Chaniot's claim to fame
Monday, 21 April 2014
Chaniot - the name is enough to start the furniture lovers, travelers and cautiously curious dreaming. Antiquity is the first message of the town. And, international quality furniture "made in Chaniot" is collectors delight with potentials for marketing all over the world.
On the bank of River Chenab in area called Sandal Bar, Chaniot town is an exotic place in the foot of series of hillocks that seem to be man made rather than evidence of old mountains. The town is very ancient. It was inhabited before the time when Alexander of Macedon came in the South Asia and was principal City during the rule of White Huns. Chinese explorer Hiuen Tsiang visited it. Alberuni has mentioned in Kitabul-Hind that Chaniot was one of the there most important places in this part of the world.
Labels: Built Heritage, Chaniot, Furniture, Travel
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Monday, April 21, 2014,
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Local blog context
Friday, 18 April 2014
Blogs initially started as archives for web links on the Internet. Users could place important links on blogs to be referred and read later. Overtime blogging has matured as a phenomenon and one can see meaningful and useful blogs on any subject online. Blogsphere has become a very strong voice; vibrant, living and ever growing.
Pakistan blogsphere (blogs about Pakistan by local bloggers and those bloggers who are living abroad) has created its own identity that is mostly political and or personal. Pakistan corporate blogging has yet to take off though. Where personal blog create social harmony, well knit community and peace, political blogs add to the positive image Pakistan needs so much, more so in online world. Given the strength of powerful international media and in the face negative content, there has always been a lack of local content. Thanks to able Pakistani bloggers that they are adding meaningful local content in their blogs and that contextual content not only answers some of what mostly ill informed foreign media says but also add to the positive image.
Need of the hour is that Pakistani bloggers come forward and play their role by adding more content that is based on facts and first hand information. You owe this to Pakistan. No?
Labels: Fine Art of Blogging
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Friday, April 18, 2014,
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Changing Chitral
Monday, 14 April 2014
Picturesque Chitral town sits up in Pakistan's northwest district, walled in by the Hindu Kush range. During winters, the only way in is by air (weather permitting) as the two passes, the 3118-meter Lowari from Dir and the 3810-meter Shandur from the upper Gilgit Valley are closed to road traffic. The Fokker Friendships drone for 50 minutes and burst through clouds on decent to reveal on mountains covered with whitecaps and red tin roof houses.
This is Chitral. On the small airfield, the cold wind thrust you to shiver. The remoteness of the district has left it undeveloped in spite of grand natural beauty, hospitable people and ancient history. The town is a base camp for tourists, adventurers and researchers from across the world. And, people seem to be living there in peace.
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This is Chitral. On the small airfield, the cold wind thrust you to shiver. The remoteness of the district has left it undeveloped in spite of grand natural beauty, hospitable people and ancient history. The town is a base camp for tourists, adventurers and researchers from across the world. And, people seem to be living there in peace.
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Monday, April 14, 2014,
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Alexander’s campaign in Pakistan
Friday, 11 April 2014
Labels: Alexander, Salman Rashid, Sindhia Mein Sikandar
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Friday, April 11, 2014,
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Pakistan Ramsar Sites
Monday, 7 April 2014
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The twin villages Ucchali and Dhadhar are the place to be for those who seek happiness in being close to the raw nature and to find the most alluring and fascinating places off the beaten track.
To travel as a person interested in nature (as if there were other ways to travel) is to have regrets these days. More and more that one would like to have seen is - inevitably, inexorably - already gone. But there are, of course, many such places out there. Only one has to find them.
Labels: Environment, Ramsar Sites
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Monday, April 07, 2014,
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Soldiering
Wednesday, 2 April 2014
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Labels: Men At Their Best, People
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Wednesday, April 02, 2014,
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Prof Norbert Pintsch arrives in Lahore
Prof. Norbert Pintsch arrives in Pakistan this morning (April 1, 2014). He will be followed by Marlis Bartkiewitz. With the arrival of foreign volunteers spring activities of A-F-A (village NGO) will start.
