I love listening to stories, especially the ones that aren’t been told by anyone… The ones that are whispered through silence and lived through an everlasting gaze. This is how I recently heard a very nontraditional fairy-tale in a not so romantic place, which made me want to pen it down for those who might want to see this uncanny love through my eyes.
Haw haye!” been said to little boys who dare to cry in public. So how dare Bilawal Bhutto cry in public? So what if he was talking about the way he lost his uncle? Who cares if he was recalling how he had to be positive after the very public and ground shaking murder of his mother? His tears make him weak. His sobs make him cowardly.
Since everyone in Pakistan seems to be in love with the Netflix’s recent show Narcos, I thought this would be the best time to share my personal experience of living in a country that most of my friends only associate with Pablo Escobar.
Since my work contract is coming to an end, I have already started looking for jobs. I recently came across an organisation that trains target-killers, murderers and suicide bombers. Don’t judge me just yet. I have my reasons. One, I am desperate to find a job because I have got debt to pay. Two, me holding…
When you are on the road, people want to know where you come from because that makes it easier for them to put you in a certain category. I have been put into so many categories for so long that I have finally decided to form my own categories.
This blog post is for every Pakistani who has traveled abroad or is planning to do so. Out of several different types of people I have met, I found the following seven the most interesting.
They say she is vulgar. They say she is distorting Pakistan’s image. They say she should be banned because the content she produces is not ethical. They say she is a bad example for young women. Some of them also say that she will create problems for women who are fighting societal barriers to become…
Her consistent Whatsapp messages about how she is having suicidal thoughts made me feel like banging my head against the wall. She had received quality education and spent a semester abroad. She has all that it takes to be labeled as a modern Pakistani woman with more freedom – but not really. Not after I…
The recent devaluation of Azerbaijani manat has given rise to uncertainty and skepticism among all economic sectors. While foreigners working in Azerbaijan are directly affected by the new exchange rate, the locals have already started recording their protest. Nonetheless, the Azerbaijani government has tried to paint a bright picture by underlining the long-term benefits of…
I never considered myself as a dotty patriot who would go on defending her country by turning a blind eye towards all the problems we face in Pakistan. I have criticized a number of societal and political problems and will continue to do so. While I am not proud of the problems we have at…
Like most of the middle class in Pakistan, I casted a vote for the first time in May 11 elections last year. I was promised a Naya Pakistan but I dared not to dream about it. My expectations from casting the vote were to mark my presence, make it count and earn the right to…
‘Azerbaijan? Where is it?’ That is what I got to hear from every other friend of mine before coming to Baku around a month ago. At times, it was really difficult to explain them why I wanted to take the fellowship and study in a post-soviet country. However, I often managed to convince them that…
Lahore Bus Rapid Transit System is anticipated to facilitate 64,000 passengers a day at the completion of its initial phase. This project will rewrite the history of Pakistan’s Transportation Sector. Lahore Metro will soon be running on the 27-km long corridor from Gajjumatta in the eastern Lahore to Shahdara in the southern end, proving to…
‘Another terrorist attack in Peshawar,’ said the newscaster in an overly alarming tone while the breaking news kept flashing with perfect suspense-thriller sound effects. Perhaps another blast, I assumed, and flipped the channel. An hour later I accidently switched to another news channel which was bombarding my TV screen with the same news but with…
Anusha, 15, was found to have burns over 60% of her body. The teenager was brutally murdered by her parents for eyeing a boy. The news about this gruesome incident quickly started swarming the domestic and international media. Eventually it made it to the headlines of many international news channels. Once again Pakistan was given…
Lying on the couch, holding a cup of tea, I switched from Filmworld to a news channel to listen to some critique, watch a productive talk show, learn about the update on NATO supplies or perhaps enlighten myself with some discussion on Pakistan’s economical and social issues. As it now happens every 20 minutes –…
Bushra Zia 