Eman Fatima - A New Chapter Unfolds...
Thursday, 25 April 2024
Eman has always been eager to go to school. She had already been in Aly Muhammad's School, Laila Ke School Main, and in my school. On 25 April 2010, she joined Garrison Junior Academy Lahore - one of the best schools in the city famous for good education and gardens - her own School. Today she had an orientation day. She was given a long list of books and other stationary items to bring. She even made some new friends. She calls them Doots. Images here show her enthusiasm and zeal and also tell that she was happy at School. We all wish her the best in life and education.
Labels: Emaan Fatima
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Thursday, April 25, 2024,
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Dolls, Toys and More Launched
Dolls, Toys and More was launched on 28 April 2012. Prof. Dr. Norbert Pintsch, Senior Expert DGFK, Germany presented a copy of Dolls Toys and More to Dr. Azam Chaudhry, the Dean, Lahore School of Economics. Dr. Norbert also apprised Dr. Azam Chaudhry of what has been happening in the village Thatta Ghulamka Dheroka – commonly called Dolls Village - over last two decades.
Dolls, Toys and More is a story of two decades of work by NGO in a village called Thatta Ghulamka Dheroka – some 80 kilometres from Lahore and on the bank of River Ravi. How change has come in the village?
Countless volunteers from Germany, Pakistan and also from other parts of the world have worked in the Village Project. The book gives an overview of the Project in detail as well as the description of local travel attractions. The travelogues section describes all places of interest in and around the areas, which will form a broader and touristy impression about the location to the reader as well as the interested tourists.
The life in the village is definitely interesting from the point of view of any urban visitor, but this topic may be discussed separately. An idea can be obtained however by reading the three short stories included in the book. The books also points out to the concept of Mud Housing and the Appropriate Technology and how they are being developed and used in the village.
What was conceived and founded by Dr Senta Siller has surely come of age. The book would not have been possible without the input and huge amount of work by Dr Norbert Pintsch, Dr Senta Siller and many others.
Dolls The book ISBN 978-969-0-02411-7 is available at Ferozsons Pakistan and other leading bookstores.
Dolls, Toys and More is a story of two decades of work by NGO in a village called Thatta Ghulamka Dheroka – some 80 kilometres from Lahore and on the bank of River Ravi. How change has come in the village?
Countless volunteers from Germany, Pakistan and also from other parts of the world have worked in the Village Project. The book gives an overview of the Project in detail as well as the description of local travel attractions. The travelogues section describes all places of interest in and around the areas, which will form a broader and touristy impression about the location to the reader as well as the interested tourists.
The life in the village is definitely interesting from the point of view of any urban visitor, but this topic may be discussed separately. An idea can be obtained however by reading the three short stories included in the book. The books also points out to the concept of Mud Housing and the Appropriate Technology and how they are being developed and used in the village.
What was conceived and founded by Dr Senta Siller has surely come of age. The book would not have been possible without the input and huge amount of work by Dr Norbert Pintsch, Dr Senta Siller and many others.
Dolls The book ISBN 978-969-0-02411-7 is available at Ferozsons Pakistan and other leading bookstores.
Labels: Books, DGFK, S A J Shirazi
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Thursday, April 25, 2024,
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At war with myself
Tuesday, 23 April 2024
You seem to be doing odd thing all the time – sitting in sun and avoiding cold water during summers, sitting in shad and having chilled water in winters, keeping awake during nights, eating less and walking the streets despite having the facility of transport. Everyone else goes to gardens whereas you go for wilderness.
I am all right. Only I am at war with myself.
What for?
To conquer myself!
What will you achieve by this?
I will be able to get what I want done by myself – creation of a new world.
Translated from Sitaroon Ki Bastiyan by Abbas Khan
Labels: Abbas Khan, Books, Fiction, Literature, Sitaroon Ki Bastiyan
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Tuesday, April 23, 2024,
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No complaints. No emotions.
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Monday, April 22, 2024,
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Justice
Sunday, 21 April 2024
The Republic in which Plato presented concept of the state starts with a query. “What is justice,” sitting in his academy Plato asks students who were all experts in their own respective fields.As per Plato every thing in the world should be given its appropriate place. Biologically human body can be divided in three distinct and incompatible parts. Wisdom comes from head; stomach is responsible for distribution of calories to the whole body through intakes; hands and feet work for the body and act as guards. Humans die when this appropriation is disturbed. Head cannot act in the place of stomach or hand and vice versa.
