Light Within

Acids that fall out of the atmosphere are called Acid Rain. Airborne acidic pollutants have highly destructive results. Acid rain is defined as a "rain with a pH of below 4.0 - 4.5." Normal rain has a pH of about 5.6, which is slightly acidic (In chemistry, pH is a measure of acidity). Acid rain was fist discovered in 1852, when the British chemist Robert Agnus invented the term.

Air quality of the urban areas of Pakistan in general, and of the larger cities of the country with more concentration of vehicular traffic (like Karachi and Lahore) in particular, is deteriorating due to several factors including increasing use of energy. Acid rain and its effects are an issue of intense debate as one of the most pressing environmental problems of the entire world.

How acid rain forms? The invisible gases that cause acid rain mainly come from automobiles or coal burning plants. Once the tiny pollutant molecules have entered the atmosphere, they can travel for thousands of miles. Eventually, the particles will combine with other compounds to produce new, often harmful, chemicals. Acid rain occurs when these gases react in the atmosphere with water, oxygen, and other chemicals to form various acidic compounds. Sunlight increases the rate of most of these reactions. The result is a mild solution of sulfuric acid and nitric acid that falls down to the earth. Once they reach the ground, the acidity in the substance can harm and even destroy both natural ecosystems and man made products. Scientists today are convinced that acid rain is severe in many areas, and that it is having an adverseeffect on the environments of those locations.

The problem of acid rain is rapidly spreading. Because industrial processes, automobiles, and power plants mainly cause the problem, those countries that are developed have the most severe acid rain problems. However, as acid rain, sometime also referred to as acid deposition, moves easily, affecting locations far beyond those that let out the pollution. Moreover, when the developing nations begin to industrialize, they also add to the increasing acid rains. Determining just how much the planet is being hurt by acid rain is very difficult because the ecosystems that it affects are so diverse and complex.

Acid rain's effects are destructive and long lasting. Scientists have studied lakes, streams, and many other natural ecosystems to prove its negative effects. They believe that acid rain continues to be produced and is increasing in many parts of the world.

Modern science has suggested various ways to limit acid rain, and some are now being used in developed world: the installation of sulfur cleaning scrubbers in factories, washing sulfur out of coal, and finding new methods of burning coal. These are all costly but concerned nations are looking for less expensive solutions to the problem.

Individuals can help by conserving energy, driving their cars less or helping in restoration of damaged environment and more so by being aware of the problem. Governments can pass laws restricting pollution levels, can use a variety of methods such as tradable emission permits to reduce acid rain and ensure implementation of international standards. Whatever way it is done, acid rain will certainly have to be limited in the future. Choice remains ours!

"Why is there even a trial?" It was, of course, a rhetorical question and probably the most poignant and telling observation made during the opening proceedings against Dr. Aafia Siddiqui in New York this week.

It is a question I hope every US journalist and media group across the world keeps on asking every day as American tax dollars are squandered persecuting an innocent woman for no other reason than someone is incapable of saying: “I made a mistake”. I don’t know who this individual is, other than he is very senior in US intelligence and is directly responsible for ordering the kidnap, rendition, torture and abuse of Dr Aafia and the disappearance of her three children.

In his drive to cover his own tracks and frame Dr Aafia she ended up being shot several times by US guards in an Afghan police cell in the province of Ghazni.

Initially, he may have done nothing more than sign a piece of paper which brought about her kidnap from Karachi way back in March 2003 – but by now he will know that the entire Muslim world is watching and waiting to see what happens when the trial gets underway for real on Tuesday, January 19.

Despite the judge’s futile attempts to keep switching and changing pre-trial hearings, supporters of Dr Aafia still manage to fill the spectator gallery and overspill room. Judge Richard Berman will by now be acutely aware he is handling one of the most sensitive cases ever brought before a court in the entire history of George W Bush’s ill-fated War on Terror.

I know he has received hundreds of postcards from those who have attended Cageprisoner meetings demanding he uses his influence to stop the primitive and brutal strip searches Dr Aafia has been forced to endure every time she meets with her legal team and attends court.

Should she resist these searches, I can tell you having witnessed CCTV footage of a woman prisoner doing the same, Dr Aafia will be held down by around four to five male prison warders while two female officers tear away at her clothes and then carry out full cavity searches.

What I witnessed on CCTV footage is tantamount to rape and had I not seen it with my own eyes, I would have thought it was filmed in a third world country.

Sadly this primitive practice and the pleas of hundreds, if not thousands of westerners to Judge Berman to have the practice stop, has yet to take effect.

The trial is scheduled to begin on Tuesday, January 19 at 9am in the Federal Court in Manhattan, New York where the frail Pakistani mother-of-three faces charges for an alleged crime which happened in Afghanistan in July 2008.

The pre-trial hearing on Monday was quite illuminating in itself after the prosecution ...

Dr Aafia’s lawyers requested once again that she be spared the strip searches and have a video link. The judge said he wanted now for her to have the right to confront her accuser so she must be forced to court.

It should be noted that the defense made the argument that if Aafia's ability to face her accusers is so paramount, why is this not applied to the "evidence" when those who accuse her of having this evidence are not being brought to court and so she has no right to confront them? However she still must be strip searched and brought to trial against her will for the sake of this same right.

At the conclusion of the hearing, Aafia made one appeal to the public saying that she was for peace and wanted to help. She said that she was not against America and many injustices are being done to her. Many people in the audience cried as the US marshalls again forcibly removed her, physically pushing her at times.

The defence lawyers pleaded with the US marshalls and the MDC prison legal representative, Christa Colvin, to allow even a 5 minute meeting between Aafia and her brother but the US marshals refused. When her brother attempted to say a few words to her, the marshals turned Aafia's head away so she could not respond.

So, this is justice US style. The case, outlined by the prosecution appears to be so thin it is anorexic. It all rests on whether this tiny framed, frail woman wrestled an assault rifle from the hands of a burly US soldier and fired off two rounds while she was in a dazed and confused state.

The fact that she was kidnapped from her home city in Pakistan at the behest of US intelligence, beaten, tortured and abused in Bagram for several years before being dumped outside the governor of Ghazni’s home five years later is not up for discussion. The fact her three children, two of the US citizens, were also kidnapped and two of them are still missing is, apparently not relevant either.

