Show: Pakistani Profiles

Host: Ayesha Tajwar

Guest: Danish Qasim

Description: The youth in Pakistan is ambitious and energetic. Danish Qasim, a student from Iqra University, is a film director who along with his colleagues produced a short-film that has won the Audience Award for the best movie in the National Film Festival for Talented Youth 2012. The Other Side is a reality based short-film that tells the story of a boy who becomes a prey of terrorists in Pakistan.

What encouraged Danish and his friends to create this film? How did they afford to make it? What hurdles did he face? Danish tells about his adventure and experience in this episode of Pakistani Profiles.

Language: Urdu

Show: Pakistani Profiles

Host: Ayesha Tajwar

Guest: Kausar Amir

Description: Women in Pakistan have been active for many years. They have been involved in activism, politics, and even education.

Kausar Amir is one of those women. She is the director of Karachi American School and she is a member of the Pakistan People’s Party. Kausar always wanted to do something for the youth of the country and her dream has come true. Take a look at what she has to say about her work and life, altogether.

Language: Urdu

Show: Ladies’ Club

Hosts: Sadia Abid and Mahreen Sabir

Topic: Why is the Pakistani youth distracted?

Description: Now a days, you hear people say that the youth in Pakistan is distracted. The youngsters don’t seem to focus on their education or their career. Adults say the kids are clueless when asked about their future.

Do you think the youth is distracted? If yes, then what are the reasons?

Language: Urdu

Topic: Pakistan Votes

Description: Vote is not just a right but a duty. If you do not vote, then you will have no right to complain if the wrong people come through to rule the country. Spread the word. Tell everyone who is registered that they must vote!

Will you vote?

The band LAAL performing at 'Looking back to look forward'

The following piece, entitled “Pakistan through history and culture”, appeared in the International News on Sunday’s Footloose section, in 2010.

By Huma Ahmar and Danielle Gehrmann

Our trip to Pakistan in January 2010 turned out to be a culturally enriching journey. We found it a place of historical and cultural diversity with a lot to offer beyond the usual picture projected.

We were determined to show Huma’s children that there is more to Karachi than “hot bazaars and lots of people”; their rote response when quizzed about the city. So, we thought it would be a good idea to take them to the National Museum of Pakistan for a dose of culture and history and subsequently change their impression of the city. A common notion of a museum is a place above all where people visit to educate themselves; where historical artifacts are collected, collated, studied, documented, preserved and exhibited as a recognition of culture and history.

In 1970, the museum relocated from Frere Hall to Dr. Ziauddin Ahmad Road and is under the auspices of the Department of Archeology and Museums. Nestled in a surprisingly peaceful oasis, the ornate façade of the building forms a backdrop to people having their lunch in the gardens on the grass. The museum is pleasantly unique in its architecture. While most museums are entirely indoors, a colonnade on the upper level provides a charming outdoor aspect from which galleries branch off.

The building houses artifacts which span from 2,000,000 years ago to contemporary civilisation. Such is the expanse of history attributable to parts of the Subcontinent. Life-size relief maps locate the various Indus River Valley Civilisations, such as Periano Ghundai (3500-2000B.C.), Moenjodaro (2500-1500B.C.) and Harappa (2100-1600B.C.). Various aspects of life are represented through accompanying miniature models, which are particularly eye-catching to children. Amongst the numerous archeological treasures are earthenware jars and vast collections of coins belonging to various Mughal Dynasties, together with some dating back to the sixth century B.C. of the Indo-Greeks, Scythians and Parthians. Ethnological galleries include life-size representations which show village life, their handicrafts and dwellings, and everyday dress and costumes, together with some exquisite jewellery. Relating to the Independence Movement, there are items of furniture, paintings, photographs of political figures and items of clothing of Quaid-e-Azam. Buddhist, Hindu and Islamic artifacts are testament to the various religions of the Subcontinent to which both Pakistan and India have played host since ancient times.

It is indeed fortunate that this little museum brings to life the vast number of civilisations dating back 2,000,000 years. On our visit, it struck us that the museum could be enhanced with a few changes. Most of the artifacts had accompanying explanatory plaques; however, some didn’t. Unfortunately, this gave a feeling of inconsistency. Also, the overall display of items would be improved with better lighting. Airtight cabinets would protect priceless and irreplaceable items from moisture damage and general deterioration, ensuring their preservation for future generations.

To make a museum visit more appealing to youngsters is to make it an interactive and fun experience. Other museums have had success with kids’ Q&A work sheets in the form of questionnaires and various activity booklets filled in throughout the visit with a small reward at the end.

As our cultural heritage site, we chose to visit the city of Thatta. It was the capital of the Province of Sindh from the fourteenth century until 1739 and is known for its historic monuments. These are also listed among UNESCO’s World Heritage sites (see http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/143).

