Voice of Common Pakistani !!!

Scooty…….
Yeah same Scooty that I thought could be a road to lead our women to empowerment. A means of transportation that would provide security against harassment of public transport, harassment of reaching home late after office hours and a means of family transport for many single middle class women who are bread winner for their families.
I put my thoughts in my previous post, discussed it with friends who belong to corporate sector, asked them their opinion and insight about the possibilities.
To my horror and surprise, an idea which was for middle class working women (for a start of trend in Lahore and Karachi alone) was rejected by women themselves, who are working independent, well educated, apparently confident, moderate and with updated with latest trends (in dressing atleast) desirous to help women, spokes person of women rights and above all women who have studied in best of institutes, travelled abroad and are no way conservative for themselves. Strange isn’t it? Yes my friends our women have dual standards. I do not want to discuss women and their approach here. Read more »

We participate in number of talks and sessions, where empowerment of women is discussed. We give our idea and opinions, we strongly support the idea and it becomes a heated emotional discussion.

That’s all………………….. Yes truly that’s about it. We have made most of the issues, a drawing room discussion. Issues and topics are given a lip service and nothing solid, concrete and particle is ever done.

Empower women, is one of the topics in constant discussion. Recently I had a chance to participate in a training “Gender Sensitization” facilitated by Mr. and Mrs. Imran Rizvi of RIZ Consultancy at Royal Palm, Lahore.

The event was a one day talk session and it really jolted me, when I came to know that Pakistan stands 56 out of 58 countries, where women participation in the main helm of affairs is missing. Just think of it 56th. I know our numbers would be bad as that’s how we have always been somehow lately. But at 56 out of 58 was an eye opener to me. The training went smooth and everyone participated according to his/ her approach, thoughts and opinion. But I got stuck………………..

Yeah as usual, me and my weird thoughts. Why we are at 56? How can we improve in this number game? What all could be done to change our future and improve women participation in all walks of life.

I had chances to travel abroad and look at the culture, traditions, religions, custom and norms with a “non-traditional vision”. I began a memory search of various nearby countries that excelled in past 15 years. The list comprised of India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Indonesia and North Korea. I sat on internet and I Google (d) few pages and the answer was right there in front of my eyes, exactly as I had thought.

All these countries progressed when, women empowerment began by providing women transport. All these countries had poor public transport system. Instead of spending Billions of dollars to improve public transport, they promoted individual women transport. By introducing “SCOOTY” for women. A simple and affordable solution to 90% of the female population. Self start automatic gear box solution for the ease of women. Read more »

Living in the world of burgers, pizza, pasta and fries etc. Desi food has always been a treat. The taste, aora and its spice has always triggered hunger to 2 levels up.

Same is the case today, right now and right away. Within office ours lunch break on roads asks for a near by desi food. ‘Channa and Anda’ with coke as topping and ‘garma garam nan’. Who can deny such a feast.

Small outlet, heavily crowded by nearby banks and office staff, voice calling ‘ustad jee nan’ ‘chootay supply le a’.

No matter how advance and modernized we have become. The old Lahore and its touch still lives among us, with its beauty and simplicity.

After all its rightly said ‘Lahore, Lahore hai’.

Religious festivities are supposed to be for all, in all the religions. The lessons given in all Holy Scriptures are the same. They are all based on one factor, HUMANITY. Somehow in our region sub-continent, this HUMANITY factor got lost somewhere. Despite being the land of so many religious elders, sufis and scholars, we as a community failed to carry the true essence of Islam.

We have locked our religion to Namaz, Roza and the way of offering namaz. The religion is confused and subjected only to Haqooq Allah. The teachings of the Holy Prophet PBUH and the guidance of the Holy Quran to create a balanced society - a society where every human being is equal, no one gets superiority over the other by virtue of caste, creed and color - is found only in lectures and books. Its implication in practical life is totally missing. Read more »

Strangely out of 12 moons we have in a year, somehow 2 out of them are disobedient Moons. They are a reason for dispute, quarrel and division amongst the one community called Muslims.

I ask myself and I urge you too to ask similar questions to yourselves too.

The time difference between Saudia and Pakistan is 2 hours. How a time difference of 2 hours of sun can result in 24 hours difference in sighting of the moon. If we look at the geographic location of Pakistan on the world map, Karachi and Gawadar are closest to Saudia and middle eastren states, then how come moon is sighted by cities far ahead geographically earlier than Karachi and Gawader. Thirdly, if we want the northern part of Pakistan to follow sighting of moon as per the desire of federal govt, then why the central govt year after year fails to verify how nothern Pakistan manages to witness sighting of the moon. Let’s not forget the scientific side as well. Has anyone from the federal govt or the scientific so-called pundits tried to address the issue by visiting northern Pakistan on the required dates, either to verify or challenge the claim of moon being sighted. No, no one would. They rather believe in keeping the nation divided year after year and keep their own nuisance value intact. Read more »

Friday, April 17, 2009
by Muhammad Ahmad Noorani

Islamabad

How plots are being allotted in posh and expensive sectors of Islamabad is an interesting phenomena and new facts are throwing light on this process. In one case the officer who allots plots to others has himself acquired an expensive plot, and says he has the right to do so.

