In a fiery press conference recently, PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif warned Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani to step down or face a long march aimed at dislodging him. Claiming the high moral ground, Mr Sharif said that since Gilani was convicted, he has lost all moral reason to continue in office. Sharif’s newfound love for the judiciary is well-known. Ever since he returned from exile, he has proved to be the most ardent champion of judicial supremacy and rule of law. If there are people around who want to talk about an obscure incident in a distant past where some PML-N parliamentarians stormed the Supreme Court to save their leader Nawaz Sharif from the ‘judicial activism’ of then Chief Justice Sajjad Ali Shah, then those people are misreading a situation in which democracy was saved from an errant Supreme Court chief justice. But let bygones be bygones. Before we look deep into the politics of agitation, let’s see if there is a method in the proverbial madness. What do Sharif and the PML-N want to achieve from this march to end a government which is on its fag end, anyway? The last budget of the PPP-led coalition is just around the corner and the Election Commission has already indicated that it will be ready with fresh voter lists by the end of the month. Sharif’s detractors point out that he ditched his allies time and again, starting from his pledge to boycott the February 2008 elections — in leading the fuss about the memo — and then joining the government in the passage of the Twentieth Amendment. The PML-N and the Sharifs would be on their own during this phase of agitation if it began; the party has two major obstacles in the way of its political survival: Imran Khan and PML-N’s dismal track record in Punjab. The steep rise in Imran’s popularity is threatening to push the PML-N back to the wall in their base of Punjab. Perhaps that may then partly explain the threat for a long march because it may allow the party to launch a mass mobilisation campaign in the name of a protest against the government. The party will now try to appeal to voters in urban Punjab to offset the challenge posed by Imran Khan as the fast fading PPP exits the stage. Read more by Rizwan here.

In the last eight months or so, the PML-N has done pretty much everything a party can do in an election year. They have dug up every road in Punjab, raised concerns about problems in other provinces and have even recruited avidly to beef up their party ranks. Effectively, they have prepared well for the upcoming elections. And even though the tsunami is coming for them, they are still focused on the real competitor. One would say that they are ready to go to the polls and seize power. However, all is not what it seems to be - my personal belief is that the PML-N will lose the national elections again. Here are my reasons: Inability to evolve In a country that is obsessed with the word 'change', it does pay off to be the consistent one. While people harp on about change, a large majority likes things the way are; not because they are fair, but because they understand how things get done within the current scenario. So while there is always this urge to change everything, majority of the people are content with the way things are and only wish for a few tweaks here and there. In such a situation, one would imagine that a party like the PML-N would thrive by making small changes to make life easier for people. But that is the whole issue; change and evolution is not the same thing. The PML-N, instead of evolving over time into a mature party, is still trying to get on the bandwagon of ‘change’. The problem with that is that one cannot be in a provincial government and harp on about change - that is effectively an oxymoron. What you can do instead is focus on better governance, and that's exactly what the PML-N hasn't done in the past four-and-a-half years. While people claim that Bhutto-ism or the tsunami will defeat the PML-N, they are all wrong; the PML-N will defeat itself. No media strategy Apparently Senator Pervaiz Rasheed is heading some sort of media strategy for the PML-N. However, no one seems to have seen that in action. The PML-N often cries that when the party does something, they never get credit for it; that's because the message never really gets out. Compare this to the PTI. Even though I do not agree with their views, there is no doubt that it is brilliantly efficient at getting its message across. People identify the word 'Insaf' with them when it is used in any context. That is the power of excellent media management and strategy. The PML-N, on the other hand, wastes money and hopes that things will work out. So while Senator Pervaiz Rasheed is doing ‘excellent’ work for the PML-N, the party is slowly dying a very public media death. No message Does anyone, including Mian Sahib, know what the message of the PML-N is? What exactly are they going to fix when they come into power? The economy is in crisis, there is a food shortage expected to last the next two years and we are expecting floods in August. What is the PML-N going to do about that? What is anyone else going to do to if they come into power? Saying "we shall end corruption" does not cut it, because politically speaking, a certain level of corruption exists in every system as it is endemic. This question is in no way limited to the PML-N; this is a real question for all parties including the PPP and the PTI. Since we have taken huge loans, our budget is constructed in accordance with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank; so no party can make massive changes to it as there is no money. I wonder what the PML-N's message is. It’s been four years and all I have heard is complaints about what the PPP does wrong, while presenting nothing as an alternative. Below par leadership The PML-N will lose out because of the leadership. It’s not Mian Sahib who is the problem; it is others like Chaudhry Nisar whose words and actions contradict each other. Another is Senator Pervaiz Rasheed who effectively blocks any decent idea from being carried forward. Amir Muqam is also one who has an impeccable record of not doing anything. With such a cadre of leaders, how can one win? It's like the PML-N has spent the last eight months trying to make sure that the public face of the party is disliked, if not hated. Bad advisors This is a problem with most political parties, but with with the PML-N it's more serious. It is a well known fact that both the Sharif brothers adhere strictly to the words of their advisors; whatever is fed to them is what they start believing eventually. The current mix of advisors are more interested in personal benefits than the long run sustainability of the party. It is due to this narrow-mindedness that the party lacks a crop of young leadership that could take over the in the future. The cherry on this cake of errors is that most of these advisers who are given the task of advising a political party and its leaders are not even elected members. They are people who have no long term stakes in the well-being of the political party. A few months ago, Ayaz Amir wrote an effective obituary of the PTI in his column. At that time people said he had jumped the gun, while many agreed with him. If he were to look at the PML-N now, that obituary would fit like a glove. The PML-N is a party that does not need enemies; they are their own worst enemies. All these reasons have always existed - the PTI's emergence has merely highlighted them. So while Mian Sahib tells Pakistan why the prime minister is wrong, what he doesn't understand is that his party should be the last to talk about right and wrong. His own members are destroying his party and he hasn't been able to see it in four years. One wonders how a leader will run the country when he can't manage even his own party. Read more by Adnan here, or follow him on Twitter @adnanrasool

