.

A few more turns into narrow roads, and skirting around road-carts or otherwise preoccupied looking pedestrians later, we finally reached the ‘studio’ of Parvez Bhatti.

Parvez, 60, came into media spotlight when his painting of the Obamas was photographed by a student photographer at ‘Humans of Lyari’ (HOL) — a venture of the Society for International Education and the Karachi Youth Initiative, and put up on their Facebook page after which it instantly went viral.

The once unheard of aesthete had an artistic den; a few creaky benches stained with paint, a stool with a piece of glass which served the purpose of a palette and a number of men appeared into sight as narrow alleyways (and a goats’ enclosure) led us into his sunlit studio.

The painting of the Obamas which received instant recognition.— Yumna Rafi

However, one unmistakable facet of the scene, even from a distance, was the immense portrait in which the Obama family beamed at the visitors as it sat along with some 20 other paintings in a mini art gallery in the background.

A closer look and it was evident that the Obamas portrait was only one of the feathers in Parvez’s cap — and a small one thereof; from portraits of Quaid and Jesus to depictions of old Karachi and rural Sindh, each piece seemingly attempted to engross its observer into the fascinating tale it encapsulated.

Towards the facade, Parvez perched on a stool working on a piece, careful not to miss any highlights on the face of a rural woman he had portrayed on the canvas.

Before we even took our seats for a chat with the maestro who delicately added some final strokes to his piece, we were served tea despite our polite refusals.

Parvez, a resident of Lyari’s ‘Slaughterhouse’ (locally known as Kamela) neighbourhood, is joined at his studio by his two sons — Raheel and Jisarat, who Parvez said found their way into art only a few years ago after he successfully convinced them to join him.

“I wanted Raheel to become a doctor and Jisarat, a pilot,” Parvez said, his tone wistful. “But they only ended up being painters.”

Parvez started painting for local art galleries under the training of his mentor, whom he referred to as Sardar Sahab, in 1971 and has never stopped since.

A painting by Parvez's son that was displayed in one of the exhibitions at Arts Council.— Yumna Rafi

“My father did not want me to become an artist, he thought the mental effort that art demands would weaken me. He would rather I became a wrestler,” Parvez said, recalling how his family reacted on his decision to pursue fine art.

“[However,] I gave more importance to my will and passion,” he added.

Parvez decided to turn his passion of fine arts into a profession. His paintings have so far been bought in the price range of Rs 10,000 to Rs 200,000, depending on the work's size and content.

Parvez making a potrait of a woman. — Yumna Rafi

Pointing towards the portrait of the Obamas, Parvez revealed how his friend ‘Agha Sahab’ advised him to paint the first family of the US suggesting it could be a late breakthrough in his career.

It took Parvez three months to complete the Obamas portrait, which he made a year ago. Parvez wished to see his masterpiece end up in the White House. In fact, he was quite optimistic about it.

Painting for the past 40 years, Parvez said he has lost count of how many paintings he has under his belt to this date and where many of his pieces are now. “I often see a painting gracing a wall somewhere, I appreciate the effort behind it only to realise that it is in fact my own creation,” he said.

Yet he has never invested heavily into advertising or marketing. “I don’t know how God creates the means for my sustenance,” Parvez said, leaving us wondering where his business would stand if he had a Facebook page devoted to it.

He has also never held a bona fide exhibition of his works and said the chances of him holding one are slim since he does not find the time needed for the planning and execution.

Much of his paintings and skills have been inspired by the handiwork of “Qasim Sahab of Bohrapir”, who he lists as a mentor.

The simple palette with a cleaning cup.— Yumna Rafi

The lifelike paintings in the studio were each marked with great detail, which could be easily mistaken for a photograph. “A true artist will never give up on his work until he is truly satisfied with it. If a painting is completed today, I will take two [extra] days to work on it.”

“A satisfied customer is the perfect remuneration for me,” he added, as we were served tea for the second time, this time with biscuits.

Parvez said his educational background is negligible but that his sons attended school until Matric (grade 10).

Upon our query if he ever regrets not getting educated, Parvez seemed to hide an emotion or two behind a chuckle. “When the time has passed, everybody regrets to not have done something or the other. But what can you do?”

