In this world there are different types of religions. And these religions have all sorts of monuments and sculptures. People make these kinds of objects to show their own religions perspectives. But who respects them? Who is taking care of these beautiful art works?

Let me give a recent example of destroying property of Chinese monuments. There was a shoot that took place in China and in it was a part where the crew used a Ferrari to drift and screech around the monument during their shoot. It was an ancient place of the Chinese. And these advertising companies just can’t respect others’ religions and caused damage to the monument, by making screech marks on top in the roof.

This isn’t only an issue in China; it is in around the globe. People can’t take care of the countries’ monuments. For example in Pakistan, people are disrespectful to many historical memorials. Many have stolen artifacts to make money. Is this the reason why the monuments are there – to make money out of them like this?

Who is responsible for taking care of them – the government or the citizens?

Written By: Omair Alavi

Dr. Khaleel Chishti enjoys his wife’s cooking…. Meera refers to Reema as aunty on twitter… Opener Nasir Jamshed got injured during the camp … These are a few one-liner stories that were aired as breaking news on different TV channels during the past 3 days, making those who hate media, loathe it. Do we really care whether Dr. Chishti likes his wife’s cooking, do we really want to know what Meera posted on twitter or do we really know who is Nasir Jamshed? No, we don’t, but thanks to the media, we are made to know of these happenings as Breaking News.

Before there was TV, there was the print media and believe me, the above-mentioned stories wouldn’t have been featured in more than a 4-line box item, that too on the back page. In those days, breaking news was made known to public via special numbers of newspapers like Awaam and Public, and people didn’t take them seriously because they were not meant to be taken that way. But thanks to electronic media, every news item is now a breaking news item, and the news channels take it as their responsibility to make people know what they think they should know.

Who cares amongst the general public of Pakistan what Nicolas Sarkozy’s wife Carla Bruni is going through as her husband is about to be ousted as the French President, who wants to be informed of UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon’s fracture which he attained during a football match or whether Jaya Bachchan has assets more than her superstar husband Amitabh! These news items were aired in the ‘During a Prime Time’ bulletins of the country’s best news channels, yet they could have been avoided as well.

During a recent interview of film actor Mustafa Qureshi, I asked him how he saw the news channels in Pakistan. The soft-spoken thespian minced no words in criticizing the media, terming them pro-India and anti-Pakistani. He said that we celebrate the birthday of Katrina Kaif by airing it as a news, yet we don’t do justice to our artists who are living in poor conditions without any support from the government. And I agree that he had a point that we all should think about.

In a country where prices of everyday items are increasing day by day, where people don’t get to eat twice a day, where the rich and getting richer with the passage of time, what good can the breaking news be for the public. They are simply ploys to increase the ratings of TV channels, and nothing else. If the media is really interested in making a difference, they should ditch their ‘me-first’ attitude and come out with investigative reports, something that made Kamran Khan the idol of young journalists in the country. They would be surprised to find out that there are many issues out there that need their attention, and solving them can make things better for Pakistanis in general, and Pakistan in particular.

By Omair Alavi

We all know that anything’s possible in Pakistan – a convict can run for the elections and win, the most corrupt person in the country can become the President whereas politicians can change parties with a moment’s notice. What even tops these idiosyncrasies is the fact that the country has had comedians for Minister of Interior Affairs, which, as the name suggests, is considered the most important ministry after the Prime Minister himself.

During the Musharaf regime, the Interior Ministry was under the (un)able guidance of Chaudhary Shujaat Hussain who is a questionable character in all probabilities. He can’t even speak his own name properly let alone be understood by his subordinates. But Shujaat Hussain isn’t the one I am talking about, it’s his predecessor – the current Interior Minister Rehman Malik – who has broken all records by being inept as well as illogical at the same time. Just recently, he left for a surprise visit of the war-torn Lyari when in Karachi, but met everyone except the ones who needed him the most. His gestures were shown on TV in which he was showing the people that he was not wearing any bulletproof vest, but was that even necessary?

He is also the master of making the media crazy, giving them one liners that would have made even the great Munawwar Zarif (Pakistani comedian) proud. Instead of accepting that the government was unable to apprehend those behind target killing in Pakistan, he claimed that most of the deceased died naturally, accidentally or at the hands of their girlfriends! On his current visit to the metropolis, he told the media that he had solid proof that Nawaz Sharif took loan from Mehran Bank and never returned it. Dear Minister, if you had proof, why didn’t you give it to the Supreme Court which is pursuing the case?

And then there are his media briefings in which he believes that whatever he is saying is making sense. In fact, his media talks bring smile on people’s face because they are so ridiculous. Who can forget his claims that the terrorist at the Mehran Base last year were dressed like Star Wars characters or the fact that Taliban were active in Lyari. Even if Taliban dress up as Balochis, I wouldn’t believe Mr. Malik’s theory because like always, he seems to retract his statements and claim that the electronic media misreported what he said.

But what about the print media and websites which carry his statements right from the horse’s mouth! Only Rehman Malik can say, “I am thankful to everyone, including the Taliban, for their cooperation in ensuring peaceful Ashura processions,” or “The government will take action against the terrorists at any cost, and it does not care whether it remains in power or not.” He has also said,”The incidents of target killing have dropped considerably and activities of miscreants are being monitored through satellite.”