"It’s almost required with major artists that there’s some duality. And I’ve got duality everywhere." ─ George Michael. Politicians are indeed no more different than any paid actor in this world. They set the stage like a chequerboard ─ sharp and clever. The recent conundrum of dual nationality holders as government representatives, has spurred the political actors to present their acts in the best way possible. From MQM leader Altaf Hussain to Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif, even party representatives from ANP aren't a step behind when it comes to proposing their ideals for dual nationality cases, in the Supreme Court. Pakistan has always been on the list of countries that don’t allow parliamentarians to hold dual nationality, along with India. Fighting for a cause that has never been accepted at first seems absurd. Why stand for a second nationality when you’re the strong holder of the one you've happily exploited for years? From birth till death, we as Pakistanis or citizens of any other nation, exploit our land for any cause that brings forth greater benefits. Our ministers are standing up in front of the SC presenting the benefits for allowing dual nationality to assembly members, parliamentarians or ministers, since for them mere nationality does not change their patriotic gut for national interest. Opposition leaders are standing against the government’s steaming actions to get the issue of dual nationality resolved at the earliest. Can you guess why? Majority of the proud Pakistani parliamentarians - including a number of our respected ministers - are holders of dual nationality. Most of them hold citizenship of nations whom we, as a single unit (public to rulers), associate with many negative aspects. It is no secret that many in our government host antagonistic feelings towards the US. Questions are raised about the right of expatriates to vote in the upcoming elections. The government, on the other hand, has been shamefully associating the rights of expatriates with their own selfish cause. A representative of a leading political party of the country recently said that dual nationals are vital for the economy and democracy in Pakistan. Seriously? Understanding the economic benefit part is easy, but democracy? Not every Pakistani national serving a foreign land is a citizenship holder of that particular country. Moreover, not every expatriate is involved in the betterment of Pakistan’s economy. Standing up for the right of expatriates to vote is another lengthy debate. For politicians who are already holders of dual citizenship, these are no less then alarming bells. The drama that has occurred with the Interior Minister of Pakistan Mr Rehman Malik, can be re-enacted with any other politician who fails to provide a proper clarification. Opposition leaders are also playing their games by filing cases against the government representatives (parliamentarians, ministers), who possess dual nationality, in order to create more drama in the Supreme Court. We believe in taking advantage of anyone who stands on a weaker ground, in order to gain more momentum on our own. Dual nationality though, is not a matter of question at all. Loyalty does not exist with polygamy. When someone can't treat two people equally that exist in their life, how are they supposed to support their ideal to be loyal to two nations at once? How can you be supporting the stance of two different countries, altogether? It just doesn't make any sense.

In a grand gesture, the Election Commission of Pakistan granted 3.7 million foreign-dwelling Pakistani nationals permission to vote in elections. Huh? I had never realised that this was a privilege, rather than a right. As with all shows of benevolence, however, there is always a catch. Excluded from this group are just as many Pakistanis who hold dual nationalities; in order to be eligible to stand for office or to be allowed to vote in Pakistan, they must surrender their non-Pakistani citizenship. Being in this particular boat, I’m inclined to ask: what, exactly, gives you the right to take away my rights? By definition, a dual national is a person who is a citizen of more than one country. With that come the rights - all the rights - of citizenship, including the right to vote and the right to compete for office in the elections. Nowhere does it imply that being a national of more than one country reduces one's citizenship to a fraction or, as the Chief Election Commissioner Mr Fakhruddin G Ebrahim so succinctly put it, makes you a ‘half-Pakistani,” a term which, in my mind, borders on a slur. Rights granted to the citizens of any country through constitutions are not changeable on whims or fancies. The politicians of Pakistan have always regarded the constitution as a list of suggestions rather than a document of concrete ordinances. Mr Obaid ur Rehman, an advocate with more than 55 years of experience in Pakistan and an expert in constitutional law, says that these amendments are creating a sub-sect of Pakistanis that are somehow considered less than their counterparts living in Pakistan. He and his colleagues were part of the movement for independence and among the lawyers who laid the foundations for the legal system of the country. Now retired and living with his children in the US, he feels that his rights are being sidelined on a drummed up technicality. I would like to ask the election commission about the thought process that led to their decision. Did it conduct a fact-finding mission and gather evidence that proves that citizens are more loyal and invested in the future well-being of Pakistan that those with two passports? Were there accusations of disloyalty, of treason against them? Are Moin Qureshi, Rehman Malik and Shaukat Aziz more or less loyal than Shahbaz Sharif or Yousuf Raza Gilani? And what about those of us who just want to be part of electing a government? The audacity of the Pakistani election commission to dismiss almost three million Pakistanis as unfit to have a voice in an historic election boggles my mind. And then, in adding insult to this injury by calling us ‘half-Pakistanis’, this organisation shows how disconnected it is with the realities of the world. Pakistanis living abroad infuse millions of dollars into the economy each year. They send money to their families, they build and support schools, they donate to hospitals and welfare organisations, and they invest in businesses. Why is their ‘half-ness’ not considered when they are propping up the economy? According to Mr Obaid ur Rehman, alienating these generators of foreign exchange can be compared to throttling the goose that lays the golden egg. Overseas Pakistanis are the ones on the frontlines of the international arena. ‘We’ are the true ambassadors, the representatives of Pakistan in the world. ‘We’ are the ones who beam with pride as Sharmeen Chinoy accepts the Academy Award. ‘We’ gather the tattered integrity of the country when fielding indignant questions about 14 year olds shot in cold blood for going to school. ‘We’ have set up Overseas Pakistanis Associations to propagate our culture and values. ‘We’ register all Pakistani political parties abroad so that we can stay informed. So to me, questioning our loyalty and love for Pakistan is tantamount to the most egregious assault on Pakistani pride. To dismiss, whom I believe to be ‘more than whole’ Pakistanis, as half as much is beyond my comprehension. Our lofty decision makers were so gung-ho in their wide, sweeping gesture that they also failed to consider the fact that many of those who have lived in the country all their lives hold dual citizenship. Some have been born to foreign nationals, and others have acquired it during the years they spent abroad for education. These people have never considered any nation other than Pakistan as their own. They have been working in and for the country all their lives, and now they are being excluded from participating in its future, both as voters and as potential elected officials- all because a few entitled individuals deem them not to be ‘pure Pakistani’. A more feasible solution would be to take the factor of dual citizenship out of the equation. Pass a law requiring the surrender of Pakistani national status if applying for any other passport. This action would be a much more logical and practical approach to the issue of citizenship. In creating a binary, ‘either/or’ decision for each individual to make, there will be no more room for ambiguity or anger. We need to know where we stand as far as our options as ‘citizens’ are concerned, so that we can be sure that the rights we go to sleep at night with are the same rights we wake up with the next morning. In a country with such monumental troubles, the way forward should be through policies of inclusion rather than exclusion. Pakistan has always been blessed with the fierce loyalty of its citizens. We do not shrug off these strong emotions just by stepping over a border. The assumption that Pakistanis abroad are suddenly no longer concerned with the welfare of the country, and consequently are unable to make unbiased choices come election time is preposterous. And if that is the opinion of the election commission, this offended ‘half-Pakistani’ vehemently begs to differ. Read more by Zeba here or follow her on Twitter @zebansari 

