Lahore Diary

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Since we are on the topic of cities. Following is the only detailed study I know of which rates Asian cities. Including things like pollution, hospital beds, etc. The final one was carried out in 2000. The South Asian cities ranked as, ``Best Cities`` are as follows: http://www.asiaweek.com/asiaweek/features/asiacities2000/cities.intro.html

- Islamabad (24th)
- Bangalore (26th)
- Colombo (29th)
- Delhi (31)
- Bombay (33)
- Chittagong (37)
- Karachi (38)

Lahore didn`t get rated for some reason. I would place it in between Islamabad and Karachi. So around the same level as Delhi. Though Pakistan has improved quite a bit in the past four years, specifically Lahore. But so, probably, has Delhi.........

Re: # 3

Romair

About the gas pipeline, I fully agree with u. Already the pipelines are targeted daily in baluchistan. In the first month of the year 2005 there were thousands of attacks. The baluchis are telling that no pipeline from iran will pass through their land without their consent. Under this circumstances the peace pipeline project is bound to be a failure, not only that the hardliners will never allow the project to be successful. I am 100% sure the radial Islamic groups will blast the pipeline. Secondly what about the were threats issued to Imran Khan for inviting Indian actor Amir khan to raise funds for his cancer hospital. The following article appeared in one of Indian newspaper

http://www.mid-day.com/news/world/2004/december/100064.htm

Islamic groups condemn Aamir visit By: PTI
December 23, 2004
Islamabad: Pakistan`s cricketer-turned politician Imran Khan has come in for severe criticism from radical Islamic groups for inviting Bollywood star Aamir Khan to the country earlier this month for raising funds for his cancer hospital.
Imran, who addressed a seminar on Kashmir at Punjab University in Lahore yesterday, came under attack from members of some Islamic groups for inviting Aamir, local `Daily Times` newspaper reported today.
They accused Imran of challenging ``Pakistaniat`` and ``national honour`` by inviting a celebrity from India and demanded support for their ``Kashmir cause`` and not opening of arms for the neighbouring country, it said.
Imran, who also had hundreds of his fans present there to hear him, retorted saying that no Pakistani actor would have been able to raise a donation worth Rs 6.5 crore as did Aamir.
He said his new project to build a second cancer hospital in Karachi required 50 million dollars and there was no harm in inviting such stars if they raised money for a noble cause.
Imran cited his own example of going to England for similar charity programmes.
During his visit to Pakistan, Aamir took part in several fund raising dinners and a three-hour marathon live telethon on a local TV. He also sold the bat used by him in the film `Lagaan` for Rs 60 lakhs.
Imran, a strong critic of President Pervez Musharraf, heads Tehreek-e-Insaf (justice) party. He built a cancer hospital in Lahore several years ago in the memory of his mother

Iqbal Singh

People who manipulate and dont tell the full truth are scoundrels.
There are two kinds of crimes - crimes of commission and omission.

People like A.Bahl (and others in the Indian media) are participants in
crimes of omission.

We have people on Chowk who lecture about people-to-people contact
but have no comment about the systemic and institutionalized bigotry
of Pakistan.
People from Argentina to Zimbabwe can probably get along at an individual
level - what is the big deal about that ?

Just because Indian`s and Pakistanis may eat similar food or listen to similiar
music doesnt mean the countries are the same.
The difference is in the institutional system and the nature of what the people have
chosen as their values.

Luckily with the internet, more truth of Pakiland comes out. I really wish that
more Indians can read the Urdu press of Pakistan to understand the nature
of Pakistan.

It is a shame that a self styled journalist has chosen to close his eyes to the
truth about Pakistan. Instead, he indulges in his tabloid reporting. Shame on you.

Please read the report below

---

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2005/20050313/main9.htm

Lahore to have cremation ground
Pakistan temples in dilapidated condition
Varinder Walia
Tribune News Service

Wagha, March 12
Many Hindu shrines in Pakistan are non-existent while idols in many ancient temples are missing. This was revealed by a 193-member Hindu jatha which returned here today after a six-day pilgrimage to Pakistan.

The temples, including the famous Katasraj Temple, are in a dilapidated condition and require renovation. The idols at Sheetla Mandir in Lahore, built before the invasion of Alexander, have either been looted or are missing. The Doodhwali Mata Mandir between Shah Almi and Lahore Gate in Lahore are also in a dilapidated condition.

The Pakistan’s Evacuee Properties Trust Board (PEPTB) has allotted 22 bighas along the Ravi in Lahore for a cremation ground for the first time after Partition. It is considered to be a goodwill gesture. Earlier, the government of Pakistan had allowed celebrations of Basant and Lohri in Lahore.

According to Rashmi Talwar, a jatha member, the condition of Katasraj Temple is pitiable. She said houses had come up after the demolition of many temples in the heart of Lahore. Most of the temple sites had been converted into business establishments.

However, in a representation to the PEPTB, the jatha suggested that a bus service from Amritsar to Katasraj should be started. The representation also sought relaxation of visa restrictions.

The pilgrims alleged that the government of Pakistan was not even allowing local Hindus to look after the temples on the pattern of Sikh gurdwaras.

