Kia Ap Sehatmand Pakistan Ka Hissa Hain????

"About 80% of all major diseases such as diarrhea, cholera, typhoid, hepatitis are due to unsafe drinking water, inadequate sanitation and poor hygiene." UNICEF, Pakistan.

Health and hygiene are causing major disruptions in the lives of people of Pakistan, question is what are we doing about it? Some corporate companies like Safeguard are actively involved in spreading mass awareness about health and hygiene amongst mothers, children and health care professionals alike, through various initiatives. Let’s look at commander safeguard just an animation who fights monster germs or an instigator of healthy practice? I am dedicating this post to their recent campaign, please do read.

Safeguard has partnered with Save the Children foundation to fund one of their biggest campaigns. “100 days, 100 schools” ‘Save The Children’ is working directly with Pakistani children and women since 1999 and has a strong portfolio of health, education and microfinance programs. STC for their campaign identified & researched 100 schools in extremely low line areas of Karachi, Quetta and Lahore. These schools have had dire conditions as far as sanitation and handwashing facilities are concerned. Just check the conditions of the school in the pics pasted below:

Don’t you take your luxuries for granted? Imagine the hardships faced by the children of these schools. “According to the Pakistan Federal Bureau of Statistics, 30% of the Pakistani population has no access to toilets” Safeguard is developing handwashing & sanitation facilities in these schools. A long term plan which does not end after these 100 schools are complete. They plan to take this further and improve conditions in more schools by the coming year. The entire campaign is not only focused on building of the facilities but mainly empowerment of the community through health and hygiene education program. Once the facilities are installed the school teachers, students and their parents will be given training on why hygiene is important and how they can ensure good health by simple procedures of hand washing. Along with the training, the children will also be de-wormed twice a year and tablets will be provided to the teachers to carry out the de-worming every year. Colorful booklets containing pictures of proper handwashing process; a way to fight germs and diseases is provided to the children, so they make this learning a part of their routine. The objective is to influence behaviors and instigate health conscious practices in the community.

More details here:  http://www.pg.com/en_PK/news/sagfeguard_build_sanitation_facilities.shtml 

Watch this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DVmUHTdUV4. I visited one of their schools (Shown in the video Govt School, Pipri), it was overwhelming to the see the excited children using the handwashing facilities to show all they have learnt. :) These pictures clearly show that efforts have been made to improve the sanitation of this school:

The initiative doesn’t end here; they are also collaborating with the City Nazims for allotting of cleaning staff who can maintain the cleanliness of the facilities on a regular basis. Regular visits will be conducted to ensure the cleanliness and maintenance.

Focusing again on the fact that the purpose of this initiative is to create awareness and provide education to the masses regarding hygienic practices. But cooperation and collaboration is needed from the society to make this project successful. Are we ready to change our behaviors and focus on the better? "Safai Nisf Imaan hai" are we implementing it? The key to progress is to learn good things and implement them. The only way to ensure sustainability of such campaigns is through joint efforts. The teachers, parents and the children will have to continuously enforce the proper hygienic practices. All of us need to take responsibility and contribute towards the issues in our community and also provide support to teams like STC and Safeguard who are consistently making an effort to improve the hygienic conditions of the community.

Twitter updates: http://twitter.com/safeguard_pk

Watch more pictures from different schools: http://www.facebook.com/SafeguardPak#/SafeguardPak

Apni duniya aap paida kar agar zindon mai hai (Create your world if you are amongst the living)

Hai Jazba Junoon to himmat na har! . Amongst the crazy thoughts in my head the most exciting ones are the germs that want to see positive change taking place in Pakistan. My patriotic soul bubbles and overflows with things that I want to do, thoughts that I want to instill, actions that I want to take.. even though in my world I have been an active supporter of positive things in Pakistan, many causes which I have written about and given lectures on I still needed a platform to combine my ideas my thoughts with likeminded people. And one evening at a meeting with fellow twitter friends at Ole I came to know about PYR short form for Pakistan Youth Revolution. After going through their objectives immediately I joined (www.pyr.org.pk)


Pakistan youth revolution sounds exciting right :), It definitely is! Not a political party a social group that I would like to call change activists. The motto of PYR Be positive and spread the positivity; kill evil with goodness, overcome hate with love. I would take the liberty of calling it “we” as a team are focused on supporting all good things happening in Pakistan as an independent party so that we can create strength by numbers and unity. The same vision that has been practiced & implemented by many great leaders. We want to bring all patriotic souls under one umbrella so that the actions taken become stronger.


