Polish, Italian climbers back on Nanga Parbat

By Jamal Shahid
ISLAMABAD: After retreating to the safety of their base camps about three weeks back, climbers are back on Nanga Parbat and have set up Camp IV at the height of 7,000 metres.

“Friday offered a clear window to the Polish and Italian mountaineering expeditions to push forward. It was not too cold, winds were calmer and the sky was clear too,” said Karrar Haidri, member executive council of the Alpine Club of Pakistan (ACP).

German mountaineer Ralf Dujmovits and his team member ended the climb in the first week of January, anticipating dangers of avalanches above their camp. The remaining two Italian and Polish win-
ter expeditions were also presumably packing up.

According to the ACP, it was not just the obvious hazards like extreme cold, ice and risks of avalanches. “One of the main reasons behind the failure was continuous bad weather,” said Mr Ilaidri, explaining how in the nearly 25 years 17 climbing expeditions, including some of the finest mountaineers, had unsuccessfully attempted to capture the 8,126 metres high peak, also called the killer mountain, in the winter season.

Mr Haidri also explained how after months of preparation the Polish expedition on the Schell Route had been waiting for a clear weather by February 10 for a summit push. But a combination of intense cold, stormy winds and predictions of deteriorating weather forced the climbers to return to the base camp.

“Nonetheless, the climbers waited patiently and climbed again whenever there was a clear window. And now Tomek Mackiewicz and his teammate David Gottler spent last night 7,000 metres on the mountain,” said Mr Haidri.
The two climbed in sunny and windless conditions to reach that high. Measuring in a straight line Tomek Mackiewicz and David Gottler were approximately 3,500 metres above the base camp, said the ACP official, explaining how it was still a long and challenging climb to the top.

This is the second time Tomek Mackiewicz has reached this high. Although physically fit to push on, bad weather forced him to abandon his climb in February last year. He had turned back from the height of 7,400 metres.

However, the Italian climber, Simone Moro, has not had so much luck so far. Conqueror of all 14 eight thousand-plus peaks and best known for being the first ever to summit Gasherbrum II in the winter of 2011, Moro was back in the base camp again recovering. He turned back between Camp II and Camp HI after his health did not allow him to push forward.

Mr Haidri said capturing the summit now depended on how good the weather would turn out in the next 48 hours for the climbers to accomplish their goals.

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Pakistan breaks largest human flag record

LAHORE: Over 29,000 Pakistani students braced the rain to break the largest human flag world record. The record breaking feat was held as part of the Punjab Youth Festival.

PML-N leader Hamza Shahbaz congratulated students who formed the Pakistani flag.

The record was previously held by Bangladesh when 27,170 people formed the national flag in Dhaka.

As many as 29,040 Pakistani students formed the national flag and reclaimed the record for Pakistan. The record was validated by a representative of the Guinness Book of World Records.

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UNESCO DG visits Taxila, Lok Virsa

ISLAMABAD: UNESCO Director General Irina Bokova during her two-day state visit to Pakistan reached Taxila and Lok Virsa Islamabad along with Federal Minister of Education Muhammad Baleegur Rehman and UNESCO Country Director/Representative Kozue Kay Nagata.

Punjab Archaeology Director Dr Saleemul Haq and Taxila Museum Curator Abdul Nasir received the state guest in Taxila on Friday. Abdul Nasir gave the director general a guided tour of the museum. The director general inquired about the specifics of the sculptures and other objects dating back to the Gandhara period.

She also spent some time at the Museum Rest House which used to be the residence of Sir John Marshal, director general of Archaeological Survey of India during 1902-1922, where she was briefed on the development activities on the site and the museum.
“The people of Pakistan must be proud of its heritage. Taxila is a unique site showing so many layers of civilizations in this country, starting with prehistoric heritage and moving to the Greeks, and then to the Buddhist and Islamic cultures. This is a wellspring of creativity, an open book for tolerance, mutual understanding and dialogue, both within the country and abroad,” she said.
Later, the delegation led by the director general was driven to visit the remains of Sirkap site. Speaking to the Museum authorities and the media, she said that Taxila Site and the museum had a great potential to attract national and international visitors so that they could enjoy the first-hand experience of being at the unique historical sites of antiquities and human settlements of the Gandhara Buddhist heritage.

She appreciated the efforts made by the federal and provincial governments in the restoration and preservation of the historical artefacts and sites in Taxila. While taking to the media, she stressed the need for involving the community, especially youth, in the preservation and protection of their cultural heritage.

