Annual Gazette 2014

ANNUAL GAZETTE 2014
Pakistan Foreign Office Womens Association, Islamabad

http://www.mofa.gov.pk/pfowa/
Cover by Zara Haque
CONTENTS
Dedication: Surah from the Holy Quran
Executive Committee PFOWA 2014
Editors Note
Message from President PFOWA
Message from Patron PFOWA
From the desk of the Foreign Secretary
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This years achievements and activities
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Reaching a Milestone. by Mr. Moin-ul-Haque

A Helping Hand...
PFOWA Spring Festival
Badminton Tournament
Visit to SOS Children's Village
Visit to NORI Hospital
Art of Bonseki
Relief Efforts for the Temporarily Displaced Persons
PFOWA Flood Relief Efforts
The Kidney Center Donation
President PFOWA Visits Presidency
PFOWA Executive Committee visits Presidency
Candle Light Vigil for Martyrs of Peshawar School Attack
Quran Recitation and Dua
Get Well Soon Cards
Womens Day
PFOWA team and Chinese Ambassadors wife visits Umeed-e-Noor
PFOWA visits Chinese Embassy
General Body Meeting
Pre-Bazaar Tea for Diplomatic Corps
Thank You Tea - Bazaar 2013
Former Ambassadors' Spouses Pre Bazaar Tea 2014
Inaugurationof Baby Day Care Center
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PFOWA Reports 2014

General Secretary's Report
Treasurers Report
Education Committee Report
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Annual Gazette 2014 | PFOWA
Social Welfare Committee Report

Bazaar Secretarys Report
PFOWA Bazaar 2014
CREATIVE WRITINGS
Extraordinary, Ordinary People by Sameer Ahmad
Life After Retirement by Temriz Khalid
"Pakistan-Turkey Dostuluk" Interview of Ambassador of Turkey to Pakistan by Mrs. Saima Usman
From Me To You by Hina Ali
True salary of a Doctor by Dr. Talha Salman Bashir
Traveling Pakistan by Ambassador of the Netherlands, Mr. Marcel De Vink
Multan Feels the Blues by Zahra Gardezi
Reaching Heights - Meeting with Ms. Samina Baig, the Mountaineer by Mrs. Saima Usman
Sheherzad Diaries by Yawar Abbas
A Sonnet Tribute to Veganismin My Life by Salahuddin Chaudhary
Nomenclature Reflects History and Culture by Jamshaid Iftikhar
Meeting by Accident by Nazar Abbas
The Calm Zone by Dr. Sana Zakaria
Memories of Amman by Mrs. Ayezza Muqeet Asim
The English Language by Hina Ali
From Diplobrats to Diplomats by Yumna and Minah A. Rathore
Based on the Video Game Series-Bioshock by Ali Gardezi
Nigar Nazar Comics
Activities of Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Old is Gold
Ambassador Mrs. Seema Naqvi: A tribute by Rehana Hyder
An Eulogy In Memory of Jamshed A. Hamid by Salahuddin Choudhry
Pakistans Missions Abroad: Historical Recollections

Fankaar Gali
Paintings by Mrs. Mahwish Sohail
Sketches by Zahra Gardezi
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Globe Trotting
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Creative Expressions URDU POETRY &PROSE
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DEDICATION
"The example of those who spend
their wealth in the way of Allah
is like a seed of grain which
grows seven spikes; in each
spike is a hundred grains.
And Allah multiplies His reward
for whom He wills."
(The Holy Quran, 2:261)
Sitting From Left to Right:

Mrs Mehwish Sohail, Mrs. Farrah Moin, Mrs. Najia Aizaz Ahmad, Mrs Tahsina Aqil, Mrs. Aneela Ahmad
Standing From Left to Right: Mrs Fazila Moazzam, Mrs. Saima Usman, Mrs. Laila Gardezi, Jannat Begum, Mrs. Siddiqa Tarar, Mrs. Fozia Salik,

Mrs. Shabana Zaheer, Mrs. Asima Asim
Executive Committee PFOWA 2014
Editors Note
It gives me great pleasure to present the latest edition of PFOWA gazette which is compiled under the
guidance of President PFOWA Mrs. Najia Aizaz Ahmad. Following the vision of our leadership, this gazette
will be a helpful source to communicate generally about all the efforts of PFOWA and its philanthropic
activities all year long.
This year's magazine observes some aspects of the regular structure that PFOWA gazette follows, with a
greater emphasis on bringing into limelight PFOWA'S charitable and social activities all through the year
2014. Working closely with PFOWA as a team member, I have realized that volunteer efforts of PFOWA
members must be acknowledged and highlighted, which are a source of encouragement for present
members and all those who wish to join and assist. This year PFOWA has evolved immensely by initiating
many new in-house and out-reach projects. The annual gazette is of foremost importance to make society
at large, aware of the aims and objectives of PFOWA and its myriad charitable endeavours. It also helps
the MOFA fraternity to communicate with each other by sharing their activities and experiences from all
around the globe.
Gazette 2014 is a compendium of creative work in the form of personal experiences, prose, poetry and
art by MOFA officers and their families. This year we also encouraged diplomatic corps to share their
experiences during their stay in Pakistan. I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all those who
contributed. Annual reports of all sub-committees are added to highlight the activities in the fields of
education, social welfare, health and relief efforts for those who faced unforeseen circumstances. A
number of social activities are also captured which will make readers aware of PFOWA'S capacity building
and fund raising efforts.
I would like to acknowledge all those who took time out and shared their creative work. A word of gratitude
to our sponsors for financially supporting PFOWA gazette. I thank Mr. Raheel Tariq for his assistance in
publishing this year's edition. I very much enjoyed editing the PFOWA gazette, which was an opportunity
for me to collate PFOWA activities in the form of inspiring memories. I hope, the readers enjoy the final
product as much as I liked the process.
Mrs. Saima Usman
Editor PFOWA Gazette

2014
President PFOWA
Mrs. Najia Aizaz Ahmad
It is with great pleasure that we present to our readers the PFOWA Gazette 2014. I feel deeply honored
to have led PFOWA in a year (2014) that witnessed a fulfilling calendar of charity and welfare programs.
Around fifteen months ago, when I took over the office, we set out a vision for our Organization. We
wanted to not only continue the noble work that our predecessors had started but also focus on the
areas where PFOWA can find its niche. At the top of our agenda were initiatives to enhance our pursuits
in the education field. I am pleased to see that we succeeded in implementing our vision to a significant
measure. An important feature of our education programs during 2014 was the introduction of several
scholarship schemes. PFOWA has commenced a scholarship scheme in the name of the first President of
PFOWA, Begum Shaista Ikramullah. This scholarship, for which applications are currently being considered,
will be for the professional and higher studies of a girl child. It will strictly be a merit-based scholarship,
with a sizable cash award. We are also starting ten scholarships for students after high school which will
also be merit-based. These scholarships will be over and above the books and stationery provided to over
1000 school going children of classes I to X. PFOWA is also pleased to serve as the conduit for grants and
scholarships to deserving students by philanthropists both from within and outside the Foreign Office.
Another landmark decision by PFOWA during 2014 was the decision to enter into a joint venture with
a reputed school chain, Roots Millennium Schools, to build a quality high school on the PFOWA-owned
land in sector H-8. While the professionals would construct and manage the school at no cost to PFOWA,
the students of the Foreign Office would be entitled to guaranteed admissions and significant fee
discounts. It would be called RMS PFOWA International campus. The school premises will be available
for PFOWAs pro-bono vocational training programs. This would meet a longstanding demand of the
Foreign Office community to have a school where our students returning from abroad are able to continue
their studies in a quality environment. In this regard I wish to thank the support provided by the Foreign
Office Administration, Protocol, and Legal teams who worked tirelessly with our executive committee to
negotiate the best possible win-win arrangement.
As always, the final event of the PFOWA calendar was our annual charity Bazaar, which witnessed a large
turnout from nearly all walks of life in Islamabad. The success of the Bazaar was assured by the active
participation of the diplomatic corps, our traditional partners, as well as Pakistans missions abroad which
contributed all kinds of fancy stuff for our stalls. And I would be remiss if I do not acknowledge the hard
work of the Foreign Office community here and my own colleagues in the PFOWA executive committee.
In the last one year that I have had the privilege to lead PFOWA, we have been able to make our modest
contributions to furthering the objectives of PFOWA. We have continued, and also enhanced, our charity
and support programs for the less privileged amongst us. Besides our efforts to promote education as
mentioned above, our focus during 2014 was also on our in-house welfare programs. In keeping with
tradition, we reached out to the TDPs and flood affectees, and extended assistance in cash and kind.
In setting another tradition, PFOWA also organized a spring festival. The objective was to bring Foreign
Office families together in order to promote camaraderie and better understanding. Seeing its success, we
intend to continue this tradition this spring. We were also delighted to see the welcome active participation
of our senior colleagues, the spouses of former Ambassadors, including in the charity bazaar where they
set up a special stall as part of the PFOWA team. We also continued our diplomatic outreach through
various programs.
I cannot thank enough my fellow colleagues in PFOWA who take out time from their own personal lives for
this volunteer work. I would also like to use this forum to encourage spouses of our junior colleagues, to
step up and join PFOWA in promoting the aims and objectives of PFOWA as they will be the future torch
bearers of the good work.
I hope you would enjoy reading this Gazette, in the preparation of which our hardworking editor Ms.
Saima Usman played an instrumental role.
I would also invite you to visit our newly launched website on www.mofa.gov.pk/pfowa. You may also
connect with us through our page on Facebook. Your good suggestions, feedback and appreciation are
always welcome.
While PFOWA accomplished much of what it had set out to achieve in 2014, we also suffered the loss of
an illustrious colleague and former PFOWA President, Mrs. Seema Naqvi. May the departed soul rest in
peace.
Thank you!
Patron PFOWA
Mrs. Zahra Wadood Fatemi
It gives me great pleasure to write this message for the new annual edition of PFOWA Magazine.
I am proud of my association with PFOWA as the Patron. This pride radiates from the philanthropic and
humanitarian endeavors which define PFOWA today.
The organization has made numerous contributions in the fields of health, education and social welfare.
It has always prioritized the causes of women empowerment and education with an ultimate objective of
facilitating the underprivileged strata of the society.
The cultural projection of Pakistan is another important aspect which deserves our deep admiration.
PFOWA annual bazaar and the Spring Festival are great attractions for the diplomatic corps in Islamabad
and also for the people from all walks of life. It is a matter of great satisfaction that popularity of these
events is on the rise.
Finally yet importantly, I want to congratulate the President of PFOWA, Mrs. Najia Aizaz Ahmad and her team
for building elaborate future plans and making determined efforts for their execution and achievement. I
wish them all the success!
From the
Desk of the
Foreign Secretary
Mr. Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry
As I look back at 2014, in terms of the challenges

and opportunities it unfolded for our foreign policy,
I take great pride in the significant contribution
made by the Foreign Office team to achieving the
priorities set out by the leadership. We hosted
a large number of foreign leaders and high level
delegations, inter alia, from Afghanistan, Bahrain,
China, Iran, Korea, Saudi Arabia, European Union
and OIC. As our relations further consolidate with
China, new beginnings are made with Afghanistan,
and constructive engagement with key players of
our neighbourhood and the world crystallizes, I
am confident that we the officers of the Foreign
Service of Pakistan will make our nation proud of
the way we would continue to seize, in 2015, the
opportunities unleashed by 2014.
While we strive to achieve the foreign policy
objectives, our efficacy and efficiency in doing
so will be optimal if we are able to create an
enabling work-environment for the officers, both
at professional and personal level. It is this vision
that has guided our endeavors to improve the work
environment of the Foreign Office and build on the
capacity and commitment of its singular asset, the

Foreign Service of Pakistan. I take this opportunity
to touch upon a few of the initiatives we have
undertaken in this regard.
I interact regularly with officers and staff through
dedicated meetings. Every Division, headed by the
Director General, is afforded an opportunity to
make a presentation to all Additional Secretaries
and Directors General, for horizontal sharing of
information, aimed at affording an opportunity for
benefitting from the collective wisdom to analyze
the important issues, and preparing Directors
General for their responsibilities as future Heads of
Mission.
To maintain high levels of morale and productivity,
a transparent and judicious postings policy has
been evolved and implemented. All efforts have
been made to ensure optimal use of resources,
through a criteria based process to minimize the
exceptions. Likewise, recruitment of staff vacancies
has been carried out with utmost regard to merit
and fair play, adding to our ranks, meritorious and
From the Desk of the Foreign Secretary
worthy personnel.
In keeping with the demands of the information
age that we are living in, we took several strides
forward, during 2014, towards achieving a paperless Foreign Office. All officers are now connected,
both at Headquarters and Missions abroad,
through Ministrys email network. Bulk of the
routine mail, especially faxes and press coverage,
has been shifted to emails. New software has been
developed and put in use for tracking stationery
and diplomatic bags handling, as well as for tracking
movement of intra-ministerial official mail through
real-time, integrated, electronic diary system.
We are now working on developing appropriate
software to handle all administrative requests from
our missions abroad, as well as to manage our
enclair correspondence, filing and archiving.
"I am confident that we the

officers of the Foreign Service
of Pakistan will make our
nation proud of the way we
would continue to seize,
in 2015, the opportunities
unleashed by 2014."
As part of the E-governance initiative, a specially
designed web-based application ProSYS-Protocol
Systems has been launched by the Protocol Division
to enhance efficiency and ensure timely processing
of requests received from the Diplomatic Missions
based in Pakistan. A Pigeonhole Box mailing system
has also been introduced to streamline the receipt
and delivery of mail to foreign Missions.
A mechanism for quicker and more forthcoming
response to the administrative and budgetary
requests from our missions abroad has been put
in place to help upgrade facilities and improve
service delivery. A special effort is also being made
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"In keeping with the demands

of the information age that we
are living in, we took several
strides forward, during 2014,
towards achieving a paperless Foreign Office."
to settle long standing audit paras and a system is
being evolved for timely communication of audit
paras to the officers.
Operationalization of the new Wing of the
Ministrys premises, now named Sahabzada Yaqub
Khan Block (SYKB), with modern conference and
office facilities, has further improved our work
environment. The building serves as an elegant
venue to welcome and hold talks with the foreign
dignitaries visiting Pakistan. A state of the art
conference center, banquet hall, executive dining
facility, library and archives are currently in advance
stages of being completed. SYKB and the old block,
now named Agha Shahi Block, have been joined by
a bridge on to second floor.
A special effort is being made to keep the Ministry
premises well maintained and clean. The upkeep
of the new block and its beautiful lawns has been
outsourced to private sector. We have also installed
security alarms, cameras and other systems to
enhance our collective security. A comprehensive
security appraisal has been undertaken and an
integrated state of the art security upgrade is being
contemplated. We are also seeking to improve the
rear lawn of the Ministry where a well designed
parking for 400 cars will be developed with proper
pathways and shades.
The Foreign Office Cooperative Housing Society
(FOECHS) has made significant progress. Its
financial health has improved tremendously and
infra-structure development is near completion.
The lingering issue of the Farm Housing scheme
From the Desk of the Foreign Secretary
has been successfully resolved. Various renovations

and additions have been undertaken in the Foreign
Office Lodges, which houses nearly 42 families.
Similarly, facilities at other residential abodes
including Foreign Office Hostel, FSA Hostel, GIDS
Hostel and the pool accommodation have been
improved. There are plans to build additional lodges
in the space behind GIDS hostel. As in the case of
postings and transfers, a criteria based allocation
policy for official accommodation is being strictly
implemented.
I would also like to take this opportunity to
commend our sister organization, Pakistan Foreign
Office Women's Association (PFOWA), for its sterling
effort to build a quality modern High School on its
plot in a joint venture with a leading educational
system, RMS. I appreciate our Administration,
Chief of Protocol, and Legal Adviser for extending
their help to PFOWA to build the School that
would ensure guaranteed admission and generous
"I would also like to take this

opportunity to commend our
sister organization, Pakistan
Foreign Office Women's
Association (PFOWA), for
its sterling effort to build a
quality modern High School
on its plot in a joint venture
with a leading educational
system, RMS."
discounts to the children of our officers and staff.
I truly believe that Pakistani Diaspora are an asset
for the country and merit our unflinching support
and attention. Immediately after taking charge,
I instructed our Missions to improve consular
facilities. We have started major repair and
renovations of consular facilities in countries with
high concentration of Pakistani community. A state

of the art consular hall has been built in the Ministry
to serve the general public and is functioning in an
efficient manner which has earned kudos for the
Foreign Office. In the four provincial capitals also,
we are upgrading consular sections. I presided over
a conference of all Deputy Chiefs of Protocol to
devise measures to improve service delivery and
infrastructure of our Camp Offices in the provincial
capitals. We are also enhancing interactions with
"The Foreign Service of

Pakistan continues to serve
the country with honour,
integrity and dedication. "
the Honorary Consuls in Pakistan.
The importance of Public Diplomacy cannot be
overstated in the current era. We have taken
several initiatives in this realm, including Agha
Shahi lecture series, golf, badminton, cricket and
other sports tournaments, annual spring dinner
for the diplomatic corps, and a number of other
events. I have also increased the frequency of
my interaction with the parliamentarians and
other government functionaries to enhance backstopping of our work in the Ministry and Missions
abroad.
The Foreign Service of Pakistan continues to serve
the country with honour, integrity and dedication.
The Ministry, within its limited resources, is setting
high benchmarks of professionalism, which is duly
appreciated by the leadership of the country. I see a
bright future for our Service, given the commitment
of our younger colleagues towards sustaining and
strengthening the rich traditions of excellence.
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This years
achievements
and
activities
12
Reaching a milestone.
Mr. Moin-ul-Haque
Chief of Protocol
A school of international standards has been a cherished dream of Foreign Service fraternity for a long
time. In the pursuit of this goal, Pakistan Foreign Office Women's Association (PFOWA) played the lead
role, as part of its broader mandate which also includes education sector, and being the owner of the plot
in H-8 Sector, where the proposed school was envisaged to be built.
The dream was finally realized on 23rd December, 2014, when PFOWA signed a Partnership Agreement
with Roots Millennium School (RMS) to construct a state of the art, purpose-built international school on
its plot in H-8 Sector.
PFOWA-RMS agreement was a product of a year-long transparent and competitive process, in which a
number of countrys reputed school systems participated. I am proud of my humble contributions made as
a member of the Special Sub-Committee of PFOWA, which carried out the comparative analysis of various
proposals and finally selected RMS for the construction of the school.
The School project would not have been possible without the steadfast support and constant guidance of
the Foreign Secretary, strong belief of the members of PFOWA under the leadership of their President Mrs.
Najia Aizaz and the hard work rendered by the Special Sub-Committee members especially Legal Advisor
Dr. Sajid Qureshi and Director General Mr. Hamid Asghar.
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The school has been aptly named RMS-PFOWA International Campus and would be an impressive addition
to the education scene in Islamabad. Besides fulfilling the needs of our own children, it would also be an
attractive option for the expatriate community in Islamabad.
The Agreement provides RMS full responsibility for construction, management and operation of the
school, while incorporating fixed quotas and handsome discounts for the Foreign Office students. PFOWA
would also be receiving shares in revenues to essentially fund its welfare/charity activities and to subsidize
educational costs of the needy and poor children.
We do hope that this school project would be realized in the envisaged time frame of about 30-36 months
and would serve as a platform for building a university level educational institution in future.
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A helping hand...
PFOWA takes great pride in its out-reach programs to assist the underprivileged segment of our society. It
does so in myriad ways. The objective is to empower individuals to bring about a sustainable change and
meaning in their lives.
PFOWA's social welfare team recently came
across a woman named Phool Bibi, wife of a
low paid employee, who exhibited a remarkable
determination to help her family achieve a better
quality of life. PFOWA helped her set up a sewing
center where she will be guiding other women and
girls in the art of stitching and sewing.
This will not only help Phool Bibi and her

immediate family but also train other women
to become a helping hand for their families,
thus keeping the wheel of mutual help moving
forward.
Subject to the availability of funds, PFOWA
looks forward to surge ahead with its self help
programs.
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PFOWA Spring
Festival
Spring is a miraculous experience. The world comes

alive with its color and scent of delicious greenery.
Its that time of the year when we bid farewell to
the bitter coldness and wave hello to the warmth
knocking on doors of our lives.
To celebrate the spirit of spring, spring festival was
arranged in the month of March. Mr. Sartaj Aziz,
Mr. and Mrs. Tariq Fatemi, retired ambassadors and
many more graced the event and added prestige
to the festival which was arranged impeccably by
PFOWA under the guidance of Mrs. Najia Aizaz
Ahmad.
Our traditional food and festival like basant
enhanced the colors of the season beyond bounds.
Our cultural beat of dhol welcomed every guest.
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It was an open event for every officer of MOFA

to come together with families, meet and greet
each other and enjoy the spirit of spring. It was
a day for each age groups enjoyment. After the
delicious traditional food of Pakistan, grown-ups
sat comfortably and played Tambola. A number
of games were arranged for kids and winners went

home with beautiful gifts. Spring festival was thoroughly
enjoyed by all those who took time out of their busy
routines and became part of it.
Spring festival was one of the many new initiatives by
President of PFOWA to bring together officers and their
families. The festival provided an opportunity for all to
mingle among the fraternity.
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Preparing the "Khush Zaiqa" brunch,

Traditional Delicacies... all laid out.
How to knot a tie?

