Archive for the 'Light Within' Category

Degradation of Vegetative Cover

Published July 21, 2008 in Light Within. 45 views 0 Comments
Desertification is major ecological, climatic and human activity phenomenon that leads to land degradation. As per the definition, “desertification is the progressive destruction or degradation of vegetative cover on dry land to form desert.” It is the destructive process that turns fertile and productive land into non-productive and barren area. Desertification occurs mainly in arid and semi arid areas bordering on deserts. It is one of the major environmental threats in Pakistan.

Desertification process affects the output of arid, semi-arid and dry sub humid areas. This may happen due to variety of natural climatic variations or human activities like removal of tree cover, over cultivation, drought, irrigation practices, water logging, soil erosion, chemical actions and many other unsound land use and management practices.

Early pastorals along with their small groups of domestic animals used to move from one place to another in search of food and water. Such regular live stock movements prevented overgrazing of the fragile plant cover. Shepherds living in northern mountain of Pakistan (called Gujjars) and those living in Cholistan or Thar still move from one place to another. Beyond their movements, overgrazing is another foremost cause of desertification in different parts of the country.

Increasing human population and poverty contribute to desertification as poor people are forced to overuse their environment in the short term, without the awareness or affordability to cater for the long-term effects of their actions. In Pakistan, the consumption of fuel wood and timber is a major practice that contributes to deforestations, which in turn accelerates desertification.

Loss of productivity increases poverty, loss of biodiversity and forces internal and or cross-border migrations of people and wildlife. The reduction in plant cover that accompanies desertification also affects domestic animals, agricultural crops, and speeds up soil erosion by wind and water.

As vegetation cover and soil layer are reduced, rain drop impact and run-off increases. Water is lost off the land instead of soaking into the soil to provide moisture for plants. Even long-lived plants that would normally survive droughts die. A reduction in plant cover also results in a reduction in the quantity of plant nutrients in the soil, and plant production drops further. As protective plant cover disappears, floods become more frequent and more severe. Desertification is self-reinforcing experience. Once the process starts, conditions are set for continual deterioration.

Some analysts believe that desertification is only a phase in a natural climatic process that does not receive attention because it occurs slowly and over the long term. Others believe that drought triggers a crisis, but does not cause it. One thing on which every one agrees is that desertification can be and should be stopped. Or can it be stopped.

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Aeirin’s Collections

Published July 21, 2008 in Light Within. 39 views 0 Comments

Have a look at Aeirin’s Collections– recipies, romatic ideas, blogging tips and more – and enjoy.

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By Baithak.Net

Want of Accountability

Published July 19, 2008 in Light Within. 34 views 0 Comments
Anwar Syed

Prices of oil, gas, electricity, food and many other items of daily consumption have risen enormously. Millions of people are going hungry, and there are reports every day of persons killing themselves and their families because they had nothing to eat.

The economy is languishing and workers are losing jobs. The ‘common man’ is being asked to tighten his belt.

But those calling for the tightening of belts are doing nothing of the kind in their own domains. On July 7 Prime Minister Gilani journeyed to Malaysia to attend a conference of eight developing Muslim countries called the D8. It was all right for him to show up there but it was something else to have taken with him an entourage of 55 persons, including numerous parliamentarians.

The conference passed resolutions in the nature of pious platitudes. It resolved to meet global challenges through “innovative cooperation”. Participants cautioned the world that food shortage could pose a threat to its peace and good order. They favoured collaboration, including joint ventures, between members to increase food production and identify and develop renewable sources of energy including the nuclear variety. They resolved to increase intra-regional trade, allow movement of labour and the protection of migrant workers’ rights. They would “harness the potential of Islamic banking and finance”. Prime Minister Gilani appealed to the D8 members and the world at large to help Pakistan’s fight against extremism and militancy.

These resolutions were statements of good intentions placed on record. How seriously they were meant and whether any of them will actually be carried out only time will tell. Their articulation could not possibly have required any significant amount of intellectual ingenuity or exertion. There was then no call for the 55 Pakistani dignitaries to make a contribution to the work of this conference, because it did no work to speak of.

The cost of their travel, hotel accommodation, food and drink, local transportation and daily allowance would add up to several million rupees that the Pakistani taxpayer had to pay. He got nothing in return, for these gentlemen brought back nothing (except perhaps stories of their exploits in Kuala Lumpur). And he has no way of holding them accountable.

While Mr Gilani was still in Kuala Lumpur, Asif Zardari asked him to stop over at Dubai for consultation about the status of their party’s coalition with the PML-N and other matters. Mr Zardari had also summoned several federal ministers to Dubai to help him get ready for his forthcoming talks with Nawaz Sharif in London.

The prime minister and his cabinet colleagues are functionaries of the state, and if they had gone to Dubai on government business they could have justly charged their expenses to the treasury. But they went to see Mr Zardari who holds no public office. He may be their party boss but in the reckoning of the Auditor General of Pakistan he is a private citizen. It follows that the ministers’ visit to Dubai was their private business, the costs of which should have been met out of their personal funds. But it is lawlessness if they were paid out of the treasury.

Mr Zardari’s present connection with the government is not only extra-legal but also gross. If it cannot be terminated, a way should be found to legitimise it. He might be given some kind of a post in the state apparatus: roving ambassador, minister without portfolio, adviser-in-chief?

He is not the only party chief who summons associates to meetings requiring travel within Pakistan and abroad. Benazir Bhutto used to call her party elders to Dubai, London and at times even New York. Nawaz Sharif did the same with his party notables. One may want to know who paid their travel and related costs: each one of them personally, the party chief, or the party?

There is not much for us to say in the first two cases. Interesting questions do arise if the money comes from the party coffers. I happen to have on hand approximate figures (in rupees) of income and expenditure that several parties reported to the Election Commission for the fiscal year 2003-04. The MQM collected and spent nearly Rs4m; the PML-Q collected Rs256,000 and spent nearly Rs6m; the JI received Rs3m and spent a little less; the PML-N collected and spent a little less than Rs2m; the JUI-F collected and spent exactly the same amount which was Rs1,138,408 (this exactitude being surely a thing of wonder). The PPP parliamentarians opened and closed the year with a cash balance of Rs1,000, collected nothing and spent nothing (also an enigma).

If four PML-N notables made three trips to London to confer with Nawaz Sharif, travelled first (or even business) class and stayed in a decent hotel, they would pretty much exhaust the party’s kitty (Rs2m in 2003-04). Note that Mr Sharif asked his associates to travel to London several times during his stay there. The same would hold for other parties such as the MQM and PPP.

Consider also that parties have other expenses such as those relating to workers’ compensation, organisation of election campaigns, public meetings, rallies and demonstrations. We must conclude then that the reports filed with the Election Commission were incomplete or false, and that the parties have additional funds tucked away in hidden places.

It is possible that the better-known persons in the major parties are independently wealthy and capable of bearing their travel costs, in which case we have the paradox of the wealthy managing a party, such as the PPP, that claims to be the party of the poor and the deprived.

It may be assumed that parties have bank accounts in which their declared funds are kept. It remains to be asked if there is a unit in each party that approves its budget and authorises disbursements, and to which the designated disbursing officer renders an accounting. If that is not the case, are we to assume that the party president or chairman is the keeper of its funds and disburses them as he deems fit? Needless to say, the latter situation does not provide for accountability. It may then be said that the party chooses to operate on the basis of a personality cult, and that it has little interest in converting itself into an institution.

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By Baithak.Net

Simply Romantic

Published July 19, 2008 in Light Within. 32 views 0 Comments

I love beautiful hair. That is what warms my heat and what triggers my romantic instincts. Given my interest, I know that beautiful hair can be easy. Thanks to Extreme Style by VO5 that anyone interested can maintain hair on any budget and no salon required. Use extreme style by VO5 on distressed hair, and it will act as a natural conditioner, helping to make hair soft, silky and manageable.

And when you have your hair in style you want, visit Ultimate Flirting Championship– a fun game. On this game you can either be the judge or a player. Make an avatar. Go into the game as a judge and ask questions to decide who the winner is or as a participant and just answer. The experience is interactive, and it allows you to interact with likeminded other users. Remember that you can also grab the widget and put it on your own blog for your readers. If you enjoy good words, catch-phrase or romantic conversations, you are in for a treat. Also have Victory Hair in the process.
I suggest you go and get the widget found at Extreme Style by VO5 site and join the live challenge, also enlarge your social circle. The whole thing is simply romantic.