All Judge Berman wants to establish is: “Did Aafia wrestle the gun for a US soldier with the intent to shoot him?” And since there’s no forensic evidence tying Dr Aafia to the gun, there seems to be no case. No fingerprints, no bullets, no residue – NOTHING. The prosecution have even conceded there are no terror links which blows the New York tabloids’ headlines calling her the ‘Al-Qaida Mom’.

As I said at the start of this article the rhetorical question asked by one observer was probably the most poignant one of the day: “Why is there even a trial.” But here’s an even better question I challenge the US media to ask: “Who is responsible for putting this innocent women through six years of hell and where are her missing children?”

Yvonne Ridley is a patron of CagePrisoners , the first human rights organization which highlighted the mystery disappearance of Dr Aafia Siddiqui in 2003 and has campaigned for her release ever since.

{With thanks to Jamil for pointing out} 

There is no alternative to peaceful coexistence within South Asia, says Raza Rumi. And here is his case.

As we crossed the blood lined Waagah, after three hours of soul-destroying bureaucratic tangles and multiple forms filled in by the guardians of our borders, nothing changed. It was an eerie reminder of how the two Punjabs are but one. The roads were dusty and rural life remains as time-warped as ever. The street vendors were selling dirty, unhygienic food items wrapped in a thick cover of flies; and the money changers and CD-sellers attacked you with a frenzy that one is used to back home.

I was part of a delegation from Pakistan that was driving to Chandigarh to attend the SAARC folklore festival organized by Punjab’s legendary writer Ajeet Caur. This was a motley crew: ten Punjabis of various stripes, and five Sindhis who have travelled all the way from Bhit Shah to Lahore. We were greeted with garlands and the usual Punjabi warmth by our hosts at the border. This was my first trip to India via land or, as they say on visa forms, “on foot”. One could not escape the strange sensation of striding across a “hostile” frontier.

The road was still called the Grand Trunk Road and the traffic was a little more chaotic than that on the Pakistani side. The over-loaded road space reminded one of the simple fact that India’s population is out of control There is simply an explosion of humanity in all directions. As we drove towards Jullandar, our stop for lunch at a roadside restaurant called “haveli”, the driver bumped into a motorcyclist who was driving on the main highway thinking that he was still navigating the fields of his village. Thankfully, he was not hurt and the Sardarji had to only report the incident at a nearby police-post. My companions and I stood on the roadside waiting for the Sardariji to return. However, the general comment was that the lost side of the Punjab was more developed; and the images of women riding on motorcycles and scooters were simply astounding for first time visitors to India.

Six decades have passed since rivers of blood were unleashed by the tragic events of 1947, where an unnatural division of a territory was imposed by a cabal of self-obsessed politicians of all varieties and faiths, in cahoots with their imperial masters. Humans are resilient, after all, and the Punjabis have coped with this trauma rather well. On our side they have captured the entire country, held it to ransom and have not shied away from undermining other nationalities when need be. On the enemy side, they have turned into mega-entrepreneurs, flourishing businessmen across North Indian urban centres and a huge diaspora with lots of money in the Western capitals. But the tragedy refuses to go away. The most revered shrines of Sikhs are in Pakistan and the oldest Shiva temple is in our Punjab. The Muslims, of course, have left their saints and shrines in the Hindu kingdom, not to mention traces of a seven-century cohabitation with the Indian gods.

At sunset, we were closer to Chandigarh - city beautiful - a city that had to be built anew to refresh the memories of Lahore. A project that Pundit Jawaharlal Nehru was extremely proud of, Chandigarh became the first prototype, well-planned socialist experiment. It is a shame that five decades later, it is nothing like Lahore, as it still gropes to find an identity and it has turned into a testament of India’s deep-seated inequality across class lines. Having said that, it is a model city, with big boulevards, wide pavements, multiple educational institutions and mercifully, lots of green spaces.

We arrived at Himachal Bhavan, a government owned rest house of sorts built like a socialist castle. Very soon, we merged into the streams of visitors from other countries. The bauls, fakir followers of Lalon Shah in Bengal, the singers from Nepal, Kashmir and dancers from tribes of Bengal and Maharashtra constituted the delightful mosaic of South Asian folk universe carefully assembled by the legendary Ajeet Caur.

Thus a packed festival commenced in sleepy Chandigarh which, not unlike Islamabad, is a quiet city. The performers started the day with public performances in educational institutions and public auditoriums. Concurrently, a seminar took place for four days with scholars, writers and researchers presenting papers on South Asian folk art and cultures. The afternoons were spent on sightseeing and every evening folk performances were held at the Tagore Theatre in the city.

There was little room for a traveler of my kind to explore the city. But the wide variety of people who attended the seminars and performances provided ample opportunities to speak to the residents of the lost Punjab. Countless stories permeated our conversations, jokes and periods of serious discussions. A Sardarji from Gujranwala district narrated his memories of Lahore and native village. Such are the machinations of nostalgia that it becomes a reality; a shadow that hangs over the present, sometimes strong and at other times muted and subtle. But it is there, all the time. A family that migrated from Lahore had named their business in Chandigarh after the mohalla that they had to leave in the frenzy of 1947’s mayhem.

Surinder Caur, the popular singer from Indian Punjab had visited Lahore a decade ago and she nearly broke down when she identified her house in the Chauburji area. Her talented daughter Dolly Guleria is continuing the traditions and she sang with gusto at the festival. Dolly has a majestic voice and is well-versed in Sufi poetry from the Punjab. Her rendition of Baba Farid’s verses and pieces of Heer left the audience swooning.

Dolly also wants to visit Pakistan again as her maiden trip with her mother left an indelible impression on her.

Perhaps the most soulful performances at the festival were those by the Bauls of Bengal and the fakirs from Bhit Shah who retained the essence of original performative features unlike the pop-folk that is in vogue now. The malangs from Madhoo Lal Hussain’s shrine in Lahore were a hit for their direct connection with the audience. The trance-like state and losing themselves attracted the spectators as each one of them may have wanted at some stage of their life to have entered oblivion. The dhamalis, as these resident malangs are known, dance each Thursday to remember the tradition of devotion that Madhoo Lal had started in the seventeenth century to honour his patron, teacher Shah Hussain. The syncretic roots of our folklore are difficult to miss.

