Hajra Asad

THE INDUS WATERS TREATY AND WHY IT MATTERS

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The Indus Waters Treaty was not born from sentiment but from necessity. Following Partition in 1947, Pakistan faced water crisis. The eastern rivers—the Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej—had historically supplied water to canal systems across West Punjab. These rivers now flowed through Indian territory. In April 1948, when a temporary water-sharing arrangement expired, India cut off … Read more

When Heat Becomes a Crisis: Why Europe Struggles with 40°C

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A temperature that feels routinely manageable in the Middle East can become deadly in Europe. The same 40°C (104°F) that characterizes a typical summer day in the Gulf states has sparked a crisis across the continent, claiming over 1,300 lives since late June and exposing 150 million people to extreme danger. Understanding this paradox reveals … Read more

When Does Inspiration Become Cultural Appropriation?

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Pakistani designs and ideas have been part of Western luxury brands for decades now. From high fashion runways to high street stores, elements of Pakistani craftsmanship quietly appear in collections worldwide; sometimes credited, often unrecognized. The question isn’t whether Western designers find inspiration in Pakistani culture. They do. The question is how that inspiration is … Read more

SHANDUR POLO GROUND: WHERE TRADITION MEETS THE SKY

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Shandur Polo Ground, located between Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral in Northern Pakistan, holds a world record that few know exists. It is the highest polo ground in the world. Perched at 12,500 feet above sea level in the heart of the Hindukush Mountains, this remarkable Pakistani achievement represents the world’s highest polo playing field—a distinction unmatched … Read more

Taxila: The World’s First Intellectual Republic

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Long before Oxford was founded in the 11th century, and centuries before Harvard was chartered in the New World, a thriving intellectual capital was already shaping the course of human civilization in the northwestern valleys of what is today Pakistan. A City Before Its Time Known natively as Takshashila that means “City of Cut Stone”- Taxila was … Read more