Pakistan soared in to the international news once again on October 20, 21 and 22, but this time around it was a happy moment for everyone! We made it into the news for something positive and progressive. (Some kids run with the Pakistan flag prior to the record attempt in Lahore. PHOTO: SHAFIQ MALIK) In a country that is so accustomed to digesting the news of target killing, honour killing, bomb blasts, terrorist attacks and drone strikes, the news of Pakistan setting a record after record brought nothing but moments of pure joy and national pride to us. Amidst all the sad news and negativity, these small events serve as ventilators that bring in fresh air for those of us who seem to have lost hope. (Saddi Muhammad set a record by using his moustache to pull a 1.7-tonne pickup truck a distance of 60.3 metres. PHOTO: AFP) The Punjab Youth Festival (PYF12), renamed as the ‘Pakistan Youth Festival’ by Chief Minister of Punjab Shahbaz Sharif is void of any political affiliation. It is a one-of-its-kind initiative for the youth of Pakistan; an opportunity for the common people of this nation to spread hope and the vision of progression. (12-year-old Mehek Gul took just 45 seconds to arrange the pieces on a chessboard using only one hand. PHOTO: AFP) I sincerely hope that all Pakistanis enjoyed witnessing these events in their respective provinces and cities. Although I wasn’t physically present at the National Hockey Stadium of Lahore when these records were broken, I witnessed and recited the national anthem along with the 44,200 participants who sang it. It felt great; a moment of pure national pride, unity and sheer pleasure. There have been only a few times this year that Pakistan made its presence felt in a positive forum, and this record setting activity has, by far, taken its place at the top of the list. (Around 44,200 participants set a new world record for singing the national anthem simultaneaously. PHOTO: APP) Amongst these records was that of 24,200 students holding up sheets of paper to form and break the record of the largest national flag record. With patriotism pulsating through the veins of all those watching, we knew that this day was going to bring smiles to the faces of millions of distressed, agitated, disappointed and worried citizens. It was a moment of collective realisation and pride; it is these little things that will help build the image of our country in the international arena. Amongst other news that became a source of jubilation for Pakistanis were the exhibition matches between Pakistan XI and International World Stars XI, showing the world that Pakistan was making its way back into international cricket. Many believe that all the terrorists and Taliban of the world are manufactured and exported from Pakistan. However, on that day, perhaps only for that one day, social media forums turned green. People texted, tweeted and posted congratulatory messages to one another, and the unity and public acknowledgement was overwhelming! This happy episode continued until I came across the unfortunate cynics who are the sole reason for the disparity and discontent in this nation. These were some of the truly disappointing tweets I came across;   Regardless of political hatred for the Punjab government or PMLN, we should have all partaken in these moments of national pride in a time when all we get is bad news. Yet, PTI trolls took to social media forums, not to boast their nation’s newest achievements but to belittle it and spew hatred against the Punjab government for corruption. The Punjab government spent billions of rupees on PYF12, yes, and if that is what corruption looks like or if that is where all the ‘looted’ money goes to, then so be it; I will happily accept this reality. Unfortunately, what all this proved is that political hatred in the nation is greater than patriotism or love for Pakistan. (People celebrate after the world record was set. PHOTO: SHAFIQ MALIK) Political leaders and opinion makers need to divert their attention immediately to this misfortune before it becomes an even worse epidemic than it is today. This division between loyalty to the country or to a political party is not only disturbing. it is the cause for many of the problems Pakistan faces today. This brings two simple questions to my mind that I would like to ask all the self-claimed-revolutionists out there: 1-  If this money could be so well used otherwise, why didn’t they donate all the money for the rehabilitation of drone victims instead of creating all the hype and drama for the so-called ‘peace march’? 2- Are these records building Pakistan’s image or the Punjab government’s image? Who participated; common man or political workers? In case PTI comes into power, should we expect no-sports in Pakistan, since it’s such a waste of time and money? In my humble opinion, we’ve already suffered a lot and the reason behind this is our inability to unite. We are so segregated by these ‘classes, be it ethnic, political, sectarian or social. We cannot rise unless we break free of these barriers that are keeping us separated and injecting intolerance and hatred amongst us. (44,200 participants of Punjab Youth Festival set a new world record by singing the national anthem simultaneously. PHOTO: INP) It’s about time we put in a combined effort for the sake of Pakistan alone - beyond political bias - and learn to give credit where it’s due. Let us unite and cherish these moments of national pride and joy together, and show the real soft image of Pakistan to the world. Pakistan Zindabad... always! Follow Abrar on Twitter @Abrar_kureshy

Imran Khan recently kicked up yet another melee in Pakistan’s media when he declared that he would have women contest in elections rather than enter the National Assembly (NA) on reserved seats. Before weighing the plausibility of the argument, many were quick to jump the bandwagon of unqualified criticism simply because it was Khan who said so. For the uninformed, women in Pakistan’s National Assembly currently have 60 reserved seats. How exactly are these seats filled in? Well, since the seats are allocated to each political party based on their proportion in the legislature, the said political parties have the sole authority to figure out who will fill these seats. The result is simply that the wives, daughters, sisters and relatives of the bigwigs of each political party smugly position themselves on these seats, clamouring out about women rights yet being utterly incompetent to launch the least effort to that end. Seats are allocated purely on political connections with nary a thought spared to any merit or qualification. There are plenty who dished out criticism to Khan’s proposition by stating that letting women contest elections is nearly impossible in a conservative country like Pakistan. The argument is quite valid and yet it is utterly inadequate to reach the conclusion that the reserved seats shouldn’t be tampered with. In my view, yes women contesting elections still seems a remote possibility. However, things are on their way to change with the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) pushing for a greater number of party tickets given to woman candidates. Meanwhile, what we can do is to ensure that at least the women who find their way to the National Assembly on reserved seats merit some minimum qualification. Just like I would never vote for Hamza Shahbaz being Shahbaz Sharif‘s son, I wouldn’t want a woman to represent Pakistani women simply because she is the wife of an eminent politician. Is that principally wrong? No. Is that too much to ask or somehow impossible? Absolutely not. So why the mindless ruckus then? Rather than expending their energies in rabidly attempting to defend the reserved seats, I would suggest that the women rights activists can do a far better job if they tried to coordinate with the authorities and somehow devise some kind of minimum qualifications for the women who get to be appointed on the reserved seats. A proven record of working for women, some political insight into policy-making for the said gender – anything tangible that may make sense for a person who gets to be on one of those reserved seats. And I really don’t think that is too much to ask for. This post originally appeared here. Read more by Salman here or follow him on Twitter @SalmanLateef

If the laptop scheme by Shahbaz Sharif was a ‘four’, the completion of Lahore’s Rapid Bus Transit System is a ‘sixer’, that too, on a no-ball. Around a week before the maiden transit system was to be inaugurated, TV channels started flashing footages of the city’s newest achievement. In Lahore, excited locals cheered for this latest development project, while in Karachi, I sat in my chair feeling happy yet envious at the same time. I’m pleased because I know what this transport-revolution will do to the people of the city but I am also overly-jealous since I won’t be able to use it. There was even a moment when I childishly wished stealing the entire infrastructure and bringing it to Karachi. Having used Karachi’s public transport system quite regularly, I can make an endless list of its flaws and shortcomings. From decades-old vehicles, uncomfortable interior, unprofessional drivers to their rash driving, a ride in Karachi’s overly-decorated bus is nothing to look forward to. Rickshaws are great but their bumpy rides can be upsetting at times and travelling on a regular basis can leave a dent in your pocket. Coaches are simply next level. The drivers steer them dangerously fast — if you get off safely, consider yourself lucky. This is where the rapid transit system comes in. Lahore’s metro service offers 18-metre long buses, electronic ticketing, dedicated staff and short travelling time to the people of Lahore. It’s absolute injustice that a city as huge as Karachi doesn’t have one. Officials involved in the project claim the service will be available in 2014. Well, officials also said that the Lahore Metro will become functional in 2010. Keeping the track record of our politicians in mind, I seriously doubt Karachi will get its metro soon. In my opinion, why Lahore was able to get one and Karachi failed, is because there is no dedicated will to get the project rolling here. I think the Punjab chief minister is to be credited for making this possible for Lahore. Read more by Ferya here or follow her on Twitter @ferya_ilyas

