The government is building a 100 billion six-lane motorway around Lahore for limited access only.

Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervez Elahi said in his pre-budget briefing that on the ground Ring Road will start taking some sort of shape until the end of 2007. The C&W officials say that the portion of Ring Road from Gulshan-i-Ravi to Khaira Distributory (excluding Ferozepur Road section) is likely to be completed by August 2007.

Presently, the work is underway from Saggian Chowk to Mehmood Booti. Niazi Chowk Interchange, one of several proposed interchanges at the new road, has been completed and is open for traffic.

The Punjab budget for financial year 2006-07 has allocated a hefty sum of Rs 18 billion for building this project. This is for the first time that the provincial government has revealed some aspects of the project whose details hitherto have been surrounded in mystery and work on some parts of the project have evoked public protests.

Lahore Ring Road project was originally conceived 25 years back and a few studies were carried out on it over the period. The road, touted as an alternative transport route to ease traffic load within the city, was designed and redesigned in the past with alterations made in it keeping in view the political and economic interests of the rulers of the day.

In 1991, JICA, an institution of Japan, had proposed a road-loop in the city and the World Bank had prepared a feasibility report on a 60 km ring road in the city. In 1995, the Lahore Development Authority had presented its Ring Road scheme. At that time, Daewoo and other foreign companies had signed a memorandum of understanding with the LDA to build this road. However, the then prime minister Nawaz Sharif wanted the Ring Road to include Raiwind Road where his family had built their farm houses. As a result, the amended road design proposed a length of 75 km. But this project could not take off.

However, on November 22, 2004, President General Pervez Musharraf inaugurated the project under a still new design with a ground-breaking ceremony at an interchange project at Niazi Chowk near river Ravi in Lahore. The Ring Road, as it stands today after massive changes made in its route, will go round the city in an incomplete circle. Lahore's mayor Mian Amir Mehmood describes the new project as a first ring around the city.

The road will provide a loop to the commuters who intend to leave and enter the city at the point of choice without the compulsion of using existing congested or sometimes blocked roads. Moreover, the road is intended to provide a fast route to reach old city centre in the north from the south. The present alignment of the Ring Road was finalised by the provincial government in August 2005 having traffic studies and modeling carried out by Nespak.

According to the officials at Construction and Works department (C&W), the total length of the Ring Road is 60.50 km with 13 interchanges on it. It follows Bund Road from Gulshan-i-Ravi to Mehmood Booti. It turns towards Lahore airport's new terminal after crossing G T Road and Canal Bank road at Harbanspura. From airport terminal, it passes through Defence (DHA) in between phase-IV and V connecting with Ferozepur Road at Khaira Distributory. From there, it follows Ferozepur Road up to Camp jail and goes over a nullah (dividing Samanabad from Mozang) leading to Gulshan-i-Ravi.

The C&W officials say that the Ring Road has been envisioned as a limited access high speed road of six-lane divided carriageway with interchanges. The road has been designed for a maximum speed of 100 km per hour for vehicles on it.

Presently, the C&W estimates show that the entire Ring Road project will cost the Punjab government more than Rs 100 to 120 billion. The officials say the mere civil works on 60-km-long road will cost more than Rs 40 billion at current prices. The cost of land acquisition is in addition to this, which is estimated to be somewhat between Rs 60 to Rs 80 billion. This price is likely to shoot up with the passage of time as the project will be completed in next few years.

Under the federal government's restrictions, the provincial governments are not allowed to take up the projects that cost more than Rs 5 billion. The Punjab government has circumvented this embargo by dividing the grand project into 27 different packages. Thus, officially the Ring Road is being built as 27 different roads in the city, but on ground they are part of one grand Ring Road.

Some citizen groups, mostly the people whose property is likely to be affected due to land acquisition for this project, have been campaigning against the present design of the road. They say that this so-called ring road is not around the city but has been designed to pass through congested localities such as Gulshan-i-Ravi. The people in various localities have formed action committees against the project.

Chaudhry Zahid Hussain, president action committee at Bund Road, says that Bund Road, from Niazi Chowk to Babu Sabu, was completed only a few years ago at a whopping cost of nearly Rs 800 million, but it is now being dismantled to build a new six-lane road as a part of Ring Road. He says the newly proposed road will adversely affect 400,000 people living in the vicinity and hundreds of telephone lines, gas pipes and electricity transmission systems. Many shops, petrol pumps, factories and graveyards will go under rubble to make way for the new road, he says.

