So what is different...?

Well it is too early to say if this marriage is a career move or a politically motivated act.In the past two days since this news break...it had attracted a lot of worldwide media attention.It came as a surprise for both the cricket fans and the tennis fans not to mention the people of India and Pakistan.
There marriage may not be the rocket science but everybody knows that both of them desperately needs some kind of a boaster to break out of their current positions or shall I say dispositions.....both these beautiful sports persons have been a constant joy and pride for me so I feel it is my duty to wish them both well on this occasion and a happy healthy and prosperous life in the future...
BEST OF LUCK SHOAIB & SANIA.....

Ah Benazir....!

With the UN probe about to release its report on the assassination of Late Benazir Bhutto...I sense there is a little treachery in the air. The opposition is very hopeful that somehow the close associates of the Late Benazir Bhutto might be named in that report and there is a chance to topple the leadership of Pakistan.

Spy Wednesday....are we there yet?

Okay as you all know Iam not a christian by birth or by choosing never have and never will be....but there is something about the Lent that challenges me year after year...
In order to quench my thirst I give-up something that I consider to be indulging for the whole lent not just forty days...that is from shrove Tuesday to the Easter and beyond...This lent I gave-up all the things in the pictures here and more...
The thing I have felt about the Lent is that on the shrove Tuesday I was hopeful and worried and today when the Lent is almost over...I am humble yet fired up....The Lord acts in mysterious ways....!

Pakistan's superstar cricketer Muhammad Yousuf calls it a day...!

Former Pakistan captain Mohammad Yousuf retired from international cricket Monday in response to the Pakistan Cricket Board's decision to ban him for an indefinite period.

"I don't want to harm Pakistan and it's better I should quit," Yousuf said in Karachi, adding he had received a letter from the board saying his presence was harmful to the team.

The board suspended Yousuf and another former captain, Younis Khan, for an indefinite period earlier this month because of infighting between the two that affected the team's recent performances against Australia.

"Throughout my career I have tried to win laurels for the country," Yousuf said. "I am sorry not only to the whole nation but also to those if I have hurt them."

The 35-year-old Yousuf added that he will continue to play first-class domestic cricket.

No newspaper good news or bad....?

I am a Gemini and this is what my horoscope in today's newspaper that I did not get had to say....

every once in a while there comes a day when for some odd reason I don't get to have and to hold the Morning newspapers....but gone are the days when I had to go get it my self from the stand or have to wait for the paperboy to come and give a silly excuse....In the past I even had to look around every nook and corner of the front of the house inside and outside incase the paperboy might have missed the usual spot.....Imagine you looking at your own house in disbelief and what if somebody do that on purpose just to have a candid camera video of you....anyways, today I got my tea mug and looked for the newspaper it wasn't there so I when back inside to see if somebody else had picked it up before me....after making very sure I when out again and looked behind the trees and bushes....for maybe two,three minutes....than I came in and saw the e-paper on the net....
I have heard a lot about the new innovation in the newspaper industry called the kindle....but Iam not sure the local industry is ready to take that bold step....especially at these tough financial times.

Happy Psalm sunday

11th rabi us sani or the giyarveen shareef.

It is a family tradition that on the 11th day of the islamic month of Rabi us sani....we offer fateha(prayer) for Hazrat shaikh Abdul Qadir Jillani (RA)Ghous ul azam Ghous pak.. a decendant of the Holy prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and is believed to be a saint by birth.
On this day we have a feast usually consisting of biryani and we remember his life and teachings.
Today due to lack of communication we had a takeaway chicken Biryani with sweet kheer and coke and a home cooked Mutton pulao....alhamdulillah.

Matric(ix &xth) class exams in more troubles...

The Islamiat paper was cancelled today just minutes before the start of paper because it was leaked out.
According to Examinations Controller, he was informed that Islamiat paper in Matric (science group) was let out through SMS, on this he took action and cancelled the paper.

The new date for today’s cancelled paper would be announced later.

It should be mentioned that today was the first paper of the Matriculation exams being taken by the 150,000 students; however, the paper was cancelled ten minutes before it started.
Earlier the Matric exams were postponed for two days on the 24th march because many candidates did not get their entry admit cards by the Board of secondry education Karachi.

Palin-McCain togather again....????

