Ronaq-e-Qainaat

Ronaq-e-Qainaat has come a long way since its foundation in 2007 by two incredible people that is Alina Akhyar & Khudaija Nadeem. Alina Akhyar is a young energetic doctor by profession who is aiming to help the under privileged in all forms possible and by providing them the basic public health facilities. While Khudaija Nadeem is an exuberant educationist who aims to modify our youth through heartfelt education and give them the spirit to make a positive difference. While both of them together have shown us that "How far that little light beams!! So shines a good deed in the naughty world"

Ronaq-e-Qainaat is a non-profit organization and has NO political agenda. This cause is focused on addressing the over looked sects of our deprived society. Alina and Khudaija together with their team are hell bent on re-directing our youths to a course of academic opportunity and economic progression.

Some of their most commendable projects are as follows:

*Healing Souls:

RQ through this have stepped in to assist the children and their families who each year are diagnosed with several medical conditions by providing an avenue for hope and strength that is by full-filling their innocent wishes and by giving them a reason to SMILE.

*Healing Spirits:

Ronaq-e-Qainaat have initiated a program that consists of dedicating their time and energy to the under privileged children by spending time with them. The mind of a child yearns attention and a caring hand above all. RQ tend to take time out for them to make them realize that they are not alone and that there is someone out there who cares for them and wants to see them smile.

*Health For All:

It aims at the promotion of healthy life styles and healthy communities and to work in partnership with local govt health services and local people to engage with and improve disadvantaged communities. Ronaq-e-Qainaat is running the following programs under this particular project:

-Free Medical Camps

-Free Health Awareness Camps

-Free Vaccination Camps

-Medical Support Program

*Donate A Wheelchair:

Keeping in view the plight of the disabled and physically challenged as well as the deteriorating health care conditions in our hospitals, RQ have started a program in order to collect the resources to provide people and patients with wheelchairs. For us it is just a wheelchair; for the disabled it is a better way to live.

**Perishing Despair:

Ronaq-e-Qainaat arrange for regular langar house meals and iftars to feed and show concern to our homeless and under privileged brothers and sisters

*Flood Relief

During the historical disaster of the pitiless floods Ronaq-e-Qainaat did not give the hope that these suffering individuals will one day be with us to celebrate their regained livelihood. They not only managed to raise over 2.5 million rps but donated houses to the flood stricken families.

Ronaq-e-Qainaat is ALL about HEALING Spirits and Souls.

Responsibility of Media

In every atom there are positive and negative ions that exist together. Matter is composed of atoms and ultimately this world is made up of matter. So, this world is a combination of positive and negative things. When good people exist in a place, no doubt there will always be the bad people there. If there is no such two types, we would not be able to differentiate among good and bad, people would do whatever they wanted without the knowledge of good and bad, without any fear and punishment of doing bad and without knowing the reward for good. Allah has created this difference for us to be able to select among the two by using our minds and abilities.

We know a picture has two sides, positive and negative, a concept can be perceived positively or negatively by the people. If we divide the people of the world in two categories, there will be mainly two types positive minded people i.e. optimists and negative minded people i.e. pessimists. When we put a positive thing before a pessimist, he will always say the negative about that thing and if we put a negative thing before an optimist, he will surely say something positive. You can say that, this world is like the way you look at it.

Our society is the combination of optimists and pessimists. As said previously in the first issue of our magazine, media has power to influence the society and their way of thinking. So it must involve in the projects to affect the society positively from every angle. There are different types of programs on television now-a-days including funny cartoons, cooking programs, interior decors, IT programs, serious and funny drama serials, movie channel, Islamic programs, infotainment, real life stories of different families and girls, current issues, reality shows, talk shows, walk shows, and much more. Each of these programs has its effect on the people, positive and negative; depending upon what people perceive from them and learn from them.

Many T.V channels for the sake of their publicity telecast every type of program and show with ignorance of the ultimate outcome of that show on people, their lives and our society. And I feel sorry for our society that we always take the negative side of every thing. There are 2 out of 100 people who are optimists. And the other 98 are pessimist, in fact this is not the sin for them to be pessimist, perhaps there might be many reasons for them to be like that e.g. unawareness, less knowledgeable, illiteracy, resistance for change, financial problems, etc. But I think Allah has created every human being equally and without any flaw. He granted us equal powers of understanding. It’s now up to us that when we realize our powers and how we utilize our strengths.