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Sunday, April 21, 2024,
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Dolls, Toys and More
Saturday, 20 April 2024
How have the topics been selected?
Dolls, Toys and More is a story of two decades of work by NGO in a village called Thatta Ghulamka Dheroka. How change has come in the village?
Large number of volunteers have worked in the project since its inception. It would have been less interesting for the readers, if we were only to describe project in detail as they would know less about the location, the background and the history of the local toys in the Punjab. The life in the village is definitely interesting from the point of view of literature, but this topic may be discussed separately. An idea can be obtained however by reading the three short stories taken over by me and written by Ulrike Vestring. It would also be inappropriate to discuss and describe at this point the concept of Mud Housing and the Appropriate Technology, both of which can be discussed separately.
Read more »Labels: Books, Dolls Toys and More
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Saturday, April 20, 2024,
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Flood Economy
Thursday, 18 April 2024
The country's worst ever-humanitarian disaster has ravaged an area roughly the size of England, affected 20 million people, exacerbated a crippling energy crisis and raising fears of social unrest.
"It seems we're doomed to walking through a dark tunnel. We're on an unending path of misery," said Morio Pahore, a farmer from small town Thul in southern Pakistan who is now living in a tent on a highway.
Shirtless, his face burnt dark by the sun, the greying 50-year-old said he lost everything when the rains fell and the river burst its banks.
"We had goats and buffalo and a wooden hut. We had grain to eat. The river ate everything, leaving the whole family hungry and empty-handed.
"I don't think we can start again for many years. Everything is under water and even if the river recedes, the water will be there for a long time."
It is a tragedy repeated millions of times over for farmers and peasants across the country who saw their livelihoods washed away in minutes after the floods first hit three weeks ago.
Agriculture accounts for 20 percent of Pakistan's gross domestic product. President Asif Ali Zardari said it would take two years to provide farmers with crops, fertilisers, seeds and food. Experts say it will take far longer.
On top of that, floods have inflicted widespread damage on infrastructure. In cities, flood waters have destroyed electricity installations, roads and phone lines.
The World Bank, which has announced a 900 million dollar loan for Pakistan, expects the economic impact to be huge, indicating that direct damage was greatest in housing, roads, irrigation and agriculture.
It estimated crop loss at one billion dollars, saying the full impact on soil erosion and agriculture could only be assessed when the water recedes around mid-September.
"We have lost around 20 percent of our cotton crops. The destruction of corn, rice, sugarcane, vegetable crops and fish farms are enormous as well," Ibrahim Mughal, who heads the independent Agri Forum organisation, told media.
Damage to cotton, rice, sugarcane and maize will hit the export sector, the main source for Pakistan's forex reserves. Textiles and agriculture account for about three quarters of Pakistan's 21 billion dollar export target this year.
"The floods have eaten three million tons of cotton -- over 20 percent of our 14 million bales for this year. It will negatively affect by 25 percent large-scale manufacturing and ultimately impact on exports," Ashfaq Hasan Khan, a former government economic adviser, told media.
There are fears that Pakistan risks running up a higher fiscal deficit which would lead to increased government borrowing.
Before the floods, the country had a healthy forex reserve of 16.45 billion dollars, thanks to a 11.3 billion dollar IMF rescue package meant to stave off Pakistan's worst balance of payment crisis and 30-year-high inflation in 2008.
After recording its lowest growth in a decade, GDP had been expected to grow by 4.5 percent in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2011, but the floods could shave at least one percent off growth estimates.
"Our assessment suggests Pakistan could achieve about 3.5 percent GDP growth rate this fiscal year," Khan said. "It means a loss of around two billion dollars."
Pakistan's UN envoy in Geneva, Zamir Akram, has said reconstruction in northern areas alone could cost 2.5 billion dollars.
Food prices are already rising and there are fuel shortages in some areas.
The director general of the Pakistan Electric Power Company, Muhammad Khalid, told media they faced losses of more than four billion rupees (47 million dollars) due to the floods with some grid stations wiped out.
Around 1,000 villages in flood-hit districts of southern Punjab are without power, said Jamshaid Niazi, spokesman for Multan Electricity Supply Company. "Our two grid stations are badly affected," he said.
