SEPTEMBER 16-22 2012
SEPTEMBER 16-22 2012
Cover Story
22 Diary of a ‘Luna’tic Adil Mulki embarks on a quest to find Pakistan’s ‘lost’ moon rock
Feature
28 The Emerald Empire Faced with environmental collapse, Ameen Keryo did what any concerned citizen would do, he constructed a wetland park!
32 Chemically Crazy Have you ever stopped to think about the toxins in your food?
34 Chillin’ with a capital ‘C’ Are you stressed out? Well, head on over to Pakistan’s most healthconscious city to be renewed and rejuvenated!
22
38 Crushed The lush green forests of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa are being cut down to make way for stone-crushing units
28
Regulars 6 People & Parties: Out and about with Pakistan’s beautiful people 40 Reviews: Cold Light of Day fails to thrill 42 End Of The Line: Spin City
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Magazine Editor: Zarrar Khuhro, Senior Sub-Editor: Zainab Imam. Sub-Editors: Mifrah Haq, Ameer Hamza and Dilaira Mondegarian. Creative Team: Amna Iqbal, Jamal Khurshid, Essa Malik, Maha Haider, Faizan Dawood, Samra Aamir, Sanober Ahmed. Publisher: Bilal A Lakhani. Executive Editor: Muhammad Ziauddin. Editor: Kamal Siddiqi. For feedback and submissions: magazine@tribune.com.pk Printed: uniprint@unigraph.com
PEOPLE & PARTIES
Alizay, Naila Ishtiaq and Resham
Lajwanti Luxury PrĂŞt and Sonar Jewellers launch their retail store at Mall One in Lahore
Aamir Mazhar
Amina Kardar and Kuki
6 SEPTEMBER 16-22 2012
Aisha
Nazi and Fatima Butt
PHOTOS COURTESY SAVVY PR AND EVENTS
Amna Babar
SEPTEMBER 16-22 2012
PEOPLE & PARTIES
Munaza, Sadia and Shazre
Babloo and Uzma
Mr and Mrs Ashraf
Hamna Amir
Munib Nawaz and Rabiya
Mehreen and Shazia Gohar Aliha Chaudhary
8 SEPTEMBER 16-22 2012
PHOTOS COURTESY SAVVY PR AND EVENTS
Mehreen Omar
17
SEPTEMBER 16-22 2012
PEOPLE & PARTIES
Mahvish and Noor
Sobia and Zara
The Dark Knight Rises premieres at the Arena in Rawalpindi
PHOTOS COURTESY NUCLEUS EVENTS
Rubab with a friend
Sadia and Abbas Ali Khan
Tauseeq and Natasha
Maria and Sameer
Saad and Sajjid Zainab, Priya, Maheen and Ijaz
10 SEPTEMBER 16-22 2012
SEPTEMBER 16-22 2012
PEOPLE & PARTIES
Aleeha, Shameel and Nayab
12 SEPTEMBER 16-22 2012
Hassan
Rania
Adnan, Azhar and Talha
Fawad Khan
PHOTOS COURTESY BILAL MUKHTAR AND EVENTS
Little London Company launches in Lahore
Ciana, Misha, Natalya and Irfan
Bilal Mukhta
Amir and Farwa
Amna and Haider
SEPTEMBER 16-22 2012
PEOPLE & PARTIES
Ayesha and Fatima
Mahnoor
Zara and Natasha Hamza and Juggan Kazim
Anushka, Fatima and Maha
14 SEPTEMBER 16-22 2012
Sara and Ambreen
PHOTOS COURTESY BILAL MUKHTAR AND EVENTS
Maryam and Kiran
SEPTEMBER 16-22 2012
PEOPLE & PARTIES
L’Oréal Paris celebrates Eid with their customers with an interactive mall animation at Dolmen Mall in Karachi
Beenish Parvez
PHOTOS COURTESY LOTUS PR
Nadia Rafi
Mehreen Syed Aale Mowjee
Lubna
16 SEPTEMBER 16-22 2012
Ujala Zia
Saba and Ayesha Omar
Tapu Javeri
SEPTEMBER 16-22 2012
PEOPLE & PARTIES
Kayseria and Garnier collaborate to celebrate Eid with their customers at Vogue Towers in Lahore
Dr Shehla Juggan Kazim
Adeela and Selina Khan
Waleed Zaman
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Amna and Mahrukh Anwar SEPTEMBER 16-22 2012
Hamid Zaman
PHOTOS COURTESY FAISAL FAROOQUI
Farooq Hassan
SEPTEMBER 16-22 2012
PEOPLE & PARTIES
Rabia and Nina Akbar Saba and Zahra
Mehreen, Samra and Rida Mishi
Tariq
20 SEPTEMBER 16-22 2012
Ayesha
Hina
Gohar
PHOTOS COURTESY DESTINATION EVENTZ
Destination Eventz organises a two-day Chaand Raat festival in Lahore
SEPTEMBER 16-22 2012
COVER STORY
BY ADIL MULKI PHOTOS COURTESY NASA AND THE US CONSULATE GENERAL LAHORE
22 SEPTEMBER 16-22 2012
Pakistan has its own chand ka tukra and no, it’s not your khala’s best friend’s bahu as she would have you believe. It is a real piece of the moon, the earth’s natural satellite, hidden away in the coffers of the National Museum of Pakistan in Karachi. The moon has captivated man’s imagination since prehistoric
