‘Promotion of the potential CSS candidates of Balochistan’

By Talha Masud

No better platform could the Balochistan CSS aspirants get than what has given to them with the collaboration of Federal Government and Department of Finance, Balochistan. Two hundred and fifty six candidates have appeared in the preliminary paper from across the province and almost top fifty of them were short-listed to be eligible to take the classes organized in Civil Officer’s club. The very aim of these classes was to prepare the students about the compulsory papers and acclimatizing them with every other ins and outs about the toughest examinations in Pakistan.

This was the third session of its kind. Previously, these classes were organized on yearly basis and provided great results. This session proved out to be the best so far because of the teachers nominated to teach their respective subjects. Almost all of them were CSP’s and had sound grip over the subjects they were supposed to teach.

Department of Finance, Balochistan, with the help of Federal Government’s funding, takes a credit of organizing an extremely fine literary gathering for the students that were beseeching for a platform in the province where one can hardly find any healthy collection of the youth other than political congregations. This is a very good omen for the youth of the Balochistan and had all the budding to bring a change in the mindset and approach of the students who are to take the lead of the future’s top bureaucracy from Balochistan.

Here goes a brief description of the instructors and about the subjects they taught with complete efficiency and devotion.

Mr. Mehfooz Ali Khan (Secretary Finance, Balochistan)

Mr. Mehfooz took the classes on important issues primarily on National Finance Commissions and the distribution of the NFC awards of Balochistan in particular. He has been the mechanism behind the formulae and techniques of the NFC disbursement in Balochistan and undoubtedly, the most authentic person to teach the matter. Other than that, his lectures were based on general motivation, approaches and study patterns with the encountering problems and their solutions. His name is not new to the CSP officers as he can be called as one of the pioneers of CSS qualifiers in Balochistan with Mr. Ali Zaheer Hazara and Munir Badeni.

Mr. Matiullah Khan (Executive District Officer Revenue, Balochistan)

With being the Director of the academy, Mr. Matiullah Khan taught about variety of topics and Pakistan Affairs of pre-partition period. He had freelance lectures on many general issues regarding the exams. The awareness of the right course of books and the technical side of attempting the papers are also imparted by him. He nominated the teachers for several subjects and dealt with the management and administration part of the academy.

Mr. Abdul Ghaffar Achakzai (Section Officer Finance Department)

Mr. Abdul Ghaffar Achakzai was not amongst the instructors and only dealt with the administration and management of the academy. He was also very receptive to listen to the problems of the students and solved them directionally.

Madam Zainab Qayyum (Customs-BPS 17)

Her only lecture was very thought provoking. She is a topper of Balochistan amongst females.

Madam Foqia Nisar (DMG-BPS 17)

She is from 37^th CTP. Her subject was ‘Everyday Science’ as she has scored very good marks in this subject. She taught all the portions of the everyday science with provision of the notes she had made for the class and guided about the reference books for the subject.

Mr. Noor Ahmed Samoon (Deputy Secretary Finance, Balochistan)

He was serving as ‘Deputy Secretary Education’ when he started to teach in the academy and later on was transferred to the finance department. Mr. Noor Ahmed Samoon is a student puller and he has defended his title of being the widely praised teacher of the previous session, in this session too. He taught English Composition paper and essay with its ingredients. Out of the ordinary, special permissions were given to the outsiders too and one can imagine his caliber that the strength used to be more than ninety only during his class. He had been running academies in Lahore as well and is a matchless genius in his subject. His class was never less than of two hours and whatever he has taught is something phenomenal. He has won loads of fans in the academy and his motivational impetus on his students with maintaining a very candid environment in the class by his sensational sense of humor puts him in his own league.

Madam Beenish Ahmad (DMG- BPS-17)

She was a Pakistan Affairs teacher. There used to be a very competitive atmosphere during her class as her teaching method was excellent. She taught in a very fine way but due to some unavoidable circumstances, she had to go but not before teaching pre-partition period and a good chunk of post partition era.