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Pakistani exporters invited to exploit Nigerian markets

LAHORE: Nigerian High Commissioner in Pakistan Dauda Danladi has said that Nigerian market has huge potential for Pakistan rice, textile products, pharmaceuticals and agricultural machinery, including tractors; therefore Pakistani businessmen should avail the opportunities in these areas.
The high commissioner was speaking at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Friday. LCCI President Engineer Sohail Lashari presented address of welcome while Chairman LCCI Committee for Pakistan-Africa Trade Promotion Zafar Mehmood, LCCI former Executive Committee Member Rehmatullah Javaid also spoke on the occasion.
The HC said that the President of Pakistan and the Punjab Chief Minister had promised to take business delegations to Nigeria that would pave way for frequent business exchanges between the two countries.
Danladi said that Chief Minister Punjab had formed a committee to finalise modalities for a high-powered visit to Nigeria.
He expressed the optimism that the trade between Pakistan and Nigeria would get a new boost as both sides were planning to sign various trade-related agreements including Preferential Trade Agreement very soon.
Speaking on the occasion, LCCI President Engineer Sohail Lashari said that Pakistan’s business community was well aware of the market size of Africa and Nigeria could serve to be the best destination to exploit the potential.
The LCCI president said that the continuity of organizing Africa Show every year in Lahore is a clear sign of LCCI’s commitment towards bridging the gaps and upsizing the current level of two-way trade.
Engineer Sohail Lashari said that it is encouraging to note that Nigeria is one of the major member states of African Union and classified as an emerging market rapidly approaching to middle income status.
“By way of having good banking network and stock exchange, Nigeria seems fully poised to lead the acceleration of Africa’s economic development.”
He said that the joint efforts in the form of organizing Africa Show on regular basis from the last three years or so have started paying off. The positive change in trade figures, which is although less significant, has taken place and we will keep on making efforts to take it to the desirable level.
Major export items from Pakistan to Nigeria are tractors, medicament mixtures, woven fabric of synthetic fiber, cotton fabrics, electro-medical apparatus, garments, rice, articles of plastic and etc.
Items of imports from Nigeria to Pakistan comprise cotton, sheep/lamb leather, raw hides and skins, natural gums, resins, milk and cream, preserved vegetables, nuts and coconuts etc.
He said that Pakistan has a strong agro and industrial base. It has a vast potential to export most the products imported by Nigeria from other countries.
The LCCI President said that Pakistan is equally capable of facilitating Nigerian market with better quality products at competitive rates. We can also export cereals, light vehicles, electrical appliances, pharmaceutical products, auto-parts, articles of plastic etc. even at a much competitive rates.
He said that there is a dire need to identify more tradable products to enhance our mutual trade. Nigeria is the twelfth-largest producer of petroleum in the world, therefore, sharing of expertise in oil and gas sector can also be initiated on priority.
Engineer Sohail Lashari said that Pakistan is known around the globe for its textile products, sports goods, surgical instruments, rice, carpets, footwear and so many other consumable items, which still need to be properly introduced in African markets. He said that market research should be conducted regarding the range of products and priority may be given to each other for import of products.
He said that frequent exchange of trade delegations, continuous liaison and exchange of information can prove important instruments to strengthen our trade and investment relations.
He said that organization of Pakistan Show in Nigeria could help reach out to such importers who have yet to get familiar with the manufacturing capabilities of Pakistan. The Chairman LCCI Standing Committee on Pak-Africa Trade Promotion Zafar Mehmood threw light on Africa Show being planned by the Lahore Chamber in the month of May 2014.

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Sindh’s culture is not just ajrak & topi, screams the art festival

KARACHI: When Sameera Raja was asked to organise an art exhibition as part of the Sindh Festival, she was ecstatic about the idea. What thrilled her most was the thought of making art available for people on such a grand public forum.

Her only condition to the organisers was this: the exhibition would display works of artists of her choice — contemporary artists whose works met the international standards that Pakistan had come to be known for. “Sindh’s culture is not limited to the ajrak and topi,” she remarked, while speaking to The Express Tribune. “There is so much more to our society than just that. What I did not want was a clichéd government-type exhibition with Thari women dancing in the centre.”

For the exhibition, Raja and her co-organiser, Adeela Suleman, chose the works of upcoming and established artists who had proved their worth in the field of contemporary art. The only criterion set was that the artist must have some link with Sindh. They should have either been born, raised or have spent some time in the province, explained Raja.

Inside the Sadequain Gallery, the exhibition features works by 63 participating artists, besides paintings from Benazir Bhutto’s private collection. Raja told The Express Tribune that she had hand-picked these 11 paintings out of the hundreds that were part of Benazir’s private collection. The canvases included works by the likes of Jamil Naqsh, Ismail Guljee and Sadequain, among other renowned artists.

Where these works from the masters are sure to catch the observer’s eye, the other participating artists have certainly left nothing to wish for. One of the most striking pieces was, ‘I Saw it before at the Indus Valley Civilization,’ which shows a life-size buffalo placed atop a pile of books. The sculpture was inspired by Moen jo Daro’s famed imagery of bulls and buffalos and also draws on the popular Urdu expression, ‘Aqal bari ke bhains’, picking on the country’s education system.

