8th July 11 – What I saw!!

Pakistan has been facing multiple problems at the same time. Majority of state owned institutions are operating extremely badly and chaos situation is being observed in the country where every citizen is frustrated and is unsure about the safety of his/her valuable and life. Declining situation of law and order has severely affected the way towards a progressive nation. Karachi, country’s economic hub, once again faced a “bad” day when a leading political party announced 8th July as the day of mourning for all those killed in the recent on going tension across the city.

Let me share with you what I saw with my own eyes. I wake up early in the morning and did my routine preparations for work place. I stepped out of home and saw deserted streets with nearly zero vehicles on road and a wave of terror surged inside me and I felt as if I have done something wrong by coming out of my home. I saw few men on motorbikes blocking the streets and asking other vehicles to stay back while they throw stones on roads and made sure that no vehicle crosses the area. The situation was really depressing..!!

I kept my journey on and came on the main road where the situation was comparatively better and few private vehicles were moving to their destinations. I sat in a car with one of my office colleagues and went further. As our car entered deep into the city, streets again started presenting a deserted look. My sixth sense again told me that something is really wrong in this area. As we move forward on the road, we eventually saw group of people around a boy who just met with a bad accident and was laying on the road. His mother was continuously crying and requesting to take his child to hospital. We stopped our car and took the injured boy to a nearby hospital. Injured boy was put on back seat of the car while her mother and a child (probably his younger brother) sit besides to him. While we were on the way to hospital, his mother took out injured boy’s cell phone and asked me to call one of their relatives. Readers; I want you to just think for a moment and read with me with more concentration. As I took the injured boy’s cell phone in my hand, dozens of text messages were unread and I thought for a moment that the person for which the text messages were being sent is in a critical condition and nobody knows what has happened to him. I started looking for a contact number of his relative and tried to call but every time I try, call was transferred to some other person. Poor guy’s cell phone was in a bad condition and I couldn’t operate it properly.

Finally, we reached hospital and get the boy on the stretcher. I handed over the cell phone to his mother and came out. We again sat in our car and looked at the back seat with blood spots and the vomiting done by the injured boy. All this, in short, was really sad and depressing. Anyways, we continued with our journey for our workplace and found a blocked road. We took the other way and saw that something was burning there. We were filled with fear. In fact, everyone on the road was filled with fear and was running here and there as there was no way available for people to go to their workplaces. We drove the car back to where we have come from and returned back to home. As I wrote this, I can still clearly hear dozens of gun shots in my area….!!

What ever I wrote above is nothing when compared to different incidents of violence happening in Karachi for a long time. People have been robbed, people have been killed by bomb blasts, people have been killed by gun shots, vehicles and shops are being tortured and burnt, roads and being blocked and curfew kind of situation is observed after every few days, people are not allowed to bring their vehicles on road, petrol pumps are often closed etc. The situation with which this country is going is un-expressible and there isn’t a single thing here which is alright. I wrote my today’s experience and wonder how I will continue with my routine work tomorrow…!!

May Allah bless Pakistan and its people… Ameen.

So what is your priority?

World is rapidly diversifying and now people are holding multiple responsibilities at a point of time. Life has become more materialistic and we tend to be more and more busy as each day passes. Latest trend of generalization has forced people to do multiple tasks at a time. All this, as a result, has increased the frequency of work which human beings used to do in the past. Every day, we go to school, college and office and also manage our homes and social life. Part times jobs and projects have become a must part and people do not hesitate to bear extra work load since they need money to raise their families.

When we start each day, we come across dozens of things. It includes our school/college, work place, home, family, friends, religion, hobbies etc and all these things are important. All these things are important but the most critical issue is which task should be done first and which not. As we start our day, we face dozens of people with dozens of task and all of them are ‘important’ according to the person who comes with the task. Our teachers expect us to be good students by getting the best marks and doing assignments on time. Our parents look forward us as good children and expect us to do exactly as they want. And most importantly, our religion wants us to practice religion in good way.

