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What the PK-8303 Crash Tells Us About Ethical Reporting in Media?

The horrors of this year seem to be never-ending. 2020 already feels like an apocalypse. If it wasn’t for the ongoing Coronavirus that led to a staggering 4800 cases in the past 24 hours, then the crashing of PK-8303 certainly shook the nation to its core. Two days prior to Eid, when the joy of seeing one’s loved ones kept everyone up at night, no one anticipated the tragic fate that laid ahead. One hundred and seven passengers on board, sixty seconds from the runway, but the destination was not to be Jinnah International Airport. That is precisely what makes the vagaries of our life unthinkable: a lapse of just a few seconds.

While the whole country mourns the devastating loss of precious lives, the media was quick to exploit the adversity for their gain shake. Moments after the crash, TV channels and social media were filled with unverified news about the number of casualties, names of passengers, and the cause(s) of the crash. Journalists and keyboard warriors were ahead in the perpetuation of this unauthentic reporting through their dubious analysis of the situation, when on the other hand, aviation experts had chosen to momentarily remain silent on the issue.

It comes off as no surprise that journalism in our country has always been contentious for all the wrong reasons. Any tragedy that leaves the people distressed and broken has further spillover effects by creating an aura of anxiety and fear. Yet, at a time when words of consolation are essential, our media makes the worst use of the pitiable state of its viewers. News coverage becomes a cascade of the gross depiction of the disaster through an inadequate, albeit exaggerated choice of words coupled with horrifying images from the site. Much to say, during the reporting of the PK 8303 crash, no attention was paid whatsoever towards the privacy of the victims and their families. For example, minutes after the crash, the list, and photos of passengers were widely seen circulating social media. When one searched for a glimmer of hope amidst the chaotic times, the sensational reporting by most TV channels overlooked the importance of confidentiality and the right to privacy. Additionally, the catastrophe was not free from the unnecessary blame-game, that primarily made the Head Pilot, the central target of the discourse. The captain was accused of failing to follow the instructions from the Air Traffic Control that hence led to the unfortunate mishap. What may have eventually led to the tragedy is beside the point. The incumbent of concluding the cause lies only with the investigation team and it would have been more appropriate to pay some respect to the pilot’s family during a situation that must have left them deeply disturbed.

On another similar occasion, a recreated animation from an apparent simulator game was falsely attributed as the actual demonstration of the crash. Before it could even be checked for authenticity, the post pervasively found itself on various social media platforms. Despite users pointing out that the video had been uploaded on YouTube a year back, no action was taken in any capacity by PEMRA or other regulating authorities.

The recreated simulation image of the crash

Many questions were asked, and several justified doubts were cast on the authenticity of the media in our country. Most inhibitions pertained to the ineffective training of the newsroom staff, reporters, and journalists to ethically handle sensitive situations. The mischievous race towards attaining the maximum rating comes at an evident cost of an invasion of privacy, factual inaccuracies, and unwarranted sensationalism. If one media station sensationalizes the issue, other competitors are forced to follow suit to avoid losing ground on the target audience. The obvious consequence is a blatant disregard for professionalism and an aggravation of the crisis by manipulating the sentiments of the viewers.

In a country of 190 million people, the media, as a social institution, has been nefarious and bitter. For years, the impartiality of the industry has been contested for propagating the interests of a particular segment of society. And to fester the already damaged image of the institution, the credibility of reporting has further problematized the notion of neutrality. It is about time we realize the precarity of the issue and demand a greater focus on ethics and professionalism from our media.

 

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The Fall Semester in Times of Corona

The year 2020 has brought with it all sorts of unfortunate surprises for the world over. People from all walks of life have suffered greatly, not just in terms of their health, but also in their social, academic and personal lives. The class of 2020, for instance, missed out on what was to be one of the greatest days of their college experience. Four years of hard work feel incomplete without a convocation. However, all those still enrolled in academic institutions are also looking at an uncertain and grim year ahead. With the current situation in the country, the upcoming fall semester is most likely to be online. This sad reality has left many disheartened and has led many others to consider taking a gap year until life goes back to normal.

