Google Celebrates Pakistan's Independence

Google Doodle on Pakistan Day is an interesting landmark from Islamabad.
Celebrating the 68th Independence of Pakistan, Google has posted a doodle on the Pakistan homepage. The doodle features the blooming flower-shaped Pakistan Monument located at Shakarparian -a small hill near Zero Point in Islamabad, Pakistan. This monument is a national monument that represents the country's four provinces and three territories.

Before an architect was finalised to design this monument, a competition was held among notable architects during General Musharraf's government.  Arif Masood's plan was selected for the final design.

The four main petals of the Pakistan Monument represent the four provinces -Balochistan, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, and Sindh - while the three smaller petals represent the three territories - Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Kashmir and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas.

Prayers for Pakistan!

Samina Baig - Successfully Completes 7 Highest Summits in 7 Continents!

The last leg of this adventure took the siblings to Russia to attempt Mt.Elbrus!

Samina's bother Mirza Ali Baig wrote on his blog:

"..... very delighted to share the great news of Mt.Elbrus summit!
Me and Samina reached the summit at 9am local time, thus the adventure diplomacy, gender equality, women empowerment project came to an amazing end(ing) with great success!
Samina became the first Pakistani and the first Muslim woman to climb the seven summits in record age of 23 and in record time..."

Congratulations Samina Baig and also Mirza Ali Baig!

Peshawari Chappal vs."Robert" Sandal - A Controversy

Sir Paul Smith, the well-known British designer behind the popular label,  launched a high-end sandal earlier this summer that looks like the Peshawari chappal, a popular shoe worn by millions of Pakistani men on formal and informal occasions. A pair that costs between 10USD to 15USD  has a price tag of about 600USD .

Colonizers had the mentality and  the metal to rob nations of their freedom, of cultural heritage and it hasn't stopped even in the 21st century. Old habits die hard!

When the shoe originally went up for sale, there was no reference to Pakistan or Peshawar (the capital of Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, formerly the North-West Frontier province), where this design originally originated from!

Paul Smith’s current listing for the chappal previously known as Robert no longer sports the name “Robert,” and now features on overt reference to being “inspired by the Peshawari Chappal.”

"JERKS" is the right word for this company - shame on them!

Pakistani Siblings on an Expedition to Climb Seven Summits on Seven Continents

 Pakistani mountaineers Samina Baig and Mirza Ali successfully scaled Mount Mickenly (Denali) the highest mountain of North America on 28th June 2014 at 7.20 pm local time. Mirza Ali wrote on his FB page that :

 " .....  it took us 15 and half hours for return climb! after having extremely harsh weather for .nearly five days at Camp IV 17200ft. it was just one day weather window and the Mountain and nature was very kind to accept us to be on top of the mountain otherwise the weather situation was extremely harsh and unpredictable."

The sister-brother mountaineer duo, which hails from Shimshal in Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B), has been on an eight-month expedition to climb seven summits on seven continents since the end of November 2013.
They successfully climbed the 6,962-meter Mount Aconcagua in Argentina in December 2013 to complete the first leg of their expedition, which aims to promote gender equality and world peace.

They have covered six continents and only the last leg of their expedition is remaining!

Wish them the very best!

ORANGES AS TRASH IN PAKISTAN

Winters  are saying goodbye.
After many years they  were considered harsh this  year.  just like the good old days. Fruits  are plenty  and they are dirt cheap! Rich and poor enjoy them alike, the  image above tells all!

Merry Christmas to Everyone Especially Pakistani Christians!

I wish all those who celebrate Christmas - a very Merry Christmas - holidays full of fun and enrichment!

Season's Greetings to everybody!!!

By the way, December 25th is the birthday of Quaid e Azam - Mohammad Ali Jinnah, founder of Pakistan and it's also my mom's birthday - and then it's Christmas - well I"m super happy for all of you out there. My message is simple: Live and Let Live!!!

I remeber that In Pakistan, there is this continious persecution of our Christian brothers and sisters. I stand with them in solidarity and I hope and prey that they live comfortably in Pakistan - a state that was founded on the idea that - no matter what religion one believes in - they can practice it in peace and without fear however, over the past few years down the lane we have totally lost the entire concept of the creation of Pakistan!!