There is so much to do in today’s world that people are now facing difficulties in settling up of their priorities. Should it be religion first? Or Education? Or work? Or family? Or friends? Or our hobby?. Too much extra work load, one way or another, is creating difficulty for each of us in settling of our priorities. When a period of time is given to studies, our family gets annoyed on not giving them the time. When we give time to work, friends got a reason to say that we are ignoring them. While we watch a movie for 3 hours, our parents argue that these 3 hours could have been spent on reading a good book. There is a term called distraction and this distraction is also creating difficulties for us when it comes to segregating important and un-important and useless task. Current society has so much diverse work to do that it has become practically very difficult to continue with a specific work with full concentration. We all get distracted; sometimes by TV, sometimes by computers, sometimes by friends, sometimes by pointless forwarded text messages and blah blah…!!

Before I close my article, let me take you to an article written years ago entitled “We and our priorities” (http://www.quackonline.net/general/we-and-our-priorities/). Most of the times, we know that what our priorities are but the thing which creates problem is the desire to do more than our capacity which eventually ends up in a confusion among our priorities. We have started doing so much in a period of time that we have ourselves created difficulty aout which thing should be done and which not. Extra useless work has made our actual important work seemingly unimportant. It is high time that we start constructing our priorities seriously and throw away useless work load enabling us to do everything we do with its full capacity. So next time, when you start watching a movie; do make sure that you are giving appropriate time to your family as well :)

5 Reasons why Women can be good Managers

1) People usually tend not to debate too much with a lady.

2) Women, by nature, are more honest and hard worker.

3) They consider their work place as their second home. This will result in more serious work.

4) They stick to their objectives. i.e they do not linger on their work as majority of men do.

5) Women at work are more efficient because they have less social contacts resulting in more work and less wastage of time. (Speaking specifically about a male dominated society).

Titleless

I came to this world with an uncontaminated and fresh mind. My elders taught me that world is a beautiful place. I went to school and my teachers told me to be always honest and truthful. I read books and they all said good things about society. I used to read famous Urdu children magazine “Naunehal” and it always delivered the message of peace, harmony, tolerance and justice. And most importantly, I read Quran which showed me how to move in society. As I stepped into this world, everyone taught me the straightforward way to live and deal with the society.

I grew up. I stepped into the practical life and suddenly everything changed. I found a bad shaped society where everyone has his/her own benefits and justifications. I saw corruption, injustice, dishonesty, hatred, lack of patience, theft etc. I was amazed to see the difference between what my elders taught and what I experienced. And as the time passes, people around me started teaching me the bad way, way which was completely out from what I learned. My senior students start teaching me the unethical words which, according to them, are mandatory to run a production/manufacturing facility. I once went to a fruit seller and asked him for a dozen oranges and I allowed him to pick oranges from his own choice, I trusted him and he cheated me and gave all the bad oranges. Later, this society told me not to trust any fruit seller. I went to motor mechanic and he asked me to replace a part of my motor bike. I trusted him and later I got to know that the change in part was not mandatory, he cheated me. Later, people told me that majority of motor mechanics are cheaters.

I love my city and I lost my 2 cell phones and one wallet on its streets. My colleagues and friends told me that it is useless to register FIR and I didn’t. This city broke my trust. Later, society told me not to carry expensive valuables while travelling; whole world is a thief. I went to my work place and did a mistake. I accepted my mistake in front of another office colleague and later my manager told me not to accept my own mistake that easily from next time. I once travelled in a public transport vehicle but I didn’t have the change, I handed over a hundred rupee note to the bus conductor and trusted him that he himself will return me my money back. He broke my trust and he didn’t return me. Later, I had no option but to intercept him myself for the remaining money.

I went on the road and started driving with a mind that every car will move within its lane and will obey the traffic rules. My trust was broken and everyone on the road was only thinking about his/her ownself and was not in a mood at all to give way to anyone else. Later, people told me not to give way to any other car on the road. I went to a dinner with my friends and we decided to pay on American system. As the time of payment came, I trusted my friends that they will contribute their part of the bill and I was the first to handover my part of the money. Unfortunately, I didn’t have the change and I gave a big note. Thus my remaining friends gave less money than required and I didn’t get my remaining money back. Later, my elders told me that world are a cheater and one should be the last to contribute money in such kind of gatherings. I had to attend one function along with my friends. I thought to go by my own transport but later people told me that it is always better to use any one else’s car and you should not use your own vehicle unless it is extremely necessary.

