IN Pakistan we plan with finesse, and then execute in distress.

Some still recall the obstacles placed by the then chief minister Punjab in the way of the Lahore LitFest in earlier years. Annoyed at the criticism of his Orange Line (a permanent unsightly scar across the face of once lovely Lahore), he withdrew permission at the penultimate minute for the LLF to be held at the Lahore Arts Council.

Hurriedly, the LLF had to relocate to a local hotel. To the chagrin of the audience, attractions like the Indian film star Shar­mila Tagore could be barely heard over the noise of generators in makeshift auditoria.

This year, the opening of the Lahore Biennale 2024, which by its definition takes more than a year to plan, fell victim to politics. What should have been a momentous, joyous event for our country was crippled by a dharna by a disgruntled party.

Everyone with an opinion has a right to express their views. We might, however, lea­rn a lesson from the Japanese. A visitor there once noticed a trio of Japanese factory workers standing outside the gate. They held placards listing their demands. When asked, they explained that they were on strike on behalf of all their colleagues. There was no need for the rest of the workers to........

© Dawn