Mr. Dawood Barrech (DMG- National Program Manager with Area Development Programme, Balochistan)

If one terms his genius as the jackpot of knowledge, it would still be a weak phrase to represent his profound lectures and over-all personality. He taught current affairs and other imperative topics. He has been serving in United Nations for a long time. His teaching style and impeccable confidence with sound grasp on his topics is something to learn from. It was his bright heartedness that he took the classes and introduced a new dimension of seeking knowledge by his precedent.

Mr. Atta-Ur-Rehman (Assistant Commissioner, Political)

He is a PCS officer. Being from a religious family and having Tafseer-ul-Quran and Islamiat background, his selection for the teacher of the Islamic studies was a very handy one. A very impressive teacher with clear concepts and an excellent command on Islamic studies on minute and broader aspects.

Madam Faiza Meer (Lecturer International Relations Department, University of Balochistan)

Madam Faiza Meer taught from tip to toe about current affairs and international relations proclivity in the topics. She is an excellent teacher and had few problems initially in getting settled with the CSS mode of teaching but later on proved out to be a gem of a teacher. She has provided heaps of material regarding her subject and intends to take few more classes of the interested candidates in the University premises.

Khalil Ahmad (English Professor)

He is the only teacher who struggled to teach his subject. Although, his educational portfolio from India and a good command over his subject can not be denied but he always felt short of the expectations of his own as well. Conversely, he brought very helpful assignments and techniques in teaching the grammar and written expression side of the English that holds a key in CSS examinations.

This academy was a very encouraging step-forward for the Balochistan students. Indeed, the serious students and very competitive standards were set there. Besides, the academy has also established many other activities like the opinion formation slide shows, presentations from the students and the media exposure. The farewell day was very memorable. Lectures and evaluation comments from students were taken and the students have shown good promise in the platform provided to them. Misconceptions about the exams are hauled out from the minds and a clear approach is imparted to them with everything that can help them in setting a trend that can flourish their latent talent and hard work, channeling them the way and the fruits they deserve.

 

The ‘MAZDA’ part of a life…

By: Talha Masud

It still used to be dark when I would calmly step out of my home and went to heart institute bus stop in Federal. B. Area, Karachi, to catch my F.11 bus. The traffic would run subtle in the morning time and the conductor was kind enough to help me climb into the bus as the morning passengers are dangerous quasi-slept customers.

In the socio-economic activities of metropolitans, local buses play an essential role in the lives of the people. In almost all the cities of Pakistan, people are very much dependent on buses but in Pakistan’s biggest city, Karachi, the local bus journey facilitates more than 10.7 million people of city comprising of almost 20 million in population. According to a recent gallop survey, Karachi has more than 120 thousand buses running all across the city on 24/7 basis.

A local bus journey in Karachi is more than a journey. One learns about the real life in buses. On the top of it, the second best sleeping place other than one’s bed is buses in Karachi. The Karachi people are mostly under-slept and folks in sound sleep can easily be found in the buses. What makes me puzzled is that how well they know about their stop and abruptly break their slumber to get off from the bus. The writer imitated the idea but it never worked. Many times when I allowed my sleep angels, I woke up miles after my stop. At times, I naturally slept and had to catch multiple buses to recover the extra distance. Once, I slept so badly that I did not have any clue that the bus was punctured and the passengers were shifted to another bus but I was not in a hurry to wake up. It was quite humiliating and funny.

Secondly, the best civilization one learns is in the buses. If he is not civilized enough, he is bound to acclimatize himself with the bus ethics. The respect of elderly figures is something I really feel proud of. People do not hesitate to leave their seats for aged beings. Any one standing in the bus and carrying something, everyone offers him to carry his stuff until the passenger gets a vacant seat. People are very well aware of their rights. The transporters can’t increase a single rupee in the fare without any evidentiary logic. Drivers have to put solid brakes when any female is going to climb into the bus else people would beat the bus so badly to make the driver and the conductor beseeching.

