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Lounge Loves
By Sahar Iqbal
Aisha Alam’s new collection: Aisha Alam’s outfits are minimal, uber-chic and based on a simple and effective design aesthetic. Her designs are a perfect fusion of eastern and western traditions. The outfits are imbued with modernity and elegance. Her clothes are a huge hit with morning show hosts such as Ayesha Omar. Aisha Alam’s collection can be viewed on her facebook page: http://www. facebook.com/pages/Aisha-Alam Rang Ja- for a vibrant summer Bareeze Group has always maintained unique combination of high quality and fashion through its chic style and vivid colours. These garments are designed in keeping with our traditions. This year they have lived up to their reputation and brought forward the new Prêt line ‘Rang Ja’ (Spring/Summer’12) which is ready to ignite the spark this summer. These clothes have enough spunk to light up any wardrobe. Full of youthful designs, for those who love to look trendy and chic with contemporary and stylish motifs and patterns for summer. So, spruce up your taste and get your hands on this stunning dress line. This Ready to wear brand has launched its first store at 120 Y-Block DHA (Urban Culture Building). Simply Sublime Sara Shahid of Sublime launched a brand new line of ready to wear fashion, ‘Simply Sublime’, in Lahore at her flagship store on MM Alam Road. Indeed the Simply Sublime line is the newest addition to the Sublime label which currently boasts over five permanent Prêt-à-Porter and couture lines. While creating the Simply Sublime line, designer Sara Shahid was motivated by three main features: versatility, affordability and wearability, all wrapped into each Simply Sublime ensemble. From a design perspective, the new ready to wear line ranges from lightly embellished trendy tunics to elegant, sophisticated and glamorous tops. Simply Sublime line ranges from Rs3000- Rs8000. Nida Azwar’s Parinda Nida Azwer’s ‘Parinda’, the design house launched their semi formal collection for Showcase 2012. Drawing inspiration from the designer’s fashion journey, each piece of the collection represents a manifestation of the designers’ aesthetic. Nida’s signature style is also inherent in the exotic and nature inspired motifs which include the tree of life, phoenixes and birds. Also, unique to this collection is the designers’ amalgamation of her renowned screen printing with her coveted zardozi work technique. Staying true to Nida Azwer’s acclaimed traditional silhouette, the collection is cut with more flow and drape with screen printed chooridars. Indeed the collection is based in a colour palette which includes hues of saffron, navy blue and emerald green, uniquely blended with classic brown to give a quintessential Nida Azwer character to each piece. The womens wear collection is in silk lace and cotton net.
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‘The Lounge’ by Depilex A treat for men
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e have very good salons in our country, some of which even have day care centres, where women can actually take a day off, pamper themselves and leave with a fresh mind along with beautifying themselves. But for men there was a dearth in this area, which is now filled by The Lounge by Depilex . It is owned by Redah Misbah, daughther of Massarat Misbah and its creative and style department is handled by the ace designer and stylist Muneeb Nawaz. Following is an excerpt of an interview with them.
What was the basic idea behind ‘The Lounge’? Redah: When I was in the process of opening the salon, I carried out various surveys and found out that there was a lack of three things in men’s saloncomfortable ambience, good products
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By Saman Asif
and hygiene. The Lounge is exactly the place where men of any age bracket can come, turn off their mobiles, get their desired services
done, watch TV, have beverages and leave with a relaxed mind. The ambience of our salon is not like any other. It gives the look of a salon cum lounge. We have got built-in TV sets in every workstation where our clients can easily watch cricket without the khit phit of their wives or girlfriends. Secondly, our products are best of the best. Usually salons claim
The Lounge is exactly the place where men of any age bracket can come, turn off their mobiles, get their desired services done, watch TV, have beverages and leave with a relaxed mind. The ambience of our salon is not like any other.
Interview We have got builtin TV sets in every workstation where our clients can easily watch cricket without the khit phit of their wives or girlfriends
they use good products but it actually happens very seldom. I remember when I placed my first batch of orders; the guy said we don’t have so and so products because no salon has ever demanded for them. Thirdly, we walk an extra mile to make sure our various tools are properly sterilized, because a little bit of negligence in this department can lead to a fatal ailment.
manicure, massage etc done and not feel gay about that. We have introduced the concept that even straight guys can groom themselves and there is nothing wrong in having clean cuticles or for that matter have a massage done.
Muneeb Nawaz, you are the leading designer in our country, how did you end up becoming part of ‘The Lounge’?
