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The University of Gujrat Convocation 2010
Thursday, March 29, 2012

This post first appeared on May 29, 2010


The First Convocation of the University of Gujrat was held at Hafiz Hayat Campus on May 27, 2010. The Prime Minister of Pakistan, Syed Yousaf Raza Gilini conferred degrees awards to graduarting students of BS (Hons) and MA / MSc from 2006 to 2009 academic sessions. The Prime Minister Yousaf Raza emphasized upon the role of studies in the development of nations and stressed upon students that they should make good use of knowledge they have gained during their academic career and relate that knowledge to ground during practical life. On the occasion the Prime Minister announced special grant of 100 million - 50 million for building UOG auditorium and 50 million for promotion of higher studies of UOG graduates. The Prime Minister also announced a piece of land comprising 1000 Kanals on behalf of his Special Advisor Nawabzada Ghazanfar Gull for establishing the UOG Veterinary College.


Earlier, Prof Dr Muhammad Nizamuddin, the Vice Chancellor welcomed the Prime Minister and other distinguished guests on visiting the University of Gujrat. While addressing the gathering, the VC explained different features of the academic activities at the campus. He said that objective of the UOG is to introduce subjects that offer better job prospects to the students. He highlighted the usefulness of facilities necessary for effective and uninterrupted learning.


In addition to Federal Education Minister Sardar Asif Ahemd Ali, Federal Defense Minister Ch. Ahmed Mukhtar, Federal Information Minister Qammar Zaman Kaira, Federal Minister for Population Welfare Firdous Ashiq Awan, Special Advisor to the Prime Minister Nawabzada Ghazanfar Ali Gul, Senior Minister Punjab Raja Riaz Ahmed and the Governor Punjab Salman Taseer, the convocation was attended by large number of students, alumni and academics.

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posted by S A J Shirazi @ 5:41 PM, ,

The University of Gujrat Convocation 2011
Saturday, March 17, 2012


"Pakistanis overall are misconceived among the worldly nations, where as they are liberal, moderate and progressive people. Following Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Quaid-e-Awam in their feelings about educations, Pakistan can be transformed into a moderns welfare state. Girls’ exclusive academic performance at the campus shows that every female graduate has the tendencies like Mohtrma Banizar Bhutto to serve the nation. Pakistani youth is potent and vibrant. If guided properly, they can prove the dream of the father of the nation," said the Governor Punjab Sardar Muhammad Latif Khan Khosa while addressing the Convocation 2011 at Hafiz Hayat Campus on March 17, 2011.


While responding to the Vice Chancellor University of Gujrat Prof Dr Muhammad Nizamuddin’s demands, the Governor said that the government is aware of the fast going developments of the university. He assured all help while mediating HEC and the Government of Punjab for granting more funds for the civil work and faculty development program at the varsity.


Earlier the VC welcomed the Chancellor at the Campus. He narrated the history of civil and academic developments of the Campus. He also shed light on the academic environment of the Campus. He said that the administration is committed to provide its students academic and research friendly environment at the campus. The VC urged the Chancellor to play his role in boosting faculty development as the faculty at the Campus is very young and lack PhD qualifications and also to help release funds of the central library and the auditorium.

Later the Registrar Muhammad Akram Bhatti presented the graduates before the Chancellor through their respective directors for the award of degrees. The chancellor decorated the toppers of different academic disciplines with Gold Medals.


Following the convocation ceremony the Chancellor was invited as the chief guest in the ceremony of book lunching of “Maujuda Aalmi Istemari Surat-e-hal Aur Faiz ke Shaairy” compiled by Sheikh Rashid. While addressing the book lunching ceremony, Khosa remarked that the compilation was the inclusion of the papers presented in a Sufi Conference and requested for compilation by his office. He termed this academic effort of the UOG as an example that should be followed by other varsities. He suggested  that other campuses too should  encourage such activities which may result  in to  a critique on the different issues of society. The Director Academy of letters Lahore, Altaf Ahmed Qurashi and the Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Muhammad Nizamuddin also addressed the ceremony and appreciated Sheikh Abdul Rashid for compiling a publication in limited time.
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posted by S A J Shirazi @ 8:55 AM, ,

Aitcheson College, Lahore
Sunday, March 11, 2012


This is the image of a building where Aitcheson College started in Lahore back in 1891. The building is still there and functional. Can you indicate where?