Lahoris, the wait is finally over!  The complicated and tiring ordeal that we were all experiencing for eleven months has finally met its end. Yes, I'm talking about the completion of the revolutionary metro bus system in Lahore. The Metro Bus Project is a monumental achievement for the Punjab government which is going to change the traffic culture of Lahore forever. Taking detours and looking for shorter diversions had become part of every Lahori’s life in the last one year. Because of the construction of many underpasses, flyovers and bus tracks, it would take people forty minutes to cover a distance which would normally take fifteen minutes. This is now to change! Let me tell you about some of the features of this new public transport system planned and implemented by Shahbaz Sharif. A total of 45 buses have been imported from Turkey which will be driven by Turkish drivers on a single track in Lahore. The buses will stop at 27 stations that cover the entire Lahore. First station is at Gaju Mata and the last one is at Shaadra. A one-of-a-kind nine kilometer long flyover has been constructed solely for the metro bus. It connects one end of Lahore with the other. Buses will commute on this flyover. The modern system of electronic ticketing has been introduced at all the stations; waterproof escalators have been installed for the elderly, and a squad for security and maintenance has been appointed. The stations and the entire route of this larger-than-life metro system are up to international standards. Commuting in Lahore will now become as easy as commuting in London city or Bangkok. The only difference is we will have buses instead of trains and they will be manual instead of electronic. The inauguration of this mega project is today. After being postponed a couple of times, Shahbaz Sharif has finally given the confirmed date. For the initial four weeks, the buses will be free for all the commuters. However, the fare is extremely cheap. From what I’ve heard, the cost of a ticket from the first to the last station will be as low as Rs45! Until now, every feature of this yet-to-function project seems to be perfect, but will it be successful? Will the squad for maintaining cleanliness and security live up to the expectations? Will all the 45 buses work efficiently for a long period of time? Most importantly, how will the masses react to this state-of-the-art system? If I were to predict, I’d say that initially the system will face a host of problems.  The kind of people we are makes it difficult for us to adapt easily to change. We are more than comfortable in breaking rules - especially spitting paan everywhere. We like to take shortcuts and do not like cleaning up after ourselves. I think all of this could mar the success of the metro buses; however, I feel that with the passage of time, people will get accustomed to the idea of waiting in queues and keeping their surroundings clean. Heavy criticism has been leveled at this project, but as with the motorway - which everybody uses now - condemnation is part of the package. Most people aren’t fans of the project, but I personally believe that this system does not need only the support of the masses, but the educated class as well. We should promote and endorse this project by travelling via these buses. We as a nation are masters at criticising politicians. When we witness power outages, terrorist activities or inflation, we spew hatred against the system. Now, here is the chance to encourage our leaders, because finally something has been done for the people and not for personal gain. The success or failure of this enormous project lies in our hands. I will be showing full support to this revolution by commuting on this bus. Will you? Follow Saman on Twitter @s_as

According to the Punjab government, 30 billion rupees is the amount of money spent on the Lahore Metro Bus Service. The actual figure may be a lot more, but let’s just take their word for it and apply a bit of perspective to it instead. Overall the entire allocated money for Punjab infrastructure development is Rs63 billion which means that 50% or half of the development budget of Punjab was spent in Lahore. This excludes the cost of the numerous underpasses and overhead bridges that were built in Lahore. Compare this Rs30 billion to the Rs16.5 billion allocated to the health sector for the entire province of Punjab. Just imagine if this same budget, allocated to the metro service was spent on the health sector instead. A state of the art hospital like the recently developed Rawalpindi Institute of Cardiology was built within Rs2.8 billion, taking that as our benchmark, we would have been able to build 10 such hospitals with the RS30 billion spent on the Metro Bus! An interesting perspective, right? Compare this with the Rs25 billion development budget for education in Punjab for the current year. From this 25 billion a total of Rs5 billion was spent on giving away laptops. Although the goodwill gesture behind the act remains, pragmatism is in severe dearth. Unfortunately, the schools in this country lack basic infrastructure, sanitation and clean drinking water - laptops are a far off dream. Some may think Punjab as a province is able to afford such shenanigans but a close look at the economic situation of the province gives a very different picture. In these hard economic times, under the PPP government, it is Punjab that is the worst performing province. The province’s annual average growth rate of 2.5% between 2007 and 2011 lagged far behind the 3.4% for the rest of Pakistan, according to the Lahore-based Institute of Public Policy (IPP). Over 83% of the Rs783 billion Punjab budget for the current year will be financed by federal transfers and 12% by provincial tax revenue. The more worrying factor is that Punjab is generating very little revenue of its own and the provincial government has completely failed to address this problem, in fact it is making it worse by spending billions on projects which will further strain the treasury. Interestingly, very little is being said about the running cost of the Metro Bus Service as the costs have not been ‘calculated yet’ but conservative estimates are that the subsidies would cost the government a minimum of Rs1 billion a year. This project has the potential to become another state owned bleeding giant. This is reckless spending which matches the obsessive behaviour of emperors from not so democratic times. Pakistan is set for harder times economically and the leaders are demonstrating absolutely no sense what so ever or any serious intent to address the actual problems this country faces. I believe that the Metro Bus Service has nothing to offer this country except further economic misery. * All figures quoted from the Punjab government site. Read more by Faraz here, or follow him on Twitter @feeraz_khan

