Samina Baig - First Pakistani Woman to Scale Mt Everest

Mirza Ali and Samina Baig on way to Everest Top [Photo]

It was great day for a sibling from Shimshal village in Hunza valley, Pakistan to step on the top of the world when they scaled the 8,848 metres high Mt Everest. Samina Baig and Mirza Ali are the only Pakistani to carry Pakistan´s National Flag to Mt. Everest on the 60th anniversary of its first ascent back in 1953.

The duo were part of 35 foreigners accompanied by 29 Nepalese Sherpa guides to scale the Everest this month. The group also included a Saudi woman who became the first Saudi woman to have scaled Mt Everest.

As for the Mirza Ali (29) and Samina Baig (21), Miss Baig became the first Pakistan woman to step on the Everest top. While her brother Mirza Ali becomes the third and youngest Pakistani male to scale the mountain.

It may be added that the group also included twin sisters Tashi and Nugshi from India who also scaled the Everest with Baig and Ali, beside females from Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Palestine.

Samina with twin Indian sisters atop Everest [Photo]

Mirza (29 years) has been climbing for last 12 years and works as a mountain guide, expedition leader and trainer in the Karakorum, Himalaya and  Hindukush. Samina Baig (22 years) is a student of arts and has been climbing since four years. Her goal is to turn her love for mountaineering into her profession and work as a tour leader and mountain guide in the near future. Samina is the first Pakistani female to to have attempted any 8,000er mountain.

In 2010, Samina Baig became the first person to scale the 6,000 meter Chashkin Star peak in northern Pakistan and the peak has since been named as 'Samina Peak' in her honour.

Earlier Everest had been scaled by two Pakistani mountaineers: Mr. Nazir Sabir and Mr. Hassan Sadpara.

via Movin' Sports

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I voted for New Pakistan Today - Did you?

The day finally arrived - a day that is first time in our history that a democratically elected government completed its five years tenure and peacefully handed over to the caretakers for new elections.

And today on 11th May 2013, I along with my family went to cast our votes for a New Pakistan. And there at the polling satiation  established at the Army Public School in DHA-Phase II, Islamabad, I saw enthusiasm and lot of activity as people, mostly youth, had queued up for to cast their votes. Every one seemed hopeful that their vote is going to help bring a change in the politics of Pakistan - a change from the plunderers and looters to a new vision as given by the 'captain.' While me and my elder son voted for the second time, my wife and my younger son voted for the first time - and I could see a strange brightness in their eyes - symbolic of a new Pakistan.

Earlier today, Huffington Post observed:

Although the Pakistan Muslim League of Nawaz faction is making tall claims for a big win, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's Imran Khan's dark-horse challenge could deprive Sharif of a majority and dash his hopes for a return to power 14 years after he was ousted in a military coup, jailed and later exiled.

Pakistan's best-known sportsman, who led a playboy lifestyle in his younger days, Khan is seen by many as a refreshing change from the dynastic politicians who long relied on a patronage system to win votes and are often accused of corruption.

We have seen enough miseries in the last five years when the previous government miserably failed to address the basic problems and needs of the people. The menace of load shedding haunted us for complete five years as mismanagement kicked off the circular debt form Rs. 112 billion to over 900 billion - due to which the power producing companies produced electricity much below the installed capacity, making the common man suffer 24 hours a day.

Corruption saw no bounds as in every undertaking there was dirty smells of kickbacks and money squandered to unimaginable limits. The main stream parties joined hands to cover up each other and virtually did nothing to resolve public woes.

After voting and seeing the charged sentiments of the voters, specially the youth, I am certainly hopeful of a better future for Pakistan - a Pakistan free of corruption, nepotism and heartless approach to its people. Let there be a new Pakistan from now onward.

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The Karez System: the Nature's Way of Solving Water Scarcity in the Balochistan Province of Pakistan

Many of us know Balochistan province of Pakistan to be a water-less area - with water not seen for miles apart. We humans have not been able to do anything about the scarcity of water in vast tracts of barren lands of the province. But Nature has developed such a system of underground water channels that astounds even the best of technologies: the Karez System.