times but it was only as recently as the 20th century that technology finally enabled man to take practical steps towards reaching this celestial body. The American space agency Nasa ran its Apollo programme of manned and un-manned space missions
The US had decided to use the trip as a token of goodwill for the human race and share a piece of the moon with many states of the world. Pakistan was one of them
during the 1960s and 1970s while the Soviets ran their own Luna programme. Eventually, on July 20, 1969, these steps culminated
into a “giant leap for mankind” — in the words of the legendary astronaut Neil Armstrong — and a lunar module named “Eagle”
orable “Take me to the moon” deservedly became the first song to
league Buzz Aldrin to the moon. The collective sigh of relief from
some masterful diplomacy. The last of the missions was Apollo
from Nasa’s Apollo 11 mission carried Armstrong and his col-
mission control was probably audible as far as the moon and the achievement became the beginning of man’s subsequent trips to
the moon, and the moon’s reciprocal trip to earth, Pakistan and finally to me!
Nasa’s Apollo missions resulted in extending the limits of not
only science but also culture as we know it. Frank Sinatra’s mem-
be played on the moon itself, and the US used the opportunity for
17 which was carried out between December 7 and 19, 1972. Eugene Cernan was the commander of the mission, Ronald Evans
the command module pilot and professional geologist Harrison Schmitt was the lunar module pilot. The mission successfully
gathered important scientific data as well as a quantity of surface samples. And here, the moon came a step closer to Pakistan.
23
From ‘Chand Ka Tukra’ to paperweight SEPTEMBER 16-22 2012
COVER STORY
News clippings about the upcoming arrival of the Apollo 17 astronauts in Pakistan.
The Apollo 11 crew: Neil A Armstrong, Michael Collins and Edwin E Aldrin Jr. The Apollo 17 astronauts toured many countries in order to
spread the word about the missions. Pakistan, then a much
more “allied” ally of the United States, was on their itinerary
as well. They arrived in Karachi on June 17, 1973, and the nation welcomed them with aplomb. Everywhere they went, earth-
lings from Pakistan treated them not just as royalty but as if they were aliens (in a good way). During their whirlwind tour they visited the Quaid’s mausoleum and laid a wreath there in a formal ceremony. From the “first” first lady of Pakistan, the
late Begum Rana Liaquat Ali Khan who was then the Governor
of Sindh, to the then acting chief minister of Sindh Qaim Ali Shah (yes, the same person who is now the CM), leaders from all sides of the political equator welcomed them.
In the US, the politicians had decided to use the trip as a token
of goodwill for the human race and share a piece of the moon with many states of the world. Pakistan was one of them and
24
when the astronauts met Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, then the president of Pakistan, they presented to him a lunar sample from the SEPTEMBER 16-22 2012
Such was the astronauts’ commitment to reaching out that when a young man from Karachi wrote them a letter, they responded to it with an autographed picture as a memento. moon’s surface for Pakistan.
It was not just the politicians and leaders that the “men
from the moon” met. The astronauts met Suparco research-
The astronauts narrate their experience as students and teachers watch films of the historic Apollo 17 mission to the Moon.
ers and scientists as the two space agencies had been work-
ing together since 1961 and had even conducted joint rocket launches from Pakistan. Some of Suparco’s founding fathers had even received training from Nasa.
