Pakistan Software House Association (P@SHA) is organizing P@SHA ICT Awards 2010 in Lahore this October. This is the flagship event of the IT & ITES industry in Pakistan and P@SHA organizes this event annually to celebrate the innovation in local ICT industry. The awards are in its 7th year but it is the first time these awards are being held in Lahore. The awards are given to the winners in 24 different categories who will be judged by a panel of judges from the private and public sector.

Event Details:

The event details are as follows.

Date: 8th October 2010
Time: 6 pm – 11:00 pm
Venue: Silver Bell, Royal Palm Golf & Country Club, Lahore (Location Map)

Registration:

Registration is FREE but COMPULSORY!

Register at http://tinyurl.com/pashaictawards and you’ll receive an email confirmation from P@SHA Secretariat to attend the event.

P@SHA Talent Hunt:

There are other attractions as well. This time P@SHA is also providing an opportunity to those aspiring artists who just need a chance to show off their talent.

If you sing, dance, perform magic tricks or are a great comedian, actor or entertainer, and if you are part of the IT community, P@SHA wants you! Put up a demo of your talent on YouTube before September 20, 2010.

The deadlines are already over but I mentioned it again because if you believe you REALLY are the one.. I repeat, only if.. you are the one; you may want to check Jehan Ara’s post on P@SHA Talent Hunt or visit the official blog to see if you can be considered.

Theme Song:

Another attribute of this event is its official theme song. The theme song for the P@SHA ICT Awards 2010 is Green and White which is produced by P@SHA Chairman Yusuf Jan who also wrote the lyrics.

Finally, the sponsors for this ‘IT Oscar Night for Pakistan‘ are Infotech, Microsoft Pakistan, Wi-tribe Pakistan, IBM, PSEB, Mixit, Intel, Dell Pakistan, Oracle, CIO Pakistan and others.

PS: Jehan Ara termed this event as ‘Our IT Oscar Night‘. :)

They say money can buy every thing except love. This is not true. You cant buy petroleum even if you have money, at least not in Lahore.

Now petrol is deficient in Pakistan, particularly the situation is getting critical in Lahore. It has been nine days that people are not getting petrol. Auto owners are seen pushing their big big cars with bug big tyers to the closest petrol station where they find “Petrol is Not Available” and find a long queue of cars already waiting for their turn. Today, I was shocked when lined up in one of the longest queue I have seen in life, I saw a very young son pushing a car and an old father steering it to the station. Once they reach the station, they get little quantity of petrol (depending upon the logic and wishes of the petrol station administration).

Lahories are used to different type of shortages! They have experiences and are used to electric shortages, sugar shortages, floor shortages, CNG shortages. But the going gets difficult when they adjust to one shortage and the next starts.

This is not political and you can blame it on any thing but such situations are nothing but lack of responsibility, lack of will and mismanagement. Some one sitting pretty might ask people to ‘live under these difficult times and sacrifice more but I am wondering till when people of Pakistan will keep sacrificing and facing challenges on the name of patriotism. [Also at Light Within]

Scenes of destruction at the Lahore bomb blasts on September 01, 2010 - Source: Reuters

Around 30 people fell victim to another barbaric act of terrorism involving three bomb blasts on a Shia religious procession in Lahore yesterday. It was the day marking shahadat of Hazrat Ali (R.A.); one of the bravest and dearest companions of the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H). Sadly, the beasts have no sanctity for Ramadan, Hazrat Ali (R.A) or even for simple humanity.

According to media reports, more than a 100 people are injured and being treated at different hospitals of the city. May the souls of the departed rest in eternal peace and may the injured recover as soon as possible – Amen!

Start counting the series and spats of bad news from my country and you won’t be able to reach a limit. Suicide bombings, super-floods, sectarian violence, corrupt politicians, goons in power, mass poverty, electricity crisis, gas shortage, inflation, banishment from the global community… You name it, we have it!

No wonder, we, the people of the Land of the Pure, are the bravest nation in the World!

No more can my heart feel,

as I bow down, before Him I kneel.

The gain of peace in my abode,

the pain of worry on life’s each node.

For it makes no sense of having to bear,

when you have all & everything to fear.

From death to fire; not that I desire,

after all, who likes to sink in such a mire.

My heart cries in silent despair,

for it has had more than its share.

Oh God, give us a sign of hope,

of love, of life and of a will to cope.

Help us raise our spirits again,

save us from insanity; let hope remain.

For it won’t be worth a cry,

if before death, a tear won’t dry…

Prayers,

Hasan Mubarak