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MOOD S T R
E E T Two day
support TOWN TALK cityissues Addiction as entertainment RESPONSES TO LAST WEEK'S basant The dull yellow picture The government is ready to pocket the projected one million rupees while the kite-twine manufacturers are trying to make ends meet By Aatekah Ahmad The end is what matters. It
is what we end up with that is important. Not just in life but also in the
tales we read or the films we watch. Some are lucky enough to have a 'happily
ever after' while others have a tragic end involving death or destitution. At
the end of our very own drama 'SC and the PG', (referring to the Supreme
Court and provincial government, not parental guidance though God knows PG
needs that); the parties at the higher end of the food chain have something
to brag about. The Supreme Court has a suo moto action and a subsequent
Prohibition of Kite Flying Almost 300,000 families all over the country used to benefit from the once-thriving business. Now, these families have been forced to seek alternate means of support. "It was an easy way to earn a living since the whole family was involved in the activity," says Mian Aslam, an ex-contractor who used to employ about 50 kite-making families. "Some own a shop, others work in one. Some have become vendors, others drive rickshaws. Many of the ex-manufacturers have taken loans from relatives or friends. They did so with the intention of setting up businesses but spent it all on food and clothes. Now they are not only broke but also in debt." Malik Shafique, of Lahore Kite Flying Association adds, "Almost five months ago, as a result of our protests and complaints, the chief minister told Mian Amir to help those affected by the ban by facilitating bank loans. The banks were ready to give loans but they wanted a guarantee. Neither the city nor the provincial government was ready to be the guarantor. We could not be our own guarantors so nothing changed." Shafique has been in the kite manufacturing business for almost 20 years. According to him: "Our production used to be in crores but for the last two years our business is as good as dead. Almost all factories have been sealed. The manufacturers still have stocks worth millions but they can't sell all of their stock during the two-day Basant, not even during the 15 days that the government has allowed for kite business. The least that the government can do is to buy that stock from us in order to compensate us." The government maintains that the ban on kite flying has been lifted especially to benefit the kite manufacturers. Yet Mohammad Shabbir, disagrees vehemently: "The government is celebrating Basant to make money. How can they say that the ban has been lifted to benefit us? The Supreme Court told the Punjab Government that it would be held accountable for any loss of life. The Punjab Government in turn said that the union councils would be responsible. Now the UC nazims have said that kite manufacturers and associations will be answerable for any loss of life or damage to property. In the event of the former, the associations have to pay Rs. 10 lakh to the family of the deceased. Where is that money going to come from when we don't have enough to take care of our needs?" Since the last few years, for better or for worse, kite flying has taken the form of a competitive sport rather than a recreation. More than any thing else, it was the material that the twine was coated with that gave the twine its strength and the competitors an edge. Hasan Ali, whose family used to make twines, says: "This two-day Basant is of no use to us. We used to pride ourselves on the size of our kites and the strength of twines. But all the manufacturers are going to sell their old stock of kites in the market and I won't be able to make a good quality pinni since it takes almost six months. There used to be over 10,000 addas for making pinni but now there are only a few. They too are owned by people with contacts in the government. We used to make enough money a few years ago to last us for four to six months but I don't think we will be able to earn enough to buy us ration for even a month." Large local and multinational companies have divided the city among them and have decked the roads with banners promoting their respective brands. They have booked many roof tops in the old city to hold parties. PHA has earned huge commissions since it is responsible for leasing those roof tops. The hotels are full and are reaping desired profits. The government is ready to boast about another milestone achieved in its 'Destination Pakistan' campaign after welcoming over 5,000 tourists. It will pocket the projected one billion rupees with gloating satisfaction. Yet the bright yellow picture remains lacklustre. Maybe it is not the end that matters. Maybe what is important is what end of the food chain you are at.