In Harbanspura, Rashid Khan, an activist, says that the ring road project will cause demolition of thousands of houses displacing at least two hundred thousand people. He says the shifting of the road only one kilometre away from the populated area can save these people.

One of the worst-affected area could be Gulshan-i-Ravi, a lower middle class housing locality of the LDA launched in 1974, which the ring road will divide into two halves and the residents would be able to go from one to the other side through only an interchange after traveling miles. Ghulam Nabi, an activist, says that once the ring road is built the locality will sink down four feet below the road and sewage will drown the houses.

Farid Paracha, the member of the National Assembly from the area, says to build the 140 feet wide road several buildings will have to be demolished hitting 129 schools, 100 trade buildings, 25 hospitals and clinics and several mosques, parks and graveyards. He estimates that 50,000 buildings will be demolished and at least one million people will be displaced with the new road.

So far, the government has not responded positively to the protests against the Ring Road project. The protesters in turn are raising their voices through public forums and media. The portions of the road likely to displace people are yet to be started and once the work starts on them, only then the degree of people's opposition would be known. One question however remains as to what has compelled the government to maintain secrecy about the full details of the whole project, which is being dubbed so vital for the city and is likely to change the city's character for all times to come.

Learning a foreign language other than English seems to be on the priority list of students who want to have an overseas experience in studies. The rush for learning a foreign language such as French or German for example negates the impression that people learn a second or a third language just because they want to be appreciated by others. Most of the students TNS talked to said that they wanted to study the language because it gives them an edge over others in getting admission to universities in Canada, Germany and France etc.

"It has been four months since I am learning French. I intend to apply to the Canadian universities where being conversant in French gives me sixteen precious points," says Rimsha Ayub, a student who is registered at an education centre that teaches various languages. "If one plans to study abroad it is better that one learns a foreign language other than English. Universities in France, Germany, China and Russia give preference to students who know a language which is widely spoken in their country," she says.

Rimsha says she does not know which one is the best institution in the city. "On the face of it this institutions has able teachers who are foreign qualified to teach this language. But it is true that not every institution has teachers who have full command over the language that they are teaching," she says.

While a majority of people who learn foreign languages are students or people who are looking for a job overseas that requires the employees to be proficient in the native language others have other reasons. Some people learn a language because it takes them to a new world of history and culture. "I'm learning German language. I know French. Now I am able to read German and French writers. I don't need to read translations which are never as enriching an experience as reading a novel in its original language," says Muhammad Osama, a middle aged businessman.

Osama says finding a good institution is a tough job though, "We have so many institutions in Lahore that offer teaching of foreign languages. Few have the teaching staff to teach the languages they offer in their brochures. It is only to attract customers. Then they don't have native speakers who can teach the language in a better way. So one has to be careful in choosing which teaching centre to go," he says.

Bilal Mustafa, principal Institute of Business Techniques that also offers various language courses, says since he is in the profession it is not difficult for him to find good teachers. "I have been in the field for the last many years. I claim to know almost every person who knows a foreign language besides English. So it is not difficult for me to get someone who has good command over a foreign language. Sometimes, I agree that it is not easy to find a person who can teach a language the way it should be taught." Mustafa informs how their institution is different from others. "We teach Spanish, Chinese, Italian, Arabic, German and Persian. And we are actually teaching all these languages. What happens is that language centres offer many languages but they don't have teachers to teach every language," he says.

Mustafa tells which languages are favourite with the students and other people. "I can tell from my experience that after English language the one which everybody wants to learn is French language. It gives sixteen extra points when applying for admission or immigration to Canada or France. If one wants to go abroad for immigration or studies, especially to European countries one must learn a language other than English. People have to learn German or French because visa and immigrations regulations have been made difficult after 9/11."

Besides students and prospective employees many housewives are learning it as a pastime. "Housewives also make up a sizeable part of a teaching centre. Because learning a language is usually a six months course and we charge six thousand rupees for the whole course it is easier for housewives to spare some time and make the most of it by learning a language," he says.

Waqar Ahmed, branch manager Kipling Education System says learning a new language opens for people ways to earn their living. "If you know Japanese for example there are jobs online that are offered to people who know Japanese. Then getting a visa for Japan is a lengthy process. If one knows the language the process becomes quite easy," he says, adding, "one reason why people learn Japanese is that one cannot do business in Japan if one is not familiar with the Japanese language. Then people who go to China to study medicine have to learn some Chinese to be able to communicate better with the local Chinese. The medium of instruction may be English but Chinese is important nonetheless."

