In memory of Hashir Muneer

I was seeing his pictures yesterday. He looked so happy frolicking with his brother smiling straight at the camera as if to say, “Life’s good”. How then could the LUMS administration drive him to suicide?

Universities should nurture the budding talent of tomorrow much less prompt them to kill themselves.

They pride themselves for the amount of pressure they put on their students, calling it a CHALLENGING environment. Is it really productive to knowledge to over burden students to the breaking point – and beyond?

I fear IBA is going the LUMS way too. I remember my pals who were dropped by IBA in the first semester, shattered is too soft a word for what they felt. Luckily they had family support and other options.

But what happens if you’re dropped in your last semester? What resort do you then have? Isn’t it cruel that you suddenly snatch a student’s degree right when the destination is no near? Such a sever punishment for a few marks less (In IBA’s case they’ve dropped students in their 7th and 8th semester because their GPA fell below 2.0)

IBA and LUMS both believe in some cruel policies that are counter productive to education in the long run. If a student was good enough to make it to the eight semester, some leverage does not mean lowering your standards. All it entails is a little consideration for the future leaders of tomorrow.

“IBA – Leadership and ideas for tomorrow”.
Please don’t let there be no tomorrow!

IBA’s Business Plan Contest – Shadidresses.com

Alhumdulillah I got Third prize in IBA’s Business Plan Contest I am so happy I could dance with joy!

I am the only one from CCS to get a prize even though it was a BITS-organized event. Also I am the only one for whose presentation comments, a particular judge did not use the word “CRAP”

I presented the idea of Shadidresses.com, an online boutique that provides exquisite dresses for all shadi-related events from the mangni to the valima in a 6 weeks time window. We foresee profits of Rs. 1,867,000 in the first year with an ROI of 126.65%

Seems unrealistic? I’ve done it for the last 5 years with great success!

Click below to download my presentation:

shadidresses

Randomly Tired

I’ve just finished the first 7 pages of my analysis of Class A certification Attainment by Abbott Pakistan. It was fun (creativity always is) but my eyes are burning now… I think I should offer Isha and call it a night. Haven’t gotten to sleep properly in days with the bake sale and all the parhai (@ parhai???)

Today I had to make a million trips to IBA offices to get permission for my kites.The MIS office folks are the nicest even though they were laughing at my poor cell phone. Little do they know that I had seen finer days once *sigh*

Previously my phones were always the envy of every one. Probably thats the reason why 3 of ‘em got stolen. My favourite was my Nokia N73 (the 7th one) which i got in 2006, right when it was super expensive and brand new. People’s envy got the better of it even at Haj time. Some one took it from beneath my pillow at Mina!

My dad is an absolute darling and immediately allotted me 30,000 bucks to buy an even more expensive phone. His logic: when a pilot loses his plane, he should be immediately given a new one else he’ll lose his confidence. Understandably this was incomprehensible to every one including my brother who put his foot down. I then bought the cheapest phone in Nokia’s range, the 1100 which survives to this date.

I wish it quick death!

I take back my words. I read a heart rendering letter written in Dawn today by a man who committed suicide. Interest on a loan, inflation and power breakdowns (he was an ice cream walla) finally took him down.

Then I have the gall to crib about my phone!

Every single day I realize that this may be my last and that I’ll leave the world without doing any good, without really, truly helping any one in dire need…

Btw there is one angel in IBA Administration. His name is Faisal Iradat. He really came thorough for me today

Fuming!

I hate the IBA administration! Pig-headed ego-centric ancient fuddle duddies!

Lazy Sunday Morning Ramblings

Sunday mornings at my place are lazy and steeped in tradition. As a result of the inevitable struggle over the newspaper, I reconcile myself with Images and Books and Authors, Abba gets the front page and poor ma is stuck with Metropolitan or if she’s sneaky, Magazine.

Lately I’ve been finding Images and Magazine pretty crappy. The pictures are getting glossier and bigger at the expense of the content. The hidden fundu in me is offended by NFP, I don’t even read him any more.

We then have a breakfast table conversation about the hot topic of the day. Today we discussed how to improve my parent’s practice. Feelings were forgotten and passions raged on but no conclusion could be reached. My opinion was that my parents should improve the “customer” experience with Value Added Services, my parents protest: with over flowing patients, free medicines and rock-bottom margins; that is not always possible.

Later we ventured to Mottas for grocery shopping, another tradition. I’ve been going their since as long back as I can remember; every time they change a counter I feel a familiar wave of irritation as though things are out of place. As we go to the check out counter, the uncle automatically includes a 100 wala Ufone ka Card. Thats what happens when you have life time customers

From there we went to Clifton Nimco Corner. All diets and ulcers were forgotten, we freely indulged in mouth watering samosas, rolls and chapli kababs. Sinful pleasures

Last night I made pulao in the style of my father’s family. They’re Pakka Hindko speaking Peshawaris, all seasoned cooks including the men. I like Pehawari and Afghani food but find it too carnivorous at times. There used to be this really great Khyber Resturant here where they served a mean Kabuli Pulao (and whiskey!) but it closed down. Now I have to go to Peshawar or NYC to have Afghani food.

Speaking of which, I miss Peshawar. I miss our antique haveli with the sprawling court yard, the intricate wood work and the candle stands. I miss those narrow cobbled streets with the over whelming air of antiquity. I miss shopping at Bara and Karkhano.

Abba was planning a week end getaway to Peshawar but Saturday is so hectic, I can’t afford to miss those precious classes

IBA tends to rule your life!

Spent

I feel worn out like that holey pair of sneakers your toe sticks out of. All my energy is lost in that essay (which I’ll probably not win) and my midterms (one of which I’ve already flunked). Sunday’s beach party has tired me out even further. I don’t even want to write any more, blogging is now so been there, done that…

I am not having any fun arranging the bake sale, I don’t even want to participate in the festivities. All I want to do is sleep. My friends are so excited about the Basant theme and I, as Manager, Charity and Welfare Society should boost em up. Instead I just lower their spirits – You know IBA, there’s so much red tape. Don’t think all our ideas will be implemented, specially not the swings, blah blah blah.

I’ve lost my vitality some where on the IBA road. This semester started off so well, I was all rejuvenated by Kami (maybe it was the Pittsfield snow) and my courses were so interesting. Now I am just a diluted version of myself. I flunked Productions and Operations Management, it’s no consolation that so did most of the class. The worse part is that I had felt that I was learning a lot in that course. Same goes for E-Commerce, I feel that I am learning but I don’t have the marks to prove it.

Well, life is SO beyond studies I comfort myself.

It’s the rest of life that’s not going too well either. My bond with Allah Ta’ala is weakened.

The solution: I need to go pray instead of bickering here.

Midterms at IBA

Midterms at IBA pass in woeful remembrance of n-1. The freshies entering now just CANNOT comprehend the incredible beauty of n-1, of life giving you second chances. You could flunk an hourly and still manage to get an A with no one but you the wiser.

Alas all good things must come to an end.

We’ve all heard of the one-night stand with books before exams But I have a new philosphy. I pick up my books the day OF my exam. I crave the thrill of horror that courses through as you realize that the course is huge and there is no possible way you can cram it in one hour. Nevertheless you try.

It’s not good to indulge in risky behaviour but it sure is a whole lot of FUN