For more widgets please visit www.yourminis.com

Sponsored by Extreme Style by VO5

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Blog Proposal

Published July 18, 2008 in Light Within. 39 views 0 Comments
A strong online presence is important for businesses in today’s high-speed and competitive world. Blogs have already become a new are a new buzz marketing. Marketers are blogging for organizations, products, ideas and or for other organizational goals and achieving.

That has not started happening in Pakistan yet. An overwhelming majority of local consumers who do not (or cannot) use the Internet and even marketing professionals still ask what is Blog?

To understand blogging as a corporate communications tool, we must understand the nature of blogs. Here is a short definition, “Blogs - an abbreviation of ‘weblogs’ - are published on the web, typically as microsites standing by themselves but today also as parts of traditional web sites. They reflect the interests, thoughts and opinions of the person, sometimes persons, publishing the blog. Blogs are characterized by frequent updates, an informal tone and many links to other blogs and web sites.”

A business blog is a blog published by or with the support of an organization to reach that organization’s goals. In external communications the potential benefits include strengthened relationships with important target groups and the positioning of the publishing organization as industry experts. Internally blogs are generally referred to as tools for collaboration and knowledgemanagement.

Blogs can drive visitors to existing web site and help find new customers and engage the ones organizations already have. Blogs are prevailing and cost-effective marketing tools. As far as businesses is concerned, there are clients and potential clients. A blog will create a dialogue between the business, present client base, and potential buyers. Communication has never been easier and user friendly.

Once an organization has a blog, it offers immediate and high impact interaction with its target audience. As more people have online access, they’ll want more than the standard online newsletter or typical PR response (we are so averse to existing PR stereotypes). Long gone are the days when companies simply fed information to their customers. Now everyone asks for a dialogue - a meaningful exchange of information. People also want to know that organizations are listening to them and paying heeds to what is being suggested, and blogs allow just that — responding quickly and openly.

From a business point of view there are several potential reasons to blog particularly in less connected country like Pakistan. But, as always, it depends on what businesses want. Blogs are no different from channels like video, print, audio, presentations and even word of mouth marketing. They all deliver results - but of varying kind. The kind you can expect from blogs is mainly about stronger relations with important target groups.

Who should blog for the businesses? Ideally, front line people who know the business in and out should blog about it. Marketing professionals can also use this powerful tool. Organization can hire professional writers to blog for them under company’s name or blog under their own. Depending upon the feedback and information provided by audience, an inside blogger can develop the ability to write in his or her own voice and create content for business blog. Outsider bloggers can view business with an objective eye and offer fresh marketing ideas and strategies.

Outsider blogger can study company’s marketing materials, reports, other collateral information, and meet key people in organization to learn about what organization does and how best to market the product through blogging.

In developed world, blogging is being taught in most business school as a part of business studies and or part of mass communication courses.

Bloggers can post material written in editorial style and voice, updating at least once a day, three-to-five days a week. The content may also include company news, events, and information about new products and services relevant to your business.

Earlier, online marketing and web sites never picked up in Pakistan because of obvious “digital divide that exists due to individual disparities in levels of income, education standards, psychological reasons, age, gender, rural urban divide, and quality of life or collective deprivations like lack of physical infrastructure.”

Pakistan corporate world should look at blogging as an opportunity to reach out but sadly, this has still not started to happen.

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Where Heer Was Written

Published July 18, 2008 in Light Within. 33 views 0 Comments
When one has seen one Punjabi Town, one has seen them all, except Malka Hans. Now long forgotten by most people, a historic little town was once an abode of Waris Shah, who stayed here and composed universal romance Heer Ranjha. Legend has it that Malik Muhammad (alia Malka) - a member of Hans tribe founded the town some 700 years ago. Hans became powerful when Mughal King Alamgir conferred a vast land around Malka Hans on Sheikh Qutab Hans. In 1764, Muhammad Azam who was the descendants of Qutab Hans became head of the clan and made himself independent.

Ran Singh Nakka later treacherously took Muhammad Azam prisoner where he died in confinement. A great Punjabi poet, Waris Shah was born in Jandiala Sher Khan (district Shekhupura) in 1719. After completing his education in Kasur (district Lahore), he shifted his residence to village Malka Hans. Here he resided in a small hujra (living room) adjacent to the historic mosque that was constructed by Hans in 1340. Hafiz Ghulam Murtaza commonly known as Mian Wadda was the trustee of the mosque and used to lead the prayer when Waris Shah came here. In the absence of Mian Wadda, Waris Shah performed the duty of leading the prayer congregations.

It is this ‘Hujra Waris Shah Da’ that I had come to see in Malka Hans. Waris Shah had composed an illustrious Punjabi folk romance (now a film) sitting in this hujra. The underground 8 x 6 feet hujra where the poet lived is still there though devoid of any furniture or things that could be related to Waris Shah to bring back the memory of the poet. Only sign showing that Waris Shah had been living here is a crudely written plaque with sketchy details about the poet. The classic work of Waris Shah - Shakespeare of Punjabi language - echoes in the countryside and youth and elders sing with joy. One can find a number of folk vocalists singing Heer Waris Shah around the vast expanses of Punjab and other parts of the Subcontinent where Punjabi language is used. Many people remember major portions of his work by heart. Poetry of Waris Shah is written in easy language and can be understood by anyone with average language skills. The couplets are used as idioms and phrases in day-to-day life. The ancient mosque, now known as Mosque Waris Shah, with three green color domes and a hujra are venerated by literary figures, curiously conscious and devoted faithful.

I could not see the book (Heer Waris Shah) written in longhand by the poet himself despite the best effort. There is another small room in the mosque premises with nameplate that reads, “Library Waris Shah” but that too was closed and the key could not be procured because “it had been misplaced”. The monument is in the care and custody of Anjuman-e- Warisia (Registered). It is not being given the attention it deserves. The residents of this town celebrate Annual Jashne Waris when romantic and mystic poetry of Waris Shah is sung by folk singers. I was thinking as to how the plight of this priceless heritage could be brought to the echelons of power. The town is located 30 minutes drive away from Sahiwal and has a Town Committee, which has not been able to do any thing other than brick lining in some of the dusty and dark streets in town. Conservation of legendary national heritage we are poised to loose forever is a difficult task for the civic body with little resources.

Exploring this sleepy little agricultural town, you can also see the dilapidated relics of Parnami temple that used to be one of the central ashram of Parnami faction of Hindus. Mahant Darbara Singh had constructed palace like five-story majestic building of the temple over 200 year ago. Dust of ages has settled in deep layers on the pedestal where Smadhi of Dya Ram - the founder of Parnami sect used to rest in the main chamber of the temple. “Large number of Hindus had been visiting here before partition and there use to be a big annual mela in the month of Chetar,” informed a villager who is using this place as a house. “I am paying rent to Auqaf for living in this Khandar,” he complained a little wistfully.

This grand monument of the past with sold masonry and ornate designs wrought by artisans and artists centuries ago was one of the fine specimens of Hindu architecture. Termite is eating Wood but exquisite quality of woodwork on windows, doors and murals on the battered walls can still be seen. The think red bricks excavated from this monument have been used in houses in the town. And, sadly, the temple cannot be defined in the images. Auqaf does not appear to have any idea about what to do with these splendid remains of the Hindu architectural legacy, except perhaps recovering the rent from the tenants. “Last time Auqaf got the place cleaned was when Indian Minister Hari Karishan Bhagat and Ambassador De Sharma visited the temple”, informed the present occupant of the edifice. Legend has it that there was a tunnel from this temple to Pakpattan, though I could not locate the opening of the tunnel because huge quantity of rubble lying everywhere in the courtyard.

On the way back, I along with my friends had dinner break at a roadside-eating joint known as ‘Pak Afghan Rohani Baba Hotel’ near Yousaf Wala (Sahiwal). Sitting on ground, we had their famous mutton dish specially made in lamb fat. That reminded me of a small but famous eating joint in Saranan near Quetta.

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Invest in Your Career

Published July 18, 2008 in Light Within. 30 views 0 Comments
It is always wise to invest in your career in this competitive world. That is how you can stay ahead in any chosen field. One of the best places to enhance your career is Nouveau Riche - Write about Nouveau Riche, a Real Estate Investment College that enable students to select courses within various curriculum paths.