Redad: We have got a ‘Colour Bar’. It’s a hair style application for I Pad. I have seen this concept in many salons in other countries but not in Pakistan. By using this application, a client can virtually see various hairstyles on themselves and decide which one suits them the best.
Muneeb: My job as a designer does not end at designing a dress for someone, its goes beyond that. I do styling for my clients and for many celebrities. So when Redah was planning this place, I used to give her ideas every now and then. Eventually we decided that I should be the style director. My concept was that there should be a salon where men could come, get
The Lounge is one of its kind in its atmosphere, so is there any service that u offer which is one of its kind too?
Which age bracket is most popular in your salon? Mubeeb: We have had teenage boys to forty plus men. But not only in The Lounge, in the entire country, it’s the twenty to thirty age bracket that makes it a point to get hair cuts, pedicures etc done on aregular basis. So, The Lounge is for the masses or the classes? Redah: Our clientele comprises of people from the upper-middle to the elite class. Our haircuts start from Rs600, which is quite nominal. Our aim is to provide luxury at economical prices in a relaxed ambience. So all you men out there come and have this unique experience for yourselves. queries from different cities for franchises, which we will be working on soon. But to begin with I would like to first establish three more centres and have a presence in Karachi as well. On a parting note, Sophia expresses her desire to see more awareness among her people about early learning. ‘This is the decade of early childhood learning, and if in most countries the importance of such training is realised, then it’s high time that we did as well. We wish her all the best in her endeavours.
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The great outdoors made beautiful by Baahir!
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e look at numerous pictures with lush green gardens and beautiful furniture but finding the right accessories for the outdoors in Pakistan is always a problem. Well, we at Lounge have found the perfect place to get everything under the sun for all your outdoor needs. As the name suggests, Baahir offers a complete garden one-stop shop solution! Gazebos These Gazebos by Baahir are perfect for any setting and the one with the net is a great precautionary measure to keep those mosquitoes at bay that are abound this season! Rattan furniture With so many options available, we are not sure what we like best but with so many colours and designs there is bound to be something for everyone. The furniture is also economical as it is manufactured by Baahir and therefore more cost effective than the international furniture available but with the same standard of quality. Wooden lanterns These old school lanterns are perfect to add character to any garden. Perfect to accompany a barbeque party in the balmy weather.
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Metal pots The summer comes and flowers bloom in whites, purples, yellows and lovely pinks. Surround yourself with flowers and greens in these metal pots to add colour to your life. Baahir is available in Islamabad, Karachi, Peshawar and Lahore and has also introduced online shopping from their website so log on and find your favourite product! For further information please log on to: http://www.baahir.com and https://www. facebook.com/BaahirOutdoorLifestyle
Interview
Ayesha Khurram A journey of exploration By Sidra Najam
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yesha Khurram is probably the biggest upcoming star in the world of prêt. Her designs are so unique and novel, that she has developed a definite signature style which makes her one of the most sought after designers in Pakistan. Her Facebook page is besieged by requests from fans looking for something different and exciting. When did you start designing? I started designing in 2001. You have made headlines due to your unique embroidery motifs such as the old man shirt and the Buddha embroidered shirt: where do you get ideas for such motifs? I get ideas from everywhere; I could get them from art, culture, traditions and my surroundings. You seem very fond of Mehreen Syed what was the reason for this selection? Mehreen Syed is a great model and does a good job representing my brand that’s why my shoots are always with her. How would you define your
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design philosophy? My work is about ideas. If I had to define my philosophy in a few words it would be about an exploration, a journey, storytelling- it is a combination of these things. You come from a family where women generally enjoy lives of luxury and yet you spend the better part of your day toiling away in a factory: what drives you to be a hard working career woman? I love what I do. It’s not about my lifestyle; it’s about how I can express myself through the clothes I design. So I have never thought about the difference between hard work and luxury. You are also a highly involved mom: how hard is it to juggle work with the responsibilities of being a wife and a mother? I don’t find it hard at all. I am an early riser so I’m done with my work by the time kids come home from school. Most designers seem to be satisfied by simply stocking at multi-designer outlets, you are busy scurrying across the country and opening up outlets.