If I won’t stop here, it will take many pages to convey my message to you, but let’s come towards the main issue i.e. “crime shows”

Media and specially T.V is influencing our thoughts, way of living, and almost every thing about our lives. Telecasting of Crime stories different channels are now at their peak. T.V channels for their publicity focus and highlight even the petty matters between the families. These programs are now-a-days the subject matter of every news channel and some entertainment channels, too. They are given free hand to telecast day-to-day street crimes and petty crimes of our society in the way they want to.

These crime stories and show are being watched by every citizen, every element of our society including kids, youngsters, elders, old ones, educated class as well as illiterate class and are affecting the society positively and negatively. As mentioned earlier, pessimists are more than optimists so these programs are affecting the people with the same ratio.

Positively, in a way this type of programs serves as an awareness tool for the society. Many of the people can get information about what type of crimes are going on around us, what is the crime rate in our country and the reason behind the happening of such crimes, to make people know the hypocrisy and intrigues of strangers, organizations, and known ones too.

Looking at the negative effects of such crime shows, these programs are the source of acquiring techniques and tactics for the people who are in search of an opportunity to learn the ways of doing a particular crime. Moreover these programs are spreading feeling of fear, injustice and doubts in the society. People are getting afraid of trusting one another. These programs have lower downed the feelings of humanity. Pakistan has one of the highest crime rates in the world. This is due to economic steep dive, crime and especially petty crimes have skyrocketed. Already the satisfaction level among people is decreasing day-by-day due to different issues like political instability, inflation rates, downfall of our currency rates against standard currency, unemployment, expensive education, corrupt government machinery, insufficient income level, deficit in balance of payments, power shortages, etc. in addition, these type of programs increase disappointment, hopelessness, terror and threats in the society.

In such a condition, media especially television should show some sense of social responsibility. They must know which programs to show and which not, which type of programs will affect the society positively from every angle and from every side. Those type of programs must be telecast that will help in the reforming of people’s mind, betterment of society and will increase the educational level of the people. By doing so, I can expect being an optimist, that these remedies will lowers the negativity up to a great extent and one day there will be THE END of such poor issues. IN SHA ALLAH!

Tamania Daud

Quaid-e-Azam College of Commerce, University of Peshawar

Status of Women in Islam - A Speech

Family, society and ultimately the whole of mankind is treated by Islam on an ethical basis. Differentiation in sex is neither a credit nor a drawback for the sexes. Therefore, when we talk about status of woman in Islam it should not lead us to think that Islam has no specific guidelines, limitations, responsibilities and obligations for men. What makes one valuable and respectable in the eyes of Allah, the Creator of mankind and the universe, is neither one's prosperity, position, intelligence, physical strength nor beauty, but only one's Allah-consciousness and awareness (taqwa). However, since in the Western culture and in cultures influenced by it, there exists a disparity between men and women there is more need for stating Islam's position on important issues in a clear way.

According to Islam, being a human, woman is even superior to angels and all other living organisms. If she performs any good task or deed, she will be equally blessed as much as a man will for his good deeds.

• She is the benefactor and patron of Islam, as Lady Khadija (Wife of Holy Prophet [saw]).
• She is a partner of prophethood, as Lady Fatima (Daughter of Holy Prophet [saw]).
• She is one of the greatest leaders, as Lady Zainab (Daughter of Imam Ali [as])
• She superior to man, as a mother.
• She's respectable like a saint.
• She is precious like an expensive pearl.
• She is honorable like a delicate rose.

Describing the status of the Indian woman, Encyclopedia Britannica states:

In India, subjection was a cardinal principle. Day and night must women be held by their protectors in a state of dependence says Manu. The rule of inheritance was agnatic, that is descent traced through males to the exclusion of females.

In Hindu scriptures, the description of a good wife is as follows:

"A woman, whose mind, speech and body are kept in subjection, acquires high renown in this world, and, in the next, the same abode with her husband."

Islam emphasizes the equality of all people, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender or social status. Islam has prescribed different roles and responsibilities for men and women, with each gender complementing the other. Centuries before the modern world recognized women's rights, Islam acknowledged the equality of the two genders, and abolished the barbaric ritual of burying infant daughters alive, an outrageous crime practiced by the Arabs before the time of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon Him).