According to him, the key to mastering a skill is thorough practice. “I used to think I would never learn this art even after spending a lifetime with Ustaad (mentor). It took me three years to realise I could in fact do it.”

Being an artist in Lyari

The artist’s talent has not gone unnoticed by the residents of Lyari who have been immensely supportive of his work, and the Obamas painting has been no exception to this.

“They (people of Lyari) realise that I am an artist and an artist can portray whoever and whatever he has been asked to,” Parvez said.

The fragile security conditions in the neighbourhood have never been a problem for his business either since he, like the majority, take necessary precautions such as coming home before dusk.

“There are no disadvantages to living here,” Parvez said with a peculiar lack of anxiety.

He added that if and when he ever decides to move to a more affluent neighbourhood in Karachi, Lyari's current conditions would not be the cause of it.

Parvez believes a good painting is one that speaks for itself. —Yumna Rafi

Parvez said a large trove of talent remains undiscovered and that he has always been open to mentoring young aspiring artists.

“It’s not that we would refuse to train some students. But if a student really has that x-factor, then we fully concentrate on [training] them,” he said.

The artist, who after some contemplation declared orange and amber as his favourite colours, has also painted extensively for churches and mosques.

He believes art can play a major role in creating harmony among the people but only if they are willing.

“I am certain that the conditions will change — of Lyari, of Karachi, of Pakistan,” Parvez enunciated before we bid our farewells, leaving us with a renewed sense of hope.

Credits

Reporter:

Adeel Ahmed

Edited by:

Yumna Rafi

Photography:

Yumna Rafi

Video and Editing:

Muhammad Umar

The car chase scene in Steve McQueen's 'Bullitt' was such an iconic, visually stunning moment in cinema, it added new life to the muscle car industry in the United States. It was perhaps also Pakistan's first proper introduction to the legend of the classic Mustang which truly set off in 1965, with its most popular Fastback model.

Now fifty years after 'Bullitt', one car enthusiast in Karachi's Khudadad Colony has taken it upon himself to reintroduce the legend of the Fastback to Pakistan, revamped to compete with its 2015 counterparts.

Shakeel Ansari, 47, is passionate about cars above anything else and not being a 'billionaire' does not bother him at all. Instead, he believes in taking up projects of revamping “gems” — discarded with the passage of time — and bring them back to life.

“Anyone can go and buy a 2015 model, but can anyone make a 1965 classic as good as new?” Shakeel asks humbly. “Any person with a passion and love for cars would go to lengths to buy a scrapped Ford Mustang,” he adds.

Shakeel learnt the skills from Asian Autos back in 1980 when he was just 17-years-old.

“Later in 1990 I started my own workshop (Shakeel Autos). I have never thought of this as a job, but as a passion.”

“I started my work with a very small workshop which only had the capacity to accommodate one car. Slowly and gradually I expanded my workshop to an extent that there is now space to hold 30 cars. Today, after so many years, I also have 30 to 35 workers employed at my workshop,” Shakeel, a well-known personality in the auto repair business, says.

Shakeel Autos has dominantly worked on restoring Japanese-made cars but the American-built 1965 Ford Mustang Fastback was brought to them as a challenge in 2014. “This car is manufactured worldwide but I don’t remember it being manufactured or restored ever before in Pakistan,” Shakeel says.

The car was 50 years old and its original parts had all been licked by rust. The engine, fuse, body — everything was scrapped.

“When I got the car, I first made sure all of its parts were available in America and could be shipped here. Once that was confirmed, I started the restoration work on the car,” he says.

As the shipment of parts started to arrive in Karachi, Shakeel started rebuilding it bit by bit and quite often he had to research over the internet about things he didn't know of.

“We didn't want to compromise on the quality at all. All the parts that we have installed in the car are in line with modern technology,” he adds.

It took Shakeel 15 months to bring the Fastback back to its original shape which included purchasing and fitting of equipment.

“We started off with denting, and then paint work, colour, engine, suspension, powering the brake and steering, and also installed Wi-Fi radio system in the car. Each and every part installed in this 1965 Ford Mustang is certified, manufactured in 2015,” he says.

