This is probably the same rickshaw as here. :)

Only in Lahore...

Source: Unknown – this has been floating around on emailosphere.

If, like me, you wonder why people don’t wear seatbelts while driving in Lahore, it’s because there is come confusion as to whether or not wearing seatbelts is legally required.

Well, the debate is finally over. According to this newspaper report, the Punjab Assembly just introduced an amendment in the Motor Vehicle Ordinance, 1965 making it mandatory for automobile drivers to wear seatbelts. Finally and thank god!!!

But not so soon, some of the fine print says that the seatbelt requirement will not apply if, for instance, the car doesn’t have any in the first place. The new amendment also gives the Government the opportunity to exempt a category of cars from the seatbelt requirement.

Still, it’s a start.

Without a doubt Pakistan is witnessing her worst crisis since the Bangladesh debacle. Most major cities are witnessing deadly attacks on a consistent basis and just today close to 100 innocent people lost their lives in Peshawar.

Where is our beloved country heading? Is the operation in Wazirstan going to solve our problems? I highly doubt. Who is our enemy? Is it the Taliban, India, the US, or we don’t need an enemy as WE are our own worst enemy.

Something has to give up here. For how long this bloodshed could go on? Just for how long? Have we not had enough? This month alone we have lost close to 300 lives!!! Isn’t it about time that we give up the comfort of our homes to do something for our country? But what can we do? At my end other than praying I know I am not doing anything. But prayers alone would not get us there….We need to back up our prayers with actions. Its about time my fellow citizens!

Join Lahore’s 11th Critical Mass Event at 10:15am this Sunday 25 October 2009 from the Fountain Square, Neela Gumbat, behind Bank Square on Mall Road, Lahore.

This Critical Mass cycling event will see us prowling the innards of Lahore where riding a bike offers the chance to sample more of Walled City life without picking a tab.

The thrum of the historic Walled City will lift your spirits as we catch the city-folks going about their morning ritual of Nashta. If you’re worried about the security situation, you can stay at home at let the terrorists win.

Spinning via Anarkali Bazar we will enter the walled city from Lohari Gate and zigzag our way through the maze of Said Mitha, Paniwala Talab, Rang Mahal, Kashmiri Bazar, Chuna Mandi, Sheranwala Gate, and weave our way back from Fort Road, Red Light District, and Bhati Gate returning to Nila Gumbad via Lower Mall.

Critical Mass is about having clean cities that provide mobility and accessibility. Critical Mass is about clean transport. Critical Mass is about putting public good over private interest. Critical Mass is about making friends. Critical Mass is about reclaiming public space. Critical Mass is about showing a man or a woman on a cycle is the same as one in a ten lac car. Critical Mass is about democracy.
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Given the security situation in the country (and also reported abuse of communication systems and channels), everyone must be cautious. It is possibility that someone might have got a SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) against your ID (CINC). I suggest you check and find out the total number of SIM(s) registered against their respective CNIC number with each mobile operator. Are they all in your use?

Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has developed a SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) information system to address associated risks on security and to ensure subscription regulations in cellular sector. {From}

Elite Police Celebrating Win - Source: BBC News - Suggested by Shakeel Ahmad

In Lahore this morning, three different police facilities were attacked by well-trained and well-equipped terrorists. The incidents at FIA building, Manawan Police Academy and Bedian Elite Force Training Facility left at least 30 people dead including all the attackers, policemen and some civilians. Two of the targets, the FIA building and Manawan Police Training Academy have been hit by terrorists earlier as well. Although the new wave of attacks was serious, however, the response of security agencies and the police has shown an upgraded level of strike-back action.

Police force moving for action against attackers in Lahore - Source: BBC News

Yes, we are living in insecure times and when a full-fledged war is being raged against these mug-heads, they are sure to strike back. What makes all Pakistanis proud is the sacrifice of life that our soldiers and policemen are making to fight terrorism and to protect common citizens like you and me.

We should pray for these brave sons of the soil and help them by providing any information that we are able to gather against terrorists or suspicious activities around our cities and neighborhoods.

To all the policemen who lost their life today in Lahore and Kohat; every Lahori and Pakistani salutes you!

2nd Lahore international children film festival is being held from 6 – 11 October, 2009 at Ali auditorium Ferozpur road, near Gulaab Devi hospital.

Ali institute of education with its legacy of promoting new teaching methodologies has come up with this festival which will be screening short films, animations and documentary shorts made by and for children from around the world. Entertaining as well as educating, it will be an exciting and novel experience for children.

Outside the auditorium other than the usual eateries, stalls are installed by sponsors like Dawn News with loads of free goodies. You might want to buy DVDs of the documentaries aired by Dawn News; I found them very informative and were a treat to watch.

There is also an art exhibition with paintings, sculptures and ceramics; displaying works of students of Naqsh School of arts which might be of interest to parents accompanying their children. So hurry up and collect you tickets.

For further information: www.lahorechildrenfilm.com

Concept of shifting to mud architecture is creating waves in Pakistan. It is heartening to know that a lot is happening to convert this concept in to a reality in the form of proposed Mud Village, Peerzada Festival Area, Lahore.

Mud is an excellent construction material. It is being used as a building material since prehistoric times. Mud structures can still be found in a variety of climates across the globe; In Pakistan, it is most strongly associated with rural culture. The idea of mud building is now coming to urban areas. Construction of model mud village in Lahore is the case in point.

Society for the Promotion of Art and Culture (SPARC), registered in Lahore since 1994, is starting construction of mud village for handicraft men. Prof. Dr. Norbert Pintsch (Senior Expert Service Bonn, Germany) is planning to coordinating the project and giving it a practical shape.

Prof. Dr. Norbert Pintsch is an experienced architect by profession is very passionate about mud architecture. Since completing first building project as an architect at the age of 18, Prof Dr Norbert Pintsch has been in various activities as an architect and civil engineer all his life.

