• PAKISTANIS BREAK HUMAN FLAG RECORD
      More than 24,000 Pakistanis have broken a world record to create the world's largest human flag.
      BBC News, October 29, 2012
    • ANGELINA JOLIE'S CHARITY DONATES TOWARD GIRLS' EDUCATION IN PAKISTAN, AFGHANISTAN
      Angelina Jolie's Education Partnership for Children of Conflict is donating $50,000 in the name of Malala Yousafzai -- the 14-year-old shot by the Taliban -- to Tina Brown's Women in the World Foundation.
      The Hollywood Reporter, October 22, 2012
    • MALALA YOUSUFZAI: WOMEN'S RIGHTS AND THE NARRATIVES OF THE RULING ELITES
      You’d think that if it weren’t for the Taliban shooting at them, millions of girls in Pakistan would be sitting in school. These kinds of stories are convenient for Pakistan’s entrenched ruling classes, but they have very little to do with the deeper truth. The reality isn’t so complex, but it has to be spelled out a bit.
      The Platform, October 22, 2012
    • FUNDRAISING FOR MALALA FUND KICKS OFF AT LUMS
      The LUMS community expressed its protest at the horrific attack on 14-year-old education activist, Malala Yousufzai through a peace vigil at the Central Courtyard of the LUMS campus. Students, staff and faculty gathered to pay tribute to the bravery and dedication shown by MalalaYousufzai and also prayed for her quick recovery.
      LUMS.org, October 16, 2012
    • WE ARE ALL MALALA YOUSAFZAI
      Three days ago, a young Pakistani girl from Swat was shot in the head, point-blank, by a Taliban gunman. Miraculously, she is still alive - a courageous young woman who will not be silenced. Malala Yusufzai, the 14 year-old champion of a woman's right to self-expression, lies in critical condition in a hospital in Rawalpindi. Her attackers claim to be enacting the will of God. The Pakistani public, and Muslims around the world, vehemently disagree.
      The Huffington Post, October 16, 2012
    • NEW STANFORD/NYU STUDY ON CIVILIAN TERROR LINK TO OBAMA'S DRONES
      New research shows the terrorizing impact of drones in Pakistan, false statements from US officials, and how it increases the terror threat
      The Guardian, September 26, 2012
    • TWO PAKISTANI WOMEN FEATURE ON 'FOREIGN POLICY LEADERS' LIST
      Two Pakistani women have been featured on “Top 99 under 33 Foreign Policy Leaders,” list compiled by the The Diplomatic Courier (TDC).
      The International Herald Tribune, September 11, 2012
    • 'THE RELUCTANT FUNDAMENTALIST' OPENS VENICE FILM FESTIVAL
      The cultural clash between east and west after 9/11 is brought sharply into focus in Mira Nair's adaptation of the best-selling novel The Reluctant Fundamentalist, which opened the Venice Film Festival this week.
      BBC News, September 11, 2012
    • PAKISTANI FILM NOMINATED AT NEW YORK FILM FESTIVAL
      It’s time for Pakistan to be proud of its film-makers once again! Bodhicitta Film Works’ Seedlings (Lamha) has been nominated in various major categories at the New York City International Film Festival (NYCIFF) that is scheduled to take place this month. The film that was initially chosen to be screened at Times Square in the Big Apple has now bagged nominations for the following: Best Picture, Best Director (Mansoor Mujahid), Best Actress in a Lead Role (Aamina Sheikh), Best Actor in a Lead Role (Mohib Mirza), Best Actor in a supporting Role (Gohar Rasheed) and Best Original Screenplay (Summer Nicks).
      The International Herald Tribune, August 02, 2012
    • PAKISTANI BORN MAYOR REPAIRS, AND WINDS, TEXANS' HEARTS
      This charming, droopy city needed new fire trucks not long ago, but, like many American municipalities today, couldn’t necessarily afford them. The mayor, a small-government Republican, dithered: to buy or not to buy? He turned to the natural choice for advice on running a Texan city: Pervez Musharraf, the exiled ex-president of Pakistan.
      The New York Times, August 02, 2012
    • OLYMPIC FOOTBALLS: PROUDLY MADE IN SIALKOT
      What lies behind the Adidas logo on these soccer gems is the sweat and blood of hard-working rural women, belonging to the city of Sialkot, Pakistan – an effort concealed in disguise, under a dangerous quilt of consumerism.
      The International Herald Tribune, July 27, 2012
    • DREAM FULFILLED AS COLLEGE GATES OPEN FOR GUARD'S DAUGHTER
      The burly hands of Akhtar clutched the metal bar of the gate with amazing strength. The darkened edges of skin around his eyes told tales of the many nights he had spent staying awake, patrolling this very gate. Pride radiates his sun-burnt face as he says, “Finally there was a letter from Lums which said that my daughter had been selected for the National Outreach Programme (NOP).”
      The International Herald Tribune, July 27, 2012
    • IN A TROUBLED COUNTRY, STILL TIME FOR HIGH SOCIETY
      Can celebrity and fashion save Pakistan from its dark image? That’s the proposition of Hello! Pakistan, a glossy new magazine that has opened a new window into the lives of the country’s gilded elite, and rekindled an old debate about their role in a troubled society.
      The New York Times, July 19, 2012
    • PAKISTANI CHEF SPICES UP AMERICAN COOKING SHOW
      “You want to go to university to become a bawarchi (cook)?” – This is the first reaction Fatima Ali, 22, would get when she would tell friends at a highly competitive school in Karachi about her aspirations to become a chef.
      Dawn, July 19, 2012
    • FATIMA JINNAH: CANDID MEMORIES
      A friend emailed me the other day: “Hardly any body ever talks about [Fatima Jinnah] these days – I wonder how many even know her today?” He  also alerted me to a very interesting review of a new book on Fatima Jinnah (Memories of Fatima Jinnah by Sorayya Khurshid, translated into English by the much-talended Khalid Hasan, 2008) which includes her candid memories of many of the key personalities from Pakistan’s history – from Liaquat Ali Khan to Ayub Khan.
      Pakistaniat.com, July 11, 2012
    • POLIO ERADICATION HELD HOSTAGE IN PAKISTAN
      There is something to the argument that drone strikes do more damage than polio. North Waziristan suffered from only 14 new polio cases last year, even as U.S. drone strikes killed over 250 of its residents, many of them armed militants allied with Bahadur. Of course, that these same militants are in fact largely responsible for both the mayhem and the public health crisis in Waziristan likely doesn't enter into Bahadur's calculations.
      Foreign Policy, July 11, 2012
    • PAKISTAN AND ITS IMAGE PROBLEM
      In meetings last week with the senior General, Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister, they made the case for a new and updated image of Pakistan: one of the largest democracies in the world, with a vibrant and open press, an upcoming demographic dividend of hardworking young people, and a highly educated elite leadership of the country. Islamabad and Lahore, where we visited, were relatively safe and certainly safer than Afghanistan. It was clear to us that Pakistan has an image problem.
      Google +, June 29, 2012
    • BRITON THERE AT PAKISTAN'S BIRTH STAYS AT 94, A LIVING TEXTBOOK
      Geoffrey D. Langlands has had a front-row seat on Pakistan’s many dramas since he arrived, at the country’s chaotic birth, 65 years ago. He has taken tea with princesses, dined with dictators, been kidnapped by tribesmen and scraped through several wars.
      The New York times, June 20, 2012
    • IMRAN KHAN: NEXT MAN IN?
      Once an international cricket star, Pakistan's Imran Khan is now playing for a greater prize - to be his country's next prime minister. But can he upset the political status quo?
      Al Jazeera, June 04, 2012
    • CHANGING THE NARRATIVE
      PAKISTAN is seething with anti-Americanism. This public sentiment is constraining the state’s ability to find sensible options to work out the US-Pakistan relationship.
      Dawn, May 30, 2012
    • NEW HOMES OFFER NEW LIVES FOR PAKISTAN FLOOD VICTIMS
      he UN refugee agency has joined local authorities in handing over ownership of 400 new one-room homes to a fishing community in Pakistan left homeless by devastating floods in 2010.
      UNHCR, May 25, 2012
    • MAKE LOLLY NOT WAR
      India gears up for a welcome expansion in trade with Pakistan: The calm is about to end. The chief at the India-Pakistan border says the warehouses, vehicle-inspection pits and staff with high-tech scanners are poised to handle as many as 1,000 lorries a day—several times more than before. He pledges to “work round the clock” to let bilateral trade between South Asia’s two largest economies bloom like never before.
      The Economist, May 13, 2012
    • RED CROSS MAKES PAINFUL DECISION IN PAKISTAN
      The International Committee of the Red Cross has decided to suspend operations in two cities in Pakistan. This comes after the humanitarian organization discontinued work in Balochistan province, following the murder of a British staff member.
      Devex.com, May 13, 2012
    • CORY BOOKER TO SALMAN KHAN: YOU'RE AN AMERICAN HERO
      Cory Booker, mayor of Newark, New Jersey and Salman Khan, founder of Kahnacademy.org, talk with Bloomberg's Matt Miller about Khan's educational website and approach to learning across various grade and age levels. They speak on Bloomberg Television's "Bloomberg Rewind." 
