Pakistan: General Developments - Musharraf warns of new military coup in Pakistan

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SMALL TIPS THAT CAN MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE​

Every household can save 1,500 litres of water daily

Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Myra Imran

Islamabad

Gone are the days when wasting water was considered bad manners. Many of us still remember our elders advising children to close the tap when not needed. Especially during ablution, the elders used to make sure that children are not wasting water as they said that it was prohibited in Islam. There was no water crisis at that time and the only motivation was to teach good manners to next generation.

Unfortunately, things are opposite today. Pakistan, already plagued by widespread water shortages, is expected to become water-scarce by 2035 — though some experts project this may happen as soon as 2020, if not earlier. According to official statistics, around 35 per cent of our population is already deprived of clean drinking water.

On the other hand, those who are blessed with the facility in abundance have no idea how important it is to conserve water for the future. Neither anyone has time or realisation to follow the small tips that can save water nor do they teach their children to do the same for the larger benefit of the country.

Some interesting information disseminated under a recent mass awareness campaign for 'Water Conservation and Development (MAWCD)' launched by the Capital Development Authority (CDA) in collaboration with the United Nations Development Fund (UNDP) and the Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) shows that a household can save an average of 1,500 litres of water every day by being just a little careful while using water.

For kitchen, these tips include steps like closing the tap while applying soap to the dishes, using a separate bowl or a basin to dip dirty dishes in soap and water so that less water is used in rinsing and avoid wasting water in rinsing cloths by using buckets instead of tap. It also urges housewives to use broom or mop instead of throwing a bucket full of water on the floors.

It says that instead of water pipe, using buckets to wash floor of a room saves 150 litres of water per day that makes saving 450 litres for the whole house every day. Similarly, washing clothes through buckets or washing machines instead of tap water can save 90 litres per day that makes 2,700 litres per month.

For the chores related to cooking and dish washing, a normal household uses 320 litres daily, which can be reduced to 120 litres if some simple directions are followed like closing the tap when not needed. That way, a household can save 240 litres per day that makes 7,200 litres per month.

"Don't let the hose run while washing your car. Use bucket of water and a sponge or cloth and wash your car near the lawn or grassy area so that extra water can be used for irrigation," the broacher about domestic tips for saving water further mentions.

Providing some more useful information regarding conservation of water, it says that lawn should be watered only when it is needed and that too at night or dawn with a hose fitted with sprinklers or hand sprinklers instead of water pipes. "Do not water the sidewalks or driveways," it points out as usually people start sprinkling the water on the driveway and sideways while watering the garden.

It says that an average of 200 litres of water can be saved by each household every day through fixing leaking taps, faulty washers and plumbing joints and a similar amount can be saved by avoiding overflow of the water tank. It advises public to install instruments that warn users about the water tank overflow by indication such as red light or alarm.

The information points out that every individual wastes an average of 20 litres of water while brushing teeth and 25 litres of water while shaving as they let water run throughout the process. It suggests that shower should not accede 4 minutes or at least it should be closed while applying shampoo. Every household can save 200 litres per day by following conservation tips only in washrooms.

These statistics clearly reveal that every household can play very important role in saving water for the coming generations. If every individual starts realising his or her responsibility in this direction, we, as a nation, can surely tame down the devastating impact of looming water crisis in the future.

 

[Rebelkid]

WTF....seriously ???

 

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An 'out of the box' presentation for a good cause​

Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Ishrat Hyatt

Islamabad

For its debut presentation on its new premises, Kuch Khaas — the centre for arts, culture and dialogue — featured a theatre group called 'Insolent Knights', teamed up with the NGO, 'Thali', to raise funds for a worthy cause.

They presented excerpts from 'The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy' and 'Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf'; poetry (ranging from Khalil Jibran to Faiz and some original stuff); comedic and dramatic monologues from 'Grey's Anatomy', 'Charlie Brown' and others; comedic skits and rants; mime piece on the rights to education; songs; movement piece, 'Chasing the Bumble Bee'; live poetry and thoughts on parenting.

Despite the rain, a large number of theatre aficionados and supporters of the group landed up at the venue, which was bursting at the seams, so to say, as they tried to accommodate everyone. The performance turned out not only to be entertaining but thought provoking as well — the light and laughter-filled episodes interspersed with serious topics in an effort to wake us up to the reality of the social problems that exist in our society.

It was a super-duper effort and an eye-opener for those who think the young people of this country are uncaring and non-serious. To take out time for a worthy cause while indulging in their passion for acting without thinking of monetary gain requires commitment and shows they do care enough to do something about the ills that our society suffers from. There was no stage as such; the actors sat on one side of the acting space and jumped up on cue when their turn came to perform. The audience laughed; sat in thoughtful silence and applauded each performance enthusiastically, an indication that it was thoroughly enjoyed. In conclusion, an announcement by Tulin Khalid-Azim that they would be performing in the same venue in future was met with great interest and applause.

Of-course, as in all such ventures, there needs to be a little improvement as far as voice control goes because not all the readings or vocal renderings were clearly audible — but it may also have been because there was some disturbance outside the room, as people standing there could be heard conversing.

Kuch Khaas is a new venture by Shayana Afzal Khan and it has made a promising start in the first two months of its existence by showcasing a variety of different programmes that attract a diverse audience — from the young to the young at heart. No tickets are sold but donations are requested to meet some of the expenses, most of which are borne by KK itself. This time, all proceeds from donations — which were quite generous — went to Thali, an NGO working to educate underprivileged children and its new project 'Food for Thought', which aims to feed hungry offspring of the poor.

Information on the theatre group says, 'Insolent Night' started as the brainchild of Tulin Khalid-Azim and Natasha Ejaz. Frustrated with the restrictions of Islamabad's commercial theatre scene, these two talented and committed young women decided to create a platform for performances that would never see the light of day in any capital auditorium. The first 'Insolent Night' show came to life on January 11, 2008, kicking and screaming, irreverent and clearly proving wrong all those who had proclaimed, "It just can't be done here".

The show has been wandering around Islamabad ever since, performing non-profit, entertaining, shocking and inspiring performances and enabling writers to bring fresh pieces to life in front of an audience. 'Insolent Night' was made possible by a very dedicated group of performers, writers, musicians, poets and dancers, some of whom have been a part of the family since the beginning — the core team includes Osman Khalid Butt, Wijdan Khaliq, Ammar Latif and Atif Siddique. The family has grown, keeps growing and has finally found a home at Kuch Khaas, in honour of which the name has now been changed to 'Insolent Knights'.

Well done! Keep it up, 'Insolent Knights'.

 

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QAU WORKSHOP​

Experts delve into techniques for Pakistan's high seismicity

Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Rasheed Khalid

Islamabad

The Department of Earth Sciences will be upgraded to School of Earth Sciences, having departments of geophysics, water resources & climate change, seismology and environmental sciences, said Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU) Vice Chancellor Dr. M. Masoom Yasin Zai.