Nouveau Riche offers an educational milieu prepares adults to create wealth using the time-tested, foundational principles adhered to by all higher-education institutions. Instructional System Design (ISD) is commonplace in major universities worldwide. It is renowned as the taxonomy that accelerates learning and maximizes retention. The power of ISD has been proven, time and time again, throughout history. The Founders of Nouveau Riche knew that this widely-accepted science, if applied to wealth-creation, could change the landscape of an entire industry and perhaps, contribute to changing the world.

Each Nouveau Riche college course has been designed to teach you “how-to” real estate investment concepts and strategies. Understand the advantages and disadvantages of several short-term and long-term real estate investment strategies.

Enhance your career in the midst of like-minded people who share common goals and interests. Participate in case studies, classroom discussion and role-playing exercises that will aid your information retention. Nouveau Riche will help you build your confidence while learning the procedures, concepts and rules of the real estate investment game. Join Nouveau Riche and change your own world.

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Chitral

Published July 17, 2008 in Light Within. 26 views 0 Comments
Picturesque Chitral town sits up in Pakistan’s northwest district, walled in by the Hindu Kush range. During winters, the only way in is by air (weather permitting) as the two passes, the 3118-meter Lowari from Dir and the 3810-meter Shandur from the upper Gilgit Valley are closed to road traffic. The Fokker Friendships drone for 50 minutes and burst through clouds on decent to reveal on mountains covered with whitecaps and red tin roof houses.

This is Chitral. On the small airfield, the cold wind thrust you to shiver. The remoteness of the district has left it undeveloped in spite of grand natural beauty, hospitable people and ancient history. The town is a base camp for tourists, adventurers and researchers from across the world. And, people seem to be living there in peace.

Chitral, located at 1500 meters from sea level is a beautiful and historic town. It has lively bazaar — a miniature Peshawar full of Mediterranean looking faces under Chitrali caps and foreigners. Geoffrey Moorhouse in his book “To the Frontier” describes the seen in Chitral town: men squatted in the shade of a tree beside a food stall or middle aged man seen stroking a dog.” It is no truer. Now the modest bazaar is lined up with well-stocked provision shops, eating joints and souvenir shops selling many things from Chitrali caps to Lajvard (Armenian stone) and Zamurrad (Emerald) that find their way in the town, for the tourists mostly. However, American sleeping bags and rucksack, Bulgarian ankle boots and Korean Jackets that used to be on sale in bazaar during Soviet occupation in Afghanistan are no more sold there. Mehtars’ fort on the banks of the Kunar River is a principal building that reminds of the bygone era. Go to visit the palace and the sleeping guard will ask for a permit from district management.

The Mehtars’ palace-fortress, site of the 1895 siege, is still occupied by royal offspring so you can not go in without special arrangement. The entrance of the south end is to the residential quarters. The one facing Shahi Bazaar used to be for the royal guards. The most interesting side faces the river and is best viewed from the far end of bazaar or form across the river. The river passing through the town is called Chitral (or Kunar) River, and upstream is known as Mastuj River. Another ornate building up the road toward the police station was the royal courthouse. The spacious Shahi Mosque next door was built by Mehtar Shuja ul Mulk. New minarets and domes have been added during recent renovation, keeping the edifice in its original shape.

At the south end of town is one of Pakistan’s best polo ground, where practice matches are held every few days from mid March to early November and full-blown matches on weekends. The town has weeklong tournament in September to October. With roaring crowds and drum and horn bands that play the signature tune of each player who scores a goal. Polo is still played in many up valley towns too, though it’s a dying sport because horses are costly to own and no longer needed for transport. One of the biggest social events for Chitralis is days of super polo and merrymaking at Shandur Pass, which is held every few years since 1936.

The Chitral valley has a long history. It was subdued by Alexander from Macedonian, Chinese army and Timur in the past and was under king named Shah Rais (descendent of Balti rulers) in sixteenth century. Son of Sangin Ali — advisor of Shah Rais and forefather of Adamzada clan — threw out the king and took over the power. Kators (branch of Adamzada clan) ruled Chitral till 1960.

In 1856, the British who were apprehensive about Russians in Central Asia had sent an expedition to poke around Chitral and win some friends. In return for a subsidy, Aman ul Mulk — the first Kator ruler called Mehtar to attract outside attention who had taken over in 1857 — became a British friend. After capturing Kuhswaqt (another branch of Adamzada tribe) land in the 1880, his domain stretched from upper Gilgit into Afghanistan.

Aman ul Mulk died of a heart attack in 1892, one of the few Mehtars to die a natural death, since the usual way to decide succession for royal princes was to murder their father and one another until only one was left. This time 16 sons were caught unprepared. Result: bloody power tussle.

Aman’s second son Afzal ul Mulk seized the family fort and began eliminating his brothers. Nizam ul Mulk fled to Gilgit. Then Umra Khan, the ruler of Dir, invaded from the south. Aman’s long exiled brother Sher Afzal (the only one he had failed to eliminate) appeared from Afghanistan with a small army killed his nephew Afzal ul Mulk and pronounced himself Mehtar. Finally, prodded by the British, Nizam returned. Sher Afzal ran away and everybody recognized Nizam as Mehtar.

Two years later Nizam was overthrown by his half brother Amir ul Mulk. Umra Khan also edged up the valley, taking Drosh. In a show of force, the Gilgit Political Agent Major George Scott Robertson (writer of The Kafirs of the Hindukush) arrived at Chitral Town with 400 soldiers and moved into the fort — the ancestral home. At this time, Sher Afzal appeared again, this time joined by people of Chitral. Badly beaten in an initial skirmish, the British found themselves besieged in the fort. Four hundred people with food and ammunition nearly gone were finally bailed out after 46 days by reinforcement from Gilgit who had hauled cannons over the Shandur pass in shoulder high snow. A bigger force fought its way over the Lowari Pass but arrived too late to help. Umra Khan fled to Afghanistan, Sher Afzal was captured, Amir arrested and his 14 years old brother Shuja ul Mulk was commissioned as Mehtar. In the aftermath, this episode somehow got recast as a heroic British campaign and Robertson was even knighted. A classic example of history chronicled from authors’ point of view.

The British realigned Chitral from a western arm of Gilgit to a more secure northern extension of the NWFP. During the third Afghan War in 1919, Afghan forces invade southern Chitral at Arandu – famous crossing point during Soviet occupation of Afghanistan.

Shuja ruled contentedly until 1936, his son Nasir ul Mulk until 1943 and Nasir’s brother Muzaffar ul Mulk (who took Chitral into Pakistan at Partition) until 1948. Saif (son of Muzzafar) was killed in 1954 in a plane crash and his four year old son Saif ul Mulk Nasir became Mehtar, the last one, with uncle as regent. Chitral became an administrative distract in 1969.

Chitral is still not accessible in winters when Lowari closes and PIA Foker cannot cross over the mountains. The word is out that government is working on Lowari Tunnel Project and one day the district may join the mainland and not only serve as gateway to Kalash Valley but the area will open to development.

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Comcast Deals

Published July 17, 2008 in Light Within. 39 views 0 Comments
In the age of fast communication and collaborative Internet technologies, Digital Cable, High-Speed Internet and Digital voice users’ base is exponentially growing. The increasing demand for the access has given birth to so many services. It becomes difficult some time to choose the best. Thanks to Comcast that they provide the best the Cable, Phone and Internet at one place.

In addition to more than 275 popular and entertaining channels, comcast cable users also get the convenience of the popular DVR devices, such as the ability to digitally record and store your favorite shows so that you can view them at your own convenience. That is what makes comcast cable deals stand out. Try comcast cable offers and enjoy at affordable rates, which is especially convenient for those who need all three (Cable, Phone and Internet).

Similarly Comcast offers Internet that has 70 to 100 times faster than standard dial-up. Broadband Internet services make your online access much easier and more enjoyable, not to mention the added protection from virus-infected software which makes your computer more secure. The Digital VOIP Phone Services are very inexpensive and are perfect for those on a budget or fixed income. You also get all of the convenient features that you need with your phone such as caller ID, caller forwarding, and voice mail, at no extra charge! Even all of your family’s local and long distance domestic calls are included for one low monthly fee.

Explore the site and learn more about comcast cable deals in order to make informed decision.

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Blog Proposals

Published July 17, 2008 in Light Within. 39 views 0 Comments
A strong online presence is important for businesses in today’s high-speed and competitive world. Blogs have already become a new are a new buzz marketing. Marketers are blogging for organizations, products, ideas and or for other organizational goals and achieving.