      Bloomberg Television, May 08, 2012
    • PAKISTAN: CAN CIVIL SOCIETY CREATE A STABLE, PROSPEROUS FUTURE?
      The mere mention of Pakistan conjures up headlines about terrorist attacks, militant groups and airstrikes. But beneath the turmoil lies a country with enormous assets, from vast natural resources to an enviable location that should facilitate trade with both India and China. Y
      Milken Institute, May 08, 2012
    • BABAR PEERZADA DAZZLES IN THE ELEPHANT MAN
      Born in Pakistan, schooled in London and the United States, Babar Peerzada has called Los Angeles home for the past eleven years. One year ago, he dove into developing The Elephant Man.
      The Huffington Post, April 26, 2012
    • PAKISTAN'S UNTOLD EXONOMIC STORY
      For more than a decade, Pakistan has partnered with the United States to combat the extremism and militancy that threatens the stability of our region and the world. This fight has taken an enormous human toll on our people, with over 37,000 civilians killed and more than 5,000 police and soldiers lost. In addition to the enormous human tragedy, this struggle has directly and negatively impacted our economy and the development of our nation.
      The Wall Street Journal, April 26, 2012
    • PAKISTANI OWNER OF AN NFL TEAM PLANS TO INVEST IN PAKISTAN'S DOMESTIC T-20
      The story is old and one that exists in almost every other home in Pakistan. A young and ambitious man, full of enthusiasm, carrying dreams of a promising future decides to move to a foreign land.
      Geo TV, April 19, 2012
    • VOGUE ITALIA'S PAKISTAN TRAVEL AGENDA
      Take a look at this exciting travel agenda in a destination that guarantees the perfect mix of adventure and luxury.
      Vogue Italia, April 18, 2012
    • TRUCKS AS ART: PAKISTAN'S COLORFUL TRADITION WITH A MIDWESTERN TWIST
      Cargo trucks painted in bright colors, with an extremely intricate level of detail, are a common sight on the the highways of Pakistan. While these fully functional trucks are used only for transporting goods in South Asia, Asheer Akram, a young American artist from Kansas City, Missouri has embarked on the project of building a Pakistani cargo truck with a Midwestern twist in the hope of mixing venerable South Asian traditions with modern American culture.
      The Atlantic, April 18, 2012
    • CHIC PAKISTANI CLOTHING MAKES INROADS IN INDIA
      A ferocious confrontation between India and its archrival, Pakistan, is under way – although not of the kind you perhaps expect. This one pits a host of Pakistani fashion designers, armed with heaps of wafer-thin cotton and lace, against the grimly determined middle-class shoppers of the Indian capital.
      The Globe and Mail, April 17, 2012
    • MODELS HAVE FUN AS PAKISTAN FASHION GROWS UP
      Pakistan's fashion industry is trying to shed its image as entertainment for a gilded elite and instead get recognition for its business success.
      BBC News, April 16, 2012
    • USAID TO CUT DOWN PROJECTS IN PAKISTAN
      A few years back, the United States launched a five-year, $7.5 billion civilian aid program in Pakistan. Supporters of the initiative hoped it would improve the Pakistanis’ perception of America and pull them away from the allure of terrorist groups such as the Taliban and al-Qaida. The program failed to gain traction. Instead, relations between the two countries soured. The general sentiment in Pakistan is that civilian aid has done “little” to help the average citizen,The Associated Press reports.
      International Development, April 14, 2012
    • ECHOING GREEN FINALISTS: THREE FROM PAKISTAN
      Today we announce thirty-eight have been selected as Finalists—approximately one percent—of the original pool. Read about their grand aspirations, innovative solutions, passion for their work, and of course, their Moments of Obligation—the experiences that led the Finalists to confront the biggest problems in the world with their bold solutions for social change. Be prepared to feel hopeful too!
      Echoing Green, April 13, 2012
    • LEARNING TO SING THE LANGUAGE OF LOVE
      Ango-Indian musician Susheela Raman is collaborating with Lahore's qawwali singers. She explains how they learned to make music together
      The Guardian UK, April 12, 2012
    • SIX RULES FOR DINING OUT: PAKISTANI OVER INDIAN
      On average, Pakistani food in the United States is better than Indian food in the United States, and yet a lot of the core dishes do not greatly differ. Northwestern-Indian cuisine is predominant in the U.S., so you find substantial overlap on most Indian and Pakistani menus.
      The Atlantic, April 12, 2012
    • WOMEN WHO MATTER
      They are entrepreneurs, social workers, entertainers, politicians, peacekeepers. Some of these women are household names, others have not garnered the public acclamation their efforts and enterprise merit. Here’s the list for 2012 of Pakistani women who are making a difference.
      Newsweek, April 11, 2012
    • A KENNEDY FOR PAKISTAN?
      Pakistan is almost unrecognizable from the country I knew a decade ago. Young Pakistanis in particular—and two-thirds of the population are thirty or younger—are increasingly disillusioned by the political establishment. Many seem to want a sharp rupture with the status quo: an end to what they regard as the entrenched culture of incompetence and kleptocracy in Islamabad that has left them with little opportunity and dangerous insecurity.
      The New York Review of Books, April 09, 2012
    • THE BRITISH PAKISTANI DIASPORA: THE CORE OF SMART POWER
      This week I caught up with Suniya Qureshi, the Executive Director of the British Pakistan Foundation to talk matters through. I have known Suniya for a while now, and as with many women, she has quiet, gentle knowledge – the diversity of which bowls me over every time I speak to her.
      Dawn, March 09, 2012
    • IRAN AND PAKISTAN AT THE OSCARS
      It has been hard to find much art in mainstream American politics this winter or to find much politics in mainstream American art, at least in the filmmaking category.  There were a few fleeting moments of inspiration, though; they came from filmmakers from Pakistan and Iran—two countries that bedevil, befuddle, provoke, and frighten the United States—who slipped in through the Academy’s carefully policed side doors for documentaries and international writers and directors.


      The New Yorker, March 04, 2012
    • HOW TO WIN AN OSCAR
      Decades ago, any mention of Pakistan anywhere in the West was a cause of celebration, no matter how humiliating the reference may be. The snake charmers and yogis of yesteryear have been replaced by computer nerds and gas station attendants, but that’s Hollywood for you: always reducing foreign-looking people to the most reductive character possible. The real problem comes when Pakistanis buy into the same game, actively striving to gain Western recognition or, for those who follow a more mercenary mantra, Western money.
      The International Herald Tribune, March 04, 2012
    • ARE WE WRONG ABOUT PAKISTAN?
      When Peter Oborne first arrived in Pakistan, he expected a 'savage' backwater scarred by terrorism.  Years later, he describes the Pakistan that is barely documented - and that he came to fall in love with
      DNA INDIA, February 29, 2012
    • PAKISTAN FLOODS CRISIS FAR FROM OVER
      Six months after floods devastated large parts of southern Pakistan, the emergency is "far from over", with at least 2.5 million people lacking essentials such as clean water, enough food and durable shelter, says a report from a coalition of Pakistani and international aid agencies.
      ALERT NET, February 29, 2012
    • PAKISTANI FILM FANS PREPARE FOR 'WAAR'
      It claims to not only be the most anticipated film in the history of Pakistan, but to be based on true events. And, for once, the Hollywood-style hyperbole can be excused. The feature-length action thriller called Waar ("to strike" in Urdu) is eagerly awaited, despite being out of tune with the trend for movies packed with singing and dancing.
      The Guardian, February 27, 2012
    • THE SOFTER SIDE OF PESHAWAR
      Foreign reporters coming to Pakistan are often required to undergo survival training to prepare them for kidnappings, explosions and walking through mine fields. They might be better served by courses teaching them to ward off the one question that will rain upon them throughout their stay in the country: why don’t you do more to project the “soft image” of Pakistan?
      The International Herald Tribune, February 27, 2012
    • DR. RIZWAN NASEER: SAVING LIVES AND CHANGING MINDS IN PAKISTAN
      Dr. Rizwan Naseer, 44, is a true hero of Pakistan. Frustrated with how trauma patients were treated and the lack of emergency care, he decided to change things. Up to date his team’s efforts have saved more than 1.2 million lives. We got a chance to speak to him.
      Elan Magazine, February 21, 2012
    • WITH 65 SESSIONS AND OVER 100 WRITERS, KARACHI LIT FESTIVAL PROMISES ANOTHER SELL-OUT YEAR
      Shobha De, Vikram Seth, Hanif Kureishi are just a few of the big-ticket names for the Karachi Literature Festival this year. Small wonder that the organisers were all smiles at the press conference on Thursday to announce the programme of the yearly event, which is scheduled for February 11 and 12 at Karachi’s Carlton Hotel.
      The International Herald Tribune, February 10, 2012
    • PERILOUS JOURNEY
      For many in Pakistan,their country, they say, has so much going for it, yet all the foreign press writes about is the dark side: warfare, terrorism, corruption and natural disasters.
