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Thursday, August 30, 2012

Shoaib Akhtar's Colombo Heroics.





It was October 5th, 2002 when the third day's play between Pakistan and Australia was in progress on the neutral territory of Colombo. It was the first test match of the series in which Pakistan were forced to play an almost second string side because players like Saeed Anwar, Inzamam ul Haq, Muhammad Yousuf and Wasim Akram were available due to certain reasons.

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

How to see Happiness and be Happy?!



I was in a bad mood, literally.

We came out after offering Eid prayer at the mosque. While we were locating our parked car I saw beggars surrounding a man. These were a woman and her three little kids. They wanted Eidi and that man gave them 10 rupees each. I was turning back when I heard them saying: ' Aaj toe mazay hogaey' pretty sure they had a huge grin on their faces.. I ignored but they were happy and they were smiling.
..........................

We were on the way to our Village when Tamur, my youngest brother started driving the car. We all weren't happy with this. It was hot and we were getting late, but Papa didn't listen and Tamur drived all the way. We all were telling him to drive fast, asking Papa to drive himself at least, but Tamur kept quiet. When we reached home, he looked the most satisfied person, he was happy, the smile on his face told itself.
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Children deserve education not labor.

By: Ramsha Shahid Akhund.





Education sharpens intellect, equips individuals with the capacity to work and trains them in the art of citizenship. Citizenship has been defined “as the contribution of one’s instructed judgment to the public good.”

This child, in the picture, do you think he is in the age of working? 


No he is not, he is just about the age of some kid of grade 4 or 5. Being a human and a native of an independent country, he has full rights to education. His life is to be spent learning and playing, so that in times to come he can support his family and prove to be a good citizen. He must have some dreams, to become a doctor, maybe a teacher or even an engineer. He must have a wish to own the same car which he is cleaning at the moment. But what he is involved at the very moment is CHILD LABOUR. Child labour, which is strictly forbidden in many many countries. Children are to be rendered FREE education, because it is their right, and no one has the right to steal someones, anyones right. 

Is there any one to hear and give life to his dreams? 
Yes there is, there is you, there is me, there is all of us. So lets join hands together and promote education. Spreading Peace with Books lasts much longer than spreading peace with bombs!

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Breakfast- An utter necessity.

By: Yumna Siddique



Breakfast, literally means breaking the fast after the last meal or supper the day before. However most of us are pretty much un-aware of its utter importance. For the adults or the youngsters the gap between their supper/last meal and breakfast would probably extend for ten hours however the young children who eat their meals early the gap might prolong for as much a s fifteen hours..!!! At morning when you wake up your energy levels in the body is more or less zero, going to work or study with low energy levels definitely doesn't gives your day a good start!

Monday, August 27, 2012

Lost in the dark..




















By: Maham Shahbaz


No escape there is from blinding light and never ending darkness
day starts by light and doesn’t seem to end
night starts by rush but ends as soon as it starts
after all when did peace last long?
They say all good things come to an end
never knew end was right next to starting
etched, are u in my heart
I fear u too will somehow leave
After all every one thinks there reason is valid
many questions go unanswered
many wishes are lost
many feelings fade away
have some questions
though I know no one will answer
for no one knows the answer , and the one who knows will not answer
He could have created dolls instead of us ?
Why give us a free mind when u are to pull the strings and make us dance?
Why say man is created free when, u get to control?
Why u say to work hard when all is written ?
why not create puppets when u get to control "free creatures" like puppets?
And what is life but another doubt?
I do not doubt u but there are just some questions
no one knows the answer and the one who knows won't answer ...

Sunday, August 26, 2012

Pakistan vs Australia: A mouth watering contest awaits.

By: Raafay Awan




This has to be one of the most awaited series for Pakistan. The hype is not as it should have been thanks to the shortened tour and the ICC World T20 looming around but this is going to be the real test for Pakistan in a long time.

