Edited BY
G P Kennedy
Tassy - Karachi, Pakistan
The week began with a number of changes. The Government announced that everything would be open with immediate effect! The move resulted in jubilation for most people, and increased wariness from skeptics like me. A number of people actually believe that the Corona virus has been eradicated like small pox! Mask wearing had not been strictly observed all this time for the majority and now even the few who have been wearing them will be less strict. It really makes me shudder.
During my walk with my friend on the seaside promenade, we noticed numbers of people who had thronged to the beach, all maskless. Previously this area had been cordoned off for pedestrians and cyclists to use. We cut short our walk to return home as we felt uncomfortable with the huge congregation, and my friend and I decided that that would be our last walk there. Funnily enough while most people around the world have used the time of the lock down to get out in nature and walk and hike outdoors, public parks in Karachi were closed this entire time! Now with the lockdown effectively over parks have reopened. The logic still defies me!
Camels decorated for Independence Day
Just one day after the new measures were announced we were invited to a friend’s son’s wedding reception next week. Weddings in Pakistan are very elaborate affairs and last several days with daily festivities. When I got married we had a ‘small’ wedding by local standards with only 500 people. The last wedding I attended in February was for 2000 guests! My friend whose son was getting married was very disappointed that they had to restrict the guest list to only a100 people bearing in mind the current situation.
My first reaction was one of horror, as to how I would be able to face a 100 people after meeting only the 3 or 4 friends we have been meeting this entire time. My personality is outgoing and I thrive on company. I fear though that the last five months of hibernating in my house has made me uncomfortable meeting larger groups, and I am now quite satisfied with my own company.
This week we had a public holiday as Pakistan celebrated its 73rd anniversary of freedom from colonial rule by the British Raj. It was the day that the large subcontinent of India was bifurcated into India, West Pakistan (present day Pakistan) and East Pakistan. The idea being that Pakistan would be primarily for Muslims. (East Pakistan subsequently got its independence from Pakistan in 1971 and became Bangladesh). For the run up to the day itself street vendors got a chance to sell flags. It is common for everyone to attach a small flag to their car and many have larger flags on their walls.
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| Selling flags to celebrate Pakistan's independence |
At least two-dozen people however were shot and wounded in Karachi alone as a result of apparent celebratory aerial firing. We have now developed such apathy to news of people dying because of celebratory firing be it on new year’s eve or celebrations such as this one that it hardly creates a stir other than a few lines mentioned in the news.
The week was a busy one for me with back-to-back classes. I’m enjoying being busy again. I have more people now wanting to resume in person classes. I am allowing them to as long as mask wearing is strictly enforced even while doing yoga. Since my classes are all taught one on one and most of my students come to do yoga for therapeutic purposes, it is not of the vigorous, sweaty variety that you may see or read about. The classes are going well, mask wearing and all.
My parents decided to fly to London next week. My sister who lives there is keen that they get out for a bit, have a little break and visit her in the UK before the impending second wave. A number of friends decided to travel to the cool mountainous region of Northern Pakistan. Everyone is suffering from cabin fever. On Friday my husband told me he had some work in Dubai next week and that I should accompany him. Needless to say I am thrilled and very excited.
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| Delicious fruit for sale |
We fly tomorrow and will be in Dubai for a week. Dubai is only two hours away from Karachi by air. It used to be my home until I went to England for my higher studies. Being a small city and a strict government, Covid-19 cases have been brought under control there. The city is welcoming tourists and strict protocol is being followed to keep the virus at bay. We had to get tested for Covid-19 by an approved laboratory and we travel with that Covid free certificate on the plane. I am familiar with what to expect on the flight as our daughter left for Canada just a few weeks ago. My next week’s report will be from there. I can’t wait to simply sit in a café and sip a cappuccino and people watch. Until then it’s over and out from Karachi.
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