Today if Jinnah was alive - he would definitely have been hurt with the kind of religious intolerance we have in Pakistan. I can't speak for the religious minorities of Pakistan when as a Muslim woman myself - I was mentally and verbally tortured in my own homewtown - capital of Pakistan, Islamabad- for some stupid reasons , when I last visted a coupe of months ago!

Anyhow, Merry Christmas my dear Christian community of Pakistan, please do NOT give hope ad things will become normal some day1

Master Muhammad Ayub: An Inspirational Teacher

Mohammad Ayub has been teaching unprivileged children for more than two decades. Sitting under a tree in a park in Sector F-6, ‘Master Ayub’ teaches around 280 students every day, free of cost.

Ayub, 52, came to Islamabad in 1976 from Mandi Bahauddin and started working at the Fire Service as a fire in-charge. “Our youth is what will take us forward. In my spare time, I started teaching children from the street,”

Ayub convinced local shopkeepers that education was vital and every child has a right to go to school. Soon, the shopkeepers started sending child beggars to him along with the child helpers in their shops.

He started by gathering children from F-6. “I’d give them stationary and notebooks. Soon I found out that people from the market had started sending their children to me,” he said.

Over the twenty-eight years, newspapers, non-governmental organizations, and even members of the international press, have knocked on Master Ayub’s door. Yet, his plans to build two rooms for his students have seen no support.

“Many organizations even come and arrange events for the children, and the media is invited to cover these activities,” says Ayub. “However, they all make tall claims and leave. No one has offered to build, or assist in building, a two-room shelter for these kids.”

To realize his vision, Ayub has been cutting costs and saving from his own pocket to build the rooms in the slum area right across the school. He bought the land seven years ago and has slowly started the construction.

Today, the school serves as a safe place for many. There is a computer lab, a classroom, and a library that holds over 600 books.

“I have started saving already to construct a stronger roof that will protect the kids from severe weather conditions especially rain and chilly winter evenings. I need Rs25, 000 to shelter this building and avoid further damage, and I will do it,” he says confidently.

Source: here 
For further reading, click here.
Facebook page on Master Ayub is here. 
A news report on Ayub on Youtube, here.

Cadet College Skardu - Website

Today, I thought that I should do some volunteer work and for that matter I tried to reach Cadet Collge Skardu (CCS). They have a website but it is not updated nor does it have basic options to reach/contact the school. The only way to contact them - a phone number. Having have a website, I guess there must be an email address or that of a webmaster address so that they can be reached.

I hope that this institution fixes the flaws in website and make it more practical.

Medical Waste Used for Making Straws and Kitchen Items.

Medical waste from a hospital in Lahore, Pakistan, is being illegally sold off to rubbish collectors and ending up in a range of plastic products.

The Social Security Hospital has blamed junior staff for not ensuring waste is disposed of securely.

Syringes, vials and other plastic materials are being recycled into toys, kitchen items and drinking straws. What could be more dangerous and disgusting.

Details HERE.

Ayesha Farooq - Pakistan's Only Female War-ready Fighter Pilot

This is Ayesha Farooq (26 years old) from Pakistan Air Force. She is Pakistan's only female war-ready fighter pilot.

Ayesha Farooq gives the thumb-up sign from the cockpit of a Chinese-made F-7PG fighter jet at Mushaf base in Sargodha, north Pakistan.

Ayesha is taller than all the other colleagues... ;-)
See the original post here  and enjoy some great shots!

About Rauf Khaild...

I just found out late last night that Rauf Khaild is no more and it is already a year and a half. I am in a state of shock. I could NOT sleep well. Actually, I was watching Ashir Azeem's interview and when he mentioned Rauf's name so I googled him and could not believe my eye. May his soul rest in peace and may Allah give his family strength to bear this loss. I found the news in Dawn news below:

Renowned television writer-director and actor, Abdul Rauf Khalid, was killed in a road accident when one of the tyres on Khalid’s car burst, fatally overturning his car.

Khalid, a painter, lyricist, speaker and an educationist, was best known for his television screenplays which include Guest House, Angaarwadi, Laaj, as well as a Lollywood film called Laaj.

Rauf Khalid also served as the President and Chancellor of National Institute of Cultural Studies, Lok Virsa in Islamabad.

He had received several awards recognising his work, including the prestigious Pride of Performance award.

Pakistan:What I'm Missing Most!

 A plate full of anar (pomegranate or Seongnyu/ 성류) twice a day!