Every day for four weeks, I have slept to the sound of traffic in Lahore. And I wake up to it, every single day. The blaring of horns of which there are variations you could possibly never imagine or encounter, emanating from vehicles, motorbikes, rickshaws and modes of transportation unimaginable too, form a stream of noises which become firmly rooted in your subconscious, many say.  So far, not for me.  I wince, sometimes even curse when I am alone and long for these weeks to be over so I can wake up in my serene neighbourhood, back in Chicago. And for the record, I do not live on a fancy television set in the middle of the street as my husband jokes over video chat. There in Chicago, he experiences a spectrum of sounds picked up by a minuscule microphone which travel miles over shoddy wireless networks. Nonetheless, it has the same effect on his sensibilities. Yes, it gets loud here in Lahore. However, this Sunday morning I happened to leave the house early and the Lahore of my childhood returned for a brief moment. The languid streets, the slight haze of the fog and an easy ride over Sherpao Bridge into the neighbourhood of Gulberg unadulterated with noisy traffic was nothing less than pure joy. I joined my wonderful reporter pals at Dawn News TV who were on their way to cover the opening ceremony of the Metro Bus Project. As of today, Lahore is the first city in Pakistan that now boasts of a semblance of a modern public transit system- similar to those that we are used to in major international cities. A little late to get on this bus I thought judging by the poor traffic conditions, high cost of fuel and a dense population of over 10 million people struggling to get to places in this city. There is little hope of this project expanding to other cities, given the controversy that surrounded it, still, better late than never. You have probably never seen a family of four whizzing by on a tiny motorbike or people hanging off a door or lodged firmly on the roof of a bus. Have you? But of course, some of us here have luxurious cars, homes and lives to make even the Queen envious. This is the city we now call Lahore. And us Lahoris, can't be brought together these days. We see the dichotomy so much that we are numbed. As people, we have more important issues to deal with depending on who we are and where we come from - what political affiliations, religious sects or economic class of society. This is because we are ourselves first, Pakistanis later. The Metro Bus Project's inauguration met with a similar fate. Not the ceremony, which was conducted like any other high profile media event with politicians and foreign dignitaries making long speeches, following protocol and pre-election promises. It was our own rotten attitudes and our ability to squelch anything that is being construed or constructed for our country. Because, that wasn't all that was happening this lazy Sunday morning in Lahore. We soon have it all thrown in our faces. Thanks to the media and how loud that can get. You cannot flip news channels without seeing a young anchorwoman screaming at a politician or him screaming at another politician and you wonder how much of Jerry Springer's soul will live on television forever! The noise is everywhere and it shuts off everything else. Mostly one's ability to think or reason. All of this in one day. Heavy criticism regarding this new public transit system, continued days of protest by doctor's on strike, President Asif Ali Zardari receiving a multi-million dollar mansion as a gift without any explanations, and re-launch of a shuttle train to be inserted as a media event by the government was to steal their thunder presumably. What thunder really? Public transportation for people so they can be treated as humans, not cattle, is probably a basic right in 2013. It is a matter of priority according to some. Hundreds of schools and hospitals could have been built in the same amount of money, but then what have these self-righteous critics been doing all these years? The Metro Bus project was undertaken and completed by the opposition party's Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif. Therefore, not one person in the ruling party would consider it a good idea for the general public. The blame-game from both sides continues. The thing is; I don't believe either side or what they say. I can only hope the buses will run effectively and help the people. I can only hope that if this took a 'record time' of 11 months to bring to fruition, the quality of the project has not been jeopardised. I can only hope that the public itself, being offered an initial month of free rides won't take this for granted and destroy the condition of the buses before the month is over. Public property as you would notice around here is treated with little or no respect. Most of all, I am afraid the next government to rule Punjab, if not the people who built this project would do everything they can to turn it into a failure. No one would then care about the 'absurd' amount of taxpayer's money that was spent on this or the transportation needs of the public. No one would care about Lahore, not even Lahoris. Perhaps, that is the reason why the city is so loud, so none of the other noises drown Lahore or its will to remain alive. Follow her on Twitter @SumSheek

He bravely stood up against a confusing blasphemy law that was often misused to target minorities, yet after his assassination, we indulged in the irrelevant details of Salmaan Taseer’s private life, while showering his killer, Mumtaz Qadri, with rose petals. Perhaps learning of Salmaan Taseer’s ‘westernised’ lifestyle helped us vilify him as a puppet of the west, and relieved us of any guilt. Yes, we are Pakistan - a nation with confused priorities. We are a nation where Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan is hailed as a hero who singlehandedly brought nuclear capability to the country, yet we barely acknowledge the murky details of his alleged sale of state secrets, and pass off the criticism levelled by his fellow theorists, such as Dr Pervez Hoodbhoy, as mere jealousy. At the same time we completely ignore the astronomical contributions of Mohammad Abdus Salam, the first Nobel Prize winner of Pakistani origin in physics, who was forced to leave the country because he was part of the Ahmadiyya Community. Even in death, we allowed him no peace, where through court orders, the epitaph on his tomb in Pakistan was edited to remove the word ‘Muslim’ from, ‘First Muslim Nobel Laureate’. Somewhat amusingly, this changed the overall meaning of the text on his tomb to first 'Nobel Laureate ever', which is obviously incorrect. Then, there is the case of Dr Aafia Siddiqui, whom we support without question. Let’s ignore the forensic evidence against her, as well the bomb manufacturing documents found in her possession, because let’s admit it, in the age of Edward Snowden, nothing can be taken at face value. But what of the testimonial to The News from her own ex-husband? Anesthesiologist Dr Amjad Mohammed Khan, divorced Aafia because he found her to be violent, manipulative, and on the path to terrorism,

“I was aware of Aafia’s violent personality and extremist views and suspected her involvement in Jihadi activities.”

“I feared Aafia might pursue her political ambitions to the detriment of our children’s welfare.”

It was one of those foreboding nights; the power had gone out and I was sitting on the roof on my charpai. With the atmosphere already grim from stories of jinn possessions and cannibal witches, my cousin launched into a narrative about the increasing number of violent crimes in the area and the complete and utter ineffectiveness of the police, who seemed more and more interested in exacting bribes and satisfying their sadistic tendencies. As the discussion grew heated, I discovered the true extent of the latter. Police in our area had become notorious for brutalising their captives no matter what the crime or proof of guilt. Common torture methods involved beating the soles of the victim’s feet and slowly rolling heavy objects up their thighs often resulting in paralysis. Unfortunately, such stories have now become common across Pakistan and have completely destroyed people’s trust in the police. The level to which the institution has sunk is exemplified by Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif’s removal of three senior officers in Okara for forcing a father and son to sexually abuse each other in front of other prisoners. This despicable act brings bile up one’s throat and exemplifies the holier-than-thou attitude of abuse within the police force. Such a depraved punishment violates not only Pakistani Law but the very foundations of human dignity - the psychological trauma suffered by the pair will be long lived and is quite emphatically unjustifiable particularly given the lack of proof of their guilt. Heinous crimes such as these by the law enforcement agencies seem to have become the norm and are often dismissed in a rather blas? manner by a disillusioned public. In a recent National Corruption Perception Survey, 84% of respondents who had interacted with the police service alleged facing corruption; low salaries and lack of accountability were the most common issues blamed. The federal and respective provincial governments have made few attempts to combat the problem but immediate action is a must in order to change this 'thana culture' and enact meaningful social change in the process. Enhancing the education and training of the police service is a must. The need for highly educated police personnel has long been recognised in countries such as the United Kingdom and the United States where the Wickersham Commission established by Herbert Hoover recommended a Bachelor’s degree as a minimum entry qualification as early as 1931. The intellectual capabilities of new recruits must be enhanced with the minimum entry standards raised to FA for constables and BA for an assistant sub-inspector. Moreover, the academic curriculum of new trainees is outdated and frankly quite irrelevant- it must be reformed to place a higher emphasis on investigation, victimology and the treatment of vulnerable groups- cooperation with educational institutions and encouraging these to offer courses on subjects such as criminology will no doubt help the cause. Respect of human life and the maintenance of captives’ dignity and rights must be a concept which must be incorporated and drilled into a trainee’s head until there is no room for doubt. As well as violating Articles four, nine and 14 of the constitution, the use of torture contravenes the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the UN Convention against Torture - both of which have been signed by Pakistan. Appropriate reinforcement of an anti-torture doctrine within the institution will help put an end to the hundreds of civilians left dead or paralysed through police brutality, and earn the force the public respect which has traditionally eluded it. As well as raising salaries and the development of an improved organisational culture, a system of checks and balances with complete transparency is a must in reducing corruption. As suggested by the Asia Society, the ideal scenario would include the establishment of an independent complaint authority as well as ensuring tenure security for federal and provincial chiefs in order to minimise political influence. It can only be hoped that Shahbaz Sharif’s quick action against the offending parties in the Okara case and his words of their actions as 'condemnable and shameless' signal an era of increased accountability and positive change overall. However, it remains to be seen if the chief minister can fulfil his promises of a modern training programme designed and the complete computerisation of all police records amongst other things. All provinces as well as the federal government must take note of the crumbling condition of the police service and ensure steps are taken which improve its effectiveness in maintaining law and order and thus earn it the respect of the populace as a whole. _______________________________________________________ [poll id="277"]