MOOD
S T R E E T By Aziz Omar What used to be the poor man's aviation sport has now taken on more costly and complicated dimensions. The age old phrase that suggested for someone having nothing better to do to go fly a kite, does not hold true anymore. Now one has to procure a license to practice what has been deemed as a 'lethal' activity. The police response to
illegal kite flying has become more prompt than that to serious crimes such
as burglaries. And the kite lootayras of yesteryear may now be actual
looters, as their sport is now under more vigilance. The officially sponsored
antenna-based safety device might suffice against the occasional threat of
stringed danger. Strangely enough, the kind of injury that has a much greater To top it all, the Jashane-Baharan is still being held in a celebratory manner, even though its main protagonist is in the throes of being wiped out. In its place, perhaps the people could start building radio-controlled model aeroplanes that could be flown in to each other in the characteristic style of the paicha. Aii bo Crash! By the way the spring is all too plastic, at least so far. Perhaps the announcement was made a bit early -- before the spring actually set in. So the people better do with colourful imitation flowers springing out of tight-necked bottles -- not pots or jars -- for now. And concerts, catwalks, parties and a city bedecked with banners that advertise the advertiser a lot more than they do bahar. Wait for the actual spring, meanwhile!. ******** Well, this may seem like I'm going to make a different point here. But no, I'm not. This too is about Basant and helmets... and police. So whatever the laws and rules the administration may come up with -- to bypass some other rulings issued in the court rooms -- the police gets to have a field day. New rules are actually a boon, since there always will be violators. The police become active in rounding up parents and family of those insisting on flying kites and charging hefty sums out of their poor pockets. The police here work by their own logic. The laws may not deter people from committing crimes but the cash loss would certainly do. Nothing on the ground seems to prove their logic but they follow it.
********* No I'm not going to make another point. I am still on the subject. It's basant and the city and the banners. Yes the banners. Not all the banners in the city are all goody goody celebrating ones. There are others alongside that foretell the dark side of basant. Agla Nishana Aap ka Lakhte Jigar be Ho Sakta He reads a banner displayed on the canal crossing, a warning to motorcyclists. It could not get any more shocking than this!
The two day basant has taken away from the common kite-fliers their chance to enjoy the cheapest and most enjoyable winter sport By Sarah Sikandar "I can afford to buy hundred kites but there is nothing like looting," exclaims 13-year-old Amir. For Amir and his five brothers basant is the most exciting festival of the year. "We never wait for Eid as much as we do for basant. All my brothers' friends start planning for basant months before the festival. Things are not the same.this time. When we go to buy kites they tell us to come on the basant days. Its not like it used to be." Amir's opinion is shared by many Lahoris who feel the same for this time basant brings with it many memories and a tussle between judiciary and administration. What remains unchanged however, is the price commonman has to pay. Basant, which has been one of Lahore's oldest indigenous festivals, has come a long way from being a celebration to 'the deadly sport'. In the contemporary technology-oriented lifestyle kite-flying is one of the very few ancient sports being kept alive by the people of Lahore. The clique of kite-fliers largely incorporate government school students who can't afford to indulge in after school swimming classes. Another important member of
this community is the menial labourer who works most part of the day to make
ends meet, like Amir. The most devoted member, however, is a considerable
part of the Nasir, 21, is a household servant and resides in interior Lahore. "It was only during extreme summer or rain that kites were not seen in my area. Basant or no basant, kite-flying has always been the favourite past-time of our people. Since the ban mothers are reluctant to allow their children to fly kites lest they get themselves in trouble." Lahore's love for kite-flying has never been restricted by climatic conditions. This time, however, the challenge comes in the form of rupees one lakh fine along with three year imprisonment. In a country like Pakistan where common man is devoid of basic recreational activities like cinema, theatre or even sports, kite-flying is probably the cheapest and most enjoyable. While the hip restaurants and hangout spots are exclusive domain of the elite, the middle class man has to amuse himself since his is the toughest existence. "We work like slaves", says Awan, a factory worker, "and I think it is our right to relax. Earlier, I would go directly to the roof top after coming home. This time I will enjoy more than ever because I know its only for two days". Issues related to common man are always marginalised. Measures need to be taken to condemn those who play with the lives of people but the ban is far from a solution for it only boils up the anger. The ban has not only agitated the common kite-flier but also affected the business. Awais is a kite maker who has been in the business for many years. "It had never crossed my mind that kite-flying would be banned in our country, especially Lahore. The government should nab those who prepare glass-coated string. I used to sell kites all year long, basant is here and the sale is not half as much as it used to be". Saqib is an event manager who arranges parties and functions. He believes that two day basant is ridiculous. "But it does not affect our business. Our clients usually arrange basant parties either on basant night or day which remains unchanged." People like Saqib are very rare for the tradition is kept alive by the masses. Two-day basant will probably limit the event to being a tourist attraction. Many like Awais will find one way or the other to spend their time, what will remain is the threat indigenous culture faces. This also questions our role as a nation who have failed to preserve their culture.