The men were treated like national heroes. Their inter-
views were broadcast by Radio Pakistan and Pakistan Television. No less an anchor than Laiq Ahmed, believed to be the
Larry King of Pakistan, conducted the PTV session. As they had visited in safer times, they also held informal Q&A ses-
sions and interactions with students and ordinary Pakistanis
and some old-timers recall how they, as young students, had enjoyed the team’s visit to the Karachi University. Such was
their commitment to reaching out that when a young man from Karachi named Tariq Moen Shaikh wrote them a letter,
they responded to it with an autographed picture as a me-
At a luncheon (from left to right) are Mr Sober, Captain Cernan, Begum Liaquat Ali Khan, and Captain Evans.
mento. Speaking about their mission and related experienc-
es, Commander Cernan once said: “We went to explore the moon, and in fact discovered the earth.”
The first time that I came to know that the ‘Pakistani’ moon
rock existed was in 2009 when reports started circulating in
the international media that a number of moon rock samples presented to various states around the world, including Pakistan, were in fact lost due to conflict, wars or plain incompe-
tence. The Pakistani press also lent credence to these reports. The “news” items disturbed me and I made a few attempts to trace the rock by speaking to my contacts from Islamabad and in Suparco, etc, but to no avail.
I went on to question older family members and they said
they knew of it — my uncle had seen it with his college mates
when it was displayed at Karachi’s Frere Hall decades ago — but had no idea what had happened since.
Disappointed by people’s apparent indifference to the loss
President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto received an autographed photo of the Apollo 17 mission from the astronauts. 25 SEPTEMBER 16-22 2012
COVER STORY
This rare picture, signed by Apollo XVII crew was shared by Mr Tariq Moen from Karachi. He received this picture in response to his letter, sent to the crew back in 1973, when he was a young college boy. of such an invaluable memento, I went back to my life and job. Little did I know that that would be the best decision I would
make in my search for Pakistan’s piece of the moon and, following the news of Armstrong’s demise, I decided I absolutely had to find the memento or at least figure out what had become of it.
As a banker, I often visit the State Bank of Pakistan and during
one such visit, oblivious to how fortuitous it would turn out to
be, I took a walk through the brilliant museum that is located
in the banking regulator’s building. Inspired by all the history
housed there, I got in touch with Asma Ibrahim, director of the
SBP’s museum and art gallery. She had been instrumental in solving another mystery from history, that of the “Persian Mum-
my”, over a decade ago and I decided to seek her assistance in this
26
endeavour too. She assured me that the rock was very much in safe custody. And that wasn’t it; she even knew where it was: the SEPTEMBER 16-22 2012
A Pakistani flag had been to the moon and back, and I had never even known about it! The country that never agrees on a single moon-sighting for Eid had had its flag carried to the moon and has a piece of the lunar surface
This piece comes from the Taurus Littrow Valley on the moon.
“This flag of your nation was carried to the moon aboard the Spacecraft America during the Apollo XVII mission, December 7-19, 1972.”
reserve collection at the National Museum of Pakistan, Karachi — out of public sight.
I waited impatiently for a Sunday when I would finally get the
“This fragment is a ... symbol of the unity of human endeavour and carries with it the hope of the American people for a world at peace.” of human endeavour and carries with it the hope of the American people for a world at peace.”
Beneath the inscription was a small Pakistani flag, which I
chance to go see Muhammad Shah Bukhari, the museum’s in-
thought was there only because the panel was presented to Paki-
and photography session of the rock. It was as if the entire state
inscription on the metal plate beneath the flag: “This flag of your
charge, who upon my request promptly arranged for a viewing
machinery had been guarding that incredible piece of history, almost waiting for someone to come looking for it.
More nervous than I had been during all my job interviews, I
waited for the artefact to be brought into the curator’s office. An officer walked in, carrying a wooden panel and an affixed glass
stan. But the biggest surprise for me came when I read another
nation was carried to the moon aboard the Spacecraft America during the Apollo XVII mission, December 7-19, 1972. Presented to the people of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan from the people of the United States of America. Richard Nixon 1973”.
A Pakistani flag that had been to the moon and back, and I had
sphere, which looked much like a mundane paper weight, im-
never even known about it! The country that never agrees on a
piece of dark rock — my own private mini holy grail of sorts! I was
and has a piece of the lunar surface safely tucked away as some-
mediately grabbed my attention. Embedded in the glass was a
over the moon, or at least face-to-face with a tiny fragment of it,
and as the initial awe subsided, I studied the other objects fixed
single moon-sighting for Eid had had its flag carried to the moon thing so precious should be.
