Adeel Khan

When I was boarding Emirates’ EK623 to Karachi, Pakistan, I was so not looking forward to endless electricity shortages, carbon-polluted air and the crass conversations that are punctuated with materialistic garble, so typical of Pakistan’s upper-middle class. I knew little that this trip would be the most fascinating, mentally relaxing trip that will be etched in my memory for a long time to come.

Pakistan is a country full of ironies, anomalies and abnormalities. A fellow passenger seemed to be very impresses by the Canadian passport and North American accent. On my way out of the plane I bumped, as in literally bumped, into an aunty. Thereafter, she could not stop ranting about how improper the new generation could be and how disrespectful desi-gorays are.

Owais Mughal

One could argue whether this is the most important issue facing Pakistan today? No it is not. But it is an issue on which I am qualfied to write about because of my profession. What you will see below is a series of photos where Pakistani Electricians (and general public) are seen working on distribution and transmission lines without much regard to their safety.

The photo above is from September 23, 2008. Photographer is Jehangir Khan (Associated Press). The subject is a staff technician of KESC working on distribution lines in Saddar, Karachi.

The daredevil mentality persists where Electricians over look safety measures thinking they know it all but perth electrician knows all of it. They think if nothing has happened to them in all these years, then nothing will happen to them in the future because of their experience. Sometimes they even think it is below their macho image to wear protective equipment. It is true that these electricians may have knowledge of basic rules of electricity and physics but mistakes and accidents do happen and in such circumstances, I believe these guys and our utility companies (WAPDA and KESC) are very ill prepared.

Adil Najam, Owais Mughal, Darwaish and Asma Mirza

Like our readers, we have also been moved by the post on singer Alamgir’s health status by A.H. Cemendtaur.

This is a voice we all grew up with. The words, the broad smile of the singer, the sometimes awkward but always entertaining gyrations, are parts of our collective memories. Maybe even our Pakistaniat.

One cannot but be moved by the health state Alamgir now finds himself in. It is the plight of too many, too many of whom have names we do not know, whose voices we have never heard. If we are blessed and can help any of them in any way, we should. One may never have enough to help everyone, nor everything. But let us not make that an excuse to not even do that little which we can.

On behalf of Pakistaniat.com, and therefore on all of your behalf, we are now sending a check, from the earnings from our Ad revenue, as a donation to foundation set up to assist Alamgir and his family through his medical crisis. A couple of thousand dollars here or there will not make a huge difference given the cost of things, but each little bit will count. And for those of you who can – in cash or in expertise, or merely in your prayers – we urge you to do the same.