Last night I was watching CNN's Rosemary church dressed in mustard and black looking very cool when suddenly she breaks this story from Tuscan,Arizona that Sarah palin is campaigning for john McCain RT@rosemaryCNN Sarah Palin campaigns 4 Sen McCain. Why does he need her help? I'll ask Jessica Yellin - she's live from Arizona #news #cnn 9:18 PM Mar 26th via web

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

For all those like me who firmly believe that Sarah palin was the main reason John mcCain lost the race to the white house this could be a chance to confirm their belief yet again.Oh God there is a God....!

US-Pakistan agree on cooperation...!

The first two day US-Pakistan strategic dialogue ended yesterday in washington.
Now the truth is that I have no clue as to what the agenda was for this dialogue nor does I know what is the outcome.So all I can do at this point is speculate which is against my religion.Instead on making circles in the sand I try to draw conclusions of my own from what has been said and done in the past two days.Knowing very well that the dialogue was not conclusive as declared before the commencement that I should be prepared for another round of dialogue in Islamabad soon.

The Key Players:The secretary of state and the joint chief (****) from the US side and Foreign minister and Army chief from Pakistan side.One thing I am very sure about is that it was not about the US aid because these people usually don't handle the matters relating the Aid to pakistan which has already been settled and approved by the congress($1.5B annual).
The Secretary Clinton has accepted the fact last year that Pakistan has been taken for a ride by the united states of America a couple of times and she believes that it was wrong.The truth is that people in Pakistan are never very comfortable with the US hanging around.Unfortunately and because of the strategic importance of Pakistan the US needs it time and again like a desperate housewife needs a plumber.So even when The US trying to be so nice and all...people here knows for a fact that after 9/11 Musharraf enjoyed a choice when Bush said "you are either with us or against us" now about a dacade later there is no "EITHER" for their very dear Gen kiyani.And believe me I am not kidding because the first thing this strategic dialouge has agreed upon on a priority is the construction of Roads in the northern areas such as Malakand,peshawar,hayatabad and Swat areas.adding a truck lane to the Peshawar ring road,four km bypass of hayatabad giving free access to the torkham pass to the trucks in transit from Karachi port to the afghanistan.
The question that comes to mind here is that how long this route will be required by the US(NATO) troops in afghanistan.and what happens after the troops withdrawal.....

World TB Day 2010

Today I found this interesting article(blog) about the World TB day which was dm to me by my twitter friend Dr Ahsan.I thought it would be good to spread the word maybe someone could benefit from it.



World TB, or Tuberculosis, Day is celebrated every year on 24^th March to raise awareness about the global epidemic of tuberculosis (TB) and efforts to eliminate the disease. One-third of the world's population is currently infected with TB. Tuberculosis, malaria, & human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) together kill more than 5 million people annually.

The annual event on 24 March marks the day in 1882 when Dr Robert Koch detected the cause of tuberculosis, i.e., the bacterium known as Mycobacterium Tuberculosis. So,

What is Tuberculosis?

Tuberculosis, or TB, is an infectious disease that usually affects the lungs but that can attack other parts of the body.

What causes tuberculosis?

The bacterium known as Mycobacterium Tuberculosis.

How it is spread?

TB is spread through the air when a person with tuberculosis disease of the lungs or throat coughs or sneezes. People nearby may breathe in these bacteria and become infected.

TB in the lungs or throat can be infectious, means that the bacteria can be spread to other people. TB in other parts of the body, such as the kidney or spine, is usually not infectious.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms of tuberculosis depend on where in the body the tuberculosis bacteria are growing. TB bacteria usually grow in the lungs, which causes

• a bad cough that lasts longer than 2 weeks
• pain in the chest
• coughing up blood or sputum

Other symptoms of tuberculosis disease are

• weakness or fatigue
• weight loss
• no appetite
• chills
• fever
• sweating at night.

How it is diagnosed?

It is diagnosed by a positive tuberculin skin test, abnormal chest x-ray or positive sputum smear/culture.

How it is treated?

TB disease can be cured successfully with anti-TB drugs, which are usually prescribed for 8-9 months.

How it can be prevented & what role you can play?

By helping the patients with TB to take the anti-TB drugs exactly as prescribed, so that they don’t miss a single dose.

By educating the community about TB.