      The Economist, February 10, 2012
    • HISTORIC GAIN FOR WOMEN IN PAKISTAN AS WOMEN'S COMMISSION GAINS AUTONOMOUS STATUS
      On 2 February 2012, the Pakistan Senate unanimously approved the “National Commission on the Status of Women Bill 2012″ to protect women’s rights against every kind of discrimination. The new bill replaces the National Commission on the Status of Women Ordinance from 2000 and strengthens the Commission by giving it financial and administrative autonomy through an independent Secretariat.
      UN Women, February 09, 2012
    • IN PAKISTAN'S URBAN BADLAND, SOCCER OFFERS HOPE
      In the heart of one of Pakistan's most dangerous neighborhoods in the teeming city of Karachi, soccer pitches are keeping vulnerable teenagers from joining abundant gangs, kidnappers and extortion rackets.
      Reuters, February 06, 2012
    • 'VALLEY OF SAINTS', A KASHMIR LOVE STORY, WINS PRAISE
      A low-budget film set in Kashmir has been picking up plaudits at international film festivals, bringing a different focus to the troubled Himalayan region. “Valley of Saints,” the first feature from U.S. director and screenwriter Musa Syeed, won the World Cinema Audience Award for dramatic feature at the Sundance Film Festival over the weekend.
      The Wall Street Journal, February 06, 2012
    • PAKISTAN'S FIRST OSCAR NOMINEE
      Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy became the first Pakistani filmmaker to earn an Oscar nomination with her film Saving face, which was nominated in the “Documentary, short film” category as the Oscar nominations were released on Tuesday.
      Dawn, January 25, 2012
    • DOOM PROPHETS, ALAS, CONFOUNDED AGAIN
      The Zardari dispensation has not collapsed; the PPP has not grovelled, an apology of any sort the last thing on its mind; and the doom pundits, predicting demise and downfall these past three years, have some more frustration to hang on to and live with.
      The News, Pakistan, January 24, 2012
    • IS IMRAN KHAN THE LEADER PAKISTAN NEEDS?
      I’m not Pakistani, and for me to make pronouncements or pass judgment on Pakistani domestic politics would be presumptuous. But several Pakistani friends have asked me to write about Imran Khan. I do so now, albeit hesitantly, because what he represents is an important subject at this pregnant historical moment.
      Dawn.com, January 24, 2012
    • PAKISTAN HIGH COURT WIDENS ROLE, STIRRING FEARS FOR STABILITY
      Once they were heroes, cloaked justices at the vanguard of a powerful revolt against military rule in Pakistan, buoyed by pugnacious lawyers and an adoring public. But now Pakistan’s Supreme Court is waging a campaign of judicial activism that has pitted it against an elected civilian government, in a legal fight that many Pakistanis fear could damage their fragile democracy and open the door to a fresh military intervention.
      The New York Times, January 24, 2012
    • SAMAA STOOPS TO NEW LOWS
      Everyone who was outraged by this show is perfectly right to be outraged. This was a new low in sensationalist television crap. Here were a bunch of television vigilantes serving as the television arm of the Jamia Hafsa crusaders in Islamabad nonsensically claiming to have a "picnic" in a park while harassing poor couples whose only crime seems to be exercising their right to privacy and consensually talking to a member of the opposite sex.
      Cafe Pyala, January 24, 2012
    • HOW PAKISTAN HELPS THE U.S. DRONE CAMPAIGN
      The death of a senior al Qaeda leader in a U.S. drone strike in Pakistan's tribal badlands, the first strike in almost two months, signalled that the U.S.-Pakistan intelligence partnership is still in operation despite political tensions.
      Reuters, January 24, 2012
    • COPING WITH STRUCTURAL IMBALANCES
      This article contends that we will have to learn to live with budget deficits of 6 percent plus of GDP, accept that the economy will grow slowly, that our rate of inflation will be persistently higher than our competitors and that the rupee will continue to be under pressure.
      The News, Pakistan, January 22, 2012
    • PAKISTANI PROGRAMMING PRODIGY PASSES AWAY AT 16
      Arfa Karim Randhawa, the computer programming prodigy who became the world’s youngest Microsoft Certified Professional at 9 years old, has passed away at the age of 16, according to reports out of her native Pakistan this weekend.
      The Today Show, Digital Life, January 16, 2012
    • PAKISTAN, A MALLEABLE HISTORY
      Last month, while other pyalas scuttled off to the Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf's (PTI’s) Karachi jalsa with visions of free potty training seats in their heads, I stayed at home with a copy of Imran Khan’s Pakistan, A Personal History. I read it with the intention of reviewing it here immediately but, like certain Bufo toads that can, at will, secrete a noxious hallucinogenic substance that acts as a deterrent to predators, the book did not encourage further handling.
      Cafe Pyala, January 15, 2012
    • EMBATTLED ZARDARI BACK IN PAKISTAN AFTER DUBAI TRIP
      Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari has returned home after taking a trip to Dubai, officials say. His departure on Thursday came amid a deepening political crisis with the military.
      BBC News, January 15, 2012
    • I'LL BE YOUR MIRROR: WHAT PAKISTAN SEES IN IMRAN KHAN
      Sex, or at least the idea of it, is never far from Imran Khan. It reveals itself in the casual remark of an urbane 20-something friend, a well-educated and usually sensible woman who turned to me and said that she would “do Imran”. “You know,” she further explained, “as a feather in my cap.” It sometimes hangs in the air, almost visible, and as thick as the cloying perfume of the “aunties”.
      The Caravan Journal, January 15, 2012
    • THE PAKISTANIS HAVE A POINT
      Talk to Pakistani politicians, scholars, generals, businessmen, spies and journalists — as I did in October — and before long, you are beyond the realm of politics and diplomacy and into the realm of hurt feelings. Words like “ditch” and “jilt” and “betray” recur. With Americans, they complain, it’s never a commitment, it’s always a transaction. This theme is played to the hilt, for effect, but it is also heartfelt.
      The New York Times, December 18, 2011
    • SADEQUAIN AND CALLIGRAPHIC MODERNISM
      This article examines the career of the immensely productive Sadequain Naqqash (1930-87), Pakistan’s most celebrated art ist. A self-trained, larger-than-life figure, Sadequain charted a singular trajectory in enacting a paradoxical subjectivity.
      Islamic Arts and Architecture, December 18, 2011
    • PAKISTANIS TAKING TO THE STREETS
      It’s an unusual sight for a Sunday morning: a dozen Karachiites armed with brooms, rakes, sand and rubble crouch along a road on which none of them live or work in order to mend a large, sewage-filled pothole. They are members of the Greener Karachi Trust, a volunteer group committed to showing its fellow Karachi dwellers that they needn’t wait for the government to repair the city’s crumbling infrastructure.  These small gestures may not transform Pakistan’s cities in the short term, but they do inspire citizens to convert resignation into activism.
      The New York Times, December 18, 2011
    • PAKISTAN: BOMBS, SPIES AND WILD PARTIES
      People often ask the most basic question about Pakistan: will it survive? The question has been going round for decades; the naysayers inevitably silenced. Is the current situation any more precarious? The country has deep stores of resilience, but is more vulnerable to external shocks than ever before. One thing, however, is clear: inshallah may have worked until now, but it is no longer enough.
      The Guardian UK, December 18, 2011
    • MANSOOR IJAZ, THE MAN TO STIRRED UP PAKISTAN'S 'MEMOGATE'
      It was the perfect afternoon to be on his yacht. Mansoor Ijaz, a global hedge fund manager with a home-office view of the French Riviera, says he planned to sail the Mediterranean on that sunny day in early May — but then his BlackBerry beeped.
      The Washngton Post, December 12, 2011
    • ONLINE LEARNING: PERSONALIZED
      At least 36 schools nationwide are combining teacher-led lessons with computer-based lectures and exercises using a software program based on Salman Khan's popular YouTube lessons.
      The New York Times, December 12, 2011
    • BOXING BRACES FOR THE WRATH OF KHAN
      This Thursday Amir Khan—an ethnic Pakistani boxer from Bolton, England—will turn 25. The next evening in Washington, he'll defend his WBA and IBF light-welterweight world titles against Lamont Peterson in a marquee fight on HBO.  It's fair to assume that Floyd Mayweather Jr., who is 34, and Manny Pacquiao, who turns 33 this month, will be watching
      The Wall Street Journal, December 12, 2011
    • BY WORD OF MOUTH: STUDENT BIRYANI GOES GLOBAL
      Consistent taste and “word of mouth” is what has taken Student Biryani from a small roadside vendor to one of Pakistan’s fastest growing franchise networks. The Karachi-based food outlet – after attracting notable traffic in Dubai – now wants to test North American and European markets; extend its Gulf network through global franchising.
      The International Herald Tribune, November 30, 2011
    • NFL'S JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS TO BE SOLD TO PAKISTAN-BORN BUSINESSMAN KHAN
      The Jacksonville Jaguars will be sold to Shahid Khan, the owner of auto-parts maker Flex-N-Gate Corp. who failed in a bid last year to buy the National Football League’s St. Louis Rams.