That has not started happening in Pakistan yet. An overwhelming majority of local consumers who do not (or cannot) use the Internet and even marketing professionals still ask what is Blog?

To understand blogging as a corporate communications tool, we must understand the nature of blogs. Here is a short definition, “Blogs - an abbreviation of ‘weblogs’ - are published on the web, typically as microsites standing by themselves but today also as parts of traditional web sites. They reflect the interests, thoughts and opinions of the person, sometimes persons, publishing the blog. Blogs are characterized by frequent updates, an informal tone and many links to other blogs and web sites.”

A business blog is a blog published by or with the support of an organization to reach that organization’s goals. In external communications the potential benefits include strengthened relationships with important target groups and the positioning of the publishing organization as industry experts. Internally blogs are generally referred to as tools for collaboration and knowledgemanagement.

Blogs can drive visitors to existing web site and help find new customers and engage the ones organizations already have. Blogs are prevailing and cost-effective marketing tools. As far as businesses is concerned, there are clients and potential clients. A blog will create a dialogue between the business, present client base, and potential buyers. Communication has never been easier and user friendly.

Once an organization has a blog, it offers immediate and high impact interaction with its target audience. As more people have online access, they’ll want more than the standard online newsletter or typical PR response (we are so averse to existing PR stereotypes). Long gone are the days when companies simply fed information to their customers. Now everyone asks for a dialogue - a meaningful exchange of information. People also want to know that organizations are listening to them and paying heeds to what is being suggested, and blogs allow just that — responding quickly and openly.

From a business point of view there are several potential reasons to blog particularly in less connected country like Pakistan. But, as always, it depends on what businesses want. Blogs are no different from channels like video, print, audio, presentations and even word of mouth marketing. They all deliver results - but of varying kind. The kind you can expect from blogs is mainly about stronger relations with important target groups.

Who should blog for the businesses? Ideally, front line people who know the business in and out should blog about it. Marketing professionals can also use this powerful tool. Organization can hire professional writers to blog for them under company’s name or blog under their own. Depending upon the feedback and information provided by audience, an inside blogger can develop the ability to write in his or her own voice and create content for business blog. Outsider bloggers can view business with an objective eye and offer fresh marketing ideas and strategies.

Outsider blogger can study company’s marketing materials, reports, other collateral information, and meet key people in organization to learn about what organization does and how best to market the product through blogging.

In developed world, blogging is being taught in most business school as a part of business studies and or part of mass communication courses.

Bloggers can post material written in editorial style and voice, updating at least once a day, three-to-five days a week. The content may also include company news, events, and information about new products and services relevant to your business.

Earlier, online marketing and web sites never picked up in Pakistan because of obvious “digital divide that exists due to individual disparities in levels of income, education standards, psychological reasons, age, gender, rural urban divide, and quality of life or collective deprivations like lack of physical infrastructure.”

Pakistan corporate world should look at blogging as an opportunity to reach out but sadly, this has still not started to happen.

More: continued here

I Am Financially Fit. Are You?

Published July 17, 2008 in Light Within. 34 views 0 Comments

Have a look at Bills IQ. Answer some questions about Credit, Debit, Budget, wealth and Life Plan and you can find out about your financial health. In the process, you may even have some ideas about how to plan wisely, improve your score and also start saving. What is more, at the end of the questionnaire, you get some free offers like get free credit report and more.

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Knowing your bill IQ is essential. This alone can help you in planning your personal finance and living within your means. Explore Debt consolidation, Debt relief or Debt help in case you are in need. They offer the best plan to get you out of the difficult situation. Besides these useful services, they also offer loans. Check them out and see how they can help you. Better still, ask for the free quote and go ahead with life.

Debt is a serious issue in all societies around the world. It is always better to live within means and stay debt free. And knowing your Bill IQ helps you to do that.

Sponsored by Bills.com

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Encounter

Published July 17, 2008 in Light Within. 31 views 0 Comments
Kalpana Sahni

We certainly are living on a shrunken planet, inundated with images, news and data from across the world through the media and Internet. Despite that, travelling to another country can still produce confusion and mystification not only for the traveller, but also for the local residents.

A Bashkir family friend with a delectable name Aisloo (beautiful moon) arrived from Moscow with a shopping list which included a saree request — a silk saree with cucumbers all over it.

“Yes, my friend saw an Indian lady in Moscow wearing a saree with cucumbers and simply fell in love with it.” Aisloo smiled smugly.

It was an impossible request! Not even in our wildest imagination could we regard cucumbers as something aesthetically pleasing to the eye. We tried to dissuade Aisloo but to no avail. At the shop I lowered my voice and hesitantly asked the saleswoman to show us sarees with cucumbers. Her reaction, thank goodness, was the same as ours — disbelief. Moments later there was an excited squeal from the other end of the shop followed by a triumphant Aisloo marching towards us with three sarees in her arms — all with the so-called cucumber motifs…

“Aisloo!” I said, “These are ambees, mangoes, not cucumbers! Surely you’ve seen this popular motif on Bashkir, Iranian and Central Asian carpets? Haven’t you heard of badaami from the word badaam (almonds)? That’s what this design is called in all these regions.”

But Aisloo, having lived away from home for so long, remained blissfully unaware. It was the cucumber that came closest to her identifiable cultural image and she returned home happily with her cucumber silk saree.

Aisloo may have got the decorative motifs wrong but what about others who are shocked by our public behaviour? How many Europeans and Americans on their first visit to the Indian subcontinent are appalled by the callousness and “public indifference” to the multitudes of tuberculosis patients throwing up blood on the streets till someone explains to them the pleasures of chewing paan.

These two incidents are instructive and reveal that every time a cross-cultural encounter takes place, one culture poses unpredictable questions to the other. And every time these questions are asked, each culture begins to question itself about characteristics that it had simply taken for granted.

Take the case of a visiting Estonian professor at our Centre in the university. She came out of her first lecture very agitated. It had taken her an hour and a half to explain some very simple concept to the students. According to her, whenever she asked the students whether they had understood, they simply shook their heads. This upset her so much that she was ready to pack her bags. Somewhat puzzled a colleague finally asked her whether the students had shaken their heads in a sort of sideways manner.

“Yes! Yes!” she exclaimed.

“Well, that is how many of us indicate ‘yes’.”

It takes time for foreigners coming to our country to mentally adjust to this alien gesture, which is neither one of negation nor affirmation.

Fritz Staal, a 70-year-old Dutch scholar of Sanskrit, recounted his first day as a student in Madras University. After the lecture by a renowned Sanskrit scholar, a student asked Fritz whether he had enjoyed it.

“I’m afraid, I do not speak Tamil,” Fritz replied.

“What Tamil? The lecture was in English.”

Today Professor Staal speaks Tamilian English fluently.

Then there was a lady from Siberia married to an Indian. She recounted to her mother how in India guests were greeted with a glass of water.

“Water! Is that hospitality?” was her mother’s horrified response.

This was an understandable response from somebody residing in the subzero temperatures of Siberia where water is never really drunk on its own. But, by the same logic, the hot Indian climate influences our sense of hospitality. A person entering a house from the sweltering heat outside is always greeted with that mandatory glass of water with other refreshments to follow. How easy it is to misinterpret unfamiliar cultural traits and turn them into derogatory characteristics!

But there seems to be no limit to the foreigners’ sense of bewilderment, be it our gestures, habits or even clothes! Another of our family gems is about the Chinese laundry man who stood outside the door of an Indian student’s flat in New York. The student’s father, on a visit to his daughter, liked to wear a smart achkan and white, starched chooridaars, which were regularly dispatched to the laundry. The Chinese stood there with an apologetic expression on his face, shuffled his feet and finally threw his arms wide apart and blurted out, “I’m sorry to disturb you but can I please see the gentleman who has this enormous girth and extremely long and thin legs?”

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SocialSpark for Advertisers

Published July 17, 2008 in Light Within. 39 views 0 Comments

Blogging has come a very long way in relatively short time. People in marketing and advertising fields have already realized the growing power blog post are creating. It is no more possible for advertisers and marketers to ignore blogs. It is in this milieu that IZEA has come up with SocialSpark.com - a platform where advertisers, marketers and bloggers can work together and everyone wins.

