Those living in the Gilgit-Baltistan region of Northern Pakistan were cut off from the rest of Pakistan until 1978 due to the mountainous terrain and lack of roads. You could take a small airplane, but that was reserved for only the richest citizens.
For everyone else, the only way to travel was by walking across mountain passes to Rawalpindi. In 1978, the Karakoram Highway was completed and the region was connected, but inter-region travel remains as difficult as it was 100 years ago.
Regular aspects of travel through this region include the rickety cable and plank bridges which cross Northern Pakistan’s mountain streams and rivers. Among these is the Hussaini Hanging Bridge, crossing Borit Lake in the Upper Hunza. This rope bridge is both long and poorly maintained. Many planks are missing, and strong winds shake the bridge as you cross it. It does little to ease nerves that a previous, older, broken bridge hangs in tatters next to the “new” one.
Top 10 Fastest Growing Cities in the World
10. Lahore, Pakistan
Current Population: Estimated at 10-11 million (2009)
Predicted increase in population by 2025: 3.17 million
Pakistan’s “second city” hasn’t yet cracked the list of the world’s megacities, but a spiking population driven by its culture and bustling electronics industry will put it on the list by 2025. And as its population growth has not yet exceeded its economic growth, Lahore seems to be in a unique position to thrive as it sees an influx of people. Its recent urbanization means that housing is relatively modern and well constructed. But land prices are skyrocketing as the city grows, and housing costs could be prohibitive. Roadways are in good condition, thanks to a public-transportation system that runs 24 hours a day. But infrastructure will have to be maintained in order to keep Lahore, the cultural center of Pakistan, thriving as a rival to Karachi.
p.s. Another source cites that the population would double to 22.5 million by 2025! Yikes…
(In Picture: The Lahore Museum)
(via cultureofpakistan)
In all it’s angsty-grungy glory, this song brings out the quintessential truth between the lies. From bonds to ties to communication lines, the infestation of misinformation on an emotional, political and social level is a heartfelt song in this tune…
Key lyric:
Zehnoan mein hai doobta eemaan / Khud see khoiee khud kee pehchaan / Inteha say waapsee / Kay raastay mumkin naheen
Dye Corduroy - Kiya Tum Ho Wohee
One of the urdu songs where I successfully built up the dynamics into a classic rip-roaring chorus of angst & glory.
Key lyric: Kiya Tum Ho Wohee (repeated over and over in the chorus in different inflections and streams of consciousness)
Dye Corduroy - Toofan
Listen to the tune / Go download it …
Contemporary folk/punk seasoned with political aseptic fervor and longing…
Key Lyric: Tayree zameen hai ya mayree kahaanee / Jo tum nay bahaya, lahu tha ya paane?
Wrote a kick-a$$ urdu poem…
Hmm.. to share or not to share…
A centuries-old settlement that now ranks among the world’s largest, Pakistan’s seaport city of Karachi mixes intense urbanization with remnants of a natural environment. The Advanced Land Imager (ALI) on NASA’s Earth Observing-1 (EO-1) satellite captured this true-color image of Karachi on January 8, 2010. It shows the southwestern edges of the city, where mangroves and river deltas mix with ports and pavement.