Serious Tambola players!
Spring Festival decoration.
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Many won attractive prizes.
BADMINTON TOURNAMENT
For diversifying the activities of PFOWA, the President of PFOWA, Mrs Najia Aizaz Ahmed initiated a new
step by arranging a badminton tournament. Diplomatic corps residing in Islamabad were involved and
they responded with eagerness. PFOWA hosted this friendly badminton tournament for the spouses of
diplomats to get involved in a healthy activity. After the introductory remarks from Vice President Mrs Sadaf
Ibn-e-Abbas, the President of PFOWA, Mrs Najia Aizaz Ahmed welcomed the guests and all the players
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who participated with a lot of enthusiasm. It was

a series of matches that lasted for two days. On
the first day, two teams played simultaneously and
winners qualified for semi finals. On the second day
semi finals and final matches were held between
players. PFOWA is proud to announce that PFOWA

team members made it to the final and finished
the match as runners up (2nd position). The event
was appreciated tremendously by diplomatic corps
as a healthy activity that also gives opportunity to
mingle with diplomatic circle in a carefree and fun
environment. Mr Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry, Foreign
Secretary of Pakistan, graced the occasion by his
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presence and distributed awards to the winners.

Mrs Tariq Fatemi also added prestige to the event
by attending the event and also distributed prizes
to the players. Many ambassadors and members of
diplomatic corps attended the event and made it a
huge success.
Visit to SOS children's village

On July 24, President of PFOWA, Mrs. Najia
Aizaz Ahmad, along with members of Executive
Committee visited SOS Village Islamabad.
SOS Childrens Villages are home to children
who, for various reasons, are not able to live with
their biological family. Many are orphaned or
abandoned. In a Children's Village, each child is
looked after by an SOS mother. She lovingly cares for
a small group of children and they live as a family.
President PFOWA handed over a cheque to SOS

Village on behalf of PFOWA and appreciated the
change this organization is bringing in the lives of
underprivileged children. This charity from PFOWA
will be used to help and facilitate the children of
SOS Village Islamabad.
Visit to NORI hospital
PFOWA is a non-profit charitable organization bringing change and improvement in the lives of
underprivileged members of society over many years.
Keeping the beacon of charity burning, President of PFOWA, along with members of Executive Committee,
visited Nuclear Oncology & Radiotherapy Institution(NORI) and presented a cheque to the institution on
behalf of PFOWA as charity. NORI is a cancer hospital, providing diagnostic and treatment facilities to the
referred patients of the twin cities, suburbs and northern parts of the country with utmost dedication.
Those who cannot afford expenses of cancer treatment, are treated free of cost. The charity from PFOWA
will be used by the institution to cure cancer patients.
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ART OF BONSEKI
On 5 June 2014, Mrs Medori Inomata, wife of the Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan hosted a lunch for the
President of PFOWA and Members of Executive Committee. On the occasion she gave a live demonstration
of the art of 'Bonseki'.
'Bonseki' is a traditional Japanese art in which scenery of four seasons is portrayed in miniature. Mrs
Medori demonstrated the art by placing natural stones on black lacquer tray with various sizes and amount
of white sand used to add dimension. Bonseki scenes often depict mountains, shore lines and gardens.
Miniature structures usually made up of painted copper are used to make the art more interesting. Mrs
Medori captivated the attention of PFOWA members by skillfully demonstrating the art and it was a
learning experience for the guests.
Mrs Najia Aizaz Ahmad, President PFOWA, thanked the hostess for her kind invitation and appreciated the
art. She also mentioned that such events help to promote PFOWA as an organization and the message of
charity spreads across society.
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RELIEF EFFORTS FOR THE TEMPORARILY

DISPLACED PERSONS
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs officers and staff at the

Headquarters and Missions abroad, in their expression
of solidarity with the Displaced Persons, from North
Waziristan, have decided to donate their one day
salary towards the Displaced Persons Relief Fund.
Pakistan Foreign Office Womens Association (PFOWA),
which is a non-political, non-profit charitable organization,
has also joined the Ministry and announced an amount of
Rs.500,000/- donation for supplying edibles to the Displced
Persons before the onset of the holy month of Ramazan.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and PFOWA stand ready and
committed in their resolve to further assist their brethren
from North Waziristan, as and when necessary.
PFOWA Members are packing Eid gifts for the TDPs
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PFOWA Flood Relief Efforts
Pfowa is a non-profit charitable organization, bringing improvement and reforms in the lives of
underprivileged and needy individuals of society over past many decades. For this very purpose, Pfowa
engages in a number of capacity building activities for fund raising and fund distribution all year long.
During the hour of need and subject to the availability of funds, Pfowa outreaches and also helps society
facing natural disaster.
Pakistan faced a huge challenge this year to reform the lives of people living in flood stricken areas. To
keep the wheel of charity running, President Pfowa, Mrs. Najia Aizaz Ahmad, along with her team of
Executive Committee presented cash to "True Worth" foundation to help rebuild lives of those affected by
flood. The President presented cheque to Mrs. Fatemi to be used by the foundation for flood relief efforts.
Pfowa aims at working more in this domain, if funds allow, to bring improvement in the lives of those in
need and out reaching the society at large.
The Kidney Center Donation

PFOWA is a non-profit charitable organization, helping
the needy and underprivileged members of society and
primarily facilitating poor individuals in need of medical
assistance. PFOWA outreach charity efforts are extended
to support and help those outside Foreign Office. Subject
to the availability of funds, PFOWA financially assists
institutions working on humanitarian grounds to help the
needy members of society.
In this regard, PFOWA gave cheque worth Rs 200,000 to
'The Kidney Center' Karachi, to help kidney patients who
cannot afford treatment. The cheque was given by President
PFOWA, Mrs. Najia Aizaz Ahmad to Mrs. Naseem Jaffer.
The Kidney Center provides complete diagnostic and
treatment facilities and is dependent on unprecedented support by community and institutions like
PFOWA. It provides welfare assistance and treatment facilities to those in need thereby ensuring that no
one is denied treatment simply because it is un-affordable.
24
President PFOWA Visits Presidency
President of Pfowa, Mrs Najia Aizaz Ahmad visited Mrs Mehmooda Mamnoon Hussain
to brief her about PFOWA and its charitable activities all year long. President PFOWA also
invited Mrs Mehmooda to attend PFOWA Bazaar 2014 as Chief Guest.
25
PFOWA Executive Committee visits Presidency

PFOWA Executive Committee under the leadership
of President PFOWA Mrs Najia Aizaz Ahmad,
visited Presidency and thanked Mrs Mehmooda
Mamnoon Hussain for gracing PFOWA bazaar with
her presence as Chief Guest.
26
Candle Light Vigil for Martyrs

of Peshawar School Attack
In order to express solidarity with
the victims of Peshawar terrorist
attack, the officers and officials
of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
and their families organized a
commemorative event at the
Ministry.
Dua (prayer) was followed
by a candle light vigil on the
Constitution Avenue. Members
of the Diplomatic community in
Islamabad participated in the
event in large numbers.
Quran Recitation and Dua

In commemoration of the innocent lives lost in the
barbaric and heinous terrorist attack in Peshawar
on 16 December 2014, PFOWA organized Quran
recitation and dua to remember and pray for the
departed souls. Spouses of serving and retired
MOFA officers as well as lady officers attended
the Quran recitation and prayed for lost lives and
their families to cope with this immense loss and
grief. The attendees also made a dua for the soul of
Special Secretary of MOFA, Mrs Seema Naqvi who
recently lost her life after a tough battle with cancer.
27
GET WELL SOON CARDS
PFOWA sent handmade cards to the injured students of APS Peshawar as Get Well Soon Wish.
28
Womens Day
This year Mrs. Najia Aizaz Ahmed, President PFOWA and members of its Executive Committee celebrated
'Women's Day' at Chinese Embassy in Islamabad on 8 March 2014. It was an auction hosted by Chinese
Embassy to assist the special children of 'Umeed-e-Noor'.
As a gesture of goodwill, the President PFOWA donated one of her beautiful paintings, to be auctioned.
Proceeds raised from the auction were donated to the charity. Other guests at the event also donated
items such as jewelery, carpets and collectibles and made it a success. All the guests participated with a
lot of zest to become part of the noble cause. The fund raised by the auction was handed over to 'Umeede-Noor' at the end of the event. The event provided an excellent opportunity to raise awareness amongst
Diplomatic Corps about the efforts of PFOWA to bring quality change in the lives of underprivileged.
President PFOWA appreciated the efforts of Chinese Embassy for arranging this noble event.
29
PFOWA team and Chinese Ambassadors

wife visit Umeed-e-Noor
30
PFOWA visits chinese embassy
PFOWA has emerged as a dynamic and successful organization

which has been improving lives of underprivileged individuals
of society over the past many years. In recognition of its
efforts, Mrs Bao Jiqing, wife of Chinese Ambassador to
Pakistan, invited members of PFOWA to a coffee morning as
a token of thanks for involving Chinese Embassy in charitable
endeavours.
On the occasion, Mrs Bao welcomed the guests and held in
esteem all activities of PFOWA. She presented a cheque of
US$ 4,000 to President PFOWA, Mrs Najia Aizaz Ahmad, for
charity fund. This contribution from the Chinese Embassy will
be utilized for helping the underprivileged.
Mrs Najia Aizaz Ahmad appreciated the kind gesture and thanked Mrs Bao for her interest, support and immense
assistance in activities of PFOWA. She also mentioned that PFOWA looks forward to work closely with Chinese
Embassy in reforming sufferings of the poor.
31
General Body meeting

On September 24, President PFOWA,
Mrs. Najia Aizaz Ahmad called General
Body meeting. All PFOWA members
were invited along with Executive
Committee of PFOWA.
The purpose was to brief the audience
about the accomplishments of PFOWA
so far for the year 2014. Upcoming
events planned till December 2014
were also brought into limelight and
guests were asked to participate and
volunteer actively, so that most of
officers' spouses and female officers
at MOFA can become part of PFOWA
charitable and social activities.
Pre-Bazaar Tea for Diplomatic Corps

President PFOWA, Mrs. Najia Aizaz
Ahmad, invited the Diplomatic
Corps on a Tea Evening to inform the
diplomats about upcoming bazaar
so that they can get engaged with
PFOWA and also get a chance to
promote the culture and cuisine of
their respective countries. PFOWA
briefed members of Diplomatic
Corps about upcoming Bazaar and
encouraged them to participate
actively. The efforts of PFOWA were
appreciated immensely by all the Mrs. Tahsina Aqil
Vice President PFOWA
diplomats residing in Islamabad.
32
THANK YOU TEA BAZAAR 2013

President PFOWA invited the participants of Bazaar 2013 as a token of gratitude. On the occasion, "AHAN"
displayed their handicrafts.
33
PRE BAZAAR TEA FOR

FORMER AMBASSADORS' SPOUSES
Inaugurationof Baby Day Care Center

In line with the Ministrys policy
of creating a motivational work
environment, a Baby Day Care
Center (Crche) has been set up in
the Ministry. The Foreign Secretary
inaugurated the Baby Day Care Center
and the ceremony was attended
amongst others by President
PFOWA, Mrs. Najia Aizaz Ahmad and
Executive Committee members of the
Association.
34
PFOWA
Reports
2014
35
GENERAL SECRETARY'S
report
Mrs. Farrah Moin
PFOWAs path towards becoming one of the countrys

leading charitable and social welfare organization
continued with a new vigor and a broadened agenda in
the year 2014. PFOWAs Executive Committee under the
dynamic and energetic leadership of its new President,
Mrs Najia Aizaz, was imbued with spirit of volunteerism
and took active part in organizing a wide range of
various social, cultural and welfare oriented activities.
The Annual Bazaar held at the rear lawns of Serena Hotel
saw a record turnout and earnings. The year ended
with a historic signing of a Partnership Agreement with
Roots Millennium School for construction of a state of
the art International School at PFOWA plot in H-8 sector
Islamabad. A synopsis of the years activities are given
in the following lines:JANUARY 2014
Mrs. Najia Aizaz Ahmad assumed charge as 28th
President of PFOWA.
16 January: Mrs. Najia Aizaz Ahmad, the new President
chaired her first meeting of PFOWA. She paid tribute to
the outgoing President Mrs. Shaista Jilani and expressed
her commitment to carry forward the excellent work of
her predecessors with a new vigor and dedication. She
constituted the new Executive Committee.
21 January: A meeting was held related to the
arrangements of Thank you Tea in connection with
Annual Bazaar 2013.
36
28 January: PFOWA organized its first event of the year.

A "Thank You Tea" arranged as a token of gratitude
for Diplomatic Corps and friends of PFOWA for their
generosity and valuable contribution in organizing
PFOWA charity bazaar 2013. AHAN (Aik Hunar Aik
Nagar) displayed Pakistani handicrafts on the sidelines
of the function.
FEBRUARY 2014
18 February: Chinese Ambassadors wife Ms Bao Jiqing
visited PFOWA office and extended an invitation to
participate in the International Women Day. It was also
decided to jointly hold some sports activities.
25 February: Executive Committee met to discuss the
arrangements for the forthcoming Spring Festival.
27 February: PFOWA President visited Umeed-e-Noor
along with Spouse of the Chinese Ambassador.
MARCH 2014
8 March: President PFOWA and the Executive Committee
celebrated the Womens Day at Chinese Embassy
in Islamabad. It was an auction hosted by Chinese
Embassy to assist the Institute of Special Children. As a
gesture of goodwill, President PFOWA donated one of
her oil paintings to be auctioned to raise proceeds for
the charity. The painting was sold for Rs. 250,000.
9 March: Spring Festival was held for the very first time
at MOFA. All officers and their families participated in a
friendly social setting. An exciting game of Tambola was
PFOWA Reports 2014

the highlight of the function.
12 March: Mr. Fife MacDuff, Director Regional English
Language was invited to give a briefing about their
English Language Programme for the unprivileged
children.
18 March: Meeting of the Executive Committee was held
to discuss the forthcoming Badminton Tournament.
19 March: A special meeting of Executive Committee
with the Foreign Secretary was held to discuss the status
of PFOWAs joint venture with NRSP. It was suggested to
secure the premises by building a wall around the plot.
28 March: The first ever PFOWA Friendship Badminton
Tournament for diplomats took place. Many
Ambassadors and members of Diplomatic Corps
attended the event and made it a huge success. Foreign
Secretary, Mr. Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry graced the event
as Chief Guest.
APRIL 2014
The PFOWA Executive Committee met on four working
days to distribute stationery, notebooks, and school
bags to children of Foreign Office employees. Special
grants were also distributed for high school children.
MAY 2014
Mrs. Najia Aizaz Ahmad inaugurated and attended the
exhibition of Pakistani Calligraphers and Artisans by the
Consulate of Pakistan in Jeddah. Parts of the proceeds
raised from the exhibition were donated to PFOWA
charity.
16 May: President PFOWA addressed pre-posting
orientation course at Foreign Service Academy. She
spoke about the role of spouses in promoting countrys
interest and image abroad. Executive Committee also
attended the event.
JUNE 2014
PFOWAs new website launched: www.mofa.gov.pk/
pfowa
4 June: Mrs. Bao Jiqing, wife of Chinese Ambassador
to Pakistan invited members of PFOWA to a coffee
morning. She presented a cheque of US$ 4,000 to
President PFOWA. Mrs. Najia Aizaz Ahmad appreciated
and thanked Mrs. Bao for her support to PFOWA in
realizing its aims and objectives.
5 June: PFOWA President Mrs. Najia Aizaz Ahmad and
members of Executive Committee attended a lunch
hosted by the Spouse of Ambassador of Japan Ms.
Medori Inomata. She gave a demonstration of art of

Bonseki which was deeply appreciated.
24 June: PFOWA and MOFA donated towards the
displaced persons relief fund.
30 June: The important issue of amending the PFOWAs
constitution was taken up at a special meeting of
the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee
approved the proposed amendments and decided to
circulate them to all members present at Headquarters
for their approval.
JULY 2014
PFOWA sent Eid gifts to TDP women and children in
Bannu Camp.
1 July: The Executive Committee of PFOWA led by its
President Mrs Najia Aizaz Ahmad, held a meeting with
the Foreign Secretary to discuss the construction of a
school and a vocational training center on PFOWA plot
in H-8 Sector.
A sub committee was formed to analyze, examine,
and carry out a comparative study of the proposals
received and to make recommendations to the
Executive Committee. The sub-committee would also
be responsible for carrying out negotiations with the
selected school system.
2 July: A special consignment worth Rs. 500,000
containing clothes, food items was sent to the TDPs.
24 July: PFOWA Executive Committee visited Nori
Hospital and presented the Director of Welfare Society
a cheque of Rs.30,000 on behalf of PFOWA.
30 July: Executive Committee donated Rs. 100,000 for
organizing iftars for the staff members of the Ministry in
the month of Ramadan. More than 50 people benefited
daily during Ramadan from this noble initiative of
PFOWA.
SEPTEMBER 2014
PFOWA Executive Committee unanimously decided
to change the name Pakistan Foreign Office Wives
Association to Pakistan Foreign Office Women's
Association. This name was formally registered on 23
September.
9 September: A meeting was arranged to discuss and
finalize dates for important events: Annual Education
Prize Distribution Function, General Body Meeting,
Diplomatic Tea and Annual Charity Bazaar.
37
PFOWA Reports 2014
23 September: A prize distribution ceremony was held

for the students of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs who
had distinguished themselves academically. Certificates
were also awarded to those students who completed
the computer literacy course, organized by PFOWA.
24 September: The annual general body meeting
was held at the Auditorium of the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs. The meeting was presided by PFOWA President
Mrs Najia Aizaz. She welcomed members and gave an
overview of PFOWAs activities in the year 2014. The
meeting featured Dr. Saras lecture who spoke of good
skin care.
OCTOBER 2014
21 October: PFOWA gave cheque worth Rs. 200,000 to
Kidney Center Karachi to help the kidney patients who
cannot afford treatment.
28 October: PFOWA arranged a special get together for
the first time for the spouses of our former Ambassadors.
They were invited to participate in the Annual Bazaar.
NOVEMBER 2014
PFOWA donated a cheque to the flood affectees.
14 November: The Legal Adviser briefed President
PFOWA about the draft agreement received from the
Roots Millennium School (RMS) for the construction of
school on PFOWA plot in H-8.
26 November: The Executive Committee discussed in
detail the draft agreement received from RMS for the
construction of school on PFOWA plot in H-8.
DECEMBER 2014
President PFOWA alongwith some members of the
Executive Committee attended traditional marriage
ceremony show hosted by the Embassy of Indonesia.
7 December: PFOWAs Annual Charity Bazaar took place
in Serena Hotel Lawn . This was the last event of the year
and was a mega success. Begum Mehmooda Mamnoon
Hussain graced PFOWA Bazaar with her presence as
the chief guest. There were various stalls showcasing
cuisine, handicrafts, decorations, cosmetics, clothes
and jewelry and other items from all over the world.
Cultural Mosaic was a blend of different traditional
presentations enthusiastically performed by Embassies
based in Islamabad. A Fashion Show by Labels was
another event appreciated at the Bazaar. Musical show
was also arranged to add to the festivities. It is estimated
38
that the 2014 Bazaar was attended by more than 10,000

people from all walks of life.
18 December: PFOWA attended a candlelight vigil
organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to express
solidarity with victims of the horrendous Peshawar
school attack.
19 December: Quran Khawani and dua was held by
PFOWA for the souls of those who lost their lives in
Peshawar attack. PFOWA stands in solidarity with the
departed souls and their families.
20 December: A special dua was made for Mrs Seema
Naqvi who lost her life after a tough battle with cancer.
In the evening PFOWA visited the Presidency to pay
thanks to Begum Mehmooda Mamnoon Hussain,
who honored PFOWA Bazaar 2014 as Chief Guest. She
appreciated all the efforts and granted Rs. 10 lakh to
PFOWA for its charity projects. Mrs Najia Aizaz presented
her a gift on behalf of PFOWA as a token of thanks.
23 December: Historic signing of the Partnership
Agreement between PFOWA and Roots Millenium
School (RMS) for construction of the school took place
in the Ministry. Mrs Najia Aizaz, President PFOWA and
Mr Faisal Mushtaq, CEO RMS signed the agreement in a
simple ceremony attended by the Foreign Secretary and
senior officials of the Ministry.
24 December: PFOWA sent handmade Get-Well Soon
cards to hospitalized/injured students of Peshawar
school attack.
Like every year, we welcomed new friends while at the
same time we bid goodbye to a number of our members.
Mrs Nabila Durani, Mrs Karen Janjua, Mrs Mubeena
Tanveer, Mrs Natasha Asif Mamoon, Mrs Saduf Abbas,
Mrs Mehwish Sohail, and Mrs Fauzia Salik, proceeded
on postings abroad.
I extend my sincere gratitude to all my colleagues
for their support and help in fulfillment of my tasks
as General Secretary. Assistance rendered by staff
members especially Jameel, Ahmed, Qasim and Asad is
also well appreciated.
PFOWA is strong as ever. Its members fully committed
and devoted. Our hearts full of compassion, kindness
and care. I pray that Allah Gives us the strength and
energy to continue serving the humanity.
TREASURERs REPORT
Mrs. Aneela Warraich