With eighty thousand plus cases of coronavirus country wide, the future does not look very hopeful. While the government has lifted the lockdown in light of economic factors, academic institutions remain closed. It is still extremely unsafe to go out as the spread of the virus is seen to be accelerating every day. In this situation, opening academic institutions is considered dangerous by most. With similar conditions in the UK, the University of Cambridge has announced its plans for the fall semester. All lectures by the university will be held online. Students will only be allowed to meet up at the campus in very small gatherings, following all precautions to protect themselves from the virus. Similarly, State universities in California have also announced their upcoming quarter to be fully online and have communicated to their international and American students that the priority is staying home and staying safe.

At the same time, some reputed institutions such as the Purdue University in the US have decided to opt for an in-person semester with online alternatives available to all students. The university administration has said that “Covid-19 poses close to zero lethal threat to young people”. However, the administration is keen on taking preventative measures in view of the virus. These measures which, according to the Purdue administration, make it possible to re-open campuses in times of Corona include spreading out classes across days and times to reduce their size, having options for online instruction for on-campus students, requiring people more at risk of the virus to work remotely, and tracing contacts for those who test positive and requiring them to self-quarantine for 14 days.

With the government passing statements such as “the people will have to learn to live with the virus” it is very likely that the measures taken by the University of Purdue are eventually adopted by universities in Pakistan as well. Though, as of now, academic institutions remain closed and most universities are still quite unsure about the possibility of an in-person semester, at least this fall. Universities in Pakistan will have to consider factors such as the unavailability of internet access to most students, if they decide on continuing with an online mode of teaching. On the flip side, however, if campuses are to re-open there must be satisfactory access to medicinal equipment, protective gear and testing kits for all students along with the option to continue studying online if someone is more at risk of being infected.

LUMS is also still debating over the possibility of an on-campus semester. In an unofficial email Dr. Ali Khan, the newly appointed dean of HSS has said that “it is very unlikely that the fall semester will be a face to face one”. This, according to the LUMS administration, is due to the fact that if campus re-opens, containing the virus will become impossible and any sort of spread would lead to closure. However, there is a possibility of “phased openings” that will include allowing students on campus, one batch at a time. It is understandable that the administration, like most universities across the world, is still unsure about how to continue teaching in the fall semester.

Like the university administration, students too are still deciding on whether an online semester is worth it. With the Spring Semester 2020 abruptly changing into an online one, students are not satisfied with their experience. Online teaching has not been able to deliver the same quality of education to students as an on-campus education did. Significant factors such as class participation, class environment, socialization, in-class presentations and group projects are severely compromised in the online mode of teaching. LUMS is known, in Pakistan, for its thriving campus life and it is this aspect that adds value to the LUMS experience. For many, missing out on campus life is too big a sacrifice and hence taking a gap year in hopes of returning back to normal is a better option than continuing with an online semester half-heartedly. Another factor that is to be considered this fall semester, especially for those studying at LUMS, is the extra fee that is expected to be paid despite there being major cut offs in the quality and method of delivering education.

The stance of the government and the response of most universities worldwide gives us an insight into what the upcoming semester will look like for students across Pakistan. The minister for school education in Punjab, Murad Raas, has announced that all private institutions must remain closed till the end of the pandemic. While the All Pakistan Private School Federation has been demanding to reopen schools by following SOPs, the government has warned that any violation of the orders to keep schools closed till the end of the pandemic will result in strict action.

The virus is growing exponentially, with up to four thousand new cases a day. Like most countries, Pakistan is not equipped to handle this outbreak due to a severe shortage of medical supplies and hospital beds. According to many expert epidemiologists, the country is yet to reach the peak of the outbreak. The government has even told the people to prepare for more deaths. In these tragic conditions it does not seem likely, nor does it seem wise, that students will return to normal campus life anytime soon.

 

 

 

 

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Racism in the US Reveals Dark Truths at Home

Racism has once again reared its ugly head in the US, with quite disastrous implications for black communities worldwide.

On 25th May, 46-year-old George Floyd was arrested in Minneapolis on the alleged charge of using counterfeit bills.

Just a few minutes later, Floyd lay dead on the street.

