Pakistan

According to Foreign Policy Magazine, 60 of the World’s Countries are “Hell”

June 26, 2010
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Pakistan, the “10th most failed state” of 2010 according to Foreign Policy. Doesn’t look like hell to me. This week a photo essay based on the ‘Failed States Index’ really got me riled up. Basically, Foreign Policy took one terrible/chaotic/scary photo from each of the 60 countries to make a photo essay called “Postcards from [...]

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Perception of Race and Skin Color in Pakistan

June 18, 2010
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The most popular beauty product in Pakistan is Fair and Lovely cream. As you can see in the commercial above (in Hindi-Urdu), a dark-sinned girl and her father go to a “modern beauty company” and are turned away. The father dramatically gets some Fair and Lovely cream, and the girl’s skin changes to several shades [...]

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Authentic Pakistani Cuisine: Simple Vinegar Broast Chicken

June 17, 2010
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My landlady Nasreen’s Sindhi Biryani Recipe went over well, so here’s the next one in the series: a simple vinegar roast. In Pakistan and North India this dish may be called “roast” or “broast.” It is commonly found at local fast food restaurants. English speakers may be surprised, but the dish is actually fried on [...]

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Traveler’s Reading List: Pakistan

June 15, 2010
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The following are some of my favorite books about Pakistan. 1. The Dancing Girls of Lahore by Louise Brown An excellent first-hand account of life in Lahore’s red light district. British author and professor Louise Brown tells the story of Maha, the dancing girl, and her family. Since dancing girls are scorned by the rest [...]

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How to Beat the Heat in Lahore, Pakistan

June 10, 2010
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With temperatures hitting 121 degrees Fahrenheit (49 C) and at least eight hours of power cuts daily, it can be difficult to deal with the heat in Lahore. Here are some practical suggestions to stay cool when it’s scorching hot and there’s no electricity. Go Window Shopping Who says you need to buy anything when [...]

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Travel from Lahore to Amritsar: Crossing the Pak-India Border

June 4, 2010
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In order to cross the border from into India from Pakistan, you need to have valid visas for both countries. If you are planning to return to Pakistan, make sure that you have another entry left on your visa before you leave the country, unless you are planning to apply for a new Pakistan visa [...]

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How to Buy Traditional Pakistani Clothes in Lahore

May 13, 2010
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The traditional Pakistani outfit is made up of two parts. The shirts, ‘kameez’, are long and loose fitting with two slits on the sides. The slits should be even with the waist or hips, and should not allow any skin to be shown. The pants are called ‘shalwar’ and look like what many of us [...]

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