[Photo]

I recently came across a very informative blog post written on the subject by my friend Syed Asghar Javed Shirazi and thought of sharing it with my readers. Herein under it is:

West of Indus Plains and out of monsoon zone is Balochistan – the largest landmass in Pakistan with an area of 343, 000 square kilometres.

Balochistan is scarcely populated, mainly due to its daunting arid geography. It includes the mountainous country separated by intervening valleys. Balochistan receives very low rainfall annually. But innumerable natural springs known as "Karez" and streams are found in most of the areas.

The ancient Karez system is comprised of a series of wells and linking underground channels that uses gravity to bring ground water to the surface, usually far from the source. Originally ancient towns used to depend on the streams and rivers nearby into which glaciers in far-off mountains used to feed. As the time passed the glaciers gradually shrank over the centuries, the streams they fed likewise diminished, resulting in less water flowing downwards. Then people ingeniously created the Karez to draw the underground water to irrigate the farmland. Wells begin at the base of the mountains along the contours of the hillside. To keep the underground channels unclogged, two men and a draught animal work as a team - one man is lowed down to clear the tunnel and buckets of mud are hoisted to the surface by the animal. The tunnels slope less than the contours of the geographical depression, so that the water reaches close to ground level. The water in Karez will not evaporate in large.

This technology that originated in the Chinese deserts west of the Himalayas is also commonly used in the highlands of Balochistan, although with some minor modifications. Though it is not known how it reached here. Small water channel that are built along the hill gradient for maintaining the proper gravity flow of water are found in Balochistan in many places.

A view of Karez in Sooro, Mand, Turbat Balochistan (Photo: Danyal Gilani - FLickr)

The Karez irrigation systems rely on gravitational pull and are comprised of simply a water source, underground tunnels, and vertical shafts that feed the water scarce areas. These irrigation systems are owned and operated wholly by the community. Some work is being planned on to re establish the Karez irrigation system at the sub-tehsil level.

The ancient and social water supply system can be reactivated for obvious reason: To improve the socio-economic status of the people of Balochistan, by helping them realize the importance of the Karez system and facilitate self-help activities for rehabilitation of the same; to identify and understand ground water irrigation system deficiencies and the causes for its abandonment by the community; to re-instil a sense of confidence in the Karez system among local communities; to protect, excavate and extend the Karez system in the other areas; to incorporate a delay action mechanism in the Karez system and to check the dam for efficient groundwater recharge; to train community leaders in the efficient operation and management of Karez.

Cleaning of Karez is considered collective social responsibility and people work for it on self-help basis (like bhall Safai in Punjab). Once there existed a large network of these Karez's in the province. The system has very low operational cast, it not only fulfills daily need of usage of water but also irrigates orchards and supply water for cultivation. We should try to keep the system alive. These are social streams as well.

( via Light Within ) 
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Huge Mountain of Sand Swallowing Pine Forest on the Atlantic coast of France

It may look wired but a Pine Forest along the Atlantic Coast of France is being slowly and gradually eaten up by a huge mountain of sand that is ever expanding and moving inland eating away whatever comes its way.

This mysterious sand dune, measuring 3 km long and 100m high has so far inched 500 metres inland - and has become the largest sand dune in Europe and is marauding inland with such force it is swallowing houses, roads and even a forest.

Called the Great Dune of Pyla, the dune is located on the Atlantic coast in La Teste-de-Buch, around 60 km south-west of Bordeaux, and has ballooned over the centuries to consist of 60 million cubic metres of sand. The dune has been formed over several centuries by westerly Atlantic winds which blow sand onto the shore from a sandbank off the coast.

Watch the video below how vacationers and hobbyists are making fun out of this tallest sand dune of the Euorpe:

( via Mail Online )

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Veterans celebrate 38th re-union at Abbottabad

It was 38 years ago that over 200 young men, mostly in their teens from many cities and villages from across Pakistan descended on the soil of Abbottabad and joined the Pakistan Military Academy to  realize their dreams of joining the Pakistan Army. Many of these young men made it to the profession of arms and served all arms and services of Pakistan for varying time periods owing to service and rank requirements and faded away in history.