The stunning quickness and brutality with which four police officers murdered Floyd has utterly devastated the world. The last fatal nine minutes of his life, during which white officer Derek Chauvin essentially strangled Floyd to death, have been televised on news channels and splashed across social media.

Widespread media coverage, however, is just the tip of the iceberg.

 Over the past six days, the US has experienced a nationwide uprising in protest of unlawful killing. As protestors multiply and authorities flock to the scene, some of the demonstrations have turned chaotic and violent. Law enforcement is stopping at nothing to quell the unrest – even using tear gas and rubber bullets against demonstrators.

This is due in part to President Trump’s edict whereby he has warned state governors to take strict action, otherwise, he will be forced to send in military forces.

In fact, as unrest peaked, 5000 National Guard soldiers were sent in to assist local authorities in 15 different states.

 The protests on social media are no less fiery. The slogan “black lives matter” is being quoted by millions online – across Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Users are tagging friends and urging each other to keep passing on the news. The dominant sentiment is that every voice can make a difference. To that end, people are readily signing petitions to fund the fight against racism and to urge authorities to charge the other three officers who assisted Chauvin in the murder. Donations are also being made online, part of which will be put towards bail money for protestors who have been arrested.

More than anything, people want justice. They are furious that such brutality keeps reoccurring without any accountability.

Floyd’s cousin Shareeduh Tate shared her feelings in an interview, describing how distressing it was to find out what had happened: “That one ‘I can’t breathe’ was something that just shook me to the core. I mean, I just hear it over and over again.”

The phrase Floyd kept uttering while Chauvin’s knee pressed down on his neck – “I can’t breathe” – is what perhaps cuts the deepest. What’s more, Minneapolis authorities even attempted to deny that it was the pressure on his neck that killed Floyd, instead of pointing to an underlying medical condition as the cause of death. This has been a repeated pattern in such police killings: attempting to escape blame by using a smokescreen. However, once the official autopsy came out and proved asphyxiation as Floyd’s cause of death, there was no longer anything for the perpetrators to hide behind.

Shareeduh Tate also went on to thank protestors and supporters worldwide for standing with the black community.

 “It warms our hearts to know that, you know, despite the circumstances in which he died, that there are other people who are feeling the pain, and the outrage, just as we are.”

Indeed, there have been voracious support for the black community as it fights this unending war against institutional racism. The fact is, George Floyd, begged and pleaded for his life but it was not enough. But there is coming a time when this community – persecuted for centuries now – will begin to redefine their own limits of right and wrong. They will fight fire with fire. And the US may not be equipped to resist.

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Review of SHERY’S by LUMS Culinary Club

Being forced into staying at home by a global pandemic has had home cooks try to perfect their craft and try innovative recipes every day. Some have even gone as far as to step in and try to fill the void left by closed restaurants by starting delivery-based businesses. At LUMS Culinary we have always been ardent supporters of home-based food businesses as it is our belief that the most innovative food trends in Pakistan stem from that stream.

Shery’s is an Instagram-based food delivery business (username: sherys_pk) that has a small but diverse menu full of innovative offerings that we were eager to try. One of the most important aspects of ordering food in a global pandemic is hygiene and Shery’s did not disappoint as we were reassured of strict hygiene protocols being followed by the young man behind the business. After a lot of consideration that also involved Shehryar (the man behind the business), we settled on ordering the Flaming Hot Cheetos Burger, the Fried Chicken Wrap, and Flaming Hot Cheetos Mozzarella Sticks.

As we ordered this during Ramadan the food was delivered exactly 30 minutes before Iftar. The rider followed strict hygiene protocols and our hands as well as the riders were sanitized before the food was handed to us. The order was very fresh and packaged neatly, I could still feel the heat through the packaging.