Islam made women aware of their rights and gave them an identity, a personality, freedom, and independence. These rights, among others, include the right to inherit, to own property, to obtain a divorce, to collect a dowry, and to gain child custody.

Far from saving the girl's life so that she may later suffer injustice and inequality, Islam requires kind and just treatment for her. Among the sayings of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon Him) in this regard are the following:

Whosoever has a daughter and he does not bury her alive, does not insult her, and does not favor his son over her; God will enter him into Paradise. (Ibn Hanbal, No. 1957).

Marriage is sharing between the two halves of the society, and that its objectives, beside perpetuating human life, are emotional well-being and spiritual harmony. Its bases are love and mercy.

According to Islamic Law, women cannot be forced to marry anyone without their consent.

Prophet Muhammad. (P) said:

The best of you is the best to his family and I am the best among you to my family.  The most perfect believers are the best in conduct and best of you are those who are best to their wives. (Ibn-Hanbal, No. 7396)

Islam considered kindness to parents next to the worship of God.

A man came to Prophet Muhammad (P) asking:

O Messenger of God, who among the people is the most worthy of my good company? The Prophet (P) said, Your mother. The man said then who else: The Prophet (P) said, Your mother. The man asked, Then who else? Only then did the Prophet (P) say, Your father. (Al-Bukhari and Muslim).

A famous saying of The Prophet is "Paradise is at the feet of mothers." (In Al'Nisa'I, Ibn Majah, Ahmad)

"It is the generous (in character) who is good to women, and it is the wicked who insults them."

I will sum up the whole context in a few lines;

The beauty of a woman:

Is not in the clothes she wears,

The figure that she carries,

Or the way she combs her hair,

Or the style she does make up.

The beauty of a woman:

Must be seen in her Hijab,

And her eyes,

Because that is the doorway to her heart,

The place where love resides,

And the beauty of a woman,

With passing years - only grows!

Omer Irfan

Editor-In-Chief | A.V.I.R.A

Educational Institutions - Learning or Business

The educational system that is prevailing in our country is obvious to every naked eye. Students of current era do not really getting educated rather they seek degree for the purpose of money. The perception being made in the mind of every teen and tween is that their bachelor and master degree would help them to get good job with handsome salary nothing more than that. Today, most of educational departments have become a part of business to boost up investment and profit. Now quality education is lacking in every society rather quantity is being focused on. A simple example of it is corruption in this sector. Misappropriate allocation of funds granted by foreign countries and then using the fund for their own luxury rather than to spend on improvement of the education. Several schools and colleges are having branches in bulk but still for increasing revenues not for students ease. A number of universities and colleges who are providing professional studies should look forward to the future aspect of their goal. Because only business should not be the aim of individual , learning should be enhanced as well by including several courses which call for humanity as well. Like the old times when humans really cared for each other, education is meant to make familiar a person with its surroundings not with the business only.

Another Point of concern here is the issue of fake degrees that are being sold at very low prices than that of regular degree expenses. So a student now, do not want to waste his/her time in getting the degree through proper channel and is looking for short cuts as the thoughts of gaining more and increasing sales is feeded in to their minds so what they really look for, is the excess of money in every aspect of life. But money buys nothing; it is merely a time being solution which has no outcome in the long run. All the systems that are necessary for a country to progress depend upon the right deliverance of education. Result is produced but unfortunately today results are also sold again for earning money. They are doing the wrong thing in the name of good purpose. This is not better for the students not for the persons involved.

Education should not just meant for the elite class only. Not really at least all the educational standards should be the same for every student. It seems as child of an elite class is a king and child of poor one’s are sub ordinates of king. Alas to our poor system we have created discrimination in this sector as well that the quality education which private schools provide, a government school lacks far behind in providing the same excellence and quality. And especially the scholarships that are provided are almost negligible. Proper check and balance in maintaining the standard is required, a department should be established, that should look after and check the accountability of operations carried out in the country’s every sector. The head department must take steps to improve the standards and also helping to meet the standards. Education is not used for expanding business but to provide quality knowledge.