Generally, from rich to the destitute, all prefer traveling in buses. The reason is that buses are more secure than a rickshaw or a taxi in Karachi. Females find it the best public transport and from school and college girls to the working fraternity, all feel secured to travel by bus. There is no fence (some call it ’samaj ki dewaar’) between the male and female portion of a bus. One can easily ponder about making his eyes glued on the fascinating girls to pass the journey better. Problems are serious when the she men who are in huge numbers in Karachi show up in the buses. Either they show up to beg or to travel, create big fuss. Poor they, have to travel in the male compartment because they are not welcome any way in the female one and very few sit on the next seat with them other than elder people. The youth runs away to sit beside them as they make absolutely obscene and horrible gestures that make one berserk. The hawkers of peculiar articles to the fake beggars, is a common trend.

The chitchat in buses is extremely significant. You can catch up to the latest news without any newspaper. People giving advises to the minors and at times giving absurd lessons from their lives. Sometimes the jokes they tell are so pathetic that they deserve a sure pity glance. You are licensed to augment on any rubbish topic but one can make many friends in the buses. Often, a loud speaker takes attention of the people and becomes the man of that moment. Information about any topic in the buses is replete. People love to make their journey worth. On the route towards universities, many students exchange ideas and notes. In the examination time, it is not a tall order to find an alike student who would tell you about his preparation and listen to your revision. Since, the traveling distances are very long; one has to be very patient to wait for his destination.

The moral obligation and ethical behaviors can be learnt in the buses. The biggest fight would occur when one spits the PAN in the bus or outside. People would fry him in the taunts. You can find people overfilled in the buses standing in the posture of an indifference curve in the rush hours. Many love to sit on the roof of the buses. Despite the city governments’ ban on roof passengers, they travel to feel the breeze to the fullest and smartly recline themselves as they see any sergeant. You have to be much disciplined in the buses. When I used to be extremely tired back from my office, slept while standing, my knees had crooked and hit someone very badly and then I always had to excuse him. Before two stops of your destiny, you have to be by the exit door. Abusive language is avoided if there are more elders nearby or done in a lower tone.

People do guide very well in the buses about the traveling routes. They don’t exhibit gauche attitudes when someone asks for help. It is considered as a very noble deed to help someone for the right course. People know to say sorry and thanks and if they don’t, they are not regarded good.

My experience in traveling in the buses taught me much about patience, perseverance and about different people. It may not add up to my real exposure in life but sometimes minor modules in life teach you more than the major ones.

‘OUR SIMPLE COMPLICATIONS’

By Talha Masood

Once, we had a Christian sweeper who came in alternate days for cleaning. One morning he told me something that took me by surprise, “I am going to embrace Islam”. I was naturally happy and I gave him few saved-up currency notes for the happy sign. Then few days later I saw him in Bazaar and his get-up was quite different from his orthodox clothing. He was looking happy and with him I had a brief chit-chat with his bearded friend who, according to our sweeper, guided him the true path.

Few days passed and I went busy in my Schooling. I completely forgot about it until I have noticed that he is not coming to perform his duty from last many days. One day he came in his same conventional attire. I inquired about his absents but he looked impassive. At last he started telling me something which was somewhat like this. “I embraced Islam after being impressed and motivated by my friend’s guidance. When I went to nearby Molana Sahab for the learning motive of Islamic teachings, he asked me that on whose hand you have accepted Islam. As I told him, the Molana got fierce on me that what the heck you have done. That Molana is from some different Sect and you are still a non-muslim. After approaching to the first Molana, he had much to curse about the other as well. This confused me a lot and I decided to go to some other religious scholar. His words made me entirely abashed when he said that go and learn about Islam and then come to embrace it. This, beta (That’s what he used to call me) broke my emotions and I am again on my previous religion plus I have decided that now I will never deviate from it”.