SocialSpark is very transparent and flexible for advertisers can ask bloggers for writing sponsored posts, blog sponsorship and or sparks and make their products and services more visible in the huge World Wide Web. SocialSpark providers exposure to the advertisers in more than one ways. In addition to bloggers taking certain opportunity, all interested bloggers (bloggers are consumers too) open the opportunity and read the requirement, may be comment, before taking it. This is an exposure to the product and service in itself.

Given my interest in paid blogging, I have already joined and have taken some opportunity that I found useful for my readers. Besides some money that I make, the opportunities have given surge to my blog traffic. Though I discuss different subjects on my blog but basically mine is basically a travel blog and my readers are interested to information about different destination and related services. That is why I always look for travel related opportunities first. Also that is why I suggest travel advertisers to use Social Spark for promoting their services.

Sponsored by SocialSpark

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Our Bridges

Published July 16, 2008 in Light Within. 26 views 0 Comments

Pervaiz Munir Alvi

American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) every year puts out a very beautiful calendar on bridges all over the world. However there has never been any bridge from Pakistan on this calendar, and there are reasons for that. Pakistan in the last six decades has not built a bridge of any aesthetic or architectural value. Most of the new major bridges are of the economic variety built for the roads out of pre-cast concrete boxes or beams, or of plate girders that any one hardly notices driving over. Also since rivers are not used for navigation like they are in the developed world, the bridge spans are not very large or high. Therefore there is no need of high super structures like one sees in the case of Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco or other structures like that all over the world.

On the other hand rail traffic requires heavier bridges than does the road traffic. Again unfortunately Pakistan Railway has hardly built any new rail lines since the British period. The railway system in Pakistan is almost one and half century old. The system is antiquated and so are the bridges. However at the time when some of these bridges were built, their design and construction like the Eiffel Tower in Paris was innovative enough that they were considered as engineering marvels of that time.

In the hilly areas of Kashmir, Frontier and Balochistan the bridges were and still are being built to cross valleys and the river gorges. These may be high bridges but their spans are generally short and foundations are placed either on dry land or in shallow waters of seasonal rivers and streams. Very often these are masonry arched structures with some use of steel beams and trusses, even though one occasionally comes across those single span rope bridges thrown over the river waters gushing through the narrow gorges. Pretty as they look, these rope bridges are not permanent structures and could be dangerous to vehicle crossing.

The biggest challenge in bridge building in Pakistan comes at the crossings of the five major rivers in Punjab and the Indus River in Sindh, respectively. None of the rulers of the past, imperial or otherwise, attempted to construct permanent bridges over these rivers as rivers were almost always used as another line of defense against invaders from the north and west. That is one reason one sees major old forts all along the south and east sides of the rivers and no permanent bridges. Invading armies waited till the end of the summer and crossed the rivers by using boat bridges constructed by tying boats side by side with ropes and then placing wooden planks to provide the smooth riding surface.

British on the other hand, after conquering the areas now constituting Pakistan in mid nineteen century moved the first line of defense all the way to the top of Hindu Kush Mountains. Thus freeing themselves to span the major rivers with permanent structures for both road and rail use. An era of large permanent bridge structures dawned in areas now constituting Pakistan.
Starting from north, the Attack Bridge on river Indus and the Jhelum Bridge over river Jhelum, both near the cities of the same names respectively, are noteworthy. Also are the rail bridges over river Chenab near Vazirabad and over river Ravi near the capital city of Lahore. These are all truss structures made of smelted iron fabricated one unit at a time from structural steel. Although labor intensive these structures could be erected without the benefit of heavy industrial complexes or construction machinery. These are multi span bridges with masonry foundations constructed within the river beds. Even though the modern techniques of using coffer dams to construct large masonry footings in water were not available, the engineers were able to temporarily divert the rivers to the other side and thus construct the footings in dry grounds. Spanning of the five rivers allowed the colonial rulers to connect Punjab and beyond to their Imperial capital Delhi located in the Ganges valley in northern India.
The real engineering challenge for the bridge builders came with the need to link Punjab with Sindh by crossing river Sutlej and Sindh with Balochistan by crossing river Indus. Sites near the cities of Bahawalpur and Sukher were selected for the river crossings. These two bridges now in Pakistan are often referred in the history books.
William St. John Galwey, (1833-1891) an Irishman from Cork County was called upon to construct the Bridge over Sutlej. Earlier in his capacity as railway engineer he had successfully completed the construction of the Jhelum Bridge. The Sutlej Bridge also known as Adam Wahan Bridge is the only rail bridge over Sutlej River in Pakistan. Its opening ceremony in 1933 was scheduled to coincide with the coronation of Queen Victoria and hence in her honor was named as The Empress Bridge.
The Sukhar Bridge over Indus River, also known Lansdowne Bridge was inaugurated on March 25, 1889. It is the longest single span cantilever bridge of its kind. Since the technique of diverting river waters could not be applied to the mighty Indus and constructing piers in water by using cofferdams was not developed yet, the engineers had no choice but to support the structure by cantilevering from the shores. Two identical impressive structures, one on each side of the river, with multiple vertical and cross trusses were anchored into massive footings on the shores and then tied to the ‘dead man’ back anchors. Finally sections of the bridge deck, extended one third of the way from each shore and reaching out to each other side were placed. The middle section of the bridge, which consisted of simple trusses also used in other bridges in Punjab, was finally placed to connect the two cantilevered sections on each side. This last piece of the bridge not only connected the two sides of the river, it connected Balochistan with the down country as well. The mastery of the Briton over South Asia was complete with the completion of The Sukhar Bridge.
Finally, other than the rail and road bridges, Pakistan also has numerous dams and barrages over major rivers. These are river blockage structures and gated spillways primarily constructed to control water flow but are often used for road traffic as well. With more development coming to the country may be one day Pakistan will show piece world class new bridges of her own like the areas now constituting Pakistan did in the past.

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By Baithak.Net

Promote My Blog

Published July 16, 2008 in Light Within. 59 views 0 Comments
Blogs need no introduction now. Among Internet fraternity, it seems everyone has one or two, Pakistani users base included. Word blog — in case any one still does not know - came by combining Web and log and it was “most used world on the Internet in 2003.” According to Forrester Research, a tech-consulting company, “Blogging’s share of Web traffic has grown from two percent in 2003 to five percent in 2004, so far. The percentage is likely to improve by the end of the year. Internet users like blogs, they like blogging, and the ability of instantly self-publishing text and pictures has tremendous potential for creative people. The phenomenon is being perceived as next generation web sites.

Building a ‘great’ blog, conceiving and writing quality contents regularly, counting hits and expecting comments is very daunting sometime. It is lonely. What if no one reads what you write so painstakingly? For that blog has to be promoted. How to promote a blog and be read in this part of the world is the issue.


Ask this to Blogger.com users and they will sure point to comprehensively written article titled ‘Promoting Your Blog’ by Biz Stone — Blogger Senior Specialist at Google Inc and former Creative Director of Xanga Inc. Apart from being a Blogger Specialist, he is a good writer too. The article can be found on the Knowledge Page of Blogger.com if it is not there on the Home Page. The article suggests almost everything that can be done to promote a blog. It is Blogger.com specific but users of other services can also benefit from the common tips and techniques discussed by the author. For those who are interested, another article “How to Promote and Develop your Blog” referring to some promotion resources and more is here: http://www.misohoni.com/diary/2004_07.php. In Pakistan blogosphere, one needs to do much more to make a blog visible and noted.
Writing regularly, paying attention to grammar and capitalization while writing attention gabbing headlines and blurbs, making intelligent use of search engine friendly keywords and publicizing blog by world of mouth all may go waste if visitors take the impression that the blog is an obvious self promotion. “People do not like self praise,” says Muhammad Anwar, a sociologist. So while writing, one has to keep in mind the interest of the target segment. The visitors will come back if they find it some thing of their own interest.

Internet users, particularly bloggers, look for blog URLs. Putting your blogs’ URLs in search directories, in own email signature files, letterheads (people are still using them), sending the posts to your own circle that may be expecting (otherwise you may fall in the category of spammers that most Internet users have rightly come to dislike) or putting them on visiting cards may help. I know a teacher who writes URL of his blog on blackboard in the class every day and tells his students what he has written there for them (no wonders he gets quite a lot of hits). A fellow blogger has put his blog URL along with his nick in MSN messenger. Liberally linking to other likeminded bloggers, installing blogroll and enabling tracback may turn in more traffic. For business and organisational blogs keyword advertising is another preferred solution.

There are all sorts of add-ons (clock, guest book, tag board, hit counter, search box, quiz and survey box, links to others resources, list of referrals and more) available on the web that can help make any blog more meaningful and useful.

