The atmosphere was lovely and the food was great at Cafe Aylanto — if you want tasty Western food in Lahore, it’s certainly available.
(I would’ve been happy eating Pakistani cuisine for every meal, personally. 
)
Wednesday was Women’s Day — there was a giant protest / awareness march happening in multiple cities in Pakistan. “The march calls for greater accountability for violence against women and supports women who experience violence and harassment at the hands of security forces, in public spaces, at home, and in the workplace…”
“…The march manifesto demands economic justice, including implementation of labor rights and the Protection Against Harassment of Women at the Workplace Act, 2010, recognition of women’s unpaid contributions to the “care economy”, and provision of maternity leave and daycare centers to ensure women’s inclusion in the labor force. It also demands access to safe air and drinking water, protection of animals and wildlife, recognition of women’s participation in the production of food and cash crops, access to a fair judicial system, the inclusion of women with disabilities and the transgender community, reproductive justice, access to public spaces, inclusion in educational institutions, the rights of religious minorities, promotion of an anti-war agenda, and an end to police brutality and forced disappearances.”
We didn’t end up attending, because the workshop organizers were concerned about our safety — they have been largely peaceful protests in previous years, but there had been some incidents. The restaurant gave us all complimentary cake.
I’m not sure what to do with that, honestly. Cake celebrating women who are protesting the conditions of their lives? But the cake was tasty.
Learn more about the march here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aurat_March
