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Throne of Origins
Monday, 9 February 2026

This article appeared in Daily the Nation


The actual “Road to Swat” bifurcates from the great Grand Trunk Road near Nowshera. About a kilometre below the highest point on the Road to Swat, the commuters can see the Takht-e-Bahi Mountains in the middle distance from the road. The ruins of one of the grand monastery of the past are situated on the top of a 152-meter high hill, about 80 kilometres from Peshawar and 16 kilometres northwest of the city of Mardan. While Swat is famous for different reasons now (rise and fall of the Taliban), some interested people still visit Takht-e-Bahi - a Buddhist monastery developed between the 1st and 7th centuries AD.
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posted by S A J Shirazi @ Monday, February 09, 2026, ,

Three Continents, One Table
Sunday, 8 February 2026

A Joyful 55 PMA Reunion in Lahore

It was a delightful and rare surprise: three dear course mates from distant corners of the world — Altaf visiting from the United States, Mushtaq from Turkey, and Tahir Khan from Canada — all converged in Lahore at the same time. What are the odds of friends scattered across three continents gathering under one roof after so many years?


This extraordinary coincidence deserved a proper celebration. Tassawar Ali Rana and Saleem Sarwar stepped up with characteristic enthusiasm to make it happen. Thanks to their tireless efforts, the Lahore Chapter of the 55 PMA Long Course came alive for a memorable brunch at DeSOM (the Defence Services Officers Mess), BBQ - a venue perfectly suited for camaraderie and good food.

The turnout was impressive — 23 members, including 13 gracious lady wives — creating a vibrant, heartfelt reunion filled with shared stories, laughter, and the unmistakable bond forged at PMA Kakul decades ago. Tassawar's dedication to keeping our course mates connected over the years is truly inspiring; his energy turns occasional meetups into cherished traditions.

The afternoon overflowed with warmth: sizzling barbecue, cups of chai, nostalgic anecdotes, and the simple joy of seeing familiar faces light up. Everything — the food, the conversations, the easy camaraderie—was spot on.

"Special thanks are due to Sir Saeed Akram, Kalyar and Zaka for travelling all the way from Toba Tek Singh, Sargodha and Sialkot alongwith their wives and a son respectively to join us for brunch." A couple of notes of regret: Tahir Khan, though expected, couldn't join at the last moment. We also missed our regular stalwarts like Khalid Javed, Ghulam Shabbir, and Ali Akbar, whose presence would have made the gathering even more complete.


Still, the day reminded us how enduring these friendships are, transcending time and geography. Here's to many more such reunions — may the 55 PMA spirit keep bringing us together, whether across the city or across the world.

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posted by S A J Shirazi @ Sunday, February 08, 2026, ,

Thatta Kedona
Saturday, 7 February 2026

The cluster of mud and brick houses in the plains of Punjab, Thatta Ghulamka Dheroka (TGD) looks like a typical Pakistani village about 80 kilometres away from Lahore and 40 kilometres from Indus civilization ruins in Harappa. There is no gas or telephone in the village. No asphalt roads lead to it. Yet it is different, the beautiful dolls and other handicrafts made by the village folks are collectors' delight all over the world. Influencers from Indus civilization from nearby Harappa and modern techniques brought by the German volunteers can be seen in the village together.

The dolls made in the village are on display in international doll museum in Iceland, prestigious galleries and showrooms in Pakistan and abroad. TGD village doll project was one of the 767 worldwide projects presented in the "Themepark" at expo 2000 in Hannover (Germany) as an example of thinking of twenty first century. Earlier, the dolls from Pakistan participated in international toy fair in Nuremberg. These dolls show how culture goes beyond simple work of art and becomes collaboration among applied and natural sciences as well as other forces that affect our lives.
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posted by S A J Shirazi @ Saturday, February 07, 2026, ,

To Carry the Dust to Multan
Sunday, 1 February 2026

Standing in Qila Kohna Qasim Bagh - accumulated debris of ages - one can think of Alexander the Great, Muhammad Bin Qasim, Saints, Mystics, Sultans, Gardezis, Gilanis, Qureshis, and Khawanis. But what you see is the ageing town hall and Ghanta Ghar, Hussain Agahi Chowk - Hide Park of Multan - with the nerve jarring rattle of auto rickshaws, tangle of tonga and donkey carts vying for space with mechanical transport, vendors and shoppers, blaring music of audio video music centers and second hand cloths (landa) hung on the walls.


A city of monuments, Multan has been around for centuries. History of Multan dates back to ancient times. As per the legend, its origin is assigned to the time of Hazrat Noah (A S). Under the various Hellenic forms of ancient designations (Kasyapapura, Kashtpur, Hanspur, Bagpur and Mulasthan) Multan figures into works of Hecataeus, Herodotus and Ptolemy. It has been an empire, a kingdom, a province, a state, a capital and now a divisional headquarters.
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posted by S A J Shirazi @ Sunday, February 01, 2026, ,

Chillianwala Chase
Monday, 26 January 2026

To-ing and fro-ing, at times zigzagging, in Punjab introduces wonders and legions of what may be called the middle ground of cultural fusion of the present Punjab. The area is a gold mine for history seekers, and spiritual and curious travelers. You may find much more than what you hear or read. It pays to get out into the countryside and talk to ordinary people.

People of the area are eager to help “at their own expense – when you ask anybody. One finds volunteer ‘guides’ who are forthcoming with a wealth of information. Chillianwala is a historic village that played an important role in the history of South Asia. It was a battleground where British and Sikh forces fought one of the decisive battles in the history of the Subcontinent in 1849. The quiet village has not changed much since then. Only slowly old agricultural methods are changing and tractors and wheat threshers are seen in place of bull-driven ploughs. Painted double-story houses are coming up where used to be conventional mud houses. The land is excellent with record carrying capacity and the display of seasonal crops is very powerful.