The products I started off with were the mozzarella sticks and the burger. I am usually very apprehensive towards ordering Flaming Hot Cheetos products from anywhere as it is very difficult to cook them right and a lot of the times the product is only aesthetically pleasing but when you take a bite the Cheetos crust tastes burnt. However, upon taking the first bite from the burger I was pleased to have the perfect burst of flavor on my taste buds. The special in-house mayo along with the taste of Cheetos in the burger made it a very enjoyable meal. Being a huge fan of spicy food, I felt the burger could have been spicier but apart from that it was a very enjoyable and flavorful experience. The mozzarella sticks also had that perfectly crisp outside shell and were a great side with the burger. Having been obsessed since my childhood with flaming hot Cheetos, I have followed the trend of using hot Cheetos in cooking very closely and I can confidently say that this

is one of the better Cheetos-infused meals I’ve had, even compared to big name restaurants

Moving onward to the fried chicken wrap I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of flavor and the spice level of the wrap. The chicken inside was not soggy at all as is the case with most crispy chicken wraps and again the sauces used by Shery’s were unique and innovative which was a pleasant departure from the usual generic condiments used in the market.

Overall ordering from Shery’s was a very enjoyable experience. In the absence of an ambience or an overall culinary experience the pressure is high on home-based delivery services to use solely the taste of the food to create a loyal customer and give a good experience. In this regard Shery’s delivered amazingly and the food quality was more than enough to make a loyal customer out of me. Their Instagram username is ‘sherys_pk’ and I would encourage our readers to give it a try!

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LUMS Under Fire for Callous Fee Hike

In one highly controversial and shockingly unprecedented move, the LUMS administration has managed to turn the entire student body on its ear. A few days prior, LUMS announced its new fees structure that revealed an astronomical 41% increase in semester charges. This was an action thrust upon an unaware and critically unprepared student body – but most importantly, one that could not have come at a worse time.

As the news spread like wildfire, so did massive panic and distress.

In order to contest this decision, students took to Twitter to fight their campaign under the hashtag #LUMSFeeHike that now has nearly 7,300 tweets by students and assorted supporters.

Moreover, a poll has recently been created among students in order to gauge support for a complete boycott of the summer semester, for which enrollment starts tomorrow. A LUMS student has also written a heartfelt letter of complaint to the administration, published by ProperGaanda. The student describes her parents’ precarious financial situation and the lengths her family is compelled to go to so she can attend LUMS – a university that was already considered expensive by most standards.

In terms of addressing student concerns, administrative bodies have demonstrated a display of acute inadequacy verging on outright dismissiveness.

They claim it is only a step away from the previous “blanket fee” structure that allowed students to pay a uniform amount, within the constraints of a specified credit hours bracket. However, the new policy discards this “blanket fee” allowance: an action which many students are arguing will create a disincentive to take courses outside of their majors due to the exponential cost of doing so.

Moreover, it is no secret that LUMS has a poorly designed, inefficient enrollment system which results in students not getting their courses as they had planned. Out of desperation, many students end up having to opt for twenty credit hours in their junior and senior years to complete their degree on time. The university has made no attempts to subsidize students who have no other option but to enroll in more than 12 credit hours.

Whereas an increase in financial support and aid would have been the empathetic response for such a highly revered institution, students were met with the precise opposite.

This sudden shift towards a credit-based fee structure will also result in increased disparity on campus. Students in better financial circumstances will be able to enroll in sufficient courses to complete their degrees on time while those who cannot afford to do so will suffer greatly and may even have to forego completing their minors along with the option of exploring courses not linked to their degrees.

LUMS’ official statement regarding this issue has dashed any and all hopes the student body harbored that this issue would be cooperatively ironed out. Perhaps most disappointingly, LUMS has declared that this fee hike was planned out prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, in light of the difficulties this crisis has posed, there is a pressing need for the administration to consider revising its pre-set policies. Instead of responding empathetically, LUMS has taken an alternative route.

It is only providing unsatisfactory justifications in a situation which requires an open and honest approach, as well as a concrete plan involving negotiations and concessions.

A few hours ago, there has been an effort via email on part of the Provost and Vice Chancellor to bring some clarity. They are insisting the fee increase is not as exponential as reports claim and will be revised once more later on in the summer. They continue to hold fast to the claim that the new fee structure is actually benefiting students as it allows those with less credit hours to be charged a lesser amount, and also distributes the workload evenly throughout the 4 years. A concession has been offered to senior and super-senior students who wish to take 20 or more than 20 credit hours in their final semesters in order to complete their requirements. In such cases, the extra charges for each credit hour after the obligatory 16 will be waived. However, the issue still persists for the other enrolled batches.

