A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR THE TRAGEDY IN LAHORE, PAKISTAN

69 people were killed and over 300 were injured in a suicide bombing in Lahore, Pakistan. On a calm Sunday evening as the cool wind blew and the sun was setting to depart an explosion erupted. Chunks of bodies flew in the air. Blood splattered and pooled on the ground. The frazzled blast, worth only a couple moments, killed and injured many innocent families enjoying an Easter Sunday evening at Gulsha-I-Iqbal public park in Lahore. The Pakistan Army has been deployed to secure the city.

Most of the dead are children and women, that had gone for a weekend outing to the park. The blast occurred just outside the exit gate, which is located only a few meters away from the children’s swings. Bodies were seen flying in the air before they thumped dead on the ground. Eye witnesses claim the attack to have been a suicide bombing; the police haven’t confirmed whether the blast had been carried out by a suicide bomber or a remote controlled device.

It has been clear, in the past, that Pakistani hospitals aren’t equip to handle such disasters. Local televisions have informed that many of the dead bodies are being kept in hospital wards since all the morgues are completely full or over crowded. Dawn News recently informed the citizens of Lahore that there is a shortage in blood banks for blood types: A negative and O positive. Hospitals are requesting citizens with those blood types to donate.

Security in the city has sky rocketed. The Punjab government has ordered all parks to be shut down. Schools and shopping areas are on shut down and the streets are completely deserted. This is a time for national mourning. Why are the children of our nation being targeted? – they are our future.

Questions and assertions have risen that this attack was an act of terrorism by the Taliban.

Only a couple days ago there was another attack in a country neighboring Pakistan. A bomber blew himself up in a football (soccer) stadium in Iraq. The blast took place on Friday evening after an amateur football (soccer) game. Cell phone video footage showed that the blast happened in the midst of players collecting their trophies. Most of the crowd were young boys.

“When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world” – John Muir. On that note, I request my readers to take a moment of silence to pray for the children of Pakistan, Iraq and all the children of the world. We all need to find an allegiance towards protecting our future generations to come.  

Note About Kissing In Karachi

Saira Khan was recently published in the New York times. Her article was titled “A Risky Kiss in Karachi.” The article highlighted some truths about Pakistan that are never told. In spite of the terrorism, corruption and security concerns, you still have people living there. And, if you have a population, you are bound to have a social class system.

The article mentioned above, is a personal experience that the writer has gone through. After a night of partying in Karachi, she goes on long drive with a close friend, S and finds herself making out with him in the car later that night on a deserted street in defense. Young, drunk and aroused the two found a police man knocking on the car window moments later. When she looked up, there were more policemen standing in front of the car. As her heart rate picked up and the stories of rape and assault crossed her mind, S roared the engine and raced out of there in reverse. The policemen quickly stumbled into their own ‘rickety’ Sukuzi Alto and tried follow. But the Saira and her S zoomed through different streets till they were safe and out of reach.

As mentioned in previous blogs, Pakistan follows the Sharia law regarding ‘zina’ – fortification and adultery – under this rule sex is prohibited outside of marriage. Even though the two were not having sex, getting caught having any sexy time is a serious no no! Why am I blogging about this article? Because it depicts a hidden truth about young adults in Pakistan. We make out, get drunk and do drugs like all other kids in other countries. And just like in other countries we get in trouble, the difference is, for us the stakes are much higher and the consequences the heavier.

This article in combination with the new law passed to protect women in Pakistan from being beaten and abused by their spouses or male family members highlights the glimpses of women empowerment in Pakistan. Where do women stand? Do you think it will get better for them?

UBER IS NOW IN PAKISTAN

Yes! Yes! Yes! Uber is now in Pakistan. In fact, it is growing rapidly, not only the drivers but also with riders. Uber launched its lowest service across Lahore at 13.7 rupees’ kilometer, that is equal to 13 cents per kilometer. This price is low enough to attract customers but also gain a profit.

How has Uber adapted to Pakistan? Well for starters the customers will be allowed to pay in cash instead of credit cards, since most people don’t pay with credit car in Pakistan. This was first tested in Hyderabad, India. In addition, Uber has to contend with one of the lowest internet penetration rates in all of Asia – and believe me when I tell yah! INTERNET IS SLOW IN PAKISTAN.

It was interesting to find that, many of the Uber drivers have to take a crash course on sexual harassment – since this is not a topic of general knowledge or conversation in a country like Pakistan. In the seminar, the drivers are taught the basic boundaries of sexual harassment. They are meant to understand that physical contact or harm is not the only definition of sexual harassment. Riders, especially female riders, can get uncomfortable if they sense a lingering stare, inquisitive questions or too much enthusiasm. Many of the women in Pakistan are unemployed, this is primarily due to a lack of safe transportation. Moreover, it is hard for a woman to be independent in a nation like Pakistan, since it is simply not a part of the cultural norms.

In order to allow Uber in countries like Pakistan and India, where this can be a resource for a ton of people, Uber will have to go through rigorous screening for its drivers and provide mandatory training in regards to proper behavior and etiquette.

Introducing Uber in a place like Pakistan where the crime rate is so detrimental, but the need to a resource like Uber is in high demand, can be a challenge. The hope in establishing Uber I to give an opportunity for safe and reliable transportation to individuals, but this can easily come back and bite Uber in the butt if they are not overly cautious.

Please share you input and ideas on this issue by commenting on twitter or on the comment box below…