Category: Articles

STRAIGHT TALK by Hafeez Khan Capitals worldwide are the pulse of what is happening in a country; a deduction from decades of travel. My recent visit to Islamabad was an eye-opener. Government is poor, rather bankrupt, however the people are rich. When I say people it means the top 1-2% who controls 90% of this…

STRAIGHT TALK by Hafeez Khan Every time I enter my Lyallpur, erroneously named Faisalabad, my heart misses a beat or two. 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 dirt road being chased by village…

STRAIGHT TALK by Hafeez Khan “Lalchee nu jhuta marda aiy” a Punjabi saying whichtranslates “greedy’s undoing is a liar.” Rustic wisdom that endures over generations. These days there is a new twist to this folklore. “Lalchee” and “Jhuta” have teamed up as PDM, unholy alliance harming Pakistan’s future. Nation is on the brink of financial…

STRAIGHT TALK by Hafeez Khan 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…

STRAIGHT TALK by Hafeez Khan Living in Riyadh in eighties had its challenges. 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 rentals. They were surreptitiously distributed…

STRAIGHT TALK by Hafeez Khan It is season of giving amongst those practicing 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…

STRAIGHT TALK by Hafeez Khan 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 foes is entirely vanquished into…

STRAIGHT TALK by Hafeez Khan 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 pockets and pulling laptop out of its bag I dropped my boarding passand computer mouse. Unaware, I moved ahead forphysical check. The passenger behind me…

STRAIGHT TALK by Hafeez Khan “Amavas” or “Amavasya” is a Hindi word for a moonlessnight. 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…

STRAIGHT TALK by Hafeez Khan “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…