While it is truly comforting that Punjab Chief Minister, Shahbaz Sharif -- among many others -- is taking such lively interests in our students’ moral upbringing, he may have mistaken ‘sex education’ for ‘vulgarity’. Here’s what he may be missing. 1) Sex education does not encourage illicit activities Does having an airbag in your car make you feel like driving your Honda off a bridge? Is my plane more likely to crash if the cabin crew shows me a flight safety instructions video before take-off? An examination of 73 studies on the subject has revealed that comprehensive sexual education does not make students more sexually active than they already are. It neither hastens one’s first sexual experience nor does it increase the frequency of sexual activity. It’s only a moralist’s greatest fear, therefore, it has no scientific leg to stand on. These programs are designed strictly to educate, not titillate. 2) Somebody has to tell them Let’s face it. Parents are not interested in bearing the awkwardness of gathering their sons and daughters at the family table, and giving them the dreaded ‘birds and bees’ talk. Teenagers are left with two options: Learn about safe sex from a qualified teacher or learn from other neighbourhood kids who just happened to stumble upon some ‘information’ they weren’t supposed to know. I strongly recommend the first option. 3) Its happening, whether you teach it or not Our current approach to the problems related to sexual health, is that of an ostrich, refusing to discuss the matter and pretending that it makes the problems go away. Unfortunately, it doesn’t. It’s not an easy discussion but that doesn’t make it not worth discussing. 4) The human body isn’t ‘vulgar’ Your natural physical form isn’t sin turned flesh. Just as it’s important for us to learn about the functions of our brains, livers, hearts, stomachs and limbs, it is important to learn about the sexual organs and the possible disorders that may afflict them. 5) It helps prevent Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) This is a no-brainer but its significance is repeatedly downplayed. We teach young students the importance of washing their hands before eating and bathing regularly, avoiding mayonnaise that has been left out of the fridge for too long and getting vaccinated. But we happily gamble with their sexual health, rolling the dice and hoping they’d learn the do’s and don’ts on their own somehow. The odds of that happening, regrettably, are too low for comfort. In one study conducted in Faisalabad, nearly 80% of the STI patients had either never used condoms, or had not heard of them. The lack of use, or even knowledge, of the single most basic barrier available to the population for safe sex is alarming. It is living proof of the fact that we cannot rely on sheer chance to have this information disseminated to the public. Active steps must be taken. 6) It helps avoid unwanted pregnancies Pregnancies among teenagers who are neither psychologically nor socially equipped to handle them can, and does, destroy lives. In Pakistan, where termination of pregnancy is not legal except for very specific circumstances, accidental pregnancies translate into an additional problem of back-alley abortions. These involve extremely unsafe procedures that can cause permanent harm and even death. In Pakistan, studies have revealed that as high as 18% of all maternal deaths are attributed to these abortions. A reduction in the commonness of teenage abortions could bring down the number of illegal abortions too. 7) Sexual imagery is everywhere, sex education isn’t When one’s senses are constantly bombarded by the latest Bollywood item songs, sultry advertisements and suggestive jokes and stories, it can easily warp one’s understanding of the dynamics of a mature sexual relationship. If not supplemented with proper education, the effects can be catastrophic. It is virtually impossible to eliminate this imagery from our lives but it is possible to add lessons on sexual health in class curriculum. 8) It encourages healthy discussion on sexual health In a country where it’s taboo to talk about breast lumps or disorders of the reproductive cycle, it helps tremendously to provide the students a safe academic environment to share their concerns in. We cannot outsource even the most basic information on sexual health to healthcare professionals, who are often already overwhelmed by the patient load. One doesn’t queue up outside the doctor’s office to learn about the benefits of hand-washing, therefore one doesn’t need to do that to learn about condoms either. 9) “Past generations survived without it. Can’t you?” Older opponents of sexual education like to point out how they managed to learn about sex without the help of a teacher and so can the new generation. I imagine people also got by without penicillin or know-how on disease prevention for the longest time, or we wouldn’t be here to discuss this matter today. But maybe the incident rate of unwanted pregnancies and diseases was higher and the quality of life lower? 10) Denying education is immoral Sex education has been proven to reduce unwanted pregnancies and curb the spread of sexually transmitted diseases. The only thing here that can be definitively classified as ‘vulgar’, is denying our young people the opportunity to educate themselves about sexual health.

Dear Mr Rana Sanaullah, Shahbaz Sharif and Pervez Rasheed,  I write this piece in response to your criticism over the NATO supply blockade by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) government. Although Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) members would give complicated arguments regarding dignity, terrorism and radicalisation against your views, my focus is relatively simple. Just take a look at the picture of Nabila Rehman showing a drawing she crafted over fear of drone strikes. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Nine-year-old Nabila Rehman shows her drawing on drone strikes at the start of a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington on Tuesday. Photo: Reuters[/caption] Gentlemen, I do not know if drones kill terrorists. I do not know if they are counterproductive. I do not know if drone strikes are causing radicalisation in the society. What I do know is that this girl lives in fear. Instead of crafting happiness, she is crafting fear. Any ethical, democratic government would claim it to be their responsibility to protect her. Considering it is your responsibility, what have you done to protect her? What have you done to protect thousands of other children like Nabila who are crafting fear in their drawings? You might be right in your argument that the K-P government and protesters are taking unconstitutional measures by blocking the Nato supply route. But have you left them with any other choice? [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Supporters of Pakistan's Islamist party Pasban hold placards as they shout anti-American slogans during a protest in Karachi October 23, 2013, against US drone attacks in Pakistan. Photo: Reuters[/caption] We saw our prime minister’s (PM) silence over drones in his visit to the US. We saw how much credibility there is in the statements of the adviser to PM on foreign affairs. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] U.S. President Barack Obama shakes hands with Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington October 23, 2013. Photo: Reuters[/caption] Is there anything else left to prove that the PML-N government is no different to PPP when it comes to foreign policy? Haven’t we seen enough already? [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Students gather at the site of a suspected U.S. drone strike on an Islamic seminary in Hangu district, bordering North Waziristan, November 21, 2013. Photo: Reuters[/caption] You say taking US aid and stopping drones cannot happen together. Well, the K-P government has already shown that they can take US aid and side by side, stop the Nato supply routes in protest. At least they are sending a message conveying our resentment to the world in general and the US in particular. What has the federal government done to fight Nabila’s fears? We haven’t even seen any meaningful measures to stop drone strikes. This is my humble request to the federal government -- if you are not doing anything meaningful to end Nabila’s fears, please do not criticise those who are willing to fight for her. I do not stand by any particular party. I stand by whoever is fighting against the terror Nabila faces.

