iFaqeer

Over the last month or so I have been involved in a project that has been very edifying. But that is not the surprising part.

I could go on and on about the project and I will provide further information about the project in a minute. But here’s an excerpt form a recent post that there’s very little chance will not startle you. Read it and then decide whether the site Understanding Pakistan is worth a visit:

“At the time of their independence, with resources and destinies so interlinked with each other ( i.e. Pakistan’s dependence on India’s for its water, and India’s dependence on Pakistan’s raw material for its factories), much was dependent upon the goodwill between the two countries. Leaders on both sides made public statements that suggested that they expected nothing short of that. Some had, in the past, even suggested the possibility of a joint-defense pact between the two countries. However, in reality the relationship that emerged, as the ashes of the partition settled, was everything but cordial. This took leaders on both sides by surprise…”.

Darwaish

Recently, I had a chance to visit District Khushab and observe a number of non-formal basic education projects initiated by the Government of Punjab with the help of international donor agency JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency). JICA is one of the largest donors in Pakistan’s development sector and is contributing to a number of projects to improve the socio-economic condition in Punjab. I was part of a group that included JICA’s senior management in Pakistan who were visiting local community schools in Khushab (Jauharabad to be precise) to deliver some equipment to District EDO (Executive District Officer), monitor the progress and to collect material for a report for JICA headquarters in Japan. These non-formal education projects are in part government’s efforts to promote the expansion and improvement of education under National Plan of Action on Education for All and Education Sector Reforms (ESR) Action Plan 2001-2005.

Owais Mughal

At ATP we have regularly discussed preservation of our art, architecture and heritage. For example here, here, and here. This post falls in the same category. Today’s news is that Italy is going to return 96 ancient looted items to Pakistan. This announcement was made by Italian Cultural Minister Francesco Rutelli.

The items which will be returned include decorated bowls, vases, miniatures of Zebus; a type of humpbacked cattle native to India and Pakistan; coins, plates, a duck-shaped and a bull-shaped musical instrument. The items belong to a period from 3,300 to 1,800 B.C.

… In photo to the left Italian Culture Minister Francesco Rutelli is seen admiring some of the 96 ancient items, which will be returned to Pakistan….

The items were spotted by authorities during a trade fair near Milan in 2005. It was not clear how long they had been in Italy, but they were smuggled as modern Thai art from southwestern Pakistan, officials said. A group of Italian experts will go to Pakistan to help restore them at their native place.

Reference: Details here. Clicking on the photo above will take you to its original web-site