As I narrated in my paper on the myths of Indus river that, even today in parts of Sindh, there exists the practice of wrapping the holy Quran in colourful cloth and cradling it, the way Hindus have worshipped the birth of Lord Krishna.

Scholars from all over the region lamented how folklore traditions were threatened due to rampant commercialisation and the globalised mono-culture where manners and lifestyles are all inspired by the dominant West. During the festival, I loved the dancers of Sherdukpen tribe from Arunachal Pradesh who performed the traditional Yak Dance. These tribals are engaged in farming for their livelihoods, while dancing provides a balance of their interaction with Nature and daily rigours of their lives.

Other groups from India presented amazing performances showcasing the vibrant cultural kaleidoscope of India. The Yakshagaan from Karnataka, Laavni from Maharashtra, Hafiz Nagma from Kashmir, and Ustad Qadri Sardar Ali’s Qawwali group from Punjab displayed the way folk traditions continue in these difficult times.

The festival aside, it was the Punjabi environs that pleased me the most. Indian Punjab is now divided into governable units of Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and the Punjab. In addition, Chandigarh is a Union territory that also happens to be the headquarters for Punjab and Haryana states. Nehru’s land reform, industrialisation and the spread of education at all levels have made these states distinctly different from their mammoth counterpart: the Pakistani Punjab. A large middle class has transformed the cultural ethos and democratic traditions have ensured that citizen voice is given its due in governance on the Indian side.

Chandigarh, for instance, has an impressive literacy rate of nearly 82% and its per capita income is also the highest for the service sector flourishes here. Guess who can boast of a parha likha Punjab? On the other hand we have a small, populous strip of central Punjab that has the promise of prosperity; otherwise, southern Punjab is the poorest of regions in Pakistan. The barani north is also impoverished with limited citizen services and entitlements. With our indoctrinated India-hatred, we often tend to overlook these developments in our immediate neighbourhood. How come the infidels, those scheming banias and stumbling Sikhs achieve this? A question that must be addressed by us all.

On my last day in Chandigarh, I visited the Punjab University to meet an old acquaintance from the international public administration network. Mr and Mrs Ghuman live in a peaceful house within the university, grow their own vegetables, and are raising two sons who are acquiring state of the art education. I was offered baisan ki mithai, kachorees and barfi with lots of affection for Pakistan and the Punjabis. I did not feel as if I was in a hostile territory and the conversation and its tenor reminded me of my family on this side of the border. Ironically, the same day another former Professor of Chandigarh, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, a son of Chakwal was trading allegations against Pakistan for spreading terrorism. Politics can deplete cultures and destroy common bonds. 1947 was this awful watershed when high politics dominated the lived and shared lives of the Punjabis.

Ajeet Caur-ji, who calls me her son, is a remarkable woman. She is relentless in her efforts in forging South Asian bonds and effecting literary and cultural exchanges. She has kept a flame ablaze in dark times. Let the light prevail. Ajeetji is not alone. The writers from all over South Asia are her family.

It will take years, perhaps decades, but the dream for a visa-less, peacefully coexistent countries of South Asia will be realized. We will wait, but not give up. First published in The Friday Times

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Husain Qazi

Lahore - the heart of Pakistan, is known for its historic buildings and splendid structures. For centuries the successive regimes have been enriching the city with love and determination. The construction of each successive era; Mughal, Victorian and the modern, has added tremendously to the grandeur of the city.

Shalimar Interchange is a beautiful addition in the landmark constructions of the metropolis. Constructed on the road to historic Shalimar Gardens, it is a link with our rich heritage and continuation of the artistic vision and the superb building skills that our master craftsmen possess.

Shalimar Interchange is a state of the art project, conceived by the Government of Punjab, planned by the LDA / TEPA, designed by NESPAK and constructed by Frontier Works Organisation – the leading construction organisation of the country. It is the first three levels interchange in Punjab over the canal and the railway line and comprises of a 1.6 km Flyover, 2 Underpasses, 2 Ground Level Bridges and 11 km service roads around the site.

The interchange will greatly benefit the people of Lahore by improving the city’s traffic flow. The Mughalpura crossing - accommodating bulk of the city’s traffic, was a choke point where even the ambulances were held up in the traffic jams. The majestic flyover now conveniently connects the city with cantonment. On the canal side; the underpasses convert the canal bank road into a fast moving signal free corridor. Commuters to the Shalimar Gardens, Jallo Park and Mughalpura Dry Port will be much facilitated by the facilities of the Interchange.

The 10 to 15 minutes time that was wasted in crossing this choke point has now been reduced to just a minute. As per the traffic count, 1 lakh vehicles crossing the interchange will be benefited with a net saving of 6000 hours of traveling time per day.

“The flyover-bridge is of the latest design that is most suitable for the locality. Its sleek transoms (pillars) and girders radiate openness. Besides regulating the traffic at a previous chokepoint, it will provide maximum utility for the residents by uplifting the whole area” (Khwaja Ahmed Hassan, Chairman Task Force Lahore Road Rehablitation Project, II).

The grand project, conceived back in 1976 could not be implemented due to site restrictions and technical difficulties. It was a challenge for the visionary Chief Minister and his dedicated team which has been accomplished AlhamdoliLlah with lot of effort and determination.

During the accelerated pace of construction two valiant workers of FWO laid down their life while combating the odds of construction.

The congested site was acquired after a prolonged effort by shifting the installations of 5 different departments. The huge motorcycle market, numerous houses, shops and mosques were shifted and encroachments coming in the Right of Way were removed.

The design was improved many times keeping in view the ground situation for eg the soil condition that required enhancement in the strength and quantity of the foundation and the pillars. This process made it more practical however increased the workload and construction time.

About a hundred pieces of heavy machinery and plant operated in a restricted site within the chaos of running traffic.

The large tangled web of underground services i.e. the sewerage, water supply, ptcl and the overhead high tension electric cables was systematically relocated.

The addition of two underpasses and an additional bridge over the canal was accommodated within the scheduled time.

The project has incorporated the best of design, material and workmanship. It has been specially designed to give maximum space to the traffic moving under the flyover.