As of now, of those 179 who passed out with 55 PMA Long Course, a few two and three stars continue to serve their country ad the Army with pride and diginity.

Abbottabad once again heard the familiar footstep of some fifty plus of once young men, now with grey hair, accompanied with their families and grand children flocking Abbottabad for a two day reunion and celebrate those two years they spent in the Pakistan Military Academy from 1975-77.

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A grand dinner was arranged in the Piffers Mess which was followed by a brilliant performance of the Piffers Band. The veterans danced on the tunes of the band. Thereafter, they all settled down in the lush green lawns of the Piffers Mess and reminisce memories of the bygone days.

The next day the entire lot got together at the Piffers Gold Course where besides golf for the veterans and putting competition for the ladies and children, a beautiful display of Khattack and Balochi dances was arranged followed by a magnificent band display.

The reunion ended with a hefty brunch and a group photograph. While we all departed Abbottabad  our minds were full of the events of some 38 years back which we feel happened just yesterday. Time passages very soon - leaving behind the nostalgia of the days spent together no matter how harsh or rigorous.

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Top 10 Weight Losing Tips

[Photo]

OK Look who is talking - me who has started to put on weight and has done nothing so far. But it really hurts when your clothes start to tell you that they are no more yours and that you either visit a tailor for new outfits or else get on the jogging track to be in shape again.

Yes the reality is one must keep in shape to live a healthy life and cling to one's lovable wardrobe. Getting new clothes stitched to suit to your new body contours is not the answer. So if you are obese, you must get into shape by walking away from computer chair more often, running a few blocks and taking stairs instead of that inviting escalator  and feel lighter and happier.

But yet still, there is lot more you can do to remain in shape - but no dieting please. Here are some tips the wise guys around the world profess - we only need to pay head to their experience and apply it on our badly shaped figures and make take these to times when they looked good on us.

Here we go:

• Before losing weight, buy a weighing machine and weigh yourself every morning before breakfast. This would keep reminding you how much you have done, and 'how much more' you need to do. Remember the DO MORE thing?
• Never workout a fitness plan all by yourself - always pick a friend: 'A like minded One' - the one who too needs to be in shape. Together you two can work it out when jogging or even walking. A partner means a motivation to move on despite odds, which while being alone means cutting back daily allowance of exercise and coming back home early.
• And coupled with waling (brisk walking I mean) and jogging, stretch out yourself daily. Simple stretching exercise while lying down flat on the floor add more to your shape. However, remember ot do these exercise as per your body ability. In case of back pain, you have to consult a doctor before trying stretching exercises.
• Eat good food - full in energy and lesser in fats. Sugars and chocolate biscuits are easy to eat - but these silently add much more than you may imagine. One chocolate biscuit means 400 calories - you eat 3-4 biscuits and you are already done up with your day's calories needs.

• Drink lot of water - well this is what doctors stress on but we ignore this simple weight reducing technique. Drink more water in the morning and gradually reduce it. Do not drink lots of water at night. Regulate your water therapy and watch the water wonder working.
• Eat fish, eggs and poultry - and did I miss oatmeal? Well Oatmeal is a good filler and can be a good late night 'snack' rather than chips and fried stuff we innocently take out of the freezer and fry and eat.
• Take multivitamins to regain your lost energy if you redesign your eating habits.Also do not forget to take high EPA/DHA fish oil - this will help you shed fat - real fast. 
• And do not miss out green tea - Chinese drink green tea, without sugar, throughout the day. This balances out your metabolism and help in reducing fats.
• Replace your cooking oil with olive oil - extra virgin olive oil is best to reduce weight as other cooking oils add dirty fats to your body.
• And for God sake do not get new clothes stitched - have the determination to wear these once again as your body comes back to shape.

I am starting all this from this day right on - when are you?