Treasurer
Mrs. Fazeela Moazzam

Co-Treasurer
Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the only Federal

Government Ministry to establish a registered
charity for the welfare of its staff members.
Visionary and kindhearted senior colleagues
started PFOWA with meager resources. The
PFOWA team's sincerity, hard work and wise
investments have helped PFOWA gain financial
strength.
We would like to thank the Foreign Office
community and the friends of PFOWA for their
generous contributions. They have enabled us
to assist people in need through our outreach
program.
I am honoured to present the Treasurers Report
for the year 2014.
PFOWA EXPENDITURE
(a) PFOWA IN HOUSE SUPPORT PROGRAMME
Education /Educational
Rs. 2,333,232
Awards/ Scholarships
Social Welfare (Stipends for
Widows. Medical Assistance,
Rs. 3,866,500
etc)
Eidi /Christmas/Miscellaneous
Rs. 979,634
External Audit Expenditure
Rs. 18,000
TOTAL Rs. 7,197,366
(b) PFOWA OUT REACH PROGRAMME

Payment to True
Worth Foundation as
educational stipend
received from South
Korean National Couple
Donation to True Worth
Foundation for flood
victims
Purchase of food items to
donate TDPs of Northern
Waziristan
Donation to Noori
Hospital, Islamabad
Donation for SOS
Children's Village
Islamabad
Donation to Kidney
Centre for the welfare of
patients
Gifts for special children
of Umeed-e-Noor
TOTAL
Rs. 55,614
Rs. 300,000
Rs. 500,000
Rs. 300,000
Rs. 200,000
Rs. 200,000
Rs. 6,880
Rs. 1,562,494
39
PFOWA Reports 2014
PFOWA INCOME
(a) INCOME FROM PFOWA STALLS
PFOWA Stalls/Bazaar
Income
Rs. 1,102,730.00 +
US$ 95.00
Raffle
Rs. 443,950.00
After Bazaar Mini Sale
Rs. 330,900
TOTAL
Rs. 1,877,580.00
US$ 95.00
(b)
S.NO
1
2
3
4
5
MISSION
8
9
10
Addis Ababa
Bangkok
Canberra
Canberra
Frankfurt
(Consulate)
Geneva (Parepun)
Guangzhou
(Consulate)
Jeddah (Consulate)
Lisbon
London
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
London
London
Madrid
Paris
Riyadh
Seoul
Tehran
Tokyo
Tunisia
Vienna
Washington
6
7
AMOUNT
(PAK. Rs.)
50,000
33,300
50,000
39,416.40
25,983
S.NO
22
23
24
25
26
200,000 27
20,000 28
991,875 29
13,692 30
22,880 31
MISSION
Berlin
Colombo
Dubai (Consulate)
Jakarta
Moscow
New York (Parepun)
New York
(Consulate)
Niamey
Wellington
Washington
AMOUNT
(US $)
500
1050
1100
400
500
500
150
100
300
500
191,869.92
67,260
70,000
108,000
218,480
14,880
20,000
75,426
15,000
50,000
123,116
TOTAL
40
AMOUNT
(PAK. Rs.)
RS. 2,401,178
+ $
5,100
PFOWA Reports 2014
(c) CONTRIBUTIONS BY DIPLOMATIC CORPS

S.NO. NAME OF COUNTRY
1
2
3
Azerbaijan
Bahrain
Bangladesh
4
5
Brunei Darussalam
China
6
7
8
Cuba
Egypt
India
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
Indonesia
Iran
Japan
Jordan
South Korea
Lebanon
Malaysia
Myanmar
Nepal
AMOUNT
(PAK Rs.)
S.NO. NAME OF COUNTRY
AMOUNT
(PAK Rs.)
The Netherlands
Palestine
Philippines
72,300 18
21,200 19
30,000
20
20,000 21
Rs. 1,000,000 22
& Rs. 398,800
37,000 23
40,000 24
60,000 25
20,400
80,000
25,500
Russia
Saudi Arabia
10,000 26
100,000
206,850
20,000
100,000
20,000
15,000
30,000
30,000
105,000
25,930
Sri Lanka
Tajikistan
Turkey
34,400
47,570
43,500
Vietnam
10,000
TOTAL
Rs.
2,623,450/-
(d) LOCAL / EXTERNAL / VARIOUS DONATIONS

S.NO.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
SENDER
Begum Mehmooda Mamoon
Hussain, Spouse of President
of Pakistan
Donation from ALES, Tokyo.
Mr. Moiz A. Bokhari
MGYW, Los Angeles
Roots Millennium
Mr. Mujtaba Rahim,
President,ARCHROMA
Mr. Muhammad Akram
Sheikh, Senior Advocate
Mrs. Humaira Amjad Aziz
Qazi, Parep Pretoria
(For flood victims)
AMOUNT
(PAK Rs.)
S.NO.
1,000,000 9
SENDER
AMOUNT
(PAK Rs.)
Ms. Jannat Begum (For

flood victims)
6,000
954,407
200,000
105,000
300,000
50,000
50,000
TOTAL
2,695,407
30,000
41
PFOWA Reports 2014
(e) CONTRIBUTIONS IN KIND FROM PAKISTAN MISSIONS ABROAD

S.No
Missions
S.No
Missions
S.No
Missions
Abu Dhabi
Kathmandu
11
Singapore
Amman
Manila
12
Stockholm
Ankara
Prague
13
The Hague
Chengdu
Pretoria
14
Washington
Hanoi
10
Sanaa
(f) SPONSORS FOR RAFFLE TICKET

1
Chinese Embassy
11 Soviet Consultants
Lala Textile
12 Ramada Hotel
Durrani Associates
13 Serena Hotel
Gerrys
14 Mobilink
Haier
15 Olive Garden
Stepnex
16 Marriott Hotel
Travel Times
17 Packages Ltd. Lahore
Bank Al-Falah
18 Telenor
National Bank of
Pakistan
19 Zong
10 Travel Waljis
20 United Bank Limited
DETAILS OF BAZAAR INCOME 2014

S.No
Details
Pak Rs.
Contribution from Pakistan Missions abroad
2,401,178.00
5,100.00
Bazaar income (Stalls/Raffle Ticket)
1,546,680.00
95.00
After Bazaar Mini Sale
Donation by wife of President of Pakistan
Donation by Roots Millennium School
Contribution from Diplomatic Corps
42
US $
330,900.00
1,000,000.00
300,000.00
2,623,450.00
TOTAL
8,202,208.00
5,195.00
Education Committee REPORT
Mrs. Lyla Gardezi

Secretary Education
Jannat Begum
Co-Secretary Education
Inspired by Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah

who described students as real makers of
Pakistan, the Pakistan Foreign Office Womens
Association (PFOWA) attaches great importance
to the promotion of education among children
of officials of the Foreign Office. The Association
allocates a significant portion of its budget in
support of this objective. During 2014, various
activities were undertaken in this regard like
running training courses, providing school books,
stationery items and bags, distributing cash
grants etc.
An overview of noteworthy steps taken by the
Education Committee during 2014 are given
below:
- Every year PFOWA distributes school bags,
books and stationery items to children of the
staff (Grade 1-15) of the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs. The process begins with the collection
of forms in January which are scrutinised by

the Education Secretary and the PFOWA
Executive and Education Committee
members. In addition, cash coupons are
given to students studying in private schools.
During 2014, a total of 950 students of Grade
1 - 10 were facilitated in this way.
- To encourage hard work among talented
students, the PFOWA gives certificates, cash
awards and prize bonds to Grade 1 - 10
students who secure 1st, 2nd, 3rd positions
or obtain 85% marks in Board examination in
August/September. Beginning 2014, President
PFOWA decided to increase the number of
prize bonds given to students in this category.
Mrs. Zahra Wadood Fatemi, MNA (wife of
Syed Tariq Fatemi, Special Assistant to the
Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs) and Mr.
Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhary Foreign Secretary
were the Chief Guests at the event held at the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs to distribute such
awards for 2014.
- PFOWA Education Secretary and the Head of
MGYW Los Angeles (US) signed an agreement
under which a cheque for Rs 105,000/was provided to PFOWA for education
scholarships. During 2014, the amount was
distributed among 15 children.
- The allocation for Higher Education was
43
PFOWA Reports 2014
increased to Rs. 866,100/- enabling PFOWA

to process approximately 350 such cases
during the year.
- Beginning
2015,
President
PFOWA
announced a new initiative named the
Shaista Ikramullah scholarship. This meritbased programme will be for post-graduate
students. A circular inviting application for
award of this scholarship for 2015 has already
been issued.
- The donation sent by a Korean national for
charitable purposes, was given by PFOWA
to True Worth Foundation, a non-profit
NGO which aims to realize the potential of
individuals.
- During 2014, scholarships were also given to
the following:
- President of PFOWA has decided to pay the
school fee of Hassan Fiazan (s/o Asad Ali staff
member of PFOWA) who is studying in PAF
Cadet College Sargodha. Although valid for
the whole year, this scholarship is given in
two installments (i.e June and December).
- Rs. 23,760/- were provided to Saqib Raza son
of Nazmeen Raza widow of an official of the
44
Foreign Affairs Ministry.

- Rs. 5,000/- were given to Nadeem Ahmed,
Naib Qasid enabling him to pay the school fee
of his daughter.
- Rs. 10,300/- scholarship was given to the
daughter of Zahra Khalid widow of an official
of the Foreign Affairs Ministry.
- Rs. 40,000/- were paid to Mumtaz Hussain,
Waiter-cum Naib Qasid for education fee of
his son.
- In collaboration with KSOFT Academy, PFOWA
arranged computer courses for 17 children
and incurred expenditure of Rs. 136,000/- in
this regard.
- Under the Shireen A. Moiz Educational
Support Programme, Rs. 200,000 were
distributed among sixteen children during
2014.
As a result of the keen interest taken by President
PFOWA and the active role of Education
Committee Members, the Association has been
able to fulfill its responsibilities. The various steps
taken by the Education Committee during 2014
will also provide direction for activities for the
next year.
Social Welfare COMMITTEE Report
Mrs. Mahwish Sohail

Secretary Social Welfare
Mrs. Asma Asim

Co-Secretary Social Welfare
Never worry about numbers; help one person at

a time and always start with person nearest to
you (Mother Teresa)
The rationale for PFOWAs existence is caring and
sharing. We have been making every effort to
bring a change in the lives of underprivileged and
needy over the past many decades. This noble
cause is being carried forward successfully with
the assistance from society and prayers from
the beneficiaries. To this end, last year PFOWA
provided assistance in cash and kind worth Rs.
5.77 million for the destitute families with the
hope that this small contribution would make
their lives better.
Since Charity begins at home, the Social Welfare
Committee has been assigned the responsibility
of PFOWAs In-House Program through which
assistance is provided to the Ministrys staff and
families, particularly widows, orphans, physically
impaired and the sick. For them PFOWA acts as a
social security net.
Grant for Widows. The largest component of
social welfare budget goes to the assistance of
widows. This year an amount of Rs. 3.4 million
was given for the welfare of widows. Efforts are in
hand to extend additional help to those widows
whose children are below the employable age
and need our help the most.
Marriage Assistance. PFOWA also provided

marriage assistance to the needy families with a
grant of Rs. 70,000/- as matrimonial support to
the low paid Foreign Office employees.
Medical Assistance. PFOWA also provided special
monthly stipends to the most vulnerable families
of officials, who have no other means of livelihood.
As per need, we provide medical assistance for
patients in distress, recurrent medical assistance
for chronically ill patients and financial assistance
in the event of deaths, accidents and disasters.
Over the last year, PFOWA made significant
strides in reaching out to communities, families
and individuals outside the confines of Foreign
Office. PFOWA continued to support different
Non-Profit Medical Facilities, Community Based
Organizations (CBOs) and NGOs to help them as
much as possible. Donations and grants were
provided to these organizations to compensate
medical, educational and subsistence needs,
livelihoods training and emergency relief of
hundreds of people. The Executive Committee
headed by President PFOWA Mrs. Najia Aizaz
Ahmad visited each potential beneficiary and
monitored the organizations and individuals
receiving recurrent donations.
Orphans and Children. PFOWA has been aiding
the orphaned and abandoned children at SOS
Childrens Village for many years. Last year, the
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PFOWA Reports 2014
they are celebrating Eid away from their homes.

Financial Assistance to Flood Victims
Each year floods present a huge challenge to the
lives and livelihood of the people living in flood
stricken areas. Continuing with the assistance of
the past few years, PFOWA presented a donation
of Rs. 300,000/- for the flood affectees through
True Worth Foundation. This donation will go
a long way to help the flood affectees build their
lives.
Besides, PFOWA donated Rs. 60,000/- to the
families of flood victims with the hope that this
small token would help them during their hour
of need.
Medical Assistance - Donation to NORI and
Kidney Centre
Executive Committee visited these children on
24 July 2014 and presented a donation of Rs.
200,000 for their well being and education.
Donation by President PFOWA. On the occasion
of Womens day, Mrs. Najia Aizaz Ahmad,
President PFOWA donated one of her paintings
for the assistance of needy children at Umeede-Noor. The funds raised from the auction were
passed over to Umeed-e-Noor.
Relief goods and Eid Gifts for the Temporarily
Displaced Persons (TDPs)
Over the last decade, our society has been bravely
facing the challenges of terrorism. This scourge
has left hundreds and thousands of people
temporarily displaced in the wake of ongoing
military operations. To ease their discomfort,
PFOWA extended relief support to TDPs in the
form of food items worth Rs. 500,000/- during
the holy month of Ramadan.
In addition, PFOWA also donated toys, clothes
and shoes as Eid Gifts for the TDPs through
Umeed-e-Noor. The gift items were a token of
help for the TDPs during their hard times when
46
President PFOWA along with members of

the Executive Committee visited the Nuclear
Oncology and Radiotherapy Institution (NORI)
and presented a donation of Rs. 300,000/-.
With the rising number of patients suffering
from Cancer, this donation will help the affected
people.
PFOWA continued its humanitarian and medical
assistance by providing a donation of Rs. 200,000
to the Kidney Centre at Karachi. This amount is
dedicated for those patients who cannot afford
treatment.
Summary
Assistance for Flood,
Affected and Outreach
Rs. 1,566,880
Medical Assistance (Monthly) Rs. 206,500/One Time Medical Assistance Rs. 150,000/Widow Assistance
Rs. 3,482,900/-
Marriage Assistance
Rs. 70,000/-
Eid, Ramzan and Christmas
Rs. 302,000/-
Total
Rs. 5,778,280/-
Bazaar Secretarys Report
Mrs. Siddiqa Tarar

Secretary Bazaar 2014
Mrs. Shabana Zaheer

Co-Secretary Bazaar 2014
Over the years, PFOWA's Annual Charity Bazaar has become one of the most eagerly awaited
events of Islamabad's social calendar. Participation of Diplomatic Corps, hard work of PFOWA
Executive Committee, contributions of Pakistan's Missions abroad and the unstinted cooperation
of the leadership of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs combined to produce a memorable event held
at Serena Hotel.
The esteemed wife of the President of Pakistan, Begum Mehmooda Mamnoon Hussain graciously
cut short her family engagements in Karachi to inaugurate PFOWA Bazaar 2014. She was received
by the President and Executive Committee of PFOWA.After cutting the ribbon, Begum Sahiba
visited various stalls put up by PFOWA and diplomatic missions. She took keen interest in the
displayed items and commended the organizers. The Chief Guest also witnessed the "Cultural
Mosaic" showcasing cultural highlights from different countries including China, Indonesia, Iraq,
Japan, Lebanon,Myanmar,Poland,Russia, Saudi Arabia and Sudan.
True to the spirit of exemplary Pakistan-China relations, the Embassy of the People's Republic
of China was especially active in the Bazaar. Besides putting up a stall, and participating in the
Cultural Mosaic, the Chinese Embassy also made a much appreciated contribution of One Million
Rupees to PFOWA.
In her welcome address, President PFOWA, Mrs Najia Aizaz Ahmad thanked Begum Mehmooda
Mamnoon Hussain for her patronage and sparing so much of her valuable time. She also
presented an overview of PFOWA's philanthropic activities besides thanking the various sponsors.
She highlighted the fact that all PFOWA funds were scrupulously used for charitable causes. She
announced further expansion of PFOWA scholarship schemes to encourage talented students of
the Foreign Office community.
The Chief Guest paid rich tributes to PFOWA and all the participating diplomatic missions. She
expressed satisfaction at the vast spectrum of PFOWA's endeavors. The Chief Guest's generous
donation of One Million Rupees to PFOWA was a great source of encouragement and a vote of
confidence in the PFOWA leadership.
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PFOWA Reports 2014
The Foreign Secretary echoed the sentiments of the Foreign Office fraternity by expressing
gratitude to Begum Mehmooda Mamnoon Hussain. He expressed satisfaction at PFOWA's charity
programs. He also appreciated PFOWA members for their altruism which was exemplified by the
fact that PFOWA did not have any administrative expenses.
The cultural program also included a fashion show featuring a dazzling array of dresses reflecting
the vibrancy of Pakistan's cultural and fashion scene. The musical performance by Amir Munawwar,
a music graduate from the US based in Pakistan, who has composed music for various films and
theater enthralled the audience.
The 2014 Bazaar was a resounding success in terms of attendance and proceeds. An amount
of Rs. 1,877,580.00 was raised from the stalls besides cash donations of Rs. 6,324,628.00 and
US$ 5,100.
Holding the Bazaar in Hotel Serena's lawn instead of a hall turned out to be a huge boon. The
alfresco ambience added to the appeal of the event which attracted people from all walks of life.
The visitors thoroughly enjoyed the wide variety of goods from all corners of the world besides
being able to sample cuisine from different countries.
It was gratifying to see the fruitification of the efforts of PFOWA as well as its friends and
supporters. A special word of thanks for Serena Management would also be in order. Gratitude
also to Mr Sartaj Aziz, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs and National Security
and Syed Tariq Fatemi, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs,who not only graced the Bazaar with
their presence but provided valuable support and guidance to PFOWA. We, also are indebted to
MOFA's Administration ably led by Mr Jauhar Saleem Additional Secretary as well as the Chief of
Protocol Mr Moin-ul-Haque for, inter-alia, helping materialize the fashion show and mobilizing
sponsorships.
For me personally, it would be a pleasure to hand over the baton to the next Bazaar Secretary on
such an auspicious note.
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PFOWA Reports 2014
Thanks to the countries

that participated in
PFOWA Bazaar 2014
Azerbaijan
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Brunei
China
Cuba
Egypt
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Japan
Jordan
Kenya
Lebanon
Malaysia
Myanmar
Nepal
The Netherlands
Palestine
Philippines
Russia
Saudi Arabia
South Africa
South Korea
Sri Lanka
Sudan
Tajikistan
Turkey
Vietnam
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PFOWA Reports 2014
PFOWA BAZAAR 2014, THE CHIEF GUEST