• Concert today, of Atif Aslam at the Air Avenue Housing Scheme, a Jashn-e-Baharan event. Contact 111-109-111 or 111-109-109
• Basant Festival function at Alhamra Hall 1, The Mall with music and surprises today at 9pm.
• Play: 'Musannaf Saat Kirdaron ki Talash main', from Monday, Feb 26 to Wednesday, March 7 from 6pm to 9pm at Alhamra Hall 2, The Mall. Director: Salman Shahid.
• Play: 'Ghar to Akhir Apna Hae' on Thursday, Feb 22 at Alhamra, Hall 2, The Mall, from 6pm to 8:30pm by Saqib Jahangir.
• Fair: 22nd Lahore International Book Fair till Monday, Feb 26 at Expo Centre Fortress Stadium.
• Conference: National Geographical Conference 2007 at the Punjab University Geography Department on Monday, Feb 26 at 10am.
• TV Recording: Tariq Aziz Show, recording at Alhamra, The Mall on Monday, Feb 26 at 4pm. Take invitations from PTV.
• Music Programme on Tuesday, Feb 27 at 8pm at Alhamra Arts Council, The Mall for free. For details call 0322-4477547.
• APMC monthly classical concert - flute/vocals, on Thursday, 1st March at 6pm at Alhamra Hall III, The Mall. cityissues Running out of space Contractors in charge of parking lots are flouting rules as the roads are receiving more and more cars everyday By Aoun Sahi In Lahore vehicles have been increasing at a tremendous rate while open spaces are also vanishing with construction or encroachments upon them going on at almost the same speed. This has resulted in huge parking problems in the city. In some areas of city it is impossible to park one's vehicle during working hours. A friend says he went to Circular road two days back on his car to buy something. It took him almost two hours to get a place to park his car. "Walled city is not the only area where you don't find space, the situation is like that almost every where in the city. Parking is a big problem and more or less government is responsible for it," he says. Most of the contractors of parking slots have encroached upon more space than was awarded to them. They are also not observing rules and regulations, he adds. To elaborate his point of view he further informs that the Nila Gumbad Chowk which was 60 feet wide, has now been reduced to an alley of 10 feet due to encroachments on parking slots by contractors and shopkeepers of the area. "Parking issue is directly linked to the rapid increase in number of vehicles and unplanned commercialisation in the city," says Waseem Ahmed Khan, City Traffic Police Chief. The registered number of vehicles in Lahore has crossed 1.5 million figure and more than 300 vehicles are being added to this figure with every passing day. There are hundreds of newly constructed or under constructed plazas in city with no parking space. "There are private schools in every second street of the city, especially in posh areas with no arrangements for parking for the vehicles that drop or pick the students. They are one cause of traffic jams in these areas," he says. The solution to the issue is education, only then people will observe traffic and parking rules. There is so much shortage of parking space in the city that government is allowing contractors to use main roads as parking stands. At present city district government has allowed no less than 50 slots on 12 roads of the city as parking stands. In addition to that different town administrations in the city have awarded contracts of 75 parking stands on different roads and open spaces in their jurisdictions. These parking slots in most of the cases create severe hindrance in smooth flow of traffic. The contractors not only overcharge they also do not observe rules and regulations in most of the cases. As per rules they cannot park behind vehicles along the roads but they flout this rule. Traffic Engineering and Planning Authority Lahore's director planning and development Chaudhry Muhammad Younus is of the view that before awarding a contract of parking slot on city road, government should consult with Tepa, which they don't. He says there is confusion among different government departments like city district administration, town administrations, traffic police, Tepa and Lahore Development Authority (LDA) on the responsibility to fix this problem. Younus suggests that different areas and roads in the city should be distributed among these authorities to tackle all traffic related problems of that area or road "so that there is one authority answerable to both public and administration on the issue," he adds. Public Facility District Officer Nasrullah Khan says that vehicles in Lahore are increasing at such a speed that people have to use roads, service lanes and footpaths for parking. He says the city government strictly monitors performance of contractors. "If we find them violating rules and regulations we fine them or cancel their contract." The solution of the problem, according to him, is construction of parking plazas and introduction of good public transport system. "Government at present is working on both. We have given many incentives to private parties who want to build parking plazas and are also working on mass transit system in Lahore," he says. Addiction as entertainment Video games shops in the city
meant for children only, have become centres of unhealthy activities and call