“This organization is purely based on the concepts of Akhuwwat (Brotherhood), Musawat (Equality) and Insaaf (Justice). So, our revolution will be based on these principles. Allah/God gave these universal principles for humanity to harmonise them and to make them live together peacefully and progress. We equally welcome Pakistanis from all faiths” http://pyr.org.pk/home/about-us/


Pakistan is our home, our safe haven it needs our love our protection and our dedication. I believe if we start by taking small steps we can achieve big.. remember “katra katra samandar banta hai” we want people to join us, to support positive things, to share ideas on how we can achieve our common goal, which is to bring out the good things and minimize the negative. PYR is a structured organization with prominent professionals in the leadership. One of the biggest achievements of PYR is the Go Green campaign which motivated people to turn their display pictures green.


If you are patriotic soul wondering how you can help, join PYR. But before that read our objectives and details which are given here: http://pyr.org.pk/home/  - Pakistan Zindabaad!!

Stop nonsense, bring the change!

Amongst the many things we as women struggle with, cyber crime is yet another issue that we come across as a challenge. We are the ones constantly concerned about who will get our numbers or our emails. We have to consistently put in efforts to hide our identity and pictures. Why? Is this why we embraced technology and its advantages, only to suffer more? Why do we need to target women and harass them through different ways? The human race runs faster to be more educated, to be more smart and more techie! But we do not stop in finding ways to create more problems. Isn’t this discrimination that men can blog, conduct social networking without any fear throughout the world while women on the other hand have to over and over again find ways to be safe? My question is to everyone out there. If we can think of what is right and wrong how do we allow this? People who use our pictures or identities to create problems for us never think twice do they? What do they do for sleeping at night? Does their soul allow them to sleep without taking any pills? 

Read the experience that I am sharing now and maybe after reading you will realize that we are all to blame for this nonsense. I signed up on groups for job opportunities; the owner of the group starts to send forwarded emails of different kinds. One email I received which I am sure most of you have as well was pictures of a college party in Lahore with different girls dressed in various outfits. How ridiculous is this that we forward such emails on forums and to friends as part of entertainment. If we stop forwarding such emails don’t you think it will discourage the source its coming from? Rather we keep forwarding to groups of people and insult the women who are amongst our friends, and sisters. I asked the owner of the group to stop forwarding such emails as it is insulting for any woman and I am sure those girls didn’t get those pictures taken for that purpose. Don’t we all get our pictures taken in parties? Imagine if our pictures would be rolling out on emails like this! Would we than forward those emails to forums? Do you think my two liner email would have stopped him from sending those emails out? Maybe as at least I didn’t get any email of a similar kind on the same forum.

Just again I am extremely angry over a website that a friend of mine told me about. This website publishes all females’ cell phone numbers for other people to use. Now tell me do these people realize the gender they are misusing is the same gender of their mother? So we have lost respect and GHAIRAT in all terms

My only appeal to you all out there who have at least some humanity left, not to forward emails containing pictures of females no matter what kind or how simple. Kindly avoid encouraging the source of this crap and help be a part of our fight. Lets all contribute to Take Back the Tech in our way. It’s not just a 16 day campaign, it’s about a consistent effort and realization from the smaller levels. If we all stand up against these crimes I am sure we will be able to stop the people who initiate them. There are many ways we can fight this kind of harassment, we just need to start taking things in our own hands. Across the nation even if 10 people start I am sure the word will spread like fire and everyone will be helping this cause. Hope we can wake up and start looking more closely on what we are promoting.

Cyber crimes, harassment of women through technology is a vast topic, I have picked out the smallest part of it that is “forwarded emails” but here is my concern we overlook these small things and concentrate on bigger things. But what we don’t realize is that these emails which look harmless create the space for bigger crimes. A vast topic it is, many areas can be covered where women have been targeted in different and horrible ways. Lets atleast start somewhere.