Shakeel had a 15-member team solely dedicated to working on the car.

“We spent day and night on this car till we were completely satisfied with the condition. We have prepared the car in such a way that not even a single screw is local; every part is authentic,” he adds.

“We have used six paint coats on the car whereas the company itself only uses two; furthermore we have used an anti-rust sheet from Italy. We used bake painting process in which the air and dust particles are removed from the surrounding after which the paint is sprayed,” he says.

The 47-year-old 'auto master' believes that the older version is no match to the one he has restored and “if the 1965 model is placed in front of this one, it would not compete”.

“Passion has no limit. One can spend millions to fulfill his passion. You can spend billions and buy a new car but you cannot 'buy' this one. Where will you find this zero meter 1965 Ford Mustang? This car is one of its kind, it’s priceless,” says Shakeel.

Reporting by Umer Bin Ajmal

Video by Muhammad Umar

Produced by Taimur Sikander

Published on Dawn.com, March 6th , 2015

By Kiran Afzal and Muhammad Umar

Did you know that the historic Zaibunnisa street in Karachi was named after a journalist? Not just any journalist but Pakistan’s first female English columnist and newspaper editor.

The fascinating Empress Market, known for its hustle and bustle and availability of exotic ingredients, too has history to it, albeit, a dark one. This was the site where a number of Indian sepoys were executed post the mutiny of 1857. The market, which commemorated Queen Victoria, was constructed to encourage people to forget about that terrible event. Not sure how that would have helped soothe the pain of the families though.

Karachi has a vibrant Hindu and Sikh community, and has several century-old churches, one which has also been 'heritage-listed'. Architectural marvels aside, there are many other layers to Karachi, facets of its history which have remained unexplored and perhaps buried underneath the tag of Pakistan's 'most violent city.'

But Super Karachi Express (SKE), a unique tour of the city, is hoping to change that, one bus ride at a time.

SKE was started by a group of diverse individuals, the owner manages a travel agency, the main tour guide is a doctor, with the support guide being an architect. But what unites all of them is their overwhelming love for the 'city of lights', which is visible in the passionate way they talk about the metropolis, the way they interact with the locals, and their enthusiasm in ensuring that we enjoy each and every part of the journey.

In the words of Atif bin Arif, the owner of this venture, "We are always sending people abroad for city tours, so why not do something for our own city, our own nation. Take a group of people, and show them the real essence of Karachi beyond the high-end restaurants and VIP protocols."

Their aim from this journey: give the love back to Karachi. And what better way to tour the city then our most famous cultural icons, the public bus. That essential mode of transportation used every single day by the masses for travelling from home to work and elsewhere. Though basic in its usage, this humble vehicle boasts a painstakingly hand-crafted exterior, with every bus being unique its own way. We are told on the tour that this 'truck art' is a visual representation for the bus-walla's of their brides.

Travelling primarily around the Saddar area, the tour starts off early morning with a walk around the historical buildings from the British era. The stops on the tour vary with every trip, but it is usually a mix of both religious and historical. Some of the stops so far have included Empress Market, Bohri Jamaatkhana, Parsi Fire Temple, Hindu Temples, Mosques and Churches. There's a pit stop in between, and a traditional breakfast of anda paratha and karak chai.

SKE is an eye-opener into what truly makes Karachi a cosmopolitan city. The different communities and religions that used to be an integral part of the city have left an indelible mark on the culture here. From Parsi’s migrating all the way from Iran, to Bohri’s, to Hindu’s who used to be the merchant class in earlier times, to Memon’s famous for their business endeavours, the influence of all these unique cultures can be seen in the architecture, institutions, and even the eating habits of Karachites. Though low-key in the presence now, the diversity they all bring must be appreciated.

While the sights and places visited on the tour have their own fascination, the best part about this tour is the change that it brings about in the travellers. A group of friends who are in various places now, but came together for this were shocked at what they didn't know about their own city.

"We have spent our entire lives in this city, and we haven't done anything of this sort. We see a different side of the city, as opposed to what we see in the news," one of them said.