      Bloomberg Business Week, November 30, 2011
    • MIKE TYSON TO ATTEND PAKISTAN BOXING EVENT
      Bhutto said that Tyson would attend the opening ceremony of International Boxing Tournament at Liaquat Gymnasium at Pakistan Sports Complex in Islamabad.
      The Times of India, November 30, 2011
    • COUNTRY'S LARGEST CATHOLIC CHURCH OPENS IN KARACHI'S AKHTAR COLOY
      It was among the dusty, narrow streets of Akhtar Colony, tucked away among haphazard residential flats, that architect Kausar Ali was commissioned to design the country’s biggest Catholic church.
      The International Herald Tribune, November 22, 2011
    • BACK TO BASICS: FROM THE EYE OF A GERMAN ANTHROPOLOGIST
      A sequence of photographs encompassing Sufism, local architecture and inherent cultures were displayed at the Rohtas Gallery on Monday. The man behind the “Twilight” series (not the movies) of photographs, is a German anthropologist and artist — Lukas Werth. He attempts to present a story through his work.
      The International Herald Tribune, November 22, 2011
    • WATTS TO WATER: BROTHERS IN RURAL PAKISTAN PROVIDING GREEN ENERGY
      Three brothers working in Pakistan’s remote Chitral communities are helping provide green electricity for 45,000 homes.
      The Green Prophet, November 22, 2011
    • PAKISTAN'S APPLE FRUIT WASTED DUE TO LACK OF INFRASTRUCTURE
      Pakistan has insufficient infrastructure and much of it doesn't make it to
      market, despite being a competitive (if not superior) product to
      apples from other markets.
      Freshplaza.com, November 22, 2011
    • IT'S NOT ABOUT GREG MORTENSON
      Ever since April, when the U.S. newsmagazine show 60 Minutes and writer Jon Krakauer aggressively raised questions about Greg Mortenson and his bestselling book Three Cups of Tea, wherever I go someone inevitably asks me to comment on the situation. I’ve tried to be careful and judicious in my replies because I don’t actually know much, and I’m not directly or officially involved with Greg’s work, although I have been and remain an admirer. But now that it has been more than six months, I feel some things need to be said.
      Ethancasey.com, November 22, 2011
    • PAKISTAN'S TRUE LIVING HERO
      His name is Abdul Sattar Edhi. He is a legend in Pakistan, where he has been hailed as a Mahatma Gandhi and Father Teresa — and denounced as an infidel, communist and madman.
      The Washington Post, November 22, 2011
    • TIDES OF TRANCE ECHO DIVINE ECHOES OF SOUTH ASIA AND AFRICA
      A trans-Islamic jam session, blending ecstatic trance music from Pakistan and Morocco, was the finale of the concert Saturday night at the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Grace Rainey Rogers Auditorium.
      The New York Times, November 11, 2011
    • WHAT PAKISTANI AMERICANS CAN DO TO HELP
      I want to challenge the Pakistani-American community to do more. If, by doing so, I provoke some spirited debate and even annoy some people, so much the better.
      Dawn, November 11, 2011
    • SHARIA LAW: 5 THINGS EVERY NON-MUSLIM SHOULD KNOW
      Do Muslims really want to rule America with Sharia Law?  Most definitely not.  Learn why and other important facts in this enlightening piece by Qasim Rashid.
      The Huffington Post, November 11, 2011
    • IMRAN KHAN: THE MYTH AND THE REALITY
      WHEN Imran Khan launched the Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf in 1996, then Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto rhetorically asked, “Can Imran win 51 per cent seats in parliament to form a government?” A decade and a half later, the same question haunts Mr Khan even when he has recently gathered together the largest public assembly of his entire political life.
      Dawn, November 11, 2011
    • THE CHANGING FACE OF THE TALIBAN
      In my trip from Kandahar to Kabul in 2001, I truly came to understand the tragedy that was Afghanistan and the circumstances that gave rise to the group whose name has now become shorthand for all that is myopic, literalist and extremist for most on the one hand, and for a brave indigenous resistance to a foreign occupation to some on the other.
      Dawn, November 11, 2011
    • MUSLIM CABBIES RESCUE OLDEST BAGEL BAKERY
      The oldest Jewish bialy and bagel shop in New York City is being rescued by two Pakistani Muslim cab drivers - and they plan to keep it kosher.
      The Daily News, November 11, 2011
    • THE PRINCE WHO WOULD BE KING
      Imran Khan has taken fifteen years to capture the imagination of the young and alienated as demonstrated in the huge public rally by the PTI in Lahore last Sunday. Two new factors are responsible for the sudden spotlight on Imran.
      The Friday Times, November 11, 2011
    • FOR OUR ALLIES, DEATH FROM ABOVE
      My mistake had been to see the drone war in Waziristan in terms of abstract legal theory — as a blatantly illegal invasion of Pakistan’s sovereignty, akin to President Richard M. Nixon’s bombing of Cambodia in 1970.  But now, the issue has suddenly become very real and personal.
      The New York Times, November 11, 2011
    • PARVEEN SAEED'S QUEST TO FEED THE POOR IN KARACHI
      When Karachi resident Parveen Saeed read the story of a local woman who killed her two children because she could not afford to feed them, she decided something had to be done.
      BBC News, November 04, 2011
    • AALOO ANDEY: SATIRE WITH A BITE IN PAKISTAN
      Potato and egg curry - the scourge of every Pakistani school lunch box - is the inspiration for one of the most biting and daring satires the country has seen in years. But is it too big a risk?
      BBC News, November 04, 2011
    • SUICIDAL DESPAIR OF PAKISTANI FATHER
      A young Pakistani man set himself on fire outside parliament in Islamabad in protest at his failure to find a job, and inability to feed his family. Human rights workers in Pakistan say suicides stemming from poverty are on the increase. But these deaths often pass unnoticed, as Orla Guerin reports.
      BBC News, November 04, 2011
    • ARE THE STARS FINALLY SMILING ON IMRAN KHAN?
      It can be seen at dinner conversations, where our liberal elite are no longer taking every opportunity to ridicule his minor inconsistencies and misdemeanours or in how his party workers are slowly becoming more recognizable on television. It is through this growing momentum that Imran Khan’s prospects are rapidly changing.
      The International Herald Tribune, November 04, 2011
    • VICTORY FOR NUSRAT
      Nusrat Bhutto’s struggle and the struggle for democracy run parallel — against ruthless military dictators and martial laws, facing treachery, wounds, injuries, tortures and defeats and finally emerging victorious
      The News, Pakistan, November 04, 2011
    • US DRONE STRIKES FAIL TO MOBILISE MASSES
      Campaigners condemn US drone strikes in Pakistan as extra-judicial assassinations that kill hundreds of civilians, but popular protests against them are conspicuous by their rarity.
      Dawn, November 04, 2011
    • IN PAKISTAN, A MILITANT DEAL SOURS
      The deal saw one of Pakistan’s most feared militants walk from jail apparently in exchange for his commitment to nonviolence, help in reining in other fighters and possibly delivering the votes of his followers.
      Dawn, November 04, 2011
    • PAKISTANI DESIGNS HIT CATWALK AS INDUSTRY GROWS
      Last week, Karachi hosted Pakistan's fourth fashion week in three years, with more than 50 models taking part in the four-day event. Despite security concerns in the past, fashion shows are growing in popularity in Pakistan and attracting international buyers.
      BBC News, October 20, 2011
    • FEDERER,DJOKOVIC DONATE SPORTS GEAR FOR PAKISTAN FLOOD VICTIMS
      Top international tennis stars Roger Federer, Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic, Caroline Wozniacki, Ana Ivanovic along with several others have donated their sports gear for generating funds for Pakistan’s flood affected people.
      Dawn, October 20, 2011
    • PAKISTAN AND INDIA IN HISTORIC TRADE PUSH
      India and Pakistan are preparing for the biggest liberalisation in bilateral trade since partition more than six decades ago, reviving commercial ties that have been strangled ever since the end of British rule in 1947.
      CNN, October 20, 2011
    • LIGHTS OUT
      ALTHOUGH Pakistan makes international news for terrorist attacks, anti-American demonstrations and its alleged support for insurgents in Afghanistan, it is the basic inability to switch on a light that is pushing this volatile country closer to the edge.
      The Economist, October 12, 2011
    • TEEN ATHLETE FLED TALIBAN TO PURSUE DREAMS
      Pakay, 18, is Pakistan's No. 1-ranked women's squash player. But what makes her story remarkable is that she hails from the country's tribal region of South Waziristan.
      CNN, October 12, 2011
    • PAKISTAN: AN OMINOUS SILENCE IN THE MEDIA
      Once again, Pakistan’s monsoon flooding is causing devastation for millions. But in the face of this massive catastrophe, there has been an ominous silence in the media when it comes to conveying to the rest of the world the severity of what is happening to the people of Pakistan.