For a sound technical management NESPAK, the renowned consultants, were engaged for the designing, construction-supervision and verifications.

The civil works have been executed by Frontier Works Organisation by putting in the best of technical skills and practical experience with a day and night effort and sincere dedication. FWO yearns to take up the quality of construction to new heights after the successful performance of road projects implemented about 13 years back.

The design and construction aspects of the project involved much more effort and material than any other flyover previously constructed in the province. Its quantum of work is three times more than the Jinnah flyover.

The landscaping and aesthetic designing is being carried out with a focus on incorporating the glorious Mughal art with this state of the art project. FWO thanks Punjab Government for involving it in the development of Lahore. It is our honour that our projects are referred as a marvel of construction and a model to follow.

With all the sincerity and best wishes, Shalimar Interchange is presented to the people of Lahore as a New Year’s gift.

Annual (accompanied) get together 55 PMA Long Course will be held on April 18, 2010 (Sunday) at 1100 Hrs at Chinnar Golf Course Murree.

Each one of you is invited with family. Due to non availability of guest rooms everyone is requested to visit Murree on April 18 and come direct to Chinnar Golf Course. For details, contact Col Muhammad Asif (Retd), Course Secretary on his mobile nos: 03005018772/ 03005135616.

Confirm your attendance directly to Hav Hassan, PA to Maj Gen Munawar Ahmed Solehria (on telephone no 051 9290200) or Col Muhammad Asif(Retd) latest by March 27, 2010. Images: 55 PMA Long Course

Related: Annual Get Together 2009, All about 55 PMA Long Course Men at Their Best 

Edward Gibbon wrote in his book A History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (published in 1776) that Christianity brought ignorance to the West. It made for the decline and fall of Rome by sapping the faith of the people in the official religion. Christians believed in the imminent end of this world, they all put their thoughts in the “next” world.

This other-worldly attitude proved most disastrous to the West, since the Christians, instead of serving the state and the public good, diverted men from useful employments and encouraged them to concentrate on heavenly and private salvation.

The knowledge was limited to the Church functionaries only. And they instead of research were writing stories about supernatural power saints and mystics. These Church functionaries were engaged in superfluous discussions without any substance: Whether Hazrat Adam (peace be upon him) had the navel? Before going up to the skies whether the Christ (A.S.) ate the fresh bread or was it stale? How many angles can stand on tip of the needle? Their only job was to tarnish scientific facts and philosophy to augment their beliefs.

Death was the penalty to do any enlightening work against their beliefs. Brono was burnt alive. Galileo saved himself by withdrawing his statement (that the earth moves round the sun). Copernic could not publish his book during his life.

The era between fifth and fifteenth century (AD) is considers as a dark period because the church during this period had restrained every independent thought whereas the Muslim kept the learning quest alive in Spain, Baghdad, Damascus; translating Greek works in Arabic. Jews took the translations of Razi, Ibne Sina and Ibne Rashid to west, which stimulated westerners. Greek scholarly people chased by Turks also arrived in Italy and started teaching there.

Ibne Rashid was the man to liberate thoughts of humanity at that time. He presented his concept of religious and philosophical realities as two independent truths. Students of Ibne Rashid successfully debated against fundamentalist Christians. That is when scientific revolution was initiated and we see the results today.

The present age in this way is courtesy of the Muslims lead by Ibne Rashid.

Violent crimes have been at historic up nationwide; they are rising sharply in all cities. The rise seems to have been set off by something more bewildering.

Imagine Lahore only ten years ago: It was a different city; socially cohesive, closely knit. Young children could go visiting neighbors or to nearby shopping centers to get groceries and other things but not now. People then knew each other personally and had strong social bounds; hence courtesies for each other.

Things started changing with an exponential increase in urbanization. Large number of outsiders started moving in Lahore to live and or work. Now even the immediate neighbors do not know each other and people act like total strangers. Garish housing societies have come up on all the open spaces inside the city and Lahore has expanded much beyond what used to be municipal boundaries. The crime rate has grown with mush faster speed than the city.

What are the apparent causes? Many experts say that crimes are a result of disintegrating familial and dwindling community values that are contributing in turning young people into violent criminals.

Due to the growing demand for educated workforce and skilled labor, an employment base that used to provide jobs for those without a school certificate has shrunk considerably. This situation has resulted in a general lack of hope. “If one does not have skills, training, and when socio economic situation looks desperate, does that young man really have hope? I think that ties into the anger,” says a sociologist Dr. Muhammad Anwar, “This anger seem to be translating in to crimes, petty in the beginning that leads to more heinous ones at later stages.” This is the reasons that the criminals mostly are in their mid teens to mid-20’s.

One finds unskilled workers sitting in a linear fashion with their tools - mountains of paint brushes, piles of colour scheme cards, number of empty paint cans, digging paraphernalia and or hammers of different kind (who said unskilled labour) - along any city roads and squares waiting for a day’s job. They all come from suburbs to earn their livings. What options do they have when they do not get the job for the day and they have to go back home to family that is to b fed, is the question. They not only lose hope but may get frustrated that may lead them to resort to unfair means, what ever is possible for them.

Similarly, the army of maids and home servants who come from nearby villages and towns when dazzled by urban glamour are incited to commit to petty crimes and thefts.

Not only unskilled and uneducated segment, even degree holders find it difficult to get their first job after graduation because traditionally the job market in slow economy of Pakistan has always been tight. Which is why one reads reports of crimes (from purse and mobile phone snatching to car lifting to burglaries and murders) being committed by people from effluent class and living in posh localities of Lahore? Though generally, the poorer neighborhoods are considered to be the hubs for frequent criminal happenings. Let me hasten to add, this does not imply that there are no crimes in posh localities like Defense Society, or Gulberg or the criminals living in these localities can not commit crime around Railway Station or Badami Bagh Bus Terminal or Lakshmi or Bhatti gate.

Besides hopelessness, crimes are attributed to greed, to an evil nature, to poor parenting, to television, to movies, to the Internet, to whatever seems to be popular and not in accord with our old societal value system. These and many other are the reasons that we find crime rate rising on an alarming rate.