Iram’s cruel torture and consequent death is not the first case of a child domestic worker being tormented in Pakistan. Approximately, 45 cases of violence against child domestic workers were reported by the media since Shazia Masih’s tragic and cruel murder in January 2010 in Lahore. Iram is the 22nd child domestic worker tortured to death and majority of these cases have been reported in Punjab -- and keep in mind, these are only the reported cases.  If anyone has any doubts, please search for Shazia Masih (Lahore), Jameel (Multan), Yasmin (Okara), Shehzad (Gujranwala), Zafar (Karachi) and Tehmina (Islamabad) to name a few. All of these cases show that child domestic labour is one of the most formidable forms of child labour in Pakistan. However, the federal and provincial governments in Pakistan have failed to respond to the situation. The problem with Pakistani society is that we forget about such cases after some time. The initial horror and anger dies down and the case then is buried deep in our subconscious. We don’t have any follow up mechanism and thus such cases only remain in the limelight while the media pursues them. Once the media loses interest, everyone forgets about it until a new case is reported again a few months later. The government, however, remains in denial, despite the brutal death of 22 children, lifelong injuries of many others and a number of children missing. There are organised gangs involved in the internal trafficking of children and are providing children as domestic servants in urban cities. To avoid such cases the federal government should put an immediate ban on the employment of minors and child domestic labour should be added in the schedule of banned occupations under the Employment of Children Act (ECA) 1991 through an official notification. The only argument from those who oppose this is that it wouldn’t be possible for labour inspectors to conduct inspections of houses individually. In my opinion, even with the labour department carrying out inspections, they won’t be able to achieve much or have a positive impact when it comes to labour rights in Pakistan. I agree that policing is not a solution, however, the ban will make bureaucrats, parliamentarians and the common people realise that such employment is against the law and if it won’t stop them completely, it will in the least give them the fear of legal repercussions. It will also give young children a valid law to rely on whence refusing to do domestic work. Authorities will be able to take action against employers and parents who have subjected their young children to such forms of labour and extensive awareness raising campaigns by civil society groups would help reduce the number of incidents by alerting communities about the consequences of employing innocent children and risking their lives. According to Article 25-A of the Constitution of Pakistan, which safeguards the right to free and compulsory education for all children up to 16 years, there should be no excuses for the existence of child labour in this country. These kids should not even have the time to gain such employment. The problem is not with the existing law; it is with the lack of implementation and a lack of resolve to initiate such progressive change in the country for fear of inconvenience and short-term poverty. Young children, brainwashed by needy parents, employers and other mafias, have no choice but to resort to the menace of child labour, but just like one feels scared of being caught stealing, the implementation of these laws will help activate the same fear in this case; in both parties, those pushing the kids and within the children themselves. My sincere request to Mr Shahbaz Sharif, Chief Minister of Punjab, is to take proactive action against this kind of inhumane activity and immediately ban child labour as a part of the ECA. The reason I am directing my request towards Mr Sharif is because, as mentioned above, most of the cases of violence against children doing domestic labour have occurred in Punjab. Many cases have probably gone unreported and thus, unnoticed. That, however, is not to say that other provinces are exempt from this and can take this issue lightly; it is most likely that the cases that have in fact taken place elsewhere have not been reported or have been swept under the rug merely as ‘accidental deaths’. On a side note, I would like to add that it is not just the government’s duty to ensure the safety of the children of Pakistan, it is in fact the duty of each and every employer, parent and citizen to make sure the future of this country doesn’t just have the right to live, but the right to ‘survive’ too!

Many people like to ask me questions about why I support former president Pervez Musharraf. As part of the questions, they like to pepper in the misinformation that the Pakistani media has presented to the public for consumption. During one such discussion on Facebook, I was asked the following: The question cum comment

“According to you, Khalid Muhammad, what were the positives and negatives of Musharraf’s tenure? People consider him to be the reason for drones, missing people (Aafia Siddiqui), Bugti murder case, Lal Masjid, all that happened to Pakistan after 9/11 (and) the current shortfall of electricity and gas. Suicide bombing took a toll during his rule, then May 12, 2007 (incident took place) in Karachi, (he broke) the constitution twice and many more. What all out of these are true and what all are not? Because people only hear what they are made to hear and the actual facts and information is many times different from the general perception.”

The Punjab cabinet approved the extension of the metro bus service to the twin cities of Rawalpindi-Islamabad in its recent meeting. When the PML-N won the elections back in May 2013, I had hoped that this was one election promise that they wouldn’t fulfil since the intended goal can be achieved via several alternative solutions. However, I guess since they couldn’t deliver on their electoral promise of ending power outages in six months, he has decided to give the twin cities a metro bus service. Politics aside, it makes little sense to have a mega project like the metro bus in Rawalpindi-Islamabad. According to population estimates, Lahore has an approximate population of 10 million while Rawalpindi’s population is touching two million. Any rational mind would understand that the solution for Rawalpindi may not be the same as that for Lahore given the vast differences in the demographics and layout of the two cities. Being a resident of Rawalpindi, I agree that there exists a major deficiency in the public transport system of the twin cities. A large chunk of Rawalpindi’s population has to go to Islamabad for work, education or business on a daily basis. People are hard pressed for transportation options since there aren’t many. Women, in particular, who have to travel to Islamabad face quite a bit of inconvenience. But is the metro bus really going to solve the problem? According to the proposed plan, the Rawalpindi part of the project will begin from the Flashman’s Hotel on Mall Road and end at the Faizabad flyover, thus, serving residents of the adjacent areas of Murree Road. It is obvious that in the short run, it is going to cause immense discomfort to the residents of the two cities. After all, Murree Road is the backbone of Rawalpindi’s economy. It is the feeding artery for areas far north and down towards the Potohar region. With construction of the metro bus route, there will be a major impact on businesses, which have already been adversely affected by sectarian clashes at Ashura. Moreover, commuters avoid the Peshawer Road these days due to expansion work being carried out on the Kashmir Highway. When construction begins on Murree Road as well, the 150,000 people, which the metro bus aims to cater to, would only be using one road to travel between the twin cities – the Expressway. With new colonies going as far as the Grand Trunk (GT) Road on both sides of the Expressway (Gulberg, Bahria, Soan Gardens, DHA), it already faces the worst kind of traffic jams during rush hours. So imagine the chaos that will ensue when all of Rawalpindi and Islamabad will be using just this road. Even the forecasted long-term impact does not justify the whopping Rs34 billion investment required for the bus service. The government of Punjab has already spent more than three billion rupees in the past two years while trying to solve the traffic problems on Murree Road. It started with the Chandni Chowk flyover, completed in March 2012 at a cost of Rs1.25 billion, followed by the Sixth Road flyover, completed in January 2013 at a cost of Rs1.042 billion. Another project – the expansion of the Marir Hassan Chowk – started in November 2012 at a cost of Rs429 million and was due to be completed by March 2013 but it still awaits completion with a revised cost of Rs549 million. These projects did not result in electoral success, which was the likely intention, nor did they solve the traffic problem since the government is now planning a metro bus service on the same route. Someone must be held accountable for the Rs2.85 billion which went to waste on these projects while the traffic problems still persist. In addition, the bus service will have a massive environmental impact and destroy Islamabad’s beauty which is already threatened by the increasing urbanisation and construction. Such a seemingly huge problem has a surprisingly simple solution – a basic bus service that runs on the conventional routes. People still remember the days of the Varan bus service in Rawalpindi. The routes could be Kutchery Chowk to Faizabad through Murree Road; Kutchery Chowk to Zero Point through Mall Road and Kashmir Highway; and Kutchery Chowk to Zero Point through the Expressway. And all the government would need to do is float tender inviting quotations from interested parties. This way not a single penny of the taxpayers’ money will be involved. Another pressing issue is the revamping of the Rawalpindi traffic police. The traffic wardens introduced a few years back have failed to deliver. A glaring example of their incompetence is the Ammar Shaheed Chowk which is a roundabout with traffic lights and traffic wardens – the only ones you will find anywhere – and yet, the traffic is still stuck most of the time. In view of all the above reasoning, I sincerely hope that someone will consider the cost-benefit analysis of this project before investing such a huge amount of the taxpayers’ money.