There are two main areas in Thatta. First, are the tombs at Chaukundi, the necropolis of graves at the Makli Hill, where several Tarkhan and Mughal officials are buried. The graves are made of solid rock and are embossed with beautiful calligraphy from the Quran. Admiring these graves reminds one of the impermanence of life and the finality of death.

The second is the Shahjahani Mosque, which is the main mosque of the city and was built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan as a gift to the townspeople for their hospitality shown to him. He had the Taj Mahal built in commemoration of his wife and the Shahjahani Mosque is a grand example of the famous Mughal architecture that is found all over the Subcontinent. It is adorned with exquisite blue and white tile work designed like a mosaic and fortunately these vibrant colors have withstood the test of time. The mosque is also a testament to the grandeur of the Mughal Dynasty, as is the Jama Masjid in Delhi, one of the largest and best-known mosques in India, also commissioned by Shah Jahan.

Today, Thatta is also known for its handicrafts and colourful glass bangles, which are well known throughout the Subcontinent. The hand-printed fabrics, block-printed clothes and the exquisite embroidery work inlaid with tiny mirrors and the intricately designed glass bangles sold in the bazaars of Thatta entice the tourists and are difficult to resist.

An inspirational occasion was an evening at the Karachi Arts Council, dedicated to the Student Movement of the 1950s called ‘Looking back to look forward.’ This nostalgic journey was made through a collage of slide presentations, short documentaries, impassioned speeches and verbal accounts in person from those who were intrinsic to the Movement. Many artists and poets contributed to this amazing event and a rich vocal performance by Tina Sani stood out as something truly magical, transporting the audience to another plane. The electric atmosphere only heightened once the acclaimed band ‘LAAL’ hit the stage (see http://tinyurl.com/laalband), and it wasn’t long before most of the students in the auditorium were on their feet singing away. LAAL are indeed friends of democracy and human rights and are doing a fantastic job of raising awareness of both students and the working class about their rights. Further, by providing the Pakistani youth a platform to express themselves, Beena Sarwar, together with her colleagues, is doing some wonderful work to continue the legacy of her late father, Dr Mohammad Sarwar. We certainly hope that this canvas with its palette of nostalgia, youthful energy, hope, music, poetry and passion provides a source of inspiration to help them create a bright future for themselves, should they decide to move forward and claim it.

The National Museum of Pakistan

Not long ago, a friend lamented: “…yes what’s happening in Pakistan at this point is demoralizing, but then if you live in this situation, I guess you develop a level of immunity as a safeguard…do not moan and groan so much, and continue to maintain a level of normalcy, but deep down it hurts and you keep having a feeling as if you are sinking!” Despite the gravity of the current situation, events such as this show that people are willing to “maintain a level of normalcy” and contribute to positive change in the country.

Given the difficult times that contemporary Pakistan is facing, the importance of preservation of cultural and historical treasure in the National Museum and at Thatta becomes more important than ever. Their presence as icons of pride form part of the cultural and national identity of Pakistan and can be revered amongst current and future generations alike. Since the various ancient civilisations on display in the museum and at Thatta came into being when India and Pakistan were still one, this pride need not be limited to Pakistanis, but is there for all the peoples of the Subcontinent and beyond.

Show: Speak For Change

Host: Ayesha Tajwar

Topic: How much do you know about 23rd of March?

Description: 23rd of March holds historical importance in Pakistan. It is known as Lahore Resolution and later became Pakistan Day. Surely, everyone celebrates this day with traditional zealousness. But how much does today’s Pakistani youth know about it? Why was the Lahore Resolution passed? Why is called Pakistan Day?

Language: Urdu

Show: Sarak Ka Such

Host: Abid Beli

Topic: Youth fundraiser for Balochistan

Description: A group of youngsters has gathered at Clifton, Karachi to collect money for the people in Balochistan. They are determined to help their people and object on the partition of the province from the country.

Do the people of Balochistan need money or need to learn how to utilize their own resources? What do you think they are in need of the most?

Language: Urdu

Show: Pakistani Profiles

Guest: Mansoor Soomro

Description: It is over-whelming to know Pakistanis who are accomplishing things in life at a very young age. Mansoor Soomro is the Board Member of Siemens in the Middle East. In 2012, he was selected as one of the thirty young global leaders by the World Bank. He was the only asian to participate in the Global Youth Forum in Brussels. Mansoor claims to be creative and says he goes against the flow. He’s always on the look out for the other side of the story.

Language: English

Show: The Afia Salam Show

Host: Afia Salam

Guest: Madiha Latif

Topic: Proactive Pakistani!

Description: The future of Pakistan belongs to the youth, and they have to take matters into their own hands to steer the country in the direction that will make it a progressive country. Here is a young girl who wants everyone to use their right of vote to change the fate of Pakistan.

Language: English

Show: Sarak Ka Such

Host: Abid Beli

Topic: Our Viable Alternatives

Description: All over the world there is a clamour for developing alternate energy resources. In Pakistan, despite lack of government support, there is a dedicated band of researchers and entrepreneurs who are doing their bit in any case.