I was reading this story in the Daily Times today. Now this sounds like a great idea. I hope it is successful to some degree.

The Punjab Auqaf Department and the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) will launch a campaign to rehabilitate drug addicts at shrines in Lahore, and the campaign’s scope will later be extended to the whole provinces.

The Auqaf Department will ask police not to register cases against homeless addicts at shrines because the campaign will be aimed at rehabilitating such people through medical treatment instead of implicating them in police cases.

Punjab Auqaf Minister Sahabzada Saeedul Hassan told Daily Times that ANF Director General Idrees Babar and he had decided in a meeting to launch the campaign, which would pay special attention to shrines and mosques administered by the department.

Read the rest of the story at: http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=200686\story_6-8-2006_pg13_6

Too much of historical emails now. Lets talk about today (like they say: Aaj ki baat karain, Amex ki baat karain). Its very humid in Lahore these days. Though ACs work fine during these days but if you get to move out or have to spend some time travelling with or without AC, its pretty hectic. Speaking to a Big Departmental store rep, I’ve come to know that oil control hair and face treatments are on high sales these days. I wonder why our body feel so chipchip (oily) during this season? What is the connection?

On a second note, which treatments do you guys use or recommend these days?

The American Surgeon-General’s put the slammer on smoking- this time coming back through second-hand. Your chances of having heart disease and/or lung cancer (not to mention breast cancer and the horrible SIDS) ups by 30% if you’re exposed to second-hand smoke. Thirty percent chances of one developing an awful, potentially fatal disease for something you don’t even do, or you upping the chances of a loved one being seriously ill!? No thank you! Methinks this is an important enough issue for health officials here to take notice- I know that aur bhi dukh hain zamaney main, but this is becoming and increasingly big dukh…here people don’t even ask if it’s okay to smoke in your vicinity, and that’s basic manners!

Can you believe this stuff? Though it is a few weeks old, don’t know what is the latest on this. But its totally incredible folks. Check it out…

[Source: The Daily Dawn - May 22, 2006] The City District Government Lahore has given a seven-day deadline to over 50 A-class hotels and restaurants to improve conditions at their kitchens for avoiding the spread of epidemics due to change in weather.

The eateries are ignoring precautions during preparation of food and have not taken proper measures against epidemics, especially those related to change in weather, says district officer (food) Chaudhry Munir Ahmad who has issued notices to the managements of these hotels and restaurants.

These included Avari, Pearl Continental, Bundo Khan, Salt-n-Pepper, AFC, Gulberg Kabana, Ambassador, Pizza Hut, Shanghi, Mirchie, Tai Pae, Cafe Zauk, Lazzat, Dera, Ravi, Lahore Broast, Ravi Pizza & Fast Food, Kings & Queens, Maharaja Restaurant, Sardar Fish Corner, KFC, HFC, Smart Chicks and Subway.
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How much is your life worth? How much would you do to save it, or your child’s life? Any amount, most likely. Look at the concept and practices of selling medicine around and one feels to be in an uncomfortable position. Those who are responsible for making drugs available in market are not doing enough. That becomes clear after visiting some medical stores, also called pharmacies or apothecaries [More].