A drop in the Ocean

The biggest humanitarian disaster has broken the backbone of Pakistan which was not in a good shape before. Despaired eyes, torn clothes, bared footed, empty stomachs and dry mouths of flood affected people of Pakistan are waiting for some miracle to come over and correct everything. Who will help them actually? You? Or I?

We remain confused or want to be confused when we think of helping them. We see towards other people and call them to help out OUR people. But what are WE doing actually? I am among WE and I confess it shamefully that I am not doing what I am supposed to do.

We always think that helping these people means to donate thousands of money or to arrange a big truck of their food and clothes. Some of the people are doing so and I truly appreciate it. But if we cannot do this, it does not mean we can't do anything and can just sit and see the relief activities. A little drop in the ocean is as important as a whole ocean. Do little things! I swear they mean alot.

My friend in Multan was telling me that thousands of people are placed in different schools near by her area. They have made a small group of friends who have adopted few schools in their localities. They visit these schools regularly, ask what they need, bring them food, clothes, medicines, utensils, toys and books for kids, Quran and prayer mats, etc. Affectees are many and helpers are few. They don't have much resources but they are becoming few drops in the ocean.

My friend's cousin is just 19. He decided to do something and started gathering few things at his house. Other of his friends, their families and his neighbors joined him. He and his friends literally gathered huge amount of goods. They didn't advertise or go to people's doors and ask them for donation. They started collecting stuff and when their peers got to know about this, they came in and gave their share. Later, they arranged a big container and brought these goods to one of the affected areas and distributed the stuff by themselves. There are many but they could only touch one of the affected the areas. Their drop in the ocean can never be undermined. It's as precious as the billions of dollars of aid from the world.

Although the world is now the global village but people still do not know what has happened in Pakistan. The world is still unaware that 20 millions people are displaced and 6 millions among them are children. They do not know that millions of people are sleeping under sky and there is still raining. They do not know that the epidemics are slow-poisoning the poor people. We can aware the people around us as Natasha Jahangir did. Her tweets created awareness in Hollywood stars regarding floods devastations in Pakistan. Tom Cruise, Angelina Joli, Ryan Seacrest, Maroon 5's Adam Lavine, Queen Noor, Michelle Branch and Marie Digby all came in.

It's time to play our roles and think the way of helping them. Let's start from our own home. Let's see what are the things which we do not need and lying idle at our homes. Some of them can be useful for others. I swear we will not die without half of our clothes and shoes. Let's spend some of our pocket money on buying food, water bottles, medicines and other stuff. Believe me, the pleasure of spending money on this stuff will be much more higher than we spend on our hoteling which always ends up on higher calories. It's not difficult to get to these people. They are near you. Go to them, console them, tell them you are with them in this time of misery. Help them! Can't you become a single drop in the ocean?

Pray Peace!

I have been trying to write something for my country. Something meaningful.... any consolation for the people and for me as well. But couldn't write even a single word. Many such moments came but the grief and pain that I am feeling now, never felt before. Sitting far away, I cannot do anything except shedding tears and praying for peace! 

Peshawar, Lahore, Pindi and now Multan

My little nephew who's in nursery to my brother-in-law:

Nephew: Baba! what should I do when there is a bomb blast in school (Khuda na khuasta)?

BIL: beta try to stay away from the main gate. You ll be alright. Nothing would happen.

Nephew: But if bomb walay uncle enters the school then?

BIL: Then lay down on the ground and cover your ears with your hands.Understand?

Nephew: OK

BIL: and if  you see your teacher around, go to her and do whatever she says. OK?

Nephew: and if teacher says nothing?

BIL: then lay down and close your eyes. No need to see here and there.

************

 
Listening to all this, I couldn't stop my tears. How much terrible our lives have become? What type of fear this is. Death is eternal. We cannot espace from it. But such a painful death with listening the screames of injured and dying people around is unimaginable. Life is uncertain but when this uncertainity overcomes you all over, you die before your time.

These days, we live on daily basis. Each day, I thank Allah SWT for keeping me and my family safe. Yea I sound selfish but what I can do except praying that my country gets rid of all those who are doing this. May Allah guard everyone, He is the actual Protector.

I have stopped watching news. I cannot bear the scenes of dead bodies and cries of their loveones over them.  Just a single bomb blast ruin the nemerous families with the lost of their bread earners. Not only few people die in these bomb blasts, their whole families die with them. They die spiritually if not physically. Can they forget all this? No, no way!! The accidental deaths can never be forgotten. NEVER! No word can console the family of deceased. And the announced money, Is there any value of a life?

Parents are especially in an extremely difficult situation. I can understand how my mother lets me leave the home daily in prayers and wishes. Whole day, my father keeps calling me and advising me not to go anywhere unnecessarily. My colleagues remain in stress until their children reach home from the schools.

I wish that I wake up one day and find every thing PERFECTLY alright. Can my wish change any thing? I wish it could!