He was speaking at the opening ceremony of a two-day workshop on 'Indo-Asia Continental Collision' organised by the QAU's Earth Sciences Department, in collaboration with the National Science Foundation, USA, and universities of Balochistan, Peshawar and Sargodha.

Dr. Zulfiqar Ahmed, chairperson of the QAU's Earth Sciences Department, conducted the proceedings, while Higher Education Commission (HEC) Chairman Dr. Javaid Laghari was in the chair. Dr. Yasin Zai hoped that the workshop would result in a fruitful discussion in areas of mutual collaboration and future linkages.

He said: "44 active faults force us to focus our studies in the seismicity by using remote sensing and geodesy techniques." He said the Indo-Asian collision produced spectacular Himalayas and deformed the 2,500 kilometres long Indo-Pakistan northern margin, adding that these fault zones are the main source of shear displacement between disrupted blocks, causing relative motion. Because of these faults, northwestern Pakistan, northern India and northern Afghanistan lie in the high seismicity zone, he added.

Dr. Laghari said that the HEC's priority is to provide quality teaching, particularly in the public-sector universities of Pakistan, adding that human resource development is a prime concern for the HEC.

Addressing the seminar, Dr. Zulfiqar Ahmad said that the northern Pakistan is prone to about 44 active faults where earthquakes of moderate to high magnitude could trigger in the next 25 years if the energy accumulation is built up due to the movement of tectonic plates. He said the workshop would bring together geoscientists from the USA and Pakistan, and would propose to combine remote sensing and tomographic studies with geo-chemical, isotopic and geo-chronological studies on ophiolites and arc volcanics.

He said a fundamental question facing the 21st century geoscientists is how continents evolve. "We approach this broad tectonic question by integrated field, remote sensing, geo-chemical and neo-tectonic studies in Pakistan." He said this part of the western Himalayas is considered a typical example of the collision between continents, involving an intervening island arc and is going through rapid surface deformation-related earthquakes. The workshop is intended as an opportunity to evaluate and decide scientific objectives and launch a coherent collaborative approach.

Dr Shuhab Khan of University of Houston, Texas, and convener of the workshop, discussed the objectives of the workshop and collaborative efforts between the two institutions. In the working session, Roger Bilham of Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado, said in some places along the western boundary in Balochistan, there is evidence that the zone of deformation is focused on a single fault that might be slipping seismically close to the surface.

Dr. Martin Flower of University of Illinois said the Cenozoic Makran complex represents a unique sub-parallel sequence of southward-convex ophiolites, perhaps reflecting rapid episodes of basin opening and closure, early quaternary volcanism of Afghanistan and Pleistocene calc-alkaline activity in Koh-i-Sultan.

 

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Versified translation of Holy Quran proves Hindko richness​

PHC CJ, speakers pay tributes to late author for rare work

Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Ghulam Dastageer

PESHAWAR: Chief Justice of the Peshawar High Court (PHC) Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan has said the versified translation of the Holy Quran into Hindko has proved the richness of the language.

He was speaking as chief guest at the launching ceremony of the book organised by the literary, cultural and social welfare organisation Gandhara Hindko Board. It was presided over by a noted spiritual figure of Peshawar Syed Liaqat Ali Shah Gilani.

The PHC chief justice said the Holy Quran had been translated into several languages but a few had the honoured by its rendition in verse. "Hindko has joined the ranks of those lucky languages which have had the divine message translated into verse," said Justice Ejaz Afzal while speaking at the gathering of mostly literati from different parts of the province.

He praised Abdul Ghafoor Malik, the late scholar from Silhad area of Abbottabad who had done the Hindko rendition and also translated and got published in Hindko the sayings of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) titled "Hadeesan Pak Rasool Diyan". He appreciated the efforts of Gandhara Hindko Board for the preservation and promotion of Hindko language and literature.

Earlier, Dr Zahoor Ahmad Awan, Haleem Jan Sethi, Haider Zaman Haider, Dr Adnan Gul, Dr Salahuddin, Muhammad Ziauddin, Waqar Malik, Khwaja Yawar Naseer, Waseem Shahid and Saeed Paras highlighted the work of Abdul Ghafoor Malik who died at the age of 82 in 2006 after authoring several books.

Gandhara Hindko Board chairman Dr Zahoor Awan said the board since its launch in 1993 had published 30 books including two Hindko dictionaries. He asked the provincial government to extend patronage to Hindko language. He praised Haleem Jan Sethi, Rafeeq Kamran, central naib ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami Sirajul Haq and former chief secretary Ejaz Qureshi for their cooperation.

 

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Water scheme completed in Khyber​

Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Bureau report

PESHAWAR: A drinking water scheme has been completed with the financial assistance of the government of Japan in Bakara village in Khyber Agency. It would help in provision of potable water to the villagers. The scheme would mitigate the sufferings of the women and girls, who used to fetch water from far-flung areas.

Nawabzada Fazal Karim Afridi, the honorary consul-general of Japan in Peshawar, inaugurated the scheme at an informal ceremony. Tribal elders and locals of the area attended the function.

Mr Afridi read out a special message of ambassador of Japan to Pakistan Chihiro Atsumi. In his message, the ambassador expressed great pleasure over the completion and inauguration of the scheme for provision of safe drinking water at Bakara village.

Two tribal elders, Shakirullah Jan and Shah Wali Khan, expressed gratitude to the government of Japan and its people for financial assistance for the scheme. They attributed the timely completion of the scheme to the interest taken by Afridi.

In his speech, Afridi said people of the area lacked health and education facilities and electricity. He said the problems would be discussed with the government of Japan. He said the people of the agency had great respect for the government and people of Japan for financing the establishment of schools and drinking water schemes in the area. He said the tribesmen would continue playing their role in strengthening relations between Pakistan and Japan.

 

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Green responsibility​

By Amar Guriro

KARACHI: Taking into account the increasing heat, climate changes and worsening pollution in Karachi, 'Sarsabz Pakistan' - a group of young environmentalists belonging to different universities and private institutes - hopes to create a better environment, the first step of which is to plant trees.

The group has planted several trees since its establishment and announced to plant more trees this month in Shah Faisal Colony.

"Initially, we started planting trees in the downtown areas such as the Burns Road, Shahrah-e-Liaquat, the pavements along the Government College for Women and other adjacent areas, as being in the centre of the city, the pollution is on the rise in these areas," said Saira Bano, who leads the group.

Extensive tree-cutting has damaged the general atmosphere of the city, and the group's activities could bring about positive changes. Large-scale tree-plantation is the need of the hour in the light of vanishing urban forests, rising number of vehicles, the presence of industrial units near residential areas, and increasing use of air-conditioners, power generators and other home appliances that produce carbon emissions.

Bano said, "At many places, we found that there were huge trees in the past that were later cut down and people in the nearby areas had started dumping garbage there. So we managed to remove these garbage dumps and planted a tree there, so that the people could understand how every tree is important for our beloved city."

She said she had loved trees since her childhood, and when she came across some friends like her, they started talking about them and then formed the group.

