I was browsing the newspaper this morning when I found out an exciting offer by a new broadband ISP, Nayatel. Nayatel offers internet, television (cable) and telephony. Tripleplay, as they call it, seems to be the new thing with the up-coming telecommunications companies.

The most attractive part of the offer was their unlimited download timings. Their package offers 512 Kbps speed for 6GB, and unlimited downloads from 8:00 p.m to 8:00 a.m & on Sundays, all at Rs. 1,199/-. Which is Rs. 200 I pay for this wretched connection, at a slower speed, lesser download/upload limit and that can’t even get Blogger for me to open. I hope someone at Dancom listens, and listens in on their competitors in the market too…

Anyone who’s started using Nayatel? I wonder what their services are like.

I mean either way you go, its a win win situation… well that is if the cook knows whats up…

Well boys and girls, the following post is definitely for those who enjoy having fun, so if you do not fall into this category of individuals, please take your eyes elsewhere… you might even require some psychiatric evaluations… but hey I’m just Mr. Islamabad… not your shrink or pharmacist…
(more…)

A few weeks back the National Art Gallery opened its doors to the public near the Parliment house. It has managed to attract quite a number of people.After seeing the advertisement in the newspapers and hearing about it from several people I decided to pay visit to the gallery.
It was totally different from what I expected. A you approach the entrance of the vicinity you are greeted by a sentry of seven large black statues of burqa-clad figures, haunting and dementor like. On close inspection it was found that they are made from fibreglass although from a distance they seem to be made from charcoal.
The gallery which took over more than two decades to be materialized now houses 600 works of art featuring 126 artists. Grouped in 16 exhibitions with each hall dedicated to a certain subject.

Photogragh: Aamir Qureshi
There are several internees around the gallery who can explain to the visitors what the painting and the sculptures depict. Although most of the time I did not find them helpful. The room which was dedicated to love was perhaps the most controversial of the exhibitions( or may be the hall at the top floor) where some paintings displayed nudity. This was totally out of the blue for me and many other who would expect strong censorship.
I was totally taken by surprize when I saw a several paintings depicting homosexuallity. I wonder why the mullahs haven’t criticized yet? I was also appalled to see that the paint on the wall was already getting scraped off due to the water getting leaked from the ceiling in room of the miniatures.
Although the general effort in bringing all these pieces of art together at one place is very much appriciated and is a visual treat for the art lovers.
The Art Gallery opens at 11a.m. Theres no ticket from 11a.m to 2p.m and later when it reopens at 3pm there is some sort of ticket.
And do remember that when you go into a hall that has this sound which is quite irritating dont keep wondering what it is. The sound coming from the speakers is the sound of childeren reciting Quran mechanically in congregation. I found this later from a news paper.

Photograph: Anjum Naveed/AP