John Saleem, administrator German Centre says the number of students learning German does not remain the same. "Recently, there are fewer numbers of people learning German. Some months back we had a batch of forty students. It is usually students and businessmen who learn the language. We teach the language in steps beginning from the basic to the advanced level. People usually learn the language in three months," Saleem says. Getting a native teacher is difficult. "We don't have a German teacher right now but we do have teachers who are foreign qualified. Every year we send a teacher to Germany for courses in German language. It is very expensive that is why not every institution can do that."

Various People gather at different places to discuss their daily problems across the city. It may be deliberate or unintentional. They gather to discuss social, cultural, economic, and collective issues. There are some places which are famous in the city as Pak Tea House for literary debates and discussions and Minto Park for political activities which always led to political movements and played significant role in the political development of the country.

There is a unique place where people from all walks of life come to have tea and chat but it is known to be a tea stall most visited by deaf and dumb people. This is a tea stall at Temple Road most regularly visited by deaf and dumb people. They use their hands to communicate among themselves. From a distance their aggressive movement of hands makes one think as if they are having a very hot argument.

Yakoo Tea Stall is providing this facility to these people since the last fort years. They come with sunset and share their daily work and their problems with each other. They stay there till morning (4am).

People from all walks of life -- labourers, technicians, government job holders, those doing jobs in the private sector and businessmen of all ages come there. Some of them are millionaire and from well-to-do families. The speciality of the place is that deaf and dumb people sit there almost round the clock. They share their feelings with each other and forget all the worries by sharing with their companions. They come specially to fight boredom in their homes.Their parents, brothers and sisters, children and spouses do not give them the desired time and attention they require. Here they share views with people from different walks of life and with those like them.

Other people can go to parks for picnic and cinema to watch movies for entertainment but they find charm in Yakoo Tea Stall where they have a lot to share and express. They gossip, smoke, tease one another in their own language through signals and laugh at the people who ridicule them. The good thing is that they also get pleasures of instruments such as mobiles but they focus on messages only. Tea stall is more important to them than their houses because everyone here gets treatment like a family member. They know each other's pain and pleasures.

TNS talked the people who come and sit there. Among them some were unable to speak and listen while others had one problem; either they could speak or listen.

Muhammad Naeem, the owner of the shop tells that they spend their time happily here. These people come and sit here daily without any special purpose. They all are familiar with each other. They love to listen and to solve the problem of their companions whole-heartedly. They feel each other's pain in hour of grief. "Our tea stall is known because of these people. Many people come to our hotel just to observe these people like journalists, actors and social workers. They become a source of identification. Now, people only know our hotel as 'goongon aur behron ka hotel', he says.

Abdul Salam, President of Pakistan Deaf Cricket Association and an executive member of Deaf International Federation says he has been coming to this hotel since the last thirty years. "He waits all day almost daily, to come here. All the people who are members of Deaf Cricket Team and all others who come here daily are like his family members. He tries to solve their problems with vigour and passion. They all regard me as their elder. Infact we are living like a family and I am supposed to be their head. So I give them advice how they can find a job and in what way they are going to apply for that job. Government must formulate a sympathetic policy towards us. It must establish schools and colleges for us and give jobs to those who have done their bachelors and masters. Our cricket team of the deaf is going to play a cricket match with England's deaf cricket team in England from August 5 to 22," he says.

"I m doing a job in LDA, I check files there. I am married with two children. My wife is also deaf and dumb but my children can speak. My parents, sisters and brothers remain busy in their work and they have no time to talk to me. I come here to overcome this problem. I share all my problems with my friends. I have been here since last 20 years. I love the tea at this hotel. I can live without food but can't live without taking tea from here. I am addicted to it," Tahar Ali Bhutta, a 37 year old man says.

Thirty-five years old Amir Butt says he has done F.A but is doing nothing at the moment. He got job twice but lost due to his hot temper. People teased him where he used to work and he crossed finger with them. The administration kicked him out. His parents provide bread and butter to him and his family. He is married with three children. His children and wife are not deaf and dumb. I have no work to do so I come here to spend time. I can't sit 24 hours at home. I get bored. This place means a lot to me," he says.