After many years, I recalled this apparently normal incident and with that I can also recollect some occurrences that I have witnessed so far in my life creating a certain hodgepodge in my mind.

It was midst of the year, 2008. I started a part-time job as Teacher’s Training Coordinator in an Islamic Organization of Schools and Colleges in Karachi. We always had Juma congregation in the compound of our Office with college students and teachers. This was the first of them. I stood as the ‘aqamat’ began but I saw they were sitting and waiting for the half of the aqamat to finish before rising up for takbeer according to their Sect. As I stood up I heard the whispers from a student from the back row saying that “Sir is a Wahabi”(A sect use to call everyone other than them, a wahabi, that means a person only worshipping Allah and not having faith in His Last Prophet).

In the same organization, I helped a Karachi-based friend from Panjgur to apply in our organization and being an apple of the eyes of administrators, I just had to insinuate them that this guy is a hard-worker in which I had no doubts and they eventually appointed him. He really worked hard and in few months was considered as a very competent employee instead of being called my friend. Because of rush hours duties, we met very often off and on. One afternoon he came to my cabin saying that, that might be the last day of his in the office. Answering to my cross question he described a peculiar reason that the office administration asserts that because you are a ‘Deobandi’, they can not let me continue my services. It really shook me with astonishment and dejection. I can’t forget his words he was exchanging with our Madam: “Madam! You have just come from Hajj. Have you seen anyone discriminating in any Deobandi or Barelvi that one can perform Hajj and the other can’t?”. As his luck would have it, he was expelled from his services although it was in knowledge of the office administration that I am not from their sect too but since I was on a key responsibility, I know they would take some time to oust me with the same pretext.

This religious bigotry was something new to me. I had heard about it but the prejudice for the first time was in full swing before me. They did not drive me out but whatever I saw there in the minds of intellectuals to the young students completely deterred my confidence that Islam which has itself been fragmented by its followers can ever be practiced as an egalitarian religion.

Where there is knowledge, there are differences and it is not only in Islam but in almost all religions. What we fail to develop is tolerance to listen to the other and resolve our reservations peacefully. We always talk about Islamic revolution whereas my study says that the true propagation of Islam was an evolution unless it was internalized in the masses. What to talk about revolution when the true concept of it is not thrived. Resultantly, the new generation is having a space from the religion and it seems something outstanding to them. The fact of the matter indicates that we always try to change the direction of the wind but never pay any heed to adjusting our sails.

We are still tackling with the religious and ethnic chauvinism in the onset of the 21^st century where the development and awareness is on full boom. You travel around the country and you will find a new story everywhere. We are quoted as ethnocentric and religious dogmatists. We have the greatest of religious scholars but somewhere our society is rotted so badly that it may take a generation to have the acumen to solve our small disputes. We are still confused that either wearing a tie could list us among the infidels or to tie our hands above or below the belly button during the prayers while it is very clear that as long as we pray, it is right as the Prophet prayed in all the manners to prevent any mayhem in the issue of offering prayers.

We have many responsibilities being the flag-bearers of new generation in this regard. Initially, our understandings should be free from pre-conceived prejudice. Our efforts should not limit us to any specific jurisdiction but to a global extent. Our interpretation of Islam should not be in our respective interests but the real essence should be based on how receptive our souls are to understand and practice the true word of Islam. We must not give an impression that our unity is at stake. Tolerance is what the need of the hour is. It not only solves abrupt violence but also pacifies the differences and surfaces a better way to be a collective strength. As a lay man, I must be prepared when my son asks me to dispense the vision of a life that never violates our Islamic values and principles but also would be in accordance with harmony, prosperity without class differences, tolerance and a Muslim, well-versed of his moral obligations.

let’s get this going

By Talha Masud

I still remember those hot afternoons of June in Karachi when I, a fat eight year old kid repetitively tried to learn the mathematics tables on the huge balcony. The reason was that I was taught nothing in my school in interior Balochistan and was forcefully put in the coaching center in winter vacation; I felt that my Karachi tuition mates were far more ahead in giving answers to the tuition aunty.