Crime statistics, like any other officially reported data, cannot be considered reliable. In the past decade, Lahore has been awash with guns. Empirical evidences tell that Kalashnikov and other automatic weapons have become ubiquitous in Lahore, city called cultural capital of Pakistan. This fact makes the crime quick and fast, much faster than law enforcing agencies to track.

Criminality extends into all levels of society and it cannot be restricted to the largely undefined boundaries of Lahore. Given the fast and efficient communication means (roads network, mobile phones, more transport), it has been observed that criminals sometime come from suburbs, make their day and go back uncaught. Those who study crime debate say, “Criminals may be from anywhere but all crime is local, of course, and each city has its underlying causes.”

Analyzing crime is an absorbing exercise. It throws up new facets of crime and new ideas on how to cope with them. The real tragedy, however, is that there is hardly a national debate on crime, like the one seen in the developed world; where the crime are more. “Unless crime hits hard personally, I am not concerned,” is the worst attitude that is exhibited some time.

The only long term solution to put an end to crimes and make our society more civilized is to end hopelessness. How to create hope in the people and tolerance in our society are the real issues that need to be addressed. And this can happen when every one is conscious and does what ever is possible.

The solution is not with police or any other law enforcing agencies. “The problem is much deeper and the solution has to be long term. Combating crime firmly and honestly is one thing. Provision of education, heath and other social securities, fair play in practices and procedure are some other starting points. Collectively, we should act responsibly and are some factors to start if we have to combat crime,” Dr. Pirzada Inam Karim.

Earlier this articles appeared in Nation, is also at All Things Pakistan.

Sooner or later, successful writers learn that they cannot go through life expecting to find time to write - you have to make time. This inevitably involves sacrifice, taking time away from the other important things in life: family, friends, jobs and other obligations. Sometimes it also involves self-imposed exile, strange rituals, and other writer’s tricks.

Wee hours of the night – after midnight to before crack of the dawn – are moments of acceptances and creativity. Allah the exalted likes devoted adoration and worship during these hours in particular. These are the moments during which most successful writers have been accomplishing more.

Rasheed ud Din Hamdani wrote his landmark book ‘Jamia ul Twarikh’ during these hours. Anthony Trollop, British novelist, wrote all his books after drinking coffee early morning. Edward Gibbon touched the zenith during this time of the nights. George Grotto, a famous banker used to be up early for writing history. Rajinder Singh Bedi created his landmark work during these moments. Allama Mohammad Iqbal included himself in the list of early risers when he composed verses praising the early risers.

In contemporaries, Abbas Khan is a celebrated short story writer and author of nine books including Light Within. He is an early riser and still writes in longhand. He has written all his books in the early hours of the morning. “Calmness and tranquility of the morning reveals more than any other time of the day and night,” he says.

Janet Fitch, author of White Oleander and Jenny Offill, author of the novel Last Things wrote completed their work in the mornings.

When do you write, blog or books, or when do you do creative work?

Pakistan has now not won a single test match in Australia since December 4, 1995. During second test match of this series Pakistan at one time needed only 125 runs to win with 9 wickets in hand. At that instance I was naive enough to actually put a draft post at ATP celebrating Pakistan’s win in Australia after 15 years. I did not publish that post and then I fall asleep. I woke up few hours later to see the heartbreak hotel. Pakistan had lost remaining 9 wickets in 89 runs and lost the match. I was so glad of not publishing the post earlier and then deleted my draft write-up with a heavy heart.

Pakistan’s last victory in a test series was in 2006 in a home series against West Indies. It is easy to demand resignations, sweeping changes, sending all current players home and rebuilding the team from scratch but the scary thing is that Pakistan has no batting talent for test matches besides what we’ve got in the current team.

Who can name atleast 4 batsmen of test calibre that can replace the current bunch in test matches? Only Taufeeq Umar (Test Average 39.29 from 46 innings), Asim Kamal (Test Average 37.73 from 20 innings), Fawad Alam (Test average 41.66 from 6 innings) and Yasir Hameed (Test Average 34.52 from 45 innings)’s names come to mind. We need batsmen for test teams with solid 40+ averages.

In the current team here are the all time batting averages of our stars.

Besides the current team, if I may say, the tier two batsmen are not worth of 2 day matches, let alone 5 day test of test matches. I closely followed the premier domestic QeA trophy matches this year and there is no batting talent for test matches to speak of. I know I am making a very general statement but this is truly what I believe and what I saw from QeA matches this year.

Now twenty20 format is a different ball game. We will find many batsmen in Pakistan very capable for Twenty20 but the technique and temprament needed from a test match batsman seems to have got lost in Pakistan.

Fielding and catching also needs to be improved tremendously. Pakistan dropped 14 catches in 3 test matches - the highest I’ve ever known to be dropped by Pakistan.

I won’t put much blame on bowlers as I think we have got ‘OK to better’ bowling talent in the team.

What do our readers think?

Two years ago, the U.S. Department of Justice declared January 13 AMBER Alert Awareness Day to commemorate the abduction and murder of 9 year old Amber Hagerman in Arlington, TX. National AMBER Alert Awareness day is aimed at bringing public awareness and participation in safely recovering missing children. The miseries through which parents of a missing child pass are far worse than losing him/her knowing that he/she is dead.

A device with the name of My Child ID has been introduced. Tiny in size which can be attached to a key chain, the device enables parents to store, organize, and manage a child’s vital information such as medical information regarding medications, allergies, and physicians, as well as emergency contact info. You plug it in to your USB port to set it up. The device is compatible with Microsoft, Mac, and Linux operating systems and has a capacity of 128MB. Anyone finding any child lost can easily get in touch with the parents and also take care of the medical needs during the interim period. My Child ID is being sold at Amber Alert site for US $ 40.00.

Whereas the manufacturer considers its use for minor children only, I very strongly feel that it is useful for us all, and particularly, the senior citizens and the special people. When anyone of us happens to go in to coma as a result of an accident or for medical reasons, the ones around such person can appropriately call the emergency services and the fainted person's near and dear ones.

Standing in Lahore School of Economics lush green lawns, we are watching the first and longest solar eclipse of this century now. Eclipse is underway in different parts of the world including Pakistan. The eclipse will last for an average of about twelve hours. In Pakistan, it will begin at 1230 and ends at 1:00 approximately. According to meteorologists, the eclipse can be partially observed in Pakistan and will also be visible in African countries, India, Sri Lanka, China and Myanmar.