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posted by S A J Shirazi @ 12:26 PM, ,

What happened to National Tourism Policy?
Monday, March 5, 2012

This article appeared in the Daily Nation
 
 
Travel is a function of prosperity; mostly. Apart from business and work, people travel for so many different reasons: to explore, to feel, to learn, to get away from humdrum of the fast lane life, and to lose themselves or find themselves. George Santayana, a Philosopher, has been quoted as describing, “We need sometimes to escape into open solitudes, into aimlessness, into the moral holiday of running some pure hazard, in order to sharpen the edge of life, to taste hardship, and to be compelled to work desperately for a moment at no matter what.” Fortunately, Pakistan has been blessed with pristine natural settings and everything else to cater for the diverse needs of wide range of unique travel tastes.


Pakistan is located in a rare position, both geographically and figuratively. Travel attractions – historic, heritage, natural, adventurous, ecological — are richly distributed on this land from Astola in the Arabian Sea to Khunjrab on Pakistan China boarder up in the north. Travelers, site seers, pilgrims, explorers, trekkers, and mountaineers have been coming here from all over the globe since the time when there were no modern means of transport, forecast weather, showing maps and pictures or making reservations before planning a trip.

Still, in Pakistan, travel sector as an industry has failed to harness its full potential and generate revenue that it can. This, in addition to the security situation, is mainly due to lack of comprehensive travel policy to direct and coordinate the efforts of all stakeholders in the country.

Pakistan's National Assembly was informed on Monday that a total of 708,724 foreign tourists visited Pakistan during the year 2008-09. In a written statement, Minister for Tourism Atta-ur-Rehman informed the House that foreign exchange earned through tourists during 2008-09 amounted to $222.1 million.Rehman said the Tourism Ministry had signed tourism agreements with Afghanistan, China and Iran to promote the industry.

If I may recall it correctly, the first travel plan was conceived in 1967. Later, some measures were taken to control pollution in mountainous areas in 1983 and in 1988 by making expeditions responsible for leaving camping sites clean of garbage, supply of kerosene oil to the porter and contribution of cleanup operation fee of $200. In addition to isolated projects, rules, regulations and activities like compilation of tourists’ statistics in 1971 and UNESCO’s Master Plan for the Preservation of Mohenjo Daro (1972), no serious attempt was made till the promulgation of the National Tourism Policy 1991.

The National Tourism Policy of 1991 focused on preservation of environment and ecology and launch of educational programs for creating awareness and conservation efforts. The objectives of National Tourism Policy of 1991 do not appear to be enough to take care of tourism as a source of economic growth capable of generating mass employment opportunities, alleviating poverty, and positioning Pakistan as a global brand capable of capitalizing on the increasing international travel, trade, and investment opportunities. Sadly, even the stated objectives of Tourism Policy 1991 were never achieved. Degradation of natural resources continues and the proposed educational programs were never incorporated in educational curriculum at any level.

Later, in 2001, the government revised the tourism policy 1991. Major highlights were that tourism shall continue to be treated as an industry. Year round tourism will be promoted. Efforts will be made for qualitative improvement, development in environment, human resources, tourist services, and the tourist product. Federal and provincial governments will be asked to bring all legislation in consonance with demand of the tourist industry. It will stimulate private sector involvement in tourism through provision of industry support constructs. This policy like the previous one could not bring out desired stimulus.

Once again, the government is working on National Tourism Policy and it will be unveiled soon. The new policy is being finalized in consultation with all major stakeholders - federal ministries, provincial governments, Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Northern Areas as well as private sector concerns.

At this stage, what the policy makers need to understand is that the main rationale for formulating a comprehensive tourism policy is rooted, on one hand, in the convergence of socio economic benefits and employment potential of tourism industry and on the other, in the growing demand for tourism products that has led to tremendous increase in number of travelers. WTO in “Tourism 2020 Vision,” forecasts that the tourism volume, employment and export earning is expected to move away from developed countries towards less developed countries. In order to benefit from the shift in travelers’ trend, the proposed policy should be able to activate and coordinate the efforts of all stakeholders and develop infrastructure to harness the potential that tourism offers.