"Despite the environmental situation not being good in Pakistan, little attention was being paid to pollution and environmental issues, due to which Pakistan has become one of the most polluted places in the world. We formed this group so that individuals could be aware of the importance of the issue," she said.

"We had contacted the town administrations and we are really happy that they helped us in different ways such as digging holes for new trees, adding soil and manure and chopping off dried trees," she added.

It is pertinent to mention here that the group has selected environment-friendly and indigenous species of trees such as Gulmohar, Neem and Amaltas.

 

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Dawn's travel and tourism show takes off in style​

Kalash women and men perform on the first day of the two-day international travel and tourism show.–White Star

KARACHI, May 9: The two-day international travel and tourism show organised by the Dawn Media Group opened at the Pearl Continental hotel on Sunday in a festive atmosphere. The show, carrying a variety of interesting and coloruful features related to tourism and culture, was attended by the public in big numbers on the inaugural day. The show will continue till Monday.

Apart from the nicely set-up stalls of leading airlines and tourism promotion authorities (international and local), providing the vital information on travelling and accommodation, the photo exhibition highlighting the wonderful sights of Pakistan and a series of lively cultural performances grabbed visitors' attention.

The participating countries ranged from Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand to Turkey and Sri Lanka while the local tourism bodies belonging to Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan and Balochistan also took part in making the event a vibrant one.

The exhibitors' stalls were visited by a lot of people throughout the day.

The photos put on display by renowned as well as lesser known photographers imparted an artistic touch to the show, drawing attention towards the breathtaking sights that Pakistan has. The pictures of famous camera-clickers such as Tapu Javeri, Arif Mehmood and Nadeem A. Khan encapsulated the very essence of Pakistan's landscape, capturing everlasting moments at places as varied as the Wazir Khan mosque or the Cholistan desert. Imran A. Awan's poignant images of Rann of Kutch, the Soan Valley and Karachi's seaside, particularly of Sandspit, were a rare visual experience, and bearing in mind that it's the first time his work was being witnessed on a larger scale, he should be encouraged wholeheartedly because of his extraordinary talent. Shaikh Danish Ejaz's depiction of the Makran Valley and Shah Murad Aliani's Hingol National Park were also remarkable pieces. It makes you wonder the kind of visual appeal that Pakistan offers, but is never highlighted the way it merits.

The show was also peppered with beautiful cultural performances, which began with Sindh's folk music. The musicians' rendition of the famous number O laal meri pat"¦ was an uplifting effort, which was followed by a couple of traditional tunes.

It was a musical treat listening to (and watching) musicians from Gligit-Baltistan. The combination of the rather melancholic shehnai and an interesting set of percussion instruments was a delectable one. The members of the musical group who danced to their tunes also added a nice flavour to the whole act.

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa musical recital was no less enjoyable, with the rubab complimenting the typical groovy beat making the audience tap their feet and snap their fingers.

But it was the beautiful dance and music act of a group from Kalash that made everyone transfixed on the cultural performance area in the exhibition hall. The colourfully dressed women, accompanied by male musicians and dancers made the audience gasp for more. Dancing in groups with measured steps in concentric circles to a regular beat, sometimes orbiting around each other, the Kalash women were simply amazing. This was followed by Chitrali group's act, and the passion with which they performed was praiseworthy.

The Malaysian and Indonesian cultural performances were also brilliant. The Indonesian act began with a traditional dance in which children held plates in their hands while dancing. Then two young girls and a boy presented their bit, followed by a difficult dance act in which seven children moved rhythmically to traditional Indonesian music not standing on their feet but balancing themselves on their knees.

The second and last day of the show (Monday) will have some nice cultural presentations and promises to be a worth watching event.

 

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Harmony in Diversity enthrals audience ​

A female singer at the musical evening at the Lok Virsa auditorium.–File Photo

ISLAMABAD, May 9: The musical evening, Harmony in Diversity, presented by the Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) at the Lok Virsa auditorium Saturday evening was indeed an extraordinary performance, but the chief reason was that the artists were young, educated and most of them were children of renowned musicians.

The show began with compère Madeeha Daud presenting a bouquet to the lead singer Rizwana, an acknowledgement that she was one of those who would prove a harbinger of change in the complexion of music.

It was also a statement about the new generation of young musicians taking over the musical space from old masters, who used to practice the art through oral transmission of musical grammar learnt from their forefathers.

Lok Virsa Executive Director Khalid Javaid said the vocalists and choreopgraphers of the night's show were from an educated lot, some even having master's degrees. He added that all of them belonged to families of senior musicians and they furthered their interest after receiving grounding in the art at home.

The artists, Adeel, Rizwana, Sara Tahir, Shahida Kiran, Nadeem Abbas Loonywala, sang a number of Ghazals in light classical fashion, including those by Faiz Ahmad Faiz. Shahida Kiran repeated old hits of the Melody Queen Noor Jehan such as Sada Hoon Apne Pyar Ki and Nadeem Abbas remembering the late Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan via his Yeh Jo Halka Halka Suroor Hai. But Nadeem earned acclaim for enchantingly singing Sanson Ki Mala Pe.

However, these days Sufi lyrics have come into fashion and many were sung from Bulleh Shah. Shahida Kiran also performed Dhamal. Some also attempted interpretation of old musical numbers previously sung by Madam Noor Jehan as well as Nusrat Fateh Ali.

Four Sufi dances, performed by the PNCA performing arts group at around 1am on Sunday, mesmerised the crowd.

On the occasion, Amir Khusrau's Aaj Rang, Abida Parveen's Yar Di Gharooli Bhardi, Ibrarul Haq's Tere Rang Rang and Nusrat Fateh Ali's Dama Dam Mast Qalandar were given dance portrayals.

Culture Secretary Moinul Islam Bokhari thanked the artists and musicians for providing such wonderful entertainment to the people of Islamabad.

 

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Girl, interrupted ​

Juggun Kazim.–Photo by Athar Shahzad

Brought up in an aristocratic household enriched with art, history and classical music, social heiress to two of Lahore's well-heeled families — the Saigols and the Kazims — Juggun's demeanor is belying. She is blue-blooded agreed, but you could be fooled as she blends in with the crowd whether she is offering fateha at Shah Jamal or is seated in the front row at a fashion week. Petite, animated and always wearing her heart on her sleeve, Juggun Kazim certainly isn't your average high society butterfly.

Much more like the girl next door, she's someone who has been taken to task for her relationships, her fashion faux pas, someone who constantly struggles with weight issues and someone who has a penchant for being politically incorrect in public. She has a delightfully crass sense of humour and often bursts out into laughter at her own jokes, which she repeatedly did as she offered reality checks on most of Lahore's top models during the fashion week — much to the horror of her relatives who were watching closely.

She is also someone you can easily warm up to, as foreign journalists did when Juggun offered to take them to Shah Jamal for a dose of Pappu Saieen unplugged. That also happened during the PFDC-Sunsilk Fashion Week; an evening that began with high fashion and ended with spicy mutton chops and rickshaw rides all over Lahore. As unorthodox as the silver stud that pierces her tongue "a painful college experiment in Canada," she remembers, Juggun helped designer Yusuf Bashir Qureshi orchestrate this midnight adventure.