Australia may not be the best team in the world now or as much threatening but for sure they are one to the toughest opponents and a team that fights till the end. Last time both teams met was during the World Cup and Pakistan were the winners.

Pakistan has selected a different squad from the last one that played against Sri Lanka and there have been a few surprises as well, here is a look at the ODI squad of Pakistan for the series.

Saturday, August 25, 2012

Mere Azeez Humwatano


By: Haniya Jamshed


Kicking off this blog entry; yet again with another one of Zia-ul-Haqs'references, I want to draw your attention to a more pressing matter at hand. An issue, if left undiscussed, can lead to failures beyond measures. You all are fully aware that "Hunti--I mean--Elections" are almost upon us. Yes! Time to celebrate? No, it isn't because our future wouldn't change a bit. Shocked to hear that? Shouldn't be because we are the only nation that lacks true leaders and everybody knows that.

As the years fly by and the term of another running federal government—If it is lucky enough to dodge the wrath of a dictator—approaches it's final days, our "holier than thou", rating-mongering journalist society; be it newspaper folks or famous media brands, begin the session of educating a.k.a brain-washing us—ridding us of our own capability to think and feed us with oh-so-many lies and fairy tales, that persuades us to believe in our politicians and in their future schemes to ruin--I mean, "restore Pakistan stature to it's former glory". Our politicians are the worst in the lot in this phase. Each one trying to out-do the other in a never ending battle of words and unique, un-believable conspiracy theories;

Thursday, August 23, 2012

Brig. Dr. Atiq-ur-Rehman (Late)


Brig. Dr. Atiq-ur-Rehman (Late)
As I sit to scribble down my collection of memories of a man whom I greatly respect, a sentiment which (for me) will definitely never die with the dead, the first image that comes to my mind is a puzzled girl of 17, her second day at university, as she enters the first office to right in the Aero-Department. The name plate outside the office reads 'Brig. Dr. Atiq-ur-Rehman Head of Dept'. Apparently a man of sententious prominence, Dr. Atiq had a markedly refined personality, his words reflected the immense knowledge he possessed, his warm smile had always been deeply comforting, his genuine counseling never failed to motivate many students.

23rd of August 2012, 09:30 am texts started flooding in news spread like wildfire 'Brig. Atiq-ur-Rehman had died of a  cardiac Arrest'. Leaving behind a young wife and two children.

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Eid, still a day of feast ?

As soon as maghrib's azan reached our ears, cramming some sweet in our mouth, we ran to the roof.In one corner there was a raised area of 10cm², together we wanted to stand there.
Sometimes we went down disappointed after scanning the empty sky. Sometimes, a naughty cloud tricked us, as we turned our backs disappointed, it freed from it's sail the lunar crescent.
Of course we were never alone on the roofs, children on neighbours' roofs also contemplated the sky, playing who'll announce the joyful news to others ?

Monday, August 20, 2012

A sky plenty of stars.

                                                 
"Hey, see there are thousands of stars ! " says a voice.
Moonlight enlightens my window as i am waiting for sehri...
"Yeah... That's nice." I reply.
"Hey look! Blue sky plenty of stars ! Look up ! " continues the voice.

But how can I look up ? My eyes are stuck on my cellphone screen. I think that google open my eyes. Mu life revolves around google. Google for chemestry, physics, maths, informatic, drawing, reading, writing, watching..searching, surfing enjoying, listening, visiting... I can google almost everything. If Google was a person (s)he'll be more intelligent then Einstein, Newton, Maxwell, Schrödinger all  put together. The most intelligent of all scientists of all times. Not only scientists, But perfection in every field if we unify all the knowledge of google. That's why google is my friend in need. It always overcomes my difficulties. So i continue my virtual life.
However, the voice keep haunting me...
"Look up! A sky plenty of stars ! "

