Another year without Basant
In a tweet sent on Feb 7, Shahbaz Sharif reiterated his government’s policy of a “complete ban” on Basant in Punjab. The underlying reason was one of safety — “no…
No more Basant…
Where this young lad picked up the germs for the forbidden pastime is a mystery. The news on the channel says he is a teenager who our ever-vigilant law enforcers…
Salam Basant
At a time when Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari is busy trying to establish a social democratic party, an act by the prime minister has bamboozled everyone. It has hit those in the…
Basant manqué
There are moments in a city’s life when its performance sometimes equals its reputation. Lahore, once synonymous with Learning and the Arts, showed that when called upon, it can exceed…
View Point: Reviving Lahore’s Basant
Hamza Shahbaz Sharif had good and bad news to give kite flying enthusiasts the other day. The Punjab government, he disclosed, is thinking about reviving kite flying during 2014 Basant.…
A different kind of export
Pakistan has struggled in recent years to keep pace in the global export market. The textile sector, once a defining industry, has seen rapid growth in countries like Bangladesh, Vietnam…
Being more human
What measures are necessary to counter violent extremism and religious intolerance in Pakistan? And what role should the youth be assigned in this campaign, which has a bearing on our…
Spirit of unity
The new year has arrived. The holiday season is drawing to a close, marking a time when families around the world come together, whether for brief moments or extended periods,…
Counting our deficits
With this week’s advent of Ramazan, our lives have changed in some tangible ways. Our daily routines have acquired a new rhythm. At least in these initial days of the…
History, language and Sufism
Seldom does one come across two books by the same writer that enchant readers so deeply. As a student of history and languages, I am compelled to share my impression…
