Hafeez Khan

My heart skips a beat or two every time I enter Lyallpur, which is incorrectly named Faisalabad for a very good reason; I have tons of fond childhood and youthful memories associated with this city. Be it the rising dust from our grandfather’s car on a dirt road being chased by village kids and stray […]

“Lalchee nu jhuta marda aiy” a Punjabi saying, translates as “greedy’s undoing is a liar.” Rustic wisdom that has been passed down through generations now has a new twist. “Lalchee” and “Jhuta” have teamed up as PDM, an unholy alliance harming Pakistan’s future. The nation is on the brink of financial disintegration, yet their top […]

Pakistanis are creative and enterprising. They find ways of coping, whether surviving in abject poverty or developing their future, if given an opportunity. Few nations are blessed with these traits. Having lived abroad and being exposed to different peoples, this entrepreneurial spirit is quite rare. Generally folks seek regularity and routine that provides security. Living […]

Living in Riyadh in the eighties had its challenges. The workplace was fulfilling and challenging; however, there was a void in home entertainment. There was one TV channel in Arabic. This vacuum was filled by enterprising businessmen; Indian movies and Pakistani dramas on VHS tapes appeared for rental. They were surreptitiously distributed from concealed counters, […]

It is the season of giving amongst those practising the Christian faith around the world. Many go above and beyond their means to buy gifts for their loved ones. It is an expression of affection, care and gratitude shared with family and friends. This holiday season celebrates Christmas and ushers in New Year. There is […]

We have to draw inspiration from our centuries-old heritage of dispute resolution. It is “Pariya” or “Panchayat” in Sind and Punjab and “Jirga” in KP and Baluchistan. It is equivalent to a Council of Elders. Historically conflicts have ended only two ways. Either one’s foe is entirely vanquished into submission, or a compromise is reached […]

I was passing through the stringent security check at Toronto Airport. It was crowded; fear of travel is gone as Covid restrictions ease. While emptying my pockets and pulling the laptop out of its bag, I dropped my boarding pass and computer mouse. Unaware, I moved ahead for a physical check. The passenger behind me […]

“Amavas” or “Amavasya” is a Hindi word for a moonless night. It is a dark night as the moon overlaps the sun. As the planets move in their orbit, it is also known as a new moon night. It has a major significance for Hindus. For verification, I spoke to my close Indian friends Arjun […]

“Har pasay bhan taroor” a Punjabi phrase that describes destruction and chaos prevailing all around. Governance is adrift; it is difficult to determine who is in charge. Suppression and brutality is the order of the day to muzzle dissenting voices. People are being crushed by unprecedented inflation with no end in sight and nothing is […]

I couldn’t sleep after seeing the gory details broadcast by Kamran Shahid about Arshad Sharif’s mutilated hands and body. I am seventy-plus and have been around the block many times. If I feel that way, how will Arshad’s young kids react? This callous game of thrones by our rulers will permanently scar these innocent minds […]