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Heli Skiing the Unspoiled Peaks of the Karakoram - Courtesy Pakistan Army

[Photo: Mountain Hardware/Facebook]

Tourism has no bounds - but unless the tourism is given the innovative touch, the very concept of roaming in wilderness soon crashed due to boredom and inertia.

Pakistan is a God gifted country with lush green plains, scorching deserts, semi mountainous to snow covered mountains of the three major mountain ranges of the world: The Himalaya,  Karakoram and the Hindu Kush. Each year, many expeditions come to Pakistan to scale the scaled and un-scaled mountains peaks both in summers and winters to be part of those countless mountaineers who have ventured the mighty peaks of Pakistan, some of which are known for their treacherous gradients and difficulty in going. 

K-2, the second highest peak after Everest, is one - which according to mountaineers is more difficult to attempt than the Everest. Likewise Nanga Parbat, the only Himalayan Peak out of the five eight thousanders that are located in Pakistan - rest four eight thousanders are in the Karakoram Range (Karakoram in local language means 'black gravel'). I have written much about the five of the fourteen eight thousanders that are located in Pakistan.

Now coming back to the ingenuity, innovation and vision in planning tourism. Awhile ago a Himalayas International Mountain-bike Race 2011 was held in Pakistan, that brought many a world class bikers to ride the treacherous tracks on the top of the world. Now just this month, another tourism adventure the 'Heli Skiing of the unspoiled peaks of the Karakoram' has been undertaken by Pakistan Army Aviation, the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) of Pakistan Army in collaboration with the Walkabout Films, a Pakistani film production company that focuses on extreme sports, wildlife and natural heritage. 

The very concept attracted an 11-member team of some of the world's top skiers to Pakistan in the first week of April to take on a daring challenge in the world's highest mountain range. Their goal was to heli-ski in the 5,000 metre high peaks of the Karakoram Range, that has four of the world's fourteen peaks with a height of 8,000 metres and above.

In the event, nicknamed "Pakistan Pure Discovery", the heli-skiers from France, Canada, Russia, Serbia, Ireland and Switzerland, gathered in Skardu from where they were transported to the peaks by helicopter. The group also included  Samyra Rashid, a Pakistani designer who runs a successful women's fashion business. She became the first Pakistani as well as the first woman to ski in the Karakoram range.

Watch a video by CNN:

One of the skiers Brice Lequetier from France, who is also the European Champion and the honour of climbing the Everest in 2003 said:

"We managed to get dropped at an altitude of almost 5,000 meters, with our skis and mountain equipment, and we skied down. So far it's a great success, because its very exciting to do something new, something that nobody has even done before."

Another skier Cedonir Chadda from Serbia was really ecstatic: 

"We are the first men on this beautiful part of Himalayan Karakoram range, and really my advice is that everybody has to see Pakistan."

And certainly for Samyra Rashid from Pakistan, this was a unique experience and honour for being the first Pakistan women ever to ski on the slopes of the Karakoram. She describerd her experience as under: 

"Its been the most amazing opportunity in the world to come here and ski in the Karakoram mountain range. We have brought skiers from all over the world, from Russia, from Serbia, from Canada, from Switzerland, and they have skied everywhere in the world you can imagine."

Watch the video below by NTD Television to view the challenges and excitement of heli-skiing on the Karakoram:

And as I said, innovation does matter and bringing some of the world class skiiers to the slopes of Karakoram was certainly a bold initiative taken by Pakistan Army and the the Walkabout Films to introduce to the world the beauty and challenges that await the ones who dare.

[via NTD Television]

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Painters of Pakistan - Shahid Rana' Islamic Calligraphy

Sadequain was no doubt the pioneer of Islamic calligraphy in Pakistan, who not only made countless fans and followers in Pakistan but the world over as well. Though he departed from us just at the age of 57, the candle he lighted continues to spread light as more and more painters, artists and calligraphers are turning towards Islamic calligraphy.

Many consider calligraphic marvels as just wall hangings - but for me who have seen Sadequain painting from very close quarters, these not only have ornamental value, but also provide a chance to remember verses from Quran by heart. An Ayet-ul-Qursi calligraphy once painted by elder brother Zaffar, whom I mentioned in earlier post about Sadequain, helped me remember the Ayet-ul-Qursi by heart as whenever I walked past it, I would recite it by seeing and then a time came when I could recited it without seeing it at all.