Problems remained the same until my secondary classes. I discussed it with Mr. Faraz, one of the best teachers I had in my life and his answer was simple and convincing. “Talha! No one will listen to your pleas of not having good teachers or your miss-fortunes; in fact no one has time to listen to the causes of your failures. It’s you who has to run extra miles to grapple your problems in studies”. Since then, his words are tied in my mind and whenever I meet him, I think hard that what I have, to give this great man in return of changing my loser approach and all the times I had no conclusions.

A teacher is beyond an imagination of a simple person and is worth to be respected if he has transmitted any knowledge in you. The rewards teachers get in our society is unique: They get killed because they are teachers. Yes. I have come back to Quetta, the provincial capital of Balochistan, where many teachers having served more than twenty years are shot dead because they are teachers. Because they are the only science teachers and rest are confined to general and linguistic subjects. A teacher who teaches beyond the boundaries of ethnicity and religion deserves no condemnation when he losses his life as a reward of giving the thankless services of illuminating a torch of education. On some occasions, I tend to think that why they serve in a province where there is no dignity for them. Who gave them the right to come and serve in the educationally ignorant province? When in a province where they are not required and where generally, students believe that because the teachers are being paid, so they have the right to assault them. This, sadly, has to do with our culture now.

On a lighter note, when I have heard that students protested to allow ‘cheating’ in a reputable institution nearby my home, I could not believe that the illicit demands are so brazenly asked because there is no responsible authority to keep a check and balance on leftover educational institutions in Balochistan. Coming back to Quota system uproar, suppose there are reserved quota of seats, say, ten (maximum) for a district and there are twenty deserving candidates from the same district, where would they go? Is it a fair order to shove those in an open merit passage?

Watching a Picture of a topper of a department in University of Balochistan, whose eyes looked opened in sheer astonishment in the picture, had a funny comment from someone that “He himself is flabbergasted about his position” provided a good laughing stock but the only remedy I believe is setting us for broader competition. The complacency of belonging from any backward area is not acceptable in the sense of a competitive world. Why don’t we take the easy examples of the student of far flung northern areas, North West Frontier and FATA who in large numbers, establish themselves in Lahore in rental rooms, prepare for CSS and other competitive exams, do part time labor for bearing their study expenses and many of them go through as the record clearly states about the big ratio of village qualifiers in CSS results being there for a long time now. The practical example is seen in the libraries’ which open at 8:00 and I could see a crowd of the students waiting before the opening times and throwing their books on the library chairs to get their seats reserved for the next many hours. Most of them are the education seekers of remote areas all across Pakistan and we the people from Balochistan, are self-righteous enough to stay stagnant on political slogans. The results are self explanatory.

Our prosperity lies on our own build-up. For how long had we been crying of being deprived? We have to travel, migrate and acquire the longing for education if we are to make a difference in our homes, towns and cities. Surpassing from the process of a creditable future and outshining the better-fed and better-educated metropolis contenders would itself make us not believing on the outcries of limited opportunities as I cited my own preoccupation and mental fixation in the initial paragraphs. Being an inspirational figure of one’s family or tribe, one can better be the opinion leader of his youngsters who will not face the hard problems as he did but may be ending much better leading towards a real vision and success as a destination.

Aik Alif

Analyzed by Talha Masud

“You have become wise after gaining knowledge

But you have never read your soul

You run after ‘Mandirs’ and ‘Mosques’

Have you ever tried to access your own spirit?

Everyday, you fight with the devil

But did you do it with your ‘Nafs’?

