Pak aviation is flying high

To any Indian traveling to Pakistan for the first time, the arrival at Karachi or Lahore is a pleasant surprise. The Quaid-E-Azam or Jinnah ...

To any Indian traveling to Pakistan for the first time, the arrival at Karachi or Lahore is a pleasant surprise. The Quaid-E-Azam or Jinnah Airport at Karachi, Pakistan8217;s commercial hub, is not only well maintained but also techno savvy with internet kiosks at the departure lounge. Lahore8217;s Allama Iqbal International airport, though smaller, is more swank after its recent refurbishing.

Aesthetic floor tiling, subtle lighting and new electronic signboards give it a very modern look. The civil aviation authorities must also be complimented for a very efficient ground staff at their domestic airports. The country8217;s national carrier is certainly a notch above their Indian counterpart in all aspects 8212; ticketing, baggage handling and customer service.

An American in Pakistan
The media attention that India8217;s tour of Pakistan is getting is mind-boggling. As this paper has reported, there are reporters from all parts of the world writing on aspects not necessarily related to cricket. GQ8217;s Jim Lewis hasn8217;t found any non-cricket story yet and is also concerned about security. So scared is he of people in Pakistan discovering that he is a US citizen that he has been going around saying he8217;s Canadian! He even asked a few Indian members of the media contingent whether they had personal security. The reactions were, to say the least, amusing.

Shooting at the Saddar
The Saddar, a conglomeration of bazaars in the heart of Karachi, has been the main shopping district from the early British era and sells a variety of items from foodgrains, textiles to hardware and porcelain. The narrow, winding bylanes are usually crowded, almost inaccessible. And for any television crew planning to film a slice of life at Saddar, things can be tough. This writer attempted it; in minutes there were at least 50 curious bystanders asking a variety of question.

We packed up in 5 minutes, headed back to the safety of the rented car and replaced Saddar as a 8216;Postcard from Pakistan8217; with the impressive Mazar-e-Quaid. Built in Jinnah8217;s memory, the white marble structure stands tall in a sprawling garden complex and is a must-see for anyone visting Karachi. The architecture is simple and the interiors are minimalist. The highlight is the changing of guards that takes place inside the Mausoleum every 15 minutes. A fitting tribute to the man who left a lasting impression on Pakistan!

The writer is part of a TV team covering the tour