I stock at multi brand stores, because I believe in the idea and love the fusion of styles presented at the same time. But I still think having your own store is a whole different brand experience for customers as well as for me Tell us why you feel it’s important for designers to have their own retail outlets? It’s important to have your own outlet so that the clients can get a feel of your brand personality without comparing it to others. I stock at multi brand stores, because I believe in the idea and love the fusion of styles presented at the same time. But I still think having your own store is a whole different brand experience for customers as well for me. Faisalabad is your city in many ways so what do you think of Faisalabad’s position in the Fashion world especially now that multi-brand stores are opening up there? Faisalabad has always been a city close to my heart and it is by far one of the most up and coming cities when I relate it to fashion and with multi brand stores it will prove to be a great hit with designers. What do you think of the recent trend of every second house wife turning to designing: do you think it’s come to a point where it is frustrating to call yourself a designer? I love it when I see women working. No I don’t feel frustrated at all. You designed a stunning Faiz Ahmed Faiz inspired collection earlier this year which created ripples all over Pakistan: tell us how you came up with the idea for this collection?
I am an extremely romantic person. I wanted to do something different and I fell in love with Faiz’s poetry. I decided to use it. I am glad everyone loved it. The Faiz Ahmed Faiz Collection is very close to my heart. You have never studied fashion, yet your clothes are flawlessly structured and beautifully tailored. How did you learn how to design? I never thought about becoming a designer. I am a perfectionist by nature and I think that shows in my designs as well. A large percentage of all your collections is based on chiffons: is this your fabric of choice? No, I prefer cottons and silks. You have dabbled in men’s wear. Are you thinking of expanding the men’s wear line? Yes, we are working on our men’s line
too. Recently, it seems as if your attention is almost completely taken up by prêt and casual wear: how did this change from formal wear come about? I love to work on new ideas. I get a chance to experiment with prêt. I get bored if I have to make the same designs over and over again. Do you find it hard to manage such a hard set-up by yourself? I have a great team. I don’t find it hard at all to manage the factory. From being an introvert and shy designer you have suddenly shot to fame and become very prominent in the media: what brought about this change? Original ideas are very important and I’m glad that I did something different and people loved it. I am still a shy person. Appreciation brings out the best in everyone.
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Cuisine
The Boulevard Bar and Grill By Saman Asif
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hen you live in a foodloving city, your craving for new types of food increases. And to some extent Lahore pretty much satisfies this thirst by having a new dine out place open almost every month. This time that new restaurant is The Boulevard Bar and Grill, previously known as The Roasters!
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On visiting The Boulevard Bar and Grill I had the opportunity to meet Wajid Riaz- the co-owner of the place. He revealed to me that he and his partner Salman Zia discontinued their association with Roasters Karachi and opened this restaurant in February. The customers will be catered by the same hospitable staff and there is a thirty percent enhancement in the menu. Their summer attractions include breakfast, summer drinks and hi-tea. But the hi-tea will not have the
I ordered Parmesan Chicken Pasta. This was a very mouthwatering dish, which had golden fried chicken breast over penne pasta tossed in parmesan cream sauce and topped with marinara and mozzarella cheese
typical samosa cum pakora type of menu. It will have humus, peeeta bread, various kinds of continental salads etc. Mr Wajid then gave a kitchen tour while gloating about the fact that it is perhaps the only kitchen of any restaurant in Lahore which is so huge and clean. And I could not agree more. After the tour, testing some food became a must and so I decided to order the boulevard platter as a starter. This platter is an addition to the old menu. It is a potpourri of Cajun fried calamari, stuffed chicken strips, mozzarella cheese sticks and buffalo bites served with various dips and French fries. Highly recommended! People on a diet can experience the weight watchers spicy chicken sandwich.
Their summer attractions include breakfast, summer drinks and hi-tea. But the hi-tea will not have the typical samosa cum pakora type of menu. It will have humus, peeeta bread, various kinds of continental salads By the time my turn for the main course had come, I actually had no room in my stomach but the tempting description of the dishes compelled me to order. The menu card is a combination of burgers, seafood, steaks, chicken entrees and pastas. I ordered Parmesan Chicken Pasta. This was a very mouthwatering dish, which had golden fried chicken breast over penne pasta tossed in parmesan cream sauce and topped with marinara and mozzarella cheese. Wow! That sounds appetizing, right? One major difference between The Roasters and The Boulevard Bar and Grill definitely has to be its enhanced bar. The bar has a wide range of beverages both for winters and summers. Since we have bid adieu to winters, so let’s focus on the cold beverages. Their cold beverages include various kinds of ideal thirst quenching lemonades served on the rocks with flavours ranging from kiwi to fresh mint. Then they have different kinds of cold coffees that taste truly international but have a local touch to them. You can easily have a main course served along with a cold drink within a thousand rupees. You can also avail the buy-oneget-50%-off-on-next-meal deal, that The Roasters offered and The Boulevard Bar and Grill continued. And yes! The Boulevard Bar and Grill also has free home delivery. The timings of delivery are same as that of the restaurant i.e. 12 am to 12 pm. The Boulevard Bar and Grill caters to all age groups. You can find women having their kitty parties, youngsters hanging out and corporate luncheons in full swing. So Lahorites find your company and treat yourself with quality food served in ample quantity!