      The Independent, October 12, 2011
    • FLOODS IN PAKISTAN DAMAGE 3.7% OF TOTAL CROP AREA
      Floods in Pakistan have damaged at least 880,000 hectares of standing crops, including rice, maize, cotton, sugar cane, fruit orchards and vegetables, which represent about 3.7 per cent of total national crop area, the United Nations’ food agency said on Tuesday, citing preliminary official estimates.
      The International Herald Tribune, October 12, 2011
    • OUR LADY OF ALICE BHATTI BY MOHAMMED HANIF
      In recent decades, Christians are victims of obscene blasphemy laws and frequent sectarian violence. How refreshing, therefore, that Mohammed Hanif, Booker-longlisted author of A Case of Exploding Mangoes and perhaps Pakistan's brightest English-language voice, has chosen to view his country through the eyes of a (lapsed) Christian.
      The Guardian, October 12, 2011
    • REVOLUTION, AMPLIFIED
      Salman Ahmad, founder of rock band Junoon, discusses 20 years of making music and breaking boundaries.
      India Abroad, October 12, 2011
    • AN INTERVIEW WITH 'MORNING EDITION'S' STEVE INSKEEP
      The NPR 'Morning Edition' host talks about Pakistan, the subject of his new book, and why some people might find him annoying.
      The Daily Beast, October 12, 2011
    • PAKISTAN: LOCALLY UNDERRATED, GLOBALLY MISUNDERSTOOD
      A question I have heard in various forms by countless people. After six months of living in Pakistan, I imagined the questions and shock would have settled by now. However, I am still continuously asked why I am here. On many occasions, Pakistanis have been just as shocked as anyone else as to why a non-Pakistani would ever want to stay in such a country.
      The International Herald Tribune, October 12, 2011
    • THE POLITICS OF PUNJAB'S BELLY
      Couple of things worth saying about Cyril Almeida's piece on Imran Khan but, before I begin, let me just recap the situation for the 5 major parties that have a say in how future elections would pan out in the province.
      Recycled Thought, October 12, 2011
    • AS FLOODWATERS RECEDE URGENT HUMANITARIAN NEEDS REMAIN
      As UNHCR continues to distribute tents and other emergency relief supplies to thousands of flood victims in southern Pakistan, many of the displaced are still living in precarious conditions, untouched by aid efforts.
      UNHCR, October 12, 2011
    • SHARES SURGE AFTER KEY RATE SLASHED
      Pakistan stocks jumped 2.5 percent on Oct. 10 as investors were boosted by the central bank’s surprise decision to slash interest rates at the weekend‚ dealers said.
      Newsweek Pakistan, October 12, 2011
    • 100 WOMEN WHO SHAKE PAKISTAN
      They make up almost half of Pakistan's population of 180 million, but are rarely given the space and coverage they deserve. From Fatima Jinnah to Rana Liaquat Ali Khan to Benazir Bhutto, Pakistan has produced some very remarkable women.
      Newsweek Pakistan, October 12, 2011
    • BOOK LAUNCH: THE CHURCHES OF PAKISTAN
      The book launch of “Churches of Pakistan”, was held on Monday at the British Deputy High Commission in Karachi. Authored by Dr. Safdar Ali Shah and Syed Javaid Kazi, the book is a compilation of photographs and text depicting the many churches standing in Pakistan today.
      Dawn.com, October 06, 2011
    • GROWING HOPE FOR TRADE TIES BETWEEN INDIA AND PAKISTAN
      Business leaders from India and Pakistan say there's new optimism about the efforts their governments are making to improve trade ties. But critics warn that overcoming decades of mistrust may not be that easy.
      BBC News, October 06, 2011
    • THE PRICE OF ORANGES: REFLECTIONS ON AN ENCOUNTER WITH BENAZIR BHUTTO
      Not much happened in Islamabad in 1998. Not much happened in Pakistan, in fact—or at least not much that troubled editors, viewers, readers, or policy makers in Europe or the United States.  Most media organizations covered Pakistan from India. It was not a big story. The rediscovery of Pakistan and Afghanistan would come, with breathless haste, on September 12, 2001.
      Guernica, October 06, 2011
    • FIGHTING THE ODDS FOR A PROFESSIONAL GOLF ENTOURAGE IN PAKISTAN
      Among many of the pressing vows a sportsman of Pakistan has to face, it might come as a surprise that the country has 120-150 professional golfers who strive to excel in the sport with perhaps the bleakest of futures among other sports in the country.
      Bettor.com, October 06, 2011
    • THE NATIONAL WOMEN'S FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP 2011 BEGINS IN LAHORE
      The 7th National Women Football Championship 2011 began on Monday, 18 Sept 2011 in Islamabad when Punjab beat Balochistan 2-0 at Jinnah Sports Complex on early morning kick-off. Aqsa opened the scoring for Punjab after just 3 minutes, and Punjab's lead was doubled 13 minutes later when Tahira made it 2-0.
      Footballpakistan.com, October 06, 2011
    • THE CRUX OF THE CRISIS
      Diplomatic efforts have helped in the past week to defuse the latest crisis to rock Pakistan-US relations. Although the immediate tensions have dissipated these developments have reaffirmed the tenuous quality of the relationship.
      The News, Pakistan, October 06, 2011
    • PAKISTAN TERROR NO BAR AS UNILEVER CONVERGES WITH NESTLE
      Unilever and Nestle SA (NESN) are defying turmoil in Pakistan, where terror attacks have killed at least 35,000 people since 2006, to sell more soap, beauty products and milk to farmers enriched by higher cotton and wheat prices.
      Bloomberg, October 06, 2011
    • PAKISTAN FLOODS: OXFAM LAUNCHES EMERGENCY AID RESPONSE
      Immediate relief must be provided to millions of people by floods in southern Pakistan or more lives will be lost, Oxfam has warned.
      BBC News, September 19, 2011
    • SAVE THE CHILDREN LAUNCHES EMERGENCY AID RESPONSE
      Save the Children has launched an emergency response to get life-saving help to children and their families after torrential flooding in Sindh province, Pakistan.
      Save the Children, September 19, 2011
    • UNHCR AND PAKISTAN GOV'T LAUNCH SURVEY ON AFGHAN REFUGEES
      An ambitious project to survey the world's largest refugee population has been launched by UNHCR and the government of Pakistan.
      UNHCR, September 19, 2011
    • JAPAN PROVIDES 35MM YEN IN RELIEF
      Japan on Tuesday announced provison of emergency assistance of 35 million Yen - approximately 450,000 US dollars, to help Pakistan cope with the recent torrential rains.
      THE ASSOCIATED PRESS OF PAKISTAN, September 19, 2011
    • ALEEM NAMED UMPIRE OFTHE YEAR AGAIN
      Umpire Aleem Dar of Pakistan on Monday won the David Shepherd Trophy for the ICC Umpire of the Year for the third year running.
      DAWN, September 19, 2011
    • HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS IN PAKISTAN
      Muhammad Azhar Ali, factory manager for National Foods in Karachi, Pakistan, has a set work routine. At dawn he calls his production managers, who live in different parts of this sprawling city of 18 million on the Arabian Sea, to find out whether outbreaks of violence have rendered any areas dangerous.
      Bloomberg Business Week, September 19, 2011
    • POWER GRID
      In Pakistan, in the nineteen-sixties and seventies, I remember seeing high-tension electric pylons that had affixed to them a shield similar to something Captain America might carry. These pylons and the accompanying power grid were American gifts, built by American engineers, proof of the two countries’ solidarity.
      The New Yorker, September 15, 2011
    • PAKISTAN FLOODS DISPLACE MILLIONS
      Pakistan has appealed to the UN for international humanitarian aid for millions of flood victims in the south of the country. At least 130 people have been killed as mud houses in remote rural areas collapsed in the heavy rain.
      BBC News, September 15, 2011
    • MONEY MARKET FUNDS WITNESS HIGH GROWTH IN PAKISTAN
      During the past seven months (Jan-July), the money market category of funds appreciated by 81 per cent from Rs32 billion in December 2010.
      All Voices, September 11, 2011
    • AYESHA JALAL ON PAKISTAN'S 'REVENGE OF THE '40S, THEN THE '80S'
      It takes a historian of Ayesha Jalal's power to crystallize an awkward truth: that the agony of Pakistan today is inseparable from the tragedy of Pakistan's birth in 1947. Still more bluntly, that Pakistan as we know it is not at all the country that its sainted founder, Mohammad Ali Jinnah, had in mind. As she puts it in conversation, "Complete partition was the last thing he wanted…"
      The Asia Society online, September 11, 2011
    • SALMAN RASHID: A PAKISTANI TRAVELOGUE, WITH TEARS
      Salman Rashid, adventurer and prolific author, had offered to guide our discovery tour of Pakistan -- in the spirit of Kipling's Kim and his lama, or earlier of the Victorian genius and spy Richard Burton. Our terrain would run from Karachi -- from the mouth of the Indus River, that is -- through deserts and lush fruitlands to Kashmir and then to K2, the second highest mountain peak on Earth.