Fresh fruits and vegetables in Pakistan are to die for by the way. You think of one and it is highly unlikely that you won't find it. Every season (we have 5 seasons not 4 or 2....O.K!) has its fair share of  fruits or vegetables and street and corners of Islamabad are littered with them. Gorgeous  colors and scented air is hard to find in other cities around the world. At the weekend bazaars, being held at different locations in Islamabad, fruits and vegetables are the highlight of all shoppers and the buzz in the air is unforgetable.

Chana-fruit chat in the making (pic.above, which in the end was drizzled with tamarind juice..OMG)...the best that I've ever tasted is sold near Anarkali Bazaar in Lahore...(probably, Chandni Chowk), they serve them in katoray (bowls) made with red terracotta mud, topped with various chutnies and masalas..gosh. As I write this, my mouth is watering....and I just wish if there was a time machines option then obviously, I would've revisited Lahore. The food, trees and people - they are extraordinaire!

Delicious pomegranate or anar (in Urdu language) or Seongnyu /성류 (in Korean) from Pakistan, a friend's mom said that Iran is famous for them but then her husband added that the region is good for anars - countries like Pakistan too. This year Korea is exporting Californian pomegranate, selling for 14- 18$ a piece. That is bizzare. In Pakistan, a kilogram of anar is for a dollar and a freshly pressed pomegranate juice sells for a dollar too - nothing can beat that!

 이스라마바드 에서 성류나무

This tree is at my friend's place, at a later stage, it was bended due to the weight of the pomegranates. Land in Islamabad is so fertile that whatever seeds you will throw or a plant you will sow, they will be sprout in a matter of weeks or so., really!

Amrood or guava, can't find them in Korea - still. One of the flower shops had a small plant of amrood in Bonsai style for decoration.

Oranges called red bloods ;-)

Pakistan is one of the top four producers of citrus fruits in the world. A freshly pressed orange juice, right in front of you, will only cost 50 cents. These are the prices for 2012 when I was there. Pakistan is dirt cheap...living cost is one of the lowest but facilities and services are excellent.

The way, Pakistan is portrayed in the international press worldwide is so BIASED and UNFAIR....I think, what this country has become, foreign press has to share the burden. I was shocked when I saw  Pakistan's introduction in such a negative way in a leading Korean newspaper. I think there are much more dangerous and unstable countries than Pakistan but then American narrative dominates.

Malala Yousafzai Discharged from Hospital

 
Malala Yousafzai, the 15-year-old Pakistani girl who was shot in the head by the Taliban, has been discharged from the Birmingham hospital where she was being treated.
The Queen Elizabeth hospital said she was well enough to be treated as an outpatient for the next few weeks. She was discharged on Thursday to continue her rehabilitation at her family's temporary home in the West Midlands.

For details read here.

Obama Edges Out Malala to be TIME's 'Person of the Year'

President Obama was chosen as the 'Person of the Year 2012' NOT Malala.

We are in a habit of not taking a risk with new ideas, faces, struggles, ideologies ...

Toronto Star's heading is, "Time magazine names its ‘Person of the Year’ – and it’s not Malala Yousafzai".

Basically this year's nomination came as a surprise since, people were expecting a new name. 

For many it has been controversial, as controversial as was the Noble Prize nomination for Obama. :-)

In 1939, TIME Magazine chose Adolf Hitler for it 'Person of the Year' says Dennis Byrnne of the Chicago Now. He further wrote: "Time magazine's person of the year is Obama; should have been Malala Yousafzai" ...I don't agree with his interpretation of hows and whys but nevertheless, a part of his narrative is what I do agree with too... that even though 2 women made it to the Top 5 short-listed candidates but then the magazine struck out, perhaps blinded by its ideology, in overlooking  Malala Yousafzai..."

Ardeshir Cowasjee Passes Away!

Source : Picture is from his FB page

Cowasjee passed away - Inna Lillahi wa inna ilaihi raji’un.

 Nobody can fill the gap  and I feel that Pakistan is a much poorer place today without him. May his soul rest in peace. He will be dearly missed!

Well-known for his outspoken stand against corruption, and various social & political issues, Ardeshir Cowasjee, a senior columnist, writer, intellectual and philanthropist passed away at a local hospital in Karachi on Saturday. His columns can be read here at DAWN.