To make visible economic progress in travel sector, it may be recommended that all the stakeholders the government will have to co-ordinate the efforts of all concerned departments like PTDC, PIA, Survey of Pakistan, museums, city governments, Auqaf (custodians of many touristy heritage locations), Archaeology Departments and Evacuee Property Trust (Care takers of built heritage left by non Muslims) in public sector and hotels, tour operators and travel agents, and transport companies in private sectors.

World Tourism Organisation (Silk Rout Project), IUCN, the Word Conversation Union, World Wildlife Fund Pakistan, Ramsar Convention on Wetlands (there are eight recognised International Ramsar sites in Pakistan), UNESCO (the Lahore Fort and the Shalimar Garden are on the UNESCO’s World Heritage List), Agha Khan Foundation (hexagonal shrine of Shah Rukn-e-Alam in Multan and a mosque at village Bhong near Sadiq Abad have already won prestigious Agha Khan International Architecture Award) and other interested international agencies can be approached for purposeful partnership.

The policy should provide incentive to those who are interested in investment to develop necessary infrastructure. The glut of government rest houses, especially those situated off the beaten track (also those that are on track), which remain unutilized unless some officials or well connected tourists have to stay there, should be made known and their acquisition made possible, may be from a central location. Putting up a Website with a listing of all the rest houses in Pakistan, with complete addresses, so that they can be booked in advance even from abroad may be good idea to start with. This can be done by putting services along with other meaningful and current information about every possible destination in the country online.

In this age when almost everything starts online, there should be a comprehensively developed online system to access information, residential facilities, transport channels, and other services required by international travelers. The sites offering travel information should also include pictorial travelogues and travel stories. The personal experiences of travelers and referrals are the best ways to learn about new places.


When most touristy location in the world are becoming crowded, people are looking for places that are pristine, quiet, serene, and those they can have to themselves. Pakistan still has some left in the country. The need is to market the travel potentials of the country, largely unknown to outside world. And there is no other medium better than the Web for this purpose, particularly when every interested person is logging on to find what is left there to be seen.

Pakistan has a lot to offer to any travelers. I say if you have something, why not show it?

Update: Pakistan appoints task force on medical tourism

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posted by S A J Shirazi @ 11:42 AM, ,

Inter Division Kabaddi Champions
Sunday, March 4, 2012


Inter Division Kabaddi Champions, Lahore.

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posted by S A J Shirazi @ 9:00 AM, ,

Entrepreneurship activities by Lahore School Students
Saturday, March 3, 2012


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posted by S A J Shirazi @ 1:31 PM, ,

Fine Art of Calligraphy
Thursday, March 1, 2012

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posted by S A J Shirazi @ 1:27 PM, ,

Shifting Lahore

Once the best address in Lahore was “the Lahore Fort,” now it is “the Defence. Only in past few decades, Lahore has grown rapidly (doubling in size in last ten years) to become an impressive cosmopolitan metropolitan. From a walled city — the posh locality of the time when Mughal Kings, Princes and Princesses used to roam about there, Lahore has grown into new localities like Defence Hosing Society and beyond. Though promenading along the canal, between the Mall Road and the Jail Road, shining in pristine glory at night through the heart of city,Main Boulevard or the Mall gives an idea of architectural style, prosperity and aesthetic sense of its citizens but it does not give all.

Lahore’s urban expanse has expanded into adjoining suburbs and has consumed many villages and agricultural land. The expansion, unplanned at that, has converted Lahore into a city where all civic amenities are over burdened left with no more carrying capacity. And a plethora of city development agencies, LDA, WASA, TEPA, WAPDA, PTCL, the Lahore Horticultural Authority, the Cantonment Board, the Model Town Society, the Defence Society, MCL, and District Administration (and more) with overlapping and ill defined roles and no body to oversee and coordinate their work, seem helpless to do any thing for the worsening plight of its residents. The officials of different departments blame every thing on lack of funds and lack of co-operation from other departments or accept the problems as hazards of urbanization,” say a political activist.

Lahore started expanding during the reign of Shah Jahan (1628-58) but declined in importance during the reign of his successor, Aurangzeb. The old city, now called Walled City or Undroon Shahr has narrow winding alleys and bazaars. It is unique in the sense that its layout is not geometrical and its winding alleys end abruptly at some intersection. Houses are adjacent to each other with balconies towards the street and courtyards in the middle. Rooftops are used as sitting places or now for flying kites on the eve of Basant.