"I din't feel like I am in Karachi, and that was the highlight of the trip. That they transformed the city, and took us outside of what we know in Karachi."

Starting off with a group of six people, SKE now takes an average of 40 people a day, so around 100 people for the weekend. People taking the tour have been from all demographics and ethnicities, and nationalities.

"Already we have taken Malaysians, Indonesians, Colombians, French and Germans on this tour. To have someone from abroad appreciate our own city is a great feeling," Atif bin Arif says.

This tour may probably elicit comments of ‘travelling on a bus, what’s so great about that?" That's true because the person travelling in a bus every day will never appreciate the hand-painted illustrations inside the bus; the person roaming around the streets of Saddar being exposed to all the trash in the city will not appreciate the historic beauty of the buildings around him.

However, what it evokes among the travellers are feelings of awe, surprise, nostalgia, amazement and most of all understanding. Just a small glimpse into the mosaic of cultures that is the sprawling metropolis, and how all these completely unique traditions coexisted, is the realisation one leaves with.

It also spurs one to scratch the surface a little bit and learn more of the city we've called home but know very little about.

The Perennial Plate is a two-time James Beard Award winning online weekly documentary series dedicated to socially responsible and adventurous eating. Chef and Activist, Daniel Klein and Filmmaker Mirra Fine are traveling the world exploring the wonders, complexities and stories behind the ever more connected global food system.

Sri Lanka's tree of life

In Sri Lanka, the coconut is, in a sense, a source of life. Not only it is the main ingredient in most Sri Lankan dishes, but the entire coconut tree — from the roots to the coconut itself to the tips of the leaves — plays a major role in the non-culinary ways of life. Without the coconut, things in Sri Lanka would be very different.

As an Indian guru Sri Sathya Sai Baba puts it: "Who poured the water inside the coconut? Was it the work of any man? Only the divine can do such a thing."

The Perennial Plate is a two-time James Beard Award winning online weekly documentary series dedicated to socially responsible and adventurous eating. Chef and Activist, Daniel Klein and Filmmaker Mirra Fine are traveling the world exploring the wonders, complexities and stories behind the ever more connected global food system.

Baklava: Layers of mystery

The origin of baklava is hotly contested. “In fact, baklava lore is akin to politics or religion as a conversation firestarter in the eastern Mediterranean countries. The Turkish people are very secretive and loyal to "their" neighborhood baklavacis and each Istanbuli we met could point at a flaw in the baklava that was not from "their" shop,” The Road Forks, a food and travel diary, says.

This restaurant in Gaziantep, Turkey has been making it since 1887. Join Daniel and Mirra from The Perennial Plate as they tour famed baklava producer Çağdaş.

The Perennial Plate is a two-time James Beard Award winning online weekly documentary series dedicated to socially responsible and adventurous eating. Chef and Activist, Daniel Klein and Filmmaker Mirra Fine are traveling the world exploring the wonders, complexities and stories behind the ever more connected global food system.

The unique charm of India

By Suhail Yusuf and Muhammad Umar

Dera Ghazi Khan, regarded in the world as a crucial site for Pakistan's uranium deposits, is famous amongst the locals as the town from where the shrine of the great sufi saint Sakhi Sarwar can be accessed.

But, unfamiliar to many, only 60 kilometers away from the town is a hill station, the route to which can be described as the world's only 'open air museum.' The Fort Munro hill station, standing at a height of 6,470 above sea level, is part of the Sulaiman Range and one of the few places in Punjab which receives snowfall every now and then. It connects Punjab with Balochistan and was originally known as 'Anari Mol' (Hilltop with pomegranates in the Balochi language). More of a summer retreat than a fort, the place attracts quite a large number of local tourists looking for relief from the scorching heat in southern Punjab.

Many, though, are oblivious to the marvels around them.

The silent rocks on the way to Fort Munro, among many other things, offer clues to the cataclysmic event that resulted in the extinction of the dinosaurs some 65 million years ago and the emergence of mammals thereafter. A thin grey/brown line laid into the rock is the Cretaceous and the Tertiary boundary, commonly known as the K-T boundary. This boundary is the distinct layer of geological sediments delineating the Cretaceous and Tertiary periods, and linked with the massive asteroid impact that may have led to the extinction of dinosaurs and other species. It is found all over the world.