Please also go through the website for more articles by different bloggers, ideas for contribution and tips to stay safe. http://takebackthetech.net

"Teen Kahaniyan Showcase"

25th November 09 was lucky enough to witness the vibrant team of Katha Theater. Their play Teen Khaniyan was superb; from story lines to acting the entire play was brilliantly performed. Each story had a moral, based on the harsh realities of life the stories depicted different emotions that I am sure all of us could relate to.

First act “lottery” described the cultural issues faced by women in our society and how women spend all their lives making their husbands happy, believing everything they say and not questioning their lies.. A tragic end but extremely true in our society.

Lottery was followed by “Kahan Ka Ishq” brilliantly performed by Sania Saeed the story of “TAYT AUNTY” unfolds. A middle aged single woman who is cheerful, sweet and open hearted however the society has made her a victim of narrow minded judgments. While she wants to make new friends the boys take advantage of her money and use her pure heart for their entertainment. Again this story showcased the problems single women face in our society once they start growing up.

The last story of “Ek Subah” an emotional tale of two lovers who meet after 20 years. The act was focused on young love and how they move in their lives but the sentiments still remain deep inside.

The costumes were good, the makeup was perfectly done according to the different characters. To sum it up the entire play was wonderfully enacted by the team and we hope that contributions made to Rotary Club bring smiles to more people around us. Will be eagerly waiting for the next play of Katha Theatre

Teen Khaniyan!

At CIO Pakistan webstudtio Jamal, Fariha, Sara and I met with the cast of Khaniyan Sania Saeed and Shehzad Qureshi member of Rotary Club Karachi. With Rabia behind cameras the entire meeting was alot more than just interesting :) wait for the blooper reel and you all will know what I mean.

Khaniyan is a series of three comedy plays, based on short stories, offering a stimulating experience for theater-goers. What makes Khaniyan more interesting is that the funds generated from this play will be going to the projects supported by Rotary Club Karachi. As Shehzad elaborated Rotary Club is the largest club in Pakistan that is involved in different charitable projects. One of their major project is the “Jaipur Foot Clinic” where they provide free artificial legs to people. Apart from this other projects include schools, free of cost hearing aids, medical supplies and equipment etc.

Always vibrant and beautiful Sania spoke on the theme of the play. The play is based on three one act stories which are:
1) Auntie , adapted from Auntie by Henry James. It is the tale of a middle-aged woman, desperately guarding her faded youth for the sake of love.
2) Lottery by Anton Chekhov, is a story of a husband and wife who are ecstatic at the fact that the wife has won a lottery that will make them rich beyond their wildest dreams.
3)Ek subha, a romantic tale of a love lost in the innocence of youth and found again unexpectedly in much different circumstances.

Sania Saeed combined with a fabulous team the play would for sure be an entertaining experience for the audience.

It was wonderful meeting the bloggers, Sania, Shehzad and ofcourse thanks to CIO Pakistan for providing the platform. Special thanks to Rabia and her team :)

The many faces of people

July 2008 – keeping high aspirations & motivation I walked into my new office. Looking around with interest, avoiding curious eyes, I was greeted by my new team as they showed me to my desk. Soon my introductions began and I met a number of interesting people.


I knew little of how my journey here would unfold; I was someone who would not give up against all odds and even if told. As I continued my stay with determination and commitment, here is a recollection of the obstacles that were thrown in my way.


August 2008 – my first annual conference in Lahore; excited as we were to hear the CEO himself presenting on the floor, the day passed by full of inspiration and guidance. I was impressed by his charming personality and his demeanor to inspire. I sat there listening, as I made mental notes, I would go back and work harder to achieve a lot more. Days passed by as I was busy planning new events, changes that would bring a bigger name & better business to the organization. August quickly passed to November & every time my plans were asked to be delayed and put on hold. I was faced with politics and hypocrisy and the ‘red tape’ turned my commitment into frustration. My line manager saw success in apple polishing the boss. People were only interested in earning money for themselves, no one saw the holistic view of a better future for the company itself. And because of my honest opinions and bold manner I was considered a social outcast. I kept fighting and struggling with all the judgments that were passed, my only purpose was to contribute to the company and prove them all wrong.


To add to my misery my line manager started to overpower me as he saw that I believed in working rather than apple polishing. He created hurdles and stopped giving me any assignments. I was questioned when sitting idle; fingers pointing, eyes deceiving, I was backstabbed again and again by my very own team. Nobody seemed to help, the right authorities were just an illusion.