The city started spilling out of the wall in the British time. In 1846, the British army entered Lahore after defeating Sikhs at Challianwala and Gujrat. The British troops were stationed in Lahore Fort and in the barracks left by Sikh Khalsas in an area that later came to be known as Lower Mall — from Tollinton Market to Punjab Secretariat. At that time, that area was known as Anarkali Station. The present day Anarakai Bazaar was then known as Sadar. British troops were also housed in Taxali area.

The British demolished the fortification wall around the city of Lahore and filled the protective trench circling it. They also razed three historical gates (Lohari, Shah Alami and Delhi) and widened the street to install artillery on top of them. Lange Mandi and Gumti Bazaar are considered to be the most ancient part of the Walled City. The old city is spread over 2.5 squares of land and Cantonment was the first intervention of the British in the old city, which drastically changed the face of Lahore: the layout of streets, architecture of buildings and houses and the way people lived.

Among the first modern buildings of Lahore was included Combined Military Hospital built in 1854. Close to cantonment, towards north, a “new” Sadar bazaar was established where locals could open businesses to provide services and goods troops and their families. In Sadar, houses were built with bricks in straight streets with sewage lines on two sides. Later, the middle class of adopted this layout and architecture for their new housing colonies: Gowalmandi, Krishan Nagar and Muhammad Nagar. The influential class followed the style of British officers’ bungalows and Dewan Khem Chand founded Model Town on this pattern.

The Mayo Gardens and GOR (government officers’ residences) were established for civilian officers. This area was called Civil Lines. The Civil Lines in Lahore is spread over area from McLeod Road to west of the city and on the east of the canal and from railways station to Jail Road. In Chauburji, quarters for low ranking civilian officials on Sadar’s pattern were built.

The concept of Civil Lines brought a major societal change in the city’s culture. But when after the independence, local officers occupied these bungalows, the area got crowded. The wide tree-lined streets at the Queens Road, the Egerton Road, the Davis (Sir Agha Khan) Road, the Lawrence Road and the Montgomery Road became busy and congested commercial centres. After 1947, the Lahore Improvement Trust followed the tradition of Civil Lines and founded new housing schemes on the pattern of colonies. Samanabad and Gulberg were two such residential districts established in the 1950s.

Since the establishment of Civil Lines, Lahore’s middle class also started coming out of the Walled City and established new neighborhood at that time such as what is known as Old Anarkali, Gowalmandi, Shalimar Town and Misri Shah. In the beginning, civic amenities were not provided to them. Now almost half of the city is consisted of such residential areas. They are different form the old city in that they have wide roads of 10-15 feet where cars can go and the layout of these areas is geometrical unlike that of old city. Houses in these colonies are a mix of old and new. They have courtyards but unlike bungalows they are adjacent to each other. Shops are located in streets near houses unlike isolated houses of the civil lines. These houses are rightly said to represent the historical ‘neighbouring’ concept of the Subcontinent. As these residential areas sprang up without any planning, they also represent an important trend of ‘unplanned growth of cities in this region.

Electricity was introduced to the city in 1920. In 1930s came another change in the development of middle class localities and areas like Krishan Nagar and Sant Nagar were established. They were planned, geometrical in layout and had parks, sewage and drinking water facilities. In the houses in these areas, roofs of the rooms were high like British bungalows. These housing areas were an improved version of the old architecture of Lahore.

The partition brought a radical change in the culture of Lahore. At that time, 40 per cent of the population of Hindus and Sikhs migrated from the city to India. Now some low-income residential areas of Wasanpura, Gujarpura and Mohni Road came into existence, which were inhabited by low income class.

Although the official regulations prohibit commercial activity in residential areas, the government itself is big violator of these laws and provincial and federal departments established their offices there and private sector came up with every type of commercial concern and the old concept of residential-cum-commercial area, which is deeply rooted in our culture and tradition, sprang up in neighbourhoods.

Along side these, in 1980, Lahore’s 23 per cent population lived in katchi abadis (slum areas). In 1986, the government tried to regulate them and provided ownership rights and civic amenities to these areas but not all of them could get them.

So far the soul of the city has survived though open spaces, greenery and peace are vanishing from the city. We can reverse the process through planning, preservation and by looking forward.

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posted by S A J Shirazi @ 10:59 AM, ,




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