APPARENTLY, the defence exhibition (Ideas 2012) held at the Expo Centre presented an opportunity of displaying the prowess of military et al. The exhibition, however, became a cause for annoyance with its tremendous security protocol on the crossroads of a thickly-populated and traffic-riddled residential area. The city’s vehicle count compared to its road infrastructure has increased to an alarming proportion. Then, many of the alternate main roads were cordoned off for traffic diversion and at around 5.00pm – the onset of the traffic peak when office-goers return – all hell broke loose. Meanwhile, all the other roads witnessed bumper-to-bumper traffic, tirades between exasperated drivers, brazen flouting of laws and an invective on the higher authorities from everyone, both audible and otherwise.

It would have been well if the authorities could have arranged the exhibition somewhere else and to remember the wants and needs of the common man. But then again if they did, they wouldn’t be Pakistani authorities, would they?

H. IDREES Karachi