Begum Mehmooda Mamoon Hussain graced PFOWA bazaar with her presence as the
Chief Guest. She was received by President PFOWA. Mrs. Najia Aizaz Ahmad and PFOWA
Executive Committee. After the formal inauguration of the bazaar, the Chief Guest visited
each stall and appreciated the efforts of PFOWA. She was pleased to see the cultural
performances by different countries. The Chief Guest also made an encouraging speech
and valued PFOWA's charity efforts.
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62
Extraordinary, Ordinary People
Extraordinary,
Ordinary People
By Sameer Ahmad
Diplomatic life, all things considered,

is a pretty interesting life. You get
to meet people from all walks
of lifetalented artists, singers,
businesspeople, speakers, doctors,
travelers, and humanitarians. Many
of these people have achieved grand
successes in their respective fields,
and are worthy representatives
of their profession, culture and
country. I cant count how many
stories Ive heard and people I
have had the pleasure of meeting
that have shaken up my worldview,
renewed my faith and hope, and
provided me with a profound sense
of moral courage and optimism. The
older I grow, the more I feel it to be
one of my lifes great privileges to
have always found myself, either
by incidence or by some destiny
of sorts, to be surrounded by very
many extraordinary people.
But of the many stories Ive heard
and the many hands Ive shaken,
perhaps there is one that stands
out.
Its a story I heard while walking

along the banks of the glimmering
and grand Tagus River of Lisboa,
Portugal, one fine sunny afternoon
this past summer.
I was on a vacation escapade in
Portugal, accompanied by my friend
Isaac, who works in the Netherlands
as a security guard. We had spent
the day touring the main sites of
Lisbon, wandering around in awe
of the stunning and spectacular
beauty of this hilly and majestic
city. We visited the Jeronimos
Monastery from the Renaissance
Era, hiked and roamed through the
magnificent castle of San Jorge and
the Moorish compounds, stumbled
through the historic alleys and
districts of Lisbons center, and
saw the monuments and statues
dedicated to the Portuguese sailors
and discoverers. Eventually by late
afternoon we found ourselves at
the riverbanks of the spectacular
River Tagus, the beating heart of
Lisbon. It was a gorgeous day, with a
spotless sky and the scorching heat
of the sun rays setting the sapphire-
blue river alight beautifully with a

million golden sparkles.
Maybe it was just the calming
demeanor of the Tagus, but I found
myself in somewhat of a reflective
mood. I had fallen in love with the
city, and I was glad Isaac had come
with me. Travel companions can
sometimes grow tired of each other
but Isaac and I made a good tourist
duo.
But I also realized then that although
I had known Isaac to be a standup guy; I knew him to be honest,
hardworking, and passionate about
his jobI otherwise knew very little
about the man, about who he really
was and where he came from. We
were at two very different stages of
our lives he a family man with a
wife and with kids nearly my age,
and I someone who had only just
begun taking my first steps into the
working world. We had walked on
vastly different paths our whole
lives, yet here we both were, in
Portugals capital, at the same
time, enjoying a getaway from the
locomotion of our daily lives.
63

So I prodded a bit, asking him how
he ended up working and settling
down in Europe.
Ive had a good life,he responded
calmly,a very good life in fact. But
it wasnt always this way.
It was then that Isaac revealed to
me the remarkable and implausible
story of his life, starting from his
humble beginnings in his native
home of Skardu, close to Kashmir,
growing up under the ragged air
of poverty. He lived in a very large
family with ten brothers and sisters,
and as the eldest of all his siblings,
assumed a father-like role to his
siblings very early on, and learned
to hunt and fish to help his father
put food to the table. They werent
alone in the house either they
lived alongside his uncles family,
which was not much smaller. Times
remained persistently tough for the
two families, but by living together,
they were better prepared to cope
with the tough times.
But just when all seemed to be
humming along smoothly, any
progress that Isaacs family had
made over the years in slowly
climbing out of poverty came
tumbling down when Isaacs father
and uncle got into a quarrel, with
his uncle arguing that Isaacs father
had too many children to feed for
both of them to support. Facing
eviction, Isaac would live in a
crowded one-room house alongside
all his brothers and sisters for a few
years, and it well and truly felt that
he and his family were right back at
the start, a distant mile away from
ensuring a better life in the years
ahead.
64
luggage docking station. Under the

suffocating heat and hazardous
work conditions, he worked long
and tireless shifts, loading and
unloading heavy luggage, living in a
makeshift shack and sending most
of his salary back to his family.
No, not in the least. I just knew in

my heart that Id find a way
By the time Isaac had reached

this part in his story, we were
crossing under Lisbons grandest
suspension bridge, where a young
skinny boy was leaning against the
wall, strumming a beautiful tune
of Fado music on his guitar and
singing something in Portuguese.
His darker, bronze-like complexion
suggested that he was not native
to Portugal possibly an immigrant
from North Africa. But here he was,
in the heart of Portugal, playing a
melody that was very much part of
Portugals history and culture, even
if he himself wasnt. I wondered to
myself what mustve spurred him
to leave wherever he was from and
make his journey here. Isaac and I
fell quiet momentarily, just listening
and looking onwards, our silence
only to be broken by an admittance:
One thing is true-- I never hated

any of my jobs. In fact, my bosses,
with the grace of God, have always
seemed to like me. Theyd usually
want for me to stay onwards with
them, but with my brothers and
sisters growing older, I too needed
to find better opportunities
But let me tell you something I

always knew that God had some
plan for me a grander plan for my
life. I figured that so long as I worked
earnestly, hed pave the way for me
He worked several years on those
loading docks, but during this time
he received word that his father
was feeling increasingly ill and could
no longer work enough to support
the education of his children.
That was the most difficult period

of my life,he said,with my siblings
growing up, I knew I would have to
drop out of school, leave town and
find work in the city if my family
was to sustain itself.
I made a vow to my father that day

that I would not let my brothers
or sisters leave school early to find
work. They had to make something
of themselves, and I didnt need a
degree to tell me just how important
school was going to be for their
future. So I promised him Id find the
funds to get them all to at least a
Masters degree.
So at 16, he ran away to a dusty

and bustling neighborhood of
Rawalpindi, finding work at a
Did you have a plan on how

you intended on doing that? I
wondered out loud,
After a series of odd jobs, including

as a cook, Isaac found an opening in
the Navy as an assistant to a Naval
Officer, a job he considers his big
break.
His work ethic was noticed quickly

in the military, and the Naval Officer
recommended that he continue
working with them on their
overseas assignment. This, and
then a stint with another diplomat,
led him to places like Singapore and
Malaysia and Syria and finally to
the Netherlands, where he is now
gainfully employed. His tremendous
work ethic had throughout made
him, in many ways, indispensable
no one wanted to get rid of a man
whose willingness to work seemed
to have no end.
We didnt realize it, but by now
Isaac and I had been walking along
the banks of the river for over three
hours, covering a distance that is
usually taken on a train. Most of his
siblings have now graduated, or are
in the final stages of their Masters
degrees, and he has three kids of
his own who are also all studying in
school.
They rely on me entirely to work
and send money back if something
goes wrong, the whole system is like
a cobweb- it collapses. But I know
that school will pay off; maybe
thats Gods plan for me to be
someone for my siblings and for my
own kids that my own father, bless
him, could not for me.
Besides, Sameer sahib, I cant
complain. Gods paved this way
for methose nights, living in that

shack after my father and uncle
fought, well I dont know how, I..
His voice began to crack, and he
struggled for a moment, as if he had
just opened the hatch to memories
that time had long buried.
Well, Hes gotten me through a lot
and now Ive seen the Pyramids,
roamed across the capitals of
Europe- seen the world and Im still
going.
Clearing his voice, he said something
that I think encompasses the gist of
his remarkable tale:
But you see, my lifes been writsten
for me. Our destinies are written
for all of us but we can only fully
discover what is written by putting
our hearts into our circumstances
and do the best with what were
given.
The events in Isaacs life are
certainly quite extraordinary, but
Ive always believed since that day
that what is even more remarkable
is the mesmerizing way in which
Isaac revealed his lifes journey, one
which my powers as a writer are
too inadequate to convey and do
justice to. There was an inexplicable
warmth and genuineness to the
manner in which he spoke of his
struggles, of his dreams and of his
ambitions, as if to immediately
disarm any listener of any
previously held prejudices. Equally
impressive was the way in which
he articulated the firm conviction
of his heart; that he existed for a
bigger purpose, even when brought
up in abject poverty and even when
the universe seemed to be against
him from the start. Here was a man,
who regardless of the cards life had
dealt him, remained so hopeful and
optimistic about his future, carrying
an affable smile and cheerful
demeanor that would never let you
suspect for the slightest moment
what it truly guarded a strenuous
and fractured past, and the stress of
an uncertain future.
been, I wonder, that even though his

pain was an ocean of unknowable
and haunting depths, he upholds
a sure-fire belief that fate was
somehow hurrying to meet him, to
carve a path out for him, and that all
he had to do was to meet it halfway
by doing his part of putting his heart
into his work and everything that he
did!
Ive long believed that every
person we meet enters our life for
a purpose. Every person. I cant
explain exactly why I believe this
so, but I do believe it. From time to
time, on my bike rides or at night
when sleep escapes me, I think back
to many of the people, strangers
and friends, who Ive had the good
fortune of meeting. Those from my
Daewoo bus trips from Lahore to
Islamabad, to the pizzerias and delis
outside of my school on the corner
of Lexington Avenue in New York
City to the cafes in The Hague and
Berlin.
I think back to some of these
extraordinary people and their
extraordinary stories, and how
theyve come to shape my own
worldview and perspective, and I
realize something.
Its that the trials, tribulations and
triumphs of our lives become at once
both communal and unique. Their
stories of enduring, of courage,
of hope and of overcomingthey

become our own stories. They do so
in that their stories have the power
of becoming guiding lanterns of our
own lives, to guide us through the
commotion of our own day to day
challenges and to be inspired from
their examples. At the end of the
day, all of life is a series of stories,
and many times our own stories
will intersect. Some people may
be in our lives for the entire story.
Others may be in just for a page or
chapter or two. But everyone has
the power to make an impact in
your life, and so their presence is
important, regardless of the level of
visible success or popularity.
We meet no ordinary people in our
lives. If given a chance, everyone
has something extraordinary to
offer. Its funny, we look so often
for inspiration from motivation
speakers or movie clips or speeches
or counselors or twitter feeds, or
TED talks. And those resources are
all fine and well. But in the process,
we sometimes tend to forget that
so many extraordinary people are
right around us, in our very own
circlesits just that the vessels of
these extraordinary stories are in
fact, ordinary people.
The only choice we make is whether
to listen
"At the end of the day, all of life is a

series of stories, and many times our
own stories will intersect."
How hopeful this man had to have

65
Life After Retirement

By Temriz Khalid
I guess such is life, like a circle
that goes around, you begin
somewhere and eventually you
come back to the same place
after completing the roundand
I suppose this is also what keeps
us young at heart, although
our bodies tell us otherwise,
unfortunately!
To retire means you have given

up your work because you have
reached a certain age, which
could be 60 to 65 or even 70.
The fact is that a woman is never
entitled to give up her work
because she will always remain
the person who has to run the
house, care for the whole family
and their needs as well as to
help her children with their
lives whether they are single
or married. At times she has
the duty of also taking care of
grandchildren.
I always imagined or thought
that relaxation, enjoyment and
time for myself would be mine
when I no longer had to be on
duty alongwith my husband at
official functions because of his
job. On the contrary, I find as if,
in my life now, I have gone back
in time and am having to do all
those things I started off doing
earlier on when I was young.
66
Being retired brings the

realization that you have to cope
with a lot of things yourself and
often you hear this
Husband: Can you please..
Son: Cant find my..
Granddaughters: Can I have
some..
Me: Oh! No..
Some amusing anecdotes to
mention here. When we were
leaving Belgium, our last posting,
friends were giving us farewell
dinners and at one of them a
Belgian friend told me, Good
luck, youll be getting double
the husband for half the pay!
Hadnt thought of that at all but
it sounded funny at that time
and we enjoyed a good laugh.
Thus, when we went to bid
farewell to the then King, Albert
of Belgium, he asked me what
I was planning to do now that
we were retiring. I dared to be
informal enough and said to him
Life wouldnt be easy for me
because I would have double the
husband for half the salary. He
chuckled and seemed to enjoy
that.
One thing we are enjoying
is watching our two granddaughters grow. They bring
laughter in our lives with the

cute little things they say. One
morning when they were staying
with us the older one, Zohra,
who was 3 then, was trying to
wake me up so that I could give
her chocolate milk. When the
grand dad offered to make the
chocolate milk for her, she said
to him, Nana, you cant make
my milk, youre a man!
They spend a lot of time with me
since their mother works, some
time back I had told them, Im
your old Mama and Mama is
your younger one. Little Selen
suddenly told me that the other
day, and I was really surprised
she remembered that after such
a long time.
A friend of mine used to go to
her grandsons nursery to drop
and fetch him daily. One day,
the little boy told her Grandma,
dont come out of the car today,
Im a big boy and I can go in by
myself, she said No, why not, I
enjoy coming in and meeting all
your friends. He replied, but
they tell me your mother is too
old!
All in all, at least in retirement
one should be able to profit from
the chance to relax and reflect
on ones life as the years have
gone by. One shouldnt have to
suffer from stress nor should one
be a carrier of it.easier said
than done!
When one feels one is being
pulled in all directions one
should stop and actually RETIRE
from it ALL!
"PAKISTAN-TURKEY DOSTULUK"
interview of Ambassador of Turkey to Pakistan

By Mrs. Saima Usman
in Asia. It will be even more prominent globally in

the coming years.
As a Turkish diplomat, it is also a great honor to be
serving in brotherly Pakistan. We are truly made to
feel at home here by our gracious hosts. It is also
very rewarding from a professional perspective.
We have a positive agenda with a lot of untapped
potential to realize.
Q1. How would you like to describe your stay in

Pakistan from a diplomatic perspective?
As a diplomat I find it a great privilege to be serving
in an important country such as Pakistan. This is
Asias century and Pakistan is a prominent country
Q2. Turks always refer to people of Pakistan as

Kardesh (brother). Keeping this in mind do you
see any similarities between Turkish and Pakistani
culture?
Of course, a lot. There are many similarities owing
to our shared Islamic culture and also our historical
relationship. Both countries are predominantly
Muslim. These give us similar approaches to life,
67
Interview of Ambassador of Turkey to Pakistan
similar ethics, traditions and culture. For example,

our wedding traditions are very similar with
mehndi and others. Our cuisines have similarities.
We use the same names for similar dishes like
biryani-buryani,
keema-kiyma,
tandooritandir, halwa-helva and, not similar in name
but in content, lassi-ayran. Our languages have
thousands of words in common. Eight thousand,
I was told. The word Urdu in fact is of Turkish
origin, meaning army. There is also tremendous
resemblance in physical features of our peoples.
When we are out on the street with the family, we
are often thought to be Pakistanis and addressed
directly in Urdu.
Q3. Please share with us your daily routine in
Islamabad and how do you like spending your
weekend?
My daily routine is centered on work. I am very
happy to be in a country with which we have intense
relations. I start the day by going through the news
from Turkey and then those of Pakistan. Reviewing
progress in ongoing projects and programs is the
next step. Planning ahead also requires time. I also
reserve time in the morning and in the afternoon
for incoming or outgoing visits or meetings. I try
to leave office in time for dinner and pay attention
68
to have lunches and dinners at home with my

family. The weekends are also reserved as much as
possible for quality time with the family. We have a
nice garden which we enjoy very much. Sometimes
we travel within Pakistan over the weekend; it is
refreshing.
Q4. Any interesting experience during your stay in
Pakistan so far.
Mrs. Asl Girgin: When we first arrived, the Lok Mela
by Lok Virsa was a very enlightening experience
into the rich cultural heritage of different regions
of Pakistan. Just a brief visit was enough to
understand how resourceful and big Pakistan is.
There is a more personal experience I had, at first
it was interesting but now we are accustomed to it:
being treated as Pakistanis, and being addressed in
Urdu when in the city as civilians. Also the degree
of reverence and love for Maulana Jalaluddin Rumi
all around the country impressed me a lot. As you
know he lived in Turkey and his tomb is in Konya.
Finally the interest in Turkish TV drama series was
a surprise for me.
Q5. You also spent your childhood in Pakistan.
Any memory that you still recall and would like to
share with readers and do you find Pakistan any
different now?
Unfortunately I do not have any memories. I was

born when my father was working in Rawalpindi.
But my mother went home to Istanbul for my birth
and my father left Pakistan shortly thereafter. I was
given the name Babur to remind them of Pakistan.
Throughout my childhood I cherished this special
link of mine with Pakistan and I am very happy to
have finally returned home!
My parents did visit us after our arrival here. They
had not been back for almost half a century. They
could not recognize Islamabad as it had only a few
buildings then. They remember the Foreign Office
building which was Sheherzad Hotel at the time,
and the Secretariat buildings which were being
constructed. They barely recognized Rawalpindi,
except for the old parts. Of course it has been a
long time and cities have developed. My father-in-
"I find Pakistani people very

innovative and industrious
and also resilient in the face
of challenges. When they
put their mind to it, they can
achieve anything. Pakistanis
are also a very friendly and
generous people."
law had also been to Islamabad in the eighties and
he observed many developments as well.
Q6. Which parts of Pakistan have you visited and
liked the most so far?
I travel as much as I can.
MashaAllah Pakistan is a beautiful
country. With the family we have
been to Lahore and Karachi and
parts of Punjab and Sindh. I also
visited Swat with my wife. Malam
Jabba was breathtaking. We were
told about it before, but seeing
is believing! I also visited Quetta,
Kashmir and several times Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa beyond Peshawar.
We are looking forward to visiting
Gilgit-Baltistan which we are told
is very picturesque as well. I like it
wherever I go. But some distinct
places are the Badshahi Mosque
and Hazoori Bagh in Lahore,
mazaars of Makli in Thatta, the
shores of the Indus near Swabi.
Mrs. Asl Girgin: Each location
has its own beauty. The nature of
Northern regions, the historical
beauties of Punjab, the handicrafts
all around, the colorful costumes
and jewelry of particularly the
69
South are all gems of Pakistan.