As the blogging services are becoming popular and more and more people are gathering around blogs, marketers have started paying attention to these sites. Some text and image advertising programs have sprung up who pay to bloggers per click. Be careful while adding advertisements on a blog. Though the Internet readers have learnt to ignore every type of ads that cross their desktops in so many ways yet some readers do not like them. I realized this when I joined Google Ad Sense programme — earlier Google used to place ads on every blog using Blogger.com but now they have started sharing this pie with the bloggers all over the world — in the hope to earn some extra dollars. What I got instead is this: “No body has extra time to click on the ads you have placed there,” was the remark of my friend who otherwise subscribes to my views. “Remove these ads from your site,” wrote many others.

Blogs show better search results because of search. Unlike mainstream websites, fresh content, rich interlinking, are added plus in blogs. Google searches have a definite dip because of the search company’s stalk in blogging in the form of Blogger.com. Who know a separate search engine for blogs alone may come up sometime in future?
Blogs are usually referred to as random venting of thoughts without any specific topic. If one wants a following, the blog has to be focused and topical. Only then it will get out of personal circle of the blogger and be read by others.

Best that I personally have experienced one of the most fruitful things while promoting one’s blog is leaving comments on others’ blogs. But they have to be a quality comments and not just any thing, like “great idea” or a “nice picture,” to mark the presence. Comments should be written after reading the post. When one agrees (or disagrees) and tells the writer on the basis of wise argument, a debate is likely to be generated. Bloggers are good at reciprocating (remember every one is interested in creating a loyal following of their own). Comments also add rich content to blogs. Most blogging services provide comment systems that make it possible to get back to the commentator even if they are not bloggers. Even visitors of a particular blog may talk to each other. Sociologists have always been saying about people’s enormous desire to communicate, share and be heard.

The bottom line is this: write a great blog. Keep it updated. Be patient and it may go a long way.

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Multipurpose Etched Glass

Published July 16, 2008 in Light Within. 35 views 0 Comments
Glasses and mugs are a common household item used everywhere. They only become special when you see some eye catching and memorable messages, witty words or phrases beautifully etched on them. I have seen labeled glasses on dining tables. Even some companies are seen giving away glasses and mugs labeled with their meaningfully done ads. Labeling the glasses and mugs has become a common trend and it is growing.

Imagine fine quality wine glasses on your party table or having morning cup of a coffee on a mug with some stimulating words written on that. They not only add decor but also meaning and a theme to the setting of any dining table.

Thanks to Wine Glass– a company that offers customize glasses based on personal interests and activities like golf, tennis and more. Their quality etched glasses are multipurpose and much more than just a great conversation starter. Have a look at them.

Explore the neatly laid out, uncluttered and users’ friendly site and see what all they are offering catering to different tastes including kids. In addition to their beautiful etched glasses, I liked their Coffee Specific Mugs and the one with ‘I’m Awake Now’ is already on my wish list. See what you like there, better still try their multipurpose and quality products.

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Windows Vista for Small Businesses

Published July 16, 2008 in Light Within. 31 views 0 Comments

Small businesses that buy Windows Vista can have free support, compatibility assistance, and one-on-one coaching from Microsoft to help ensure a smooth transition. But why small businesses should upgrade their PC from XP? The new features.

Have a try and you will find what all leading applications are compatible with Windows Vistas. Imagine that Windows Vista now supports 77,000 printers, cameras, speakers and other devices and components—more than double the number supported at launch. According to an independent survey, 62 percent of small businesses said Windows Vista SP1 saves them time, and 70 percent said that it makes them more productive.

Many users must already be familiar but those who are not can explore how Windows Vista can help them and their businesses. Watch these demos or take Windows Vista Ultimate for an online test drive and you will know. There’s also a great new tool available to help you learn if your devices and applications run on Windows Vista. Check out Windows Vista Compatibility Center. Finally, to assist users in getting the most from the great features for your small business in Windows Vista Ultimate, there is a helpful hints guide (8.9 MB PDF). Go through and find out how all these new features can help you.

Sponsored by Windows Vista

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Craft of Skin Painting

Published July 16, 2008 in Light Within. 35 views 0 Comments
Art seems to have been important to almost all human societies since before recorded history. Art expressions have been, and still are, used to record, to explain, to interpret, to predict, to gain awareness, and to express those things cultures find important,” wrote by Turner Rogers, an associate professor of art education at the University of South Alabama.

This assertion is truer in case of Pakistan where some of the medieval arts have originated, and have not only been preserved but are practiced till date. The history of Pakistani arts and crafts – Kashi work, painting of skin, woodworks and painting on wood items — goes back to medieval period.

Among the various arts that are practiced in Pakistan, skin painting has attained a higher state of refinement and Pakistan is famous this art around the world. The use of foliage or branches and leaves of trees and superb richness of colours (mainly blue) in skin painting is an evidence of Persian influence. As Persian arts themselves have been under Chinese Mongol influence, therefore some historians are of the view that skin painting had originally come from Kashghar China. Over a period of centuries Pakistani work has matured and developed a unique and distinctive style of its own. The finest quality work is done on the camel skin in southern Punjab (Multan, Bahawalpur, Dera Ghazi Khan) and several products are exported.

The tedious technique of shaping the camel skin crafts and decorating them with indegenously prepared lacquer colours is an age old tradition that has withstood the test of time. This is a part of our ancient cultural heritage and needs to be preserved. Not only that, there is always a room to bring into the art new innovations, endow it with fresh spirit and set the science as its guide. The range of possibilities in the field of ceramics is very vast. The whole world is there to appreciate the work.

How to preserve the craft for our next generations?

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Sonic Custom T Shirts

Published July 16, 2008 in Light Within. 33 views 0 Comments
Printing on t-shirt and other garments is a very common trend today. Look closely and one can see almost every t-shirt with something written on it; it can be a message, slogan and or even an advertisement. This lively trend is growing every day. Best thing is that digital printing is easy and affordable.

Thanks to SonicShack.com - the easiest and most fun designer in the world - that they offers state of the art digital, full color printing directly to the garment. Explore the site and see what they are offering and how. Their extensive collection of t-shirts have almost everything to cater for different tastes - colors, textures, styles. I wish to design my own Custom T Shirts to wear and to sell. It is easy; select your text, fonts, upload photos, use their image gallery. You can also change you item after you have designed. It is as easy as that. Users can order just one custom shirt and get discounts the more shirts they order.

Better still, Join SonicShack and build your own Shack. Members can design products, save them, sell them in SonicShack shop and of course purchase them as well. Users can also use their plug-ins to put the Sonic designer on your site or feature your shirts on your own website or webpage.

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By Baithak.Net

Reproductive Health

Published July 15, 2008 in Light Within. 34 views 0 Comments

Vasectomy Reversal

Vasectomy Reversal is a surgical procedure that re-approximates the cut ends of the vas deferens, restoring the flow of sperm from the testicle to the prostate. This procedure requires an experienced microsurgeon using an operating microscope to achieve the best success rates. A vasectomy reversal can be accomplished in two ways: a vasovasostomy or vasoepididymostomy.

Minnesota Men’s Health Center (MMHC) - specializes in the evaluation and treatment of male reproductive concerns – is one of the best places for microsurgical vasectomy reversal, male infertility treatment and vasectomy procedure and follow-up.

MMHC is an information rich site that offers general information to men who are having problems and are considering restoring their fertility through vasectomy reversal. MMHC’s Dr. Schow - a nationally recognized expert in microsurgical vasectomy reversal - helps patients from everywhere including patients from abroad. Dr. Schow’s success rate is very high. Anyone who is suffering from reproductive health problems must try Vasectomy Reversal at MMHC.

MMHC Surgery Center is accredited by the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities, Inc, Neatly laid out and users’ friendly site explains the procedures in layman’s language and helps those who are suffering in silence to make an informed decision. Try them for the best results.

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By Baithak.Net

Power Center of the Past

Published July 15, 2008 in Light Within. 24 views 0 Comments
An important battlefield for centuries, Dipalpur is now a quite and peaceful town. It is situated at the distance of 25 Kilometres from Okara on an old bank of River Beas in Bari Doab. Dipalpur is famous in the history as an outpost that has played a significant part in the defence of Delhi kingdom against Mongol invasions in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries.