Neil Armstrong, the first human being to set foot on the moon,
on the wooden panel. An inscription on a metal plate beneath
has permanently ended his stay on this third rock from the sun.
rus Littrow Valley of the moon. It is given as a symbol of the unity
istani moon rock has not been lost.
the rock read: “This fragment is a portion of a rock from the Tau-
We may have lost him, but it is a heartening feeling that the Pak-
SEPTEMBER 16-22 2012
27
FEATURE
the emerald
empire
When the village on Majeed Keerio was faced with environmental collapse, the locals took matters into their own hands BY TAZEEN INAM
A sea of emerald stretches out before me, a canopy of hundreds of verdant leaves crowned with red, yellow and orange canna lilies. Close by, a family of ducks happily paddles in a pond as honeybees buzz between the blooms, their lazy movements in perfect sync with the idyllic atmosphere. It’s not just the animal kingdom that’s having a good time here. A short distance away are a couple of kids splashing away in a stream of crystal clear water. All this isn’t taking place in some massive nature preserve or park, but rather in a small enclosure with mud walls. This is the village of Majeed Keerio, located in Sindh’s Sakrand
taluka, on the left bank of the once-mighty River Indus and just two kilometres from the Pai Forest. Home to about 5,000 people, life in this village has remained more or less unchanged in its
700 years of existence, and up until recently the villagers relied
on farming and rearing livestock for a living much as their ances-
28
tors had done for centuries.
SEPTEMBER 16-22 2012
But then, change came to the village of Majeed Keerio, and not
in a good way. Increasing water shortages led to fewer crops being planted and less fodder for the farm animals. So precipitous
was the decline that the World Wildlife Fund for Nature estimated that villagers in the surrounding areas lost up to 90 per cent of their livestock in just two decades, pushing many locals well below the poverty line.
Water starvation also led to gradual decimation of the nearby
Pai, Mehrabpur and Mari forests, further contributing to the environmental degradation of the area. The reduced forest cover,
in turn, raised local temperatures and reduced rainfall, creating a vicious cycle. To add to the village’s miseries, the decades-old
drainage system collapsed and blocked sewerage lines, flooding
the streets with raw sewage and human waste. Environmental apocalypse had come to Majeed Keerio.
But where most people would have despaired and done noth-
ing, one man decided to act. That man is Ameen Keryo, team
29
leader of the Sindhica Reforms Society project and the masterSEPTEMBER 16-22 2012
FEATURE mind behind what has become the first-ever constructed wet-
from the land works its way slowly through wetland soil and veg-
“We realised that the contamination of freshwater resources
reaches its next destination. In the case of natural wetlands, this
land park in Pakistan.
was the main hurdle in the path of environmental development, the protection of people’s health and also the conservation of local flora and fauna,” says Ameen. “We also decided that the easi-
etation, and many of the impurities are trapped before the water is usually the sea. In the case of Majeed Keerio, it is homes and agricultural fields.
“The constructed wetland at Majeed Keerio now treats and re-
est and cheapest way to treat this wastewater would be through
cycles 76,800 gallons of waste water per day,” says Ameen with
wetland park.”
ton, provides water for livestock and irrigates the nearby water-
low-cost biological means — in effect, through constructing a Wetlands, whether natural or constructed, are considered to
be the biological supermarkets of the world. Home to countless
pride. The treated water nourishes two-and-a-half acres of cotstarved Pai Forest. It’s also being used for household purposes.
But when he first came up with the idea, it was clear that good
plant and animal species, they are among the most productive
intentions alone weren’t going to be enough, and the immediate
water resources. Acting as nature’s sieves, wetlands filter out
task. Armed with a handbook on constructed wetlands courtesy
environments in the world and form a link between our land and dangerous pollutants and excess nutrients from the water. Water
problem was how to gain the technical skills to accomplish this of the UN Habitat: Water for Asian Cities programme, he contact-
“Constructed wetland facilities can get by with periodic on-site labour, rather than continuous full-time attention. It only needs lowtech methods as no new or complex technological tools are required,” says Nasir Ali Panhwar
30 SEPTEMBER 16-22 2012
ed the project’s South Asian chief technical adviser, Dr Roshan
Raj Shrestha and got to work. By this time, WWF-Pakistan also came on board and helped get international experts to visit the site, getting Sindhica started on this project in 2009.
“We planted a neem tree nursery to promote the greenery and
beautification of the site and also to encourage the youth to coun-
ter the lack of trees. In fact, the tree plantation and the duck farming we do in the ponds can turn out to be a source of income generation for the unit’s operation,” Ameen says.