for action When I recall my childhood, I am reminded of the different games that we played like hide & seek (chhoopan chhopai), pakran pakrai, kabaddi and gulli danda. The fast pace of life has changed everything, now other things have caught children's attention like play station and computer games. For those who do not have access to these gadgets there are video games shops in every other mohalla in the city. Ask any child how they love to spend their spare time, chances are you will get an earful about video games. Whatever the reasons might be, majority of youngsters are more willing to kill time by playing video games rather than any physical activity like cricket, hockey or football. Today video game stores are their favourite hangout. Naturally, parents are anxious about the safety of their children while they are engaged in some recreational activities in spare time and are not in full view. Video games are very addictive, says Roshan Tariq, a mother of a child who loves these games. Like other addictions, video games have replaced friends and family as part of a child's emotional life. While sharing her personal experience she says that when her son started going to video games shop, she noticed obvious changes in his personality. His behaviour became violent and he started using abusive language. With time he started spending more time at the video games shop and neglecting his homework. Eventually, things started to worsen at both home and school. His grades began to fall and family time became least important. "Video games should be banned because they are creating problems beyond our imagination," says Mian Suhail. All kinds of people come to these so-called entertainment spots including drug addicts, homosexuals, criminals and children who are regular visitors to these shops are at the disposal of these people, Suhail adds. "You will always see a veil in front of every game shop. Why? One would ask, is something wrong going on there? They run the risk of becoming drug addicts and criminals when their surroundings are unhealthy. You never know if children are being sexually abused here." Who is supposed to protect them? I would say, everyone because children and youth are our future. Yes, parents alone cannot do that. Suleman, who runs a video games shop claims that the veil is to keep sunlight away from the screens for someone playing a game. While he agrees that most such shops are crime spots he believes that it happens only where the owner himself is involved in such activities. He denies the allegation that these shops sell drugs. "This place is like paradise," says a 15-year-old who does not want his name to be disclosed. While enjoying his drug filled cigarette he tells us that this is the best place for enjoyment, drugs and shelter from police. "Police does not raid this place as it is meant for children but anyone can come here and have fun. There is no restriction of age," he adds. These shops pose serious threat to health and morality of children, says Dr. Muhammad Sajjad. These shops should remain closed during school hours because children skip school to spend time there. "Majority of elected members of union councils are even not aware of this crucial matter," says Haji M. Ilyas Butt, Naib Nazim of Union Council 70. He believes that these shops have been turned into hub of criminal activities. "A young boy was kidnapped from a games shop. People approached me and I was able to close this shop but only with the help of the landlord of that shop as there is no law to help here." Nazim or naib nazim cannot take solo action as we are not law enforcement authority, its only the social workers who can motivate people through hand bill about this problem. Union council can only take action against it if people complain about these shops, Ilyas Butt says. Proper rules and regulations are need of the hour for lawful running of game shops so that we can save our children from the hands of criminals, he suggests. To protect children from this evil parents should take responsibility to provide a selection of activities which are healthy for them. On the other hand concerned authorities should be aware of their duties as children are our communal responsibility.
QUESTIONS TOP10 Ways to relax in Lahore 1. Food
2. Juggat Bazi
3. Cricket
4. Tharey Bazi
5. Head massage at Railway Station 6. Lawrence Garden
7. Smoking
8. Pedicure
9. Sheesha
10. Working out at the gym To enlist by popular vote the 'top ten' for next week, send in your emails on top ten 'Traffic bottlenecks in Lahore'. Please email at shehrtns@gmail.com
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Ordinance; while the provincial government has an
amended ordinance by virtue of which it can flout the Supreme Court's order
to suit its whims. The clique left bereft in all this is that of the people
whose livelihood depended on kite and kite-twine making. One man's justice is
certainly another's injustice.
incidence of happening due to the lack of wearing a helmet is being grossly
overlooked. The stringy thing installed in automobiles that actually saves
lives is just considered a feature for optional use.
population who have a lot of leisure at hand. Kite-flying is
their favourite past-time because it is supposed to be harmless and involves
least amount of work. No wonder, it is Lahore's beloved sport.