"The loss is huge. We have to install new poles, wires, feeders etc."
Experts have urged the government -- already weak and unpopular -- to move quickly, warning that the losses could fan unemployment and social unrest.
"The peasants are our lifeline, so by not helping them we are in fact committing suicide," Agri Forum's Mughal said.
"Jobless people can become criminals if they can't get employment. In this case, the number of such people is in the millions."
Labels: Flood economics, Floods 2010
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Thursday, April 18, 2024,
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55 PMA Long Course on board
Wednesday, 17 April 2024
It is April 17, 2011; the thirty sixth anniversary of commissioning of 55 PMA Long Course. On this bright sunny spring day, officers of 55 PMA are getting together at Mangla Lake. Everyone is welcomed at the Water Sports Club from where ferried to the rafts rocking in the middle of the Mangla Lack. It is in this milieu annual get together of 55 PMA Long Course was held. Over 80 officers, most of them accompanied, attended the great and colorful gathering.
Over time, 55 PMA Long course has become a closely knit and linked community. In addition to local chapters' get together at each station (Karachi Chapter is on April 20, 2011) , annual get together is held at different stations where one can see ever increasing spirit, growing relationship and mutually supporting connections at their best.
But I forgot all about the beauty and the environs as soon as a sleek and small boat puttered us on the raft. Among associates of 37 years you become same old self. You start reliving those old moments. You even like those old nicks and jokes which in those days you never liked. And yes, sanity look on from the side.
Big thanks to Tariq Khan and Begum Tariq Khan on my own behalf and on behalf of all our course mates for making this day so memorable. Our best wishes for both of you.
No one knew how our days ebbed away, an evening anchored beside the quintessential Mangla lake and we (Nadir Mir, Maqsood and I) started back. Hamid (Toni) was singing and it seemed as water and wind‚ hull and rig were singing a perfect note.
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Labels: 55 PMA, Men At Their Best
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Wednesday, April 17, 2024,
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Attitude Tourism
Monday, 15 April 2024
Attitude tourism - to be distinguished from, say, adventure or seeing the sights - is generally not a particularly satisfying activity. Ideas and those who hatch them tend not to leave behind things large or attractive enough to ogle. So you may go to a place of great historic value but find nothing worth the visit. Lasbela tract is a case in point. Usually, you are left, if you are lucky, with a plaque or just an intrinsic thought. So I expected, more or less, nothing in Lasbela.What I got was signs in lieu of plaques, hot wind, remnants of crumbling columns, and a long view of the undergrowth of thorny bushes, some wildflowers, functional Persian wells and rocky hilltops covered with camel and sheep droppings. It was all prosaic and quiet and yet real enough to propel me into another fit of wonder: I was driving on the tract where Alexander and Muhammad Bin Qasim had treaded.
Labels: Lasbela, Tourism, Travel
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Monday, April 15, 2024,
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Invention of calligraphy script
Sunday, 14 April 2024
To understand the magnitude of the invention of a new calligraphy script it is important to remember that after creation of ‘Nastaleeq’ by Mir Ali Sultan Tabreezi around 1400 in Persia, no script of Urdu, Persian or Arabic, has ever been invented, with the exception of Mirza Muhammad Hussain who developed the running the running hand version of Nastaleeq called Shakistan in 1616 and Mirza Sultan in Heart who came up with a similar style called Shaffiah in the middle of the seventeenth century. Ibn-e-Kaleem stands alone in the feat.
Labels: Arts, Calligraphy, Khate-e-Ra’ana
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Sunday, April 14, 2024,
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Growth as a criteria
Saturday, 13 April 2024
Prof Dr Norbert Pintsch, SES, SPARC, FPAC
So are approximately the widely-separated opinions about the future.
It is of course good and important to contemplate about the future. But this is quite difficult because there is no space available for understanding of realities.
Clearly, the production of academic talent is industrial friendly and growth oriented. The parents desire a rosy future for their children. The magic word Education, as basis for a secured future, appears to be all popular for solution of all current and future problems. If everyone thinks and does in the similar way, it is of course positive, but it indicates how obscure time is. One almost feels like living in middle ages, about which it is claimed that religion replaced thinking at that time. If one could go into the time gone by, one would realize, that life then was quite normal. Analog to the present time is therefore valid: Education is the solution to all problems!
