Adil Najam

Pakistan is set to impose a ban on the import of used computers into Pakistan. Reportedly, President Zardari has asked the Ministry of Information Technology to draft such a law and the Ministry has now sought public opinion on the matter.

Indeed, there can be good reasons to consider such a ban since trade in e-waste is a major menace with serious social, health and environmental implications and because Pakistan has become a major destination for e-waste dumping. There is also a business case for doing so and, reportedly, the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industries (LCCI) and international manufacturers (such as Intel) have also been pushing Pakistan to do so; largely with an eye on increasing the market for new computers. On the other hand, a case can also be made that the availability of cheaper (even if marginally) used computers increases access to computers in a developing country, especially in terms of affordability for those in the lower economic strata who may, otherwise, be left out of computer developments.

There is clearly a debate in the country and it is a real debate because it does have real implications for economic, environmental and technological choices for ordinary Pakistanis.

Adil Najam

The news itself is old, but I just heard of it. It seems that a Pakistan Edition of American news magazine Newsweek is coming soon to a news stand near you. Reportedly, the initial run will be 30,000 copies – four times the current sales – and the first issue is expected in September.

Reportedly, the Pakistan edition will be managed by A.G. Publications – a subsidiary of the Associated Group (AG) – which itself is led by Fasih Ahmed, a former award-winning Newsweek correspondent for Pakistan and a former Daniel Pearl Fellow, who will also be the editor of the Pakistan edition. Accoridng to their website, the Associated Group is “was founded by Mr. Z.Z. Ahmed (1910-1989), former Deputy Inspector General of Pakistan Police, in 1965. Today, it is one of Pakistan’s premier business houses in the energy sector. Within the energy sector, AG has three lines of business-Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), Power Generation and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG).”

Roshan Malik with Owais Mughal

A few days ago I (Owais) requested Roshan Malik to recommend few Seraiki songs. And here they are with comments in his own words.

The first song is by the legendary Ustaad Jumman Khan singing the famous yaar dhadhi song on PTV’s meri pasend. Second song is part of a wonderful documentary that I found on BBC Urdu. It is about a group of blind guys in Dera Ismail Khan who sing Seraiki songs. Third song is by Suraiya Multanikar who is an awesome classical singer. Then there is one by a unknown singer. He has sung it very nice. Finally the last song is by Pathanay Khan singing a song written by the famous poet Ashoo Lal Faqeer.

(1) Ustad Muhammad Juman Khan live on PTV, Yaar dhadhi ishq aatish laai