Hafeez Khan

It is time to wake up. We are facing the biggest threat ever to mankind – Global warming is here; we are witnessing summer temperatures never experienced before. What have we done to the mother earth in the last hundred years? We have polluted the air, plundered natural resources, devastated forests, contaminated waterways, and multiplied […]

Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, an English classic written by R L Stevenson in 1886, is a must-read for literature students. The title was even co-opted into the English language as a reference for one person alternating between good and evil. Dr Jekyll represents a kind respected gentleman in Victorian England while his other persona, […]

The Chinese engineers got ready for work as usual on Dasu Dam. Nine of them would never return. Tragic. Dasu is located in the breathtaking parts of the Kohistan District along the Karakorum Highway on the mighty Indus River. I don’t use “mighty” lightly. Those of us who have visited these parts would concur. The […]

It has been a very eventful summer in the region. A lot has been written and said about the departure of US forces from Afghanistan. Verbalised in North American lingo, it can be summarised as “Adios Afghanis; wasn’t nice knowing y’all!” It was not a good experience. Thousands of lives lost, trillions down the drain, […]

Writing in English has its own set of benefits and challenges. Though limited, the audience comprises quality readers who have their spheres of influence. I experienced that in my last article. It had a huge footprint by my standards, and I got great feedback from many friends. They agreed with my analysis of historical happenings […]

Short cuts have become embedded in our national psyche – both as individuals and at the national level. We seek expediency to gain wealth, success, or status legitimate or illegal. No one cares whether the chosen path is causing pain to others, everyone is out to grab. Simply put, for nearly three quarters of a […]

Afghan Baba, along with an estranged cousin of King Zahir, emigrated from Afghanistan to Pakistan. The family settled in Abbottabad, on the foothills of Chir Pahari (or Pine Mountain). We lived a few houses further down the street. Despite the fall from grace, the head of the family was known as Shahzada sb, the Prince. […]

Winters in Lyallpur ( Faisalabad) were always fun, especially after the rigour of strait-laced Burn Hall in Abbottabad. That time of year was full of festivities. My uncle, Dr Abdul Majeed Khan, a veterinarian, worked for Lyallpur District Council. He was in charge of the annual horse and cattle show known as “Mela Muwashian”. It […]

It was a beautiful summer’s day last Sunday in London, Ontario. It should have stayed that way. Syed Salman Afzaal, mom Talaat Kidwai, wife Madiha, their 15-year- old daughter, Yumna, and nine-year-old son, Faaiz, had just finished dinner and prepared to go for a walk in the park across the street from their home, as […]

While chatting with a friend who happens to be deeply entrenched in the media, a very interesting point came up. Whenever high performing kids are interviewed about their future plans they opt for professions like medicine, engineering, law, business or pilot. No one wants to be a politician! Why so? Because politicians are neither trusted […]