      Global Conversation, September 11, 2011
    • ZOE VICCAJI: A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING
      Zoe Viccaji is among those few artists who are a world in themselves – a world comprised of creativity, wonder and possibilities. From the minute I stepped into her house, she managed to surprise me with her humble, down-to-earth personality.
      Newsline, September 11, 2011
    • AISAM AND BOPANNA CRUISE INTO SEMIS AT THE U.S. OPEN
      Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi and Rohan Bopanna reached the semi-finals of the US Open on Friday.
      The International Herald Tribune, September 11, 2011
    • PAKISTAN BEATS KOREA 3-2 IN MEN'S ASIAN HOCKEY CHAMPTIONS TROPHY
      Pakistan beat Korea 3-2 in the 1st Men’s Asian Hockey Champions Trophy, which is in progress in ORDOS/China.
      Pakistan Today, September 11, 2011
    • PAKISTAN VS. ZIMBABWE: CLOSE CALL
      Pakistan survived well-composed, defiant knocks by Vusi Sibanda and captain Brendan Taylor to scrape through to a five-run win over Zimbabwe in the first One-Day International (ODI) in Bulawayo.
      , September 11, 2011
    • ONE STUDENT'S JOURNEY FROM SMALL-TOWN BALOCHISTAN TO HARVARD
      Located on the outskirts of Quetta, is the barren valley of Mariabad where the Hazara lead slow-paced lives. These tribal people, living in narrow brick huts speckled along the rugged hillside, typically sell loose cloth, sweaters or tea for their livelihood.
      The International Herald Tribune, September 10, 2011
    • YES, VIRGINIA, THERE REALLY IS SOME GOOD NEWS IN PAKISTAN
      I recently traveled to Pakistan to report on a few stories, including a profile of Millat Tractors, below.
      Forbes, September 10, 2011
    • SCHOOLS IN SINDH TO TEACH CHINESE
      The government of the Pakistani province of Sindh has announced plans to make Chinese compulsory in schools from 2013.
      BBC News, September 06, 2011
    • MOHSIN HAMID ON A 'PAKISTAN-LIKE' TREND IN AMERICA
      Mohsin Hamid wrote the hair-raising novel The Reluctant Fundamentalist that will soon be a major motion picture directed by Mira Nair of “Monsoon Wedding” fame.  Read his most recent thoughts on how America is becoming more and more like Pakistan.
      Radio Open Source, September 06, 2011
    • DROWNING TODAY, PARCHED TOMORROW
      HARD as it may be to believe when you see the images of the monsoon floods that are now devastating Pakistan, the country is actually on the verge of a critical shortage of fresh water. And water scarcity is not only a worry for Pakistan’s population — it is a threat to America’s national security as well.
      The New York Times, September 01, 2011
    • ROCKEFELLER FOUNDATION HONORS SANIA NISHTAR OF HEARTFILE
      The Innovation Forum convenes some of the most creative and inventive minds from the worlds of business, government, the non-profit sector and journalism to bring innovation to bear on urgent challenges facing poor and vulnerable people around the world.
      , September 01, 2011
    • UMAR SAIF IN TOP TECH INNOVATORS UNDER 35
      Umar Saif of Lahore, Pakistan developed ­BitMate. The software lets different users in the same area pool the bandwidth of their connections to reduce download times, typically by half. Released in February, the software has already been downloaded more than 30,000 times by people in 173 countries.
      Technology Review, September 01, 2011
    • PAKISTAN'S ONLY TRUE LIVING HERO
      The leftist tinge of his speech suggested that Edhi was more complex than a saintly do-gooder. He was a self-appointed conscience of the nation, seeking to shock the comfortable and galvanize the afflicted. And he got away with it, year after year, because he lived what he preached.
      The Washinton Post, September 01, 2011
    • PAKISTANI BOY SETS WORLD RECORD, SCORES 28 A'S IN O LEVELS
      A Pakistani student from Beaconhouse has set a new world record by achieving 28 A’s in the University of Cambridge’s O-level examinations.
      The International Herald Tribune, September 01, 2011
    • DERBY TO HOST INDIA V PAKISTAN FOOTBALL GAME
      Derby is to host the first football match between India and Pakistan to be staged in Britain.
      BBC News, August 30, 2011
    • PAKISTANI PILOT REACHES OUT TO DAUGHTER OF INDIAN MAN HE SHOT DOWN
      Farida Singh had not checked her e-mail in a few days and had no idea a life-changing letter awaited her until news of it appeared in an Indian newspaper.
      CNN, August 18, 2011
    • PAKISTAN CREATES NEW ANTHEM RECORD
      Enthusiasts gathered in Karachi to create a new record for the most number of people singing a national anthem simultaneously – and they succeeded.
      The International Herald Tribune, August 18, 2011
    • A NEW DAWN FOR PAKISTAN'S TRIBAL AREAS
      On August 12, Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari signed the extension of the Political Party Order (2002) to the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). This is the first piece of good news for residents there since Zardari's announcement two years ago to introduce reforms to FATA's oppressive system of governance -- reforms later blocked by the military.
      Foreign Policy, August 18, 2011
    • A BAN LIFTED, KING OF FRUIT MAKES DEBUT
      A year after the U.S. lifted a ban on Pakistani mangoes, the first commercial shipment landed in New York over the weekend.Considered among their somewhat biased fans to be the world's tastiest mango, the fruits are selling for $80 to $100 for a box of six after the sole U.S. importer had to get them from Lahore to Chicago, over to Iowa for required irradiation and, finally, to New York.
      The Wall Street Journal, August 18, 2011
    • DRONES ALONE ARE NOT THE ANSWER
      American officials dealing with Pakistan now spend most of their time haggling over our military and intelligence activities, when they should instead be pursuing the sort of comprehensive social, diplomatic and economic reforms that Pakistan desperately needs and that would advance America’s long-term interests.
      The New York Times, August 18, 2011
    • RAMADAN CELEBRATED OFF MAIN ROAD IN ISLAMABAD
      Inflation rates are as high as 13% in Pakistan and wages are low.People are having difficulties making ends meet during the month of Ramadan. Local charity Human Lovers has started a new initiative giving away food to the needy by the side of the road.
      BBC News, August 18, 2011
    • GOOD WILL TO ALL, WITH A SIDE OF SOFT-SERVE
      The Dairy Queen is a neon beacon of comfort in Kenhorst, Pa., with cold chocolaty treats for hot summer days and scores and scores of posted handwritten thank-you notes to its owner, Hamid Chaudhry.
      The New York Times, August 18, 2011
    • FIGHTING FOR WOMEN'S RIGHTS: 21-YR-OLD WINNER ASPIRES TO BECOME A LAWYER
      Saeeda Mir, who came first at the International Book Writing Competition-USA in June, dreams of becoming a lawyer to fight for women’s rights in Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B).
      The International Herald Tribune, August 18, 2011
    • HUGE RISKS REMAIN FOR 2010 FLOOD VICTIMS IN PAKISTAN
      Slowly but surely as the immediacy and shock of the floods faded, press coverage on the victims became rarer. But the fight goes on. In a report recently published by Oxfam, it states that the “humanitarian response could have been better.”
      Newsline, August 18, 2011
    • P@SHA LAUNCHES Rs. 20 MILLION SOCIAL INNOVATION FUND
      The Pakistan Software Houses Association for IT & ITES (P@SHA) announced today that it is launching a Rs. 20,000,000 fund to drive Social Innovation in the country.
      The Pakistan Software Houses Association for IT & ITES, August 18, 2011
    • FLOODS FORCE A MILLION PAKISTANIS FROM HOMES AS MORE RAIN SEEN
      Floods have forced more than one million people from their homes and damaged crops in parts of southern Pakistan still recovering from last year’s worst ever monsoon inundations that devastated the region.
      Bloomberg, August 18, 2011
    • AISAM-BOPANNA REACH QUARTERS OF ROGERS CUP
      akistani tennis ace, Aisam ul Haq and his Indian doubles partner Rohan Bopanna reached the quarter-finals of the Rogers Cup tennis tournament.
      The News, August 13, 2011
    • WHY THE US MUST THINK OUTSIDE THE MILITARY BOX
      The most frequently used clichés for Pakistan continue to invoke some degree of fundamental unknowability – sometimes this is expressed as a mystery, sometimes as unpredictability and often as anachronism. These clichés have dominated both the political and cultural frameworks of understanding Pakistan.
      The National, August 11, 2011
    • PAKISTAN BATTLES AGAINST HIDDEN HIV-AIDS MENACE
      With the number of HIV cases rising the government finally included it in its 2009 national health policy, but as the BBC's Nosheen Abbas reports, its full extent is still not widely acknowledged.
      BBC, August 10, 2011
    • OF BALLS, TESTOSTERONE AND PAPPUS
      Education at cadet colleges often comes off as insentient and inanimate; snubbing and rebuffing all human emotions. However, standing alongside roads in apparent bliss, gathered around a sheesha in obvious joy and amassed outside girl’s colleges in those moments of open, guilty pleasure; boys of civilian colleges in their adolescence have ample opportunities to satiate their hormonally aroused impulses.
