Week 36 starts in Karachi where Tassy is busy and vigilant

 Edited BY


G P Kennedy




Tassy -

Karachi, Pakistan






The week began with some alarming news. My driver tested positive for Covid 19. As a result, we decided to get everyone in the household tested.


Other than my husband and myself, this included the three domestic staff. In the main cities of Pakistan, the laboratories offer a service where they come to your house to conduct the PCR tests. 


 We got the lab technician to come over and conduct everyone’s tests. It was all very professionally done with the lab technician wearing his full PPE suit. Fortunately, we all tested negative but decided to self-quarantine at home for the next 10 days or so to be on the safe side.

 The second wave has led to a sharp rise in the number of COVID cases and sadly the number of deaths. Every day I hear of 2 or 3 friends testing positive, including one friend who has got Covid 19 twice within a span of 6 months! So far most friends have been recovering but it is still alarming to hear. 


 The Government is crying itself hoarse over the need for Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) but people continue to remain apathetic at large. Only two things can help. Bold decisions by the federal and provincial governments in terms of closures, lockdowns, and following of SOPs, along with behavioral changes amongst the citizens.


The problem however is that it is impossible for a country the size of Pakistan to be managed with “a stick” approach. Rules cannot be strictly enforced as it is not a police state and cannot become one overnight. 


 Secondly, with only a fraction of people being educated in the country, the importance of maintaining hygiene and wearing masks, etc. cannot be understood overnight.  The politicization of the virus however is one of the most dangerous misadventures currently at hand. With the banning of public rallies and procession, the opposition parties feel they will have a really hard time getting back into motion some months later when the Senate elections take place. This is similar to what happened in the US in the run-up to the presidential elections.


 The economic outlook in the country is looking grim again after making a slight recovery in the last few months. Death also seems to have crept back into our social media headlines. Precautionary measures are once again being reiterated to the public through electronic media. As the death toll increases daily, the electronic media regulator directed all satellite TV channels and radio stations to try and spread optimism among the viewers and listeners.



 On a lighter note, the iconic star Cher arrived in Islamabad to see off Kaavan, the lonely elephant at the Islamabad zoo who was being relocated to a sanctuary in Cambodia.


Cher runs an organization called Free the Wild and was taken in by the Prime Minister’s green initiative. During her stay here she even filmed herself singing a song with Kaavan! The news was reported on the BBC. I am happy to say Kaavan has safely arrived and getting acclimatized to her new environment in Cambodia.


 The big news for me this week was the arrival home of my older son. He flew for over 24 hours from Chicago to Karachi, with stopovers and flight changes, in a visor and an N95 mask. We met him after 11 months and it was a joy. Sadly though there was no hugging when we met. He is still delaying meeting his grandparents until he has self-isolated for a few days and is confident he is Covid free.


With the rise in cases and the close call at home, I decided to cancel all my yoga classes for December. I have resumed my virtual classes so still remain fairly occupied, though I do have some more time at home for myself as not everyone likes to do yoga on Zoom.


I continue to read, study, and do online courses and this week got certified with a Pilates diploma. I now plan on incorporating some Pilates exercises for my students during my private yoga classes, as I feel necessary.






I continue to go to my neighborhood park every evening for a walk with a friend. I love the interaction with her and seeing people from afar.


Most of all, I’m enjoying the crisp cool air as winter sets in and admiring the gorgeous colors of the sunset.


I wish you a safe and pleasant week ahead.




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