"I have been vice-president of Deafs' Association. I have applied in KFC for waiter's job. They will reply to me after a month. At the moment, I have nothing to do .I come here to spend my time. When I will get a job I won't have much time to come here," 24 years old Qamar Zaman Naqvi says. "We can't spend our time at any other place. We can't enjoy TV programmes. The PTV should at least start programmes for us or run Urdu script at the bottom of the TV screen through which we can understand what is going on and what the performers are saying," he says.

"I worked in Qatar as a mechanic from 1965-99. I understand Arabic. I have been professional in my field but nobody wants to give me work. The bosses here talk to us rudely so I decided not to work in such an atmosphere. I earned a lot to live a happy life. Now I only sit here with the people who are like me. Here, at Yakoo hotel the atmosphere is very friendly. Still normal people think that we are quarreling when we talk through hands with each other. I don't have any regret. I am satisfied with what I have decided," sixty years old Muhammad Naeem says. "People from all segment of society -- writers, journalists and people from showbiz, come here to take tea but they never ever thought about our problems. Government must provide job to the young deaf and dumb people. We have spent our time, we can live without job. These people still have long way to go. We have made a society to solve the problem of such friends but it can't work properly without funds. So, government must think about the young ones," he further says.

TNS talked to almost twenty deaf and dumb people. Most of them here come to spend their time while others come to relieve their frustrations because at home they don't get the required individual attention. Their families give them less regard than other members who earn livelihood. They also want to become important part of their family. They all want to earn and do job for this purpose. Their families must treat these people without any prejudice. They do not get job because neither they communicate well nor easily understand the instructionS of that particular job. They are naturally unfit so people should treat them sympathetically and government must formulate a policy to accommodate them. There must be such schools and colleges which make them sophisticated citizens and after getting education from these institutions they should be able to get jobs easily.

The year 2005, in which hundreds and thousands of females and males opted for liposuction to get rid of extra fat, was a lucrative year for the cosmetic surgeons around the world. In Pakistan this procedure is also gaining popularity, but its safety and efficacy is questionable. With alternatives like proper exercise and diet available, liposuction does not seem to be the right answer.

According to a report by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, more than 300,000 Americans went through liposuction and collectively spent $722 million on draining out their fat in the year 2005. This vogue has now travelled to Pakistan and many advertisements and billboards have emerged in the last couple of years offering liposuctions. There are about 70 plastic surgeons in Pakistan and they are located mostly in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad.

The News on Sunday inquired about the safety and efficacy of liposuction from Dr. Abdul Hameed, ex-president of the Association of Plastic Surgeons of Pakistan and presently Head of the Department of Plastic Surgery at Sheikh Zayed Hospital. He said, "Liposuction is quite a safe procedure if done by a skilled and adequately trained surgeon; however many unschooled surgeons have joined the race. Many surgeons perform these surgeries in their offices whereas these procedures require a great amount of technical assistance which is only available in well-equipped hospitals. When liposuction is performed on the abdomen and thighs at the same time, it involves more than 40% of the surface area of the body. This not only requires dexterity but great pr- and post-operative care". On the complications occurring during and after the surgery he said, "A Pakistani born gentleman who had come from England went through a liposuction procedure in Pakistan, afterwards developed gangrene because the surgery was poorly performed by a novice surgeon. Dismayed by the whole situation he went back to England for compensatory treatment. There were about four fatalities in Lahore in the last three years, so it should be ascertained by patients that the surgeon they are depending upon has the relevant degrees and is a member of the Association of Plastic Surgeons." He further added, "If the fluid-electrolytic balance is not well maintained while liposuction is being performed, the patient may go into shock."

TNS also talked to Plastic Surgeon Dr. Moazzam Nazeer Tarar regarding different aspects of plastic surgery in Pakistan. He said, "At the most, six litres of fat can be removed from a particular part in one procedure. Removing more fat increases the risk of infection and delayed healing". About the risks involved in liposuction, he said, "If liposuction is done with care and by a qualified plastic surgeon then the risk of post-operative infection is quite small, but it is unfortunate that many unqualified surgeons are doing this for monetary gains. Qualified surgeons cannot advertise in any form, but non-qualified doctors frequently advertise because they find it a lucrative business. We may say that doctors placing ads on billboards or newspapers are not professionals and should be avoided for any such procedures."