It cannot be forgotten that at a time where the world is virtually on the brink of economic and social collapse, LUMS has only managed to do more harm than good.

With economists constantly warning the virus is likely to lead to a global recession, administrative systems around the world are planning to transform their approaches to business and commerce. Employees in all economic sectors are being laid off. People are unsure of how to make next month’s rent. Everyone is facing tough, wrenching crises that have virtually no path of resolution.

LUMS, however, is an island amidst this chaos. In one fell swoop, it has alienated both itself and the student body, while also creating a deep and burgeoning rift between the two.

Sadly, no amount of concessions can reverse the damage done. There is a loss of trust, and alongside it, ramped up suspicion regarding the university’s motives. The continued insistence that the new policy is not as detrimental as students think is not helping to bridge the divide. Even now, online platforms are teeming with talk of boycotts, formation of student unions, and mass student protests. There is no telling how all this anxiety and sense of betrayal will be ultimately channeled. The student body is determined to stand together and see this through to the end – whichever end that may be.

https://twitter.com/LSCLums/status/1257761692748054528?s=19

Authored by Manaal Shuja & Marium Mazhar

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Student Council takes actions amidst Pandemic

Written by Manaal Shuja.

 

While we plummeted headfirst into this global nightmare, our Student Council members were busy making sure we’d have a cushioned landing at the end of it.

 

General Secretary Abdullah Haroon describes how their prime goal was to help students feel “at home”; since students can’t go to LUMS, LUMS had to be brought to the students.

 

For many amongst us, the first couple of weeks spent in lockdown were full of anxiety-ridden thoughts of the future. These were compounded by the inescapable realization that everything would have to change.

 

Haroon says, “We had to keep people feeling like they were part of the community – and that’s where our online activities program came in. I was happy to see that many societies took up the initiative on their own.”

 

Aside from pitching activities such as Esports, Book club, and fitness classes, the Student Council also took it upon themselves to register LUMS on Coursera so students could gain access to thousands of free courses. This is not only a great way to keep busy but also an all-inclusive platform where you can pick up new skills. Needless to say, this is one venture the student body absolutely loves

.Coursera - Wikipedia

Moreover, in stabilizing the academic process, Haroon affirmed that the council remained committed to play as representative a role as possible from the get-go. “We’ve been trying to ensure this semester and the upcoming summer semesters are done in the right way – that the learning process is a productive one. To that end, we remain proactive on LDF; all concerns are communicated directly to the VC or Provost.”

 

Haroon states it has been this way from the start, what with emergency meetings with the Vice Chancellor and the faculty as well as stringent cross-questioning of proposed policies. He says, “During these meetings, we had one goal – take the students’ side.” What’s more, he was happy to note that the administration was fully receptive to the council’s suggestions.

 

When asked how the council was coping in such a high-stress environment, Haroon admitted it had not been smooth sailing all the way. “We’re worried just like everybody else but then we have this huge responsibility to fulfill. It’s been difficult adjusting and making sure everyone’s voices are heard. But a lot of our council members are doing amazing work on the field also. We tell them you focus on this work; it’s tremendously important.”

 

With a complete lockdown and global pandemonium, there’s no possible way to feel the way we did before. All that can be done is find a new ‘normal’. Haroon also ruminated on this, remembering especially how so much had been planned for the seniors’ send-off:

 

“Seniors are very sad they didn’t get the send-off they wanted. Juniors too. We had so many plans. But we’re getting along; we call each other, we have Zoom and group chats. There are always issues to be dealt with. It’s been tough adjusting to the new dynamic but we’re doing okay.”

Zoom Memes Surge During Coronavirus Quarantines - StayHipp

Everyone is doing their part – our Student Council more than most. At this point, it’s important to mute thoughts of the future and zoom (no pun intended) full speed ahead to whatever awaits.