Dr Shama Khalid takes oath as Governor of Gilgit-Baltistan

Gilgit-Baltistan has been the most troubled regions of Pakistan recently....in this northern part of pakistan the talebans took control under the leadership of pro-taleban tribal chief Mulla sufi muhammad and at one point it seem that they were just a few miles away from Islamabad.hundreds of thousands were force to leave their homes and lively hood and take refuge in other parts of the country they were popularly known as IDP's (internally displace people). Then after the initiative of Pakistan army all of FATA(federally administrated tribal area) was liberated from sufi muhammad and his followers.
Now the first woman governor has been appointed

Lucky Pakistan day for cricketer Shahid Khan Afridi

Just a few months ago the flamboyant cricketer of Pakistan Shahid khan afridi was caught on camera fooling around with a cricket ball....they used to call it ball tempering but the cricketing world is still unsure what he did was ball tempering or not....
Being a afridi pathan in the cricket field he is well known for his impatience and improvisation....anyways personally I feel that he got away with murder this time....only to be rewarded with a pakistan day medal pride of performance and being appointed as the captain of the twenty20 Pakistan squad for the championship in april 2010 and since pakistan holds the cup from last year...Shahid Khan afridi and his lads will be defending the honor....I believe there cannot be a better time for me to go for Umra that I have been putting off for an opportunate time.

The Beginning of Matric(X) class exams postponed

Last Night in a very surprise move the then governor of Sindh taking notice of the non issuance of exam entry admit card to thousands of candidates which came to his notice after some candidates protested...,the honorable governor postponed the exams for two days....and instructed the board of secondary education karachi to make sure all candidates are issued the admit card by then.
Here in this part of the sub-continent a matric exam is the most important milestone in a persons life....after passing this exam a child leaves the school.to sit in this exam a child has to have completed ten years of school plus three years of pre-school kindergarten.some even take a longer route so a matric student is also at the verge of puberty...
Now imagine the anxiety and mental stress our kids must be facing last night when this news break....phones began to ring....SMS's ,e-mails chat-rooms came to life...most newspapers stop presses...whole night when by in disbelief...specially for those who have got the admit cards....

About a century ago I remember when my matric paper of english got postponed more than once....it gave me multiple chances to prepare.....and to my greatest surprise....I got 20% more marks (A) than my average marks(B) in all papers.but than I was one of the most carefree persons in the whole neighborhood and I did not have a mobile,cable or the net back then....so what i did or didnot is totally irrelevant now...
I hope and pray that all the issues are resolved as soon as possible and that the kids are not subjected any extra mental pressure and test other than their studies and papers.
Godspeed kids!

The beach....

In Karachi the seaview beach of Clifton is one of the most popular and easily accessible beach.Hundreds of people visit it every day specially during the hot summer months to get some relief from the heat and the load shedding of power.and because it is the most crowded beach in town...it is also the dirtiest beach.
a walk on this beach is sometimes very painful experience because you see so much garbage laying here and there...wrappers of the snacks,shoppers,caps,bottles, tetrapacks,papercups,nappies,cigratte ends and pack,supari wrappers...etc etc...people eat and drink and throw the remains just anywhere

Happy Pakistan Day 2010

I don't like the new pepsi ad campaign running on local tv channels...it is gender biased showing only male singers and male sportsmen....when infact it is only women that has brought the fame and honor for the country in sports...recently.

The International Water Day 2010

Few months ago One fine afternoon I was watching a Movie on the cable movie channel when they interrupted movie and instead of a two minutes break for ads they started a documentry about Mr Mustafa kamal the ex city mayor's visit to the US and his lectures at the Harvard and columbia Universities....In one of his lectures he tried to remind the Americans that I am the mayor(nazim) of a city from whose port the drinking water for the hundred thousand US troops comes....He went on saying that if that water does not reach the troops they will be forced to drink the local water and will fell ill.They played this video about a million times for months...during the movies.I only watched it once and laughed and forget the movie I was so interestingly watching before...turned off the tv and grabed a cup of tea.

the first Nauroz of 2010 is being celebrated today....