Lahore Museum is rich enough
to be considered as one of
the leading historical heritage
museums of the World.
Q7. Your impression and views
about people of Pakistan?
I find Pakistani people very
innovative and industrious
and also resilient in the face
of challenges. When they
put their mind to it, they can
achieve anything. Pakistanis
are also a very friendly and
generous people. To us Turks they are truly
brotherly. The hospitality in a Pakistani home is
impressive indeed. I observe that living together
as larger families helps preserve traditions better;
especially for the upbringing of the younger ones.
When I compare it with Turkey, which is more than
sixty percent urbanized now, I see the downside of
having smaller family units living in apartments.
Q8. Your favorite Pakistani cuisine.
We love Pakistani food and have it regularly at home
as well. Haleem, biryanis, the royal dish of murgh
malai wala are our favorites at home. We find the
spices truly uplifting. Initially I got accustomed to
having keema and paratha for breakfast but it had
its toll on the waistline! Now I take it in moderation.
My only disappointment when we arrived was
to discover that you cannot find those delicious
mangoes all year round.
Mrs. Asl Girgin: I have a particular liking for
Pakistani desserts. My favorites are gulab jamun
and rasmalai. And all fruits of Pakistan are so
special!
Q9. Turkey is a very culturally rich country and so
is Pakistan. What one aspect of our culture you
would like to take along with you and will share
with your family and friends back home?
There is so much that we admire and enjoy of
70
Pakistani culture. Physically we give Pakistani

handicrafts as gifts to family and friends. However,
we send a lot of photographs of the beautiful
sceneries and historical sites as well. What we
really share are our observations and experiences
about Pakistan and its people. We always tell how
different reality is from the misrepresented image
that exists in the international press.
Mrs. Asl Girgin: I would say, for ourselves we would
take along, together with beautiful friendships, the
enchantingly colorful textiles that you have. And of
course recipes of the Pakistani cuisine.
Q10. Urdu language has a very strong Turkish
influence. Do you find it easy to understand our
national language?
Yes, there are many common words, in fact several
thousands of them. I think they are mostly nouns
and adjectives, verbs are more particular. I speak
a bit of Urdu and already speaking Turkish helps a
lot.
Q11. Turkish dramas are really popular in Pakistan.
Do you plan to introduce Pakistani drama series in
Turkey as well?
Turkish dramas are popular in many countries
these days. In the Middle East, in the Balkans and in
Central Asia as well I believe. They have high visual
qualities technically and in terms of garments and
accessories as well. However, their scenarios are
sometimes not true to our daily life or historical

facts. They are meant for entertainment and
should be watched as such. Not as documentaries
reflecting Turkish culture. But these days new
dramas are emerging which place emphasis in
being true to history. I hope they will also appear
before Pakistani audiences soon.
As for Pakistani dramas in Turkey, it could be
feasible as we have a common culture, however
the producers in Pakistan have to market them.
After all, Turkish dramas are brought to Pakistan by
private TV channels. What I think would be even
better is joint productions of dramas. It would be
beneficial for both countries.
Q12. How do you see Pak-Turkey brotherly
relations in future?
From a political perspective we have excellent and
strategic relations with Pakistan. However, there
is work to be done in many fields to fully tap the
potential. We need improvement in our economic
relations, there is a lot of potential there. And this is
underway. The same is true in the energy field. Our
cultural and educational relations are progressing.
I see a very bright future for an even stronger
relationship between our two truly brotherly

countries.
Q13. Your views about general diplomatic life in
Islamabad.
Islamabad has a large diplomatic community,
around eighty embassies. This creates a lot of
activity. In some weeks there are national day
celebrations almost every night. Sometimes there
are several events in the same day and it becomes
hectic. Diplomats are treated as precious guests
by local authorities and by the inhabitants of the
capital. We are looked after very well for all our
needs. We thank all our Pakistani hosts and friends
for making life easier for us.
Q14. Your message to our readers.
Turks and Pakistanis have a truly special affection
for each other. Any Pakistani who visits Turkey or
any Turk who visits Pakistan will witness this. Also
Turkish and Pakistani diplomats have a tradition of
solidarity, socially and professionally, in whichever
country they are. We cherish these bonds and hope
to pass them on to future generations. Pakistan
Turkery dosti zindabad!
71
From Me To You
By Hina Ali
Come not to my grave and weep

Pile not all your sorrows in a heap
Get out of your head, give our mothers a hug
Fight your fears, stand with our fathers and
brothers on the prayer rug
Let not the nightmares keep
Battle the demons night and day
Rid the world of this scum, keep them at bay!
For I am not buried in the sand so deep
I am with my God, high in the heavens above
I am happy, basking in His love
Dedicated to the victims of terrorism all over
the world, particularly the shuhada of
16-Dec-2014 at APS, Peshawar
72
True salary
of a doctor
By Dr. Talha Salman Bashir
An excited young physician sits among some 300
individuals on an Airbus A340. As we follow the sun
around the earth at 600 miles an hour destroying
circadian rhythms, cruising at an altitude of 35000ft
over the Atlantic Ocean, it seems that little can go wrong
as the hours go by. His overhead stowage contains a
satchel full of medical school degrees, letters of
recommendations, exam results and other paraphernalia
which he will present upon starting his internal medicine
residency training. While watching my 7th episode of
"How I Met your mother" on the typical 12 inch screen
and barely functioning headset, my show is interrupted
by an announcement, "This better be good", I think to
myself. "Ladies and gentlemen, would those with
medical training please make themselves known to the
flight crew. There is a medical emergency on the
aircraft." There is bound to be a hot shot doc sitting in
business class that is probably already stenting that
heart or intubating that airway or dialysing those
kidneys. Why risk it Bashir? Better to just sit tight, just
another 5 hours to go. The announcement is made
again after 10 mins, "This is our second request ladies
and gentlemen please if there is a doctor on board
please make yourself known to the flight crew". My
thoughts start to race, "to be or not to be" "action or
inaction". In the midst of this dilemma the button has
been pressed and the light overhead is now on. An
airhostess approaches with a bottle of water but is met
with a timid voice "Is there a true medical emergency
on this plane". She states "are you a doctor?", the timid
voice replies "Yes. I am a resident physician." The

passenger in the seat next to me basks in the drama
unfolding next to him. To break from the plot for a
second, I was flying to the USA to start residency after
completing medical school and one year of surgical
house job training. The airhostess asks me to follow her
to the front of the plane. I am told that I would have to
provide some proof of my medical training and
qualification, of which I had a bag full. As I course
through the aisle towards the cockpit, it seemed as if I
am being led to the cockpit itself. "Hope its not the
pilot" I think to myself or else the fate of this plane rests
on my shoulder. To me it seemed the turbulence in the
plane increased and Dark clouds can be seen below
amassing, spewing lightening and thunder, like an
exorcism movie. The delusion of grandeur was short
lived and to my relief, I am debriefed about an elderly
gentleman in business class who has collapsed in the
bathroom. An 82 year old with a history of multiple
myeloma and end stage renal disease who is on
hemodialysis is reclined almost to a supine state in a
luxurious business class seat. He is panting and sweating
profusely appears exhausted and fatigued. He had,
before his departure attended many a farewell dinner
and during one of those dinners last night he was met
with a versatile foe, an expired drum stick. His wife sits
with him worried but able to provide more history. "I
told you that drumstick was rotten, I have had Diarrhea
for the last 24hours" the man says to his wife. This
73
True Salary of a Doctor

gentleman had been struggling with MM for past several
years during which time this clonal plasma cell disorder
had probably turned his kidneys in to a proteinaceous
goo of amyloid. He has been regular with his dialysis for
the past 3 years and last received dialysis a day before
boarding the plane. Another young lady stands by his
side with another airhostess, She introduces herself as
an RN (whom we will refer to as Amber in this article), I
introduced myself as a resident physician. Only thing
that is missing is a hospital bed, monitors, medicines,
consultants and coffee. I introduce myself to the patient
and her wife. Luckily they belong to my home town and
a comfort of the known sets in. He does not have
medical bracelet or any medical records with him. A bad
case of gastroenteritis I think to myself, as I question
circumstances and symptomology surrounding the
episode of collapse. "Seems pretty vasovagal to me.
Should assess his hydration status" I think to myself. Our
patient protrudes, a parched and cratered tongue. Dry
lips and a skin turgor which is significantly delayed is
noted. One of the senior Airhostesses comes to the
scene and asks other passengers to stay in their seats
and to stop obstructing the aisles to witness this drama
unfolding. She then presents Amber and I with a
briefcase with a red cross etched on it. Medical supplies!
In the contents of the bag there is an impressive array of
gadgets and gizmos of the medical trade. Of course a
blood pressure set, stethoscope and torchlight lie on
top. Underneath IV sets with RL and Normal Saline
bottles, Laryngoscope with endotracheal tube, Scalpels,
syringes, alcohol swabs and enough sterile gauze to
make a blanket. Among the medicines contained in his
box are aspirin, antihistamines, Acetaminophen, antinausea medications, Epi-pens, beta agonist inhalers and
others. Another crew member brings another smaller
brief case containing a defibrillator set with cardiac
monitor on it along with multiple medications right off
an ACLS check list. Amber starts to record vitals while I
come up with management plan. Two flight crew
members, Amber and I are managing this Patient, still 4
hours from landing. Flight crew are well meaning,
involved and very cooperative. I have had a similar
experience twice in the past (involving a Grand mal
seizure and a panic attack lady) and airline crew on both
flights were very nonchalant. I explain to the patient's
wife that it seems very clear that he is very dehydrated
and the best course of management would be to
administer some IV fluids. Now in a hospital that is an
order that is carried out without any qualms but in the
tight fuselage of an Airbus, IV access is easier said than
done. Especially in a dehydrated hemodialysis patient.
74
The lighting is inadequate but Flight crew with torches

make excellent light sources. Amber had stuck the
patient quite a number of times without success and so
had I and before we had defiled our 'do no harm'
intention the idea was abandoned. During the course of
the commotion the patient had been given orange and
apple juice to breathe life into his glycolysis, and this
had improved his mentation. An age old tried and tested
remedy, which has saved millions in the past and
continues to do so in the developing world, ORS was
prepared with a couple of teaspoons of sugar and some
salt. The patient was given this concotion in the form of
a large plastic cup with a straw. His mentation continued
to improve. About 30-40mins later the patient, once
playing in the fields with the grim reaper had returned
to his business class seat. As he continued to improve
we went back to our seats only to find cookies at our
seats. Trans fatty acids but I dont mind at the moment.
There are also papers asking us to join some special club
to accumulate flier miles to which several miles would
be added. Spoils of war before the battle is over.
Arrangements were now being made for immediate
medical evacuation at landing at our destination. We
continued to monitor the patient with half hourly
rounds until landing. I was asked to prepare a brief
summary of events and impressions which would be
handed to emergency medical staff at the destination.
They would evacuate the patient at landing before the
anticlimactic pilgrimage of the masses, out of the
aircraft. A final glance at the patient before transfer out
of unit A340, twenty minutes before landing. "Patient is
maintaining well, fully oriented in time, place and
person" I think to myself. After 2 hours of sipping on a
sufficient amount of the minerals of life. He is
maintaining well at this point, his sweat having dried off
his brow. He is asking about what was to happen next.
Both him and his wife express gratitude for the
assistance provided, the true salary of a junior doctor.
As we depart the plane the crew of the airplane also
express their relief and gratitude. We return to our lives.
After a couple of weeks, I received a letter in the mail. It
is the from one of the senior airhostesses who had been
assisting us in the ariel encounter. To my astoundment,
a one million dollar cheque falls out of the letter, along
with an Airline post card. The back reads "I cannot thank
you enough for your assistance with the medical case
on last week's flight! I found out that our guest's
condition improved in part to your efforts. It would be a
honor and a pleasure to see you on one of our flights
again soon !"... and the million dollar cheque was
actually a Target gift card.
Traveling Pakistan
By Marcel De Vink
Ambassador of the Netherlands to Pakistan
"The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely, or

unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can
be quiet, alone with the heavens, nature, and God.
Because only then does one feel that all is as it should
be."
This beautiful quote is taken from Anne Frank (19291945), the young Jewish writer from Amsterdam who
was one of the victims of the Holocaust and who became
a famous writer after her intriguing and moving diary
(The diary of Anne Frank) was published. The phrase
always resonated strongly with me. And it always makes
me long for the mountains.
I was not afraid, lonely or unhappy when I set out in
2005 to travel to Pakistan. I just had a strong desire to
explore the country that I had heard so much about. I
was curious to find out what it had to offer in terms of
diversity, its culture and heritage. Moreover, I was drawn
to explore the country that was home to the highest
mountains of the world with evocative names like the
Gasherbrum, the Rakaposhi and the Nanga Parbat.
Ever since my early childhood days my parents made
sure to take us to the mountains every year. There was
always a huge sensation seeing the Swiss Alps rising in
front of us after a long drive. The long hikes,and later
alpine and rock climbing would instill a love for the
mountains that never left my brother and me. Not just
in summer but also in winter. It's always been slightly
mysterious why Dutch flatlanders have such an outside
love for the slopes. Maybe it's because The Netherlands
is small, densely populated and living on unstable, often

reclaimed land. Ever since the days of the Dutch East
India Company they have looked outward for everything
they could not get at home.
Before reaching the mountains I spent time in Lahore,
Peshawar and Swat. I was impressed with the culture
and the hospitality of the people (in Swat travelers in
the minibus insisted paying for me all the time). But I
was impatient to reach the mountains. After well over
two weeks in the country I finally reached Gilgit. Heavy
snowfall in May prevented me from crossing the Lowari
pass to Chitral.
Up in Hunza it felt as it should be. Looking up from the
Baltit Inn in Karimabad, surrounded by roses, the view
was overwhelming with poplars, apricot and walnut
trees and the imposing Rakaposhi mountain range in
the distance, right behind the famous fortress. It was
here that James Hilton situated the Shangri-La of his
novel The Lost Horizon. Where else.
From there the only way was up. It was too early in
the season to make the long treks I had in mind but I
will never forget venturing into these untouchable
mountains.
The journey did not end there. I crossed the Karakoram
into China. I kept looking over my shoulders looking
back at the mountains disappearing in the back.
In May 2013, 8 years after my trip, I received a call from
the personnel department of the Foreign Ministry. On
behalf of the senior Management Board I was asked
whether I would like to become the next Ambassador to
Pakistan. Without hesitation I accepted....
75
Multan feels the

b
l
u
e
s
By Zahra Gardezi
The city of Multan is particularly revered for two

aspects of its culture: the impressive Sufi-shrines
and their mystical atmosphere, and Blue pottery.
Blue pottery, also called Kashi pottery, has remained
a cultural symbol in Multani houses through the
times. It has also attracted international recognition
for its finesse and traditional aesthetic.
This art originated in Kashghar valley, China
and travelled through Central Asia where it is
still prevalent in traditional art, before coming
to Multan. Multani craftsmen were able to add
indigenous designs reflecting Multani art to the
pots and add cultural value. In the art of blue
potterymaking, skilled potters create vases and
bowls of various shapes and sizes and paint unique
blue ceramic designs on them. Each pot undergoes
a lengthy process of kneading, grinding, filtration,
76
molding and finally baking at 800 degrees, before

reaching its final appearance.
However, in recent times, Kashi poettery has
begun to feel the blues: artisans have moved away
Multan feels the blues
from blue-pottery making and into more lucrative

professions in which a lack of infrastructure and
the inability to earn a stable livelihood are not the
problems.
The government has launched various initiatives
to revive this dying art. For example Ahan a
government organization patronizes local artists
who work with Kashi artists; it takes orders to
ensure quality products. In addition, there is a shop
in Multan Cantt shopping centre which deals in
Kashi art as well as other culturally significant art.
Private initiatives have also been taken; the Institute
of Blue Pottery Development on Mumtazabad Road
allows visitors to see the step-by-step making of
these pieces. Moreover, new types of furnaces and
methods of glazing have been introduced to ensure
better quality, durable pottery pieces.
It is important to preserve the traditional art of
Blue Pottery and to do so, it must be encouragedbought, displayed in homes, and used for the
purpose that specific object serves. The revival
of this art will mean the preservation of Multani
culture-true heritage!
DETAIL OF THE PROCESS
Body Formation:
50% clay, 25% quartz, 25% feldspar with sufficient
water is charged in 1 ton Ball Mill and grinded for
about 24 hours upto 800 mesh particle size as a
result we get body or slurry which is shifted to a
storage tank.
Filtration:
mould. As the thickness of the layer becomes as per

requirement of the piece the excess slip is shifted
and purred into the next mould. After sufficient
time the piece leaves the mould and is then picked
out of the mould.
ump sucks the slurry or body from the storage tank

P
and pushes it into the filter press. The impurities in
the body are washed out along with water and as
result we get filter cake in solid form.
Pug Milling:
Slip Formation:
Jiggering:
T he filter cake is recharged in ball mill water is

added and grinded for 3 or 4 hours. As a result slip
(liquid form) is obtained.
Casting:
T he slip is pureed into the mould made up of
plaster of Paris. The mould absorbs water from the
slip and a uniform layer starts to form inside the
T he filter cake is charged into the pug mill the

pump creates vacuum and as a result air free body
role comes out.
T he body role is utilized on jiggering machine to
make regular of flat shaped items like Dinner Plate,
Saucers, cups, soup bowls etc.
Cutting & Joining:
T he excess parts of the items received after causting
and jiggering are cut and handles are joined with.
All this is done by hand.
77
Multan feels the blues
Biscuit Firing:
T he items in green stage are loaded in the kiln and
backed on 850 C. The temperature is increased
very slowly so that to control cracking.
Kashi:
T he items after biscuit firing are kashied. Kashi is
the famous traditional art of Multan.
Cleaning:
ll the pieces after Kashi are cleaned by dust with
A
the help of air pressure.
Glazing:
ll the pieces are glazed in which white layer of
A
glaze comes over the kashied pieces.
Drying:
ll the items are left in dryer for 2 or 3 days to make
A
them moisture free.
Finishing:
ll the pieces are finished by hand to make the
A
surfaces smooth.
Glost Firing:
The pieces after glazing are loaded in the kiln and
backed on 1200 C, the temperature is increased
and decreased very slowly so that to avoid cracking.
The white layer of glaze becomes transparent and
glassy and the kasha work becomes dominant.
M&T INTERNATIONAL
78
REACHING
HEIGHTS
MEETING WITH
Ms. Samina Baig,
THE Mountaineer
By Mrs. Saima Usman
Samina Khayal Baig became the first Pakistani woman
and the third Pakistani to climb Mount Everest on 19
May 2013. She is also the youngest Muslim woman
to climb Everest at 22 years. Samina is also the first
Pakistani woman and the first Muslim to climb the
seven summits highest mountains of the seven
continents.
Q: Please tell us something about your childhood.
Where were you brought up and from where did you
receive your education?
Q: What were your hobbies as a child?

I had no specific hobby but would love to climb
mountains. Through this I explored my beautiful valley
and realized that I was lucky to be born at Hunza Valley.
Initially I used to do mountaineering with my goats and
in the process take dry wood home for cooking and
heating purposes.
Q: What inspired or motivated you to hiking and
mountaineering?
I belong to a remote village called Shimshal in Hunza

Valley which is close to Pakistan-China Border. I spent
most of my childhood at Hunza and went to a local
school till class 8. Thereafter I spent two years at Karachi.
Life was not luxurious back then as there were no roads,
electricity, communication system and internet facility
at my village.
When I was young, I used to dream of representing

Pakistan and our women in the sport of mountain
climbing. I also received a lot of support from my
brother Mirza Ali Baig, who is the Founder and
President of Pakistan Youth Outreach and CEO of
Karakorum Expeditions. In fact, he motivated me to
make mountaineering my passion.
I have four brothers and one sister. My brother Mirza Ali

is a mountaineer and my sister is a teacher. The younger
brothers are working as tourist guides.
Q: What are the different challenges you faced? (As a

woman)
In the beginning it was very difficult. I belong to a poor
79
Meeting with Ms. Samina Baig, The Mountaineer
and mentally demanding. It is

also dangerous, so climbers have
to take each step carefully. It is
difficult to live in a tent and walk
nine hours with empty stomach.
I prepared for three years
to ascend Mount Everest. It
included climbing ChashkinSar
peak in 2010 (now named
Samina Peak), Koh-i-Brobar in
2011 and Spantik Peak in 2012.
family and did not have financial support, as well

as proper equipment. It took my brother, Mirza Ali,
seven years to arrange funding and sponsorship for
the expedition to Mount Everest.
As a woman it is very difficult but I feel nothing is

impossible.
Mountaineering, itself, is mentally and physically

a challenging sport. However, I have been able to
overcome these challenges through dedication, hard
work and support of my family.
Q: You are an icon for people of Pakistan and you

must have visited many destinations / places after
that. Any interesting experience that you would like
to share with us?
Q: How did your family respond to your decision of

climbing Mount Everest?
Me and my brother climb for gender equality.

