For an idea that was conceived almost 25 years ago, it has certainly taken almost a generation to plan and manage the build of the much touted Lahore Ring Road. From the grand promises of Sheray-Punjab (NS) to the endless modifications under successive regimes, the project has see-sawed between fever-pitched activity and eerily silent machinery on locations.

Regardless of the bullet-pointed benefits of the scheme which we have become accustomed to, the outcome of the protracted construction phase has resulted in Lahore being engulfed in an ever-present dusty atmosphere. Any visitors’ appreciation of the gleaming International Airport is wiped out as soon as one leaves the airport perimeter as clouds of dust from the piles of dug up earth blanket the traffic.

The mind also boggles as to why there has been so little work over the last decade or so the project has been in progress. Just to put things into perspective, a city like London which has an existing infrastructure dating back to Roman times has outlined a complete overhaul and redevelopment of the East end to build a whole 2012 Olympic Village and transport network to support it. I can appreciate that things take a little more time in our part of the world but taking 10 years to complete merely 15km of the originally proposed 75km is just plain unacceptable.

I call on the Project Team, Lahore Municipality and Civic agencies to either roll up their sleeves and work their socks off to complete the project by mid 2009 (still delayed by years) or face public name and shame campaign (not to mention legal accountability) for all persons involved in the city’s biggest sham project to date.

In my view, the whole project ought to be scrapped for a much more extensive and eco-friendly mono-rail service. Yes, I mean the Lahore Rapid Transit System which should be extended to the route of the poorly-managed LRR. This form of public transport will not only help reduce vehicle congestion along all routes but it will also reduce the pollution levels which are threatening people’s health.

As always, your view are always welcome.

I am fascinated by the Chameleon. Its ability to change its appearance to fit its surroundings provides this little creature from the lizard family a truly remarkable ability.

I vividly remember the one and only time I spotted one in Lahore. It was a hot summer day and I was walking the grounds of my school. In my stride, I caught a sideways glance at what I thought was an oddly shaped branch. On closer inspection, I realised it was a giant brown chameleon peering at me through those roving eyes. At first I was scared it would simply pounce on me for blowing its cover…!! But I quickly grasped that it was probably more scared of me. So I walked off not realising that the moment would be the last time I would set eyes on one of these magnificent creations of nature.

I am curious to know how many of you in Lahore continue to spot Chameleons in gardens, parks etc. and when was the last time it happened.

Enjoying life is as much necessary as work :)

It was just another day, nothing different, the sun rose to the skies, the weather warming up by the hour, everything going on as usual. Less did anyone know at LUMS that there is a grave happening to unfold before the sun sets on this day.

Hashir Munawer class of 2007, due to graduate a year later than his batch mates was seperated from the program apparently because of an abrupt change in policy. (minimum CGPA increased to 2.8 from an initial 2.2). He killed himself by hanging himself to the fan by an iron wire. Another file closed from the craziness of this world. Period.

What caused this to happen? A happy go lucky kid, who was good at volley ball, done his A levels from a prestigious school in Karachi, who was known for caring for all that came his way, a smiling face. A few things his friends had to say about him. Why didn’t anyone talk to him about it? Who broke the news to him? Why didn’t they sit him down and talk about other options in life? There were a million and one things that could’ve been done, this was NOT inevitable! Where was Nashi Khan (Student Counsellor/ Psychiatrist)? Where were his faculty advisors? Who will answer these questions? Who will finally brush all of this under the carpet?

There have been 4 suicide attempts at LUMS in 2007 (Unconfirmed sources). Changing policies at the drop of a hat and then implementing them on graduating classes and not the next new intake, the insensitivities of a “perfect” world. Does this not happen everywhere? Students get kicked out of schools in their final years for O and A levels only because they are not performing “up to the mark”? Who defines success? Who defines this mark? Have we lost our values and basic regard for humans around us in this vicious cycle? a fourth grader taking as many tuitions as there are subjects. Is “winning” everything and “living” does not measure up?

 How Many Hashirs will it take for the blind, inefficient, cold blooded, policy makers at such universities and those that drive the society? Let’s just get it over with!

 May Allah forgive Hashir’s sins and give the bereaved all the courage in the world to live through this ordeal. Aamiin

One ‘devil-hearted’ driving through the canal.

As a result of the ongoing sad mood after the FIA building and Model Town blasts, the Kite Flyers Association of Lahore have postponed the event of Basant from March 15 - 16 to April 12-13.

Anticipation is that the security and law & order situation will have improved by then. Let’s see how we come out of this period.

The Fundamentalists display their automatic weaponary in open defiance of law in full public view while law enforcement agencies turn a blind eye, or they ignore them to avoid confrontation. This photograph is a photo of a picture published in daily Dawn

Originally uploaded by Citizen of Two Worlds

Is it because our security officers are so afraid to curb such elements??

I’m definitely pointingat the riffle!

This morning, two bomb blasts took place, one in Model Town and one on Temple Road, near the Mall.

The death toll has risen to 20. (via Geo TV). Now referring to bomb blasts will become a problem, as people would ask which one; the one on March 11th or 8th? The twin bombs that went off at the same place (Naval war college) or the ones that went off separately!?!?.

This menace has been going on for too long now. Most frustrating is, what can one do?

via The Lahore Tribune

Ok. This post, the first post, does not have much to do with lahore. Some might argue that this post does not have much to do with anything. I should have posted it in my personal blog, but for some odd reason I can’t find where I left my personal blog. Plus I am quite, in fact very, excited about being able to log-in to LMB that I thought why not post here.

Therefore in case you find this post useless, senseless, unreasonable, irrelevant, uncouth (hain ji), and un-cal sargam, please keep in mind that a) this post mentions Lahore 7 times and b) I am getting used to nasty comments so please feel free to leave one.

Having said that, here are the few things I wanted to post / announce.

First the new design / structure of LMB: Good news for iPhone users. The new metblogs sites (possibly due to wordpress) get automatically adapted to iphone sets giving you a very easy and user friendly navigation control. In fact its much nicer to access LMB though iphone than through a regular PC. (I dont know how many LMB readers use iPhone… maybe its just a guy named bilal)

Second: I hear that the wheat crisis is over. so no need to switch to cakes anymore. One less thing to worry about.

Third: The global community is quite surprised that Pakistan’s elections went ahead, peacefully, freely and fairly… and everyone accepted the results. Heck with global community, even our local population is quite surprised.
Fourth: Someone at LMB must write a post on basant and must do it fast. And someone from his/her home must write a nasty comment against basant (ban basant) and must do it fast.
Thats all for now. Hopefully i will be back soon with more useful posts in future. Even though being optimistic is weird… i have been told.