Ayet ul Qursi pained by Shahid Rana

This is the true value of Islamic calligraphy, which has gained an impetus after Sadequain introduced it it in Pakistan.

Shahid Rana

Of the many calligraphers painting verses from the Holy Quran, I came across Shahid Rana on Facebook, who is following the legacy of Sadequain by painting verses from the Holy Quran so beautifully that instantly attract art lovers - although he has his own style and expression. It seems to me that his favourite colour is red and its varying shades as can be seen from the artwork shared here.

His brush strokes are expressively even and his choice of colours is simply eye catching.  I too was immediately attracted towards his artwork and calligraphy and appreciate Mr Rana for his contribution to the art and calligraphy in Pakistan.

I am sharing some of his artwork which he has shared on Facebook and I am sure you would appreciate his devotion and love for the art of calligraphy.

Surah Yaseen is considered to be the heart of the Holy Quran and Shahid has painted this Aya very thoughtfully and professionally. The verses are seen oozing out of the word Yaseen as if the going directly to one's heart. See it below:

His calligraphic artwork have been displayed many times in Lahore art galleries attracting large number of visitors, appreciating his art work and devotion to Islamic calligraphy.

Although calligraphy seems to be Shahid's passion, he also paints portraits, and other form of paintings. I have only shared some of his very expressive and eye catching artwork here. His complete collection can be viewed on his Facebook page.

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Dennis Jarvis' Photo Travelogue: Dougga (Tunisia)

In my introductory post about the many adventures of Dennis Jarvis from Halifax Canada, I promised to build up more on the places he visited and traveled around the world. 

Ruins of Dougga Theatre

Starting from his visit to Tunisia, Jarvis' photo-stream first touches upon the ruins of Dougga, also called Thugga. Dougga is an ancient Roman city in the Northern Tunisia, spread over an area of 65 hectares   Due to its place in history, specially the Roman history, it is a UNESCO World Heritage site, believing that it represents “the best-preserved Roman small town in North Africa”. 

The site, which lies in the middle of the countryside, has been protected from the encroachment of modern urbanization  in contrast, for example, to Carthage, which has been pillaged and rebuilt on numerous occasions.

Dougga’s size, monuments and its rich Numidian-Berber, Punic, ancient Roman and Byzantine history make it exceptional. Among the most famous monuments at the site are a Punic-Libyan mausoleum, the capitol, the theatre, and the temples of Saturn and of Juno Caelestis.

Inside of Dougga Theatre

The Dougga theatre has been restored so that concerts can be held there, holding up to 3500 people. On some of the stones at the theatre and nearby you can still read some engraved words, there are also intricately carved columns still standing.

The Dougga Theatre is a huge structure that catered for the seating capacity of thousands.

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The theatre, which was built in 168 or 169 AD, is one of the best preserved examples in Roman Africa. It could seat 3500 spectators, even though Dougga only had 5000 inhabitants. It was one of a series of imperial buildings constructed over the course of two centuries at Dougga which deviate from the classic “blueprints” only in as much as they have been adapted to take account of the local terrain. Some minor adjustments have been made and the local architects had a certain freedom with regard to the ornamentation of the buildings

A magnificent theatre and as good or better than others I have seen in the Roman world, not the largest.

Jarvis while appreciating the way these archaeological remains have been preserved, is also mouthful of the friendliness of the people of Tunisia, their warm hospitality and sport.

As for the above photograph, I put this up by itself so I could make a point. I have been in many countries around the world and I will say that the people of Tunisia are very friendly, they did not ask for money when you took their pictures and always offered a smile. This young lady just waved at me for no reason other than to say hi. Also notice the writing at the top of the column and on the block beside her.

I love ancient ruins and building but the best part of travelling is meeting the people and seeing how they live.