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Profile
‘We are explorers’ All set to take off
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he dENiZEN™ brand, the denim brand for the new generation, continues its unique ‘We are Explorers’ campaign with a second season, this time taking place in Mexico. The campaign, which was launched in March will send six young Explorers on a journey of courage, discovery and self expression to India, Mexico or China. The six explorers hail from countries where dENiZEN™ clothes for youth can be purchased, specifically – China, India, Pakistan, Singapore and Mexico. The explorers are: Ms Lorena Garal, a 25-year-old motocross racer from Mexico City, Mexico. Mr Nawed Khan, a 30-year-old DJ and music producer from Mumbai, India. Ms Nosheen Abbas, a 26-year-old reporter from Islamabad, Pakistan. Mr Peter Xu, a 25-year-old teacher and fashion blogger from Shanghai, China. Ms Silver Ang, a 26-year-old model and actress from Singapore, and Mr Rohan Shrestha, a 27-year-old photographer from Mumbai, India. The explorers will be paired up as they head to their destination country in April, and together they will embark on an action-packed trip where they will meet new people and take on tasks and challenges centered around creating new styles of denim, dubbed ‘Denim Creations’, based on their experiences. The first pair of explorers, Lorena Garal and Nawed Khan, have kickstarted the first journey in India. Their first mission was designing jeans with glow-in-the-dark Henna patterns, inspired from Goa. They also won a prize in Jodhpur’s elephant festival, working with local tailors to create a wraparound denim outfit for their elephant friend. Their journey culminated with a celebration of the Holi festival in Jaipur, leaving colourful prints on their jeans. The next pair to go exploring will be Nosheen Abbas and Peter Xu, who will travel to Mexico in March. The third and last pair of explorers Silver Ang and Rohan Shrestha will then travel to China. Mr Lance Diaresco, vice president of marketing for the dENiZEN™ brand said, ‘We are so thrilled with the high caliber of young people around the world who have answered our ‘We are Explorers’ campaign casting call. The final six, whom we have chosen, all live up to the key attributes of the dENiZEN™ brand – youthfulness, courage,
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optimism and aspiration.’ This dENiZEN™ campaign, at the end of the day, is a story about the Explorers’ courage and friendship, with memories of their experiences imprinted on their denim. For further information, visit the dENiZEN™ ‘We Are Explorers’ microsite on www.denizen.com/ Explorers, or follow dENiZEN™ on Facebook and Twitter (@Denizen_Jeans). The brand is currently available in China, India, Pakistan, Singapore, Mexico and the United States. Visit www.denizen.com to learn more. For more information, go to http://levistrauss.com.
Vampire Diaries: The Awakening
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By Kamil Hassaan
mong all the high young-adult horror books that I have read, the Twilight series is nowhere near Vampire Diaries. Elena Gilbert is a typical high school senior torn between two vampire brothers. Elena is literally the “queen” of her school, she isn’t the most beautiful girl in there, but her self-confidence makes her appealing to most of the kids around her. She’s the type of a girl that boys want to date, even some girls envy her. Yet deep down, she’s lonely due to a tragedy that happened to her when she was young. So she’s quite shocked when the new boy at school, the mysterious and handsome Stefan Salvatore, completely avoids her. Elena soon realises that her usual schemes don’t work on him. He’s “so not into her” but Elena can’t control her desire for him. Then starts the so-called “cat-andmouse” game, which is an interesting read. But no tricks of Elena work on Stefan. That sends her crying. While most of the books portray a boy falling for a girl, this one is different. Even in the Twilight series, it was Edward who was unable to control his affection for Bella but it’s the opposite here. Here the “lamb falls in love with a tiger, which kind of feels good to read as it is something new, something different. The growing affection between Elena and Stefan is really fanciful. The book also shows rivalry between two brothers: Stefan Salvatore and Damon Salvatore. For five hundred years, the rivalry between these two doesn’t stop. Damon is a wicked older brother. He is dangerous, ruthless, blood-thirsty and totally evil.
