A tale of two cities
Besides the culture and language that bind the people on both sides of the border, architecture too makes Pakistani visitors feel at home in India.
Chandigarh and Islamabad in particular share striking similarities that have left not just the Pakistani traders, but also their Indians hosts, awestruck.
Indians were most intrigued by a video of Islamabad brought to the fair by a Pakistani organiser that highlighted the similarities between Pakistan's capital and Chandigarh.
Traders from across the border for the "Made in Pakistan" exposition found themselves at home, thanks to the common culture, language and architecture.
Developed at the same time, both cities share same architecture and resemble each other socially and culturally. Parts of Islamabad have striking urban planning similarities with Chandigarh, as Khurshid Barlas, convener fairs and exhibition committee, Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce points out.
"When I show this video of Islamabad to the people in Chandigarh they get amused as the parks, artificial lake, roads look similar to Chandigarh's and the name is same as well - "City Beautiful"," he said. "It is only now they have replaced the roundabouts and small buildings with high rises. The architecture is exactly the same."
People in the two cities also have a similar lifestyle. "Just like Chandigarh, Islamabad has more of working class," Barlas added.
"Just as Chandigarh is surrounded by mountains and a hill station, Shimla, just a few hours away, Islamabad, too, is geographically similar," said Mansoor Ahmed, a Pakistani trader. "Architecturally, India and Pakistan, have a lot more in common than Chandigarh and Islamabad. Karachi looks like
Mumbai and Lahore resembles Delhi and Punjab in all manners."Peter Massi, another Pakistani trader at the exhibition said, "It does not feel as if we are in some other country. When we step out of here there feels no difference as the outlook of the cities match and since habits, language, culture and traditions are same too, it makes us feel at home."
Like Chandigarh's Open Hand Monument, Islamabad has a monument representing it and parks in both cities look similar.
- Kamini Mehta, TNN
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Chandigarh and Islamabad in particular share striking similarities that have left not just the Pakistani traders, but also their Indians hosts, awestruck.
Indians were most intrigued by a video of Islamabad brought to the fair by a Pakistani organiser that highlighted the similarities between Pakistan's capital and Chandigarh.
Traders from across the border for the "Made in Pakistan" exposition found themselves at home, thanks to the common culture, language and architecture.
Developed at the same time, both cities share same architecture and resemble each other socially and culturally. Parts of Islamabad have striking urban planning similarities with Chandigarh, as Khurshid Barlas, convener fairs and exhibition committee, Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce points out.
"When I show this video of Islamabad to the people in Chandigarh they get amused as the parks, artificial lake, roads look similar to Chandigarh's and the name is same as well - "City Beautiful"," he said. "It is only now they have replaced the roundabouts and small buildings with high rises. The architecture is exactly the same."
People in the two cities also have a similar lifestyle. "Just like Chandigarh, Islamabad has more of working class," Barlas added.
"Just as Chandigarh is surrounded by mountains and a hill station, Shimla, just a few hours away, Islamabad, too, is geographically similar," said Mansoor Ahmed, a Pakistani trader. "Architecturally, India and Pakistan, have a lot more in common than Chandigarh and Islamabad. Karachi looks like
Mumbai and Lahore resembles Delhi and Punjab in all manners."Peter Massi, another Pakistani trader at the exhibition said, "It does not feel as if we are in some other country. When we step out of here there feels no difference as the outlook of the cities match and since habits, language, culture and traditions are same too, it makes us feel at home."
Like Chandigarh's Open Hand Monument, Islamabad has a monument representing it and parks in both cities look similar.
- Kamini Mehta, TNN
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Home away from Home
Khushwant Singh paid a just tribute to the people of Lahore, calling them "recklessly generous". Some time ago, when my friend Madhur and I visited the cultural and intel
.....more
Khushwant Singh paid a just tribute to the people of Lahore, calling them "recklessly generous". Some time ago, when my friend Madhur and I visited the cultural and intel
.....more
Prisoners of archaic laws
By Rabia Ali
Abdul Hai, of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, Karachi, shakes his head in disappointment when asked about the number of Pakistani prisoners i .....more
By Rabia AliAbdul Hai, of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, Karachi, shakes his head in disappointment when asked about the number of Pakistani prisoners i .....more
Peace activist cautions against Indo-Pak 'water war'
By Shahid Husain
Karachi: Eminent peace activist from India, Tapan K. Bose, has cautioned against a "water war" between India and Pakistan if remedial measures are no .....more
By Shahid Husain Karachi: Eminent peace activist from India, Tapan K. Bose, has cautioned against a "water war" between India and Pakistan if remedial measures are no .....more
Hockey team to 'play for peace'
PHF to send national squad to India tomorrow after being assured presidential-level security
By Khalid Hussain
KARACHI: Pakistan's hockey chiefs on S .....more
PHF to send national squad to India tomorrow after being assured presidential-level security By Khalid Hussain
KARACHI: Pakistan's hockey chiefs on S .....more
'Pakistan, India must work for peace'
By our correspondent
Karachi: Peace efforts between India and Pakistan are the real need of the hour and only prudence, foresightedness and sincerity can do wonder .....more
By our correspondentKarachi: Peace efforts between India and Pakistan are the real need of the hour and only prudence, foresightedness and sincerity can do wonder .....more
Proud LAHORI at home in BOMBAY
Shahvaar Ali Khan
"Haan boss. Mere ko Bandra jaane ka hai…Carter Road," (Hey boss, I need to go to Bandra…Carter Road) I nonchalantly told our driver, Aslam, as we .....more
Shahvaar Ali Khan"Haan boss. Mere ko Bandra jaane ka hai…Carter Road," (Hey boss, I need to go to Bandra…Carter Road) I nonchalantly told our driver, Aslam, as we .....more
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We probably didn't need to do this Special Report. Newspaper stories don't matter when it comes to Indians in Pakistani jails and vice versa. In fact, 'vice versa' sums it up. We do to them what they do to us.
Except when the two countries decide to begin talking, yet again! This time a little before the foreign secretary level talks, some Pakistani prisoners were released by India (and vice versa must have happened) and some more were release....read more
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For the past 2 years the Jang Group and Geo have been working on a project of great national interest; one that we hope will help usher in an era of peace and prosperity in the country and indeed, in the region. And one that hopefully all Pakistanis can be proud of.
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