There are a number of institutions who are providing excellence education. There is another side of picture as well .Optimistic view adds a lot in the education system of Pakistan but education for business is the upcoming investment for a number of business class people. Because in their mind it is the most safest and long term profit for future but on the other hand this perception is destroying the real future of every student. Quality should be provided rather that looking for quantity. Excellence is the key towards success.  Our religion, Islam also emphasizes on seeking excellence education not for earning money but for becoming a reputable individual of a society. Educational institutions must strive to provide a sacred facility and it should get the plague of money market.  So this scenario needs to be addressed and certain factors are needed to be controlled with strict hands and authorities to move towards excellence in real sense.

                                       

                                 ‘We don’t know the worth of well until it gets dry’

Talha Hussain

National University of Modern Languages, Islamabad.

What are Your Kids Watching?

The media and internet have exposed us to a host of different kinds of content. Content that ranges from news to entertainment, from documentaries to dramas. While of course what content should be made available or not is a debate that rests in more of the collective conscious of society and cultural norms. Yet, one thing that a general consensus can be reached upon is what content is suitable for our children or not.

Whether content that personifies drug use is wrong or not, or should be shown or not for an adult is open for debate. Some would argue that an adult is sensible to understand that the content is fiction or perhaps not real, and others would argue that it is still influencing. What however, we will find little argument on is the fact that a six year old should not be watching such content and being so desensitised to its subject matter, specially at such an impressionable age.

In Pakistan, a child can more or less go into any CD/DVD shop and purchase any movie or game he or she wants. There is no real check or legal enforcement when it comes to what he should be able to buy or not buy. Then the usage of that content too is not supervised and that makes it worse. This is because of a “digital divide” between most parents and children, thus a lack of understanding on part of the parents makes this a particularly complicated problem in Pakistan. Children can use computers and do them as they see fit, whereas parents are unaware of the risks associated with unsupervised computer use let alone knowledgeable about using the parental control features built into every computer to protect children. Similarly with movies there is less monitoring.

Although the problem is less severe with television as most households are one television households, and the televisions are generally placed in very communal areas so monitoring to some extent is always present. Yet, a problem even when it comes to television content is that classification of what content is bad for our children. Generally the perception exists that only romantic, sensual or pornographic or horror is unsuitable for children’s viewing. Action content, drama and even thrillers don’t get faux pas when it comes to being suitable for children and young teens. Even though studies show that these clearly have negative impacts on young children.

The developed world has taken very good steps towards solving this problem. They are called parental guideline ratings. You don’t need to have watched everything before you let your children watch them. Parental guideline ratings are available for movies, games and TV shows. They classify movies, games and TV shows as suitable for children of a specific age group and vary from country to country based on social and cultural norms.

Most available movies in the market have an age rating on them which parents can just have a look at, and make certain that the content is suitable. The system when it comes to TV was first proposed on December 19, 1996 by the US Congress, the television industry and the US’ Federal Communications Commission. We really need a system such as that implemented here through the Parliament, which will help educate parents and protect our children against content, which can be harmful to them. It should be for local and international movies, games and TV shows. Again, it is important to stress that the system is completely voluntary in the sense it should not be used as a tool to subject content to censorship, as the possibility for abuse is there. It should be used as a guideline to tell parents what kind of content they should approve for their children or not.

Such a ratings system coupled with a mass media campaign, can help parents even with little education make informed choices. Movies and games should have the age guideline printed largely on them, and TV shows should carry the guideline as a transparent logo, which appears before and after every break, and intermittently during the program as well, more or less like a television channel logo.

Solving this problem for computers can get more complicated owing to the lack of computer literacy in parents and the difference in skill level of parents and children. One possible solution for extremely obscene content could be blocking such websites, as the PTA has recently ordered ISPs (Internet Service Providers) to do.

However, that always leaves room for abuse and facilitates attempts to stifle free speech. Maybe ISPs could offer a simple child friendly browsing mode, which parents could easily switch on by either calling a number or pressing a button. Seems farfetched to some degree, but technically speaking not impossible or even that difficult to implement. The solution has to be something which involves a minimal level of involvement from parents as they are the ones who least understand about computers.

Yet, maybe a good starting point can be educating them about the type of problems and content that is out there and how it can harm their children. After establishing the gravity of the situation only can there ever be enough demand for this to force a solution to be implemented. But, it is not like that a solution doesn’t exist.