Our "popping" pop-music scene


Everyone in this present generation has an automatic disgust for Zia-ul-Haq. Almost a reflex action. Why, you ask? Well, General Zia-ul-Haq; the advocate of Islam and all things Islamic--came into power, or rather forced into, thanks to our incompetent leaders, by imposing Martial law on July 5 1977 due to which Pakistan had to face yet another "democratic breakup", leading to the abrogation of the constitution, derailing of our institutions and suppression of our freedom. Secondly, using Islam as a weapon, he won himself a seat as a democratic president in a referendum conducted all over Pakistan. However, his lust for power and money led him to involve Pakistan in a war that never was ours to begin with; the biggest mistake ever committed. He is most remembered for subsidizing of the Mujahideen movement during the 1979 Soviet invasion of

Sunday, August 19, 2012

Talented Pakistan: Interview with Tehreem Iqbal

Interview By: Raafay Awan.

Here is interview with one of the most talented people I have ever interacted, Tehreem Iqbal. There is no doubt that when I saw her work for the first time I could only be amazed, and after that all the people who have seen her work share the same feeling. Just the way she expresses her thoughts into pictures and the message she tries to convey by her work makes me believe one day she will make Pakistan proud.


  • Would you please tell us something about you and your life?


I’m mad about creativity. My life is good. I thank Allah for whatever he has given me. I am currently studying in D.A college, Karachi. Commerce is my main subject. I have a sister and a brother, both are awesome. My dad works in the Airline (which is pretty cool) and my mom is the best cook. That's all you need to know about my family!

Saturday, August 18, 2012

My blue framed life.

By: Hameem Hussain

First, when I find out this world, when big persons leant over me to take me in there arms, there faces were clear, there smiles were perspicuous, there outlines perfectly distinct.

It was a great gift to me contemplating the sky.invading a little bit privacy of flowers exploring their details, shades of there colors...I've enjoyed seeing without any hindrance some of great monuments. I broke through grass in order to nail out labour aunt's route. 
now, it's not like that anymore. Life has blurred.the outlines trembling, face

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Iqbal's dream Quaid's view ; Pakistan



Written By: Ramsha Shahid Akhund

Independence! 

The dictionary meaning for it is : the state of being independent; not influenced or controlled by others in matters of opinion, conduct, etc. "DEPENDENT UPON YOURSELF"

This is true, it is the free state of mind, in other words FREEDOM. Looking back, we are an independent nation. We have our own government, our heads are not under others feet. No one "ELSE" rules us. Our people, Our natives do. But the question arises, 'are they ruling it the right way?'. hmm? ..
Lets leave the question Unanswered ..

Pakistan zindabad !

By memory :
"Hai jazba junoon to himmat na har
Justuju jo karay wo chuay asmaan
Mehnat karhni ho gi
Pehchaan : kabhi na bhoolo
Sab ki nazroon main pakistaan,
Kabhi na bhoolo !
Pakistaan hai tumhara !
Pakistaan hai humara !
Pakistaan kabhi na bhoolo ! "
I remember those 14th Augusts functions which took place in my school : PIA Model Secondary School.

That was the only occasion over the year rehearsals were allowed and students did there best to propose dramas and songs' choreographies. Lonely touch of comedy.

Pakistan- Before Anything Else

Pakistan Flag

Our motherland maybe going through difficult times, but whatever we are it is because of this country. Our existence attains meaning because of Pakistan only. We are the ones who can and must work for our nation’s better future and for a softer image worldwide. It is because of our own people that we stand on such a precarious cliff today and no one from the outside will come to help us out, we must help ourselves out of these trails and tribulations. No matter how small the part we play maybe but nonetheless we must play our part. We, the youth of today, are the promise of a better tomorrow.


Please stop making fun of your own country, your own people because indirectly you are making fun of your own selves. There already is a lot of negativity around, please don’t spread more. There is a lot of positive stuff around to spend our energies on. What can you possibly gain by making fun of people like Misba Ul Haq, our  brilliant Pathan brothers, hardworking Olympic players and a lot more? Do you get kicks out of it? If yes, that’s really low. They are our heroes, be proud of them! They may not win the race each time but they sure try their best.