 

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The Masked Beast Of Female Accommodation

For most students, moving out of your house and into a dorm means freedom. This is especially true for Hostelites when they come to LUMS compared to other institutes that impose Draconian restrictions such as curfews. The female experience of getting a dorm is more significant keeping in mind the familial and societal pressures that are common in Pakistan. It means that girls can have more mobility to be themselves and use their independence in a project of self-discovery. This freedom comes at the cost of added responsibility. One is prepared to be more mindful of budgets and to take on more mundane chores of laundry, sharing spaces with a roommate and cooking. However, in recent years the costs of living on campus in LUMS have far outgrown the benefits.

 

Having 5 hostel buildings compared to the 7 male hostels, female students are at a severe disadvantage of space. It is almost a perfect ironic analogy of the lack of public space that women are granted in Pakistan. As girls are shunned from public parks, roadside restaurants so too are they shunned from occupying space on campus. There have been countless debates and Open Houses on campus with heart wrenching stories of girls who have been denied space on campus and shuttled off to housing in Askari with the promise of hourly buses for commute. The Administration has assured constantly that it is simply a temporary solution but female students see no end in sight. Last year, there was a discussion that M2 should be converted to a female hostel since it is mostly vacant. Almost expectedly, there was a huge uproar from male students and the decision was revoked. It speaks volumes that the opinions of a few men who are not even occupying that space took precedence over the many women who shared deeply personal stories and traumas as a result of these policies.

 

The administration’s long-term policy is two-fold. Firstly, they have brought back triple occupancy in F1 and F2 aimed mainly at First Years. Secondly, the basement of F5 has been converted into a makeshift refugee camp for day scholars who require accommodation. Imagine this. One room with 14 beds. You wake up to the whim of whoever turns on the light in the morning. You sleep covering your face with you bedsheet to block the light out at night. You pack your things in your suitcases and foldable storage before leaving class everyday and come back to find some things missing still. You try to stay out of the “room” as long as you can and take shelter in a friend’s room most of the time. Whenever you try to ask for some basic decent living conditions you are told to stop being greedy and be thankful you’re given this space at least. That was a typical day in the life of Areej Shamshad in her Sophomore year.

 

Even the hostelites who are “blessed” with a room and just 1 roommate to share it with, the problems are endless. In the unbearable heat of the Lahori summers, every night is a gladiator style fight to the death over mattresses in the air-conditioned common room. The finite spaces are filled, with people removing other mattresses. These conditions are highly stressful for girls who are socially anxious as squabbles and fights have become more commonplace. This semester, the administration failed to fill water in the coolers installed in the hallways leaving the girls to defend against the hot air spewed at them adding to the miserable weather.

 

Basic hygiene and healthcare is also absent in hostels. Maryam and Sania were greeted by bedbugs in their mattresses and cupboards. Arooba had to battle fungus infecting her clothes. When students ask for fumigation, there are additional complications. The inconveniently short time slots that fumigation can take place in do not account for the busy schedules that students have. It is a system rigged against young hostellites whose academic responsibilities stand like a Goliath in front of them.

 

LUMS’ housing facilities feature no accountability measures. There are no escape plans in cases of emergencies. No drills are carried out to prepare students what to do in cases like earthquakes. I still remember my first year living on the 6th floor of F5 and having to run all 6 flights of stairs when there was an earthquake, not knowing what to do. In case of emergencies like fire, we have gotten a glimpse of what to expect. The administration has a simple policy. When in doubt, victim blame. The fire was somehow caused by a cigarette. Curiously though, all the girls who lived in that room were not inside. The only reasonable explanation is a mouse with a nicotine addiction. Even when we tried contacting Residence to get a view and clear any confusions, we were met with no response.

 

Countless LDF posts, SC emails to the administration and Open Houses later, we are still where we started. Women on campus should have a space where they feel safe. If that is not going to be the room which is their home for the next 4 years, where will it be? This matter of not prioritizing female issues points at a more systemic problem entrenched within LUMS. We must treat all students as equal and that starts with giving them space to breathe.