Paradise Garden

Perhaps the most attractive facet of the art festival is the site-specific installations that have been set up at different spots in the Frere Hall gardens. The giant cob-web, titled ‘Web gets stronger’, designed by Nabahat Lotia, is a delight to observe after sunset with a light show to enhance its ambience. Another outstanding installation is the illuminated minarets, ‘Bartle Frere’s Garden’, which is a collective effort by David Alesworth and Adeela Suleman.

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Sindh seeks return of Moenjodaro’s Dancing Girl from India

KARACHI: As Bilawal Zardari’s Sindh Festival has turned people’s attention towards the culture and civilisation of Sindh, the provincial government is sending a request to Islamabad for asking India to return the famous statue of the Dancing Girl, which is in possession of the Indian authorities since 1946.

“We are writing to the federal government to help us repatriate our exiled heroine back to us from India,” a member of the Sindh cabinet told Dawn.

The two most famous artefacts belonging to Moenjodaro, regarded as one of the world’s most ancient planned cities, are the King Priest and the Dancing Girl.

Officials said the two relics had been transported by British archaeologist Sir Mortimer Wheeler to Delhi in 1946 to be put in an exhibition and had remained there since then.

In 1947 after the partition of the subcontinent, the Pakistani authorities asked New Delhi to return the two relics along with several others including the Fasting Buddha.

A Pakistani official had visited Delhi and succeeded in getting hold of the King Priest and the Fasting Buddha. But the Indians refused to hand over the 10.8cm dark bronze statuette of the Dancing Girl. It has inspired many explorers to write over the decades dossiers on the history it was a witness to and reflections it offered about the role of women in the society millennia ago when it was not under patriarchal dominance.

There is a popular legend which said the Indian authorities had refused to hand over both the Moenjodaro relics and offered the Pakistani authorities to choose from the King Priest and the Dancing Girl.

“The Pakistanis chose the King Priest made up of soapstone. Perhaps they were hesitant to get hold of a naked teenager to avoid a possible backlash from religious quarters,” an official observed.

The King Priest — a bearded man wearing an Ajrak-like cloth with hair neatly combed back — is widely speculated to be the ruler of the city.

Experts said they had repeatedly requested previous governments to try to take possession of the Dancing Girl, but no one took any interest.

“It is good to see the government is seriously pursuing this matter,” said a provincial government official who previously worked in the archaeology division.

Archaeologists said under the UNESCO Convention of 1972, the original owner of any artefact is the country where the relic was found.

Qasim Ali Qasim, director of the provincial archaeology department, said since the federal government was a signatory to the UNESCO convention, the Sindh government would have to ask Islamabad, which could send a request to the world cultural organisation to get the things rolling.

He said Islamabad’s efforts in 2009 brought back 13 artefacts belonging to the Gandhara civilization from several countries and same could be done for the figurine wearing bangles all the way up in one of her arms, which is still a common sight in Thar Desert.

“The Dancing Girl belongs to us and everyone knows it.”

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Sindh cultural festival opened in Karachi

KARACHI: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Patron-in-chief Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Sunday inaugurated ‘Art Fest’ – part of the ongoing biggest cultural activity Sindh Festival – at Frere Hall.

Speaking on the occasion, Bilawal said, “The sole purpose of organising Sindh Festival and Art Fest is to preserve and protect our cultural heritage sites as well as to promote rich art culture of Sindh. Almost one and half month ago I asked Sameera Raja and Aqeela to volunteer Art Fest and in this short span, they have done very well.”
Acknowledging the hard work of volunteers, he said, “We all know about the culture of Pakistan. It is time to bring our cultural values before the world.”

The strength of the contemporary art of Pakistan lies in the quality and diversity of artists who work with a global vocabulary without geographical boundaries, while retaining their unique sense of belonging, Bilawal said.
“The work that comes out of Pakistan has a deep connection to the region, its people and its own specific and interesting issues.”
After the inauguration speech, the event was formally inaugurated with the art performance by famous artist Amin Gulgee, in which he along with his fellows presented a unique dance performance on high beam music beats. Later, a dance performance was also staged by Umer Rahim.

Sindh Festival, which will run until February 15, has received huge attention as a number of artists are presenting their work at Sadequain Art Gallery of Frere Hall.

Almost 60 art pieces on display include Benazir Bhutto’s private art collection in the gallery. The art pieces were of every kind, including sculptures, paintings, portrays and others.