She's lively, sure, but her buoyant façade belies the sadness she carries as she talks about the harsh realities that have hit her: "soured relationships, being a single mother and being alone" — for most of her life — in the midst of a madding crowd. Emotional is therefore what describes her best though she keeps it well under control. Despite the odds, and there have been many, she lives life as "someone optimistic, sensitive rather than being a snob, valuing friendship over social bonding." She is fiercely protective of her son Hamza, describing him as "the best thing in my life" and talking about him incessantly.

Personality aside, Juggun is also quite talented — liberal arts run in both sides of the family (Rehana Saigol is her maternal aunt, Raza Kazim her paternal uncle) — stealing the spotlight be it modeling, acting, hosting her own TV show or appearing in music videos. Lately, she has been signed on as the Garnier brand ambassador in Pakistan.

The going wasn't always this good for Meher Bano (her real name) and while she had been part of the fashion/entertainment scene for many years, it was Jal the band's Sajni video in 2007 that brought her back on the radar as a star. Fast-forward several years and today she sits on the industry's A-list with three television plays, two talk shows and several feature films which are in the pipeline.

Chup is the first of the three-film deal she has signed with producer-director Shaan and it promises to be the latter's answer to all those critics who have been taking his genre of commercial cinema to the cleaners. Juggun refuses to divulge information on the story but the fact that you have an avant garde cast and crew (Zeb & Haniya, Shafqat Amanat Ali and possibly Rahat are on the musical score) says a lot about the sharp twist the producer-director is about to take.

"It's a family film," is all Juggun offers. "Mashal Peerzada has written the script and we have all taken a year-and-a-half to work on it. I play the character of a singer and Zeb & Haniya will be singing for me. Can you imagine me singing?" (She breaks out into laughter). "Shaan gifted me a guitar to get comfortable with my character because it has to look natural.

"I had to lose weight for the film," she adds, "but I intend to gain every single pound back once the shooting is over. I'm not big on the emaciated look."

Juggun may want to hold that thought as she already has a Humayun Saeed and Mahesh Bhatt joint production in the works, while she also is in talks with Moammar Rana for a third. Certainly on a roll here, can Juggun step into the role of Lollywood's next big thing, if that is what she wants? Hardly a Reema or Meera, does she fear that she will rise to fame much like Iman and then fizzle out due to lack of appropriate projects?

"I have a child and a home to run and I'd ideally want to follow the career path of Shaan and not Reema, Meera or Iman. I'd like to be the next Shaan, who appeals to the masses as well as the elite. He does quality films and he does commercial cinema. I wouldn't mind doing commercial films for the experience and experiment with both. I think that educated people need to get into films to make the necessary changes."

Change is what Juggun is after these days and that is one reason she quotes for signing up with a beauty brand. Far from the glamorous life she leads, it's social causes that are closest to her heart.

"They promised me that any cause that I support they will support 50 per cent. I want to open a women's shelter and I can finally do that with their support. Social work is a major part of who I am. I have seen violence up close and I have seen major tragedies in my life. I support cancer prevention because I've lost so many people to it," she says.

Juggun's social work also keeps her on the celebrity radar as she frequents events as spokesperson for the brand she represents. And things promise to get bigger for her once Chup releases (probably in 2011 though nothing has been confirmed). Till then and through it all, motherhood appears to be the single most important thing on her mind. Everything else simply falls in place.

 

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Flame in the forest​

​

Poetry comes easily to Hussein. His units of time reinforce that we are traversing a realm of parable — seven days, 33 days, three years.

These have been good years for Pakistani authors in London. Kamila Shamsie, Nadeem Aslam, Mohammed Hanif and Mohsin Hamid; their laurels since 2006 stretch to short lists for a Booker, an Orange Prize for Fiction, a Guardian First Book Award and a South Bank Show award.

Continuing a pattern then is Another Gulmohar Tree, a story which opens with a Pakistani author defending his newly-created country in Russell Square, and which lodged Aamer Hussein among the short list for the 2010 Commonwealth Prize for best book. (This, tellingly, alongside that other Pakistani practitioner of short-story form Daniyal Mueenuddin in the first book category.)

Translations both spatial and linguistic are at the heart of Hussein's unforcedly lyrical tale of a Pakistani writer who, mid-sojourn in London, meets an Englishwoman. She returns the favour by immigrating to Pakistan to wed him.

As a love story it is unconventional: it begins with two previously married protagonists, harbours no fornication (though three children do result, off-page) and chronicles their growing old — at times, together.

As a love story, it also is sensual. To enter the world of the Gulmohar is to frequent a province where milk flows straight into flasks from the cow's udder, where mud squelches between the toes of children; populated by millet pancakes offered to frogs and dried dates dipped into milk by a grateful poor man.

Poetry comes easily to Hussein. His units of time reinforce that we are traversing a realm of parable — seven days, 33 days, three years. There are moments, too, of athletic grace: when the journalist Usman — in achkan and western shoes — argues that 'new eras created new nations and ordinary people in such circumstances performed as both kings and as pawns on the chessboard of history.'

Within the tale of Usman and Lydia there are two axes, both fraught and mediated by words: one between Usman and Lydia; the other, Usman and his work.

Lydia localises her name to Rokeya upon marriage: we might well think of that feminist pioneer of Bangla letters, Rokeya Hussain. (We might also see hints of Christian Abbas, who added the name Zainab on marrying Ghulam Abbas).

Rokeya's vegetative avatar — the Gulmohar tree, a second zealous convert from other (Malagasy) soils — is emblematic of home, that home which is chosen. It marks its boundaries and offers coinage for domestic generosity (punning on Gulmohar, 'flower-coin,' its name like Lydia's transmuted in
Usman and Lydia-Rokeya live as puzzled angels (an early title of the novella). Her assimilation within a Karachiite life oddly estranges her from him, their bond having lain in narration of stories from opposite allotments of the globe.

He becomes estranged also from words in themselves, and writerly practice. His first novel, 'immature and sentimental' juvenalia, commands an audience denied the products of his maturity.

His disappointments span from petty jealousies at eclipse by an upstart, to profounder disquiet at the sentiment flogged by poets of Pakistan's 'New Dawn and the Blessed Golden Soil of the Promised Land.'

Both discords, nuptial and writerly, reach resolution in the fable which begins the book — Usman's Song — which partakes of the ghazal's precision and verbal economy, limning the rich Urdu roots of the modern Pakistani short story, in Hussein's hands particularly.

In the story of Usman and Rokeya the fable is originally composed in Urdu, traditional tales from Punjab and Sindh 'with a bitter tinge of political allusion,' a bucket dipped in folklore. The couple collaborate in its translation, just as Rokeya and the Gulmohar tree were translated before.

The fable, exquisite in craftmanship and engaging in its humour, is nothing less than an allegory of Pakistan. The principal antagonist, The Prince of Crocodile Country (and representative of military governance) offers crocodile bread baked of minced flesh; as they begin to eat it, families suborn each other one by one into the blandishments of military rule.