 

 

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MBM: Moneymaking Business Model

MBM does not actually stand for the above-mentioned phrase yet it is difficult to ignore how fitting it is. What does MBM stand for at LUMS? Well, apart from the abbreviation, zero job security, deplorable working conditions, and insufficient pay. Being in my second year as a hostelite at LUMS, I am no stranger to these workers showing up to my door in desperate need of financial help, whether it is for medical treatment of a loved one, or to pay for one’s daughter’s wedding. Recognizing my privilege and position in society, I cannot complain about this situation. However, it pains me to see the embarrassment that befalls these workers when they ask for this monetary assistance, as they are exceptionally hard-working individuals who fail to make a decent living solely because of the exploitative relationship between employer and contractor that they fall between.

The aforementioned relationship between LUMS and MBM is such that MBM trains and pays workers who provide janitorial services in the university. LUMS pays around 23,000 rupees to MBM per worker for around 150 workers. Out of this amount only 17,500 is paid as salary to the workers and the rest is supposedly kept for social security and other fringe benefits. An unspecified amount is kept as commission for the company. So the question that arises from this discussion is why does such an arrangement exist. LUMS can just as easily directly hire 150 workers. A number of labor rights lawyers have spoken out and said it is a mechanism for large entities such as LUMS to outsource having to worry about workers asking for their rights.

The opposing view became evident in an interview with Col. Amer Khan. He stated that the LUMS administration pays the extra amount to MBM in return for toiletry equipment and other miscellaneous items. Moreover, he pointed out that the need for MBM as a facilitator only arises due to the unreliability of janitorial staff. He said that since MBM commands the services of 1800-2000 staff, they can easily replace workers who fail to arrive at work.

In the afternoon of the 20th of April, last Spring, outside PDC where students enjoy their Thursday night “khoka raves”, a very prominent group of these workers gathered. They were in their MBM uniforms and they sat cross-legged in complete silence, refusing to work. They had not received the promised advanced payments for Easter. Most of these workers are Christians who were eager to celebrate the festival. The sit-in continued for hours until a large number of faculty and students arrived on the scene and the matter was taken to the administration. The protestors were hopeful of a positive response but wrongly so. The administration claimed it could do nothing as it was not a direct employer of the staff as if this was an unforeseen circumstance and not a premeditated plan. Anyhow the protest raged on hand in hand with the student body’s enthusiasm for the cause. MBM had no alternative but to succumb to the pressure that their workers had created and release the advanced payments that they were promised. However, this was not without its consequences. The next day 35 workers were removed from LUMS by MBM on unclear charges, according to an article by Abdullah Niazi posted on Profit. However, Col. Amer Khan, when asked about this, did not have any comments.

Image may contain: 4 people, crowd and outdoor
Regardless of what follows in this saga of exploitation and protests, one thing is clear; the attitude of the administration towards the workers has to change. A legal take on this very idea would emerge from the precedence set by the Fauji Fertilizer case. Here, the law very clearly laid down that any company such as LUMS getting labor from contractors such as MBM is still responsible for their workers if their service is necessary to the industry. This includes both the well being of the workers and to make sure that MBM fulfills all contractual obligations towards these workers. An Ownership week was carried out very recently to associate values of home with the university. LUMS is nothing without the people who make it functional and the janitorial staff is as critical to this institution as any other segment.

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Smog: The Silent Menace

Winter is upon us, and what that unfortunately means is that the sky is going to turn into one large soup of chemicals and dirt. And as much as we like to think of LUMS as a bubble, there is no protection this time. Statistically, things are worse than ever. Lahore is part of the elite company, having one of the worst rates of air pollution in the world. We breathe in air that is considered ‘dangerous’ by EPA standards and that isn’t even the worst part. Smog causes some terrible conditions including but not limited to a bad case of allergies, respiratory problems, skin conditions, and eye infections. With the already distressing finals and tons of assignments coming up, this can set one back further, culminating in a sad state of affairs. For people with chronic conditions such as asthma and COPD, smog can be particularly dangerous, so getting through the winter should be a top priority for us all.