But while these operations would have taken time before be-
coming profitable, money was immediately needed to set up the project. The cost of constructing this wetland was around Rs6 million and they needed about Rs100,000 for annual maintenance. Instead of turning to the government or to NGOs, Ameen
“The constructed wetland at Majeed Keerio now treats and recycles 76,800 gallons of waste water per day,” says Ameen
opted to mobilise those who stood to gain the most: the people of Majeed Keerio themselves. The response was stunning.
Ameen claims that the 29 different castes of the area pooled
their resources and contributed Rs100,000 in cash and close to
Rs3 million in kind, donating land and other items the team needed. What remained was made up by a WWF grant.
“Now we are charging Rs50 per month from every household
for providing water, and we sell agricultural water for Rs200 per hour,” says Ameen.
This also taught him a valuable lesson in how to mobilise com-
munities for the greater good. “Demand should be created by the community rather than by relying on NGOs or government bodies. This created pressure on the government and elected representatives for the rehabilitation of the drainage system at Majeed Keerio,” says Ameen.
It was this demand that finally prompted local MPA Ghulam
Qadir Chandio to get the drainage system repaired. The streets of Majeed Keerio are now no longer flooded with sewage and the
waste now feeds into the wetlands, where it is purified. Involv-
stan,” adds Panhwar. “Two are in Shaheed Benazirabad and
benefits as well; it reduced the cost of the project substantially
acres, the combined projects will treat an estimated 11,800 gal-
ing the community in the actual working of the project had other and got it completed on time.
“The biggest advantage [of this project] is that no energy and
three are in Sanghar district. Covering areas of only 0.25 to 0.5 lons of water every day.”
The corporate sector has also gotten involved, with both Engro
very few supplies are needed,” says Nasir Ali Panhwar of WWF-
Polymer Pakistan and Mitchell Fruit Farms taking Sindhica on
ic on-site labour, rather than continuous full-time attention. It
working with UN Habitat as consultants for their international
Pakistan. “Constructed wetland facilities can get by with periodonly needs low-tech methods as no new or complex technological tools are required,” he says.
Starting in 1993, with a group of 15 matric students out to make
a difference, the Sindhica Reform Society has come a long way, and now boasts of 50 staff members and over 300 project staff.
board to construct wetlands on various sites. The society is also projects.
“Constructed in urban centres on district and municipality lev-
els, or to a smaller extent in muhallahs, these wetlands can work miracles,” says Panhwar.
For Ameen, it’s not just a victory but a validation of years of
Their success hasn’t gone unnoticed, and they are currently en-
work. “I hope this is the beginning of a green era,” he says. “Even
than 14 sites in Pakistan, from Sindh and Punjab to Balochistan
and sincerity toward nature and the national interest gives you
gaged in consulting on constructed wetland projects in no less as well.
“The initiative is the first of its kind adopted by WWF-Paki-
though some local feudal lords do try to disrupt us, commitment the willpower to face and overcome these obstacles. If you keep moving ahead, ultimately you will win.”
SEPTEMBER 16-22 2012
31
FEATURE
FEATURE
chillin’ with a capital Does your mind and body need a break? Learn the suprising reasons that may make you head to the federal capital of Islamabad to get renewed and rejuvenated! BY ANAM MANSURI PHOTOS BY MYRA IQBAL AND EXTREME MANEUVERS ADVENTURE CLUB
‘C’
Once considered the ideal spot to move to after retirement, Islamabad’s sleepy pace has recently sped up to a more active one. If you’re health-conscious, this sterile town that has been the abode of kooky politicians, overworked journalists and self-obsessed development-sector employees is probably the next destination you should be packing your bags for if you need to detox. Offering activities that are physically challenging, help you find your spiritual centre and also
offering some fresh produce straight from the lush khaits of Punjab, Islamabad will leave the highstrung Lahori and over-worked Karachiites pleasantly surprised and possibly rejuvenated! With an
array of wellness options to choose from, and a small but hip cultural scene, Islamabad offers a commitment-phobic “big city addict” the best of both worlds — a wi-fi connection with a view.
So break a sweat while tackling one of its seven hiking trails and while away the evening sipping
fresh plum juice at one of the cafés smack in the centre of the city. Here is our guide on how to ‘de-
tox’ while in Islamabad:
What to Eat?