Annular solar eclipses occur when the Moon is too far to cover the Sun entirely. Therefore, when the eclipse reaches totality, you would see a ring (Annulus) around the moon and hence the name annular.

Please do exercise caution while watching this eclipse. Do not look directly at the Sun during the eclipse for it might put your eyes at risk even with your cool sunglasses. Also, do not try to use binoculars or telescopes and point at the eclipse directly without sufficient protection as you run the risk of being blinded - Geo .

The moon passes between the sun and the earth during a solar eclipse in Amman on January 15, 2010. The annular eclipse of the sun, which will last for over 11 minutes during its maximum duration, will be visible from a 300-km wide track that passes half of the Earth, according to NASA.- Reuters/Ali Jarekji

Cake makers have been in the market for years. These cake makers make bigger cakes which need to be cut or sliced to dish out to the family members or near and dear ones. How about giving a round mini cake to everyone, something like a pastry. Earlier, if you wanted to make mini round cakes, you had to mix up a whole batch and cook several rounds in the oven. It obviously took lot of time. Now, you can make these round cakes in a very short time; just a few minutes.

This mini cup cake maker can make seven mini cakes at a time. But you can make as many batches of these as you like as the clean up process takes a few minutes as the cake maker has non stick surfaces. The mini cake maker is available for US $ 33.

source: whatonearthcatalog.com

Listening to music has become an essential part of daily routine of most of us all, particularly, youth. Listening to music at work place, home and on the move without disturbing others nearby has been possible only by using head phones. Putting on head phones has a very clear and obvious disadvantage. You don't remain attentive. You do not know what is going on around you. However, now, we have neck phones out in the market. As the name suggests, these are worn around the neck. You can listen to the music without your ears being fully involved in that and you continue to remain aware of your surroundings.

This dual speaker system is slender and lightweight. You can plug it in any portable device with a standard 3.55mm plug which is compatible with iPhone and iPod Touch. The cord is 36" long. The frequency range is 20Hz-20,000Hz which is good enough for high-quality sound. The speakers rest on your neck to project the sound to your ears. There is a built in volume control. Neck phones weigh 7 1/2 oz. Both sections of the frame can be adjusted for optimal comfort. There is everything good about these speakers but for the possibility of getting neck sore if these are worn for a long time and, particularly, while jogging.

These neck phone speakers are powered by a two AA batteries. The battery life is 15 to 30 hours. Price of the neckphones is going for $129.95.

Source: www.hammacher.com

Pakistan Security Report 2009 was released by Pak Institute for Peace Studies - independent think-tank - and it says that 596 operational attacks were carried out by security forces in 2009. Over 12,800 suspected militants, 75 of them belonging to Al Qaeda and 9,739 local Taliban or members of other banned groups have been arrested during the year.

Overall casualties count to 12,632 people dead and 12,815 injured (this includes casualties in terrorist attacks, operational attacks by the security forces and their clashes with the militants, inter-tribal clashes and the cross-border attacks of the US and Nato forces in Fata. In 2009, the report says, 2,586 terrorist, insurgent and sectarian-related incidents were reported that killed 3,021 people and injured 7,334. The highest number of 1,173 attacks was reported from the NWFP, followed by 792 in Balochistan and 559 in Fata; 46 attacks took place in Punjab, 30 in Sindh, 12 in Islamabad and five each in Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir.

The Taliban keep changing their tactics and they are now also carrying out coordinated attacks, instead of using a lone suicide bomber. Part of that change was evident in choosing different and increasingly civilian targets, such as a university in Islamabad and markets in Lahore and Peshawar , the attack on the military’s General Headquarters in Rawalpindi, and drive-by shootings targeting senior military officers in Islamabad.

Albert Einstein is one of the greatest scientists of the world. As a man he was higher than a scientist, leaving aside his books and laboratories' results. His observations about ordinary life are also astonishing.

Being a Jew, he felt threatened when Hitler came to power. Hitler was of the opinion that Jews are lesser mortals and they will spoil the marshal German race. They should therefore be eliminated. Einstein decided to relinquish his German citizenship, migrated to America and lived there ever after.

A delegation of Israeli leaders approached Albert Einstein with an aim to make him the head of Israel. According to them it would be an honour for Israel. But the delegates were disappointed. Albert Einstein did not accede to their request in spite of their sincerity of purpose.

"Life of researcher and discoverer is far better than heading a state," thought Einstein.

Extract from book Light Within by Abbas Khan and translated by S A J Shirazi.

Is anyone still using the landline phone? Is seems no one is using but those good old landlines are still working and also advancing. Panasonic’s latest cordless phone, the KX-TG7432 is an example.

Like previous Panasonic phones, its base unit contains a digital answering machine, and you can park extension handsets around the house; they all communicate wirelessly.

What is new is that cellphone technologies are being added to the KX-TG7432; the clickable navigation joystick, huge, bold, black-and-white screen displays icons. You can summon a list of messages on any handset, and listen to the most important ones first. The phone also offers Do Not Disturb, which lets you establish certain hours during which the phone doesn’t ring. Cool! What is more, between rings, a synthesized voice calls out the name of whoever’s calling.

The handset design is neat and comfortable; the audio is incredibly clear and lifelike; the keys are big, rubberized and illuminated. Nits to pick: when you call in for your messages, you can’t change your outgoing greeting. Also, there’s no two-line version with these features.

Other feature like Call block, Night mode, Expandable up to 6 handsets, Ringer ID, 16-Minute all digital answering system, Visual call waiting / Call waiting deluxe compatible, 4-Way conferencing, Intercom between handsets, Shared phonebook, Headset jack and belt clip included and more make it much more functional.

Travel writing is a fine art; accepted literary genre that is read. Writers who are gifted with an ability to understand what they see and can breathe life into a place when they narrate their travel experiences. The Internet that is wrongly considered as a pedestal for instantaneous scribbles mixed with emotions and indecipherable abbreviations has already become a place to find some good travel literature, travelogues and travel stories in addition to online trading of travel services. It can be one of the best display places for travel writers to showcase what their countries have to offer.