According to BBC, he was struggling for the life at the intensive care unit of a local hospital for the last 12 days after being hit by chest complications, where he breathed his last at the age of 86.

Cowasjee was born on 13 April 1926 in Karachi in a financially stable Parsi family. He was the eldest son of Rustom Faqir Cowasjee. He took his early education at Bai Virbaijee Soparivala (BVS Parsi) Parsi School and graduated from the DJ College. After completing his education, he joined his family business of merchant shipping. He married with Dr. Nancy Dinshaw in 1953. He is survived by two children, his son Rustom and daughter Ava.

Talat Aslam, senior editor of The News, says: "Cowasjee's death represents the death of an old, far more cosmopolitan and tolerant Karachi. He was a Gujrati-speaking Parsi gentleman of the old school - profane, blunt, outspoken, fearless.

Once ally of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Cowasjee turned his critic after he was jailed by the then Bhutto regime in 1976. He was made Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation Managing Director in 1973 by Bhutto. He was a prominent columnist and a journalist. Cowasjee revealed massive corruption cases time and again as his articles became cause of several suo motu actions by the judiciary.

Cowasjee used to donate generously. Through the Cowasjee Foundation, he supported various welfare projects, particularly in education sector. In recognisation of his services, The Citizens Foundation’s biggest campus in Lyari was named after him. The foundation also used to support health sector through the Lady Dufferin Hospital, Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation and the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases.

It is said that he only vouched for Jinnah's short-lived government as the true leadership of the country. But despite calling his fellow countrymen a nation of bigots, chose to live and be buried in Pakistan – the only country he called home.

A short report on Reuters is here.

Malala at Hilton, Seoul

The Bravest Girl in the World - Newsweek

On Day One of Touch Korea Tour sponsored by buzz Korea and Korea Tourism Organization we  finally arrived at Grand Hilton, Seoul where we were staying. As soon as I reached the reception, I saw a stack of magazines with Malala at it's front page. I picked one copy up and while on my way to the room, my friends saw the cover photo and instantly recognized Malala. They came from as far away as Japan and Brazil but they knew about this horrendous incident....and really wondered how can one point and shoot at school girls...unless they are psycho.

They are right, this does not happen even in war zones.
On my recent visit to Pakistan, I had a feeling that it has changed a lot beyond recognition in every single way...and sadly for all the wrong reasons....but still, I'm hopeful that we will turn the tide.

Anyways, back to the magazine, the heart-warming article was written by Shehrbano Taseer, daughter of the slain Governor of Punjab, Salman Taseer - read it HERE.

All one can say is that  what happened with Malala is sad, actually shameful yet inspiring all at the same time. This brave and exceptional "little girl" will be in our prayers and Insha Allah will be just fine and so will be her other friends that got injured. However, we should NOT forget her classmates and hundreds and thousands of other young Pakistani girls in rural Pakistan and even in cities who are harassed and abused on daily basis on their way to school. Our children, especially the girls, need our support, a safer environment and trust.

A few years ago, I met senators from Pakistan in Seoul and among them were: Mushahid Hussain Sayed, S.M. Zafar, Maulana Samiul Haq etc. - all from Foreign Relations Committee of the Senate of Pakistan. Senator Mushahid Hussein asked me to choose ONE good thing about Korea that I appreciate the most and I replied: "Seoul is the safest place for women in the world" and I wish we could feel the same in our own country or other Muslim countries. I further told him that no matter what time of a day or night you go out, no matter how crowded or isolated the place you will be...it is impossible that anything will happen to you because you are a girl/woman.  No fear of being stalked or stared at or any sort of shit we get to hear in South Asia in particular and other places in general may happen...it is next to impossible. This is why I LOVE Korea.

When I meet people I always hear about this or that reason for loving Korea, usually K-Pop, Hallyu etc, in general but for me.... I love Korea because I feel safe here as a woman.Once I enter Korea - sense of safety liberates me from so many unnecessary worries and believe me it is a beautiful feeling.

Anyhow a very nice article by Angelina Jolie on Malala "We All are Malala"  is here.

A big hug for all the Pakistani girls and especially for Malala...get well soon!

Madonna Dedicates a Song to Malala Yousefzai

Watch Here.

I think that it's ridiculous.

Prayer Request - Pray for Malala Yousefzai

Image from War Info.