Jealousy is also a theme, and perhaps also class. In symbolic counterpoise to the crocodile is a different water-dweller, a female frog descending from the 'mendki pyari' tale told Hussein by his father; against the crocodile bread is the buttermilk and pancakes offered her by the fable's Usman; against the river-system in which the crocodiles dwell (evoking the nation, and Indus) is the local pond which fills with rainwater, and — yes — the Gulmohar tree, which appears as gold coins whenever fable-Usman feeds the frog.

A judge of the Independent Foreign Fiction Prize and board member of Modern Poetry in Translation, Hussein is an author always aware of polyglossia and the Persian and Urdu oceans in which the Anglophone short story of Pakistan swims.

Aamer Hussein has already completed his next novel, The Cloud Messenger, and it is tentatively slated to appear in March 2011. Far too long a wait for appetites already whetted by this slender book.

Pádraig Belton has lived in Karachi, Peshawar and Islamabad.

 

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^^Actually Mr. SHAKIR LAKHANI from karachi thought of writing sarcastic letter to dailytimes but ended up in ended up in writing WTF letter.=heheh

 

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Music duo enthrall audience​

Artist Ali Abbas performs at the classical music programme "Mausiqar." - Dawn Photo.

ISLAMABAD, April 20: Ali Abbas, a student of the noted classical singer Ustad Fateh Ali Khan of Patiala Gharana enthralled music buffs at Sir Syed Memorial Society Hall here on late Tuesday.

The Marriott's classical music programme, Mausiqar, seems to be gaining popularity in the federal capital.

The artist presented sakhee more (my friend) in raga Bhageshwari with gusto and full control.

"Abbas is doing great job by singing classical music," commented Todd Shea, the American guitarist and singer who has been in Pakistan since the earthquake of Oct 8, 2005. Eminent broadcaster Agha Nasir said that Ali Abbas performance was remarkable and his facial presentation in rendering the music superb.

Then Abbas presented a tarana and Persian ghazal of Amir Khusrau the great poet and musician of South Asia (1253-1325AD) in raga yaman. From here Ustad Sultan Fateh Ali took over the later part of the music. He began to croon mera piya mujh se bole na in raga khamaj. Ustad Sultan rendered the raga in a most melodious voice with the effect that every one present was swaying his/ her head in appreciation.

The musical evening also served the purpose of paying tribute to Dr Muhammad Iqbal, the national poet, on the eve of his death anniversary being observed on Wednesday.

A young girl, Maheen from Beaconhouse School, sang Allama Iqbal's poem Lab pea atee hai dua ban ke tamanna meri in a very melodious voice.

The orchestra provided to the two classical musicians was in rhapsody with a feeble Sarangi.

 

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Young at art: Personal narratives ​

Rabia Anwar, Shireen Bano and Shajia Azam belong to the new generation of Pakistani artists, a generation that is not only keen to explore and experiment, but also to question their lives and themselves. They wish to go beyond representing obvious realities in their environment and look both inwards and outwards, fusing personal narratives with larger social concerns.

Their group exhibition at 'de Drawing Studio' a newly launched gallery in Lahore, brings forth a variety of ideas, stories, and comments on life, revealing sensitive issues and dilemmas which these young artists have experienced, and which they share with the viewers either candidly or else through a layered, more symbolic approach.

Anwar works effectively with icons and symbols, experimenting both with materials and vocabulary. Her creations make use of dry pastels and collage, and it appears that she is keen to explore other mediums as well. The image of her famous mother, the late actress Rani, is a recurrent one in her past as well as present work. Her current imagery involves mythological beings, such as the Sphinx, Venus, the goddess of love, or a Hindu diety with many arms, in addition to other objects which are used as symbols; flowers, nests and gateways, all used in an attempt to weave a story as well as make a comment not only on her mother's life but on the lives of women in general. There is depth and visual appeal in her discourse, as she sensitively blends in the collage elements with the rich selection of colours in dry pastels.

Bano's miniature style imagery is also about personal happenings, but again relevant to the lives of other women. Her earlier thesis work had included a large installation showing the various rooms of a home ('khaaney' as she called them), and now many years later, she has selected images from this installation to create miniature style paintings. Her theme revolves around the pain of severed relationships, as well as the stifling of identity that so many women in our society are forced to put up with.

Intensely personal and poignant, her narrative is in the form of symbols that are linked together through design and pattern making. Images of her self, her belongings, and her immediate environment convey a story that others may also identify with.

Azam seemingly has a more lighthearted approach to creative expression, and her drawings add humour and wit to this exhibition. Working in the manner of a cartoonist, she nonetheless also has touched upon issues that not only relate to her own personal struggles as a woman, but which also makes pithy comments on the society we live in. Her tongue-in-cheek humour is endearing, and her imagery in black and white is sensitively rendered, showing a steady hand and a focused eye that is cognizant of both relevant detailing and overall design.

This exhibition will thus allow viewers to engage with imagery that has visual appeal, as well as the quality to stimulate the mind with questions pertaining to personal and social predicaments.

 

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Art mart: Exploring contradictions​

The refurbished KSA Art Gallery, Karachi, situated at the Karachi School of Art is currently one of the most elaborate galleries in Karachi. It is spacious, well-lit and pristine under the curatorship of Shahana Rajani, a young graduate of Art History from Cambridge University. Currently teaching at the Karachi University, she is a regular visitor to shows in the city and has exciting plans for future exhibitions and events at the KSA Gallery.

Taking a particular interest in the work of fresh graduates from Karachi's art institutes, initially, Rajani found the art scene somewhat insular and became interested in widening the aesthetic viewpoint of young artists. With this in mind, she selected 10 fresh graduates from Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture, Karachi School of Art and the Karachi University Visual Arts department, and set up a series of meetings in which the artists discussed their work and decided on a theme for a group show. Exchanging ideas on the values of life today, seemingly out of balance, people not realising the state of contradiction we are living in; they mutually agreed to mount a show themed and titled, 'Out of balance'.

It was decided that the artists were given three months to create a fresh body of work to express their interpretation of the subject, resulting in a very interesting and diverse collection of art exhibits in a variety of media. Seldom in Karachi does one find interaction between artists of these important art institutes, and viewing the work displayed, endowed the event with optimistic anticipation of a more interactive art scene in times to come. Each artist interpreted the theme, in an individual way.

Sivim Naqvi depicted walls portrayed in digital images from various areas of the city. Written across the walls were ironic painted messages that forbid writing on the walls. As far as her contribution to the display, one was enchanted by an installation in the form of a flock of paper birds fixed to the ceiling, a delightful visual experience with the constantly moving forms creating a soothing flutter.

Hair in strands or combs has held diverse meaning for contemporary artists and in Madiha Bano's work fallen strands appeared to allegorise the temporal essence of beauty.

In immaculately painted style, Durab Tariq used circular canvas surfaces that offered a convex view of the world as he questioned the process of observation leading to one's perception. In Aimen Kazmi's images, important jewellery items were displayed; some adorning pierced ears as a symbol of the tradition of 'appealing and repulsive'—that is the inescapable factors of marriage customs.

