Lahore Metblogs » S A J Shirazi

Pakistan Top Blogs and Bloggers 2009

S A J Shirazi — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:35:07 +0000

Driven by powerful bloggers, Pakistan blogsphere is changing continuously and reaching new heights. Light Within is bringing out Top Ten Pakistani Blogs and Top Ten Blogposts for 2009 in an effort to recognize the best in Pakistan Blogsphere. Please suggest posts and recommend blogs you think are the best. Send your recommendations here.

SIM Information System

S A J Shirazi — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 16:57:27 +0000

Given the security situation in the country (and also reported abuse of communication systems and channels), everyone must be cautious. It is possibility that someone might have got a SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) against your ID (CINC). I suggest you check and find out the total number of SIM(s) registered against their respective CNIC number with each mobile operator. Are they all in your use?

Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has developed a SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) information system to address associated risks on security and to ensure subscription regulations in cellular sector. {From}

Mud Village in Peerzada Festival Area

S A J Shirazi — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 12:58:40 +0000

Concept of shifting to mud architecture is creating waves in Pakistan. It is heartening to know that a lot is happening to convert this concept in to a reality in the form of proposed Mud Village, Peerzada Festival Area, Lahore.

Mud is an excellent construction material. It is being used as a building material since prehistoric times. Mud structures can still be found in a variety of climates across the globe; In Pakistan, it is most strongly associated with rural culture. The idea of mud building is now coming to urban areas. Construction of model mud village in Lahore is the case in point.

Society for the Promotion of Art and Culture (SPARC), registered in Lahore since 1994, is starting construction of mud village for handicraft men. Prof. Dr. Norbert Pintsch (Senior Expert Service Bonn, Germany) is planning to coordinating the project and giving it a practical shape.

Prof. Dr. Norbert Pintsch is an experienced architect by profession is very passionate about mud architecture. Since completing first building project as an architect at the age of 18, Prof Dr Norbert Pintsch has been in various activities as an architect and civil engineer all his life.

In addition, Iqbal, a local builder from Harrapa, Ghayyoor Obaid, a local architecture and very interested in mud construction material, Peerzada Festival Area, a concern that is providing space for construction of mud village near world famous Puppetry Museum are also involved in the project. Beacon House University, Department of Architecture and Building Research Institute are also likely to participate.

It is not good enough to assume that “everything from the past is good. It is necessary to show,” says Dr. Norbert Pintsch who is very passionate about the project. Like national University in Colombia where students practice construction with local materials like bamboo and wood, the project will give an opportunity to the students of Beacon House University to practice what they have been learning while adapting the construction technique mixed with appropriate technology in Pakistan.

Prof. Dr. Norbert Pintsch never gets tired of talking about his passion and, given my own interest, I don’t get tired of listening about the details of the project. Hope you enjoy reading it. {X-Posted From Light Within}

Everyone is a Style Star at DeSOM

S A J Shirazi — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 09:01:45 +0000

DeSOM – Services Club Lahore – has come be famous for its traditions like celebrations of festive occasions like Chand Raat – night when Eid ul Fits moon is cited on first of Shawal – national days and other get to gathers. Like always and like everyone, I was there with my whole family. In addition, there we meet some old colleagues and their families, kids met their class fellows and friends and had a traditional food with little bit of every thing from Murg Channe to BRBQ (dahi bhalle, halwa puri, biryani, list goes on and on) .

There were many stall form bangles and hina to crystal gazers and special Eid gifts for kids to indulge in. Yes, there were a lot of boooools for my Maan.

The bottom line; at DeSOM every one was a style star. {From}

Lahore Needs Changes

S A J Shirazi — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 08:54:49 +0000

Husain Qazi – a long distance swimmer and sea diver has some ideas that can change Lahore

Lahore’s canal is a blessing for the city. There are few cities in the world that are adorned by a canal passing through the middle and for a hot climate the tranquil waters become the paramount recreation not only for the persons playing with water but for the many commuters passing along the beautiful roads that run parallel to it.

Lahoris love their canal. Many of the men would have jumped into it sometime in their youth. The jam-packed canal in hot summers give us an idea about how much recreation it is providing to Lahoris free of cost. During the Spring Festival the beautifully decorated canal provides a visual treat to the thousands of persons who pass along its dual carriageway.

With little effort we can harness this tremendous gift of nature to beautify and enrich our city. There are numerous spots along the canal that can be converted into Water Parks which can provide an ideal recreation to the whole city particularly in the sizzling summers. Fortunately, we have ample space on both the banks and at some selected point we can expand the canal about the size of a cricket ground that can be used for a variety of water sports and recreation. This small lake will tremendously add to the beauty of Lahore and water sports like swimming, boating, water polo will promote a healthy sports and recreation culture in Lahore.