History of Dipalpur dates back to ancient times. The coins of Sakas (Scythian) period found on the site suggest that the place was inhabited in 100 (BC). After Multan this is probably the oldest living city in the Subcontinent. General Alexander Cunningham writes that the place figures out in works of Ptolemy under different names. As per the tradition, Dipalpur was named after Raja Dipa Chand once he captured it. Dipalpur once used to be the first fortification in the way from Khyber to Delhi. In 1285, Muhammad Tughlaq son of Emperor Balban was killed in a bloody battle with Mongols and the famous poet Amir Khusuro was taken prisoner in Dipalpur. The dilapidated tomb where Muhammad Tughlaq rests stands neglected in a silent corner of the town, for removed from the noisy haunts of men.

Under Ala-ud-Din the town became the headquarters of Ghazi Malik. Feroz Shah Tughlaq visited the town in fourteenth century. Mughal Emperor Akbar made it the headquarters of one of the sarkars (revenue district) of Multan Province. The town lost its importance during colonial era. Partition changed the face of the town and it witnessed the new demographic and socio economic order in 1947. It is now a market town and tehsil headquarters of Okara district.

Dipalpur in the past was surrounded by a fortification wall, rising to the height of 25 feet and strengthened by a deep trench and other defences. When and by whom this fort was constructed is not known but it was renovated, repaired and improved during the rule of Feroz Shah Tughlaq and later by Abdur Rahim Khan-e-Khanan who was the governor during the time of Akbar. Feroz Shah Tughlaq constructed a grand mosque, palaces and excavated a canal from river Sutlaj to inundate the trench and irrigate gardens around the town.

Wide and airy tunnels linked the royal residential quarters inside the fort to the adjoining gardens outside. There were 24 burgs (musketry holes) on the fortification wall, 24 mosques, 24 bavlis (ponds) and 24 wells in the town in its hay days. The trench, ponds and tunnels have been filled but at places the location of the trench can still be defined. Most of the wall has been razed. Two of the four massive gateways with pointed arches also exist though they are badly damaged and their wooden doors have vanished. The coats of cement have marred the architectural importance of the gateways.

Inside the walled city that is a vital living part of Dipalpur, dismayed, I looked around and thought that I have entered a big and confused jungle of houses. The remains of once magnificent buildings of olden period adorned with beautiful wood engravings serve to relive the dullness of the domestic architecture. The whole area has a homogeneous urban texture that has survived for centuries. The narrow and winding streets lined by redeveloped and shoddily built new houses give Dipalpur a mean and gloomy look. The old character of the city is eroding due to erection of new structures and unsuitable repairs.

Besides doors with decorated latches, jharokas, bay windows and cut brick works still surviving despite all odds, the most noticeable feature inside the old Dipalpur, which reminds of the past prominence, is the monastery of Lal Jas Raj, a guru much venerated by the Hindus.

As per the famous legend, Lal Jas Raj was young son of Raja Dipa Chand, the founder of Dipalpur. The boy sank in the earth due to the curse of his stepmother Rani Dholran. Raja Dipa Chand constructed this monastery in the memory of his son. Today the dilapidated and empty chamber stands infested with bats and rats. I could not open the doors to the chamber because they are jammed and a stairway is serving as storage for dried dung cakes of the neighbours. The structure is crumbling. “There is nothing inside. There used to be a grand annual ‘mela’ here. Hindus have been coming here to shave off the heads of their sons till after the partition but no body comes anymore,” informed the residents who had gathered around me.

Another noticeable building inside old Dipalpur, which reminds of the bygone glory, is a saray (inn) near the monastery of Lal Jas Raj. The architects of the period when this inn was raised were familiar with use of space, element of design and response to climate. It was a spacious building with airy rooms on four sides, a big courtyard in the centre and four arched entrances. The inn used to be functional and firm but now it is dark and dirty. It has been divided and subdivided by its occupants so many times that you can not make out its original shape. Even the verandas have been clogged to create additional rooms. The best would have been if the inn remained in public use. This does not seem possible now.

Muslim saints have been coming to this area to spread the light of Islam. Hazrat Bahawal Haq commonly known as Bahawal Sher Qalandar came from Baghdad and settled in village Patharwall near Dipalpur. The saint constructed a Hujra (living room) and a mosque outside the village. His grandson Hazrat Shah Muqeem continued his mission. The village came to be known as Hujra Shah Muqeem. This is the place that is mentioned in famous Punjabi folk love story ‘Mirza Saheban’. Though there is no historical evidence that Jati Saheban came here and prayed: “Sunjian howan gallian which Mirza yar phere” (the streets should be deserted where my lover Mirza should roam about).

Mughal king Akbar along with his son Saleem and royal entourage stayed in Dipalpur when he came to pay homage to saint Hazrat Farid Ghang Shakar 1578. Akbar named the corridor as ‘Bari Doab’ by combining the syllables of the names of two rivers (Beas and Ravi) that bounded the belt. Baba Guru Nanak also stayed in Dipalpur for sometime. A completely ruined Gurdawara (temple) reminds of the place where Guru Nanak stayed.

Situated on the old bank of river Beas, Dipalpur started expanding and spilling out of fortification long ago. It was declared as notified area in 1949, which has been raised to the status of Municipal Committee. Now it is a typical Pakistani market town with all the hazards of urbanization: congestion, mixed traffic, encroachments, potholed roads and piles of domestic waste. Municipal Committee does not seem to notice the plight of the residents, particularly those living in the old portion of the city. The area is very fertile and ideally suited for livestock and agro industries.

Sadly, our Archaeology Department is neither very keen to discover the missing links of human evolution in this area nor in preservation of bits and pieces of history lying under the layers of time. Challenge of restoring the ancient Dipalpur to its old magnificence might be too much, but the experts could carry out a survey to record the places having essential, historic, social and architectural value.

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Reminiscences

Published July 15, 2008 in Light Within. 33 views 0 Comments
There are lessons in the first landscapes of every one’s life. Mine was a vista of green paddy fields, smoking with Salt Range mist, against a setting of ribbon of River Jhelum which from distance looked like a shore of another land altogether. The rough, rugged hill range appeared uninviting against a sky withering with the morning, interrupted by the dawn’s red and blue brush strokes. My first learning in life was also in the village.

In villages, people still live without assessable roads or other civic amenities of this modern age. No telephone or the Internet, even the electricity is the recent phenomenon; some are still without it. You see one village and you have seen all. This was the setting where I spent first twenty year of my life savouring the freedom of adulthood. It is where I decided what (and how) I wanted to do with life. It is where my mother, brothers and friends live. It is where I return whenever my active life allows me to. It is where I want to settle and spend my future.

My village is awe inspiring — pollution free and quiet. Different shades and colours of waving crops and trees - solitary, in groves or avenues - beautify the landscape. The scene changes after the harvest. The air is always fresh and fragrant with the smell of earth. The only sound is singing of birds, ringing of cowbells and sighing of wind or some youth loudly singing Heer Waris Shah, Sassi Punun or Mirza Saheban at night. One sees butterflies fluttering, ladybirds creeping and squirrels jumping around. To me the place feels like a paradise.

My roots are in the village where no body seems to be in a hurry. Every time I go there, from the different cities where I happen to be living, I take small things like candies and toys for the kids of neighbours and my family in the village and they are so happy that the words cannot explain their delight. From the village I bring everything, and more than every thing I bring lot of love.

Every one comes to see me whenever I go to the village. They ask about the welfare of my wife. They ask about the education of my children: “what classes they are in? How are they growing? When are they coming to the village? Do they remember us? Must bring them next time.” These are the commonest questions I have to answer to every chacha (uncle) and massi (aunt) — that is how I address the village folks.

“I help my neighbours and my neighbours help me”, is the philosophy of life in our village. Faith, sharing, contentment, grit, hard work and humour are few others. There are no marriage halls or other renting places. Daras (community centres where cultural diffusion takes place) are very useful ‘institutions’ for functions or for elders to sit and teach irreplaceable heritage of ideas to the younger generation. The learning that passed on to me in Dara turned out to be very precious: it was the legacy of the fable. Tandoor (Oven for backing bread) is still a meeting and talking place for women.

Guests of one family are shared by ever one at the time of marriage (or death). Hospitality is like one of the cultural benchmark, as villagers strongly believe that a guest comes with the blessings of Allah Almighty. Pull a hay cart into the shad, to rest, to dream. You shall be served with hookka (Hubbell-bubble), water and food. Cooing crows are still considered as a symbol for the arrival of guests in my village.