We ascended the highest mountains of the seven
continents together. We would always be together.
However, while climbing Mount Everest, when we
were 248 m away from the Summit, my brother
stopped and encouraged me to ascend the highest
mountain of the world by myself. This was a big
message towards women empowerment.
Initially my family was reluctant to allow me, specially

my mother. She was afraid of the risks involved in this
dangerous sport. It took a lot of efforts to convince
her. But ever since, she has been fully supporting
me. My mother sometimes has tears of joy feeling
elevated at my climbing Mount Everest.
My family is proud and delighted at my achievement.
They continue to pray for my success.
Q: Not many women have been able to reach the
goal that you have achieved. What kind of response
do you get from men?
I always get appreciated by men for my achievement
as they find it amazing. It makes me happy and proud
as a Pakistani woman.
Q: How many years of hard work have you given to
achieve your goal?
I started climbing when I was four years old. I became
a professional climber in 2010. I have worked hard to
achieve my goals. Climbing high peaks is physically
80
The other issue was to arrange

funds for my expeditions. My
brother Mirza Ali Baig made a
lot of efforts to get sponsorship.
He deserves a lot of credit for
making this possible.
Q: Do you think you have achieved your ultimate

goal or are there more plans in reserve?
I feel I have achieved an individual goal which was to
ascend Mount Everest. I have plans to achieve few
collective goals. It includes promotion of winter sports
in Pakistan with an aim to have strong representation
at Winter Olympics. In this regard, I have already
visited some schools and universities to promote and
train interested boys and girls in mountaineering. We
have organized national youth ski and mountaineering
camps, where we have participation from different
parts of Pakistan. We continue to promote gender
equality through an equal quota for boys and girls. I
see a lot of potential in our country and would like
to specially focus on women participation in winter
sports. Since people now know me, it is easier to
Meeting with Ms. Samina Baig, The Mountaineer
convince them to participate in mountaineering.

We are also producing documentary and short films
about the mountains of Pakistan with the intention to
promote our beautiful country.
As a citizen, this is our prime responsibility to work for
our country.
My other goal is to improve my education. I feel it is
the beginning of a long journey for me.
Q: Please share with us your proud moments
and different achievement awards or symbols of
recognition you have received?
My proud achievements include: First ascent on ChashkinSar (6,400 m) now named
Samina Peak after her.
First Pakistan woman to reach heights of 6,400 m
First Karakoram women winter expedition to
MinglighSar 6050 m (December 2010)
Honorary member of the Alpine Club of Pakistan
2011
First Ascent of Koh-i-Brobar 6008 m (June/July
2011)
Gender Equality Dream Expedition Spantik 7027
m (August 2012)
First Pakistani Woman to Mount Everest 8848 m
(May 2013)
First Pakistan and first Muslim to climb the
Seven summits highest mountains of the seven
continents (2014)
Awards:
1. Good news from Pakistan Award from Voice of
America Urdu Service.
2. Women Excellence Award for 2012 from Aurat
Foundation
3. 8th Women Excellence Award from Sindh
Government
4. Ladies Fund Women of the Year Award from
Dawood Global Foundation
5. Success & Savy Award of Coca Cola (2014)
6. Rotary Club Islamabad, Cosmo Gold Medallion
2013-14
7. Aga Khan Education Services Pakistan, Aga Khan
Sports Board Pakistan
8. Brand Ambassador of Warid Telecom Pakistan
9. Brand Ambassador, Kalias Outdoor gears
Q: How has this achievement and recognition
changed your life?
achievement. I hope to inspire others to follow my

lead.
Q: What will be your advice to women who want to
enter the field of mountaineering?
I would like women to believe in their abilities. Every
challenge is surmountable provided one is dedicated
and willing to work hard.
We use a metaphor in our language which means that
all mountains can be ascended. It implies that we can
overcome all difficulties. So women can excel in all
fields, if they have passion to achieve their goals.
Q: Your message to our readers.
We would like more people to promote and participate
in winter sports. We would also like everybody to be
good citizens and fulfill their responsibilities towards
nation building.
Everybody can achieve anything in this world. I would
like to encourage all brothers to support their sisters
like my brother Mirza Ali Baig. Backing and trust of
ones own family is essential to achieve any kind of
goal. Also I would like to seek our Governments
support for the winter sport which is also useful to
improve tourism.
People now recognize me and are proud of my

81
Sheherzad Diaries
By Yawar Abbas
A man, with a serious face, in late-thirties, is sitting

at a table with piles of papers. The window-glass,
with spots of rain drops from outside, is showing
a breath-taking view of the green Margalla Hills.
The room is dark only a table-lamp shedding
yellow light. A cigar, placed on the edge of an
ashtray, is slowly releasing a thin streak of smoke
that is dancing in the air like a whirling darvaish.
Aroma of coffee is all around the room. Slow
music is coming out of speakers- nam-i-danum
kuja raftam - the saintly vocals of Nusrat Fateh Ali
Khan doing the magic.
The man is working on a report. His tired eyes
behind the spectacles are focusing hard. The right
corner of the room has an antique radio, a vintage
clock and a number of shields. Near it, another
table has a wooden tea box having different
flavours of tea. Placed on its side are a coffee jar,
nuts jar, small tray with Swiss chocolates, brown
sugar cubes and an electric kettle. Above it, on
the wall, young Muhammad Ali Jinnah is holding
a cigar in one hand and a puppy in another. At
some distance from it, there is an oil painting
showing an elderly French musician playing an
instrument and three liberally dressed young
ladies dancing to its tune. A huge wall-mounted
TV screen, having an almost inaudible sound,
82
is showing Russia Today channel a news item

about the charismatic President Putin is on-air.
On the left side of the TV screen, a gramophone is
placed on a small wooden table that has detailed
carving work. It is placed on a traditional handwoven Persian carpet made of pure wool and silk.
The small bookshelf,near the gramophone,has
a classic collection of books Dewan e Zafar,
Shahabnama, Rubayat-e-Umar Khiam, Zarb-eKaleem, Deewan-e-Ghalib. In the shelf above,Raja
Gidh, Patras kay Mazameen, Aagka Darya,
Umrao Jan Ada, Yaadonki Barat, Ibn-e-Batuta kay
Taqub May, Firdus e Bareen. In the top Shelf: War
and Peace, Anna Karenina, To the Lighthouse,
Macbeth, A History of Philosophy, The Republic,
Great Expectations.
Phone rings - its unpleasant sound quickly changes
the ambiance of the room, just like an ink drop
changes clear water in a glass.
He: Sir.
Sir: Young man, we have only two hours. Then
well brief the Minister?
He: Sir, I am on it. Every detail almost hammered
out?
Sir: Almost? I dont like this almost in your
Sheherzad Diaries
sentence. You better get rid of it in an hour.

He: Sir.
The phone rings again.
He: Assalam-o-Alaikum Sir Ji.
Another Sir: Any development?
He: Sir just give me two days. I will talk to the Visa
Counsellor myself. Visa will be done. I am stuck in
this Summit. Even now working on a Brief.
Sir: Two days my dear. Then I am going to hang
you upside down. Okay?
He: Dont worry Sir.
He takes a sigh. Now his cell-phone rings.
He: Han Ji?
Begum: Pamper phir khatam ho gaye hain. Oil
aur Timatar bhi laitay ana. Appa people will come
tomorrow. So please bring cake and pastries from
Rahat. When will you come? Please be home
soon. Okay?"
He (frowning): Pampers of which brand?
Begum: Pampers itself is a brand. Bring diapers
of Huggies. They are good.
He: Which size?
Begum: It has been more than a year now. Dont
you know?
Begum: Red bull? It is 3pm and you have already

lost your mind. I dont know what you people
do till late in the night. Dont forget to bring
everything. Bye.
He shakes his head and throws away his cellphone
on table. Suddenly someone bangs the door
open. Three guys enters. His batch-mates.
Guy 1 (Picking up the dry fruit jar): Oye cheetay,
yeh kamal kita ae. (Now munching cashew nuts)
Sunna na?
Guy 2 (Putting water in kettle): Let there be
Coffee; anyone cares? Now this is called Mahool.
Guy 3 (changing channel): Heard you are
becoming the next UN Secretary General?
Guy 1 (pouring coffee in mugs now): Yar dont
worry, we know that you are making a nuclear
bomb. Tolerate us for five minutes. Tension na
lay. Aur yeh Qawaali band kar, kuch aur laga.
Guy 3 (Watching GEO TV): Govt.ka band bajnay
wala hay. The rapport that you are trying to
develop with His Excellencywill soon be of no
use. I hope you dont end up in Adiala with him.
By the way, promotion in government service is
up to the 22nd grade only. But your seriousness
seems as if you are aiming for the 25th grade.
He: Hmmm... you people please enjoy; I just
need to work on this file for a little longer. Okay?
Begum: Size 4. And I need some money. There is

a sale on Chinyere.
Guy 2: Daikhna ziyadti hay. Chal Bhag ja. We

are not going anywhere. And please take out
the lunch box prepared by Bhabi. I know you will
come at night. Sit with your Psycho Uncle and eat
chips. Work hard or you will lose your job.
He: What is Chinar?
A cell phone rings.
Begum: Uff. Chinar nahi Chinyere. Its a clothes

brand.
Guy 2: Yes Sir. I completed it last night. On my

table Sir. Will be there in 5 minutes. Sir. Okay.
He: Salary almost finished.
He (smiling): I guess someone else is going to

lose job.
He: Forgot it. Ive been so busy with work these

days, becoming a forgetful professor.
Begum: What? It is just 5th of the month. You

work like a bull and you get peanuts in return.
He: Well, I paid all the bills. You know the drill.
And I dont work like a red bull, its just a job.
Guy 2: Haha. Nokri Bhai Jan. Run to save yours,

we will have coffee here.
He garbs some files and his coat, and rushes out
towards the library.
83
A sonnet tribute to
Veganismin my life
By Salahuddin Chaudhary,
Rotarian and Former Diplomat
sharing and supporting thy key to life

ast has been since time immemorial
verilys the need here today as rife
earth and earthlings not so perennial
turning and twisting toward a rupture
heading and descending right through ozone hole
ethereal becomes mother nature
protection is missd humanitys role
left in that hole as globe quickly heats up
amidst all fears of the uncanny doomsday
nay ching hai and prince charles are coming up
ever not lose hope but to fight they say
to save earth & humanity we hold
together we go green not cowed be bold !!!
84
Nomenclature
reflects history and culture
By Jamshaid Iftikhar
The culture of names, in a society, is called its Nomenclature. Every society has
a different set of names. Name can help differentiate and identify a persons
nationality, religion and race. Names also reflect the cultural connections
or heritage of peoples. For instance, Vladimir in Russia means the same as
Jahangir in Pakistan. Both names literally mean ruler of the world. It depicts
Persian influence in parts of historical Russia, specially in the Volga River area.
They also sound quite the same. Roslan is another popular name in Bulgaria,
derived from Russian nomenclature.It is derived from the Persian name Arsalan
taking its source from the legend of the man who fought and killed the lion.
Most interestingly in Turkey, one can come across the name Bekaroglu. In Turkish
the word Bekar means unmarried and Oglu means son-of. Bekaroglu, read
together, literally means son of the unmarried. When I was posted in Ankara, I
was really intrigued when I came across this name and I asked my Turkish friend
to tell me about it. To my utter surprise, he told me that Bekaroglu was a longstanding and a very widely used name in Turkish society. Parents gave this name
to their children as a sign of respect for the miracle of birth of Jesus Christ who
was the son of the unmarried, Mary/ HazratBibi Maryam. I was really touched
by the depth of religious beliefs of Turkish Muslims that had directly translated
into this very popular name in Turkey. Indeed it is very symbolic of inter-faithharmony, which is at the core of Turkish civilization.
85
Meeting by accident
By Nazar Abbas
Former Ambassador of Pakistan
Today was a Sunday. My cousin Ghulam Abbas,
suggested we go to shops in Rawalpindi where
we could buy tiles and other essential material
at cheaper rates. He knew the shops. I picked
him up and also my nephew Ejaz Hussain. I was
driving my Suzuki car, Ghulam Abbas sitting next
to me and Ejaz Hussain on the back seat. We were
heading towards Peshawar road of Rawalpindi. I
had the money in my pocket but was worried if it
would be enough. Today some other matters were
also weighing heavy on my mind. So I was driving
quietly. Judging my mood my companions too
were quiet. Driving along the Cantonment road.
I passed the Feroze Sons book shop and reached
the T-junction with the Mall road, in front of
Plaza cinema. I stopped on the red traffic light on
the Mall but could not see the traffic signal itself
because a Suzuki Van laden with passengers in and
around it, was in front of me and had blocked my
view. Then after a while the Suzuki van ahead of me
moved and turned right on the main road. I moved
after him. The Suzuki van passed but as I took the
right turn on the Mall, I could not avoid hitting a
Toyota car coming fast on the Mall, from my left.
The Toyota car stopped and the lone gentleman
driving it came out. I stopped my vehicle behind
his car and came out too. The gentleman was very
angry. He shouted, "look you have damaged my
expensive car. I am calling the Police. I was shaken
but I did not argue with him as to who had to stop
and who jumped the red light. Since I had not seen
the traffic light I presumed that the decent looking
gentleman was right in considering me at fault. I
accepted my mistake. The left front bumper of my
vehicle had hit the right back door of the Toyota
car and pushed it in. I said to the Toyota owner,
"I am sorry that your car has been hit, but it is an
accident. You may call the police if you want to,
86
but I am prepared to get your car repaired." In my

mind I cursed myself. I would now have to part with
the money which I needed for buying the building
material. I was already in low spirits and now this.
The gentleman deliberated a bit and then said,
"how will you get my car repaired?" I said let us
go to the auto workshop just half a kilometer away.
I know the Manager because I get my car serviced
and repaired from there. I will tell him to repair
your car and I will pay the bill. The gentleman
agreed and said, "OK, but how do I know that you
will not just drive away and disappear. Better one
of your companions sit with me in my car and I will
follow you to the workshop." It took us hardly three
minutes before we were at the workshop. I spoke
with the Manager; told him what had happened
and asked him to repair the Toyota car to the
satisfaction of the owner. I told him I would pay the
bill. While I spoke with the Manager, the gentleman
kept looking at me intently. Feeling satisfied that
no trick was being played on him, he agreed to the
arrangement. He said he lived in the Race Course
Ground Area, not far from the workshop and that
he was not leaving the car now but would bring
it back later. The workshop manager assured him
that the repair work would be done whenever the
car is brought to him. I felt relieved that the matter
had been settled even though I would have to pay
this unforeseen penalty. So all three of us went
back to my car. As I was about to start moving,
the Toyota owner came over. Standing next to my
window, which I had pulled down, he addressed
me "Is your name Nazar Abbas?" I said yes. "Are
you the son of Aurang Zeb Khan, who was a teacher
in Dennys High school" ( just a kilometer or so away
from where we were ). I said,yes. "Have you not
recognized me?" I told him I was sorry but I could
not recognize him. Try to remember, we were class
Meeting by Accident
fellows in the school." I was confused. It was 1992

now and I was in Dennys school in 1951-54. It was
hard to recall the times that far backsome forty
years ago. I said I was sorry but could not recall and
recognize him. He said, "my name is Abid. We were
together in the school in class seven. Your father
Aurang Zeb Khan was our Mathematics teacher.
In the periodic school examination I stood first
in Mathematics while your marks were far less.
Your father praised me before the whole class and
scolded you; his own son; in front of every body.
He was such a great man, a fair person and an able
teacher. I fondly remember him and have been
talking about him to my wife and children. We do
not get such great teachers now a days. I am glad
to meet you. Dont you remember me ? I joined the
Army and retired as a Col. I was also a prisoner of
war in the 1971 war with India. Now I have business
of my own."
With all the descriptions and details that he
mentioned I could now recall him. Abid, my class
fellow was a broad shouldered stubby lad at that
time. Now Abid, a retired Army Colonel was lean
tall and smartno resemblance to his boyhood
days. What he said was all true. But I deliberately
did not display any excitement lest he may think I
would now have second thoughts about paying up
the repair bill. I said, "Abid sahib, I now remember
you. I am happy to meet you but feel sorry that we

had to meet in this unpleasant situation. I would
love to meet you some time later after your car
has been repaired. I am sorry, I caused you trouble.
But it was an accident and I will pay." Col Abid said,
Nazar, I am not getting my car repaired now. I will
get it done later whenever and from wherever. And
you are not paying the bill. The matter is finished. I
said, Abid, whether you get your car repaired now
or later, we have already agreed, and as promised, I
will pay the bill. If we were friends and if my father
was your teacher it does not mean that you suffer
and I do not pay for my fault." Abid said, "nothing
doing. Just forget about the accident. Here is my
visiting card. Visit us sometime with your family.
And he left."
Back in the car my nephew Ejaz told me that when
he was sitting in his car, on way to the workshop,
Col Abid had asked my name. Hearing my name
probably rang a bell in his mind. That led him to ask
my fathers name. Then he confirmed my identity
by asking me directly. At home I informed my
wife and children about what had happened and
said, let us all visit Col Abid and his family. My son
Numair said, "yes, Abu I would love to meet your
friend who you met after forty long years, and that
too by accident.
87
The calm zone

By Dr. Sana Zakaria
The word depression evokes a different meaning

in everyone. For some people it can mean having
a bad week at work where going for a drink with
their mates is what they need to get themselves
back on track, while for some depression can be
an extraordinarily destructive, chronic illness
where the only way to end the pain is to take their
own lives. Then there is everything in between.
Depression is a great leveller. It can, and does,
affect anyone at anytime. It may not always be
obvious because depression manifests in different
ways for different people. It is a result of extremely
"Everyone is unique in their

temperament and when you
combine this with negative life
experiences, the results are
wildly variable, which explains
the different ranges of depression
people experience."
multifaceted interactions between our mind, body
and the environment. It is important though not
to get embroiled in debate about the meaning of
88
depression but rather understand how it affects

a particular individual since it is a very personal
experience and differs from one person to the next.
You may ask yourself why the next-door neighbour,
your closest friend or your colleague at work is not
going through the same as you? Why does losing
your job mean depression for you, and not for the
next guy? Why are you down and theyre not? Is
it because you are too sensitive? Have you been
dealt bad cards? Or is it the way you were brought
up? Whatever you believe the reason to be, it is
important to understand that you are not alone in
feeling like this.
Everyone is unique in their temperament and when
you combine this with negative life experiences,
the results are wildly variable, which explains the
different ranges of depression people experience.
So what is it that causes depression and what are
these unique characteristics that individuals may
possess?
A person who has everything they may desire in
life may feel unhappy and cant get over the feeling
that they just dont belong. In this example, there
is no obvious hardship in their life but what they
may not know is that depression can often be
The Calm Zone
associated with a chemical imbalance in the brain

that exists regardless to the individuals external
success or perceived happiness. This imbalance
of hormones means that some people may have
higher than normal levels of stress hormones, such
ascortisoland adrenaline.
On the other hand some people have a deficiency
of serotonin, which is a chemical associated with
feelings of well-being. These imbalances are
inherited and inscribed in the individuals genetic
makeup. In contrast, a person may have normal
levels of hormones in their body but are faced with
numerous challenges in life which cause stress.
This constant stress can lead to depression which
then becomes the cause of a chemical imbalance
in the body. This relationship of cause and effect
is just the tip of the iceberg and provides a sneak
peek into the complex interaction of our mind and
behaviour.
The reason why people respond to negative
situations in a different way is partly to do with
physiology and the other part is learnt behaviour
and a direct result of our worldly viewpoint. Whilst
some people are predisposed to be more excitable
in certain situations than others, our personalities
also shape our behaviour and in turn our response
to difficult situations. Being shy or extrovert, bold
or sarcastic is what defines us and is our chemical
signature, in a sense. This very signature can then
culminate in depression due to uncontrolled events
in life. It is an intricate interaction that constantly
evolves.
It is imperative to understand that there is no
shame or weakness in experiencing depression.
It is not something you can control, nor is it
something people bring upon themselves. There
is a huge need to redefine what depression is
and how people cope with it. It is not some rare
and exotic disease! Most people experience it to
varying degrees and if you are fortunate enough to
recognise the signs then you can seek the support
you need. Depression isnt something you can just
deal with, and more than you can just deal with
diabetes or a broken leg. Depression can actually
be a much more physical illness than many people

realise, and it should be seen in the same way,
without judgment or preconceptions about the
person experiencing it. Not seeking appropriate
advice and support can condition your mind and
body to always respond in an unhealthy manner
to negative situations in life. Research has also
suggested that untreated depression can cause
a high risk of developing cardiovascular disease
whilst in some cases it can be fatal.
So what can you do about it? The first step is to
acknowledge that you may be depressed no
matter how trivial your problems may seem to
you. The second step is acceptance. It is okay
to feel like this and there should be no guilt or
feelings of inadequacy. So what can help you?
Talking therapies such as Cognitive Behavioural
Therapy(CBT) can help everyone and are a helpful
step in the recovery process. A lot of people also
find taking medication such as SSRIs can help
correct any chemical imbalances and make a
big difference in their recovery process, but as
always, everyone is different and there is no one
size fits all panacea. If you visit your GP, be sure
to explore all the options and dont be afraid to
ask for alternatives to medication if you feel that
would be better for you personally. CBT, however,
is helpful for everyone and will help condition
the mind and body to respond in a better way to
negative life experiences the same way an athlete
might train their muscles to perform better during
a competition.
Ultimately, remember that you

are not alone, and that the next
door neighbour, closest friend
or colleague may well be going
through something similar. The
steps to being happy and healthy
are to acknowledge, accept, seek
and treat.
89
MEMORIES OF Amman
By Mrs. Ayezza Muqeet Asim
December 31, 2014:

Amidst the ever-ascending voice of howling
winds--tidings of a novel year are echoing across
the mountains & in the deserts-In this High desert where meadows & heaths are
intertwined in a startling landscape that makes
one languish for the voice of the One who painted
with such audacity, for this land in its entirety is
a puzzling maze yet in its benighted dunes does
reside the ferocious whispers of Nature and
each night when the dun sands merge into the
horizons- the voices that whirl in the winds haunt
within ones heart & this perplexing riddle gets
registered in ones head for the conflict that each
day and all nights behold here, is the essence of
the entire human existence--All of us dwell in the vast deserts of our souls
where life rattles almost each moment and
makes us forget the mysteries that surround this
entire world---but in the desolate hours of dismal
solitude the dunes of words snarl & enquire what
can never be fathomed out--And with this very phrase, doth end my
philosophical mumblings and I return to this very
moment as this instant is amongst the last
moments of the year 2014.
These passing hours actually mark the demise of
90
the year 2014 and in this cold, dismal, dreary

December night I am sitting here in Amman, with
snow falling outside my apartment and a sad
silence descending upon my heart.
And in these last moments, I dearly pray for my
own homeland... for our home land blesses us
with an identity and all our existence vanishes
once this home is battered by any calamitous
conflict I pray and I pray dearly for the
homeland that is distant but lives with me, in me
all across the globe - !!!
The consistent fury of life remains in conflict with
that single but eternal moment of a silent query-silence that numbs one and asks what can never
possibly be answered but Whose presence is the
very fabric of our being and this presence is what,
in effect is the reason behind the spring of every
faith---For divinity lies within the contours of that precise
yet incessant moment!!!
That moment never diminishes but lingers on--Eternity haunts us--besieges us---beguiles us-and then torments us and tears us apart-So to begin from the very point which deluded
me into battering thoughts and so in the above
words I had to mumble it all-
Memories of Amman
Oh yes- I need to come back to this very instantin this dreary December night when I can hear
the sound of auld lang syne being played in the
lustrous rooms of all the five star hotels- and clubs
that inhabit the ever-lively Sweifeh--the melody
that my husband has been playing since evening
on our laptop because it somehow comforts me
and in these moments of solace I inadvertently
imagine the sadness perched on the pale faces of
Syrian kids-- in fact on the souls of all the Syrian
exiles who as a result of a lethal and senseless
strife have lost all that once life offered-Auld land syne means nothing to them-Auld lang syne is meaningless for the urbanely
dressed Jordanian youth as well that none the
less waltz on its tunes and follows the Americans
more earnestly than the Americans themselves-but still is devoid of all the virtues that that
continent inculcates in most of its youth.
In the soothing smoke of hubble-bubble they
forget the lament that is bound to stir their
spirits once their lot gets out of this subterfuge of
calmth and serene modernization---So this very
night marks the end of 2014 the eventual demise
of yet another year-So with this dreary demise shall we ponder over
a sombre truth that hammers away at my head
and leaves me utterly restless...???
The persistent and painful thought that we shall
mourn the loss of yet another year deflated in
the total course of years that we possess on this
planet??
This end leads us closer to our destiny-The end --the very end that is supposed to take us
to a mystic land where hitherto unheard voices
pour down all the rains that the deserts of our
souls so vehemently desired???
But, what if the new year dawns into a blithe
that has never been dreamt by my pusillanimous
head??
Why this deafening silence then??
Why is this melody causing me to weep--
Weep over the fact that the dream which this life
is has to end one day-And that day is one year nearer now-But shall i not stay away from the dread of
something that is inevitable and get closer to
the Present? Shall I not live and rejoice in this
very moment when love in its entirety is right in
front of me--Turning off the song and saying his
prayers-- and---praying for me, for the greatest
joy in this temporal life of ours is to dwell in a
realm where dreams are carved out and love is
painted on the canvas of days and nights that
pass by!!
Life is a momentous sojourn for upon it rests the
entire tale of the musky hereafter--- and the fear
of unseen days that always linger ahead until
ones death is something that torments the joy of
the present blithe and so inflicts a torment that
withers ones soul away-So what if we dont live forever...??
So what if we never are capable of living to the
fullest---??
So what if our breaths are at every second
depleting---?/?
Its the treasure of memories that ought to keep
on flourishing because it is on this very trove
of memory that our Eternity thrives-and we as
being a part of the fabric of this Eternity never
perish in actuality--So i begin this year hearing
the ceaseless howling of the winds outside my
window and bask in the very thought that for one
more year God blessed me with almost all that i
had longed for and even what i had never even
dared desire!!
In the course of this bygone year - 2013 - I
journeyed to the lands so ardently favoured by
the grace of Omnipotent Lord!!! The lands where
Faith mushroomed - I journeyed and witnessed
the land of Biblical tales - the mystic-mysterious
land of the Prophets that was rooted deep in the
covert shores of my inner self-the land whose
infinite wilderness would now resonate within
me and reside there for good.
91
The English Language

By Hina Ali
When I was a girl in the 1990s, my neighbor met in a
severe vehicle crash where he lost the use of his legs
and suffered a speech impediment from an acute
wound to the head. My mother and I visited him at the
infirmary to see how he was doing. I had never before
seen anyone in his state, so my mother elucidated that
he had been crippled.
At school few weeks afterwards, I said that my neighbor
was a cripple, at which point my teacher reacted with
dismal revulsion and called me to his desk. We dont
use that word, he admonished under his breath.
Its demeaning. Your neighbor is not crippled. He is
handicapped.
But my mother said I tried to explain.
I dont care what your mother said. Now, go back to
your desk and behave! he fizzed.
I tiptoed to the back of the room with my head bowed
in shame. I contemplated the meaning of the word
demeaning. I pondered if it was one of those sins
where one goes straight to hell, bypassing purgatory
altogether.
When I was a teenager, I was having supper with
my friends parents, both of whom were college
professors. I chanced to comment that my neighbor was
handicapped; as a result of which the whole household
re-joined with downright disgust. Suddenly there was a
supercilious quiet. The room felt twenty degrees colder,
as if Dracula himself spit upon their mothers graves.
Ignominious! my friend hissed as she steered me
to the front of the residence. Your neighbor is not
handicapped. He is disabled. Thats so belittling, you
jerk!
But my teacher said., I endeavored a clarification.
I dont care what your teacher said. Get out of here
before my parents disown me for associating with you.
She shunted me out into the pouring rain and banged
the door in my face.
A decade later, while I was giving a presentation in the
conference room at work, I happened to remark that my
neighbor was disabled, upon which the administrators
collectively flinched in wretched dreadfulness. I move
that the pejorative disabled be stricken from the
92
minutes of the meeting, my supervisor intoned in a

dignified voice.
I began my rationalization, But the college professors
said
I dont care what your professors said. We dont
use that kind of vernacular in this organization. Your
neighbor is not disabled. He is physically challenged. You
may rest assured that this will be noted in performance
appraisal, confuted my boss.
Pejorative? I had to look up that one in the dictionary,
and yes, we still used dictionaries not spellcheckers
back then. They were books of word definitions written
on paper which.Aw, forget it, archaeologists will know
what I mean. Anyhow, pejorative means demeaning.
Recently, I was enjoying a cheeseburger and fries with
my cousin at lunch. It so transpired that we ended up
discussing my physically challenged neighbour.Hearing
me refer to him as physically challenged drew my cousin
back in staggering distress. We dont call them that
anymore. Thats a term of derision.
But my supervisor said, I attempted to expound.
I dont care what your supervisor said, my cousin
condemned in a low tone, hoping not to be heard by
the other diners. Your neighbour is not physically
challenged. He is alternately enabled.
Just last week, after my neighbours funeral, I expressed
how sad I was that he is now dead, whereupon my
family recoiled in abject horror. Our neighbor is not
dead, they hissed in unison. He lives in our memories.
He has gone to his reward. He is our late neighbor now.
Late? What late? Sure, people always joked that he
would be late for his own funeral, but he wasnt. In fact,
my neighbor was the first person there, hours before
the mourners arrived.
Having spent decades learning English as a first
language, I can scarcely imagine how difficult it must
be to learn English as a second language. That is why, I
never snicker when someone has a funny accent or says
the wrong words. After all, I have been speaking English
for all my life and I still dont know the right words to
speak!
*The author does not take full credit for this story. The concept is taken from
an anecdote by W. C. Bell.
From Diplobrats to Diplomats
From Diplobrats to Diplomats
By Yumna and Minah A. Rathore
Lecturing 50 middle school students in rural

Pennsylvania on Women Empowerment in Pakistan
Become friends with people who arent your age.

Hang out with people whose first language isnt
the same as yours.
Get to know someone who doesnt come
from your social class.
This is how you see the world.
This is how you grow.
While many of us interact with older people at
embassy functions and have multi-cultural friends at
international schools, very few of us have seen the
world by getting to know someone from a different
social class. I never truly had this self-growth
experience till this year. For the past six months, I
lived with Gulnaz, a 40 year old lady from a village
in Taxila, Pakistan. To outsiders she may be my maid,
someone who washes my clothes and cooks my
food, but to me she is a friend whom I learn from
every day. As I teach her English, she teaches me
about the 45 million Pakistanis like her who live in
dire poverty today.
If every illiterate woman in Pakistan could write,
there would be thousands of bestsellers like I am
Malala as women like Gulnaz have no dearth in
tragic life experiences. Death and despair is a normal
part of their lives. She once told me a story about
her best friend, a woman forced to marry a man she
despised. A few years later, she gave birth to two
babies and soon after died. Cause of death? Her
husband beat her to death till he broke her backbone
into two. Justice for murder? None. Why you ask?
does it really matter?
Another day, another story. She described a chapter
from her personal life. She was a young girl when she
got married. Two months later, her fairytale married
life ended as her husband married again. Both wives
lived a room apart. The second wife treated as a
priority while the first wife, Gulnaz, treated as an
expense. After several years, she separated from her
husband and now lives an independent, yet legally
married, life.
The stories went on. The following month she told
me about her aunt. A lady who was forced to work
tirelessly day and night only so she could afford her
late husbands addiction heroin and gambling. Most
of us earn for ourselves yet for many poor women,
their hard earned income is never truly their own.
Whether its domestic abuse, polygamy, or drug
addictions, women in Pakistan and around the
world suffer every day. As diplobrats we take for
granted our freedom and underestimate our ability
to achieve great change in Pakistan. Having traveled
to more than 20 countries, experiencing different
cultures and people, receiving foreign degrees and
working aboard, we are indeed diplomats that can
learn from our vast experiences and catalyze change.
It is very easy to sit back and let our fathers and
mothers do the embassy stuff, while we scrutinize
news reports on TV and post political cartoons on
Facebook and Twitter but what about working in
the development sector, learning and giving back to
communities and making a conscious effort towards
solving our countrys problems? Perhaps we need to
get out of the Foreign Service bubble where we sit
so comfortably and talk to someone who knows the
Pakistan that for many of us Pakistani diplobrats is a
foreign land.
The responsibility lies on us to do the little we can
to understand and fix our Pakistan. This year when
you go back to Pakistan, do something for the
greater good. After the usual darzi rounds and
family gatherings in air conditioned and heated
cars and rooms, lets take some time out to donate
or volunteer. Likewise, this year if you are out on a
posting, do something for Pakistan abroad hold
a movie night promoting bold Lollywood movies,
educate foreigners about Pakistan or throw a
fundraiser for a Pakistani nonprofit.
93
Based on the video game

series-BioShock
By Ali Gardezi
Day 9
A Man chooses. A Slave obeys' Those were the words
of our founding father, Andrew Ryan. A thinking man,
a choosing man, a jack of all trades.
The world above had been corrupted, breakthroughs
in science made only for War, to sate the Greed
of the influential, the powerful. Ideologies
separated the world. Realizing that humanity
would only bring about their own destruction,
he created Rapture. A Utopia. Or so we thought.
It was here where the thinkers of the world migrated.
The best and brightest would flock here, to this
city under the sea, free of governmental and even
religious interference. They would work for their
own gain, and none would hold them back. A place
where the artist would not fear the censor, where
the scientist would not be bound by petty morality,
where the great would not be constrained by the
small. A place of progress, ushering it into a golden
age. But even something so great has its flaws. I must
find food.
Day 12
You see, contact with the world of 'parasites' had
been cut off long ago. There is no way of reaching
the world above. Rapture had been filled with
the rich, the great. Businesses flourished. Money
flowed easily. Life was great. But what about those
who did not have Lady Luck on their side? Who
would perform the menial tasks, the common man's
work? And those who had fallen on hard times?
The state, as we called it, provided nothing. Food,
medical care, and even Oxygen supply. This was
a place for the successful, and it was not meant to
change. Smuggling rings had been set up, bringing
94
in necessities for special prices. The poor were

packed together in the poorhouses, living the squalor
reminiscent of the past Hell they had lived in. Frank
Fontaine was the one who led these people, and the
more that fell into misery, the greater their power.
At the same time, ADAM was found in deep in the
ocean. This substance allowed us to form stem cells
of any type. The science was hidden from us, but it
gave us powers beyond imagination. Telekineses, the
power to release flames and ice from the palms of our
hands... I could go on. It was boosted by EVE. Abuse
of the substance could cause insanity and instability
if it was not continually injected. These substances
drive us to madness they are the reason I live in fear.
I need to find a new shelter.
Day 14
The ashes of our Civilization lay scattered across our
Haven. Civil war broke out, and the affluent fled back
to the land of their humble beginnings, while poor
rose up, augmented by ADAM, to wage war against
the few who remained. But their greatest enemy was
their greatest ally - EVE. Dementia overcame them,
and they soon became attacking one another. This
was not the only change. Their bodies underwent a
metamorphosis, warping them. Their skin blackened
and rotted, their faces disfigured. They still remained
here in a Rapture, and it was these Monstrosities that
were my greatest challenge.
Day 19
So hungry. So thirsty. There's nothing left for me
here, in this godforsaken sanctuary. Escape is out of
the question. I can't take it any more. Goodbye, and
Good Riddance.
Nigar Nazar Comics
s
c
i
m
o
C
CEO of Gogi Studios
www.gogicomics.com,
FB-GogistudiosGroup
95
Nigar Nazar Comics
96
Publications
97
ACTIVITIES OF MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Sahabzada Yaqub Khan Former Foreign Minister visiting the Ministry
Russian Poet Vladimir Lesovoy presenting his book Flames of

Faiz to Adviser Sartaj Aziz
Amjad Islam Amjad presenting his book translated in Turkish

and Italian to Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif charing the concluding Session of Envoys Conference at Foreign Office
98
Tapestry presented by
Chinese Embassy to
Foreign Office
Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq at the Foreign Office
Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz

Sadiq planting a tree at the Foreign Office
Annual Diplomatic Corps Dinner - 2014
Inauguration of Day Care at MOFA
99
Diplomatic Corps holding candles during the vigil to express solidarity with the victims of Peshawar Terrorist attack
Pakistan-China Badminton Tournament at MOFA
Inauguration of Bridge connecting Agha Shahi and

Sahibzada Yaqub Khan Blocks
Sports Diplomacy
35th Session of D-8 Commission
Launching Ceremony of 2015 Pak-China Year of Friendly Exchanges

100
Africa Day Celebrations
Inauguration of PROSYS-Protocol Systems at the Foreign Office
Foreign Office Golf Cup
Adviser speaking at a Seminar on Building China-Pakistan Community of Shared Destiny in the new era
Foreign Secretary inaugurating Iqbal Cultural Center and

Library at Kabul
Foreign Secretary planting a tree at the

Embassy of Pakistan, Kabul
101
OLD IS GOLD
102
Old is Gold
103
Ambassador
MRs. Seema Naqvi:
A tribute
By Rehana Hyder
I first encountered Seema in 1981,

when I became Programme Officer
for the '7th and 8th Common'
batches at the Foreign Service
Training Institute in Islamabad, as
the FS Academy was then known.
We were almost contemporaries,
so could relate to one another
easily.
Seema was the only woman in
those thirty or so probationers,
by no means her only distinction.
Friendship aside, I quickly
discovered her to be the best of
that bright bunch of ambassadorial
aspirants, all of whom I consider my
'batchmates'.
She was stylish as well as smart, and
sincere to a fault. Slim and elegant,
with the signature short hairstyle
that suits so few but framed her
own perfect features and sparkling
eyes just so; even in Moharam and
Safar her outfits were admired by
us all - simple and graceful, but
always with a touch of black. She
was a devout Muslim first, and a
committed Shia second, but her
lifestyle was governed by the largehearted, broad-minded tenets of
Sufism.
Her assignments were always the
best presented and prepared,
and her appreciation of the broad
picture yet attention to detail was
what carried Seema forward in her
career as a successful diplomat,
in both bilateral and multilateral
work. Her personality of course
104
helped; that elusive blend of

authority without arrogance, charm
or 'sweetness' with substance to
spare. I saw this again - and sadly for
the last time, never wanting to abuse
her privacy or compromise further
her condition during her almost two
years, so bravely borne, illness - in
her office as Additional Secretary
Middle East and Africa (later Special
Secretary) on the Foreign Office's
vaunted Third Floor ('Corridor of
Power') early last year, 2013. She
dealt with ease and assurance with
several papers and sundry superiors/
subordinates, just as I'd seen her do
as a young Section Officer over thirty
years ago.
Its a great pity that not only I but the
Foreign Office as a whole shall be
bereft of her onward assessments of
Egypt and elsewhere, and the country
of such an able representative.
Apart from being a serious
professional, Seema never forgot to
project Pakistan's culture wherever
she served and/or accompanied her
husband abroad.
At Headquarters she was, by husne
ittefaq, the first career FS woman
to hold successively the otherwise
honorary positions (occupied by the
wives of the Foreign Secretary and
Foreign Minister) of Chairperson
and President PFOWA (FS Women's
Association). Her energy and
acheivements there were likewise
out of the ordinary, social justice
being amongst her abiding concerns.
Its difficult to decide whether
Seema was more devoted to family
or friends, as she lavished her love
on both. A doting grand-daughter