So here we come to an end of Jarvis visit to Dougga ruins. In my next post I shall cover 'Kairouan,' a very important place of Tunisia and its relevance to Muslim architecture and graves of companions of the Prophet Muhammad, may peace be upon Him.

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Sadequain - legendary Artist and Calligrapher the World Lost too Early

Whenever art is talked about, it remains meaningless without the mention of Sadequain: an artist with a multifaceted approach towards art. He was muralist, portrait maker, calligrapher, poet and above all a revolutionary who transformed the artwork in Pakistan and presented something very unique, innovative, artistic and bold. 

Syed Sadequain Ahmed Naqvi, who is also often referred to as Sadequain Naqqash Faqir Sadequain (a self-proclaimed faqir) or simply Sadequain was born in 1930 at Amroha of the undivided Indian subcontinent in the family of calligraphers. His artistic roots also lead him into the world of art, painters and calligraphers and became a world renowned painter in his lifetime.

His work first surfaced in 1954 at Quetta when he held his first solo exhibition. He was brought to limelight by the 5th prime minister of Pakistan Hussainn Shaheed Suhrawardy who had some paintings done for his residence and later a mural at Jinnah Hospital, Karachi in 1955.

Treasure of Time

Sadequain then traveled to France  USA and many other European and Middle Eastern countries from 1961 onward to exhibit his artwork and was appreciated where ever he went.
His monumental mural of 100 x 12 feet ‘Treasure of Time’ was a masterpiece which he did for the State Bank of Pakistan building at Karachi. 

Part of Treasure of Time depicting tribute to intellectual advancement of the Arab scholars like Al-Beruni, Al-Khawarizmi, Omar Khayyam, Ibne Rushd, Sadequain (in the shape of a skeleton), IbneZakaria, Rumi, Al-Idrisi, Hafiz, and Ibne Khaldun

The mural pays tribute to the human intellectual advancement through the course of history by highlighting Greek philosophers, European luminaries of renaissance, Arab scholars, and twentieth century stalwarts complete the visual narration.

Murals at Mangla Dam

He continued with his mural artwork which are displayed at Frere Hall Karachi, Lahore Museum, Punjab University, Mangla Dam, Aligarh Muslim University, Banaras Hindu University, Indian Institute of Geological Sciences, Islamic Institute in Delhi, and Abu Dhabi Power House and many other places. These murals provide a peek into the life of the era by capturing characters and portraying scenes from social and cultural events that take place at the time.

Apart from his murals, he painted men of the unprivileged class showing their agony, grief and misery in the back drop of desert thorns. These angular, lean figures, usually clad in/around cactus not only showed the miseries of the people around him, or perhaps himself too.

In his later works specially in the 70s, he switched over to calligraphy – something that was in his blood. His beautiful depiction of Surah Rehman from the Holy Quran is something that introduced a new style of Islamic calligraphy – something that was instantly copied by many and fake calligraphic works appeared in market by lowly artists to earn money. 

Whereas Sadequain never sold his paintings for money earning. He would refuse it to the rich, but would just give it away to friends and admirers for free.

In an interview Sadequain said:

“People ask why I don't paint flowers, butterflies and landscapes? I tell them that I seek the truth and I am after reality. I am not inspired by someone posing against the backdrop of roses in a vase or pink curtains. What inspires me is a person who has gone hungry for hours and is struggling for survival. The expression that lights his face at the end of the day when he has finally found some scraps, that is what touches me. I am a painter of the expression of reality.”

Sadequain also wrote hundreds of quartets and it was real pleasure to hear him reciting his own poetry in his very own and special way of expression. He also painted his artwork based on the poetry of Ghalib and Faiz Ahmed Faiz. 

Sadequain is also known as the Holt Sinner since some of his initial art work included nude men and women both in sketches and painting. 

My family is lucky to have very close and intimate interaction with Sadequain which began in  early 1970s when one day my elder brother, Zaffar Hameed Bhatti, then studying in the Government College, found Sadequain strolling outside the Lahore Museum. My brother, who himself is a good artist rushed up to nearby Anarkali paper market, bought a pen and a drawing sheet and asked Sadequain for autograph.