Salman Hassan's work was somewhat similar to the work of Jamal Shah. It focused on striking political statements juxtaposing bright colours and a shower of painted marks.

Among the very commendable exhibits were wonderfully painted distorted images depicting the evils of poverty by Uroosa Ishtiaq. Fariha Saeed endowed her 'circles' with an important hands-on element, eschewing perfection in favour of interaction with the viewer. Syed Mohammad Raza examined socio-political issues, while shadows and illusions were sensitively portrayed by Sidra Arshad.

The liberal and cooperative ambience of the gallery enabled Saman Ali to create an eye-catching mix media sequence of two artworks placed on the wall amid painted organic images.

Altogether a very successful venture and one looks forward to more of these events.

 

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Artwork: Paying homage to a master​

The act of paying homage is as old as the ancient city of Jericho. Throughout history mortals have expressed their gratitude in verse, song and prose.

Something of the sort took place last week at the Artscene Gallery in Karachi when the artist Chitra Pritam, son of Pritam Das of Rahim Yar Khan, paid homage in the only way he knew, to his guide and teacher, Jamil Naqsh. He strung up 108 paintings which occupied two floors of the gallery, and dedicated them to the man who took him on a voyage of discovery and showed him the light.

There was a price list and a write-up in English accompanied by a photograph of the artist in which he sported the magnificent drooping moustache of the Rajput maharaja. The write-up, on examination, turned out to be a translation from Seraiki or Urdu. The language was exceptionally flowery and a bit too obsequious for this reviewer's liking, but after wading through the text it emerged that it was the poet Obaidullah Aleem who had introduced a penniless and itinerant Pritam to Jamil Naqsh. After that the disciple was totally beholden to the master who taught him everything there was to know about art.

Instead of one theme or subject spread over scores of variations and deviations the visitor saw a number of disparate and unrelated themes and subjects, each of which could have easily formed the topic of a separate exhibition.

There was a whole series devoted to calligraphy. Then there were landscape paintings, seascapes, abstract pictures and what the artist refers to as 'The Buddha series'.

The calligraphy is of a very high standard. There are so many examples of this genre that deciding which one to select for presentation is not an easy task. Most of the lettering had a confirmed predictability. It was delicate and ornamental and resembled the filigree detail of the silversmith. There was one canvas, however, that was a little different from the others. That was the one of the panel within a panel, with a faded pink and blue background where the script looks as if it was crafted in the 10th century and had been dug up and exhumed from some forgotten medieval vault.

The landscapes consisted of a series of bucolic scenes, though they are not quite as rustic as one would have liked them to be. Great attention had been paid to detail, however, especially the trees, which are round on top and not flat as in the Kenyan savannah, and Pritam has contrived to catch them at an unexpected angle.

'The Buddha series' featured a clutch of young women with rather long necks, pronounced thick lips, pencil thin eyebrows and rather large ears. Some of the visuals have semi-circular discs behind their heads which create the effect of a halo. Others were just straight forward portraits of oriental women, spin-offs of the legacy of Chughtai, devoid of ecclesiastical overtones.

Pritam's forays into the world of the abstract, which stuck out like a sore thumb, disturbed the tone and ambiance of the exhibition. But his seascapes, painted in shades of orange with flecks of brown and blue, just before the sea was about to swallow a big red sun at evening, are easily the most outstanding of the visuals in the exhibition.

They consist of a series of people in boats, meandering in a world of silence. The passengers are peaceful, placid and serene, like the rest of the paintings. But it is in these superb pictures of the 'boat people' that Pritam has demonstrated that he is a highly accomplished artist, and one whose next exhibition the collector would look forward to with pleasurable anticipation.

 

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Potters wheel: Crystalline works​

Unlike traditional clay craft, which dates back to Mehar Garh and Indus Valley civilisations, studio ceramics is a nascent post-independence genre with limited progress. At the recent Chawkandi Art exhibition in Karachi contemporary ceramist Salman Ikram spoke at length about his show, 'Crystalline works' and the sporadic existence of studio ceramics.

A growing number of qualified contemporary ceramists, triennial events and interest levels, have not generated the expected increase in solo shows or production of ceramic art. What is retarding the flowering of studio pottery/ceramics?

Public awareness about studio pottery is not rising in tandem with its development as an art form amongst contemporary ceramists. Studio potters are innovating but are not consistent in their efforts. The current socio-political upheaval is also not conducive to production. I, too, have come to Karachi for a solo after a lapse of five years. Maintaining a private studio is expensive and constructing kilns and making wheels also requires a great deal of interaction with the technicians. There are no local centres that can provide these facilities to visiting ceramicists. The non-availability of suitable ready-made materials is a constant drawback and clay bodies and glazes have to be self-prepared from locally available materials. This taxes the creative process, making production long and arduous.

If there are impediments how did you as a ceramist overcome them?

I have made a determined effort to establish my art practice. Setting up a studio with a kiln was my first priority after graduation. I continue to upgrade it and now have a couple of kilns. I constantly wash my clays to create compositions suitable for my category of work, as there are no refined products available here unlike the West where prepared clays and ready-made glazes can be ordered from the market.

What is your work process?

Primarily I throw to create a sculptural form and my emphasis on shape or surface textures is a pre-planned effort. If I am highlighting form then I opt for dry glazes in attractive tones but when accent is on glazes then the shape is simple. My colours are oxides and I purchase them from wherever I can.

Your works are distinguished by their unusual and varied glazes, can you elaborate on this?

I have experimented with a host of glazes including dry, matt, volcanic and crackled varieties but presently I am concentrating on crystalline surfaces. Glaze crystals spontaneously form and grow in the molten glazes while the pieces are cooling in the kiln. Many opaque and matt glaze textures are the result of multitudes of micro-crystals, so minute that they are invisible to the naked eye.

The macro-crystalline glazes, or more commonly known as crystalline glazes, have crystals that grow large enough to see. They develop 'growth rings', halos, star-bursts and auroras, which record changing conditions within the kiln. I do not embed the crystals on the porcelain, nor can I see them growing in the kiln.

A piece's relative quality can only be judged after the firing cycle is complete. I enjoy the challenge of controlling this process with extensive record-keeping, experience, observation, and attention to detail. My ceramic surfaces are my canvas where my artistic acumen is at play.

Are you exhibiting internationally?

Recently a collection of my work was shown in an art fair in Madrid, Spain. The feedback on my web page www,salmanikram.com was very positive and another show is in the pipeline. I am part of the American Forum of potters on the web where there is a constant exchange of experiences—they work with natural kilns and are really amazed how I manage to achieve crystalline effects through firing in a gas kiln.

The ongoing sharing of knowledge on the web energises one's art practice, one's work is given larger exposure and one gains from the insights of others. Unfortunately this interest and dialogue is missing within the ceramic community here.