It was December 2008 when I asked for an internal transfer, I was given the option to join a new team. I spoke to the team’s manager in detail trying to understand my role in this new scope. He spoke to me with conviction manipulated me in believing that I was becoming a part of a good team and I could grow to be successful in this new role. Sadly I was going to find out the literal meaning of “out of the frying pan into the fire”.


January 2009 – I joined the new team eliminating all negativity created by my former boss. I moved again to focus on achievements and growth on my career path. As discussed with my manager my job description was decided, it was focused on Marketing and mainly Business Development. I faced resentment from the team, ignoring the questions I asked regarding the process. I wasn’t given any training or any briefing nonetheless I got the hang of the process quickly. I was asked to concentrate purely on Business Development, the task that was the responsibility of the managers. On my own, I initiated contacted and met at least 30 new clients only to be told after 4 months by the country head that I should have concentrated on my assigned task, which according to him wasn’t Business development.


My appraisal was satisfactory, overlooking all my initiatives that I undertaken to date. My job description was changed yet again asking me now to focus on core responsibilities starting May 2009. I worked day and night and finally with God’s blessing I closed a deal June 2009. I was excited and celebrating as my manager called me to the room, breaking the news that only brought anger. He told me that he had ‘saved’ me from being sacked; ‘lucky’ for me I filled up a position that proved I could work. It was upsetting, de-motivating and unfair but could it be the insecurities of my manager? As he had been in this department from August 2008 and had not closed a single ES position assigned. Just to highlight he had not approached as many clients as I had for Business Development! I sometimes wonder how did he reach the post of a manager? Well my dear friends here comes the art of politics, diplomacy and hypocrisy. I would not forget to point out that even though my CEO, with such an amazing personality and immense intelligence, had failed to judge his managers. July 2009 second position closed in Executive Search. Even after closing 2 deals I was still labeled as highly paid resource not performing.


August 2009 – Annual Conference. The managers after the conference went on a one day trip to Murree and enjoyed themselves. We appreciated the days in the office without our criticizing pain in the ass manager. One week after the day after my manager played low and attempted a scare tactic, I get to hear “Beenish I am sorry there is nothing I can do, there will be cost cutting measures in our department and I have to ask you to find yourself another job”. Was he afraid he would be sacked? So he asked me to leave… at least he could say “we saved some cost”. One week later he announced he would also be looking after Training & Development... so are we sure now that he was scared for himself? :)


Reaching my saturation point I resigned a week later August 12, 2009; a shock for all. I had a couple of options in hand which they thought just wasn’t possible. For the days that I served I was not given any work. Much to my surprise on 20 Aug I was asked to go and conduct a Business Development meeting as my manager could not go. My question; if he trusted me to conduct this meeting properly why was I always labeled for non-performance? The meeting was successful – we got three assignments. I fell ill that night and even after informing my manager about my illness he created a scene in the morning, calling me irresponsible in front of the junior staff. On the call I was informed that 22 Aug would be my last working day and such ill treatment was definitely unacceptable to me. Suffering from a high grade fever, I went to work the next day, returned the official cellphone and said my goodbyes forever…


To summarize this entire story… my experience in the organization has been disappointing, upsetting and full of negativity. Hypocrisy is their second name. As a HR company this organization just doesn’t know how to handle and take care of its own employees. Apart from one team manager the rest of the managers were insecure and weak leaders. Some of the staff there is dedicated and are good people, however they are being managed and run by hypocritical managers. The state of the company when I was leaving; everyone who was skilled and talented wanted to move, all of their good staff is looking for a job. The company will stay where it is .. in their small minds playing around with people ..

Eternal Silence.. (dedicated to Salman @skdev)

we walk, we run.. fighting on life’s every turn

it seems never ending, the path a pure blessing

we love, we possess.. living through a crazy mess

dreaming through the night, waking into the morning light

never do we think how this could end..

leaving everything behind, tears are all that we find

the smiles that we see,

through hands that we hold

the warmth that we share,

are stories left untold..

memories are cherished

buried deep within is the pain unrest

souls wander.. thoughts gather

lost into the night like a star falling through the sky

heart bleeds as flashes are seen

we scream we cry .. the silence eternal lies

feeling the emptiness inside

living with void that we forever hide ..

...Salman: you will always be remembered .. thank you for being so wonderful