Publisher's Synopsis
Old Roads, New Highways: Fifty Years of Pakistan examines Pakistan's development in varied yet interconnected spheres since its creation in 1947: the arts and drama as they try to survive alongside a sharp trend towards Islamic `fundamentalism'; schools as they attempt to meet the demand of an ever increasing population; democracy as it struggles to establish itself in a country prone to military dictatorship. Topics covered include literature, architecture, archaeology, music, science and sports as well as freedom of the Press and human rights. How has this new nation developed and why has democracy been so intermittent? How have its people of diverse culture and attributes fused together into a nation state? In what fields have its people excelled? What problems does the country still face? These questions and many others are examined by a wide range of writers, who have been closely linked with Pakistan's progress over the past fifty years.