Rehana Mangi presented two ‘KaraGulla Black Flowers’ on the medium of human hair on wasli paper (hand made paper). In both art pieces small hair made flowers were installed but for spectators it seem like pencil work.
Ayaz Jokhio presented ‘99 Self Portraits’ on acrylic paint on print on canvas.
The artist presented 100 portrays of himself in different attires and look.

Shakil Saigol presented a painting in which Benazir Bhutto is in a deep thought while Malala Yousufzai is also there.
A large number of notable personalities, including Sherry Rehman, Owais Muzzaffar, Shehryar Taseer and Sameera Raja, graced the event.

Bilawal also cut the ribbon at Bagh Ibn-e-Qasim Park in Clifton on Sunday, officially starting Sindh Festival.
Traditional crafts display at Sindh Rural Support Organisation’s stall caught the attention of spectators. A mixture of Sindh’s handicrafts made by rural women was exhibited, including basketry, dresses, dupattas and home textiles.

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Eat, pray, drive

It’s still early as the trucks pull up in the huge courtyard in front of the Quetta Durrani Hotel on the Superhighway. A lazy dog raises its head, yawns and goes back to sleep. No danger of being run over from any of the heavy vehicles, they are all regulars here. Mixed with the smell of diesel is the aroma of strong tea, something that’s badly needed after a six- to seven-hour drive.

“You have cafes, diners, inns, bed and breakfast, and even super markets on highways in the West. There it is compulsory to take a break after every two or three hours of driving in order to avoid any mishaps on the road but our drivers here in Pakistan don’t have that kind of luxury,” says Zakariya Khan, heading out to the Punjab

“Here you are on a tight schedule to deliver goods on time, otherwise, you have to answer to the truck owner, your boss,” he adds.

“At these roadside restaurants, too, you can easily spot the drivers and truck owners. The owners usually order mutton roast that costs around Rs350 and the poor drivers have the lentils or vegetable curry that is around Rs50,” he says before taking a bite from his mutton roast.

“Yes, I’m an owner now,” he laughs upon realising that he has just given himself away. “But before this I have been a driver for 30 years. I know what drivers have to go through and how tired they get driving non-stop. In fact when stopped in that condition by the highway police or magistrate, I even forget my own name and have occasionally told them that I am called ‘Filter’ while giving my father’s name as ‘Carburetor’,” he shares. There is no shortage of restaurants alongside the highway. There is the Makkah Restaurant, Sajjad Restaurant, A1 Mehran Restaurant, Highway Golden Restaurant, etc. But these are the more posh ones that resemble marriage halls and open in the evening usually as they cater to families mostly. The truck drivers don’t stop there. The Quetta Durrani Hotel, Chishti Hotel, New Quetta Pakistan Hotel, Bilal Hotel, Data Darbar Hotel and the like with open yards, takhts covered with mats and lots of bolster cushions at hand along with those orange water coolers is more their thing.

Azhar Abbasi, the cook at Bilal Restaurant, says a truck driver usually spends Rsl50 there. “A plate of vegetable curry or lentils and two cups of strong tea to help them stay awake and alert will cost about that much. We also have chicken curry and brain masala, if they’d prefer that, with fresh rod and naan” he says.

Haji Mohammad Zaheer, the restaurant owner, says that these roadside restaurant stopovers are like homes for the truckers who are always on the road. “That is why we provide them with cushions and pillows to be able to relax here for a while. They are good, honest and hardworking men transport-
ing commodities and goods from one part of the country to the other… they are the real backbone of our economy,” he says.

“They drive these heavy expensive trucks on very bad roads. This highway may seem all right at this point but it isn’t like that all the way. It’s a bumpy ride,” Haji Zaheer adds.

About the roadside restaurants for truckers, he says: “You must have noticed how each restaurant is near a petrol pump and a mosque. This all is part of the development started by the feudal or landowners here who have built these facilities on their land and given it to the people like us to run on contracts. We provide the food while the drivers stopping over can also freshen up at the mosques and offer their prayers there, too.”

Haji Zaheer says that before running the Bilal
Restaurant, he owned a cafe in Karachi, near Ayesha Manzil. “It is different running a restaurant or cafe in the city. I was constantly bullied by extortionists there, but this place is out of their reach, thank God!”

“The consistency of salt or masala doesn’t matter. The truck drivers are so tired and hungry by the time they make a stop here that they just eat and have a quick shuteye without making any demands. They are all familiar faces. We know their routes, too,” says Rafaqat Abbasi who manages the Data Darbar Hotel near the first Toll Plaza outside Karachi.

“Sometimes a stopover extends to more than a couple of hours for trucks going into Karachi. This usually happens in the evenings around Maghrib for then they can’t go into the city with loaded vehicles due to a law against it. On such occasions, they have to wait here till 11pm before resuming their journey. That is why we have a television here for their entertainment,” he explains, adding that still most prefer to wait out the time while sleeping inside their driving cabins.

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