Lahore Oh My Lahore

 

Lahore is the capital of Pakistan’s most populous and most developed province—Punjab. It has glorious history,many cultural and architectural attractions and it is Pakistan’s pride. Today it is in need of urgent attention.

The Allama Iqbal International Airport the gateway to Lahore is a shambles. The entrance is overcrowded with walls of people lined up barring access for passengers. Once you enter barely one foot away is a customs post that checks passengers before they have even checked in. 

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The Fate of the Lost Province - Prewritten?

The dark specter of Seraiki nationalism in southern Punjab and separatism in Bahawalpur has been looming in the fringes of political machinations in Punjab since the dissolution of the one unit scheme by Yahya Khan in 1970. Before the annexation of the state of Bahawalpur into Punjab in 1955, the huge tract of desertified land was ruled by Nawab Sir Sadiq Muhammad Khan Abbasi Bahadur who opted to integrate it with Pakistan in 1947 hoping to keep intact it’s autonomy and provincial status. 

The Military Regime that took over in 1999 announced devolution as part of its ‘seven point agenda’, 25- 27 new provinces were envisaged on the basis of Pakistan’s 27 administrative units (divisions), the groundwork required for such an ambitious venture was hefty and controversial . The Seraiki Suba Project lies within the fold of the devolution of powers plan and is beset with its own internal conflicts and political frou frou. 

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Schools in 12 more districts to get environment education

The Environmental Protection Department (EPD)aims to expand a programme to educate public school students about environmental issues to another 12 districts and 143 schools in the Punjab this year, officials said.

The programme, which began in 2006, is currently active in 126 schools, 18 each in Multan, Faisalabad, Bahawalpur, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Rawalpindi and Lahore districts. It will be expanded to another 143 schools in Vehari, Sargodha, Sheikhupura, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Bahawalnagar, Khanewal, Attock, Muzaffargarh, Rahim Yar Khan, Sialkot and Jhelum by next year, said an EPD official. The department is also hoping to get a boost in its budget so it can introduce advanced environmental education in government colleges, the official added.

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Controversies surround population census

The ongoing population census being conducted by the federal government has become controversial right from the start, experts told Pakistan Today. The census is carried out in two phases, starting with house listing which will be followed by a general census. As per the figures from the last census, the total population of the country in March 1998 was 130.58 million, of which Punjab was comprised of 72.5 million, Sindh 29.9 million, NWFP 15.5 million, Balochistan 6.5 million and Fata 3.1 million. 

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Plan afoot to establish nine food streets

After the demise of Gawalmandi Food Street owing to political pressure in 2008, the Punjab government has planned to set up nine food streets to appease the traditional and continental food lovers, Pakistan Today has learnt. According to the plan, the proposed food streets will be established in Gulberg, Shalimar Town, Nishtar Town, Samnabad, Allama Iqbal Town, Wahgah Town, Aziz Bhatti Town, Ravi Town and Data Gunj Baksh Town.

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MQM in Punjab

BY NATHOO RAM, ON APRIL 12TH, 2011

Lahori’s know all too well that the power of the MQM comes with a price the ordinary people end up paying

Under the auspices of giving all political parties of Pakistan access to all political spaces in Pakistan, the MQM has ventured (again) into the unknown waters of the Punjab. The PML-N – dominant in the Punjab – has restarted its activity in Sindh and Karachi as well, despite threats and challenges, so that it does not appear like a party confined to the largest (and most dominant) province alone. Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan has said that the MQM should be welcomed for launching its political campaign in Punjab, while cautioning that there was “a great difference in politics” of Sindh and Punjab.

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Punjabi Taliban

Bahram Zackarya

IT is difficult to say who is guilty of hurting the Punjabi sensibility and compromising Punjab`s security more. Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has warned Interior Minister Rehman Malik against using the term `Punjabi Taliban`. The federal minister initially gave the impression that he was ready to take on Mr Sharif over the issue, going so far as to declare he was not a subordinate of the chief minister. But then he capitulated in the manner his party, the PPP, seems to have perfected. Mr Malik has promised Mr Sharif an explanation; however, others may not share the interior minister`s compulsion and would be more tempted to raise the critical question of what is so irritating about the term `Punjabi Taliban` that has made the chief minister livid.

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