It is no surprise then that one of the exposed layers of rocks in the area dates back to the same geological period as the strata from which the fossilised bones of the largest-ever land mammal Baluchitherium were discovered in Balochistan by English paleontologist Sir Clive Forster Cooper in 1910. No further investigations were carried out for almost a century and the creature remained an enigma until finally in the 1990s French paleontologist Jean-Loup Welcomme set out on a journey towards Balochistan in order to find the fossils of the mysterious beast. He followed the footsteps of Cooper and finally discovered that Dera Bugti was the place where Cooper had first unearthed the bones of Baluchitherium.

In 2003, the French team carefully examined every major and minor bone and finally put them together, building a composite skeleton of the Baluchitherium. The skeleton suggested that the giant creature was five-meters tall, seven-meters long and weighed 20 tonnes, almost as massive as the size of three large elephants!

In geological time scale, Baluchitherium roamed Asia in Oligocene or 30 millions years ago. The geological setting is the same at the place where Baluchiterium was found in Dera Bugti, some 100 km south from the area. Recently bones of Baluchitherium were also uncovered from Shagala area of Zhob (northern Balochistan Basin) and Taunsa area of Dera Ghazi Khan (eastern Sulaiman Fold and Thrust Belt) by senior geologist Sadiq Malkani and Shahid Ishaq of the Geological Survey of Pakistan (GSP).

In the same strata, or mass of sedimentary rock in the Sulaiman Range, one can find a point where ancient 'walking whales' were discovered from Pakistan. The Rodhocetus Balochistanensis were discovered by US and Pakistani paleontologists and this amazing discovery actually changed the biology textbooks while changing our concepts about whale evolution.

Highway of economic opportunity

The Sulaiman Range in this area not only offers a peak into the fascinating past but according to Malkani, who first discovered dinosaur fossils in Pakistan in 2000, there is abundant supply of minerals that the country can benefit from if tapped properly.

"Gypsum, limestone and clays are key ingredient of cement and our found in great abundance here. It can transform the region into a hub for cement manufacturing. Currently, only one such installation is operating here," Malkani says.

Millstone, quartzite, marble and iron are also found here and the site offers good quality of Uranium reserves. There is also grey shale, a good source of oil and other hydrocarbons. The several kilometers long Mughal Kot Formation is currently being explored for oil from the Jandran area of Barkhan District.

But before this region is tapped for economic benefits, conditions must improve for the locals, who have been living here for decades.

A middle-aged man from the local Leghari tribe says the government had so far done nothing to fulfill their basic rights.

"We do not even have clean drinking water here. There is no effort on the part of the government to resolve our issues. How can we talk about making this place an economic hub?"

The Sulaiman Range, especially the Dera Ghazi Khan-Fort Munro belt is a Mesozoic and Cenzoic geology 'wonderland' which demands protection as a national and international Geopark. But as we are left in wonderment of the past, the present situation of the locals must first be addressed. Innovative ideas, which will simultaneously develop learning and the livelihood of the people in the area, must be explored.

As the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf gears up for its 'momentous' rally in Larkana, Pakistan People’s Party jiyala's weigh in on where Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto's party now stands, the conditions in the city and Imran Khan's prospects in PPP's fortress.

Director: Patrick Clopon Film by London Metropolitan University Cass Arts School.

John Pandit from Asian Dub Foundation and RichMix, Anita Sharma from Inquest, and The Samosa’s Anwar Akhtar discuss their experiences as second generation Asians growing up in Britain and wider issues of nationhood, identity, religion, migration in Britain today. They look at relations between British Islam, Hindu and Sikh communities, and Britain’s changing links with South Asia in today’s globalised connected world. Is the local now global?

The Royal Society of Arts & Commerce and www.thesamosa.co.uk launched RSA Pakistan Calling, Film Project to promote constructive cross-cultural dialogue between Britain and Pakistan. The films depict Pakistani civil society organisations and individuals attempting to tackle the country's many pressing social problems and the many links between Britain and Pakistan.