It is for these ‘intellectual’ statements that Mr Malik is now a decorated civilian, and above all, has ‘Doctor’ added to his name. May be the university gave him the title to make the young doctors feel bad about their profession, and it seems they have succeeded!

What Pakistan really needs is a head of state who can choose the right man for the right job, instead of the worst man for the most important one. It’s all in the hands of the people who, if use their right to vote wisely, can change the course of their own future.

Having a hard time finding the right job? Was that college degree not enough? Or do you just not like what you studied your whole life becoming? Regardless there’s something for everybody. When students make their career choices they do so with the knowledge of what pays well. Everyone wants to earn good money, and hey why not? Being bankers totally worth it even if it is super boring, because it pays well, right?

Well, everyone seems to think so too, and that’s why just like you everyone else wants to become a banker/doctor/lawyers or anything other job that pays well. It’s for that reason that the unemployment rate in a specific field rises so high. Everybody wants to do it. People forget about what the economy gets and what it needs.

Just because you have a degree in business doesn’t mean you can’t go into say, arts or the media, or become a pet psychologist. There are many jobs out there with a great pay rate that don’t involve the words, BBA, MBBS or PHD.

Got a flair for the arts? Why not try graphic designing?

The media for one has tons of subsidiaries that you can get into. Journalism, news reports, TV anchors, actors and the list goes on. I’m sure if you tried your hand at least a few of them who know you might realise you have an aptitude for it. Don’t like the media no problem.

Thought you were always good at writing? Well, there are lots of jobs that require free-lancers, want to make  it permanent? Find a magazine that you could write for, or go into script writing.

Graphic Designing, is great if you’ve got a flair in the arts, there’s always someone out there looking for great graphic designers. Like working in the film industry? Story Boarders are one of the most sought after people. Especially in Pakistan when you have so very little of them.

Court reporters earn up to $100,000 a year ,just by typing - hear that mom and dad, texting isn't useless

If you think you type really fast, if you’re capable of tweeting and updating your Facebook status at blazing fast speeds, then why not try court reporting. You could earn up to $100,000 a year. Even your parents will be happy that you never listened when they told you to put those cell phones down at the dinner table.

Like talking? The radio can be a great place to work, make your voice your source of money. Remember those teachers that made you stand outside of class everyday for talking? Well who’s laughing now?

Here’s another interesting one. Actuarial sciences are a raging subject, with an estimated unemployment rate of 2%. Once you’re done with college, you won’t need to look for a job with this one, it’s pretty much already in the bag. Though it’s a tough one, actuarial sciences are one of the most difficult subjects out there, but if you can do it, go for it.

Your voice - Your money

The list goes on, aerodynamic, pet psychologists, mine mangers, software engineering, mecha-tronics, speech therapy, etc. Don’t just restrict your self to the 3 or 4 professions that you hear about everyday, remember give the economy what it wants, diversity. Just because your degree has a specific abbreviation doesn’t mean it’s the only option out there for you.

What do you think? Can’t find a job that fits you? There’s a ton of things you can do, just don’t fall for the Google pays you $150 an hour. That’s definitely a scam.

Let us know what you think!

Show: Pakistani Profiles

Host: Hibah Naz

Guest: Naila Jaffri

Description: Naila Jaffri is a renowned actress, director, producer and former news anchor. You’ve heard her voice on radio and in commercials. Naila has enjoyed all the professions she has been in whether it was modeling or acting. She believes change comes from within.

Watch this interesting interview with her on Pakistani Profiles.

Language: Urdu

Name: Fatima Suriya Bajya

Occupation: Writer/ Playwright/ Urdu Novelist

Websites: None Detailed Profile:

None Wiki Page: Fatima Suriya Bajya

Bajia’s name needs no introduction for TV, Radio and Stage viewers. She is one of the best Drama writer and Urdu Novelist of Pakistan. She is also a well known Educator and Social Worker as well. Bajya has been awarded numerous awards Nationally and Internationally which includes Pride of performance and Japan’s highest civil award.

Name: Behroz Sabzwari

Occupation: Actor

Websites: None

Detailed Profile: None

Wiki Page: Behroz Sabzwari

Behroze Sabzwari, is a Pakistani Film / Television actor. Behroze began his career from Radio Pakistan as Radio presenter, he started his acting career as a child artist in a kids play Dadajan Nanajan. His popularity began from the play Khuda Ki Basti, in 1974 with his role Nausha.

He has performed serious and comic roles with equal ease. Among his successful TV serial is Tanhaiyaan, It was Qabacha that endeared him to many households. Behorze has appeared in a number of television commercials.

Name: Beena Sarwar

Occupation: Journalsit & Filmmaker

Websites: Beena Sarwar

Detailed Profile: None

Wiki Page: None

Beena Sarwar is a writer and filmmaker who has been active in  women’s rights, human rights and peace movements in Pakistan. She was the Features Editor of ‘The Frontier Post’, Lahore, founding editor of weekly ‘The News on Sunday’,  and is on the Editorial Board of monthly Himal Southasian, Kathmandu.

Beena has made several documentaries since she was doing her Masters in Television Documentary she has also worked as a producer with Geo Television news and was Op-ed Editor of The News before going on to Harvard University as a Nieman Fellow and Fellow at Harvard University’s Carr Center for Human Rights Policy.