Poisoning children
2 March, 2010
Tuesday, 02 Mar, 2010 An investigation undertaken by this newspaper has revealed the presence of dangerously high levels of contaminants in toys commonly available in Karachi. These toxic metals and chemicals include elements such as lead, cadmium and various phthalates that are serious health hazards. Worryingly, there is no system in Karachi — or indeed [...]
Parliament’s performance
2 March, 2010Tuesday, 02 Mar, 2010 A painful legacy of dictatorships in Pakistan is the political apathy they create in lawmakers, even if the latter have been democratically elected. Having become accustomed to acting as members of a rubberstamp body, many parliamentarians forget how to serve as representatives of the people who voted them into power. The [...]
Saudi connection
2 March, 2010Tuesday, 02 Mar, 2010 Saudi Arabia has been in the news lately and much of it for reasons that may unsettle some here. But a closer look at the goings-on and speculation suggests that the perceived ‘negative’ impact on Pakistan may be an exaggeration. Yesterday, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh became the first Indian prime [...]
Religious violence
1 March, 2010Monday, 01 Mar, 2010 Religious holidays in the country are fast becoming marked by violence. Over the weekend, processions celebrating Eid Miladun Nabi in Faisalabad and D.I. Khan were attacked causing death, injuries and mayhem. Thankfully, the violence was quickly contained and did not rise to the level of terribleness that the country has unfortunately [...]
Dying crafts
1 March, 2010Monday, 01 Mar, 2010 The politicians who are so often up in arms over the need to protect Pakistani culture, and the threat posed by foreign influences, would do well to look into the state of the country’s cultural industries and the manner in which they are being decimated. Consider the ajrak-manufacturing trade of Sukkur [...]
Loading ...