Read more »Labels: DGFK, Prof Dr Norbert Pintsch
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Saturday, April 13, 2024,
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Fine Art of Mud Architecture
Thursday, 11 April 2024
The future lies in mud architecture. Though this sweeping statement may sound prehistoric, but it is very relevant to modern times. Building living spaces with mud is a tradition dating as back as the start of civilization. Some excellent examples from the Great Mosque - the world’s largest mud building and UNESCO’s World Heritage site – to the oldest surviving mud specimens found in the Harappa, Pakistan, show the continuous use of mud buildings.
Having grown up in mud house myself (before I moved to urban center), mud buildings have a special place rooted deep in to my cultural consciousness and this personal bond encourages a more intimate relationship between me and the mud as the material transformed from formlessness to form. Hence my interest in mud architecture and how I see its future in Pakistan.
Why use Mud? Mud – a mixture of earth and water - is economical, practical, functional and attractive. It is easy to work with, and it takes decoration well. Mud is especially useful in humid and hot climates like we have in Pakistan. Mud is a natural material that is found in abundance, especially where other building materials such as bricks, stone or wood are scarce due to affordability and or availability. In Pakistan, use of mud has evolved from local necessity. Which is why the use of extremely sticky mud deposited found along river banks or elsewhere in Pakistan combined with appropriate technology makes an excellent material to build functional and climate friendly buildings.
Work has already started and many experts are critically analyzing the more purposeful use of mud as a building material. Dr. Gus Van Beek of the Department of Anthropology, National Museum of Natural History is working on a book in which he is examining methods of construction and varieties of designs in contemporary as well as ancient structures found at many places. Dr. Gus Van Beek’s research started when he uncovered arch and vault construction at Tel Jemmeh, Israel. Dr. Gus Van Beek is covering major types of construction in Morocco, Egypt, Yemen, Israel, Syria, Iraq, Iran, India and Pakistan.
At local level, Society for the Promotion of Art and Culture (SPARC), registered in Lahore since 1994, is undertaking the task of revival of much needed mud architecture in Pakistan. SPARC planning to hold workshops at different art and architecture institutions in order to restart the traditional building with mud in rural as well as urban areas of Pakistan. These workshop will not only create awareness and initiate a thought process at gross roots level but will also train SPARC employees in mud architecture. Dr. Norbert Pintsch from Senior Expert Service (Bonn, Germany) is planning to present new techniques of mud building to adapt the construction technique mixed with appropriate technology in Pakistan.
Prof Dr Norbert Pintsch is an experienced architect by profession and mud enthusiast by choice. Since completing first building project as an architect at the age of 18, Prof Dr Norbert Pintsch has been in various activities as an architect and civil engineer all his life. One of the best starting point for Prof Dr Norbert Pintsch may be a mud building that stands in Peerzada Festival Area, Green Acre, Lahore. Renowned Pakistani architect like Ghayyoor Obaid are also keen on mud architecture there. Any other example that I know of is remains of Sher Shah Suri built mud fort in historic village Sher Ghar near Okara.
The mud architecture is a great resource that focuses on architecture constructed of mud brick, rammed earth, compressed earth block and other methods of earthen construction. The proliferation of concept to use mud and improved techniques in order to raise the level of living in the population is a very welcome idea and we in Pakistan need that. This can go a long way not only in the form of changing the look of population centers, rural as well as urban, but also in solving environmental problems and problems related to use of energy and other finite resources.
Labels: Norbert Pintsch, Thatta Ghulamka Dheroka, Thatta Kedona
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Thursday, April 11, 2024,
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Salman Rashid writes with wonderful clarity
The author of eight travel books (The Apricot Road to Yarkand
, Jhelum: City of the Vitasta, Sea Monsters and the Sun God: Travels in Pakistan, Salt Range and Potohar Plateau, Prisoner on a Bus: Travel Through Pakistan, Between Two Burrs on the Map: Travels in Northern Pakistan, Gujranwala: The Glory That Was
and Riders on the Wind
– now I have them all) and hundreds of travelogues that have appeared in most List A newspapers and magazines, Salman Rashid is a top travel writers in Pakistan. He is the only Pakistani who have seen the north face of Chhogho Ri (K -2).