The Monal: Besides its stunning views and cooler temperatures, this local
and tourist hotspot offers a large range of grilled Barbeque entrées that are perfect for a high-protein diet, and a number of
vegetarian dishes, including spicy palak paneer and the indulgent
cheese naan. This is a good spot to go to when you are in the mood to clear your mind and appreciate the scenery, maybe even pick up a cultural keepsake or gifts for loved ones from one of the
34
stalls nearby. SEPTEMBER 16-22 2012
Table Talk: Table Talk is located in Kohsar Market, a busy downtown shopping area that stays buzzing throughout the day. Their menu offers some of the tastiest salads in the city, including a Thai Prawn Salad, Nicoise Salad and the Chicken Sesame Salad. If you
want to go completely vegetarian, try their crunchy Mediterra-
nean Salad or Caprese. And make sure you wash your meal down with their refreshing summer fruit juices.
Nana’s Kitchen: Nana’s Kitchen started as a successful Facebook page that became a local hit for its red velvet cupcakes. Although the cupcakes are still Nana’s specialty, the menu has gone on to provide
some unique and delicious options for local foodies at its brick and mortar outlet in Cloud 9. A few of their distinctive salad
recipes and the popular tofu burger are some of the healthier options to balance out that cupcake indulgence. The cozy ambience and the personal touch of having the owners present behind the
counter gives it that warm, fuzzy family business feel that most other cafés lack.
What to Do?
Breathe life into life: The Art of Living Organisation, a popular movement started by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar in 1982, is practiced in over 150 countries
worldwide and has garnered a large following. In Pakistan, the organisation was spearheaded by Shanaz Minallah, who introduced the movement in Lahore, Azad Kashmir, Karachi and
some parts of interior Sindh, making Islamabad her home base. The programme aims to alleviate stress and help bring content-
ment to one’s life by teaching people to focus on their breathing
patterns. In the basic course, which is the only one available in Pakistan, instructors teach the ‘Sudharshan Kriya’ — a series
of breathing exercises that attempt to dispel negative emotions from the body. The Art of Living sessions take place on Peach
Street in Bani Gala, in a large space by the river called the Peace Centre.
SEPTEMBER 16-22 2012
35
FEATURE
Get out of your comfort zone: Atif Sajjad Abbasi introduced the Zen Wellness Club in Islamabad
around six months ago, after working with the Art of Living as their country coordinator for eight years. The mission of the
group is to offer activities that foster physical and mental wellness. So become a member and sign up for their weekly complimentary programmes such as trekking, hiking, horse riding and adventure cooking or clear your schedule for their longer trips that take place once every three months. Recently, the group
travelled to Fairy Meadows in the northern areas where they practiced yoga and meditation at Nanga Parbat under instructor
Saima Altaf. This year they plan to head to Hunza, Kaghan and India. So make sure you are in time for those therapeutic travels.
Take a hike: There’s no better way build your stamina than an uphill hike and
if you haven’t done this before, Islamabad is a good place to start. The Margalla Hills surrounding Islamabad offer a range of manmade trails that lead up to the top of the first ridge. These trails
begin in various parts of the city to wind up at Monal. Many of
these trails have numerous resting spots along the way, and the trail is pretty busy during the evenings when people come to run
and bike. The hike can be a bit challenging so make sure you are
mentally prepared for a sweaty two- to three-hour-long climb, with water at hand. It will also be wise to drag along someone who may be a little more familiar with the trails or gather a group of friends and family to come along. For novices, it is a
good idea to first head to Fatima Jinnah Park in F9 and practice
36
on the gentle trails there. SEPTEMBER 16-22 2012
Rough it out: If you want all of these activities rolled into one exhilarating experience of a complete de-
tox, check out Extreme Manoeuvre Adventure Club’s (EMAC) weekend camping packages.
Say goodbye to appliances and a functioning sewage system and prepare for a two-day trip to Khanpur Lake near Islamabad, where activities include night caving, rock climbing, cliff diving and paragliding, other than the usual bonfire and BBQ setup. The club
provides the group with camp leaders, tenting equipment, healthy meals and beginner’s courses for all its activities so that you can have a thoroughly enjoyable experience.
Get a massage: Not cut out for the hills? To detox in true big-city style, hit up
one of Islamabad’s most popular spas. Nirvana offers some se-
rious sensory indulgence with its toe-curling massages, facials and wraps. Their Dead Sea Salt Glow promises to detoxify your
skin of impurities with a custom-blended formula of sea salts and essential oils. Their Mud Wrap claims to be a deeply purify-
ing treatment that decongests and stimulates the body system to generate new skin cells for toned skin. Their most popular treat-
ments though are their massages, often cited by locals as “Islamabad’s crowning glory.” Try out their deep-tissue back massage
to relax those muscle knots, or their Ayurvedic or Chakra Balance
treatment if you’re in the mood for something exotic. Otherwise,
there is always the option of sticking to their popular Swedish massage and enjoying 60 minutes of bliss provided by their certified masseuses.