It was the time when Sadequain was painting the ceiling of the Lahore museum entrance hall, depicting Evolution of Mankind, and additional nine large panels of calligraphy for the Islamic Gallery. The ceiling spans approximately 100 x 35 feet (11 m).

When Sadequain knew of my brother’s interest in art, he invited him inside the museum and showed him his masterpieces. From then on my brother, later joined by another brother of mine, was part of Sadequain’s team to assist him in completing his paintings. My brother witnessed simple soul Sadequain being fleeced of his paintings by men and women of the elite class. A major portion of Sadequain's work thus eroded.

I also got to sit with my brothers and watch Sadequain at work and was lucky to have his autograph as shown above, which he endorsed at the back the painting exhibition invitation card.

Sadequain personally addressed the invitation card for me when he was leaving Lahore after completing his Lahore Museum paintings and a select group of people were invited by him to view his paintings

Sadequain is also known as the Holy Sinner for his paintings of naked man and woman, which portray his  vitality, innovation, restless fervor and immense amount of energy. He also painted portraits of angular, lean figures, usually clad in/around cactus not only showed the miseries of the people around him, or perhaps himself too.    

During his life, he received numerous awards that included  Tamgha-e-Imtiaz by Government of Pakistan (1960), “Laureate de Paris (1961) and Pride of Performance (1962), Cultural Award by Government of Australia (1975) and Sitara-e-Imtiaz (1980). 

Sadeqain died on February 10, 1987 in Karachi at the age of 57. He is buried in Sakhi Hassan graveyard.

On 14 August 2006, Pakistan Post issued a Rs. 40 sheetlet to posthumously honour 10 Pakistani Painters. Besides Sadequain, the other 9 painters are: Laila Shahzada, Askari Mian Irani, Zahoor ul Akhlaq, Ali Imam, Shakir Ali, Anna Molka Ahmed, Zubeida Agha, Ahmed Pervez and Bashir Mirza.


For more of his artwork, visit Pakistanpaedia

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23rd March - a day in life of Pakistan

23rd March - a day in life of Pakistan!!

A day which have two-fold significance in the history of Pakistan. It was the day in 1940 when a historic gathering of the All India Muslim League, a political party representing all Muslims of the British India took place at the Minto Park, Lahore and the resolution for an independent Muslim homeland for the Muslims of the British India was passed, known as the Lahore Resolution which later came to be known as the Pakistan Resolution. The place where the resolution was passed now stands a beautiful minaret known as the Minar-e-Pakistan, minaret of Pakistan, to remind the future generations of the importance of this historic place.

On this historic day, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan made this historic speech, “Muslims are a nation according to any definition of nation. We wish our people to develop to the fullest spiritual, cultural, economic, social and political life in a way that we think best and in consonance with our own ideals and according to the genius of our people”.

Due to the efforts of the leaders of the All India Muslim League under the leadership of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, that the British conceded to the legitimate demands of the Muslims and allowed partition of the British India into two independent countries of Pakistan and India on 14th August 1947 - a day when an Empire came to an end that ruled this subcontinent for almost over 100 years and long drawn struggle for independence materialized for the people of Indo-Pak subcontinent.

The day again surfaces in the history of Pakistan in 1956, when Pakistan became the first Islamic republic of the world. 

Thus the day combines two important events in the history of Pakistan and is celebrated with national pride and commitment. 

The day commences with a 21 gun salute as a salute and tribute to all those who worked for the independence of Pakistan and those who died and laid their lives to acquire this country and preserving its integrity. 

After many decades since 1940 and 1956, Pakistan still stands at a very critical juncture of its history. The democracy has finally returned to country after yet another decade long spell of military rule and the democratic government has just completed its five years 'safely.' And all is set for next elections to be held in May later this year. While the country is still in the grip of militancy and religious intolerance, the democracy has not done any good either as the recent stint of the government was marred with corruption and swindling of national resources.