Grieved

106....isn't a big number? IT'S INDEED. I am deeply deeply grived by yesterday's suicide attack. My God!! we have lost so many precious lives of our kids, men and women. Regrets, sorrows, mourns, what have I been left with?

Today morning when i was coming towards office, a traffic warden blocked the road suddenly with a barrier and forced everyone to go through other ways. I told him that my office was just at 5 minute's drive but he rudely responded "go on your foot". I had to march towards my office. I felt like some thing was going to happen. Roads were completely deserted. I cried the whole way. How much my country would have to face now? My country is bleeding. Is there any limit to all this?

I am used to console my by these lines:

Zulm phir zulm hai, badhta hai to mit jaata hai
Khoon phir khoon hai, tapkega to jam jaayega

Tyranny is but tyranny; when it grows, it is vanquished
Blood however is blood; if it spills, it will congeal

Show me your tests first!!

So in all this wilderness, we still have some signs of life.

"The Sindh Assembly Wednesday unanimously adopted a bill whereby the government of Sindh was recommended to make AIDS and hepatitis tests mandatory for every one before marriage".

Dr. Yasmeen Rashid and all those who have struggled for it and are still striving hard to create awareness in masses, deserve appreciation. I know no one would first bother to have tests before marriage but still it's a first drop. At least people would start thinking about it and then hesitate to get married without tests.

We dont have facilities of these tests even in general hospitals. But i remember we did not have labs for hapatitis tests when it first started spreading widely. Now almost all labs offer hap test facility. A comprehensive national plan is needed further to overcome this problem too.

I hope National Assembly would also approved it and make it a legislation. Not only terrorism, we need to fight against all odds which bring life at stake.

Just in

We were busy in after meeting discussion few minutes ago when ammi called me. She was crying bitterly and asking me to return home. Few gunmen opened fired on FIA building which is near my office. There was a suicide attack on the same building in May this year as well. Two attacks by the terrorists are also reported in police stations today. God it has started again. Few months were passed in peace but they are strengheting again. An operation in Waziristan has been accounced by the Army. I wonder if we get rid of these suicide bombers this time. Or is this the right way to save our country from terrorists? We have ourselves created many of them somewhere. Dont know how much lives of our soldiers and common people will be needed this time. They are getting hostile. See the intensity of their bomb blasts. Casualities in such attacks are more what they were before the Swat operation.

Khair we are now getting used to all this or we dont have any other option except accepting this harsh reality and move on. They think they would paralyse the life with such coward actions but they couldn't indeed. See! I am sitting in my office doing the routine work and listening the sirens of ambulances from outside. I can enjoy my breaths at this time, dont know i may have been included in casualities next time. Allah reham rakay bas

Salute to Pakistan Police

In our country, Police department is always considered a disrespectful and the most corrupted institution. But the reality on ground is that it is the police department who always faces the major loss in any incident. With such tiny pays and the burden of their whole families, they come out with their lives on their hands.

In the terrorist attack on Sri Lankan cricket team, police officers on duty did whatever best they could do. I salute all of them who have lost their lives and those who got injured.

May Allah rest the souls of the martyrs in peace and give the strength to their families.

Sri Lankans! We are sorry.

The day was started with very sad and heartbreaking news that some terrorists attacked the Sri Lankan team with automatic weapons, rocket launcher and hand grenades. It is learnt that some players got injured too. I can tell you how much I remained disturbed the whole day. I couldn’t even take my lunch, remained praying to Allah that the injured players would survive.

I myself feel embarrassed on this incident. Sri Lankan cricket team is the only team who took the chance to come in Pakistan. Everyone had refused to come over there. But they came second time also to play with us. Cricket lovers were very happy. But unfortunately, some terrorists have destroyed already damaged image of Pakistan.

Sri Lankans! We are very sorry and embarrassed on what have happened today. I know the word sorry cannot cure the terror and pain which you people have faced today. But think that the wound which we have gotten is more severe and deep and it could hardly be filled. I think we have lost every thing in this incident.

May Allah bless you and make things be right in Pakistan too. Ameen.

Geo: The Breaking News!!

Since yesterday morning, one news that remained 'Breaking News' and then be highlighted the whole weekend was the wedding news of Yasin Malik. Renowned Kashmiri freedom fighter and Chairman of JKLF tied knot with Mishaal Malik, daughter of Rehana Hussain, chief of the Muslim League (women’s wing). In each bulletin, interviews of groom and bride were aired with their family backgrounds and with their future promises.


I tried hard but failed to remember any Event of Kashmiris' that had gotton such publicity by GEO. Their hunger strikes, their black days, their rallies, the increasing number of their martyrs, miseries of their widows and orphans could not make eough space in Geo news. I think, after Sana's wedding, it was the most publicized pakistani wedding by GEO.

I am in love with my country

I was thinking to start up a blog about the attractions in Pakistan, but could not do it yet. Some thing is pinching me, don’t know exactly what’s it but I am sure most of the Pakistanis are going through this phase.