So, have you ever really wondered what your kids are watching? Have you ever wondered what content they are accessing over the internet and normal media? How it is effecting them and their development? If not then now is really a good time to start thinking.

Ali Moeen Nawazish

Youth Ambassador of GEO & JUNG Group

ME ...

Perhaps you know me,

But in fact you don’t,

Let me make you know Me,

The REAL ME….

See me beyond Wars,

See me beyond Terror,

See Me beyond Chaos,

I’m the Land of Love,

The land of harmony,

The land full of colors,

See my green lush valleys,

And the scented gardens,

See my long steep hills,

And cascading waterfalls

I am the shelter for migrants

And the pillar for many

I welcomed all

I suffered a lot

Once you need a support

I hold you

You needed a homeland

I sufficed your need

Now I Need YOU

Render Mine…!!!!

Tamania Daud

Quaid-e-Azam College of Commerce, University of Peshawar

Impact of Current Situation on Social Structure of Pakistan

Today we are facing many social problems i.e. corruption, child labor, gender discrimination etc. The People of Pakistan are aware of almost every social problem, keeping in view; the current situation is showing a picture of complete disaster of Pakistan. Drone attacks, target killing, flood, kidnapping, load shedding etc are a number of incidents that are taking place now-a-days. Yes it is going to lay a severe impact of the sovereignty of my nation. In fact all these incidents are warnings from Allah Almighty. One has to think about that how his/her deeds can fruitful for keeping the Nation united. If we take example of Karachi, due to political conspires, now people are harped with ethnic rivals. They feel insecure in their own neighborhood.

As far as social image is concerned, Pakistan image not portrayed as it should be because of our politicians still saying,

“All is Well “

A very positive attitude must say but without really is unless current situation if not handled with attention, is going to damage the national security as well. The impact is now on the upcoming generation basically the Youth because whatever is happening in our country no one is taking action. People are sleeping, youth is suffering, and they are insecure.

Until and unless serious initiative isn’t taken at a community level, the system isn’t going to get better, to get positive change. Anyhow, we, the Youth can take the first step at smaller level and work with sincerity with our people and our country. Another point to be noted, opportunities are never created or you can’t wait for opportunities to come in your way, you have to create it for yourself.

We should not let anyone think we are weak, we might be sleeping but we are not dead. I will end up this with a beautiful quote;

“Don’t wait for the perfect moment, take the moment and make it perfect.”

Omer Irfan

Editor-In-Chief | A.V.I.R.A

Worthy Character

Once, many years ago, I saw on a classroom wall, a poster with the following legend:

Money lost … Nothing lost

Time lost ... Nothing lost

Character lost … Everything lost

I have never forgotten these words, and I have often thought about them. They have the ring of idealism about them which we associate particularly in the Northern hemisphere with a century that began perhaps in 1840 and ended in 1939. In the literature of Northern America, Europe and Asia, you find these kinds of moralizing sentiments spoken by characters that embody these ideals in most novels and plays of that period. They were generally understood tacit agreements which underpinned the lifestyles of families and individuals throughout the society. And yet, nowadays it is very hard to believe that many would agree with such a philosophy. On the contrary, descended from fathers and grandfathers who held those views, reject their forefathers’ principals and began their search for money, the consequence was obvious: more time was lost than ever before. No money-making time of course, but time which people could use to find themselves and learn themselves. Indeed, much was lost, as society became evermore restless and discounted. And as people became more disenchanted, so did many of them turn to the quick fix; theft, embezzlement, cheating the revenue, exploiting the poor in order to become richer, in the hope of finding happiness at last! And for what? Once found out, they lost their good name, their character and their self respect. And if once you lost your self respect, you would then find it difficult ever to be happy again.

So what is the remedy? It lies in the old saying:

Moderation in all things

The day, I found myself quoting Socrates, the greatest lay-teacher history has known and whose words, roughly paraphrased, said: “Let me earn only so much gold as moderate man can bear”. Many have been the religious leaders of the world who have turned their back on excessive wealth and advise their followers to do the same, as a result of which their followers, over many centuries and in many generations, have found a measure of happiness that has sustained and supported them throughout their lives. They have not regretted their decision to make their money be their servant than their master.