Travel is prosperity and leisure pursuit, which is a result of many things; history, heritage, culture, natural beauty and a quest to know what is unknown and meet wonderful people.

Pakistan is a land of geographical, geological, and natural contrasts and has every thing nature could bestow; from some of the places like Mehr Garh in Balochistan and Harappa in Punjab where some of the initial human activities began, Lots Valley (NWFP) once home to Gandhara Civilization where Chinese Hiuen Tsiang who is regarded as an early trendsetter traveler treaded, or ancient city Multan that, as per the legend, is living since the time of Hazrat Noah (A.S.), Kalash community existing in an on the edge district Chitral still holding awaiting for anthropologists' conclusive research about origin of their unique identity against all outside pressures for development and modernity, unsolved riddle where rivers were lost (River Hakra in Cholistan) to pristine locations in Northern Pakistan (tree line in Himalaya Range) where one can see two seasons at the same place -- winter above and summer below, and thematic pilgrims for Sikh and Buddhist communities, to name just a few.

Now consider this: All major national publications have some portions designated for travel writing but it is a small and competitive market. For those who write in English -- language that is understood on World Wide Web -- the market is even smaller. Experienced travel writers are associated with newspapers and magazines and new ones get chance to appear in print only occasionally. There should be more travel journalism and industry news. Public should know if the Ministry of Tourism reduces royalty fee by 50 percent for climbing Pakistani mountains that are above 6000 meters.

On the other hand, facts packed guidebooks with eye-catching, superb, clear and sharp images of people and places enlivening every page provide good background information into any country's history, culture, attractions, and its people; information that are useful during journeys to new places. Guidebooks have their own style quite different that travelogues and travel stories. The guidebook publishing business is totally in the hands of famous foreign companies and it is hard for local publishers to compete with them. "Only foreign tourists need and buy guidebooks and they already have one when they arrive in Pakistan," says a publisher Munir Ahmad. Still opportunities for travel writers do come up from time to time. Some guidebook companies also get updates and inputs from local writers and photographers that appear in their newer editions. Some time ago, for example, Insight Guides commissioned a local writer to revise their outdated edition. Tony Wheeler, British founder editor of Lonely Planet while marketing guidebooks on Pakistan prides in growing up here for some years and has contact with many local travel writers for updates. But, Munir Ahmad says, "Publishing guidebooks is not a viable option here; it is difficult to sell books." Same is the case with self-publishing by writers.

Given the rate of travel industry growth and every one's interest in knowing new places, people and cultures, so many Websites have come up that show travel contents all over the Internet. So far Pakistani destinations have very scanty presence on the Web. Print publications, particularly English, get the original work and pay to the writers whereas most Websites just recycle travel articles from print media.

This scarcity of places where to get published leaves the travel writers to turn to the Internet where they can pitch their ideas to many editors of travel Websites and or interested foreign publications who are always looking for new talent; eager and encouraging. Until that happens, the Web is considered one of the best places for travel writes to start.

Not only that; writers can read what has already been published there and find background material and facts. Quick search on the Internet reveal so many starting points, notwithstanding travel writing how-to services and premium travel writers' marketers. BootsnAll.com, where I am published some time, is a Web service that post articles by writers from all over the world. I have found it writer friendly and receptive to new locations.

In Pakistan, so far much has not been documented systematically what to talk of presenting it on the Internet for others to find about with an aim to tempt them to come here and see (and spend their money in the process). Which is why Pakistani travel writers and photographers have a vast field of activity on hand right at home? In addition to glob trotters with a compass, a camera and itchy feet, historians, geographers, archaeologists, geologists, naturalists and birdwatchers also need to publish their work in order to generate wide-ranging interests in off beat and mostly obscure destinations in Pakistan. I know an engineer Itehar Mahmud who works with oil exploration firm and writes about places wherever he goes in connection with his duty. Colonel (retired) Mobeen Ahmad has traveled all along the borders, "for reconnaissance purposes mostly on foot," he says, during his long service. He also writes his memories in the form of travelogues. It is in this context the Web can be viewed as the playing ground for local talent.

Travel calendar of Pakistan is quite impressive. Where else in the world other than in Pakistan polo - grandest of all the sports – is played at the high ground like Shandor Pass that is called the roof of the world, or moving international cultural festival are held but along Kharakorum Highway. But all the events on the calendar go without any advance publicity or follow-ups. One wonders how interested people come to know about these events. PTDC list of events and festivals need to be improved and lot more can be included in the list.

Somebody has to write the travel literature in order to keep fuelling the demand for airline seats, hotel rooms, tour operators, eateries, transport companies, porters and facilitators, guidebooks, atlases, picture postcards and posters publishers, and other affiliates of the travel industry besides those communities whose major source of income comes from tourism. Kim Rahan, a traveler from China who bought History of Rohtas Fort on location, told, "This buy is to promote interest of people in travel related vocations."

Too often, deftly executed travelogues or a travel story can accomplish much more than any other promotional activity, particularly a story that combine passion, personality and perspective. Every place has a story (and a history), as they say. If you have a drive to write, there is a need of extensive travel writing. Tell your story.

Islamabad had snowfall on Jan 10, 2008. (With thanks from Jamal A)!

Risks of natural as well as man created disasters (also include terrorism and war) are growing exponentially around the world, more so in Pakistan. As these disasters have a tremendous impact on us, more structured and intelligent response strategies need to be developed at all level and in all sectors including education. Sadly, to this date, students in Pakistan have generally had little exposure to the challenges of disaster management.

Best thing is that today, modern technologies and methodologies are available to help mitigate disasters of any kind. Many of the top universities in developed world are already offering courses on disaster management.

Seeing the level of awareness of parliamentarians during National Disaster Management Policy Dialogue, I suggest disaster management programs be designed to provide an interdisciplinary education environment, in which students and future leaders learn how to function effectively in their respective field should they assume real world responsibilities in disaster situations. And I think this will help the cause of NDMA.

Business practices are changing and collaborative web technologies are helping them to change fast. In this attention age, desktop conferencing can give a new form to communication and add great features into communication practices. Given the benefits, the trend to use web conferencing, remote support and remote access appliances that meet the needs of service providers and any organization is picking up. More and more businesses are employing these technologies.