The politicians are once again showing new hopes to their voters - with same slogans and rhetorical statements. In Lahore today, a new political voice of Imran Khan is being heard today and youth is being mobilized to come forward and vote for a change - change form all those faces we have seen and tested many a a times in the past. Would this be a call for ushering in new era for Pakistan - a new hope for the future?

Only time and next elections will tell. But as for now, on this day, let every Pakistani make a resolve to work towards making Pakistan as one of the greatest nations of the world, as pledged by Jinnah and make an all out endeavour to make this country peaceful, progressive, tolerant and accommodating for all people of Pakistan, irrespective of their religion, caste and creed. We must also make a resolve today to rid this country of the faces that have deceived us for long - and from the menace of militancy and extremism, which has plagued this country for the last so many years.

via The Fire Within

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Facebook and Pakistan

Of all the social media networks, Facebook has over the years emerged as the most powerful social media not only around the world but in Pakistan too. Each day a ton of information is uploaded by various groups and individuals from Pakistan that are not only amazing and beautiful, but are awe inspiring as well. These photos and accompanying information indeed serves as a well treasured source to introduce the beauty and natural trove of Pakistan to the world.

Today, while I was scanning through the Facebook, some of the photos and information caught my attention and I thought of sharing these on my blog so as to project the natural wealth and beauty of Pakistan to my readers around the world.

To start with is the photo above of the Mataltan Village, Swat, shared by Colors of Pakistan (Picture Credits : Mujahed Qasmi). This group has been sharing stunning and eye catching photos of various parts of Pakistan and is source which is worth appreciating.

Head Taunsa on River Indus at Kot Addu (Sada Apna Punjab)

Sada Apna Punjab (Translation: Our Very Own Punjab) is another group where you may find exclusive photos of the province of Punjab. Each photo share here is the true reflection of the people and land of the Punjab province and their lifestyle. 

The above photo is about the special 'halwas' one comes across in Punjab, specially Lahore during winters. These sweets are enormously rich in oil, sugar, milk and dry fruits, beside the main ingredients. In the above photo, one can see two large open pans with Gajar ka Halwa (made of carrots) and Daal ka Halwa (made form grams) is the specialty of Lahore. One should not miss eating these when visiting Lahore.

Lahore, the City of Garden is yet another rich group about the culture, history and its glorious past and present of the city of Lahore. I have always been attracted by their photo sharing which go back to as old as the city of the Lahore itself is. This is one my favourite groups and despite being a born Lahorite, I am amazed to find so much about Lahore that I had not known before. 

Above: Badshahi Mosque, Lahore (1915-1919 Bottom: The 1st Inniskilling (Royal Irish infantry regiment) marching through street of Lahore c. 1947

The two photos above are rare in the sense that the photo of Badshahi Mosque is almost a century old. And the photo below shows marching of the British soldiers most probably just before the partition as the troops were leaving Lahore on the eve of end of the British Empire in the Indian sub continent.

The information shared by Lahore, the City of Garden, about Princess Bamba Sutherland, the eldest daughter of Maharaja Daleep Singh, who chose to settle down in Lahore in the then posh locality of Model Town, is worth mentioning. She named her house as Gulzar, which had a complete one canal of land dedicated to her garden of roses. Here she married Dr David Waters Sutherland who was Principal of the King Edward Medical College, Lahore (now Medical University).

Princess Bamba inherited a vast collection of paintings, art objects, historical documents and royal orders from her father and kept these in safe custody at Lahore. After her death, her art trove caretaker Pir Karim Bakhsh Supra handed over her art trove that consisted of 18 oil paintings, 14 water colours, 22 ivory paintings, 17 photographs, 10 metallic objects and seven miscellaneous articles, are known as ‘The Princess Bamba Collection’ to the Department of Archaeology, Government of Pakistan, for preservation as a national asset. 

She quietly slipped into its soil on March 10, 1957, almost unknown and unwept.

I do not know what became of the ‘The Princess Bamba Collection’, but the information shared by the group is of enormous historical value, which we may not have known otherwise but through Facebook.

I will continue to share information about Pakistan as shared through Facebook by individuals and groups to let my readers outside Pakistan know about the inherent beauty and love in time.

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