(we all came to call her grandma
'Dama'), dutiful daughter (she
enabled her parents' ziarat to Holy
Sites whenever posted nearby),
dedicated wife, doted-upon Baji
and Aunt to her brothers, sister,
nieces and nephews, and rightly the
'ronak' of all her family and in-laws;
its yet more difficult to imagine our
worlds without her. As expressed
by one of the many present at her
Dua, 'Wo bohat azeem khatoon
theen''; or by another admirer, 'She
was a very fine person indeed'.
Her marriage to Additional
Secretary and Ambassador (later
Foreign Secretary and Foreign
Minister) Inamul Haq in 1985
seemed one for the books - or
seen through the stars. No-one
who attended will ever forget it,
from the wedding card in Punjabi
to Seema's ethereal appearance in
white lacha and kurta ensemble, all
the adornments in silver without an
iota of gold.
Despite a fully committed schedule
she somehow connected with us all
whenever we needed.
During her illness she rang to
proffer her prayers every Eid, and
smsed her thanks often for all those
praying for her everywhere.
An Eulogy In Memory of
Jamshed A. Hamid
By Salahuddin Choudhry
Somewhere there is a better

place
where pain and sadness cease
a heaven where cares dont exist
and every soul finds peace.
the special person Amera has
lost
was precious and adored
but now dwells in that special
place
the empire of Allah Almighty
Quiet and humility personified,
the man named Jamshed Ahmad
Hamid was, as much I found
him ab initio since I met the first
time and got to know him, as my
neighbour in the Ministry. The
acquaintance of him as a senior
colleague turned into friendship
within a span of few months as
my wife Seema became friends
to Amera, his pretty and graceful
spouse.
With high academic and
professional
qualifications,
Jamshed A. Hamid enriched
the quality of Pakistan Foreign
Service by his legal expertise and
knowledge and jurisprudence
and by making tremendous
contribution
to
FO
legal
department and the United Nations

(Sixth Committee) as well as through
participation
in
innumerable
high-level conferences; his major
work was with the UN Law of the
Sea Conference and with several
international organizations. Apart
from the respect he enjoyed at
these forums, he was a darling of
a man in the FO and hugely loved
in the academies and national and
international institutes where he
gave lectures and talks.
A man of passionate erudition and a
vociferous reader, Jamshed Hamid
was literally married to the vast
empire of his books; the vastness
and depth of his knowledge made
him to be known as the law expert
par excellence.
An introvert in nature, he spent
hours in his library and was very
possessive about it and did not
encourage intrusion into his private
space.even dusted the room
himself ! He had a collection of
about a thousand books on local &
International law, politics, history,
English literature, psychology and
philosophy. He was extremely
organized and has left a treasure
of hand written notes on various
topics of International law.
and Kashmiri tea regularly.As a

sportsman from childhood days,
he was on the school cricket
team at Karachi Grammar School
and did boxing which gave him a
broken nose ! He played squash
for many odd years and walked
regularly after squash became
too strenuous for him.
He had great artistic skills and
could draw just anything with
a free hand and helped Amera,
throughout her teaching career,
in all art and design projects; he
painted for pleasure.
Among my fond memories
of Jamshed Hamid, the most
unforgettable was the top
priority
unsolicited
advice
and service I got from him
during a professional crisis
which saw me through in my
fourth year at the Ministry..
his humane response I could
describe as greatness incarnate
doing manifest magnum opus.
Jamshed Bhai will remain
embedded in the hearts of all
those who knew him closely.
.Yet, he was a handy man around

the house and displayed his cuisine
skills by making Spanish omeletts
105
"GUL-I-RAANA", PAKISTAN HOUSE NEW DELHI
(OFFICIAL RESIDENCE OF THE HIGH COMMISSIONER)

Built in the 1930's, the House was named "Gul-iRa'ana" (beautiful, delicate-scented rose) after
Begum Raana Liaquat Ali Khan and was gifted to
Government of Pakistan in 1947 for representation
use.
In the defining years of the struggle for
independence, the house became a nucleus
of the All India Muslim League's activity, where
many portentous deliberations and decisions took
place. Quaid-e-Azam Mohammed Ali Jinnah was a
frequent visitor to the house.
In the turbulent immediate aftermath of the
independence. Pakistan House became a refuge
for displaced Muslims, and acted as an impromptu
camp for emigrants until transitional shelter was
made available in the Old Fort, prior to relocation
to Pakistan.
Set back from the road in an enveloping expanse of
lawn, the two-storied facade presents a modernist
aspect. Entering though a portico, a rectangular
106
vestibule is encountered, at the end of which a

suspended staircase spirals overhead to end in
a semicircular gallery. On the right are the two
reception rooms and a paneled library.
PAKISTAN HIGH COMMISSION (CHANCERY)

NEW DELHI
The Pakistan High Commission (Chancery) is
spread over 12 acres of land in the Chanakyapuri
diplomatic enclave along the Shanti Path.
Acquired on perpetual lease on the 19th of April,
1954, it is the fifth largest in size, after China, the
USA, Russia and the UK.
storey facade is surmounted by an imposing central

dome.
There are plans to construct an adjoining residential
complex and modern consular facilities, a library
and a mosque.
Karl Malte von Heinz, a long-time resident of India

who was interned at Dehradun during the second
World War due to his German ethnicity, designed
the High Commission of Pakistan's Chancery with
Pakistani associates.
The
design
reflects
Mughal/
Islamic
architecture. It has an E shaped Faade with
the addition of glazed, blue Multan tiles. Buff
coloured ceramic tiles create the Chancery's
exterior sheath, into which triangular perforations
and abstract geometrical forms are inserted in
modern versions of jaal. The slightly concave twoAnnual Gazette 2014 | PFOWA
107
Pakistan Embassy in Kabul

Pakistan Embassy in Kabul is situated on more than 26 acres of land; it forms Pakistans single biggest
Mission in the world. The white Victorian style mansion is a spectacular tribute to the buildings history
and grandeur. It consists of large entertainment halls, suites for accommodation, and an exhibit about
the building's history which is a source of great inspiration to all its visitors. It is undoubtedly the most
impressive Embassy Residence in Kabul.
From the vantage point of the Residence, one can see fountains, flowerbeds, a freshly-manicured football
ground and an equally impressive cricket pitch. In the distance one can see the snow-capped Hindu Kush
Mountains.
The Ambassadors Residence and adjoining Chancery make for a stunning view for local as well as foreign
visitors. It is indeed an asset for Pakistan and the efforts put in by all involved in its restoration are
praiseworthy.
108
High Commissioners
Residence, London
The residence of the High Commissioner for Pakistan
is located in one of the most prestigious suburban
areas of London, known as the Hampstead Garden
Suburb.
This residential suburb was founded in 1906 by
Henrietta Barnett, a notable English social reformer,
educationist and author. It typically portrays the
early twentieth-century British architecture and
town planning of the London Borough of Barnet,
having the greatest concentration of statutory
listed buildings.
the building structure and design was inspired by

the early twentieth century Victorian architecture
influenced by the Arts and Crafts movement.
Having 8 bedrooms and a spacious courtyard, the
mansion enjoys a discreet setting with a wonderful
and mature landscape that includes many fine
trees, some even pre-dating the house.
The Residence was purchased in 1998 by the then

High Commissioner Mohammad Riaz Sami. At
the time of purchase, the residence was named
Reddington House, which was changed to Pakistan
House the same year.
Like other residential mansions in its vicinity, the
Pakistan House is an excellent manifestation of
local British architecture of the day. Built in 1935,
109
AMBASSADOR'S RESIDENCE in
washington d.c.
2343- S Street NW DC was built in 1910 and now is vested to Government of Pakistan and currently is a
residence of Pakistans Ambassador. This residence was titled to the Government of Pakistan on April, 16
1948, previously owned by James B Aleshire who was a Quartermaster General, Van Santvoord Merle-Smith
the Third Assistant Secretary State and also Leland Harrison (U.S Assistant Secretary of State, Chief of US
Tariff Commission, diplomat and former Pakistani Ambassadors. The Islamic centre which is capitals largest
research centre is also located in the vicinity. A red brick four story single family house which is designed on
a land space of 10152 square feet and was constructed with top notch quality, the entrance is surrounded by
two pillars with a classic terracotta ceramic material, a built up roof top, a gorgeous looking building has 15
bed rooms and eight bathrooms with up to date amenities such as central heating/conditioning, fire places
etc. Not only the house is beautifully designed inside but it has a lot which in 9750 square foot in space and
gives whole compound a lavish and breathy look.
110
Residence of the Permanent

Representative of Pakistan to the
United Nations
The residence building was built in 1920 and has been designated as a landmark by the New York City
Government. The Upper East Side consists of different neighborhoods of which, Carnegie Hill stands out
the most. The boundaries of Carnegie Hill extend from86th Street on the south to96th Streetto the north,
betweenFifth Avenue(Central Park) on the west andThird Avenueon the east. The residence is precisely
located in the heart of Carnegie Hill.
The Government of Pakistan purchased the residence building in 1965. The building has five stories with
the kitchen and dining hall on the first level and the reception hall on the second level. Third and fourth
levels are mainly used for residential purposes. The fifth floor houses the domestic help.
The building is a masterpiece of architecture of early 20th century and represents the proverbial modern
architecture style. The use of brownstone on the front of the building is one of the distinguishing marks
of the architecture of that era.
111
Fankaar Gali
Paintings by Mrs. Mahwish Sohail
Fankaar Gali
Sketches by Zahra Gardezi
112
Globe
Trotting
113
Globe Trotting
Amman
114
Globe Trotting
BEIJING
Ladies of Pakistan Embassy headed by

Mrs. Sonia Masood visited He Tong Nursing Home for
the elderly and donated gift bags
Conferment of Hilal-e-Quaid-e-Azam on Mr. Jian Jiaqing,
Chairman Industrial and Commercial Bank of China
A well attended National Day Reception was organized at Marriott Hotel. Vice Chairperson of National People's
Congress Madam Shen Yue was the Chief Guest
115
Globe Trotting
Pakistan Women's Association Beijing (PWAB) participated and donated to charity function organized by the wives of
Chinese state Councillors and Foreign Minister
116
Globe Trotting
BERLIN
FIRST EVER PAKISTANI ISLAMIC CALLIGRAPHIC EXHIBITION BY ANJUM AYAZ HELD
IN BERLIN FROM 13-17 JULY, 2014
Ambassador Syed Hasan Javed along with

Saudi and Turkish Ambassador Inaugurating
Islamic Calligraphic Exhibition at the Chancery
Hall on 15 July, 2014.
Pakistani children presenting a program on the

Independence Day on 14 August at Embassy Chancery
in Berlin.
Chief Guest with Ambassador tasting Pakistani
mangoes at the German BMZ Gala on 31 August,
2014.
117
Globe Trotting
BERN
Pakistan Day Reception held at Ambassadors residence.
Flag hoisting ceremony celebrating the Independence

Day.
Luncheon Reception of
the Diplomatic Wives
Association held where
Pakistani cuisine and
handicrafts were on
display. Most of the Swiss
participants were spell
bound after watching the
promotional video, Vibrant
Pakistan.
118
Globe Trotting
CAIRO
Hadith Rooh Musical Evening
Cultural
Evening
Sakia Festival
Peace Festival
119
Globe Trotting
Hanoi
The Embassy participated in the Food Festival. Pakistani cuisines were extremely
popular amongst the visitors.
Pakistani
food stall
Nazia Zaigham with

the Chief Guest
120
Globe Trotting
Jakarta
An Art Exhibition Spirit of Pakistan was held at Pakistan Embassy from 26-29 June 2014. Art work of prominent Pakistani
artist Ms. Shehla Rehman was put on display.
121
Globe Trotting
Truck Art Exhibition

An Exhibition Introducing Tribal Truck Art of
Pakistan in combination with Batik Art Patterns
was arranged by the Embassy
Art/Painting Exhibition (17 23 November 2014)

An Art Exhibition was organized by the Embassy in Jakarta
Works of seventeen young graduates were on show.
The fusion of this tradition art form with modern day
interpretations and scale was viewed with great enthusiasm
and visitors took keen interest in the paintings.
122
Globe Trotting
JEDDAH
Roat ur Resalah: Beauty of the Message
The Consulate General of Pakistan, Jeddah organized

its third calligraphy event titled Roat ur Resalah: Beauty
of the Message at the Redsea Mall, Jeddah from 1-4
May 2014. In 2011, the Consulate had developed a
programme for promotion of Islamic art and crafts in
cooperation with local Saudi institutions.
The event was jointly inaugurated by Mrs. Najia Aizaz,
President PFOWA and Ms. Hamida Alireza, a well known
Saudi art promoter and philanthropist. It was attended
by heads of several Saudi business houses, members of
diplomatic corps and Saudi Royal Family.
The event was widely covered by local media. Visitors
appreciated the Islamic heritage of Pakistan and efforts
of the Consulate General to promote it in Saudi Arabia. The Consulate Generals art events are quite popular in
Jeddah particularly its exhibitions are eagerly awaited
With the cooperation of local businesses, the Consulate
by expat community, diplomatic corps as well as Saudi
arranged travel, boarding and lodging of 13 calligraphers
citizens.
from all over the country to attend the event.
Based on these events, the Consulate published a coffee
The artists conducted open workshops at the venue
table book entitled Allama bil Qalam last year.
which attracted huge crowds.
123
Globe Trotting
Kabul
Ceremony organized for the Afghan students who have been awarded scholarship by the Government of Pakistan
The Embassy organized a free English language and computer studies programme for Afghan children through its
vocational training centre.
Certificates
being awarded to
Afghan students
124
Globe Trotting
LONDON
Chand Raat Celebrations at Pakistan High Commission
Pakistan High Commission participated in International

Spring Festival
Participation of the school children

in National Day Celebrations
Evening with
Rahat Fateh Ali Khan
Art exhibition entitled

Art Within & Beyond
Pakistan"
125
Globe Trotting
LOS ANGELES
Signing of Memorandum of Understanding between Pakistan Foreign Office Womens Association and Merit
Grants for Young Women
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Pakistan Foreign Office Women's Association
(PFOWA), Islamabad and Merit Grants for Young Women (MGYW), Los Angeles on 5 September 2014. PFOWA was
represented by Mrs Iffat Tasawar Khan, while Ms Farhana Mohamed signed the MoU on behalf of MGYW. The MoU
was signed after approval by the MGYW Board of Directors and Madam Najia Aizaz, President PFOWA.
MGYW is a non profit organization working for the promotion of higher education among meritorious but financially
underprivileged young female students of Pakistan. Since its establishment in the year 2000, MGYW has been
providing assistance to hundreds of deserving girl students in Pakistan in the form of tuition fee, books, uniforms
and monthly financial assistance to continue their studies. In addition MGYW partners with well established charity
schools that predominantly cater to educate girls in impoverished rural or urban areas of Pakistan.
The idea to establish an institutional link between the two
organizations was proposed by Mrs Iffat Tasawar Khan in
2013.
Under the MoU, MGYW will annually provide 15
scholarships to PFOWA, which will be granted to the girl
students, belonging to the families of low grade employees
of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It is hoped that the
arrangements agreed between the two organizations
will go a long way in realizing their cherished objective
of supporting and promoting education amongst the
underprivileged segments of our society.
Mr Tasawar Khan, Consul General, Mrs Iffat Tasawar,
Ms Farhana Mohamed, Director MGYW
126
Globe Trotting
New Delhi
Pakistan High Commission Lecture Series
Iftar-cum Dinner for Muslim Community at High

Commission
Independence Day Celebration
Interaction with female Journalists of India
Aaleshan Pakistan Exhibition jointly inaugurated

by Chairman Trade Development authority of
Pakistan Mr. S.M. Muneer, High Commissioner
of Pakistan Mr. Abdul Basit and Mr Siddharth
Birla President FICCI at Pargatti Maidan, New
Delhi. More than 150 exhibitors with 320 stalls
showcased their products.
Aaleshan Pakistan
127
Globe Trotting
NEW YORK
United Nations International Bazaar - 2014
Reception Line to greet First Lady

Begum Kalsoom Nawaz Sharif
Lunch in honour of First Lady

Begum Kalsoom Nawaz Sharif
Mehfil-e-Milad
128
Globe Trotting
Group Photograph with Mrs. Ban Soon Taek
Mrs. Zohra Masood Khan receiving Crystal Apple from

Remedios Fe Cabactulan, President UN Delegations Women Club
Pakistan's Food Stall at Islamic Countries Bazaar
Mrs. Zohra Masood Khan with Mrs. Ban Soon Taek
Reception in honour of Malala Yousafzai at Pakistan House

129
Globe Trotting
Port Louis
Book launch organized by the Mission
Book launching ceremony
Iqbal Day celebrated by the Mission
Urdu drama performed by children
130
Qawwali night
Globe Trotting
PRETORIA
Pakistan Cultural Gala
Free Medical Treatment was organized by the Mission

in collaboration with our Diaspora
Pakistan participates in Africa Health Expo
Qawwali Lovers Enthralled
Ladies of the Mission help SOS Village Children
Pakistan leads in Charity

Bazar of International
Diplomatic
Spouses
Association(IDSA)
131
Globe Trotting
rabat
The Embassy organized concerts

of Pakistan's renowned sufi
music group "Maarifat"
Maarifat's performance at the
Music Festival at Fez as well as
other places was termed as the
best of its kind
132
Globe Trotting
ROME
The Embassy in collaboration with Pakistan Women's
Assocation organized a Cultural Show
Third Annual Pakistan Literature Day was organized

at the prestigious Ara Pacis Museum of Rome on
1 September 2014. Dr. Daniela Bredi, a renowned
orientalist from the La Sapienza University of Rome
gave an introductory talk about Pakistani literature.
Performing arts was combined with literature
through the performance of famous Pakistani
artist Sheema Kermani and her companions who
presented a visual interpretation of pieces of poetry
from famous Pakistani poets.
133
Globe Trotting
Living Symbols was the title of the three-month exhibition (June-August 2014) of ancient Pakistani artefacts,
organized by the Embassy at the Italian National Museum of Oriental Art. It consisted of items of clay pottery and
figurines from the prehistoric SohrDamb/Nal and Kulli cultures that flourished in south Baluchistan between 3500
to 2400 BCE.
The annualPakistan Festival was held on 28thSeptember, 2014, with the collaboration of the Pakistani community
in Italy
134
Globe Trotting
SEOUL
Pakistan Fashion Show in Seoul
Hanbook Traditional Korean Costume Festival
Pakistan Book Festival at Seoul Metropolitan Library
Country Presentation at National Library

for Children and Young Adults
Red Cross Bazaar
Country Presentation at Sookmyung Womens

University
135
Globe Trotting
SOFIA
Pakistan Navys Ship Rahnaward paid a historic trip to Port Varna, Bulgaria.
Ambassador Jamshaid Iftikhar held a cultural programme on board the ship.
Embassy organized a cultural show titled "Fashion and Design in Spectacular Pakistan"
136
Globe Trotting
TASHKENT
Fashion Show arranged by Pakistan Ladies Group Tashkent
Presentation of Pakistani Culture

at British School Tashkent
Presentation of Pakistani Handicraft
137
Globe Trotting
TORONTO
International Urdu Mushaira

was organized by the
Consulate General of Pakistan,
Toronto with the support of
Izhar International.
Prominent poets from Pakistan
Dr. Pirzada Qasim, Amjad Islam
Amjad and Mahmood Shaam
and other local poets from
USA and Canada presented
their poetry.
138
Globe Trotting
Tunisia
The Embassy participated in the Diplomatic Charity Bazaar organized at Le Kram Exhibition
Centre on 30 November 2014.
139
Globe Trotting
WASHINGTON
The Embassy hosted Begum

Chief of Army Staff
Qawwali Night organized by the Embassy
140
Globe Trotting
Mehfil-e-Milad at the Embassy
Ambassador Jilani addressing an event of the

Pakistan-US Women Council
Pakistan-US Women Council welcoming the new Executive Director Melanie Bixdie
141
Globe Trotting
WELLINGTON
Contemporary Pakistan Fiction and the Modern World
Pakistan Food Festival in Wellington
Public lecture on Kashmir

142
Globe Trotting
YANGON
National Day Celebrations
Interaction with Sitagu Sayadaw
Friendship Golf Tournament
Visit to the Tomb of Bahadur Shah Zafar

143
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Creative Expressions
URDU
POETRY &
PROSE
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What are the main activities and events organized by PFOWA in 2014?

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What are some of the creative writings featured in the gazette?

ANNUAL GAZETTE 2014

Pakistan Foreign Office Womens Association, Islamabad

Cover by Zara Haque

This years achievements and activities

Reaching a Milestone. by Mr. Moin-ul-Haque

PFOWA Reports 2014

Social Welfare Committee Report

Pakistans Missions Abroad: Historical Recollections

Creative Expressions URDU POETRY &PROSE