Money … You will get by and survive without it.

Time … You have only a limited life span.

Character … For if you lose respect, life is not worth living.

Muhammad Haris Qureshi & Ansar Javed

The Decline of Media in Pakistan

It all started during the Musharraf regime. PTV had remained the primary electronic media source to the people of Pakistan for over 40 years, when a military dictator decided to set the boogeyman free. Unfortunately for him, the boogeyman ate him up without any signs of a burp whatsoever.

The media started on a high, no doubt, as it was efficient and hardworking and showed it in its approach. From entertainment to infotainment and from political to social, religious, cultural and economic programs, every thing that came from media had some thing to offer and one could have easily ignored some short comings it had. The media was to see a new high as it played a pivotal role in the movement for restoration of Judiciary. In short, the news media of Pakistan made sure that the final nail in the coffin of its creator was put, firmly.

Since then, the media is in a nose dive as it has time and again ignored the importance of professional integrity and moral values and thus have taken a 180 shift in its course of action, so much so , that it has reduced itself to the belief that “sensation sells”.

Post 2008, we live in the age of a revenged democracy and a unbridled media. Every three or four months a new issues creeps up on the T.V screens and the media diverts all its attention to it, as if that’s the only problem left with the country where only 16% youth are educated in true sense of the word. By doing so, it has made the people immune to hearing about high level corruption and wrong doings by the politicians as no evidentiary results are there for the people to see. There is just one breaking news after the other.

Post 2008, the media has seen new lows. From cheesy crimes shows to breaking news tickers (which really isn’t all that breaking most of the times), from showing gruesome pictures after a bomb blasts, to asking questions like, “How do you feel?” from families of the one’s target killed in Karachi. Of course they feel awful! What answer do you expect? But there is a bunch that trumps all this, talk show hosts!

They come in a variety; from the screaming ones (Jasmine Manzoor Alert!) to the Phadda lovers (Hamid Mir Alert!)  then you have the often-not-prepared-for-a-programme (Kashif Abbasi and Aamir Sohail’s episode), but the one who really takes the cake is Kamran Shahid who have done it all for ratings(Watch frontline with Kamran Shahid for a month, you’ll know what I am talking about).The guests are equally horrifying, from the glass throwing ones (that is an epic video btw) to the ones who just love to use the BEEP words (Mushahid Ullah Alert!). There is also a new breed of PTI workers and members who talk everything but sense on these shows. Having said that, these are exceptions, of anchors and politicians who keep their dignity and decorum intact while interacting on national television. E.g seldom will you see fights happening and nonsense spoken on programmes hosted by a Talat Hussain or a Moeed Pirzada.

More over the hype that media gives to these non issues is nauseatingly disgusting, Time and again media has done this. It happened when Sania Mirza and Shoaib Malik decided to tie the knot and hundreds of hours of air time was wasted on them. And recently in the case of Veena Malik, has anyone ever stopped to think who really created Veena Malik? With all the publicity and the hype given to her nude photo shoot (sorry, semi nude photo shoot) and her escapades with Ashmit Patel, repeatedly shown on television news channels deeming her besharam and behaya. Would it not have been better that the Pakistani media highlighted the fact that Pakistan is the leading viewer of porn sites in the world. The answer is NO. They would not do that because it takes dedication and hard work to find out the facts and have a healthy debate on such a topic. Showing Veena Malik nude pictures (sorry again!!) and playing background scores with it is a much eye catching prospect for the media.

The media has drawn itself in to the quagmire of ratings (which is also a flawed system) and is slipping in it day by day. There are some suggestions/guidelines though that the media should follow in order to restore its fast losing credibility.

First and foremost is the formation of an organization of all the news channels to agree upon a decision to make editorial boards for all the shows hosted by anchors in order to tone down the role of a news anchor i-e to make the editorial board stronger than the anchor, so that he can be an extension of the editorial board and not have the power to say whatever so he wishes.

Secondly, there should be a clear cut demarcation between a political talk show host and an entertainment program anchor. The latter does his program for entertainment where as the former should base his program on pure journalistic lines. This can only be done if the first suggestion is worked upon.

