Lady Reporter

vereesh #16: ``Romair, thank you for your response, because the moment I say that I did not see bright-eyed ``normal`` young girls/ladies on the streets of Lahore or other small towns going about their daily chores....I get assaulted by the assortment of blind patriots Pakistan ``

You are most welcome. Just trying to tell it like it is. One point though. The situation in the big cities, like Lahore, is actually alright (I think) from the education point of view. It is in the rural areas and smaller cities where it is really really bad. The situation in the big cities is not alright from the career and empowerment point of view though.

There is a big difference between the ambition, attitude, confidence and work ethic between Indian girls (that I have come across in the USA) and Pakistani girls. Even though they seem to be from similar financial backgrounds. Indian girls are about a generation ahead. And I don`t think it has anything, or much, to do with religion.....

``Again, not so fast. My husband is a working class union organizer. I make less than he does teaching at a uni. And we both battle bills, work, housework, school, etc. There are interactors at Chowk in North America who fit into this category.``

You are still part of that group. As was I, even when I was working as a ground cleaner, upporting my family, as a student. Let me provide you with some statistics: Less than 1% of Pakistan has Internet access from their homes. Less than 5% has a college education. A similar figure has a car. Less than 2% is settled abroad. A tiny percent can read and write English. For women the figures are even much lower.

So if you have a college degree, a car, have been abroad (or are settled abroad), have Internet at home, and can read and write English, you are well into the upper-middle class of Pakistan........You are part of the 1%, as am I. I don`t think people realize how poor most of Pakistan really is. Since they have not lived outside big cities.......

Beena Sarwar mostly writes informative, interesting and succinct pieces. Unfortunately, after seeing the picture of a munhoos pao`n on Chowk sometime back, I have stopped reading Chowk`s articles. It was insulting to all women on the face of this planet. Ironically, most of the articles, memoirs and fictional stuff revolving around women are the most interesting stuff on Chowk. The rest is ool jalool - to put it bluntly. I am sure this must be an interesting read as usual. My apologies to the writer for jumping to one of the interacts vs. taking a few minutes to provide some feedback.

Romair: I hope that you will use some new statistical data in 2005. You have reiterated and hammered the contents of your post # 14 many times on Chowk. I understand that you have finally admitted the following in 2004 - ``The men certainly aren`t going to do it (in any country, much less Pakistan)``. Wishing you a happy new year - without any archaic and rigid perspectives you have been holding on to :)

samina, its replies like #16 makes people suspicious that you are an indian.:-)

regarding journalism, indian TV channels seem to be full of them, i mean i see women journalist reporting in noon-day heat in chaste hindi from in front of the parliament reporting live. i dont think its because they are more ``presentable`` many times they are sweating buckets and facing the elements. i know for a fact that Burkha Dutt is a huge role model for many young girls in my own family.