Ladies and gentlemen, I am sure you are getting what I am trying to get across. i learned in my childhood all the good things and now at my young age, the very same society is teaching me how not to trust people around me. I agree that majority of world is a cheater now but unfortunately, those of us who are not dishonest by nature are also following the bad approach. We teach our children and youth how to be rude with people, we teach how to tell lies on important situations, we teach politics, we teach our youth to suppose as if everyone is a cheater and blah blah…!!. Society is awful and that is very true but at the same time, it is our responsibility not to follow and teach the same to our youth and children. As stone is not the answer to a stone, similarly dishonesty, corruption, hatred, politics and impatience are not the answers to a bad society. Every child is initially a good person and later we teach him/her the so called smart ways to deal with this society. I feel sorry to say that these are not the smart ways, in fact these are the worst ways one can pursue to handle a corrupt society.

Open your eyes. Any idea what we are doing to our children and youth?

The Easy Way Out...!!

I declare myself a very patriotic person. I write articles which carries beautiful words and opinions about Pakistan and its people. I always want to build this society a better place to live. I write good things and I have a habbit of pin pointing negative and bad aspects of this society. I identify defects in the system and always say that this and that needs to be adjusted. I speak/write and give opinions about the corruption our country is going through in government owned organizations. But when it comes to the actual play, it is shameful what I did…!!

I was driving once in Karachi and I broke the traffic signal. A police cop alongwith traffic police officials stopped my car and asked me to step down. He said that I just broke the signal and according to the Pakistani law, I’l have to fill 200 rupees challan. While I was thinking what to do, he showed me the other way and I kept thinking and didn’t respond to him. When he finds out that I am not clearly answering him, he took me to the traffic warden and asked the warden to do my challan. Warden took out the challan book and showed my the law written on the back of that book and asked me to present my actual NIC and car documents. As I told him the documents, he said that they are not original. I showed him the NIC and he asked me to show the original NIC and I didn’t had that as well. Eventually he said that since I do not have enough documents, now challan can only be done if I submit my car which can late be taken back from the local police station after the submission of penalty. I looked at his face with a blank face of mine and continue thinking what to do. I was in a situation.

And then the cop again explained me the noble and right way. He said that he already told me the other way to escape this situation without the challan and if I didn’t understood then what is his mistake then?? And finally, I understood the righteous way and I pulled out my wallet, took out a 100 ruppees note and handed over to him. He eventually returned me back my documents and I finally escaped the bad situation.

Ladies and gentlemen, look here what I did. I always pin point the negative things my country has and when my time came to perform, look what I did and that is a real shame. I myself bribed the local policement to avoid a much complicated situation though it was my mistake on the road. Ahhhh! I am afraid that this is the story of majority people living in this country. We talk good things about the society. We critiscize our public sector organizations. Even we give opinions on those things which has nothing to do with us directly. But when it comes the ground play, we are zero. In reality, we all give bribes and break traffic signals and local laws and then escape the situation by bribe of stuff like that. So my readers, here I am out of words. At this moment, I can only say that we lie to ourselves. We speak good but we didn’t perform good. We critiscize society but then do the same thing with our own hands. I am afraid that if we do not lead by example, we can never change this society no matter how many TV discussion programmes we do, how many articles we write and how many protests we do. The only missing ingredient is starting the change from our ownselves.

Karachi-as I see it.

Karachi has always been a great city. A city flooded with people and vehicles. Apart from huge buildings, crowdy markets and busy roads; Karachi carries a nostalgia in it. I broadly categorize Karachi as a very special city on three factors. One is its old buildings and architecture. Second is its dynamic and hard working people and third is its beatiful evenings. Here I am going to present my thoughts on these three factors which I think have made Karachi very special and different.

I look at this city in a slight different way. The city might not be as old as Lahore or London but it do carries a number of old architecture from the time when UK ruled this part of the world. Just go into those busy and crowded but old streets of Saddar which have their own charm in them. These old buildings of Karachi had been a great source of inspiration for artists and designers. When you walk through these streets, you feel yourself at a place which is out of this world. If you just ignore the noise of cars and vehicles and look at the old buildings, they have something to say about the city and its people. These buildings had remained a trademark for Karachi for decades and people have associated Karachi with these buildings and even still they do it.