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posted by S A J Shirazi @ Monday, January 26, 2026, ,

Alexander’s Garrison in the Salt Range
Wednesday, 31 December 2025

This article appeared in Daily The Nation

The Salt Range derives its name from extensive deposits of rock salt. The Range stands as remnant of forts with bastions and temples. Exceptionally, this region maintains an almost continuous record of history that can define the evolution of society. Forts and temples surviving along the range are a reminder of how untouched many of the ancient remnants are. Alexander from Macedon came to this Range twice; one from Taxila and later when his forces refused to go any further from the banks of the River Beas. From here he marched towards the Arabian Sea on his way to Babylon. And, now an NGO is constructing a monument of Alexander near Jalalpur town in the foot of the Salt Range in district Jhelum.


For those who take their first chance to the area, the landscape all along the Salt Range is rock-strewn, lacking in softness and loveliness. In many parts, it becomes barren and uninviting. But, in truth, the range is dotted with historical wonders, romantic legends, archaeological remains, and varying geological formations. The surroundings are very quiet. Urial is also found in the Range though facing extinction. A journey along the range is exciting as well as informative.
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posted by S A J Shirazi @ Wednesday, December 31, 2025, ,

Long Trail of the Heritage
Tuesday, 30 December 2025

Punjab is a gold mine for history seekers and curious travelers. You may find much more than what you hear or read. It pays to get out into the countryside and talk to ordinary people. What is more, people of the area are eager to help – on their own expense - when you ask anybody. One finds volunteer 'guides' who were forth coming with wealth of information. The distances in the hinterland are short but the landscape is so enormous that it had to be studied in parts like a large mural seen by a child.



Given the history and heritage, it is easy to fall in love with ‘out of the way’ town like Malka Hans. Once an abode of Waris Shah, who stayed here and composed universal romance Heer Ranjha, malka hans is still serene, tranquil and pollution free. Legend has it that Malik Muhammad (alia Malka) who was a member of Hans tribe founded the town some 700 years ago. Hans became powerful when Mughal King Alamgir conferred a vast land around Malka Hans on Sheikh Qutab Hans. In 1764, Muhammad Azam who was the descendant of Qutab Hans became head of the clan. Ran Singh Nakka treacherously took Muhammad Azam prisoner where he died in confinement.
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posted by S A J Shirazi @ Tuesday, December 30, 2025, ,

Evening with Gen Munawar Sulehria
Saturday, 27 December 2025

By Tassawar Ali Rana 

It was a whirlwind visit, but we managed to squeeze in a lovely evening (26 December 2025) with our dear colleague and comrade, Gen Munawar Sulehria, during his brief stop in town. A small but cherished gathering of 55 PMA Lahore chapter members came together for a dinner at DeSOM, sharing laughs, reminiscing, and diving into thought-provoking discussions and more.
Despite many colleagues being tied up with domestic engagements, those who joined had an enriching time, updating and basking in the General's presence. It was heart-warming (in winter) to host Gen Sulehria, and we're grateful for the memories created that night.

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posted by S A J Shirazi @ Saturday, December 27, 2025, ,

Single and Looking
Friday, 26 December 2025

While planning for life after retirement, great boxer Muhammad Ali Clay decided to write his reminiscences and announced well thought out plan to pen down his memoirs. "Will you write yourself," after verification of the celebrity's plans a keen journalist asked Clay. "It is very difficult to write about self," he added. "Yes. That is why I will write about myself because who else knows me better," spontaneously responded Clay.

Things have changed far too much too fast. Writing about self no more seems difficult in this digital age. Exploring unlimited cyber expanses these days one cannot move much without reading variety of profiles, personal ads and statements. Readers soon are lured (or need) to upload their own, exceptions apart. Glut of matching and dating Websites (it seems as if every one in the world is 'single' and 'looking' out there) encourage and offer guidelines to write and some social networking sites also provide descriptive questionnaires or fill in the blank forms asking users to select what is most appropriate options about their appearance, interests, age, activities, likes and dislikes and some time more intimate things. This is one of the biggest trends not only in youth trying to extend their social circles and grab some attention but also for many others. Sophists article reads, "Almost 150 million people visited online dating sites in the month of January alone."
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posted by S A J Shirazi @ Friday, December 26, 2025, ,

Chaudhry Norbert Pintsch
Wednesday, 24 December 2025


Village Thatta Ghulamka Dheroka - a cluster of mud and brick houses - looks like any typical Pakistani village. The fact is that awareness, community work and use of appropriate technology has changed the village all together. Influence from Indus civilization from nearby Harappa and modern techniques brought by use of appropriate technology can be seen in the village together.

The toys and handicrafts made in the village are on display in international museums, prestigious galleries and showrooms in Pakistan and abroad. Thatta Ghulamka Dheroka (TGD) got an international fame when village project Thatta Kedona (meaning toy from Thatta) was selected as one of the 767 worldwide projects presented in the "Themepark" at global expo in Hannover (Germany) as an example of thinking of twenty first century. The toys and handicrafts from TGD show how culture goes beyond simple work of art and becomes collaboration among applied and natural sciences as well as other forces that affect our lives.


Thatta Kedona is a project, first of its kind, in rural area where handmade quality toys are crafted using all indigenous materials and traditional designs based on cultural and folklore themes. The workmanship of the dolls and toys has acclaimed international recognition through their participation in numerous international events, exhibitions, fairs and displays. These toys are the embodiment of dreams, hopes and most of all self-reliance of the hands, which breathe a part of their own soul into them.
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posted by S A J Shirazi @ Wednesday, December 24, 2025, ,


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