 

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Non-Fiction: Hope and faith​

Suleman Ahmer has penned down his experiences as a relief worker, an assignment he took upon himself after quitting graduate school in US to go in aid of suffering Bosnians in the midst of the Balkan war. What could be considered a quixotic gesture became a decade-long passion.

In a daring attempt Ahmer arrived in Vienna to take the train to Zagreb in Croatia from where he crossed into Bosnia through the only possible route of entry open at the time.

After surviving the Slovenian border patrol, who inquired if 'jeet-had' (jihad) had prompted their arrival, he and his friends were prepared for more of the same from the Croatian patrol.

To their surprise, they were met with handshakes and smiles at the sight of their Pakistani passports since Pakistan was one of the first countries to recognise Croatia as a sovereign state in 1991.

In Croatia, the heartbreaking misery of homeless Bosnians was being relieved in bits by volunteers from Egypt, Sudan, Saudia Arabia, Yemen and Algeria. Surrounding them were the living victims of the horrors of war.

Survivors of concentration camps, children who'd lost both parents and destitute helpless Bosnians awaited Ahmer.

The book consists of short chapters which are reflections of events in the course of the relief work that took the author to the Balkans and Tajikistan, where the tragic fallouts of the disintegration of the Soviet Union manifested themselves on the Muslims.

There are innumerable touching anecdotes in Ahmer's account which will pull at the reader's heartstrings. The kindness, compassion and service of absolute strangers from faraway Muslim countries in aid of Bosnian Muslims affirm one's faith in the goodness of the human spirit.

In the spring of 1993 a group of Bosnian refugees were eking out an existence in a small Croatian village called Bashka Voda along the Adriatic Sea.

Displaying a remarkably resilient Muslim identity which even years of Communism could not crush, the youths among them showed great enthusiasm for learning the basic tenets of Islam and its rituals. The author managed to arrange for a class, but finding no suitable teacher took it upon himself to fulfil the task.

The existence of God itself was a new discovery for children who were taught in school that there was no God.

As they learnt about the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and his struggles in Makkah, a young boy innocently asked if it was as difficult to be a Muslim in those days as it was for them now. Tears flowed in the classroom and later in the author's eyes too when he drove home.

The strength of faith in overwhelming adversity was, however, witnessed a few days later when the Croatian government announced the shifting of the refugees to a Serb border town unsafe from shells and where rumour had it that Bosnians prisoners were likely to be traded in exchange for Croatian prisoners.

When this news was conveyed to Ahmer during class, the elders broke into tears followed by children.

In a desperate bid to offer hope — the means of which he had few — Ahmer offered them to choose between being an American who had everything and a Bosnian who had nothing but the promise of a place in paradise on Judgement Day.

The unanimous choice was to be Bosnian, a testament to the indomitable human spirit aided through faith.

There are many stories contained in this book where sacrifice and compassion is epitomised by those who ultimately gave their lives for those they had come to save.

The Embattled Innocence
By Suleman Ahmer
(memoirs)
ISBN 1-58820-806-0
Presslenders Publishers, US
87pp. Rs395

 

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An initiative by citizens​

Pakistan has produced a remarkable initiative in ASER. 'Aser' in Urdu means 'impact' but here it stands for Assessment Survey of Education whose first report for the year 2008 has just been launched. In layman language it means a survey of the educational status or standards reached by school-going children in rural areas demarcated for the survey.

Recently, the Punjab launch ceremony took place at the Directorate of Staff Development, Wahdat Road and copies of the ASER 2008 report were handed out to the stakeholders involved with the education scene in Pakistan. Invitees to the launch included a member of the Punjab Standing Committee on Education Mr Ejaz Ahmed Khan, Chairman, Chief Minister's Taskforce on Elementary Education and Punjab Education Foundation Raja Mohammad Anwar, Secretary of Schools Mr Kumboh and a guest from our neighbouring country's NGO, PRATHM initiative in education, Mr Vivek Sharma, and, lastly, all those volunteers who had contributed to the ASER initiative.

ASER is an outcome of South Asian Forum for Educational Development (SAFED), which was registered in April, 2008, and whose member countries are Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma, India, Maldives, Myanmar, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. SAFED is an information sharing, research and good practice gateway across South Asia. It was also inspired by a similar effort in India where ASER India has conducted surveys in 16,291 villages and covered 7,00,000 children in 2009.

Launched in 2005 by Pratham, an Indian NGO, ASER India has conducted its surveys every year from 2005 to 2009 with a focus on the rural districts. In a collaborative effort, ASER India conducted training workshops in Lahore, Pakistan, supported by the Institute of Educational Research, Punjab University, Pakistan Coalition for Education, CNG and Idara-i-Taleem-o-Agahi. In its first attempt in 2008, ASER Pakistan then conducted the survey in 11 districts across two provinces and Islamabad capital territory.

What then has ASER, Pakistan, produced in its 2008 report? This household-based citizens' led survey has measured reading, comprehension and numeracy skills for children in the 3-16 age group. Using samples of reading that gauge reading skills progressively from identifying letters to single words, sentences, paragraphs and short stories, ASER knocked at the doors of homes in villages to find out where their children stood in literacy and numeracy skills. Whole families comprising of mothers, sisters, aunts and grandparents accompanied ASER volunteers around with great interest and pride. It was an event that had touched at the core of the heart of these villagers that someone had bothered to look into the educational status of their progeny.

Furthermore, apart from learning levels, ASER delved into the state of affairs concerning school statistics such as enrollment, attendance of teachers and students, school facilities, classroom environment, and the status of school grants. It would be judicious to mention here that learning levels in reading and comprehension focused on Urdu and the outcomes were dismal. It seems that the Urdu language at the elementary level has been taught with such lackluster interest and commitment that reading levels are so low.

Language acquisition is the first step to educating the young and making them literate while all further learning depends on understanding concepts in that language. If the Urdu language base is so poor according to the ASER household survey then one shudders to think that government schools adopting English medium may as well give up even before they start.

ASER 2008's assessment survey of rural areas is innovative, quick and on the spot. It can be done annually and a particularly large survey may be completed in a 100 days at the most. Moreover, the ground realities are visible to the naked eye as other more sophisticated assessment organisations may not venture that far out in the rural areas. Conversely, in line with the developed countries, Pakistan has acquired expertise in Education Assessment Systems to examine the standards in education across the board.

National Education Assessment System (NEAS) was established in the late 1990s in a country-wide capacity at the federal and provincial level for measuring learning outcomes, advocacy for educational policy and helping to improve quality of education in the country.

NEAS carries out a sample-based national assessment of grades four and eight in four subjects — Language, Mathematics, Science and Social Studies. A further intervention is the putting up of the Punjab Examination Commission in 2006 to conduct province-wise examinations at grade five and eight. From 2011 it will be mandatory for all public and private schools to take these examinations so that quality can be ensured across the board.

However, ASER's initiative comes from the private sector which is taking on the responsibility of informing and assisting the public sector to bring in a qualitative change in education. Idara-i-Taleem-o-Agahi led by its director, Baela Reza Jamil, has taken up the challenge to make ASER work at all cost.

