Pakistani News for the Rest of Us

England’s cricketers will press ahead with their tour of Pakistan later this month despite the earthquake that killed 30,000 people in the country last Saturday. The PCB and ECB are also discussing ways in which the tour can contribute to the relief effort which is already underway. England are scheduled to play three Tests and …

It should be the quietest time of year at the slimming clinic in the bustling city of Rawalpindi, Pakistan, but days before Muslims begin their holy fasting month, business is booming. “We have devised special Ramadan packages,” says the centre’s medical advisor Farzana Sadiq. A vendor selling cream and pistachio-filled sweets made specially for …

The inclusion of poems by seven renowned poets of Pakistan in an anthology of poems ‘Men of Our Times’ edited by Fred Moramarco and AI Zolynas and published by Georgia University Press brings a unique recognition to the contemporary stature of Pakistan’s literary scenario. The five English poets from Pakistan included in the anthology are: …

Pakistan’s economy is capable of absorbing the devastation caused by Saturday’s magnitude 7.6 earthquake, the strongest in a century, because remote areas were the worst-affected. Pakistan expects growth of 7 percent this year as the government continues its effort to attract investment through privatization and liberalization. Pakistan’s benchmark Karachi Stock Exchange has gained 32 …

Henna producers have popstars like Madonna and Sting to thank for making the tradition a part of America’s mainstream culture. But for Muslims, the dye, which is a pigment made from a plant native to the Middle East and especially Pakistan, has been an age-old tradition dating back centuries, when women used henna for ritual …

A series of confidence-building measures since the peace process began 20 months ago has made South Asia a safer place. “Never before have common people played such an active role in improving relations. In earlier times, only governments and intelligentsia were principal actors. Building on the goodwill generated by new bus service linking Muzaffarabad- …

With the purpose of educating people about the former Victorian town of the subcontinent the ASG arranged a ceremony at the Islamabad Club the other day which also marked the opening of the organization’s season of activities. Stalls were set up exhibiting books and literature on history and civilization of the Asian region particularly Pakistan …

A long time ago people from Kerala, many with strong leftist roots, held sway in this bustling port city of Pakistan. Today, barely 6,000 remain, and most of them have lost their Malayalee identity. Most of the early Keralites started to make a living by brewing and selling tea to shopkeepers. The enterprising people they …

The Asian Tour will break new ground next January with the staging of the Pakistan Open in Karachi. The 2006 Pakistan Open will offer total prize money of US$200,000 and will be played from January 19-22 in Karachi, with the host venue to be announced in due course. “Pakistan has some wonderful golf facilities to …

Rangeen made Zafar very popular and the Indian music industry can’t seem to have enough of him. Ad film-maker Prahlad Kakkar calls him the Shah Rukh Khan of Pakistan. His popular track Rangeen has been plagiarised and used in Aashiq Banaya Aapne — for which Reshammiya is grabbing the credits. Born in Lahore, this 25-year-old …

Braid and Ainsworth - both Australian, both 27 - live and work in a mountain village in the Chitral valley, a region of north-west Pakistan considered one of the most volatile places on earth. In April, just before the Caravana collection of vivid embroidered skirts and little wrap jackets, made by local women, was …

The Environmental Protection Society (EPS) led a unique white band campaign in Pakistan. In a colorful rally on water, people from the community, including school children and their teachers, lawyers, local government and community representatives rode on indigenous rafts (locally called Ja’La) in the beautiful river Swat. They travelled by water for 22 kms …

The number of Afghan refugees returning from Pakistan under the voluntary repatriation assistance programme of the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has passed the 2.7 million mark, with over 415,000 repatriated so far in 2005, the agency has announced. Under the programme, nearly 1.6 million Afghans returned from Pakistan in …

Team Pakistan travel to EuroSpeedway Lausitz in eastern Germany for the second round of the A1 Grand Prix of Nations, which takes place on 7-9 October. The circuit will be familiar territory to Team Pakistan’s young driver Adam Khan. Opened in the year 2000, EuroSpeedway is Germany’s youngest track but has already hosted, amongst other …