On the G T Road
Monday, 30 June 2025
So much has changed since Kipling's description of the GT Road, which he saw "brimming with all manner of travellers -- rich merchants with elephants and camels laden with merchandise, guarded by retainers. The aristocracy on colourful horses and elephants with gilded howdahs for the ladies, their silk drapes fluttering in the wind, the raggle taggle of the gypsies roaming from one village to the next in search of food and work." The old identities have steadily defused by the common objectives for prosperity and development. Since partition, the new social and economic objectives have been the major engines of change. The only thing that still remains on this strategic, economic and cultural artery of Pakistan is that it is "the river of life."
Labels: G T Road
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Monday, June 30, 2025,
,
Plagiarism, Prove it!
Thursday, 26 June 2025
Broadly speaking, plagiarism as per the popular literature on the subject refers to use of another's work without giving credit. This dangerous trend is not new but advent of the Internet has facilitated the speed and methods used.
It is a chronic problem that has been greatly facilitated by the resources rich Internet. Students (mostly those who are not Internet savvy), who plagiarize, do it old fashion way here -- finding some relevant article printed somewhere and getting it typed. In case one article does not cover all dimensions of the topic, a wary student may get some old book on the subject (perceiving that the teacher might not have read it), mark apparently relevant paragraphs and give it to the typist to prepare the assignment. The source material is commonly known among students' fraternity as chappa or nuskha. Some may proof read the typed paper, correct mistakes and clear irrelevant references in the text while some other may not take the trouble of reading "their work".
Labels: Education, Plagiarism, Students, Technology
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Thursday, June 26, 2025,
,
When dreams come true
Monday, 23 June 2025

It takes a lot far a man to admit but over a period of 10 long years of our associations, Gulzar Baig has displayed a great courage in revealing the emotional trauma of his childhood, contempt and malice with which he had been treated and his undying obsessions.
Labels: Chasing Life, Profile
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Monday, June 23, 2025,
,
"Nobody is coming to save you. Save yourself. "
Labels: Chasing Life
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Friday, June 20, 2025,
,
Long Trail of the Heritage
Punjab is a gold mine for history seekers and curious travelers. You may find much more than what you hear or read. It pays to get out into the countryside and talk to ordinary people. What is more, people of the area are eager to help – on their own expense - when you ask anybody. One finds volunteer 'guides' who were forth coming with wealth of information. The distances in the hinterland are short but the landscape is so enormous that it had to be studied in parts like a large mural seen by a child.
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Friday, June 20, 2025,
,
Shifting Lahore
Wednesday, 18 June 2025

Labels: Lahore
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Wednesday, June 18, 2025,
,
Pleased in PakPattan
Monday, 16 June 2025

Enter the once walled inner-city through one of the existing gates and you will find yourself in archetypal form of an ancient town - crooked and narrow streets, dense housing, intricate woodwork on Jharokas, bay windows and doors. So many historic cities have developed losing much of their original character in the process during modern times, but Pakpattan has survived remarkably in tact. It is the entire urban fabric of the place that is historic. Though, the major portion of the fortification wall has disappeared. At places, the wall has even been utilized as a part of the residences. Four gates (Shahedi, Rehimun, Abu and Mori) have survived out of six but they are all crumbling. Now extensive suburbs stretch from the foot of the wall all around. Thin red bricks from centuries old wall are seen used in the new houses all over the town. The portion of the settlement that sits on the mound can be compared with walled part of Multan City.
Labels: Travel
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Monday, June 16, 2025,
,
Labels: Chasing Life
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Saturday, June 14, 2025,
,
Labels: Chasing Life
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Monday, June 09, 2025,
,
Fine Art of Mud Architecture
Having grown up in mud house myself (before I moved to urban center), mud buildings have a special place rooted deep in to my cultural consciousness and this personal bond encourages a more intimate relationship between me and the mud as the material transformed from formlessness to form. Hence my interest in mud architecture and how I see its future in Pakistan.
Labels: Norbert Pintsch, Thatta Ghulamka Dheroka, Thatta Kedona
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Monday, June 09, 2025,
,