Thirdly, the anchors themselves have to realize that with great power comes great responsibility. They are the lucky ones who can raise any issue of this nation in heaps of misery. The plastic bag is killing the environment, the population of Pakistan is going to be the biggest problem in the next ten years, yet if they choose to look the other way towards repeatedly focusing their energies on a letter not written to the Swiss authorities then that would be an injustice to the nation in general and their profession in particular.

Lastly the government needs to breathe new air in to PEMRA (Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority) to propose laws in collaboration with the media channels and then regulate it strictly because so far it has proven to be a toothless agency having no control over the ratings hungry media as in the case of Maya Khan. Where in some other country a person’s career would have been over, here, she was given a new morning show on a private channel.

All these suggestions are not new but have been over looked time and again. The result is the latest media gate scandal where two anchors are seen playing a fixed match with Malik Riaz. Mark my words; this is just the beginning, because if the media continues on this rate, more scandals are in store.

The rat race of ratings and the virtual absence of any editorial boards is alarmingly dangerous and potentially killing for media as the quality of programs and credibility of the media dies down every day. Here is some food for thought for all media anchors and media persons. A decade back a military dictator set the media free. Unfortunately it is striving ever so hard for another military dictator (which I hope never comes) to curb that freedom and liberty. But this time he won’t just curb it, he would throw it some where in deepest annals of the Indus.

Muhammad Saeed Khalil

Department of Political Science, University of Peshawar

My Army Brother

There are times when words are said
That seem to be of ill intent
Yet no matter what I say
You will always hear the same thing
That I despise everything about you
Yet in my heart this is far from true
Though I hate what you say and do
You are always a part of who I am
You are my Army Brother
The one who made a choice
To stand up for what you love
And give others a chance and a voice
I love you with all my heart
Yet with the words that are said
That makes it hard
You make me cry and our mother too
But, Big Brother,
My heart belongs to you

Author: Terilynn Hayes

Laibah Khalid

College of Home Economics, University of Peshawar

Youth Frustration as a Consequence of Poor Leadership

Frustration is the condition which arises from the alleged resistance to the fulfillment of individual will, or when an accomplishment, inclination or goal is thwarted by an external or internal power. Everyone experiences frustration on certain circumstances. It's that blazing feeling in your gut when things aren't going as you want. Frustration among youth occurs mainly because they are over ambitious and have greater expectations. This very notion leads to downfall and digression, wasting the precious thinking ability and attention, which otherwise would have been used in a constructive work. 

Undoubtedly, the future of Pakistan and the people who would take Pakistan further ahead in the development and progress in all fields is none other than “Youth”. The challenges faced by Pakistani Youth are higher study expenditures, unemployment, no career counseling and no assistance from the elders on how to survive in the materialistic world as they are too engrossed in money-making for their families’ dazzling future. We come across many youngsters, be it a boy or a girl, with little or no hope in their eyes and are frustrated because of nepotism and restricted opportunities for them. Numerous complains about corruption and favoritism are evident throughout the education system. A particular report cites the one young man from Multan who commented, “There is no education. There is a culture of intercession and recommendation.” Another man from Lahore said, “Here, a student struggles day and night but the son of a rich man by giving money gets more marks than him”. This curse has become miserably widespread in society.

Secondly, the existing scenario of insecurity and disrespect for the people who are eliminated from the Semi rich or elite class has pushed a lot of youngsters to take flight from country in search of better jobs and further education with long-standing plans to get settled abroad where they get more respect regardless of their status of a third rate citizen. And most of all, the justice system is far better than what we have got here.

Most significantly, our government has diverted its attention from the progress and prosperity of our youth and thus giving the Nation a major set back by creating a major scarcity of brilliant people. Now the irony of the situation is that even if we have quite a few capable people in the specific field, they are overlooked and new drift has started which is to hire foreign professional to come and do the same job at a much higher rate. Moreover, good jobs are always given at references which again deprives off the real talent on laying its hands on a sound career. Carefully examining the situation, we find a lot of misfits and unskilled people occupying the chief positions in various governmental organizations and NGOs and thus giving a slower growth rate to such organizations.

Furthermore, terrorism and security situations are the concerns of the ordinary community, but their main worries are day-to-day survival. Most of the young Pakistani generation is agonized by inflation, joblessness, lack of energy and water resources, and poverty as the gravest issues affecting their lives. All in all, Pakistan does not seem to have come to terms with its independence in that it is uncertain in choosing their rulers, whether it is to be military person or a civilian.