Dr Norbert Pintsch will toggle between Lahore, Islamabad and Karachi while he organizes traditional activities in village Thatta Ghulamka Dheroka. He, along with students of different universities, will also be working building projects of SPARC.
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Dr Norbert Pintsch will toggle between Lahore, Islamabad and Karachi while he organizes traditional activities in village Thatta Ghulamka Dheroka. He, along with students of different universities, will also be working building projects of SPARC.
Labels: Prof Dr Norbert Pintsch, Thatta Kedona
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Wednesday, April 02, 2014,
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Owning Fred Bremner
Friday, 28 March 2014
Pervaiz Munir Alvi
Fred Bremner was not born or raised in Pakistan. In fact during his life time there was no country on the map by the name of Pakistan. Yet, for thirty five years he lived and worked among, owned studios and properties at, and traveled through out the areas that would later become Pakistan.He was a commercial photographer who like thousands of other enterprising Britons earned his living by working his trade. But he was one of the pioneers of his art working in Karachi, Quetta, Rawalpindi and Lahore, the four important and major cities of Pakistan today.
He was not a diplomat, historian or a journalist, yet his photographs and publications have become an important source of historic records of the cities, events, places and people in Pakistan. By helping record the history of the late nineteenth and early twentieth century he, however unintentional it may, has rendered important services to what would later become Pakistan.
Labels: Built Heritage, Pervaiz Munir Alvi, Phoftography, Photographers
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Friday, March 28, 2014,
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Youth on the Internet - Urdu blog
Thursday, 27 March 2014
Labels: In Print, Urdu Blogs
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Thursday, March 27, 2014,
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Mian Ijaz Ahmad - a patriot - Civilian Soldier
Sunday, 23 March 2014
Mian Ijaz Ahmad who belonged to 77 Field Regiment Arty, passed away to his eternal abode, on Dec 29, 2012, when he was 77 years old. We call this coincident sign of his love for the regiment - RIP Mian Sahib.
The name of this gentleman is Mian Ijaz Ahmad. His legendary love with the Army in general and passionate association with the Regt of Arty in particular, is fondly known by many in the Armed Forces. He is known to the common soldier and high-ranking military officers alike. In recognition of his unflinching love for the Army, his emotions and feelings were reduced to writing in weekly “Hilal” of March 20, 1979. His physical relationship with 77 Fd Regt Arty is spread over 31 long years and it would be a Herculean task to encompass each and every moment of his devotion but following paragraphs would reflect in nutshell the beginning of this moment.
The name of this gentleman is Mian Ijaz Ahmad. His legendary love with the Army in general and passionate association with the Regt of Arty in particular, is fondly known by many in the Armed Forces. He is known to the common soldier and high-ranking military officers alike. In recognition of his unflinching love for the Army, his emotions and feelings were reduced to writing in weekly “Hilal” of March 20, 1979. His physical relationship with 77 Fd Regt Arty is spread over 31 long years and it would be a Herculean task to encompass each and every moment of his devotion but following paragraphs would reflect in nutshell the beginning of this moment.
It was in the month of Ramzan (November 1971) that Mian Ijaz Ahmad, finding from some local friends, that an Arty Regt was camping in Malik Bagh, Shahdra, went there. He carried few packets of edibles as Aftari for the Troops and enquired the way in from R.P. at the entrance of the Camp. He was taken to the CO of Regt Lt. Col. (Late) Syed Shaukat Ali Wasti, who got so impressed from the devotion and patriotism of this fragile young man that he accepted his Aftari for the officers/jawans. However, the CO advised Mian Ijaz Ahmad not to bring any thing for the troops in future. At this, Mian Ijaz Ahmad could not control his emotions and burst into tears and told the CO that he was a very ordinary businessman but he could sacrifice anything for the Army poised to defend the motherland. He once again requested that he be not denied the opportunity to shower small favours on the soldiers of God. The emotions of a true Pakistani, springing from the core of his heart, moved the CO and other officers and they allowed him to visit the unit again.
Labels: Men At Their Best
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Sunday, March 23, 2014,
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