Pakistani News for the Rest of Us

South African relief agency, Gift of the Givers, is using open source software solutions to power its humanitarian relief efforts in earthquake-stricken Pakistan. IT manager, Yusuf Rajah, says open source technology has had a “tremendous effect” on its ability to contact specialists and respond in time to disasters. “The reason why we support OSS …

“A Thousand and One Days: The Art of Pakistani Women Miniaturists” features 51 contemporary paintings by eight women artists who hail from Pakistan, where for centuries, women have been subservient to men. Another common theme centers around the image of the chaddar, the veil Islamic women use to cover themselves. Artist Shehrbano Qizilbash says she …

Most people in Karachi see pigeons as a nuisance and some have even advocated that they are pests that should be exterminated. However, in the same city there are others who still have a soft corner for these innocent birds and regularly feed them. In fact, there are some places in the city where the …

A Pakistani firm M/s Energen Energy Generation is launching today for the first time an electricity-run, petrol-free motorcycle. According to the firm, the price of the bike ranges from Rs 25,000 to Rs 35,000. The motorcycle is smoke-free and noiseless and will come in three models to be initially sold in Karachi only. The …

A group of children, along with their families and friends, have launched an organisation by the name of Volunteer Kids (VK) to help out earthquake victim children. VK wants every child to donate a new or used schoolbag containing a number of items in it. These can include colouring pencils or chalks, colouring book or …

In what some Pakistanis are calling the greatest display of national unity in their country’s 58-year-history, thousands of volunteers from across the country spontaneously collected vast amounts of food, clothing and medicine and rushed it to northern Pakistan after the severe earthquake of Oct. 8. The piles are the product of an impromptu grass-roots relief …

The Greek Teachers Association (GTA) has constructed a cultural complex in Kalash valley in Chitral. The centre comprises a health centre, a museum and an educational centre. Kalash is a beautiful area where an ethnic group, called Kafirs of the Hindu Kush, lives in Bamboret, Ramboor and Birir valleys. Bamboret is a big valley while …

In a race which witnessed three safety car periods and the retirement of A1 Team Mexico, Indonesia, South Africa, Malaysia, Germany, Netherlands and Canada, A1 Team Pakistan and Adam Khan came from the back of the grid to finish 15th. The Team Pakistan car ran throughout this weekend, the third round of the World Cup …

Fifteen calligraphers and 30 of these fine and utterly intricate ink-and-paint pieces were exhibited. Most of the calligraphy featured were the works of Pakistani contemporary calligraphers. Some pieces were decorated with gold leaf and featured traditional motifs and used beautiful turquoises, blues and cobalts to counter the severity of black inked lines in varying thicknesses. …

Rashad Ali and Pulin Patel, two friends originally from Pakistan and India, are running the race for the Next Big Thing on cell phones from a humble office off the back streets of Richardson, Texas’ Telecom Corridor. Ali, 42, and Pulin Patel, who is 35, met in Richardson when both were working at Nortel Networks. …

Pakistan’s nationwide hunt for fast bowlers to tame England in their forthcoming home series has unearthed a six foot six inch (1.98 metre) fast bowler, coach Bob Woolmer told AFP. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) launched the hunt for pacers in 10 cities across the country and picked up six fast bowlers for the national …

Welcome to Karachi’s little Hyderabad, where the faithful come for a hearty Iftar and are induced to stay on for dinner. “For many years we have been coming here for Iftar and dinner,” remarked Dr Ali whose family was sitting in his car. From Hyderabadi Dahi Bare to Samosa or what they call Luqmian, you …

Pakistan has signed a contract with two Swedish companies for a land surveillance system that could have been useful in emergency operations, the aircraft maker Saab announced on October 18. The system operates aboard a Saab 2000 turbo-propelled aircraft, relying on the Erieye onboard radar system developed by Ericsson Microwave Systems. Saab said the surveillance …

Overseas Pakistanis remitted over one billion dollars in the first quarter of the fiscal year 2005-06, strengthening the government’s hope of receiving over $4 billion by the end of the year. The country received $1.002 billion during July-September 2005 against $983.15 million it received during the corresponding period last year, which is 1.98 per cent …