If blasphemy is defined as ‘irreverent behaviour towards anything sacred’, Karachi is blasphemous; a city where something as sacred as human life is irreverently and disdainfully extinguished. As January limped to a close, three health workers administering anti-polio drops to children were shot dead. Bullet-ridden bodies of three young men were discovered and a police officer was gunned down in a suspected targeted attack. And yet, it is in Karachi, much more so than in Lahore, that a bastion of sharafat (respectability) is present; it is here that strangers smile at you, people say thank you for services rendered or stand aside and allow you to pass. In this sense, it is hard to decide where the blasphemy lies. Karachi’s heritage including the Empress Market, Frere Hall, Jinnah’s home and Mohatta Palace has been lovingly preserved. When the Indus Valley School was founded by a group of concerned citizens in 1989, the building was transported to the site brick by brick from a location further away. Karachi is where enterprise is most valued. It is home to some of the country’s oldest and best newspapers and magazines; its businessmen are the best in the country. Rarely in Karachi does one encounter the Lahori shopkeeper picking his teeth or worse while a customer fruitlessly searches the shelves. While Lahoris reel from the food street wars and meet over three-tiered trolleys in ornate drawing rooms, you meet friends in Karachi at a show or over a dossa or cappuccino at one of its innumerable cafes. What’s more, you go there without dolling up, in the same clothes you’ve been wearing since yesterday and without blonde streaks in your hair. Yes, blasphemy is a many faceted word, and Karachi a multifaceted city. In Karachi, I saw a little ragged boy no more than six-years-old, weave through cars to a water tanker to fill a can from a tap set into its side. The driver leant out but did not stop the child; the urchin grinned in thanks and darted back before the traffic light turned green. The whole incident was so illustrative of the symbiotic relationships that thrive in this massive city seemingly so alive but where nothing would survive if such relationships did not exist. All it needs is peace for its enterprise to flourish; a peace that appears to be extinct. Violence is the old man on this Sindbad’s shoulder, slowly throttling it to death. It would be a rare Karachiite who has not had his purse or phone snatched, his car taken away at gunpoint or his home broken into by armed men. You live in this city alongside gun battles, strikes and public transport shut-downs. Car owners skirt troubled areas with practiced ease while those who use public transport are forced to take expensive rickshaws instead of buses to work and back. On the worst occasions, neither buses and rickshaws, nor cars can run. Absenteeism in schools and workplaces is high. In Karachi’s Defence and Clifton, there is no Shahbaz Sharif to focus manically on a few issues. Even these ‘elite’ areas are dirty with large tracts of windblown rubbish dumps; the overwhelming issues of the people of Landhi, Korangi and Lyari are beyond the imagination and remit of this piece. In Karachi, buses are loaded as never seen in Lahore and each one bears signs of being burnt or smashed at some point. There is no rapid transit bus system such as the one Lahore possesses, no clampdown on late and noisy wedding parties such as in Lahore and no controls on the menu. Will Karachi ever be able to shake the old man off like Sindbad did? My hopes are pinned on that boy with the jerry can. It is from such roots that many of Karachi’s entrepreneurs have sprung up and many of its volunteers and workers, such as those who run the Edhi ambulances, go where no man would care to go. Maybe that child’s native ingenuity and of those like him can weave a path around Karachi’s troubles in a way that more privileged scions cannot do, before the lights turn red forever on this tortured but still pulsing port city. Karachi encapsulates the entire gamut of problems that separately beset the country; overwhelming problems relating to ethnic and religious diversity, poverty and above all, an absence of governance. The result is its dire absence of security. In Lahore, one is able to catch a glimpse of what can be achieved in however small a way when someone, anyone, cares, for however selfish a reason. That is the difference that makes all the difference. It is also what makes Lahore the better place to live, despite all Karachi’s attractions, interests and dynamism.

I heard the bomb blast that was reported more than 30 minutes ago. I live close to Delhi Colony. I’m not sure how many innocent citizens have lost their lives or how many are injured. They say four people are dead. We still don’t know if there will be others. There are people from my apartments who are still missing. My neighbor has gone looking for her mother. My driver just stepped out of Delhi Colony and was grinning like a fool because he caught a lucky break, another five minutes, he’d be on these very news channels. This blog, however, is not about my personal sentiments. Here’s how Pakistani news channels reported the incident. I’m saying this because I switched between channels before stepping out and well, never mind the rest. First of all, Delhi Colony is not in Defence. But apparently, Dawn News, Dunya News, Express News and Samaa TV were having a hard time with this. Until yesterday, Delhi Colony was in Clifton. Unfortunately, these news channels went on air reporting a blast without confirming the location,

“It’s in Defence Phase IV; no, it’s in Gizri; no, it’s in Delhi Colony.”

“This rickshaw may have been involved.”

What brings economic progress to a country? Social scientists have argued for good institutions, trade-suited geographical placement, favourable climatic conditions, cultural homogeneity among a country’s peoples, and – lo and behold – even their superior genetic makeup. Yet, no sociologist has suggested relegating the laws of economics to history’s waste bin. Endowments of nature (such as those listed above) are important indeed, but their apt utilisation (good economics) is much more important. Fiscally speaking, any new project a public official decides to pursue needs a thorough pre-evaluation by experts. Economists have tools to compare a given project’s usefulness to other potential ones. However, things in Lahore seem to be following a different course. And the latest metro train is a case in point. If an economist were involved into the evaluation process, they would have asked at least three questions to begin with.

1. Will the train positively impact economic efficiency? Will it contribute as much to the national production as possible for as little as manageable? 2. Will it result in a fairer (re-) distribution of wealth; that is, greater equity? 3. Will it be sustainable? What will the project’s effects on environment be?

“...several transportation investments can be wealth consuming if they merely provide convenience… or service a market size well below any possible economic return with, for instance, projects labelled ‘bridges to nowhere’. In such a context, transport investment projects can be counterproductive...”