summer of 2007 in Pakistan

Pakistan tourism website has posted a 2007 events calendar, I thought I'd post summer events from this calendar here on my blog.

April 2007
1st - 10th; International Youth Performing Arts Festival at Lahore
11th - 14th; Baisakhi (Hasan Abdal) A spring festival of the sikh Community
12th - 13th; Baisakhi Mela (Festival Sakhi Sarwar)
13th - 20th; International Mystic Music Festival, Lahore
25th - 27th; 49th meeting of UN WTO, CSA and CAP
27th - 29th; Train Safari - Khewra Salt Mines with a Cultural Program A railway journey through the incredible Salt Mines

May 2007
11th-15th; Chitral and Kalash Festival A culture mix of celebrations
16th-21st; White Water Rafting, Azad Kashmir A gripping experience
25th - 27th; SAARC Tourism Mart, Karachi

June 2007
9th; Golden Jubilee Celebrations of First Ascent of Board Peak (8047m)
15th June - 15th July; Pakistan Women Kushek Training/Expedition, Hunza Building the spirits and exploring exotic destinations
15th June - 30th August; Pakistan Board Peak Golden Jubilee Expedition Be apart of the celebrations for the completion of the 50 years of climbing the Board Peak in 1956-7
22th - 29th; Shogran Festival A colourful cultural event in the lap of Himalayas
25th - 27th; Hunza Festival & The Tourism Convention

July 2007
7th - 9th; Shandur Polo Festival (Chitral - Gilgit) with Festival at Kalash Polo at the roof of the world
10th - 15th; Karakorum Car Rally Adventure at its Peak
15th - 17th; Broghil Festival
23rd - 28th; Mountain Marathon (AJK - Kaghan)

August 2007
12th - 14th; Freedom Jeep Rally, Gaddani Beach, Baluchistan
14th; 60th Independence Day Celebrations
23th - 24th; Mahodand Mountain Jeep Safari to the source of river Swat (9000m above sea level)

Karachi, Pakistan and Urdu

World Social Forum 2006 (Karachi, Pakistan)
Originally uploaded by skasuga.

in the not so distant past whenever someone mentioned Karachi, political unrest is what use to come to mind, these days it seems the city is struggling to get back to its roots, roots that run deep in the soil of culture. Culture whose biggest symbol is the Urdu language.
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Not only in Pakistan but any literati from the South East Asian region (India being the biggest country in that region) will acknowledge that Urdu language literature has been the prized asset of the people from that region.

Urdu brought out the cultural and literary sophistication of the region, if it wouldn't have been for Urdu, we would have still been living in a World dominated by Persian Literature.

Urdu is a symbol of culture and civilization (adab/aadaab, tehzeeb aur saqafat) and I am happy Karachites are realizing that, best of luck in finding the lost glory.



saw an interesting blog on Karachi by Raza Rumi, he has interesting things to say about a lot of things, you might also enjoy his Karachi brief.