Bangladesh: A Rising Global Textile Hub



 Minister for Textiles in Pakistan Makhdoom Shahabuddin and top textile managers of the country believe that prime reason behind migration of textile industry from Pakistan to Bangladesh is preferential trade agreements between European Union, United States and Dhaka. Often cited reason of energy crisis is important too but becomes less important when compared with previous reason. In fact due its textile quota Bangladesh has become a rising global textile hub.
Importance of Bangladesh as preferred and top supplier of textile products came into limelight after the Pakistani government revealed that in the last five years 40% of Pakistan’s textile looms have been closed and moved to Bangladesh.
The Pakistan’s Textile Minister, Makhdoom Shahabuddin said that about 200,000 power looms, or two-fifths of the industry, had moved to neighbouring Bangladesh, leaving around 200,000 families in the Punjab region without work or suffering hardship.

Saturday, August 11, 2012

Clinging on to Hope...

Written By: Amna Aziz

After going through the day to day tensions and sometimes things much more serious, there finally comes a time when we feel like breaking down. Tears seem to be the easiest solution and so we seek a loved one’s arms or a lonely dark corner and cry.

When the heart-wrenching sobs finally subside, they are replaced by a tired and submissive silence. Peace seeps through the veins, calming the tensed nerves as if the tears have taken the pain with them. Somewhere deep down the battle still rages on; the futile war between the optimist and the pessimist within the soul, the war between “I can” and “I can’t”; crushing the very fabric of all the hopes, dreams and wishes cooped inside. But at the time even the attainment of such a superficial and surface calm appears to be a blessing because it gives us the courage to keep this act intact, to keep performing our best on life’s stage, to keep living; and in some primitive part of the mind to keep hoping, dreaming and fantasizing.

Vow of Life: Feeling for Others


During my recent visit to home, I felt the peace and caring atmosphere around me and thought that what would be a life when we stop caring the people around ourselves. We cannot be strong whole and always sustain our emotion and feelings. Now we are in the world of less caring atmosphere around us, One of the hardest challenges within the gamut of spiritual growth is to try to sincerely feel the pain of others. It is difficult to put ourselves in someone else's place and experience their hurting. There's no question that when someone undergoes suffering of his own, he finds it easier to feel another person's pain.

Friday, August 10, 2012

Anum Banday: A Young hope.


BY: Hameem Hussain

Anum Banday
Before you read let me warn you : sports and I are not close friends. However Olympic Games are such a big event and just a euro tunnel away from Paris that i just can't ignore them. Obviously I've seen the opening ceremony, which should have taken place at Paris, realising perhaps alone the Beijing one was better and Seoul one best. As everyone, i searched for my country team, even if I've two countries to fill my heart, i was struck by absence of originality. I looked for more than banner colored shalwar kameez. It's not like i don't like it but, to me some of Pakistani tradition are unknown by most of earth's population: keylash dresses, kashmiri or balouchi dresses... and it's disappointing to see that Pakistan didn't catch the occasion.


My curiosity lead me check  Pakistani Olympic team's profiles. Grand was my surprise in front of Anum Banday's profile : 15 y.o. 400m individual medley. In addition she was a girl ! Giant was my surprise listening an interview of 13 y-o. African swimmer! Do they practice sports since toddler or something like that ? Less unusual but still remarkable another Pakistani young lady, a twenty-year-old athlete :Rabia ASHIQ. And a 17 years old hockey player: Muhammad Tousiq.I vaguely knew sports performance were at there boom in the young years but how young i discovered on London 2012 Pakistan's page. 

Google tells us that she trains at Barnet Copthall Swimming Club, London. She is the third female to be given a wild card while her participation in the 14th FINA World Championships, Shanghai, China. A wild card is a kind of invitation for countries without facilities even if participants don't satisfy reaching the competition criteria. She broke the national record there and clocked : 05:37:11.

