Shazia Mirza

Suffering from high self-esteem

I'm really not that impressed if an arrogant Pakistani man tries to chat me up with the line, “I’m a doctor …” So what? Updated 13 Jul, 2013 07:54pm

Comedy in Pakistan: Who’d have thought?

I wouldn't judge all US immigration officers in the same way, if one thinks that all Pakistanis are humourless. Published 06 Jul, 2013 02:50pm

When the apple falls too far from the tree

The realisation that I have nothing in common with my parents is a great moment; I see this as an achievement. Updated 15 Jun, 2013 08:14pm

What will people think?

If I put in effort and care about what people think, then I can never really be myself. Updated 01 Jun, 2013 09:26pm

Fight back, Pakistanis!

“Pakistan is a matter of life or death for us.” Almost 70 years later, that statement means more today than it did then. Updated 17 May, 2013 03:09pm

Fight back, Pakistanis!

In 1945 Jinnah said, "Pakistan is a matter of life or death for us". That statement probably means more today than it did then. Published 11 May, 2013 06:02pm

Everyone everywhere is watching Pakistan

Pakistan has become like a drowning dog. It’s paddling on the surface, constantly being knocked about by bigger dogs. Updated 28 Apr, 2013 05:11pm

The girl from Grantham

If there’s one thing worse than being hated, it’s being forgotten. Margaret Thatcher will never be forgotten. Published 13 Apr, 2013 02:15pm

Sleep on it

I didn’t know what that meant. Not having enough money, being unhappy with your life; with problems like that, you can’t sleep at all! Published 30 Mar, 2013 04:16pm

So what if you are offended?

By saying “It may offend some of our readers” you are patronising your own people and making assumptions on their behalf. Published 11 Mar, 2013 12:51pm

The world is full of lonely people

"I understand people need to talk but if everybody just said half of what they intended to say, I might take more notice." Published 16 Feb, 2013 09:33am

Of men and mothers and women and fathers

A good strong positive mother could spew lots of James Bonds’ and a weak, negative role model could spew a million Jack the Rippers’. Published 02 Feb, 2013 12:35pm

For The Win

These days everything is a competition, we all want to hit the jackpot, everyone wants to win, even when there’s no prize. Published 19 Jan, 2013 12:52pm

Connected to all the wrong things

People expressing their every second on social forums will ultimately dilute the unspoken mystery that exists between human beings. Published 29 Dec, 2012 02:06pm

‘Penny Lane’ is not enough to keep you together

It’s crazy that people still spend their whole life looking for someone to marry who is of exactly the same religion. Published 18 Dec, 2012 04:06pm

I can’t remember my past

It’s only when I meet people from years ago that memories start coming back. Was I once the head of a Mexican drug cartel? Published 01 Dec, 2012 10:52am

The expiring Asian contract

It was a running joke that white people didn’t value their elders the way we did. Now, it seems the tables have turned. Published 17 Nov, 2012 01:33pm

The great white pressure

Darker women need to be featured more in advertisment campaigns and magazines to grow the self esteem of nations. Updated 16 Aug, 2014 01:59pm

Threatened by thought

"He was a wealthy businessman, living in England. What’s the difference between him and the Taliban? – A Gucci jumper." Published 20 Oct, 2012 09:48am

The American Dream for an Englishman

There is no such thing as the ‘English Dream’ because people in England don’t dream, they do, they do a lot, writes Shazia Mirza. Published 06 Oct, 2012 01:13pm