      Chay Magazine, August 09, 2011
    • INTO THE FRAY
      Monis Rahman is building the largest jobs website in volatile Pakistan. Is he prescient--or nuts?
      Forbes, August 08, 2011
    • PAKISTAN FLOODS: SOCIAL CENTRES FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN
      Unlike men, women and children in rural Pakistan do not have social gathering places. But the 2010 floods, the worst in the country's history, have triggered a change: NGOs have opened various women and children-only rural centres to help them in the process of rehabilitation.
      BBC, August 08, 2011
    • MOHAMMED HANIF: BACK WITH (ANOTHER) BANG
      Hanif’s new book, Our Lady of Alice Bhatti, is due for local release this September, and is a strong follow up to his debut A Case of Exploding Mangoes. 
      The International Herald Tribune, August 07, 2011
    • INQUIRY STARTS AGAINST SHADMAN SHO OVER NAIRANG ANTICS
      Another case of power abuse and police brutality surfaced the scene on Friday as Shadmaan Police Station Station House Officer (SHO) Rana Zulfiqar was held for inquiry on charges of harassing and beating staff members of the Nairang Art Gallery, including a young female curator.
      Pakistan Today, August 05, 2011
    • JAZZ ALBUM BY PAKISTAN MUSIC VETERANS STORMS WESTERN CHARTS
      An ensemble of veteran Pakistani musicians has pulled off an unlikely coup – storming western charts with an innovative jazz album and prompting comparisons with Buena Vista Social Club's rediscovery of a lost generation of Cuban musicians.
      The Guardian UK, August 05, 2011
    • PAKISTAN IT FIRM TOPS WORLD RANKING WITH BLACKBERRY GAME
      The Lahore-based Pepper.pk and Five Rivers Technologies made it to the number one spot across all categories on BlackBerry’s AppWorld on August 3 with their game Ninja Fruit Bash, developed for BlackBerry smartphones.
      The International Herald Tribune, August 05, 2011
    • 13 PAKISTANIS YOU WILL MEET IN US COLLEGES
      I’m not sure if the same kinds of Pakistani students are at every campus, but these are the ones I’ve come across on a few campuses across the States.
      The International Herald Tribune, August 05, 2011
    • RAPE, MUTILATION: PAKISTAN'S TRIBAL JUSTICE FOR WOMEN
      On April 14, two men entered Asma Firdous' home, cut off six of her fingers, slashed her arms and lips and then sliced off her nose. Before leaving the house, the men locked their 28-year-old victim inside.
      Reuters, August 05, 2011
    • CHILDREN OF THE FLOODS
      In 2010, Pakistan was hit by the most severe floods in its history - at least 18 million people were affected. One year on, millions are still in dire need of assistance.
      BBC, August 01, 2011
    • SILENCE IS NOT AN OPTION
      Pakistan's largest sugar producer, Tareen, 59, entered politics in 2002. Now, as a member of the National Assembly from PMLF, Tareen is grouping together electables with clean records ahead of the 2013 polls hoping to sweep in change.
      Newsweek, July 29, 2011
    • DENNIS BLAIR RIPS OBAMA WHITE HOUSE
      Former Director of National Intelligence Dennis Blair unloaded on the White House Thursday evening, strongly criticizing the administration’s reliance on U.S.-directed drone strikes and saying officials have failed to implement the lessons of Sept. 11 by backing away from efforts to integrate the intelligence community.
      Politico.com, July 29, 2011
    • CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF A GAY PAKISTANI AMERICAN MUSLIM ACTIVIST
      The world lost a true trailblazer last Friday when Ifti Nasim, poet, journalist and advocate, died of a heart attack in Chicago at age 64.
      An openly gay man, Nasim left Pakistan for the United States at the age of 21 to avoid persecution and an arranged marriage, eventually settling in Chicago.
      glaad blog, July 29, 2011
    • COUNTERING RADICAL IDEOLOGY
      The process of radicalisation in Pakistan took hold over three decades. Abuse of religion for political ends sowed the seeds of hatred that continue to bear fruit after decades.
      The Times, Pakistan, July 28, 2011
    • THE U.S. CHARGES TWO WITH ILLEGAL LOBBYING FOR PAKISTAN
      U.S. authorities charged two Pakistani-American men with being unregistered lobbyists on the payroll of Pakistan's spy agency, a move that could add a new issue to the deteriorating relationship between the two allies.
      The Wall Street Journal, July 27, 2011
    • KARACHI FASHION WEEK: MODEL AND CHOREOGRAPHERS SEARCH BEGINS
      The Third Karachi Fashion Week model hunt kicks off.  See some of the contenders.
      The International Herald Tribune, July 27, 2011
    • THIS IS PAKISTAN'S STORY: A DIALOGUE ON VIOLENCE
      Violence and terrorism have taken over Pakistani society -- every member of society has been affected in some way or another. After years of struggling with handling issues close to our hearts, we have finally seemed to come together in solidarity.
      Huffington Post, July 27, 2011
    • PHOTO EXHIBITION MARKS FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF FLOODS
      An exhibition of as many as 47photographs was displayed here Thursday at Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) to mark the first anniversary of the devastating floods in Pakistan.
      The News, July 27, 2011
    • HAVE YOU BEEN GETTING YOUR FILL OF COKE STUDIO
      The last Coke Studio episode was satisfying enough. But YouTube previews suggested that the coming instalment would be quite strong at the very least. In its fourth episode, Coke Studio performed its usual balancing act of simple pleasures and ambitious experiments, and did a fine job.
      Newsline, July 27, 2011
    • LONG-DELAYED SHOW OF BUDDHIST ART FROM PAKISTAN IS TO OPEN
      A long-planned exhibition of nearly 70 pieces of Buddhist art from Pakistan will finally open at Asia Society on Aug. 9, after political intrigue in Pakistan and a breakdown in American-Pakistani relations delayed it for six months.
      The New York Times, July 26, 2011
    • THE COURAGE TO REDEFINE PAKISTAN
      Growing up as a member of the privileged class of Karachi, I was blinded to many of the realities of my city. My friends and I were what the average Pakistani would call "burgers," an affectionately derogatory term to describe the Westernized brats of the wealthy.
      The Huffington Post, July 26, 2011
    • THE OMNIPOTENCE OF AL QAEDA AND THE MEANINGLESSNESS OF 'TERRORISM'
      Al Qaeda is always to blame, even when it isn't, even when it's allegedly the work of a Nordic, Muslim-hating, right-wing European nationalist.
      Salon.com, July 26, 2011
    • CULTURAL FESTIVAL UNDERWAY IN QUETTA
      A six-day cultural festival is underway in Quetta on an account of independence day celebrations, Express News reported Monday.
      The International Herald Tribune, July 25, 2011
    • COLLECTOR'S ITEM: SADEQUAIN'S MYSTIC EXPRESSION IN PRINT
      Gallery 6 is showcasing a book about the painter Sadequain, in collaboration with the Sadequain Foundation, California. Titled, “Mystic Expressions by Sadequain – an odyssey to exaltation with Ghalib, Iqbal, Faiz and Sadequain” the book has illustrations, or one could even call them interpretations, of poetry of these famous poets by Sadequain.
      The International Herald Tribune, July 25, 2011
    • SALAAM KURRACHEE
      Karachi stands between bookends of Time. The Raj gave way to Partition, Scinde traveled into Sindh and Kurrachee became Karachi. However, the one constant is where it stands — the metropolis’ town centre: an epicenter of hope, survival and relentless energy.
      Dawn, July 24, 2011
    • PAKISTAN FASHION WEEKS HELP IN BRAND-BUILDING
      A huge bougainvillea-lined brick house that would easily qualify as palatial in Lahore is where cousins Kamiar Rokni and Tia Noon host the House of Kamiar Rokni. It is also known as one of the most sought-after hubs of high fashion, stocking retail and the four distinct lines falling under the KR umbrella.
      Dawn, July 22, 2011
    • PEPSICO FOUNDATION PROVIDES $700,000 GRANT TO PAKISTAN
      PepsiCo Foundation has provided a $700,000 grant to American Pakistan Foundation for longterm Flood Relief Programme in Pakistan.
      FoodBev.com, July 22, 2011
    • PAKISTAN ORCHESTRA REINVENTS JAZZ CLASSICS
      A new orchestra in the Pakistani city of Lahore is causing some excitement in the world of jazz - and turning around their own fortunes at the same time.
      BBC News, July 21, 2011
    • PAKISTAN'S FIRST FEMALE FOREIGN MINISTER
      Hina Rabbani Khar only turned 34 this week. But despite her youth - and particularly her gender - she has been catapulted to one of the top jobs in a deeply conservative Pakistan where political careers have often ended in a hail of bullets.
      The Telegraph, London, July 20, 2011
    • FRENCH KNIGHTHOOD FOR PAKISTANI WOMAN
      A Pakistani woman civil servant has been awarded the prestigious French knighthood for distinguished and extraordinary services.