‘Bulleh Shah’, never try to catch the airy objects

Catch something which is near you and in your soul”

The old message revives in new dimension. I can simply call it the revival of Sufi rock in Pakistan after the disappearance of  ‘Junoon’. ‘Noori’, one of the long existing band with mature backgrounds behind their songs, has come up with ‘Sayeen Zahoor’ in a most happening mystical music.

The Coke Studio is a variation towards commercialism the music industry had been enmeshed with. For the very first time, the quality music, real live test of the singer, exuberant mixed music and most importantly; the topmost musicians of Pakistan have gathered for this gigantic musical fair. Singers like Atif Aslam and others have shown good promise but here what appeals me the most, is mysticism(Sufism) in somewhat blended with quality western touch.

The trend setters have made a remarkable development in giving an appealing and vigorous melody to the people having deep insight on Pakistan music. Sayeen Zahoor is a welcome addition in the version of Allan Faqir and Pathanay Khan and the Sindh resided Malang is very impressive in his own folk piece too. On the other hand, Ali Noor and his younger brother, Ali Hamza, have made me realize that the credit should not be taken away from them.

Jo na jane haq ki taqat

Rab na devay us ko himmat

Hum man ke darya main doobay

Kesi nayya kya manjhdhaar…………..

Good Going….

I am happy to clear the test with distinction and the classes are going extremely fantastic…… Now I can rate myself that at what standard I lie and I think I am going to learn a big big deal…Before few days, I was asked to publish something from me to a daily but I feel like not writing until I get good time and space.. Yes, I want to write and as I get some leeway, I surely will…INSHALLAH

First test

Things are going quite smooth these days except little blockage in the great study routine of mine due to my study partners. A test on 15th and I hope this start should be a good one from me. I have declared it the first test in my journey.

Revival…

I am a very wordy person. Every time, I have something to say particularly to myself and to some special people in my life. This is my strength and I recognize it. My mental imbalance is because I can’t express and bring out my potential. If I had no potential I would have been happy in sleeping and being a fatalist but I am not a slouch. People take me for granted and I share big part in that case because in last some months, there has been a process of evolution in me. It brought me very cherishable times with the confluence of the hardest times of my life. The pain I suffered (I think the major part I did) was extremely tough for me. I am on to compliment my tears at midnights and my restlessness of the pathos of proving myself with the real efforts of mine. The efforts of activising the latent or dead potential of mine. I am all alone at the moment but my motivation is sky high. And I think I am a step ahead of talking about motivations now. I miss someone very much. I want to show that person that I was not a sloth or a crazy immature. The reality is yet to transpire. Allah is my strength. I believe on myself pretty much.

(Dedicated to Narai)

Going to a long Journey

I hope it will be an awsome time. Long Journey though……

Junaid Jamshed

• I was never a big fan of anyone as I was of Junaid  Jamshed. My childhood is decorated of his mesmerizing voice and brings back the days when I used to play alone in the huge gallery of my Grandparent’s home in Karachi. The vital sign boom was very well internalized in youth of Karachi at that period. All of his songs are artistic crafts but the one ‘ Hum kyun chalen us raah per’, ‘Ankhun ko ankhun ne’, ‘Na tu ayegi’ were my favorites but the one that has been the song I love the most is ‘ Atibaar bhi ahi jaye ga’. I don’t know why this has appealed me immensely and does whenever I am into a deep thought of my future fairy. Lolzz… Lucky me, I met him when I was working at Marriott as Housekeeping Coordinator. I was very happy to had conversation with him in the lobby and found him a more admirable person in reality. During the discussion, he revealed his own favorite sung song is common to mine. I was so excited to meet him. He regularly visits the ALFALAH MOSQUE located in our vicinity in Federal B Area along with Shahid Afridi. After his transformation and leaving the showbiz, his efforts are very highly rated in the whole showbiz fraternity and in the common people. I am happy that at least there are people who can envision Islam as simple as Junaid does.