Calm before the storm

As the monsoon season is building up in intensity, apprehensions for a repeat of the catastrophic flood which drowned the country last year are increasing with every rain drop. It doesn't help either when a report released by Oxfam to mark one year since the devastating deluge occurred, highlights the gross inadequacies of the government to tackle the emergency this year.

Dark side of the moon (sighting)

With the start of the holy month of Ramazan merely days away, the perennial controversy regarding moon sighting is again rearing its ugly, embarrassing head. Every year the country goes through the melodrama where Ulema from Peshawar and adjoining areas declare the moon sighted a day or two before rest of the country. It is even more distressing that this situation arises only during two most revered Islamic months, Ramazan and Shawwal for Eid-ul-Fitr.