Let me now talk about the people of Karachi and one thing is very sure about them that they are intellectually one step higher and more sensible than people of other cities of Pakistan (my sincere apologies from people of other cities J). Karachi’s people are hardworking, a bit more educated and task oriented I.e they are busy or even if they are not, they look busy. Also, Karachi carries multiple ethnicities from almost every part of Pakistan creating a moderate city which has patience and capacity to accept people from different school of thoughts and ideas. When we talk about people, city also features people from multiple classes and living standards. From beggers to millionaires to middle class office going people. It has so much in its heart which is beyond the words. Karachi is always in a hurry and that is why it earns more and its people remain a step ahead in terms of hard work.

Evening is a beautiful time. When one gets tired after whole busy day, evening provides an opportunity for oneself to make things a bit simpler. And to say it all, Karachi has got one of the best evenings. City’s sunset is welcomed by millions of cars on roads when people start their journey back to home. Sunset is cool, calm and silent where moderate weather make it more relaxing and comfortable. I’d rather say Karachi evenings have romance in them at their best. Karachi’s evenings are best celebrated on the city’s beach which always has this built in capability to attract sad souls. A busy day in Karachi get its payment back when a Karachite relaxes at his/her home and have a cup of tea while looking at the drowning sun.

Karachi is a story. I have tried so many times to write something about this city and I couldn’t come up with much better words. Perhaps, this city can not be written, it can only be felt. City maintains a wonderful working environment for every class of society and is potentially very strong when it comes to getting back from a tough situation. A lot has been written for this city and my words are only like a drop in ocean. So if you really want to enjoy this city, spend a full flegded working day with people of Karachi. I am sure it will take you to a roller coaster ride. There is still a lot to talk about this city but unfortunately I can not pour all of my words here on this article so just wait for some more write ups…!!

Will anybody answer my question??

Saturday, 28th June 2008 (9:00am): Me and my friend had to attend a conference at Nawabshah and we were waiting for our coaster in front of KFC restaurant situated at Boat Basin Karachi. My friend took out his cell phone and start reading his text messages. Eventually, two persons riding on a motorcycle came from behind. They surveyed the area and then one of them get of the motorbike, took a round and came in front of us. He pulled out a pistol and loaded it at once. Guy asked me and my friend to give our cell phones to him. We had no option so we did what he asked..!!

Last Week of May 2010 (8:15pm): Me and my brother were studying as we both had our exams the very next day. Eventually, we heard 3 gun shots near our home. We get out of our home and saw people gathered around the dead body of a shopkeeper who was shot down by unknown persons. That poor guy owned a mobile phone shop and was reported to be involved with a political party.

Wednesday, 1st September 2010 (7:15am): I was going to my work place on a public transport bus route D-11. When vehicle passed the Hassan Square flyover, a guy entered the bus from front door. He pulled out a pistol and loaded it. At the same time, 2-3 of his associates entered the vehicle from the door behind and asked everyone to take out their wallets and mobile phones. Every person sitting on that transport vehicle lost his/her valuables including cell phones and cash. I lost my cell phone..!!

Wednesday, 10th November 2010 (7:35am): I was waiting for my bus at Natha Khan Goth bus stop. It was a working day after a holiday so everyone was rushing to their workplaces. Traffic was running on the road and everything looks great. Eventually, a vehicle from behind struck a mini bus (Muslim coach). Impact was horrifying. Passengers standing on the door step dangerously fell on the road. Motorcycles from behind slipped. One or two persons possibly came under wheels and were seriously injured. I don’t know what happened later.

Since my childhood, I was a patriot. I had really loved this country. I had loved my city. I had loved my people. I had complete trust on my city, its people and government authorities and I could never expect that this city or country at large will hurt me until I saw and went through these situations. I saw fear. I saw blood. I saw weapons. I saw gun shots. I saw bomb blasts. I saw street crimes. In simple, I saw a deadly dangerous society where life, respect and valuables of one remain insecure. Feeling of insecurity, once lost, is quite hard to come back and that is what is happening with the citizens of Pakistan.

Events I discussed above are those which I saw or I went through. This state experiences these kind of incidents daily. I am not a politician. I am not an analyst. I am not a bureaucrat. I am not a member of parliament and I really don’t know what democracy is. I just want to ask a simple question and that question is: Who will bring again my lost patriotism back?? Who will restore my trust on my people and my government authorities?? It is not me speaking. It is the voice of thousands of those patriots who are not patriots anymore. With every suicide bombing or target killing or a road accident or a street crime, we lose hundreds of patriotic families. Pakistanis are drastically losing their trust and patriotism and both of these once lost, hardly comes back…!!