Today I woke at exactly 10 O'clock in the morning with the cry of the pushcart man from the local Nursery.....he comes every Sunday at about the same time with flower and plants pots....I was so sleepy that I even did not bothered to look out of the window to see what flowers is he selling today I take so many things for granted everytime I say no to buying his flower pots I feel he prays to whatever God he prays that I have a girlfriend only then I'll know his worth .I don't know about him but thanks to being on the net all night last night I knew it was the Happy Nauroz...today...the beginning of the spring season.The first day of the Persian calender and The Equinox...when for us in Karachi the length of day and night is equal due to the position of the sun and earth in the solar system....
All the people in Karachi who has ancestors from Persia or links to the persia celebrates Nauroz such as The Ismaili's and the loyalist shia's who donot follow mulla ....as for parsi's,buckshees...and other bumlicker...who are busy on march 21st hearing ching ching....the Nauroz comes again at the beginning of Autumn usually in july/august....

نوبهار است در آن کوش که خوشدل باشی
کـه بسی گل بدمد باز و تو در گل باشی
من نگویم که کنون با که نشین و چه بنوش
کـه تو خود دانی اگر زیرک و عاقل باشی
چنـگ در پرده همین می‌دهدت پند ولی
وعظـت آن گاه کند سود که قابل باشی
در چمن هر ورقی دفتر حالی دگر اسـت
حیف باشد که ز کار همـه غافـل باشی
نـقد عـمرت بـبرد غصه دنیا به گزاف
گر شب و روز در این قصه مشکـل باشی
گر چه راهیست پر از بیم ز ما تا بر دوست
رفـتـن آسان بود ار واقف مـنزل باشی
حافـظا گر مدد از بخت بـلـندت باشد
صید آن شاهد مطـبوع شـمایل باشی

In the spring, open your heart to joyous infusions
Like flowers open up, or stay in muddy collusions.
I cannot tell you to befriend this, or drink that
Wit and wisdom display your own solutions.
Strings of the harp sing out the same advice
When worthy, you will reach your conclusions.
Each blade of grass speaks of its life's tale
Alas if self-absorbed you're free from inclusions.
Worry not, else you will lose your precious now
If stuck in day's and night's revolutions.
Though fears are strewn upon the path of Love
Pass easy if free from destination's confusions.
O Hafiz, if fortune upon you smiles
Become prey to that Witness of illusions.

Holiday in sindh today.

Today the Government of Sindh province announced a holiday for all Sindh to mark the death anniversary of a pir sibghatullah rashidi pir pagaro a rebel leader of sindh who was hanged till death by the British rulers on March 20th 1943 he was the founder of the HUR movement who were termed as dacoits by the British and the later Indian government after independence....His son popularly known as Pir pagaro the current leader of the HUR and also the chief of PML (F) is a well known figure in pakistani politics for decades.

Karachi is sizzling hot today....

Gul Ahmad Summer 2010 collection

US-Pakistan relations at a make or break point....?

The US-Pakistan strategic dialogue in Washington has caused quite a stir here in Pakistan...the opposition and the military is bewildered at what might be at stake and what will be compromised...the PPP government itself seems very unsure as to why they have been invited for this dialogue.
The most interesting thing about the US politics these days is that Hazrat Obama is overly obsessed with his health and insurance reforms bills...to him and his Organizing for America campaign it is the most important thing since MR Obama became the president of the united states of America.Today following his Twitter I found out about a new campaign #I'M HERE FOR .....through which the OFA hopes to motivate the masses for his reform bill and pressure the GOP and the congress.
Now at a time like this I am really not sure how the Team Pakistan is supposed to play but I sure hope and pray that they will somehow play in the interest of the people of Pakistan.

Happy Saint Patricks Day...

The Saint Patricks Cathedral in the heart of the city Sadder karachi

Beckham to miss World Cup: doctor

,

LONDON (AFP) – The surgeon who operated on David Beckham's ruptured Achilles tendon in Finland on Monday ruled out any possibility of the England star recovering in time for the World Cup.

Sakari Orava told AFP: "The operation was done, it went well and it will take many months for him to recover."

He added there was "no chance" of Beckham making the June 11-July 11 showpiece in South Africa for what would have been an English record fourth World Cup finals appearance.

"That is quite clear," Orava said.

This bomb shell was dropped on millions of football fans all over the world.the beckham couple is known and loved all over the world not just by thier country and the club AC Milan.together they are the most popular couple throughout the world and especially in the media.The Fifa world cup 2010 scheduled to begin in june just two and a half months away...will not be the same without the Beckhams....