There is no parameter to measure one’s love for their country. You might say it a mere show off but I do need it at the moment. I love my country. I love it more than any thing else in my life. It runs in my blood. It gives me more strengthen with each breath. My eyes get brightened when I see little development in my country. My hearts start beating joyously when I see people roaming around with lovely lighters and lively smiles. The song, which our kids learn to sing at first, is our national anthem. My eyes get teary when I hear it. The roads, bridges, parks, schools, universities, mountains, lakes, trees, flowers, birds……what to say and what not, my country is full of loveable things. I love every bit of it. I don’t want it to lose at any cost. I simply want peace and freedom for everyone here here.

Then I think that people of Kashmir, Afghanistan, Palestine and Iraq would have been loved their countries. They would have been wished for peace and stability. But what have happened to them?

My heart starts bleeding when I hear how people are fighting with each other. How could they find satisfaction in killing their own people? Are they humans? Would their rule last forever? What they are leaving for the generations to come? They are just leaving orphans, widows and enemies who would surely kill their love ones afterwards.

We did never think how much a strong economy is essential for our survival. They have nothing to do if, God forbids, this country becomes defaulter. They need power. They need rule. They need blood. When this lust would come to end? I pray it will soon.

Can money compensate a human loss?

A question remains unanswered whenever I hear the amount of compensation money, which the Govt. announces as the after match of any bomb blast.

The Govt. announced that Rs. 5 lacs would be given to the people killed in the D.G. Khan Bomb Blast and Rs. 75,000/- for all injured. Can this money do any thing for the families of deceased people? Can this tiny amount cure the injured people?

The country which is heading a severe economic crisis, where value of money is at its lowest level and inflation at its highest level, what type of miracle would this compensation money bring in the lives of effectees? Can an economy that is already running on borrowed money afford such amounts?

I am not against the compensation money, the effected families surely need money to face this unexpected calamity at that moment. But giving compensation money and then forget them for the rest of their live are certainly heinous. Keep in mind; most of the injured people lost their limbs in such bomb blasts (due to the special ingredients of home made bombs). They have to die with every single day.

In a country where bomb blasts occur like earthquakes (like in Turkey), keeping in view the uncertainty and uncontrollability of both, there would have been established a Special Task Force to rehabilitate the effected people and their families. Govt should start establishing special centres where effected people should be treated helpfully.

Govt. should start Special Education and Employment Programs for bomb blast effectees. There should be Special Quotas in the schools/colleges and in jobs for their children. I heard that many govt. departments offer jobs to the kids of effected people. The practice should be further extended to the non-government employees also. Giving compensation money would not gonna work, Govt. should adopt constructive measures to combat this growing phenomenon. Most importantly, there should be a transparent system for the funds disbursement in this context.

Am I proposing another department for the Govt. where it can easily and directly suck more blood of public? Ahhh……..

I think I should stop day dreaming now.

I love to be treated preferably.

I am Pakistani girl. I live in a society where women are still striving hard for their due rights. Our slogan is same as of Western female activists that women should be treated on equal with men of the society (Did I mention that our society is male dominated even in 21st century?). It would be a news for you that we still practice separate lines for males and females in Pakistan. It means that in all customer centres and any other office where women come often, separate lines for men and women are made where both are treated turn by turn. So we enjoy the right of equality but in separate lines. I would like to share one of my experiences which had told me how much separate lines are blessing for us.

Few months back, I lost my identity card. I am still shocked where it has gone. Anyhow, I had to go to NADRA for a duplicate copy. I was told that Friday is meant for women only, although women are also treated separately in the whole week. I went there early. The place was deserted at that time. There was only a girl standing in the concerned window. I took my ticket and moved to the waiting room. I saw few ladies from the glass door waiting for their turn. I heard my name as I entered the room (they are damn quick). I was guided to a small hall, which was full of female NADRA staff except a photographer, a long hair guy. He asked me to sit on the stool. I was just making myself prepared for the photograph. I was about to smile when I heard him saying ‘done’. There was only one guy out there at the moment who proved himself to be a non professional member of the staff. Anyhow, beautiful and smart girls took my 10 minutes only to fulfill all the relevant forms. I did not do any thing except singing a piece of paper. I felt ease when one of the girls took my fingerprints. It would have been difficult for me if any guy was deputed there. I was sent to another window outside the office for a final stamp. When I came outside, there was a very long queue of men, more than 40, waiting for their turn. I did not understand what they were doing on a females’ day. I thanked God hundred times when I found my relevant window empty which was side by side the male’s queue. I checked in the window, had the stamp on my ticket and flied off.

Keep in mind that women are 51% of total population. Out of this 51%, less than 20% of women work or come outside for any engagement. You can better understand that this preferential treatment would encourage them to come outside for daily work. The separate lines would also be a persuasion for them to do their work by themselves. I am a working lady but I was feeling hesitation to go to NADRA. I always hesitate to go to the over-crowded public places. But my father insisted me to go there once and I got happy to see all the arrangements of NADRA made for our facilitation.

Moral Lesson:

-Trust NADRA. She will not disappoint you.