About regaining weight after liposuction, Dr Moazzam said, "Liposuction is not a treatment for obesity, it is only performed to shape the body and if the patient is not motivated enough there is every chance that he or she may regain weight, although fat accumulation at the site of surgery is not likely.

"The right candidate for liposuction should be physically fit and mentally motivated. People with long standing diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity and heart ailments should avoid liposuction. Liposuction from the abdomen costs about 50,000-60,000 rupees and the person is able to go back to work within a week," Dr Moazzam goes on to say.

Many physicians, physical trainers, aerobic instructors, and doctors agree that liposuction is not the best option to modify or remodel the body. The benefits of physical exercise are much greater than the surgical procedures. Plastic surgeons are of the opinion that it is best for 'stubborn' areas of the body, where the fat does not respond to physical exercise and liposuction is the only answer. Shaping clinics and health clubs are gaining immense recognition in Pakistan, but before entering into a clinic one must check the credentials of the plastic surgeon. Liposuction is a highly invasive procedure and the patients must not trust every surgeon in this regard. It should also be ascertained that the surgeon has already performed procedures involving removal of large amount of fats (more than five litres). Abnormal contouring of the body is another problem that might occur after an un-skilled liposuction. Un-even and severely wrinkled skin is sometimes the outcome of the uneven fat removal, which is far worse than fat deposits.

In the past few years many patients developed soft tissue infections in Pakistan after liposuction surgery because of substandard operative procedures. There are reports that a few people even died because of infections and clot formations. Although post-operative scars are small and are strategically placed, still deformities at the site of surgery are fairly common. Sometimes the pigmentation of the skin changes and, especially in the older patients, irregular surfaces develop. Additional surgery is sometimes recommended to correct this.

A visitor to Pakistan will find that we have horns and that we like to blow them hot or cold. While he may revel in the noisy cultural experience that we specialise in, an increasing number wants to give it a miss.

I have a friend who once shared with me the love for whatever this city had to offer. He went to Bulgaria and returned, his resolve to settle in Lahore strengthened by the greying communist shades of a cold Sophia. Before that Karachi with all its excitement had somehow failed to catch his fancy and after that, the poise of Bishkek had held little attraction for him. Lahore he wanted, and he wanted it with all his heart.

My friend wanted to come back to Lahore as if in search of something precious that he had left behind as he went globe trotting. London, Moscow, Kiev the whole of the United States and Canada, and at the end of the global trot he was still sure that he wanted to finally settle down in Lahore. But the last time he came, he was not the same person. Actually he was okay indoors, but he held his head as if he was about to throw up the moment we were on the road. The link snapped. The friend has a house in Toronto now. Lahore no more sounds right to him. He says he cannot stand all the honking that goes around here. In fact as much as an honest burp by the driver is enough to elicit a sermon on driving manners from him.

Partly out of laziness and partly because I wanted to find out whether it is possible to drive in the city without having to resort to honking at every turn and not, I have been resisting going to the electrician ever since the horn to my car fell silent some days ago. Meanwhile the epidemic spread taking into its grasp the entire fleet at my disposal, comprising two Suzukis with different sub-titles.

More than a week of driving without the usual accompanying sound effects, and I have indeed lost all hope of ever convincing my friend to renew his ties with his old love. It is simply impossible to move ahead here without a few angry punches delivered at the centre of the steering wheel. The anger, however, has somehow dissipated. Maybe it is because I have been able to substitute the horn with my own voice. In the background of a deprived childhood where we were told to shun invective in all circumstances, I am simply relishing the opportunity.

Overheard

First Man: You know I knew it was going to rain soon.

Second Man: Yeah, you always are particular about your weather bulletins.

First Man: No, no. it weren't the bulletins...

Second Man: Then what? Have you become a nature reader, those who can predict changes in weather by looking which way the tree is swaying and how chirpy or not the birds are, and of course how dark the clouds overhead?

First Man: No, it was neither of these, even though I can read a rainy cloud when I see one. The interesting thing about this is it was none of these indicators that foretold the rain for me.

Second Man: Okay, now I get you. You anticipated rain in ironic anticipation of all the drought predictions the government functionaries right up to the prime minister had been making.

First Man: You duffer, you have taken so long to guess what is so very obvious. The drought appeared so imminent in Islamabad and you very well know that I cannot see much farther than Lahore where I live. I knew rain was coming as soon as I saw them digging up the streets all over the city. It is surer guarantor of wet weather than all our prayers put together. You see the magic has worked for years.