Clik here to view.
Lawrence of Drigh Road: Flashback to Karachi's past
Matteela Films presents a short film in stop motion based on the letters of TE Lawrence that he wrote during his stay in Karachi in early 20th century.We had set out to make three short films based on...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Food Stories: Mango sharbat
Our annual love affair with mango is fervent, albeit short. Mirza Ghalib best understood our relationship with the mango, and William Dalrymple in his book The Last Mughal quoted the following,...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Munawar Shakeel: Cobbling his way to five award-winning books
In the small suburban town of Rodala, located in Jaranwala, Faisalabad, there sits a cobbler in the main bazaar, Munawar Shakeel, who has been repairing the shoes of the villagers for three decades...
View ArticleTorture approved: Why the American Psychological Association's apology is not...
American psychologists are in dire need of therapy. A scathing report documents the collusion between past executives of the American Psychological Association (APA) and the American defence...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Lake Manchar: Pakistan's floating village
Manchar Lake, the floating village of Pakistan, lies 18 kilometres west of Sehwan Sharif on the Indus Highway. It is claimed to be one of the biggest freshwater lakes in Pakistan, and the only lake...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Milli was a good dog
Adopted by the Abid family as a young pup, Milli was a gentle, loving dog, as Labradors tend to be.On one occasion, an injured pigeon landed in Milli’s house. While the Abid family nursed it for days,...
View ArticleIt's okay to not be okay: My struggle with depression
“What’s the English word for editorial guidelines?” I thought to myself as I fumbled and then eventually froze, quickly hanging up in the middle of a telephonic interview for my dream job. I realised I...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Eid messages…
From Prime Minister Nawaz SharifDear patriots and patwaris,Assalamualaikum. Full stop. New para.I take this asparagus … err … aus … aus… auspicious occasion to greet you all a very hefty … err … happy...
View ArticleRIP statuses and what they say about us
If there is a single abbreviation that defines the nature of new media discourse, it is 'RIP'. From an expression of grief and condolence, the acronym 'RIP' has now come to represent one's status in...
View ArticleBrown against brown: Pakistan's fairness complex
People claim racism is a western phenomenon and that its roots sprouted there. However, we forget the subtle, latent racism that flies by every day in our own society. It has merely been overshadowed...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Swat's White Palace: Cut from the same stone as the Taj Mahal
There are several things that keep pushing me, over and over, to visit the Marghazar Valley in Swat: Mount Elum, the lush green gorgeous landscape, serene environment, its historical sacredness, and...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Food Stories: Saviyaan
My memories associated with Ramazan and meethi Eid are of wonderful times with family, friends; food, laughter, joy and of course, saviyaan. My mother made the most delicious saviyaan come Eid every...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Saving Karachi’s oldest Eid Gah
Akhtar Balouch, also known as the Kiranchi Wala, ventures out to bring back to Dawn.com’s readers the long forgotten heritage of Karachi. Stay tuned to this space for his weekly fascinating...
View ArticleA bullet with our name: De-weaponising Pakistan will not be easy
Living with his parents in a village near Sialkot, Qasim Ali was everyone’s favourite child. On most afternoons, he played cricket outdoors with his best friend, Saqlain. One afternoon, a neighbourhood...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Haji Rabri: Hyderabad's 67-year-old delectable tradition
As Eidul Fitr celebrations reach their peak, the only thing worrying Naveed Sheikh is how to acquire pure milk in the immense quantities required to continue supplying Rabri to his customers during Eid...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The gurdwaras of Potohar: A missed opportunity for religious tourism
In the aftermath of war or exodus, when one community leaves their religious or secular buildings behind them, there is always another community which occupies these buildings. The same occurred after...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Passion to profession: A Pakistani's journey to playing cricket in Germany
Cricket and Germany – two words that just don’t go together. Except, of course, if there is a Pakistani present; in that case, his passion for the game will ensure the seeds of cricket are not left...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The political victimisation of Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy
10 Downing Street, London, and 10 Victoria Road, Karachi, are two similarly sounding and important, if not equally important, addresses. One is the official residence of the British Prime Minister, the...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Dancing off polio: The wedding entertainer from Arifwala
—Photo by author.He was feeling isolated at home since his father entered a second marriage, leaving behind him, his eight siblings and his mother. As a severe financial crises erupted in the...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Under the trance of Ratti Gali Lake
Day 1 - 4amIn front of me lies the paratha, laden with butter to an extent that there are literally puddles on its surface. Fitting, I think, for I am still in Punjab. I devour it with a plate of daal...
View Article