14 year old Pakistani children's activist Malala Yousefzai (or Malala Yousafzai) is shot in the neck and head. Two other girls were also wounded in the attack. Pakistani Taliban claims that she has been singled out and shot for her Western ideas and Activism (education for women) in Swat valley.

Yousefzai’s blog entries for BBC’s Urdu site offered a rare window into the lives of an 11-year-old and her friends in one of the most dangerous and remote places in Pakistan. Under the pen name Gul Makai, Yousefzai wrote about watching the violence in Swat escalate while her personal freedoms shrank.

Ms. Yousafzai came to public attention in 2009 as the Pakistani Taliban swept through Swat, a picturesque valley once famed for its music and tolerance and as a destination for honeymooning couples.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Malala and her family.

Fore more on Malala read here in:
 the New York Times or
BBC here or
the Time magazine
or watch this brief documentary by NYT on Malala HERE

Azadi Mubarak: 66th. Independence Day of Pakistan

Google Doodle celebrating Pakistan's Independence Today

Happy Independence Day to All Pakistanis: Azadi Mubarak Ho - Bohat, Bohat!

We used to say: Jashane Azadi Mubarak, since I couldn't see any Jashan around (celebration/Festivity) hence,  Azadi Mubark will suffice.

Having said that, I hope we learn the importance of freedom and being free, importance of being a country and the importance of being a nation!

A Pakistani Flag made with Gladiola and Tuberoses (Polianthes tuberosa)

We have a long way to go to make the Founding Father of Pakistan PROUD and 66 years have passed already!

With incredible potential, natural resources and human capital we have the power to turn these bad times into good ones. All we need is - in Jinnah's words: UNITY, FAITH and DISCIPLINE - which is lacking!

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY TO ALL PAKISTANIS!

Leaving Pakistan Makes me Cranky...

Islamabad: A view from my room - minutes before storms

...while living in Pakistan is sometimes frustrating especially, seeing so much talented youth being wasted, natural resources misused and a new trend of give no damn attitude towards the country but still, leaving it, HURTS. It is a wonderful place. If you have lived in Pakistan, even for a short time, you will miss this country. It still offers a lot to explore, to experience and to learn from. Still, in the madness, you may come across really wonderful people, breathtaking landscapes, beautiful  weather and great food.

When I'm away, I  always plan that on my return to Pakistan, I'll learn a skill or two, work on this or that project but once, I'm in the country - the rules of the game change. Connections, nepotism, loose talk, bribery, unnecessary favors, indiscriminate lying, blocking of information  are just  the tip of the iceberg. I can NOT handle it and step back.

I've seen many good people being marginalized and this MUST change. 

On a lighter side, I was happy to see geckos (had NOT seen one in years) again, and for some time, enjoyed the power shutdowns, water shortages, UPS batteries screaming for water to be poured into them, armies of domestic help, great food and fresh fruits, artisans at work, change of weather in minutes, rains  in Islamabad (which reminds me of the Swiss landscape (but for a micro second). This wishful thinking will blast away when: men and eyes follow you everywhere, garbage bags track you down, when cars are ready to run over you, when you will realize that the city administration has forgotten to make pavements and where they made them - people prefer chauffeured cars.

I saw an incredible increase in men riding donkeys, juggling of 4 or 5 children and a woman on a motor bike, women in hijabs out numbering women in chaddars, huge number of scavengers - gypsies of Pakistan(same type as the Roma people) and a strong presence of Afghan+Somali refugees. I saw huge waste of water in sectors such as F-10, F-11, F-8 (ma be others as well) where cars were washed in the porches by their drivers who suffer water shortage at homes on daily basis. Number of barbed wired houses has more than doubled, civic sense has gone to zero level. All this made me realized, I'm home. It is a colorful place with great divide!

I was asked the weirdest of questions by a few gentlemen (hearing I have come from Vilayat (overseas)) such as: if I smoke or drink? or one fucktard asked me during a conference in Islamabad if I believe in Allah? Who doesn't in Pakistan, I asked back?? What sort of a question was this?? Have I missed a lot in a decade's absence?? Fellow countrymen/women will leave no chance to ask you the most unexpected questions so prepare yourself, do NOT forget that they mind your business more than their own. By the way, we used to be quite descent, well-cultured people a few years ago. Where has it all gone?

Pakistan has changed in layers and hasn't changed at all!

Amazing!