Damon is very attractive, even Elena forgets about Stefan when she first sees Damon, Damon’s a beautiful yet scary villain. For five hundred years Damon doesn’t admit that he and Stefan killed Katherine together. This shows his stubborn nature. His arrival at Fell’s Church creates trouble for his brother. He threatens his Stefan that he will make Elena his soul mate. The way the writer has shown their rivalry is makes an interesting read into the characters’ psyche and makes the reader dig deeper into the book. The affair of Elena and Stefan,
interrupted with the wickedness of Damon, is brilliantly described in The Awakening. The characters are so magnificently described that the reader finds characters to be alive. No doubt the books were chosen for a TV series. The book has found immense appeal because of excellent characterization by L.J Smith and complex storyline. Moreover, the setting the setting of the book encourages a reader to use his own imagination. Written in simple but fluid language, the book is a must read for the young-adult age group it is intended for.
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Books
Of The Ravi and Faiz Ravi 2012, a superb Faiz issue
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he Ravi is a proud product of GCU Lahore. Poet Faiz Ahmad Faiz too traces his academic roots to the same alma mater long ago when it had not yet been upgraded to a university. The two publications being reviewed here incidentally seem to share this prestigious commonality of bond. The Ravi 2012 is out. With a glorious history dating back to the first decade of the last century, it has gradually evolved into a coveted but mature chronicle of the institutional activities covering academics, literature, dramatics and sports. As the journal’s latest issue would bear out, the incumbent Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. (Meritorious) Dr. Muhammad Khaleeq-ur-Rahman succeeding his eminent predecessor Prof. Dr. Khalid Aftab, seems to have made his presence felt within a short time by accelerating and streamlining the pace of on-campus academic as well as co-curricular activities that have traditionally been its hallmark. It is perhaps the only university or college magazine in the country that could boast of an enormous galaxy of future celebrities having served on its editorial board ever since its inception. They include G. D. Sondhi, Pitras Bokhari, Sirajuddin, Taj Muhammad Khayal, Hafiz Abdul Majid, S. M. Ikram, Noon Meem Rashid, Nasim Hassan, Agha Abdul Hameed, B. A. Qureshi, Riazuddin Ahmad, Afzal Iqbal, Syed
The Ravi 2011 Patron: Prof. (Meritorious) Dr. Muhammad Khaleeq-ur-Rahman, Vice Chancellor Editors: Isha Tariq (English); Saleem Hasni (Urdu/Punjabi) Publisher: Government College Universtiy, Lahore Pages: 180 (English); 212 (Urdu/Punjabi) 46 I April 01 - 07, 2012
Faiz ki Sha’iri may Punjab Rang By Dr. Asghar Ali Baloch Publisher: Misal Publishers, Aminpur Bazaar, Faisalabad Pages: 128; Price: Rs.200/Muhammad Jafri, Zia Jalandhari, A. K. Khalid, Urmila Sondhi, Abdus Salam, Moeen A. Qureshi, Muzaffar Ali Syed, Promilla Thomas, Shahzad Ahmad, Hanif Ramay, Muhammad Idrees, Kamal Azfar, Anis Nagi, Shahid Javed Burki, Mujahid Hussain, Parvez Masud, Irshad Ullah Khan, Anwar Adeeb, Mehmood Sham, Agha Ghazanfar, Sarmad Sehbai, Asadulah Ghalib, Muhammad Ajmal Niazi, Tariq Yazdani Malik, Sohail Safdar, Athar Wiqar Azeem, Muhammad Athar Tahir, Basir Sultan Kazmi, Abbas Tabish, Khalid Mehmood Sanjrani, Ali Usman Qasmi and others. The magazine as usual includes three sections viz., English, Urdu and Punjabi. Prof. Dr. Saadat Saeed supervises/coordinates its publication. The present issue contains contributions in the three languages from a mix of old and young writers, mostly belonging to the GCUL, now or in days of yore – some notable names being those of Mushahid Hussain, Shamshad Ahmad, Dr. Samar Mubarakmand, Tariq Khosa, Robert Reid, Thakur Singh Powdel, Pran Nevile, Prakash Bhandari, Dr. Ghulam Murtaza, Prof. R. A. Khan, Tariq Saleem Dogar, Salima Hashmi, Iftikhar Arif, Dr. Anwaar Ahmad, Dr. Salim Akhtar, Dr. Salahuddin Haider, Dr. Mazhar Mehmud Shirani, Dr. Saadat
The Urdu section of the magazine carries a marked space for Faiz, a prodigious alumnus of the institution, with well-written articles on his person and art. Felicity of expression, originality, and relevance to the spirit of the age are some conspicuous features of the current issue of the magazine likely to interest and engage the attention of the readers
Saeed, Mansha Yad, Intizar Hussain, Enver Sajjad, Anis Nagi, Shahzad Ahmad, Aslam Ansari, Syed Mashkoor Hussain Yad, Yasmin Hameed, Amjad Islam Amjad, Anjum Salimi, Shahzad Nayyar, and Shakil Ahmad Tahiri besides a host of up-and-coming young writers. The Urdu section of the magazine carries a marked space for Faiz, a prodigious alumnus of the institution, with well-written articles on his person and art. Felicity of expression, originality, and relevance to the spirit of the age are some conspicuous features of the current issue of the magazine likely to interest and engage the attention of the readers.