From our village, a group of seven students used to go to nearby town for attending school (and then college). Ghulam Muhammad was my buddy in the group. After completing the education, my dreams become out of control and took me on the darker roads of the life whereas Ghulam Muhammad, equipped with degree from Faisalabd Agricultural University, started progressive farming in the same village. He was a hardworking, gentleman, economically very sound and ambitious. Ghulam Mohammed’s father soon started getting proposals for the marriage of his son from many wealthy landlord families of the area. But, my friend married his cousin: uneducated daughter of one of his poorest uncles and is living happily ever since. Village society is still simple, cohesive and based on similarities.

This time when I was coming back from the village, lot of people - family members, peers and neighbours - came to see me off as always. My mother had packed my vehicle with vegetables (fresh from the farm), palsies, atta (floor), and husked rice and even live chickens. Every body was advising me to consume every thing back in the city, as “they are fresh, pure, nutritious and desi”. On my way back, a question kept coming in my mind: how much time this simple society will take to become complex and when will ‘development’ change the outlook of the villagers to life?

A cluster of memories - some overlapping, some isolated - of ‘the village boy’ I once was stay with me. I am a result of my childhood experiences. After having knocked on all the doors of opportunity that came in my way in life, I still cherish the memories of my village. Which is why I want to settle and spend my future in the village?

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Orovo Supplements

Published July 14, 2008 in Light Within. 38 views 0 Comments
All those looking for good supplement resource at should start at orovo - a supplement company that sells the absolute best products at wholesale prices. They are offering a good range of quality products to cater for the different needs. Have a look at their list of top 10 super food drinks. The products for acne - a very common problem – treatment, weight loss, antioxidants and the orovo detox products are also listed there.

Interested users can join their forum and see the discussions and feed back of the existing customers. Best part is that Unlike our competitors, Orovo doesn’t rely on gimmicks or sales-pitches and sell what science can attest to. Orovo’s complete line of health and beauty supplements are guaranteed to produce the optimal wellness you strive for. That is what makes them stand out amongst the rest. Another orovo benefit is their lowest prices. They offer best products at cheap rates. Try them and live a healthier life.

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Best Online Coupons are the Best

Published July 14, 2008 in Light Within. 31 views 0 Comments

Internet has already changed the way we work, live and shop. With growing Internet users’ base, trend to shop for services and or products online is increasing at a fast rate. Users across the world are taking advantages of in more than one ways. Like a travelers can plan, reserve hotels, cars and other services sitting home and what is more, they can take advantages of discounts and deals.

In order to facilitate travlers and online shoppers, Best Online Coupons – one of the best online coupon sites - is playing a very important role. Best Online Coupons offers coupons, coupon codes, promo codes and discount deals form wide range of online merchants. “There are 19 different categories such as Clothing, Computers, Office Supplies, Pets, Electronics and Travel and around 700 different merchants.” Have a look at last minute deals to San Francisco, Chicago and Dublin and much more they are offering.

When you are on Best Online Coupons , interested users can find the coupons of their needs easily. Listings are alphabetical and categories wise. A search function is also very efficient. Also on the home page, there are featured coupons and deals. While exploring, Apart from travel coupons, I found New Coupons, Hot Coupons and All Coupons sections very interesting. Explore Best Online Coupons and find what you need.

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Collision Politics

Published July 14, 2008 in Light Within. 23 views 0 Comments
Anwar Syed

IT has been strangely quiet on the political front with no report of any significant development, except that the government may be toying with the idea of launching an ‘operation’ against militants.

More worrisome is the fact that not much is even being said. Asif Zardari and Asfandyar Wali Khan may be believers in silence being golden. Nawaz Sharif, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Qazi Hussain Ahmed and Mushahid Hussain were all known for their loquaciousness, but they too seem to have taken to taciturnity. It may be that they have chosen to be non-committal on the overriding issue facing the country (dealing with militants).

A few sparks have, however, flown out of an otherwise cool pile of ash. Amin Fahim, still a vice-chairman of the PPP, said recently that the ruling PPP was not the old and real PPP but a new one (new presumably because it is now directed by Mr Zardari), and that he had nothing to do with its governance. On July 3 Mr Zardari removed Abdul Qadir Shaheen, a veteran party worker and devotee of Benazir Bhutto, from his post as head of the PPP’s labour bureau.

Mr Shaheen had committed the indiscretion of attending a function in honour of Ms Bhutto, organised by Naheed Khan, a confidant of Ms Bhutto and her secretary for many years, whom the party’s new leadership has left out in the cold. Amin Fahim was the guest of honour at this function and other participants included Aitzaz Ahsan, Senator Safdar Abbasi, Senator Enver Baig and many other party loyalists disaffected with Zardari and company.

A PML-N spokesman stated on July 2 that his party had not been consulted about the operation launched in Fata. The party is also said to have distanced itself from the PPP government’s decision to raise oil and gas prices. Its differences with the PPP over the reinstatement of deposed judges and the president’s impeachment persist. These facts have led some observers to wonder if these two parties are really in a coalition arrangement and, if they are, why don’t they reach agreement on major policy issues.

The nature of their coalition merits scrutiny. It was initially made to form governments at the centre and in Punjab. Further, it was predicated on the assumption that the partners would get the National Assembly to pass a resolution calling for the reinstatement of deposed judges by April 30 (Bhurban Declaration) or, at the latest, by May 12, 2008. The PPP, being the leading partner, was to initiate this move. It went back on its promise, whereupon the PML-N withdrew its ministers from the central government. But it said it would not join the ranks of the opposition, and would support the PPP government in all situations where it was doing the right thing. The coalition in Punjab continued to function.

It may then be said that there is no coalition between the PPP and PML-N in the central government. The relationship between them consists only of a one-sided declaration of intent that the PML-N made voluntarily. The party, however, is not bound to support the government on measures which it considers to be wrong or which are otherwise liable to lower its standing in public esteem.

It follows also that the PPP government at the centre is under no obligation to consult the PML-N, an outsider, on issues with which it may be dealing. What do we then make of the PML-N statement that it was not consulted about the Fata operation? I interpret it not as a grievance but as a statement of fact intended to dissociate the party from a potentially troublesome move.

The Sharifs may have figured that the PPP, being the recipient of the rewards of power, should be the one to bear the responsibility (and blame) for an operation which, howsoever necessary it might have been, was bound to invite strong disapproval from several quarters, especially the Islamic parties and like-minded others.

The reinstatement of judges was a matter of honour for the PML-N leadership. The PPP’s unwillingness to do anything about it could have been reason enough for the PML-N to move to the opposition benches in the National Assembly. That it has not done. If it did so, the PPP would not be able to form a viable government, and the president would have to dissolve the assembly and order new elections.

This turn of events would not be welcome to the PML-N or the PPP. Apart from the fact that a new election will cost a lot of money and effort, it may not produce significantly better results for either of them. There is still another consideration to be noted. If the PML-N deserts the PPP at the centre, the latter may desert the PML-N government in Punjab and bring it down. The Sharifs would then do all they can to keep the PPP on board in Punjab.

Unlike the PML-N, the JUI-F, Awami National Party and the MQM are partners in the coalition government at the centre, and it may be said that they are therefore entitled to be consulted on issues under consideration. Maulana Fazlur Rehman recently said (on July 5) that his party had not been consulted regarding the Fata operation and that the PPP is making decisions unilaterally which, he thought, would cause trouble. It is known that the ANP has reservations about the government’s Fata move, meaning that the PPP has not taken this party on board either.

The argument for consulting partners is valid but its mode may be moot. Mr Gilani should not have to be running to heads of parties in the coalition every time an issue is to be settled or a move made. If consultation means securing of concurrence, the party heads will each have a veto they can use to paralyse the government. Another way has to be found.

The normal procedure in democracies is to take the business at hand to the cabinet, which includes nominees of the coalition partners, and get it settled there. These nominees can present their respective parties’ views which will be considered as the discussion proceeds. If the majority in the cabinet does not accept their positions, they should let its decision prevail or, if they can’t live with it, resign. That is the way a cabinet government works.

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Coalition Politics

Published July 14, 2008 in Light Within. 33 views 0 Comments
Anwar Syed

IT has been strangely quiet on the political front with no report of any significant development, except that the government may be toying with the idea of launching an ‘operation’ against militants.

More worrisome is the fact that not much is even being said. Asif Zardari and Asfandyar Wal