Young riders have removed the silencers on their two-wheelers as they do every year to make a noise for Pakistan's Independence Day, but the celebratory mood among the general population this year has been dampened by worries over the escalating cost of goods.
“I have been selling Independence Day items for a decade now," said Dilawar Khan.
"But this year the sales are low. Last year, we had sales worth Rs200,000 till the eve of the national day. However, this time, we could not even make half of that sale,” he told The National at his stall in Peshawar.
Shafqat Raies, a trader on Mall Road in Lahore, said businessmen as well as other people were in "survival mode".
“Businesses are down as spiralling prices of goods and commodities have resulted in less shopping in the markets,” he said.
Still, "there are many people, particularly youngsters, who are celebrating the day”, he said, noting that the practice of removing two-wheeler silencers to make extra noise for the day was still being followed.
Official customs are being followed as usual for Pakistan's 76th Independence Day, with buildings illuminated and events planned in schools. The day usually begins with a 21-gun salute.
Muhammad Sajid, a member in Lahore of the recently formed Pakistan Markazi Muslim League, said the party organised a women's Independence Day rally from 4pm to 6pm, and another for men from 7pm to 11pm, on Sunday.
One of the main causes attributed to the rising costs is the frequent increase in the prices of petroleum products, which has a knock-on effect on other items. On August 1, Pakistan's Finance Minister Ishaq Dar announced a 7.8 per cent hike in diesel and petrol prices to help meet the budgetary targets set by the International Monetary Fund.
“Besides economy, I think [militants] and dynamics of international politics have landed us into a quagmire,” he said.
Zahir Shah, an analyst, said the re-emergence of Taliban militants, who have staged deadly several attacks recently, as well as concerns about international political tensions, were also weighing on people's minds.
Meanwhile, celebrations in some cities are expected to be quieter than usual because of bans on riding vehicles without silencers, as well as the popular practice of blaring can air horns.
In Peshawar, these horns have been prohibited until Tuesday, after complaints that their use, particularly by children, was creating a nuisance and dangerous levels of noise pollution.
The horns have also been banned in the southern port city of Karachi, where a local court has ordered action to be taken against anyone selling or using them.
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Marital status: Separated with two young daughters
Education: Master's degree from American Univeristy of Cairo
Favourite book: That Is How They Defeat Despair by Salwa Aladian
Favourite Motto: Their happiness is your happiness
Goal: For Nefsy to become his legacy long after he is gon
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Dr Amal Khalid Alias revealed a recent case of a woman with daughters, who specifically wanted a boy.
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Day five of the treatment saw two male embryos transferred to the patient.
The woman recorded a positive pregnancy test two weeks later.
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Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae
The bio
Date of Birth: April 25, 1993
Place of Birth: Dubai, UAE
Marital Status: Single
School: Al Sufouh in Jumeirah, Dubai
University: Emirates Airline National Cadet Programme and Hamdan University
Job Title: Pilot, First Officer
Number of hours flying in a Boeing 777: 1,200
Number of flights: Approximately 300
Hobbies: Exercising
Nicest destination: Milan, New Zealand, Seattle for shopping
Least nice destination: Kabul, but someone has to do it. It’s not scary but at least you can tick the box that you’ve been
Favourite place to visit: Dubai, there’s no place like home
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- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
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Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
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Explained
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Power: 220 and 280 horsepower
Torque: 350 and 360Nm
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hall of shame
SUNDERLAND 2002-03
No one has ended a Premier League season quite like Sunderland. They lost each of their final 15 games, taking no points after January. They ended up with 19 in total, sacking managers Peter Reid and Howard Wilkinson and losing 3-1 to Charlton when they scored three own goals in eight minutes.
SUNDERLAND 2005-06
Until Derby came along, Sunderland’s total of 15 points was the Premier League’s record low. They made it until May and their final home game before winning at the Stadium of Light while they lost a joint record 29 of their 38 league games.
HUDDERSFIELD 2018-19
Joined Derby as the only team to be relegated in March. No striker scored until January, while only two players got more assists than goalkeeper Jonas Lossl. The mid-season appointment Jan Siewert was to end his time as Huddersfield manager with a 5.3 per cent win rate.
ASTON VILLA 2015-16
Perhaps the most inexplicably bad season, considering they signed Idrissa Gueye and Adama Traore and still only got 17 points. Villa won their first league game, but none of the next 19. They ended an abominable campaign by taking one point from the last 39 available.
FULHAM 2018-19
Terrible in different ways. Fulham’s total of 26 points is not among the lowest ever but they contrived to get relegated after spending over £100 million (Dh457m) in the transfer market. Much of it went on defenders but they only kept two clean sheets in their first 33 games.
LA LIGA: Sporting Gijon, 13 points in 1997-98.
BUNDESLIGA: Tasmania Berlin, 10 points in 1965-66
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The biog
Hometown: Cairo
Age: 37
Favourite TV series: The Handmaid’s Tale, Black Mirror
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Favourite book: Designing Brand Identity, Fifth Edition
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