Baela's untiring efforts at all levels of educational undertakings is one citizen's contribution to make the education system self sufficient and equitable in quality for all. Her leadership of Idara-i-Taleem-o-Agahi for the past 14 years has turned it into a dynamic organisation capable of introducing new, innovative and low-cost concepts in education in Pakistan. ASER as a household-based rural survey examining generic skills of numeracy and literacy for grades one and two at the district level is one such innovative venture. ASER will also measure change in these basic learning and school statistics over a period of time each year and it plans to cover all districts by 2011.

ASER's report 2008 has managed to get reliable estimates of children's schooling and basic learning in 11 districts pertaining to Lahore, Sheikhupura, Multan, Jhang, Rawalpindi, Rahim Yar Khan, Mianwali and Faisalabad. In all, 12,077 children and 4,800 households were surveyed in eight districts of the Punjab.

The prognosis is bleak as grade five children in the rural survey have only managed to acquire literacy and numeracy levels of grade two. On a national level, 55 per cent and in the Punjab 54 per cent females are still out-of-school. However, it is good to note that 47 per cent of the girls' presence was found in private schools. This dispels the assumption that in our culture parents spend money only on boys' education. What is even more encouraging is the fact that through ASER local people felt empowered and many signed up for the next round of ASER. The demand for ASER (impact in Urdu) is growing as it is predictable, citizen led, accessible and easy to use. ASER India and ASER/UWEZO East Africa are areas where it has been able to achieve much.

Statistical assessment of educational levels is the only way that will make the focus on quality mass education a prerequisite for the development and progress of the country. Too much water has passed under the bridge for those running the government not to realise the dire strait of literacy in the country. The silver lining in the cloud is the awakening of the citizenry to take things in hand by initiating change for the betterment of the education sector in Pakistan.

 

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Teaching them about retired life​

With progress in medical science, the interval between the time of retirement and nonexistence is progressively increasing. Many senior citizens live a miserable life after retirement and their miseries are worsened by the breakdown of traditional family life and the joint family system when the children move out to distant lands to build their own lives. It is time we thought of educating the senior citizens on how to prepare for a retired life that can be spent as happily as the life they have led.

Senior citizens generally enter this phase of life with little prior preparation. Although there is no formal education available on how one should meet the problems of old age, having spent 15 years in this phase of life, I would like to share some of my know-how on the subject.

Social issues

These arise soon after retirement from active service. Except for your close relatives and a few close friends, you are suddenly surrounded by a vacuum with hardly any well-wishers in sight. Many whom you thought of as loyal friends are not there for you any more. It breeds loneliness and a kind of disillusionment with the people of this world. What follows is a state of chronic depression and mental trauma leading to numerous physical problems that make life unpalatable and even unbearable.

Preventing this will need well-planned preparation many years prior to your retirement. Select your friends not by the convenience of proximity or similarity of occupation but by their consistent display of sincerity. Beware of self-seekers and sycophants. Do not be unfair to anyone. Be consistently honest, just, caring, kind, helpful, tolerant, accommodating and forgiving. These qualities will carry you to a retired life where shortage of friends and well-wishers will not be an issue.

Economic issues

Earning ceases on retirement from active life. It is only the former salaried employees who receive a pension that is around half of their regular income. With rapid increase in the cost of living and deteriorating health, one is confronted with an acute shortage of funds. There is obviously a need for economic planning in advance. Timely saving for long-term investments that could bring consistent returns in your retired life must be adopted by every sensible earning individual. Life insurance policies should be taken well in time to mature after retirement. It is the only way to make one's retired life economically comfortable.

Physical/mental issues

As one enters retired life or even before that, one is confronted with problems of deteriorating health. Age-related diseases like high blood pressure, diabetes mellitus, heart diseases, cancer, joint disorders and falling resistance to infections are encountered by most of the least prepared. Of course genetic inheritance, too, plays a part in the development of these problems but their occurrence can be delayed, their prevalence reduced and severity diminished with the help of some timely preparation. People in general are advised to take recommendations of medical professionals on the prevention of these diseases well ahead of time as is the practice in developed countries.

The problem of loneliness in retired life is compounded by being idle that leads to boredom. Such people often suffer from deteriorating mental functions leading to senility, dementia and even Alzheimer's disease. Many physical disabilities too start setting in. Deteriorating vision and hearing, pain in the knees, back and neck, loss of balance and the ability to walk steadily or talk coherently are common experiences along with the disabling effects of many old age diseases.

To prevent, delay and reduce the severity of old age problems, the single most beneficial thing is to remain busy. Retired people have accumulated 20-40 years of experiential learning that is absolutely priceless and should not be allowed to go to waste. It is wise to plan an activity that will keep you occupied after retirement. Professional people like medical doctors, lawyers, journalists, chartered accountants and engineers are at a great advantage that they can continue professional work till the end but others can also, with a little effort, find work for themselves.

Those who are computer literate can even earn some money while sitting at home by working for distant organisations all over the world. The internet after all is a source of unlimited knowledge, information and entertainment. Computers can also connect you with your friends and relations anywhere in the world in seconds. You can spend hours on the internet getting knowledge, receiving latest information, discussing issues with your contacts while finding a way to keep yourself busy. Every old person is advised to overcome his or her fear of working with new gadgets like computers and musical instruments in order to say goodbye to boredom.

The private sector does not practise arbitrary limitation of age and is happy to make use of retired people who are medically-fit. Others who may not be so fit can still find work in the social sector or attend to their social commitments or keep themselves occupied at home in creative work and hobbies. Lucky are those who have developed the habit of reading books, writing, painting or those who have other hobbies. It is also not late to develop a hobby. There are several indoor and outdoor sports to keep yourself busy with very healthy benefits.

Some useful measures recommended by doctors are as follows:

"¢ Consistent moderate exercise in fresh air and on an empty stomach for at least four to five days a week. Exercise promotes well being while enhancing energy and confidence.

"¢ Keep a balanced diet while counting calories to maintain average normal body weight from early life. Fats from animal sources should be avoided and replaced with vegetable oils for the prevention of heart diseases and strokes. The use of more vegetables, fruits, cereals, lentils and beans is good for you. The limited use of meat and fish is also good.

"¢ Smoking is most damaging to health. It causes several incurable cancers, heart and lung diseases that account for the highest number of disabilities and premature deaths all over the world. Use of tobacco in chillum (hubble-bubble), naswar, paan and cigars are also harmful. All these addictions can be prevented from earlier to stay healthy later on.

"¢ Annual health checkups for early and timely detection of old age diseases is advisable after the age of 50.

"¢ There are a number of drugs that can be used for the prevention of old age disorders that should be adhered to on the advice of your physician.

Old age should be looked upon as a gradual extension of middle age just as middle age is a gradual extension of young age and the latter of childhood. Gradual adjustments at each change-over are appropriate but must be anticipated well in time to be planned for accordingly in the light of new social, economic, physical and mental needs at each level of life.

The writer is former principal and professor of medicine at the Khyber Medical College, Peshawar.