The wide green belts on both sides of the canal can absorb the expansion of road to accommodate the lake. In this way the commuters on these busy roads will also enjoy and refresh themselves while passing along the lake.

As a long distance swimmer and a qualified sea diver, I can safely say that Lahore’s canal is a safe canal. Its average depth is 5 feet that does not pose any grave danger even to the non swimmers. However, safety precautions i.e. life jackets and life guards make open swimming absolutely safe and enjoyable. By implementing this culture, Lahore can provide a working model of water safety for the rest of the country.

If the project becomes successful, similar water parks can be constructed after every few kilometer on the 17 km long canal. A water park exclusive for ladies may also be built as there are very few water based recreation opportunities for them. A large lake can be developed over the BRB canal which has wide open spaces along its banks.

Water based leisure activities are very common in Europe and the USA. In spite of the cold weather, people in large numbers enjoy these activities that provide an ideal relaxation to a large number of people. Bathing in mud based natural water is good for the body, spa’s and mud baths are increasingly becoming popular due to their healthy and vitalizing effect. In our country gifted by nature with abundant water resources, this activity can be promoted with little effort.

Canal water parks shall also raise awareness for keeping our canals and rivers clean. Lahore canal gets the attention of many environmentalists and they may be invited to join hands with government to make it a model of cleanliness and beauty.

Pakistan has been gifted by an abundance of water resources. Our canal system is the largest in the world and our dams and headworks are scattered all along the country. We have tremendous potential to develop water tourism with little cost and little effort. An initiative by Lahore’s development authorities will result in the promotion of water recreation throughout the country InshAllah.

(X-Posted From Light Within)

Blogging is Like Building a Home

S A J Shirazi — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 13:10:48 +0000

Blogging is like building a home. You start putting things togather (working hard) and ultimately end up having a nice place. No?

{Via}

Integrated Marketing Communication in Pakistan

S A J Shirazi — Sat, 23 May 2009 07:45:08 +0000

Lahore School of Economics students of Marketing (MBA – II) have organized a seminar on Integrated Marketing Communication in Pakistan. See the vibrant glimpses of the Seminar LIVE here.

Lahore School of Economics Annual Conference

S A J Shirazi — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 04:02:47 +0000

Lahore School of Economics (Center for Research in Economics and Business) on 20-21 April, 2009. The underlying objective of the conference is to promote dialogue/discussion on key economic management and policy issues facing the country today. A distinguished economist or senior policy maker will be asked to present the keynote address, while eminent economists from the region will be invited to present papers or participate in the panel sessions. The papers and proceedings of the conference will be published in a special issue of the Lahore Journal of Economics.The topics and broad areas of discussion include Promoting Stable and Sustainable Growth, Free Trade Agreements – Experience and Potential, Liberalizing Trade and Investment with India: A Recipe for Higher Growth, Pakistan’s Stop-Go Growth – A Symptom of an Anti-Export Bias, Accelerating Export Growth – Looking Beyond Textiles. Read here.

The Fifth Annual Conference on Management of the Pakistan Economy is being held in

Meet Lorraine Adams

S A J Shirazi — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 17:06:25 +0000

Lorraine Adams – a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist (Washington Post) turned novelist (author of two including Harbor by Knopf) is coming to Lahore. Presently she is working on a novel based in Pakistan. Friends are having a group discussion with her on on THURSDAY FEBRUARY 19 at 6 PM at 49 Mozang Road, Lahore, located close to the British Council. Come and join. It will be a lovely evening; that is a promise.

Please SMS at 03335188663 or email {razarumi{at}gmail.com} if you plan to attend.

Churail in Lahore

S A J Shirazi — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 10:40:38 +0000

Ramla Akhtar discovered and wrote this about Churail in the Village.

The lives of the residents of this village changed 15 years when a German art teacher took up her student Amjad’s invite and visited his village: Thatta Ghulam da Dheroka.

An enterprising spirit, she asked the villagers about their craft. The women showed her hand-made rag dolls. The art teacher, Dr Senta Siller, told the villagers she could teach them to make refined hand-made dolls.

Thus spun off a social enterprise in this 200-house strong village that has changed the way of life and living here. Women have a school. The village has a road. They experimented with alternative energy very early on, and now are undertaking community energy & food projects.

The women from this conservative village now go on study tours with the Germans. The villagers have learned about sanitation, childcare, and eco-friendly living. Cleanliness is rewarded here.

Above all, these changes were brought within the system, without breaking down the structure violently.

Best thing is that that “Churail” has come to Lahore now. You can visit them at Thatta Kedona, 11/7 — Allaud Din Road, Lahore Cantt, Pakistan.