Pakistani News for the Rest of Us

Defying a chilly night, a bitter drizzle and the reprimands of the mullahs, Pakistanis broke loose this weekend in a boisterous annual rite of spring: Grown men lost sight of everything but chasing kites in the sky, children stayed up until dawn, women reveled on roofs, dressed in the color of mustard blossoms. Even the …

Unless you’ve been completely disconnected with the global economy, you’re most probably picturing young Indian college graduates, in a large facility sitting in front of state-of-the art flat-panel computer screens with phone headsets on. You’re probably hearing the buzz of these professionals speaking in English, servicing customers halfway across the world. Well, you may want …

Moved by the plight of slum-dwelling weavers, most of them women, in Mohammed Zakir’s hometown of Karachi in Pakistan, the Zakirs have started a small business, Silk Route Crafts, to import the workers’ fabrics and fabric goods. The hope is to sell enough to Americans to send a decent wage to the workers, who Mohammed …

THEY call Yasin Lakhani, chairman of Karachi’s stock exchange, the “incorrigible bull”. And last Thursday he was in full charge when the index closed at a record 7,014. Lakhani is not the only bull in Pakistan’s commercial capital. A new wealthy middle class has been created in the five years since General Pervez Musharraf took …

Around 300 children of various schools and 100 volunteers of different companies participated in cleaning and washing of the 30-foot high facade of P&O Plaza (Bandookwala Building) under Karavan Chundrigar Road Heritage Fest and Karavan Heritage Cleaning Initiative here on Sunday. She said Karavan activities were held in order to foster a sense of identity …

Dubai-based Al Futtaim Technologies has established a wholly owned subsidiary in Pakistan. The move will see the local firm representing French telecom major Alcatel’s enterprise communication systems - something it has been doing in the UAE for some time now. “The intention now is to replicate the success we have had in the UAE with …

Called “Help!”, the concert held in Bombay, was broadcast on several news and entertainment television channels, including Geo TV. Indian film legend Amitabh Bachchan, superstars Shahrukh Khan and Aamir Khan and former Miss World Aishwarya Rai made appeals for donations. Pakistani stars present included leading film stars Meera, Rafqat Ali Khan and Waris Baig Mirza, …