PAKISTAN

I left Pakistan with mixed feelings. On the one hand I was impressed by the natural beauty of the Hindu Kush and the kindness of many of the people I met. Peshawar was intruiging and Lahore interesting. On the other hand I was distressed by the way women were treated, in the more conservative areas they are reduced to human-producing factories that are being locked away in their homes. When they are outside, they are often covered in a burka and not allowed any contact with strange men. A glance at another man can result in severe punishment from the husband or his family, sometimes even lead to death. Women are being burned alive for what we would see as mundane occurances, such as not being submissive enough. It was hard to stay open minded and accepting of this culture, when everywhere I looked, half of the population was seriously discriminated and mistreated. Many government policies are appalling and corruption runs high on all levels. In many ways, people still live accoding to barbaric and mediaeval laws and conducts.