Unless the educated, privileged lot and the media wake up from their slumber, the stakes are high for Pakistan to be governed as a sovereign nation. There is a crying need for the quality of life to improve, else people will obey whoever can feed and pay them. This is now a playback time for the messed up government and pseudo socialists to repay our young generation. We can do this by making a system for them in which their talents can be used to make the most of and not misrepresented. Media has to play its vital role to highlight our core issues prevailing throughout the nation.

Things are changing now with the youth now becoming aware of their responsibilities towards the betterment of society. They want to bring a positive change and are committed to take charge of the country. This is exactly what our country needs at the moment. The best thing about our youth is that, they are willing to learn. Committing mistakes is not a big deal, but the problem arises when people stop learning from them.

Youngsters of any country are the agents for change. They have the enthusiasm to make things happen effectively and efficiently.

No matter what others say about us, I am positive that our future will be safe and sound and this country will be the paramount for the rest of the world one day INSHAA ALLAH!

Saman Arif

Forman Christian College, A  Chartered University, Lahore

Our Education System

Our education system has been going backward day by day. Different types of educational systems have been working in Pakistan, e.g.  Cambridge, public and private school system, madrasa system etc, they create differences between poor and wealthy people and show status symbol.

Public sector schools don’t have sufficient facilities and biggest problem is copy culture which is spreading like cancer among students. Many teachers can not perform their duties effectively. They are destroying our educational system. We have to implement one educational system all over the country to remove difference between poor and wealthy people. We should spend more than 5% of GDP on our education sector. If we want to be in the developed countries of this world then we have to change our educational system.

Many students are not certain about their future, they are confused and ambiguous. We have started an additional subject “career counseling” in our educational system it’s possible at secondary level. We have to remove copy culture from educational system and establish effective system of examinations in our country. We have to promote research culture in students and government should bound educational institute and companies to spend more than 5% of their income on research.

Pakistanis are very talented, if we give them a proper guldens and career counseling, they can perform a vital role in the betterment of Pakistan.

Muhammad Arshad

Truth Speaks Louder Than Money

haqiqat chup nai sakti banawat k assoolon say

k khushbu a nai skti kabhe kaghaz k phulon se

Some people might be of the view that “Money Speaks Loud Than  Truth.”

I must say to them that a house built on straws cannot stay longer and shatter into pieces when a wind blows and I am here to blow that wind. The quote gives a very clear description of the topic in just a single line. You cannot hide the truth under the cruel bars of money. Even, if you try to hide the money in the deepness of the ditches, in the depths of seas, in the loneliness of deserts, in the heights of mountains, in the tress of forests, in every dark and silent place, you can’t never ever hide it.

Pity on the people who say that “Money speaks louder than Truth”…
They say this, when they don’t remember that:

”Money is round and rolls away.”

They say this forgetting all the ties and bonds of family and relationships and the golden teachings of Islam.

The main aim of today’s human being is to earn money. He has forgotten his main goal of life. Even today’s Muslim is not striving to represent the characters of Holy prophet Muhammad (SAW). He is not brave enough like Hazrat Ali (RA) and not even generous enough like Hazrat Usman (RA) to spend his money in the way of Allah. If Money would have so much power, wouldn’t be those three Pakistani cricketers who sold dignity of their country for just few pounds out of their cells? No! They are in them.

People have forgotten the importance of human lives. And they have forgotten that if they say truth then they can get rid of all the problems which we are facing now-a- days. We should feel shame on us that we have sold ourselves for this worldly life, and that just for few pennies we have sold the dignity of our country, mothers and sisters. Pakistan is facing all the problems because of this money, yes! These pile of money which has ruined our lives. Now if we drive ourselves on right path we can still save Pakistan from big damage but for it we need to unite together, speak the truth, leave the greed for money and wealth, realizing that the real power comes from sincerity with one another, leaving behind the provincial differences and love for the people and the country as well off course.

This will not be enough to make people realize the importance of truth but it’s a little effort put forward by a person and through such combined efforts we can achieve much. INSHAA ALLAH

Haris Iftikhar

Islamia College Peshawar