At Olympics she came out 4/4 and timed. 05:34,64. Since she didn't get any medal, she has been qualified of failure, kicked out. Last in her heat. Not even taking in consideration that she again broke the national record.. They accuse her of training in London but not winning.
However, there are some people who understand it well
here is an interesting article on the topic 


In my opinion , I don't care that Miss Banday rather practices in London or anywhere else but i admire the courage to give her life a sens and stand up for her country by origin. And i admire all those young athletes who use there talents at there best, plenty of hope.



PS :Just like i told u sports and me equal to 36, i searched for individual medley : Wikipédia tells Individual medley is an assemble of four strokes. Each stroke has an equal parts of overall distance i.e. 1/4 of overall distance. The strokes are swum in this order :
 1-Butterfly
2-Backstroke
3-breaststroke
4- Freestyle excepted the three above, usually the choice is front crawl.

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Let's applaud Team Pakistan


Lets be honest with ourselves, lets face the reality that we are ranked eighth in the world. No one was giving us any chance to show any type of good performance against any team.

Things weren't good for Team Pakistan even before the tournament began. Pakistan had to sack Michel van den Heuvel over the difference with the Hockey Federation just four months prior to the tournament. Most of Pakistani players were playing in the 'unofficial' hockey league. Pakistan performed poorly in the recently concluded Azlan Shah Cup and finished last out of the seven teams.

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

A Truth: Life of a Student in Pakistan



At 6:30 p.m. on the evening of April 20, 1989 I was born in a government funded hospital. I cried but it was the only time my mother smiled to see me do that. I was going to a world where I would be taught lessons.  Many people around me were loving, giving me smiles and trying to take me as possession. I couldn't resist as I was very tiny and couldn't make fights to them. As days passed, I felt strengthened. I was able to stay awake for a longer period of time and see the new world around me. After some days, I came about the most loving lady in my life, my mother, who was able to understand my scream, my joy and most importantly my tears. There was another person around me who often took care of me. He loved me but when I used to cry, he handed me over  back to the mother; that was my father.
I started to understand the value of the two most important people of my life; my parents. I preferred to call them mama and papa. These were the first words of my education.  They helped me to take the first steps so I would never  hesitate to run into the tough difficult life waiting for me in future. After a few months, I was able to walk on my own and could speak a few words.  It was the beginning of my social life when I first put my footsteps out of my door. I made friends, talked to them and played with them. Those friends were the next important people in my life. I was allowed to play for two to three hours as my mother told that playing outside for long is a bad thing. It was the first lesson taught to me against bad habits.

Seven minutes of Terror

'Minutes of terror' has nothing to do with the time before aftaar .... those moments of unusual time dilation and .. well terror, Its about a recent event that took place .. NASA's curiosity rover successfully landed on our neighbor planet Mars .... marking a milestone, another achievement made by mankind which will be a source of inspiration and awe for generations to come.



Okay so now a brief overview of the mission .. NASA's mission mars is basically about sending a surveillance rover to mars to check whether the planet was ever capable of microbial life.Curiosity is loaded with equipment to allow analysis of air, rock and soil samples.

Things have been sent to Mars before meh! so why the terror .. well one this time the vehicle is pretty big and highly equipped as compare to its predecessors and two landing of the rover on Martian soil is the biggest and most complex task of all the time lag in communication between the space shuttle and the Control center is approximately seven minutes (takes a total of 14 minutes for the radio waves to communicate b/w the Earth and Mars)... so when we get the signal from the shuttle saying it has entered Martian atmosphere .. seven minutes have already passed and considering the speed its traveling in its probably quite deep into the atmosphere. The estimated descend time is seven minutes ... this is to be done totally autonomously without any communication from earth , the landing process is something like this

Monday, August 6, 2012

From London to London: History of Pakistan Olympics Hockey.