Federal Government Employees Housing Foundation (FGEHF) Director General Sher Afzal, however, said that the plot was allotted to him in accordance with rules.

But interestingly before he got the plot in Sector I-8, the FGEHF Executive Committee offered plots to CDA chairman and all the six CDA members in other sectors.

But these offers were not meant to bribe CDA for getting the plot in I-8 sector, Mr Sher Afzal told ‘The News’. Read more »

This is a true story. Once there was a woman who had three sons & one daughter. She raised her kids with good moral values. The kids grew up & one of her son” Ehsan” graduated & moved to UK. He did his Masters & got a good job over there . Like every other mother she wanted him  to get  married as he was young, intelligent, well educated & was enjoying a good job. His mom was in pakistan & she knew many beautiful girls , all she waited was for her son’s arrival.

Ehsan was not only successful but was a good human being. He would help everyone & always would come up with a  solution for everything. Due to this quality he was popular among his friends. His friends often called him ” solution provider”. Even if I had any problem , I would email him & he always replied. I know him since my University days as I would always stuck in a computer problem & would email him instantly & he was always there to help me out, not only me but he was willing to help everyone.

When he went to  Karachi, his mom convinced him in agreeing to a girl of her choice. He saw the girl only once as  he was  an obedient boy ,he  agreed . Later he was engaged to that  girl Deeba. During their engagement period, they were in contact with each other on MSN & facebook as Ehsan was in London. Ehsan soon found out that the girl was not mentally compatible to him but still he carried with the relationship until Deeba really made him go crazy one day, so Ehsan had to break their engagement, though his mom was deeply hurt because she was the girl she had selected.

After the mourning period was over, Ehsan came up with a decision. He knew a girl names “saba ” who was a widow & had 2 kids. She had been married at the age of 19 & was widowed @ 28. She was in Scotland & Ehsan had morally supported her lots of times. He decided to marry her. It was not due to mercy but because he thought that she was mentally compatible to him & he wanted to make a difference. In the beginning it was difficult for him to convince his family especially his mother but his mother soon gave up & was happy with  his decision. His friends told  him that he was an eligible bachelor & he would get any girl he wanted then why was he opting for a widow. He replied “just to make a difference”. Just to initiate something others can follow. He surprised everyone by his decision but Thankx to Allah he convinced everyone including his family. He’ll be getting married this year Inshallah! I hope the minds of young boys change & they also decide about their future with open minds

In Pakistan we have so much beautiful & natural tourist resorts. We are unaware of it. It was only last year when we decided to pay a visit to the famous “Khewra mines”. It is amazing to see beautiful formation of salt under the mountain. At first i was little scared of going inside the mine by  the electric  train that really needs to be improved but once u enter you”ll find a whole new world. You ‘ll feel something , never felt before. One becomes even more closer to Allah. Inside the mine a beautiful mosque made of different shades of rock salt bricks has been constructed ,hollow walls of salt bricks when lighted gives a beautiful look. Its the only mosque of this kind in the whole world. There is “minar-e-Pakistan” made up of salt. An area with pink salt is called Shish Mahal. There is “assembly hall” & a “Baadshahi mosque” too, all made up of salt. Read more »

In  weddings we all have noticed , when the food is served , everyone rushes to get a plate & then everyone is seen trying to fill their plates even without their satiety. Irrespective of their surroundings, one finds that the people are pouring the food so much as if this is their last meal. Even people who are sporting brand new cars, cell phones , they show such an  impolite manner while getting the food.  They will pretend that they belong to elite class & as soon as the food will be served they would seem to be forgetting their manners. It is a common practice in our country. Most of the food is wasted in such a way because in greediness they will fill their plates & after they are done, one finds that half of the food is lying in their plates. The food should be banned in the weddings. I even asked one man at a wedding whose plate was  full with food, that what will happen if the govt. will put a ban on the food in the wedding, he said he’ll not attend the weddings  then. I was amazed to hear it because mostly the people come to the weddings for “EATING” & not to bless the happy couple. They   reach the venue just before the dinner is served & eat as much as they can. Even @ formal dinners we find such people who show very disgusting manners. It seems as if they have forgotten dining etiquettes. In order to get the food they will push others & try to get the best portion of the food . They will hold the spoon for a long time in search of the best part, will make others wait till they have made a pyramid of food in their plates. Even when we are invited @ formal dinners we find such people. Read more »

Majority of Pakistani women today have clearly forgotten the difference between modesty and vulgarity. Be it malls, bazaars or fish markets, you tend to see women in all shapes and sizes wearing tight pants falling above ankle (a.k.a. caprice pants) giving live tutorials on Indecency 1O1. Frankly, it’s not just men who get attracted, even women stop to look at these torch bearers of immorality not because they look goddesses of beauty, but because it confronts them with thoughts like how could their families especially parents allow them to show up in public dressed like tramps. Clothed provocatively, with thin transparent fabric revealing not just the bodily contours but also their underclothes– how can anybody expect the society to redeem and safe guard its moral values. Read more »