In addition, Iqbal, a local builder from Harrapa, Ghayyoor Obaid, a local architecture and very interested in mud construction material, Peerzada Festival Area, a concern that is providing space for construction of mud village near world famous Puppetry Museum are also involved in the project. Beacon House University, Department of Architecture and Building Research Institute are also likely to participate.

It is not good enough to assume that “everything from the past is good. It is necessary to show,” says Dr. Norbert Pintsch who is very passionate about the project. Like national University in Colombia where students practice construction with local materials like bamboo and wood, the project will give an opportunity to the students of Beacon House University to practice what they have been learning while adapting the construction technique mixed with appropriate technology in Pakistan.

Prof. Dr. Norbert Pintsch never gets tired of talking about his passion and, given my own interest, I don’t get tired of listening about the details of the project. Hope you enjoy reading it. {X-Posted From Light Within}

So our very own Meera Jee is back in the spotlight. A business man from Lahore, Atiqur Rahman, has claimed that Meera is his wife and she has stolen valuable goods from his house while he was out of the country. Apparently, Mr. Rahman has produced some credible evidences like pictures, marriage certificate, etc, which all according to Ms. Meera are fabricated.

She has sworn on her family that these are lies and she has never married Atiqur Rahman. Now, I don’t  know who to believe in, but based on what I have seen lately on media, Meera Jee has certainly a lot of explanation to do. The drama continues….

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DeSOM – Services Club Lahore – has come be famous for its traditions like celebrations of festive occasions like Chand Raat – night when Eid ul Fits moon is cited on first of Shawal – national days and other get to gathers. Like always and like everyone, I was there with my whole family. In addition, there we meet some old colleagues and their families, kids met their class fellows and friends and had a traditional food with little bit of every thing from Murg Channe to BRBQ (dahi bhalle, halwa puri, biryani, list goes on and on) .

There were many stall form bangles and hina to crystal gazers and special Eid gifts for kids to indulge in. Yes, there were a lot of boooools for my Maan.

The bottom line; at DeSOM every one was a style star. {From}

Fellow Lahoris, Critical Mass Lahore has survived the summer and has been enjoyed through Ramzan. Now, it’s time to rally once more for the cause of public transport, sustainable development, democratic public spaces and, of course, the right to have fun on our own streets!!!

Join Lahore’s 10th Critical Mass Event at 5:00pm this Sunday 27 September 2009 from the Zakir Tikka intersection, Sarwar Road, Lahore Cantonment.

Critical Mass is about having clean cities that provide mobility and accessibility. Critical Mass is about clean transport. Critical Mass is about putting public good over private interest. Critical Mass is about making friends. Critical Mass is about reclaiming public space. Critical Mass is about showing a man or a woman on a cycle is the same as one in a ten lac car. Critical Mass is about democracy.

What do I need to participate in a Critical Mass Event?
All you need is a road-worthy cycle and an sense of fun. Buy, beg, borrow or steal a cycle if you have to, but join the Mass. Come, cycle around Lahore. Reclaim your city, and have more fun than you can imagine!

Where and how else do Critical Mass Events take place?
Critical Mass events are typically held on the last Friday of each month in over 250 cities all over the world. In Lahore, it is held on the last Sunday of every month. For information about Critical Mass Lahore, be at Zakir Tikka at 5:00pm this Sunday 27 September 2009 or visit the Critical Mass Lahore Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=38992998526) or the Critical Mass Lahore blog.

Important: Be on time!!!

We wish everyone, who is celebrating or has celebrated, a very happy and fun-filled Eid-ul-Fitr! :)

Eid Cakes

DELL Eid Gala at Hyperstar

For all you computer enthusiasts out there, Dell Pakistan is celebrating Eid at Hyperstar on the 12th and 13th of September. They are offering amazing discounts plus lots and lots of prizes for participants and visitors. So if you want some free juice (techy type), hop in to their stalls at Hyperstar with friends or family or both.

Further details of the event can be seen on their Facebook Event page: Dell Pakistan Eid Gala 2009.

You’ve no doubt by now noticed that the sites got a bit of a re-design and some things got changed around last week. We wanted to highlight two changes to make sure everyone knows what changed.

The first and biggest is COMMENTS! Registration is no longer required to post a comment on any post. Of course if you already have an account you can still login to ensure your comments are attributed to you, but those who don’t can now post a comment without any long term commitment. Also, on the right you can see some of the recent comments so you’ll always know what the active discussions are. This was the most requested thing we’ve heard from people since our last redesign and we’re excited to see where it leads.

The next change is also something that was heavily requested, and that is a change to the ADS on the sites. You’ll immediately notice fewer of them, but what might not be as obvious is those smaller square ones to the right are specific to this city only and are being sold for a flat rate for a period of time rather than a confusing CPM/traffic/network model. Depending on the city, these range from $7-$175 for a full week. If you purchase one, during that time your ad will be the only one in that spot and will show on every page. We set these up both to make it easier for smaller local businesses to get their ads on our site, and also to help us bring in ads that relate better to our local audiences. Also, keeping these sites online is expensive and every little bit helps.

There are a bunch of other things we changed but we’ll leave those to you to investigate and take advantage of. Hope you like it, and we look forward to seeing you in the comments!!

Love,
The folks at MBHQ

So, finally the barriers have been removed. We can comment as much as we can and that too without registering which means there is going to be a lot more activity at LMB from now on again.

We are again looking for authors at LMB who:

- are based in Lahore

- are willing to contribute actively (2-3 times a week)

- and have something to say about Lahore

If you wish to become an author at LMB; drop an email with a short profile to:

hasanmubarak@metblogs.com

Happy Metblogging! :)