Their interest turned to passion and they spent the last few years researching Salam, whose "personal life and his contributions to the world of theoretical physics tell a remarkable tale," Vandal and Thaver said.

The video below features some of the unseen footage, interviews and archival pictures used in their documentary which is scheduled to be released soon.

Agha Khan's primary concern is survival. His job is to collect garbage, which he does for a minimal wage barely enough to avoid starvation. He dreams of going to school and having toys and friends like any regular child, but realises that he probably never will. He faces the same plight many children in Pakistan face.

Pakistan has one of the world’s largest populations of street children, estimated at between 1.2 million and 1.5 million. The average age of these children is 9. Left to fend and survive on their own, most will die before their 18th birthday.

This film is part of the Royal Society of Arts & Commerce and www.thesamosa.co.uk launched RSA Pakistan Calling, Film Project to promote constructive cross-cultural dialogue between Britain and Pakistan. The films depict Pakistani civil society organisations and individuals attempting to tackle the country's many pressing social problems and the many links between Britain and Pakistan.

Not Lyari, Malir or Ibrahim Hyderi. This time it was the German Consulate in Clifton, Karachi, that was the place to be for the screening of the FIFA World Cup-2014 final between Germany and Argentina.

Obviously, the crowd mostly clad in the new white jerseys or the older red and black ones, waving small red, black and gold flags with smaller versions of the same painted on their cheeks was all for Germany. There were a few ' ohhhs' and 'awws' and many chuckles when they showed close ups of worried or crying Argentina fans on the big screen in the courtyard. There were claps and cheering for Germany throughout.

There was some friendly betting going on, too, but not on either of the teams' victory or loss. The bets were placed on how many goals Germany would beat Argentina with! Even the security guards outside the consulate were sure that Germany would win.

“They [Argentina] have one player Messi. We have a united 'team',” commented Sebastian Fletz, one of the guests at the consulate, before kickoff.

And the match supported his views. TEAM is an acronym meaning 'Together Everyone Achieves More'. One Messi couldn't do for his team what the united team did for each proud German by lifting the 18-carat gold 36.8cm high World Cup.

Born in 1617 in the Jehlum area of Punjab, Bari Imam, whose real name was Syed Shah Abdul Latif, travelled to Iran, Iraq, Central Asian states and the holy cities of Mecca and Madinah to learn about the different disciplines of Islam and theology.

He settled in the Nur Pur Shahan area which is now a part of Pakistan. In the dangerous era of bandits and killers he taught people about love, peace and harmony and soon Syed Shah Abdul Latif came to be known as “Bari Imam” or the Leader of the Earth.

Bari Imam died in 1705, and it is said that his shrine was first built by the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb Alamgir before being renovated several times thereafter.

In 2005, 20 people were killed and more than 100 injured in a suicide attack on the premises of Bari Imam on May 27.

Presently, the whole shrine is going through massive restoration and redecoration.

The Royal Society of Arts & Commerce and www.thesamosa.co.uk launched RSA Pakistan Calling, Film Project to promote constructive cross-cultural dialogue between Britain and Pakistan. The films depict Pakistani civil society organisations and individuals attempting to tackle the country's many pressing social problems and the many links between Britain and Pakistan.

People with disabilities (PWDs) are often viewed as a burden, and while most people want to help, many do not want to be directly involved.

Launched in 2012, The Rickshaw Project was born as a solution for creating employment opportunities for PWDs and help establish a platform through which the unequal treatment and negative social perceptions of PWDs can be challenged and ultimately changed.

With support, and contributions, the project now has four rickshaws, which the team aims to equip with GPS trackers; and three trained drivers who are certified to drive various retrofitted vehicles.

The rickshaws are retrofitted for accessibility, and are completely hand-controlled.

The project is a user-friendly, rickshaw-to-your-doorstep service, where customers can call at their call centre to place an order, and a rickshaw will pick them up from their desired location.

Furthermore, the project team has also started sensitisation training sessions at various workplaces in order to create awareness and make people realise the importance of integrating PWDs into their spaces.

Speaking to Dawn, Project Manager (and South Asia's first visually impaired psychologist), Zulqurnain Asghar explains the main working areas of the project, while PWD drivers Imran and Siraj talk about the functionality of the retrofitted rickshaws and their personal experiences.

