IT is puzzling to note how, over the years, the pluralistic complexion of Pakistani society has changed. There is nothing to worry about, though. Resilient societies go through such phases only to regain confidence in their capacity to hold on to their real self. In recent times different minority communities have been under attack from extremist forces. Half a century back, the word minority was seldom used in an exclusionary context.

Take, for instance, a news report that featured prominently in Dawn Karachi`s city page on March 21, 1966. It stated that the foundation stone for Platinum Housing Colony on Lawrence Road (now Nishtar Road) was laid the day before by Amir Ali H. Fancy, president of the Aga Khan Ismailla Federal Council in Pakistan.

Speaking to the community Mr Fancysaid the housing project was built on a self-help basis. Before him, president of the housing society Sadruddin Bhamani told the gathering that there would be 41 buildings of four storeys each which would have twoand three-bedroom flats.

It should be noticed that the project was constructed without seeking aid from sources outside of the community. No dissimilar was the case with other communities. The reason for it was that Karachi had a gregarious cosmopolitan character, it still has to a reasonable extent, because of which communities worked with a free spirit.

That week, Karachiites` indomitable spirit came to the fore for one more reason. On March 23, Pakistan Day was celebrated in the city with enthusiasm.

At the time, the Quaid-i-Azam`s mausoleum had not been fully constructed, but despite that it was nicely illuminated. Thanksgiving prayers wereheld at places of worship of all faiths, and the national flag was hoisted on important public and private buildings.

Also, an exhibition of Chinese goods at the Polo Ground that started in the middle of the month gained momentum with the passage of time. So much so that on March 25, talking to journalists Hsiao Fang-chou, in charge of the show, said the stock of almost every saleable good at the event had been exhausted, forcing the organisers to stop their public sale. Within a week, goods worth Rs50,000 had been sold.

Speaking of exhibitions, here`s something interesting. On March 19, the Psychology Department of University of Karachi organised its first psychology exhibition on university campus. According to the head of the department, Dr H. U. Zubairi, it aimed at acquainting students in particular and other people in general with the scienceof psychology. Some methods that were used during the display included getting to know vocational interests, attitudes, giving intelligence tests and using projection techniques. Mind you, Dr Zubairi did not put the subject in the arts` bracket. He called it a science.

The role of ambulances in lending a helping hand to practitioners of medical science cannot be undervalued. Much before Edhi and Chhipa ambulance services there was the St John Ambulance Association in Karachi.

During the 1965 India-Pakistan war, it rendered valuable services to the city.

Addressing the annual general meeting of the association on March 26, Karachi commissioner Syed Darbar Ali Shah lauded its work during the emergency. He also appreciated the association`s efforts in giving first-aid training to the citizens. We need more of such associations.