London Olympics 1948.


These were the first olympics in which Pakistan and India participated as separate nations. India obviously was the defending champion and was defending the title under its new flag. Ali Iqtidar Shah was the captain of the Pakistani team. Twelve hockey teams participated in this tournament and Pakistan reached the semi final where it was beaten 2-0 after a tough match from England. Pakistan played Holland for bronze medal but the match was drawn 1-1. This match was replayed the next day where Pakistan lost 1-4 and took the fourth position in its first ever olympic games.

Helsinki Olympics 1952.

The second olympic games that Pakistan participated were the Helsinki games where Muhammad Niaz Khan was the captain of the Hockey team. In these games too Pakistan was able to play the semi finals but

Saturday, August 4, 2012

A few moments, hours. That's all it takes.


"Make a difference...make a difference.." Having heard this phrase so often all around us, it's almost on the verge of becoming a cliche now, if it already isn't. Coca Cola stepped forward, and took the initiative.

In our society, it's no surprise for the privileged ones to be living in their own bubbles, or turning a blind eye to the troubles which surround us.
However, there are some out there who are focused on making a difference. May it be small; it's the thought that counts, which, if transformed into our actions, can leave a remarkable impact on others’ life.

Few days back, I volunteered in a recycling campaign which was organized at a school established by Rana Liaquat Craftsmen Colony (RLCC) in what one could call, one of the city's ''Kacchi Abaddi's”. The activity was to educate children about reusing Coke PET bottles as the whole event was sponsored by The Coca-Cola Export Corporation.

The children's artwork on display
greeted us as we entered.

The Children at the school are those without secure futures, their present lives are grim, and little joy's

Islam is Perfect but Muslims are not!







The term "Islamic Republic" is often used for many Muslim countries, but are the Muslim nations really following the Islamic model? Majority would definitely say "No"! Islam is the religion of about one billion people and is a rapidly growing faith worldwide, particularly in Africa. The United States, for example, boasts almost a million converts to Islam (plus an even larger number of Muslim immigrants). Islam's adherents find their faith second to none, for their religion possesses the code of life or in definition ‘Peace acquired by submitting your will to God’. As a leading figure in the Islamic Republic of Iran maintains, "Any Westerner who really understands Islam will envy the lives of Muslims."

Friday, August 3, 2012

Interesting Olympic Facts



In the modern Olympics history the performance of USA has been outstanding. In the 26 Olympic competitions so far USA has won 15 times, placed second 8 times and was third twice.

America has won a total of 929 Gold medals, which is a record.

Moscow Olympics were the only olympic games which were boycotted. Still 80 countries participated in it, most of the players from the countries who boycotted took part under the olympic flag.

Sacred surprise.

I'm just comming back from tarahweeh prayer. Something special happened...

In our neigbourhood there was no mosque at all, so the muslims are carrying out a project of construction for sevral years now. The construction is based on public funds and they haven't gathered enough money yet to sign a contract with any constructing corporation...
However, for the moment we havev got the ground, and there is a tent standing instead of the mosque specially mounted to welcome the holy month of ramadan prayers.

The speaker today told us he had a surprise for us, us all the prayers of at least 20 different nationalties.
And guess what this surprise was : a father called them the day before, asking if his child, a 13 years old hafiz would lead the taraweeh prayer... And this father was Pakistani. He has three sons, all of them hafiz e Quran. My father told me that arabs and africans of every age were embracing them after one of them lead us in prayer.

During those four rakats, I felt both proud and jealous. I wished very hard my parents also sent me to a madersa memorizing Quran. More then one prayer cried at his voice and after those rakats the speaker congratulated him and annouced that instead of being non-arabophone his pronounciation was "perfect "and he made zero mistakes. A record for a child !!!

On the exit one of my father's contact congratulated him, even if my father was linked to those children only by nationality!

In short, god sends somtimes special ones to kick you up on the right way...


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