37 SEPTEMBER 16-22 2012
FEATURE
crushed
When tourists drive over to Abbottabad from Islamabad, they expect lush green forests to welcome them. Now, it’s the echoing sound of machinery from stone-crushing units that dot the area which, at one point, used to be lined with a variety of trees. I experienced that shock firsthand. On the invitation of some
villagers from an affected area, I decided to make the journey
and witness the situation for myself. After an hour-and-a-half,
I reached Ghora Gali at Rawalpindi-Murree Road and took a left
BY OBAIDUR REHMAN ABBASI
our drinking water sources,” complains Masood Khan, a resi-
dent. “A good night’s sleep or even an afternoon nap is difficult to come by because of noise from the machinery and constant blasting by workers.”
“A stone-crushing mafia has been cutting down forests to
install more and more crushing units,” says Jawadullah Khan,
a social worker. “Diseases have erupted in our lush green valley
because two dozen stone-crushing plants have been installed on both sides of the Lora-Abbottabad Road.”
I looked around. Giant tree and earth cutters have been placed
turn to make my way towards Abbottabad. Anticipating scenic
and pine trees, among others, are being brutally cut down.
defiled hills.
nested in the region for centuries and used the trees as a source
forests, I drove three miles further only to see disfigured and
Stone-crushers appeared to occupy these most beautiful val-
leys, disturbing the landscape’s natural geographical forma-
tions and archaeological features. The pristine, clean environment has been replaced by the pungent smell of industry and
the noise of motors. Heavy traffic, such as trucks and dumpers, has damaged roads and bridges and noise pollution has made
the area, once a getaway from city noise and pressure, almost
unliveable. Even spring water, commonly known as ‘aab-i-shifa’, has become polluted because of careless human habitation
38
Looking to create more space to install stone-crushing units, businesses in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa are carelessly cutting down trees without replacing them, resulting in massive deforestation in the region
around the spring’s source.
“The activities have either polluted or completely destroyed
SEPTEMBER 16-22 2012
Seed-eating birds such as doves, parrots and pigeons, which
of food, are spotted far and few between while garbage-eating
birds like mynas, pied mynas, Indian kites and crows have de-
scended upon the area to feed on the increased filth and waste.
Plantation experts add that cutting down a tree basically means
damaging the natural cycle in which birds spread seeds through
their droppings that lead Shahtoot, Dhraik, Tali, Kiker and Kachnaar to sprout.
Among the bigger stone-crushing units is one that belongs
to the National Logistics Cell and is located along the famous
Haroo Stream in Maal Moola village (in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’s Hazara division). The construction of the unit was aided by the
“Diseases have erupted in our lush green valley because two dozen stone-crushing plants have been installed on both sides of the LoraAbbottabad Road,” says social worker Jawadullah khan
Punjab government, which has awarded a lucrative contract
however, are hardly ever implemented.
material to Murree for a Punjab-sanctioned project.
regulations, we are inviting everyone to damage the environ-
issued a No-Objection Certificate for the NLC plant. “Peshawar
bad-based journalist. “There are confirmed reports of serious
to the NLC for transporting crushed stone and other building Abbottabad DCO Imtiaz Hussain categorically denies having
might have issued them permission but we haven’t been provided any information regarding that either,” he adds.
In fact, he says, the Abbottabad district administration has
tried, albeit unsuccessfully, to crack down on the continuous
growth in the number of stone-crushing units. “The administra-
“Without a strong system for implementing these rules and
ment for personal interests,” says Kosar Naqvi, an Abbotta-
diseases that have erupted in the area due to felling of trees.
A resident lodged a complaint with Lora Police Station while
another approached the current provincial chief minister but authorities are yet to make a move.”
“On the one hand, the government claims it is boosting envi-
tion cancelled the lease granted earlier to these stone-crushing
ronmental protection but on the other, they are permitting such
ment issued NOCs in the stone-crushers’ favour,” he says.
don’t realise that trees are lungs of the earth and very important
units but then the provincial departments of mines and environMost stone-crushing activity takes place along the fairly busy
Ghora Gali-Lora Road, which means that residents often end up
cruel activities openly,” says Yasir Akhtar, a social worker. “They for restoration of the eco-system.”
