Outlook English - Print Subscribers Copy Outlook English, 07 May 2018 | Page 15

CHANGE CHANNEL FOR DARSHAN

AN Indian icon that has by the agriculture ministry been on the airwaves rather than the information since Republic Day 1967 is and broadcasting ministry . moving to a more specialised venue , marking the end by low viewership figures

The move was prompted
of an epoch . Krishi Darshan , for the analogue broadcast , which has always been and it is believed that the broadcast on the national Kisan channel will give the channel until now , programme a wider will shift to DD reach . The show will
Kisan , a new channel launched by the hour slot five days
have a dedicated two-
PM in 2015 . It will a week on the new also be bankrolled channel .
TRANS SCHOOL IN LAHORE

THE only school for transgender pupils in any Islamic country in the world ( so it ’ s claimed ) has just been opened in Pakistan . Located in Lahore , which is estimated to have a transgender population of about 30,000 , the Gender Guardian school aims to furnish both a traditional education with a full 12-year academic curriculum ( covering primary and secondary education ), and vocational skills courses in fields such as cooking , fashion design and cosmetics . Forty pupils have enrolled thus far , and there are 15 faculty members , three of whom are transgender themselves .

ENTRAPMENT EMBARRASSMENT

THE police set up a court . Captain Moe Yan meeting with a pair of Naing testified that a investigative reporters at police chief had ordered a restaurant , where they officers to “ trap ” Reuters hand over some “ secret journalists Wa Lone and documents ”. Shortly

Kyaw Soe Oo , who had afterwards , the reporters been investigating the are arrested and brought deaths of ten Rohingya to trial — a classic case men and boys in Rakhine of entrapment . Or so it state . The captain ’ s family would be , if a police officer soon paid the price — they appearing as a prosecution were evicted from police witness hadn ’ t revealed housing less than a day the whole scheme in after his testimony .
Hiccup At The Counter

STREET food owners in Karachi are fighting a losing battle against the powerful Pakistani defence establishment and high-end Chinese investors to keep their business along the city ’ s famous coastline , Do Darya . The food street set up along the city ’ s coastline may soon be closed to make way for some upcoming high-end , seafront residential and commercial projects in Defence Phase VIII .

A major campaign is on in the social media with hashtags # Do Darya # and # SaveDoDarya # doing the rounds to build an opinion in favour of this attractive food street .
Unlike food streets in other parts of the city , the 1.5-kmlong food street offers a fine dining experience along with cooling sea breeze and scenic views . It not only attracts visitors from all over Karachi but is also a major tourist draw and “ must see ” stops for foreigners .
According to a report in Dawn , around a decade ago , this barren area was notorious for drugs and other crimes . Most people living in the city would fear to venture on this side and those who had bought plots in Phase VIII often regretted their decision , says the Pakistani English daily .
However , investors who leased the spots at Do Darya took the risk and set up their food outlets in an outdoor setting . The concept took off and after that there was no looking back .
A Do Darya restaurateur was reported to have said : “ This place
Unlike in other parts of Karachi , the 1.5-km food street of Do Darya offers a fine dining experience , with cool sea breeze and scenic views .
was barren . We were given a lease for five years ( by the Defence Housing Authority ). We were given the assurance that it would be extended for another 20-25 years . We made sure to set up the place , bring value to the area and have thousands of people coming in every weekend .
“ DHA had informed us that the lease would not be renewed , so we filed a case against them in 2014 and got a stay order ... the tenure of that stay order is set to finish in about two months ,” he said , requesting anonymity .
But the owners of the street food outlets say it will not be easy fight for them . “ DHA hopes we will vacate the area in about two months , but we are resisting . It ’ s not an easy fight , but we are trying ,” a restaurant owner said . “ On an average , Rs 250 million has been spent on the property and this investment is not coming back ,” he added .
The area offers employment to around 5,000 workers that include cooks , guards , waiters and valets .
The plots belong to the Army Sports Club and Navy Sports Club , while the other pieces of land have been earmarked for Chinese realtors .
7 May 2018 OUTLOOK 15