One of the best places to start is RHUB – Multi-Function Web Conferencing Appliance for PC and Mac Users - across the world. What is more, RHUB's universal attendance technology enables users of any platform to join meetings by using an Internet browser and requiring no download of any additional software. With a small footprint, and a power draw of only 4.5 watts, RHUB's on-premise web conferencing appliances are the perfect choice for organizations seeking to improve their environmental credentials.

The RHUB appliance consists of two product lines:

The two product lines are built upon the following four coherent real-time collaboration applications:

Browse through the neatly laid out and users friendly rhubcom.com and learn about the powerful features of products they are offering. Also go through what other users have been saying about them. This will help you make an informed business decision. I suggest you view the demo, better still try for free. That will help you make an informed decision.

Smog in Lahore has increased dramatically through the past few years.

Let us blame the increased smog on a combination of different factors like weather, greater use of vehicles and other agents that produce more pollution. Lahore is one of the great cities with huge number of registered vehicles, and many more coming and going every day from out of the city. Due to the concentration of heavy traffic, emissions of smoke and sculpture dioxide and nitrogen oxides are much greater than they are in adjoining rural areas. More so when CNG is not available and everyone has to use petrol. Smog is formed when nitrogen oxides -- mostly from auto emissions -- mix with volatile organic compounds such as gasoline fumes and bake in the sun. More smog this year could cause problems for commuters in general and those who are ill and suffering from diseases like asthma and other chronic lung conditions. Young people are also among those who are at risk.

I start from home when our vibrant and living city is still enveloped in smog from early morning. I need to commute 20 minutes out of Lahore every day. On many mornings, it fails to dissipate till even 10 AM so I start in zero plus visibility. Playing hide and see with the calm puffs of air from plains hung a few hundred feet above the ground, I negotiate oncoming traffic, mostly animal transport, tractors with overloaded trolleys and milkmen on this motorbikes driving into the city. While I try to remain on the edge of the road, praying, I keep wondering on their expertise to drive fearlessly.

Smog chocked Lahore is not climate friendly at all. This thought also comes during rainy season when after a shower the city streets start flowing like torrents.

May be someone someday - at least when 'threats to the democracy' are over - will start thinking about these factors that are badly effecting the residents. May be someone will have time to think about pollution control.

Fujitsu – one of the leading manufacturer – is setting another example of highly responsible eco-consciousness. The company is selling a laptop that runs on wind power. How? Fujitsu is purchasing wind power green energy credits for each of the FMV Loox laptops sold that are equivalent to the amount of electricity estimated to be used by the machine over a four year lifespan.

Fujitsu's has calculated that the computer will be used for 4.5 hours each day, left on-charge for a further 4.5 hours and switched off for 15 hours for each of 240 days each year over four years. The resulting amount of electricity is 45.55 kilowatt hours and that's equivalent to 18 kilograms of CO2 emissions. So, for each machine sold Fujitsu will purchase the equivalent amount of wind-power credits from the Japan Natural Energy, which has been established by power generation companies to encourage such good deeds of corporate citizenship.

What is more, the laptop complies with current EnergyStar standards and the new standards that come into effect in July. The computer, which will be available through Fujitsu's Web site and not through shops, is among the company's smallest models and features a 5.6-inch screen that can swivel around and fold back on itself into a tablet PC-like form factor. While not positioned as a netbook it runs the Intel Atom processor that is common in most other machines of the same size. Other features include 1GB of memory, up to a 120GB hard disk drive and built-in cellular modem card in some models. Stay tuned for more on this.

Politics, as the word is commonly understood, are nothing but corruptions 
Jonathan Swift (1667-1745)

Keenly following the events unfolding after Ashura bombing and fire in commercial market, I am getting the impression that Karachi is getting preferential treatment. The tragedy is being politicized. Losses are being exaggerated everyone is trying for compensation to traders. Let me hasten to add that I am not against compensation to the property but what I want to point out is that the same treatment should be given to loss of property elsewhere (Moon Market Lahore or shops burned don in Peshawar) or it will create another bad precedence. No?

Where has the CNG gone? People are not getting CNG for a week now. Any idea?

Being optimistic by nature, I wanted to start this year by writing something happy, festive that I have planned in the start of 2010 but I can’t. Whatever is happening around effect my moods and attitudes. Every time the home grown terrorists attack my country men, I feel that pain deep inside my heart. Every time they strike, I start thinking of possible solutions to put an end to living under constant threat, uncertainty and inactivity.

The news of attack on people gathered to watch a volleyball tournament in Laki Marwat (small town in NWFP without even basic infrastructure) killing least 89 people and injuring more than 100 others set another wave of anger. After attack on mosques, religious processions and crowded middle class markets, now the terrorist are not sparing the sports grounds even. Terrorists’ statement that they were also planning a strike on Wagha flag lowering also reveals some of their designs for anyone who has doubts about what they are up to.

To add to my dismay of only being able to live in the semblance of difficult times, looking at things through an altogether non optimistic lens, I realize the difficulties but it still comes to this question, are we doing enough to save the country and the people? Or are we doing anything at all. If we are doing, why I don’t know? Why I can’t see things happening? All these questions of security and threat perceptions are beginning to pound into a fierce migraine in the nether regions of my skull when a deafening blow would be struck. The hallow slogans (like ‘these attacks can’t demoralize the nation’ we hear every time territories strike) are very demoralizing in the first place. Leaders issuing such brave statements should ask anyone who is a victim!

Sitting in the green lawn of Lahore School of Economics, I was watching last sun of 2009 - The Bloodiest Ever Sunset as Jalal writes, setting and contemplating to write my predictions for the next year, my personal new year’s resolution, how I am going to bring some changes in my blogging and a few more good thing in life (trying hard to be optimistic). Trying to forget the collective grief and collective loss that we all have suffered in 2009, I even thought to cheer my self  up a little at the New Year’s Eve.

But the call for a nationwide strike on Friday, January 1, 2010, given by several religious and political parties and councils (list is endless) to protest the Ashura carnage and arson in Karachi would not let me write any of what I had thought. Strike call is worst of what all is bothering mine as well as any rational mind.

What a way to start a new year? I thought the city of lights should resume normal functioning as soon as possible? Given the circumstances, is strike the best way to welcome 2010?