To attract attention towards this grave issue, climate change
stuck in hour-long traffic jams as workers halt traffic to carry
experts have even tried to put a monetary value to losses in-
point, but the men manning it appear reluctant to act.
report says that Pakistan is losing Rs365 million annually due to
out unscheduled blasts. A stone’s throw away is a police check“We have lodged a dozen complaints, but all in vain,” says
Arshad Ali, another resident. “Our daily activities are disrupted at times because the stone-crushers start blasting without a previously announced schedule,” he adds.
Although it may appear as if there is no legal regulation of the
situation, legal eagles point to the NWFP Mining Concession
Rules 2005 which lays down certain conditions before a license can be issued to stone-crushing businesses. But these rules,
curred by ignoring the environment. A five-year-old World Bank environmental degradation. This may be least of the concerns of labourers who work for these stone-crushing units but environment experts in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government must
take cognisance that these trees take at least 50 years to grow to a point where they begin providing oxygen to the atmosphere.
And by cutting them down without replacing them at a matching rate, they are creating a deficit that is becoming tougher and tougher to plug.
SEPTEMBER 16-22 2012
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REVIEW
formula fail BY AYESHA ABDUL RAZZAK
An obscure director by the name of Mabrouk El Mechri decides to put a major and a minor star together in an action thriller set in gorgeous Spain. Before we see whether this gamble worked or not, let’s take a look at the storyline: An exasperated Will (Henry Cavill, best known for his role as Henry the VIII’s best friend in “The Tudors”) comes down from San Francisco to meet his family for a sailing holiday. He has had a difficult relationship with his father Martin (Bruce Willis), which is painfully emphasised in the first five minutes of the film. The son has work issues, and the father has issues with everything the son does. And it annoys him to no end that his son keeps taking phone calls on the way to the holiday boat. His only advice on hearing that Will’s company is bankrupt is, “Tomorrow the wind is going to change,” a piece of advice that that is perhaps taken by his son only as a sailing reference. When Martin can no longer take Will’s incessantly ringing phone, and tosses it into the deep sea, the son decides to swim back to town to calm himself down, instead of giving us a juicy confrontation — leaving me mildly annoyed at being cheated out of a serious man-to-man talk between father and son. But here is the twist: when Will returns, the boat is gone. And so is his mum and brother — abducted by rival intelligence agents looking to recover a mysterious briefcase in possession of “CIA Agent” Martin by hook or by crook. So far so good, I think, now the action must start. I mean, how could a Bruce Willis film disappoint in this regard? But I am wrong. In the next 10 minutes, Martin meets his death. Before he dies, he tells his son “You are a great son.” This is not some bleeding-to-death-on-sidewalk confession, but rather a justbefore-getting-out-of-car-to-meet-CIA-agent confession. Hence I expect the star to eventually return from the dead to save the day. It just isn’t possible that they would kill their major star in the first 20 minutes of the film. Could they? What follows is a series of rather typical action scenes, with Will chasing a rogue CIA agent played by Sigourney Weaver and throwing his half-sister Lucia, played by Verónica Echegui, off roofs with merely a television cable tied to her waist. Apparently the writers Scott Wiper and John Petro do not believe in spicing things up with romance, as even after an obvious chemistry between the two develops, and Lucia tells Will about his father’s intimate relationship with her own mother while standing at a subway station, the swoosh of the incoming train kills the moment. The super talented Sigourney is wasted as the rogue agent Carrak. She is wooden, and looks weird in the absurd black pinstripe suit that she never changes out of (I guess they spent their entire 40 budget on Willis) and is ineffective in her scare tactics. SEPTEMBER 16-22 2012
As the story progresses, you start to wonder why it all seems familiar. And then a series of images from the previous Bourne films run through your head and you realise that they all have exotic European locations, car chases, CIA involved plot and roofs. Lots and lots of roofs. This ‘hit action thriller’ formula is present in Bourne Legacy too, but in the absence of a solid, consistent storyline, it is ineffective. Talented British actor Henry Cavill is completely wasted, despite convincingly playing his role as an American and an action hero. You don’t miss Willis terribly after he dies, though you do wonder if he will return and whether you should even continue watching to see if he does. The rest of the cast, with the exception of Echegui, are also completely unconvincing. But then the cast can do only so much when the script disappoints. My two cents: save your money and go catch one of the older Bourne films or simply watch Die Hard 4 for a Bruce Willis-induced adrenaline rush. At least, it will make you want to salute a hero, of which there are none in Cold Light of Day.
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Are you capable of drawing a straight line? Do you have a comic or doodle that you think will have us rolling on the floor
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with laughter? If you’ve answered yes to all those questions then send in your creations to magazine@tribune.com.pk SEPTEMBER 16-22 2012