      The International Herald Tribune, July 20, 2011
    • THROWING PAKISTAN INTO THE ARMS OF CHINA
      The Obama administration just suspended the delivery of some 800 million dollars’ worth of aid to the Pakistani military. Such get-tough moves ignore that the United States and its allies are much more dependent on Pakistan than Pakistan is on them.
      The National Interest, July 19, 2011
    • PAKISTAN LEADS THE WAY IN ELECTRIC MOTOR RACING
      A British Pakistani entrepreneur is leading the way in clean emission motorcycle race, known as TTXGP eGrandPrix.
      The News, Pakistan, July 16, 2011
    • HUMAN RIGHTS IN ISLAM
      In his book, Quran aur Insani Huquq (‘The Quran and Human Rights’), Muhammad Akhtar Muslim writes that in the western narration of history, the concept of basic human rights is traced to 500BC Greece, then to the falling in 500CE of the Roman Empire, and suddenly to 1100CE, thus ignoring the intervening 600 years comprising the rise of Islam.
      Dawn, July 15, 2011
    • JAPAN TO PROVIDE $3.48 MILLION TO PAKISTAN FOR FLOOD WARNING SYSTEM
      Japan will grant assistance of about US $3.48 million for a project for strengthening flood warning and management capacity of Pakistan.
      The International Herald Tribune, July 15, 2011
    • BOXING: 'KHAN AHEAD OF PACQUIAO ON PACE
      Britain’s WBA light-welterweight champion Amir Khan is a superior boxer at 24 than Filipino Manny Pacquiao was at the same age, according to trainer Freddie Roach who works with both fighters.
      The International Herald Tribune, July 14, 2011
    • LETTER FROM LONDON: WHY I LOVE PAKISTAN
      I've worked in Mumbai and been in India many times, but have always had an ill-concealed soft spot for Pakistan, which sits in the west of the subcontinent.
      Pakistan Paindabad, July 13, 2011
    • A CENTURIES OLD TRADITION KEPT ALIVE
      HYDERABAD: Besides their message of love and harmony, Shah’s poetry and music compositions have always been popular among Sindh’s old and young. 
      Dawn, July 12, 2011
    • THERE'S A GIRL IN A BOY'S COLLEGE
      recently had the opportunity of meeting 16-year-old Mariyam Mohammed Suleman from Gwadar, a talented girl who left me speechless when we met at the the pre departure orientation ceremony for the Kennedy Lugar Youth Exchange and Study program at Beach Luxury Hotel in Karachi.
      The International Herald Tribune, July 08, 2011
    • IMRAN KHAN SPEECH: NEVER GIVE UP YOUR DREAMS
      Imran Khan, talks about Never giving up on your Dreams at the TEDxKarachi 2011 on 27th May 2011.
      TEDxKarachi, July 08, 2011
    • SOUTH ASIANS IN HOLLYWOOD: FROM FRINGE TO MAINSTREAM
      ISLAMABAD: It seems that brown is the new black, and there’s no going back! The fast-growing South Asian-American demographic has led to some major changes in Hollywood studios.
      The International Herald Tribune, July 06, 2011
    • SPECIAL OLYMPICS SUMMER GAMES 2011: PAKISTAN'S 56 MEDALS
      KARACHI: The Pakistan squad comes bearing 56 medals as they return to the country today after a successful run at the recently-concluded Special Olympics Summer Games 2011 in Athens, Greece.
      The International Herald Tribune, July 05, 2011
    • COKE STUDIO: MUSICAL VOYAGE THROUGH VARIOUS LANGUAGES
      KARACHI: The second-last episode of “Coke Studio 4” took its viewers through a musical excursion across Pakistani culture.
      The International Herald Tribune, July 04, 2011
    • TRUCKING IN TECHNICOLOR ON PAKISTAN'S HIGHWAYS
      On the historic Grand Trunk Road, some 40 miles north of Lahore and a few hours south of the former Bin Laden hideout of Abbottabad, a mosque’s call to Friday afternoon prayers was overwhelmed by Pakistani pop music spilling from open-air markets.
      The New York Times, June 24, 2011
    • JAQUELINE'S JOURNAL
      Jaqueline Novogratz published her first-hand account of daily life on the ground in Paksitan from the perspective of a humanist and a philanthropist.  Her account is refreshingly comprehensive and honest.
      The Acumen Fund, June 19, 2011
    • REFLECTIONS OF KARACHI THROUGH OUR EYES
      KARACHI:  Adjacent to the Zamzama area in Karachi known for its razzle and dazzle, is the Neelam Colony which both portray the two shades of life.
      DAWN, June 18, 2011
    • NOOR MAHAL - RESPLENDENT IN ITS GLORY
      A former princely state, Bahawalpur still carries quaint reminders of its rich past– from mighty forts to resplendent palaces to mystical shrines. But the jewel in the crown continues to be Noor Mahal, the palace of light.
      Dawn, June 15, 2011
    • OSCAR WINNING VISUAL EFFECTS ARTIST MAKES KARACHI LOOK SO GOOD
      The world can also thank visual effects specialist Mir Zafar Ali for bringing the villain ‘Venom’ to life in Spider-Man III. Now, he’s basking in the aftermath of another success, X-Men: First Class – the debuted at No. 1 in the box office in its opening weekend.
      The International Herald Tribune, June 14, 2011
    • THE JAPANESE TOURIST WHO JOINED A PAKISTANI MOUNTAIN TRIBE
      In 1987 Akiko Wada left her bustling hi-tech metropolis in Japan to go backpacking with friends around the remote mountains of northern Pakistan. But once she discovered the beautiful village of Balanguru and the unique Kalash tribe that lived there, she decided to stay.
      BBC News, June 13, 2011
    • WHAT'S GOING RIGHT IN PAKISTAN
      There is much – way too much – that is going terribly wrong in Pakistan. But not all is lost. Not just yet.
      Pakistaniat.com, June 10, 2011
    • LEFT WITH NOTHING: THE STATE OF PAKISTAN'S MINORITIES
      A culture of anti-tolerance will continue to live on until a political party finds the backbone to introduce and implement proper reforms. It is only then that the eclipse will finally be over.
      Foreign Policy, June 10, 2011
    • OSAMA BIN LADEN DEATH: NO MOURNING OR CELEBRATION IN PAKISTAN
      Pakistan's reaction to the death of al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden muted by concerns over jobs and security.

      The Guardian (London), May 04, 2011
    • PAKISTAN TRANSGENDERS PIN HOPES ON NEW RIGHTS
      The BBC's Aleem Maqbool meets transgendered people in Karachi buoyed by the ruling, but sceptical about whether it can really end the isolation they face.

      BBC, April 25, 2011
    • ART INSTALLATION FOR JAPAN VICTIMS IN KARACHI
      The Asahi art exhibition at the Commune Artists Colony opened on Saturday April 9. The exhibition is being held to collect funds for the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. The word "Asahi", means "rising sun" in Japanese.
      Dawn, April 12, 2011
    • SOCIAL WORKER OR SPIRITUAL SAGE?
      The day I met Abdul Sattar Edhi, a living saint who gave up everything to devote his life to helping Pakistan's poorest.
      The Telegraph (London), April 11, 2011
    • SESAME STREET COMES TO PAKISTAN
      US government aid agency sponsors $20m Pakistani remake of the American kids' TV show.

      The Guardian (London), April 07, 2011
    • EDUCATION, EDUCATION, EDUCATION
      This is a word that for decades, since soon after the country’s birth, has not figured in the lexicon of any of our ‘great’ leaders.
      Dawn, April 03, 2011
    • A PROGRESSIVE MUSLIM
      Asghar Ali Engineer shares his thoughts on what the prerequisites to this title are.
      Dawn, April 01, 2011
    • A GREAT DEAL OF RUIN IN A NATION
      Why Islam took a violent and intolerant turn in Pakistan, and where it might lead.
      The Economist, March 31, 2011
    • KARACHI DIARY: DISCOVERY OF A CITY
      It appears to be a truism much acknowledged that Delhi and Lahore are soul sisters. Yet, I must confess, I saw no such striking resemblance between the two cities on my first visit a couple of years ago. A recent visit to Karachi, however, struck a chord in my born-in-UP but raised-in-Delhi heart.
      Pakistan Paindabad, March 19, 2011
    • PAKISTAN'S RICHEST MAN SPEAKS
      An interview with Mian Muhammad Mansha
      Fortune, March 11, 2011
    • KARACHI'S FEMALE CABBIE
      Zahida Kazmi tells what it is like to be driving the mean streets of Karachi and supporting a family of eight on a taxi-driver's salary.
      BBC News, March 11, 2011
    • FIRST PAKISTANI WINTER OLYMPIAN BRINGS PRIDE
      Skier Muhammad Abbas made a little sporting history by registering Pakistan in the Winter Olympics 2010 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The 24-year-old Abbas came in ranked 3,764th in the world in giant slalom.
      The Washington Post, February 25, 2010
    • PAKISTAN'S LITERARY STAR
      Daniyal Mueenuddin's masterful debut collection, In Other Rooms, Other Wonders, reveals a modern Pakistan that is as beautiful as it is brutal.
      The Daily Beast, February 01, 2009
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