publishing
the
instant
book,
the
Faiz ki Sha’iri may Punjab Rang This book appeared in the year 2011 in the wake of the festivities marking the advent of the Faiz centenary. In the words of eminent educationist and litterateur Dr. Tahir Taunsvi, Dr. Asghar Ali Baloch has undertaken a unique but commendable exercise by highlighting the native complexion of Faiz’s Punjabi verse. Dr. Anwaar Ahmad and Dr. Fakhrul Haq Noori seem to voice the same view in their respective flaps appended to the book. In the foreword, the author has explained his justification for
Punjabi verse, reflection of certain
Faiz Seminar (2008) held at GCU Faisalabad being its focal source of inspiration. The essays included in the publication are meant to illustrate Faiz’s commitment to the language, literature and culture of the Punjab, his devotion to its Sufi poets, and his own verse in Punjabi as such. A fine artistic amalgam of the topical and the universal served to distinguish Faiz’s poetics and transform him into a legend in his own lifetime. The book comprises some seven chapters dealing with Faiz’s biography, his family background, his Punjabi features in Faiz’s Urdu verse, a critical study of Raat di Raat (an anthology of his select poems rendered into Punjabi by Ahmad Salim and Majid Siddiqui), a selection of Faiz’s Punjabi verse and a revealing conversation in Punjabi (1978) featuring Faiz, poets Mohan Singh and Ajaib Kanwal Josh. All in all, the book is a commendable venture in so far as it covers an important aspect of Faiz’s poetics – his love for the Maa Boli and its artistic manifestation in his Punjabi verse.
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Mithi 10 years on Books Where minorities are in majority
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h e headquarters of district Tharparkar, Mithi is about 400 kilometres from Karachi. Its premier distinction is being the only district in Pakistan where minorities are in majority. Associated with one of the INGO (international nongovernment organization) I got a chance in 2002 to visit Mithi to attend the general body meeting of TRDP (Thardeep Rural Development Programme). Then I went through Mirpurkhas and Naoun Kot to reach Mithi. This time round exactly 10-years on I went through the Badin Road constructed during otherwise much reviled Arbab Ghulam Rahim’s stint as chief minister Sindh. Fortunately this time the driver of my vehicle not just belonged to this area but was intimately familiar with it. He kept on enlightening me about the small towns on the way, like Nindo, Khoski, Shadi Large (all in the jurisdiction of district Badin) and Khetlari (the first small town in district Tharparkar). This time too I had to attend a meeting in Mithi wherein representatives from different NGOs shared their progress and work which they had done during and after the monsoon
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floods of 2011. The issue that I intend to bring to the fore is that one local organisations that works for the child protection shared that with their continuous follow-up they had succeeded to stop an early marriage between a boy of eight years age and girl of three years. That was admirable. What was revealed next, child trafficking, was really shocking: Girls as young as 13, it was reported, were being trafficked with the consent of their parents, the perception being girls have to be married off anyway, so why go through finding a bridegroom and arranging dowry etc. And this has nothing to with floods, though floods have exacerbated the situation. Later my know-all driver reconfirmed that the practice was rife. How to tackle the issue? The NGOs between them decided that the child protection issues should be dealt with the support of district vigilance committee. The changes that I noticed during this Mithi visit: the government had constructed a rest house and a watch tower on highpoint (called bhit in Sindhi) for a bird’s eye view of the Thar desert, presence of an FM radio station, growth in the population of the town and palpable increase in the number of active NGOs.
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