Now, we aren’t going to solve this problem entirely, but we can protect and equip ourselves with some useful weapons against this force of destruction. Here are a few general and specific guidelines to follow:

  1. Avoid the outdoors. Sure, the outdoors can be fun and the weather is nice enough, but it comes at a cost. Just imagine, every time you breathe in the smoggy air, you’re breathing in millions of dust and dirt particles. That usually does the trick. This doesn’t mean you can’t go outdoors. If you feel the absolute need to, a facemask works well. Avoid having a run around midday; that’s when ozone levels are peaking.
  2. Don’t contribute. If we all support the Climate March, then surely we can bring some degree of change to our ultra-consumerist lifestyles. Use public transport for a change (some neat buses are running throughout Lahore). Don’t burn wood or trash in the outdoors, if you’re into that type of stuff.
  3. Stay hydrated. While this isn’t so apparent, hydration does wonders to your blood and acts as a detoxifier against the smoggy air. Plus, being hydrated just feels nice and comforting.
  4. Stop indoor pollution. Place some nice potted rubber plants or lilies in your room. They keep the air fresh and clean. And please don’t smoke indoors.

Also wild fact: If we all were to replace our regular light bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs, we would eliminate 136 kilos of carbon dioxide that would otherwise join the atmosphere.

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What you need to know about the Hong Kong protests.

 

Hong Kong has had a flurry of protests against Chinese rule. These protests have involved a huge number of people ranging from teenagers to retired men. These are some of the most consistently large numbers we’ve seen at a rally  in the region recently. Independent estimates say there have been between 500,000-800,000 people at the largest rally on June 16th.

 

In attempts to crack down on these rallies, there had been warning shots of live fire by the Hong Kong police. Xi Jin Ping said “Anyone who attempts to split any region from China will perish, with their bodies smashed and bones ground to powder”. In total, it is widely reported that there have been only 8 deaths and all of them have been caused by suicide.These protests were initially peaceful with protestors in different neighbourhoods singing “Glory to Hong Kong” and taking to the streets. However due to no response from the Chinese governments, protests have been getting increasingly violent. Protestors have thrown petrol bombs and make-shift explosives at the Hong Kong police. Local markets and shops have been set ablaze.

Why is this happening?

The protests began due to the passing of Fugitive Offenders and Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Legislation (Amendment) Bill 2019, which would allow mainland Chinese law to be implemented in Hong Kong. Hongkongers feared this could lead to a crack down on civil liberties and prosecution of innocent locals.

Hong Kong was transferred by the British to China in 1997, who maintained its status as a special administrative zone. As a result of being a special administrative zone, it has significantly more economic and social freedom than most of China. Laws regarding censorship and protectionism in trade have not been present nearly to the same scale. It is the primary means for foreign investment inside of China which has allowed large numbers of multinational corporations to setup inside the region. Hong Kong holds the largest concentration of ultra-high-networth individuals than any city in the world.

Hongkongers fear this liberty and economic status being taken from them.

What happens next?

The Chinese government is likely to do one of two things.

Either:

  1. They increase crackdown upon Hong Kong

OR

  1. They negotiate based on the demands of the protestors but with increasing economic and social pressure.

In the case that they increase crackdown in Hongkong: the Chinese government might bring the People’s Liberation Army from China to Hong Kong to replace the police of the region. This is likely to result in the use of much more force than is currently being used. Some of the protestors are likely to be murdered. However it is uncertain whether this will prevent future protests in the region considering the massive scale of people violently protesting at rallies even right now. The history of privileges the region has enjoyed are unlikely to be let go by the locals easily considering they have never seen life without them. This can mean that there has to be a prolonged stay of the People’s liberation army in the region in order to prevent future protests. This is likely to take a large toll on the Chinese economy which is currently not looking its strongest. In recent years, China’s economy has taken a dive for the worse. The One Belt One Road initiative by them has made them start construction projects and give out loans to countries throughout Asia and Africa. This coupled with the fact that the USA is attempted to wage a trade war against China whilst banning Huawei products and reduce its reliance on Chinese trade means that China is in no position to be directing excessive funds towards the People’s Liberation Army’s potential stay in Hong Kong.

In the case that they negotiate based on the demands of the protestors but with increasing economic and social pressure: there is a loss of face that Xi Jin Ping’s rule will have to bear. The protestors now are not only demanding a retraction of the extradition bill but also an apology, a release of protestors and the right to vote for all locals in the Hong Kong elections which were previously open to a select few. Xi has also declared public statements threatening the region and succumbing to their demands in which case the Chinese state seems much weaker.