A question had also been raised in Indian Parliament about the demolition of temples in Pakistan. It was alleged that after the demolition of Babri Masjid, 242 temples were damaged in Pakistan.

Members of the Kendriya Sanatan Dharm Sabha, including Mr Harish, Mr Madan Lal Khushdil and Mr S.S. Sharma, said many temples were in ruins. They said only about a dozen temples, out of a total of 192, were left.

Mr Shiv Partap Bajaj, president of the sabha (North India), said religious monuments would disappear if attention was not paid to their maintenance. He said the plea to the Pakistan government in 1983, through a memorandum to Gen Zia-ul Haq, the then President of Pakistan, had not been considered.

Meanwhile, the renovation of Katasraj Temple has been undertaken by the Evacuee Property Board. The Pakistan government has earmarked Rs 2 crore for the renovation and preservation of Hindu shrines which is being considered to be a meagre amount.

Whether Lahore is better than Delhi (or Bangalore) is debatable....but a more objective assessment would be , how much $$$ does Lahore earn from exports ? Bangalore I know for a fact earns $8 billion from IT exports alone....

Kite-flying / basant won`t exactly generate much revenue....

Come on, you could have written more. This was too short.

Veeresh, I may be visiting India soon.

Come on, you could have written more. This was too short.

Veeresh, I may be visiting India soon.

glad you enoyed lahore! :)

Romair...

According to stuka... not even 10% of Veeresh`s story has any truth to it.

Veeresh is soiling up this board as well.... as usual.

Glad you agree with Stuka though about Lahore being better than Singapore and not just Delhi.

Aniruddha, have you seen the old Delhi patang-baaz ``shaukiyaas`` in the Jamuna River Bed, in the area where the old ``pontoon-boat bridge`` used to be, linking Sarai Kale Khan Bus Terminal to Patparganj? Well, the riverbed there gives them the open space and breeze, and often there are visiting Pakistanis at regular competitions with their Delhi cousins.

However, most of the best kite-flyers (``fighters`` is what they are called, after the jets) are from Multan and Gujranwalla. Apparently even the best kite-``fighters`` in Lahore are from outside Lahore.

By the way, Aniruddha, did you not visit the famous Sentosa Island in LaHore?

+++

Actually, Romair, I am not not pro-Lahore, if you get what I mean. Quite the opposite. I think Lahore is a great place. The residents of that fine city, which is no doubt better than Singapore, provide great joy.

Roamir, Indian govt will never commit to gas pipeline through Pakistan. Just like India has got Pakistan by the balls in Baglihar and Kishanganga, gas pipelines will present Pakistan with a similar opportunity.

Interesting article. Quite pro-Lahore. Exactly the opposite view of Vereesh. The real situation is probably somewhere in-between. 75% of what you said, and 25% of what Vereesh says.

Once the visas are fully opened, Lahore would probably be the city, which would benefit the most. Since it sits at a strategic point........

Interesting comment about the Sikh gurdwara. That might be limited to Lahore. There is a major Sikh gurdwara in Hasan Abdal. It is right across the street from where I used to live. It was always open to public. I went inside it, anytime I wanted to. An interesting thing I noticed is, that in Pakistan Sikh religious sites seem to be the best maintained. Followed by Muslim sites. Adn then Hindu sites. Though my opinion may be biased based on how well maintained the site(s) at Hasan Abdal was (is?).......

I recently read one of the most insightful articles on why India is now going to be completely committed to a solution of Indo-Pak problems. India, with 7 times the population of Pakistan, yet it uses the same amount of natural gas as all of Pakistan i.e. the average Pakistani uses 7 times the natural gas as the average Indian. India thus has a gigantic energy shortage, since it`s energy demands are growing at a faster pace than Pakistan`s. It is impossible for its economy to grow without natural gas and/or oil. There are major issues with getting oil from the Middle East and gas from the Eastern side.

There is only one solution. Gas from Iran and Central Asia. Both of which have to pass through Pakistan.

I`ve seen pictures of Coco`s Den and the spectacular views it offers. But, How is the food?

Mullahs also objected to Gurus` photos on a gurudwara gate...and were promptly removed. Which I think was a blessing in disguise.....since it is one of the biggest stupidity amongst sikhs to paint gurus` imaginary pictures and then worship them like idols - exactly what the gurus taught NOT to do. SHAMELESS IDIOTS!

It is funny that mullahs unsuspectedly prayed to Hanuman! he he !!

A muslim interactor (who had accompanied sikh friends) had said that the sikhs refused him entrance to the gurudwara/samdhi premises....which I knew was a balatant lie....since many muslims visit gurudwaras everywhere....

that for some unknown reason halts local Muslims from coming in. A pity. I also read how police removed local from a sikh procession in Hasan Abdal.

The Wakf board is no longer necessary. The 30,000 sikhs are enough to take care of their shrines. In E Punjab, mosques have been handed back to immigrant muslims (Guru ki Maseet Hargobindpur etc.). The ISI, and other selfish interests, and agendas should return the gurudwaras to local sikhs. It is absurd and obscene to run others` place of worship. like Americans running Medina, and Hindus running the Jama Masjid in Delhi.