Read more », Jhelum: City of the Vitasta, Sea Monsters and the Sun God: Travels in Pakistan, Salt Range and Potohar Plateau, Prisoner on a Bus: Travel Through Pakistan, Between Two Burrs on the Map: Travels in Northern Pakistan, Gujranwala: The Glory That Was and Riders on the Wind – now I have them all) and hundreds of travelogues that have appeared in most List A newspapers and magazines, Salman Rashid is a top travel writers in Pakistan. He is the only Pakistani who have seen the north face of Chhogho Ri (K -2).Labels: Books, Salman Rashid
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Thursday, April 11, 2024,
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Bloggy fusion
Monday, 8 April 2024
Labels: Fine Art of Blogging
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Monday, April 08, 2024,
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Battle within
Sunday, 7 April 2024
There are no chances of this horrible battle coming to an end.
UN will sure manage to end this.
No, no. I am not talking of war that has been imposed upon us.
Which battle are you talking about?
The one waging within!
Labels: Abbas Khan, Sitaroon Ki Bastiyan
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Sunday, April 07, 2024,
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"Happy Birthday Nana," Emaan Fatima
Friday, 5 April 2024
To the man I know is the bravest, the most creative, and the one who loves talking about the army and his experiences and his burning passion about everything, from how he passed his army test to his cigarette-quitting journey. One wants to listen to his stories all the time because of the details he gives. My grandfather who's more like a father to me has 8 grandkids, but I think I'm his fav🤫 but that's not the point, from him bringing snacks (of junk food) every day after work to his taking me to his office and spending the entire day with me and helping me feed the peacocks. Memories just flood in as soon as I start thinking of you. Someone who means the world to me and someone who asks me how I'm doing and how my studies and my life going...
Giving me everything I ever wanted. I ADORE him so much and the most I ADORE is all the memories we have and will make in the future and his stories. I'll never stop listening to them and will always cherish these memories. I love you so much and hope the coming year brings you happiness and great health and that you cross the 13,000 steps per day benchmark inshallah. I love you more than you love your black coffee and we will celebrate after my CIES!!
HAPPY 70 to the best father and grandfather in existence!! So lucky to have you❤️❤️❤️
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Friday, April 05, 2024,
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What it takes to be happy?
Thursday, 4 April 2024
In some way Ashiq Mang knows so much more about life that anybody else does, about grief, about happiness, about pretense and falseness of life. There is nothing in his own life, which he would like to hide or not talk about.
Ashiq has been working as a cleaner at our home for two years. My friendship with him developed when brought me laddoos on the birth of his son. It was a very pleasant surprise though later my wife and children hesitated to share the sweets with me. I offered him a cup of tea over which he started talking and gave me the chronological narrative of the life, experience and reminiscences. Then we used to talk whenever got chance to meet on holidays mostly, when he was late doing his job at our place or I came home early. He may not be a good communicator, but has definitely enriched my vision. He is so candid and honest about every thing.
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Thursday, April 04, 2024,
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Every thing is in the name
Wednesday, 3 April 2024
Pervaiz Munir Alvi
The way a society names its cities and places says a lot about its cultural history and social values. Pakistan is no exception to this either.
The cultural history of Pakistan could be traced from its naming practice. The names of its ancient cities like Peshawar, Lahore and Multan have no resemblance to the names of the newer cities like Islamabad and Faisalabad. Similarly the name of the newer Qasim Port has no resemblance to the name of its sister Karachi Port or for that matter Gwadar Port. In the field of naming names Pakistani society has come a long way since the days of ancient Indus Valley Civilization of Harrapa and Moen-jo-Dero. Even the days of the names like Texila and Ghandara are long gone.
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The way a society names its cities and places says a lot about its cultural history and social values. Pakistan is no exception to this either.
The cultural history of Pakistan could be traced from its naming practice. The names of its ancient cities like Peshawar, Lahore and Multan have no resemblance to the names of the newer cities like Islamabad and Faisalabad. Similarly the name of the newer Qasim Port has no resemblance to the name of its sister Karachi Port or for that matter Gwadar Port. In the field of naming names Pakistani society has come a long way since the days of ancient Indus Valley Civilization of Harrapa and Moen-jo-Dero. Even the days of the names like Texila and Ghandara are long gone.Labels: Culture, History, Pakistan
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Wednesday, April 03, 2024,
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