This is the story of Mumtaz, another graduated trainee, leading a life that may seem ordinary to us, but means the entire world to him.

KVTC’s was also the first to provide an on-job training program for ID people in Pakistan, and is part of the Montessori Programme. KVTC now wants to be able to sustain their activities, as well as expand their services further to make a more significant impact on society.

This film is part of RSA Pakistan Calling. The Royal Society of Arts & Commerce and www.thesamosa.co.uk launched RSA Pakistan Calling, Film Project to promote constructive cross-cultural dialogue between Britain and Pakistan. The films depict Pakistani civil society organisations and individuals attempting to tackle the country's many pressing social problems and the many links between Britain and Pakistan.

The Luton community has faced negative publicity and concerns about community cohesion, due to confrontational, provocative protests from the extremist English Defence League and the UK based Al-Muhajiroun fascist group. Oliver Perry, a media student, conducted interviews with fellow students at Luton Sixth Form College to hear their thoughts on these confrontations and how it is affecting young people and communities in the area.

Production team: Luton 6th Form - Phil Dickson-Earle, Oliver Perry, Chris Wyatt, Vincent Forsyth, Reece Cray, Patrick Frath Loughlin, Haydn Talbot, Rachel Kyle, Emil Wostaszek and Grant Rebecca.

This film has come out of a series of RSA Pakistan Calling workshops that students from Luton 6th Form College attended at Rich Mix London. With thanks to Rich Mix and students and staff at Luton 6th Form College.

This film is part of RSA Pakistan Calling. The Royal Society of Arts & Commerce and www.thesamosa.co.uk launched RSA Pakistan Calling, Film Project www.thersa.org/pkcalling to promote constructive cross-cultural dialogue between Britain and Pakistan. The films depict Pakistani civil society organisations and individuals attempting to tackle the country's many pressing social problems and the many links between Britain and Pakistan.

Few can match the passion of the football aficionados in the violence-plagued area of Karachi, but locals say it would be nothing compared to the emotion that would be on display if Pakistan, one day, qualifies for the World Cup.

Participants shared a video of their talent, which Dawlance promoted on their official Facebook page. Entries with the most ‘likes’ won the competition.

Winners of the "Dawlance D’ Talent Season One" were invited to perform at The Second Floor (T2F) on June 19.

The participants mesmerised the audience with their performance in several categories including music, art, dance, beat boxing, drama and comedy.

“I want to become a musician,” shared Arbaz Khan, a 14-year-old prodigy who had been playing guitar since the early age of eight.

Khan played Bilal Khans’s famous hit “Bachana”, along with a few more hits from Atif Aslam, whom he keenly idealises. The audience could not get enough of his performance and kept asking for more.

Other winners were Hasan Danish, who recently cleared grade 11; and Poonam Karim, an auditor by profession.

“My father used to say my paintings wouldn’t get me anywhere, but look, here I am today standing in front of you being awarded and recognised for it,” a delighted Karim told Dawn.

Many renowned faces belonging to the media industry were also spotted at the event.

“Pakistan has immense talent,” said Fuma Films CEO, Furqan T. Siddiqi.

Siddiqi further added that Pakistan needs more similar initiatives to help new talents emerge.

– Text by Gulzar Nayani

‘Daughters of Darkness’, Noorani’s personal in-depth documentary on the lives of commercial sex workers in Bangladesh, has received the Mother Jones International Award for Documentary Photographer. He has also received an honorable mention by the National Geographic Magazine for his project, ‘The Children of Black Dust’, where he’s documented children inhaling millions of fine carbon dust particles from breaking batteries throughout the day.

When asked how he manages to keep himself from getting affected by the sensitive situations he’s in, Noorani said that initially he managed to use the camera as a filter and thought nothing affected him. But after he had his own son, he said that things that did not affect him before, affect him now.

“When I see a child breaking batteries, I see my own son breaking batteries,” he said.

In his interview with Dawn.com, Noorani talks about how he got into photography, his favourite pictures and how he rates documentary photography as a career.

– Text by Mahjabeen Mankani