LAHORE, July 2: The first day of the Pakistan-India Symposium on Local Governance on Monday was marked by two unusual requests. The first came from the chief Indian guest, while the other complaint-cum-request was from a Pakistani.

Indian Panchayati Raj Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar wondered if he could have a certificate of his birth in Lahore. He was born in the city in 1941. Later on, at a post-lunch briefing, a local journalist raised the serious issue of a vegetarian menu offered to the participants with the National Reconstruction Bureau chief, Daniyal Aziz.

As a majority of the 60-member Indian delegation taking part in the symposium is Hindu, the NRB had thought it wise to prepare a meatless lunch — a mistake that didn’t escape the expert journalistic eye.

Mr Aziz promised to “set the menu right” on the second day of the symposium.— Staff Reporter