Economic Confessions of Ramchand Pakistani

By Muhammad Umair

This year I carefully chalked down a strategy to avoid long queues at CNG stations by hoarding petrol in my own home, acting smart and setting up an alarm on my fully-charged smart phone, when electricity supply is in abundance so that I can wake up in the middle of the night and enable my geyser to burn its mid-night oil. I planned to upgrade my UPS; yes sir, I am aware darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. I sent birthday wishes at least three days in advance via SMS and two days in case of social media sites; failing on both occasions, I switched to pigeons. Oh, how could I forget I planned to vote. Our economic managers, completely conscious of gaps between demand and supply of everything produced and consumed within the land of the pure, are trying their best to reinvent the economic wheel which will, without doubt, wheel-jam the economy. It is very unfortunate that short term solutions are invented and later implemented with full noise and energy, as little or nothing is being done to address the underlying problem. At least till the next objection is levied. My nation is being informed, without disturbing their morale, that they are extremely blessed with numerous treasures. My innocent people are living the dream of excelling in every field of life. Once again they are asked to sacrifice during these tough times. Just by solving the circular debt, Gross Domestic Product can grow by three percent. Lucky for us, everyone within the land of the pure wants their living status to grow, and why shouldn’t they? But when output is decreasing, one cannot grow. Out of the box thinking is required to trigger the much needed growth. This shouldn’t be a problem considering Pakistan ranks fourth in most intelligent people among 125 countries - according to a survey held by the Institute of European Business Administration. When will we act upon options that are strategic and beneficial in the long term? I fail to understand, why pilgrims will soon be routed to fly off to Iran instead of fixing the law and order situation in Balochistan? Effortlessly, you can turn the telecommunications’ switch off on specific days instead of framing and later implementing water-locked rules for its unauthorised and dangerous usage. Once again, sacrifices have to come from the citizens, I presume? Everyone gets invited to a party where demand destructive solutions are served, the one which forces you to wear multiple layers of warm clothes during winter and the same fraternity requests you to fix your thermostat at a certain degree during summers. According to a local newspaper, President Zardari solved the load shedding problem in record time. He gave advice to a group of industrialists who whined about shortage of electric supply. He told them to generate their own electricity.  Mind you, our president does not have any economic background yet he presented a simple way out – increase in supply! Reminds me, Pakistan has also been offered electricity from all neighbouring countries including India, China and Iran. Whilst our government contemplates these supply sources, I suspect Bangladesh will declare itself an atomic power and a proposal for a joint venture with Afghanistan will be offered to produce electricity that will probably end up falling on deaf ears as well.  What is important to mention here is that the entire mindset needs a change. All commodities share a common property. Be it vegetables, sugar, fertiliser, wheat, milk - scarcity is witnessed everywhere. We must use our possessions industriously. Otherwise, Pakistan’s second largest salt mine, fourth largest milk and rice production, fifth in sugar cane and wheat production, sixth largest gold and coal reserves, seventh largest copper mine, ninth largest telecom market and I assure you, the list can go on and on, would mean zilch. Let’s not bluff ourselves and move forward with a vision. Let us all work to break out of this infinity loop. Otherwise, chances are that our fatalistic attitude might put us in a familiar position where we will have to apologise to our future generations for losing decades on contemplating decisions that should have been implemented immediately. Published 24 May, 2013 - US The News Weekly Magazine. http://magazine.thenews.com.pk/mag/detail_article.asp?id=5320&magId=9

Young Blood!

By Muhammad Umair Vohra!

If you think you live in a democratic country, go and explain yourself the meaning of anarchy. It’s about time you read something about reality. If you think you have a freedom, try freedom of speech. Search for a strong rationale for why cable guys put off certain channels at certain common hours. If you think you can bring change and hope that there is some light at the end of tunnel, then congratulations as you have just redefined load shedding. If you think you can vote for change within the land of pure then, dear youth, I am afraid and I want you to be very, very afraid. People are killing other people in the open. It’s a jungle out there - they are not terrorists; rather, they are supporters to some political party flexing their arms and fancying their strength. They will not let you change; they will block your way to vote. They will blackmail you and harass you. Are you ready?
Everyone will say yes, which is the most probable answer to my question. But this isn’t a case of being sentimental or rushing things up. It is about searching for a plan that will actually work. For instance, how many text messages do you get daily stuffed with words of wisdom? I assume many and the reason for my notion is the too good to be true rates offered by all the telecommunications companies in our land of the pure. We all read and forward text messages without checking the authenticity of the source from which they originate. This is how irresponsible we have turned!
The mass protest of students in Gujranwala regarding publication of wrong results over the internet was in the form of burning their own board’s building, and creating unrest in the city where 50 students ended up in police station. I see no difference between political workers who damage our national assets on some political agenda and those who want themselves to be called educated. Maybe a degree is after all merely a degree! One might argue that protests such as these are the democratic way of expression of one’s opinion but at the same time I won’t be surprised if two decades later one of these ex-students announce a bailout package for higher education commission.
One of my favourite pastimes is to exchange views on political leaders with complete strangers; some of them include the rickshaw drivers, pedestrians etc. Maybe at the back of my mind I am aware we share the common identity of a nation and that fact itself negates the idea of that person being a stranger. The prejudice of an individual Pakistani today and few years ago is gradually transforming. In the past, voters used to vote for the powerful but today it is gradually shifting towards performance on public welfare projects. The lesson to learn here is that we had to have that patience in order to achieve socio-economical development of our society.
Dear young blood, focus on yourself, ask yourself why you are being taught while so many others simply can’t afford this luxury. Why do you cheat when you have the brainpower to combat the exam fever? Why do you destroy your own country’s assets? Rather you should be planting seeds and flowers irrespective of whether or not the annual tree plantation week has ended or just begun. It is your time and therefore it would be only up to you how you set examples for the generations to follow. Plan your future carefully!

Published 10 Feb, 2012 - US TheNews Weekly Magazine.

http://e.thenews.com.pk/newsmag/mag/detail_article.asp?id=2073&magId=9

The Way Forward For Pakistan – Media Revolution

By: Muhammad Umair Vohra

Post partition the largest migration in living history resulted in a massive massacre of people on both sides. Yes, it was people killing other people. The aggression we inherited back then is reflected in today’s news reports, very similar and fresh. Media outlets, television channels in particular, consistently showcase stories that disclose the national mindset as clergymen, lawyers, doctors, policemen, politicians and villagers fight, curse and in some cases beat their brothers on the streets with unacceptable brutality. Injustice, inflation, unemployment, corruption and every ill act of the society is gelled with sensationalism and sold to an illiterate nation without realizing that the possible outcome of spreading this negativity will ultimately lead to wider aggression for following generations.

The media should report facts, it’s what they are there for but sensationalizing doom and gloom everyday is hardly journalism. Spreading unconfirmed news to win the race of putting it first on air without thinking of the repercussions? Highlighting a brain washed suicide bomber in pursuit of 72 virgins, commentating over issues to further exacerbate the situation? To top is all, and my personal favorite, is the incessant persuasion of how closely we are allied with the people across the eastern border. If this is what we want today, then we should blame those who put forth that unjustified two nation theory, take off that page from history books because all it will now serve to do is to further pile up the social hypocrisy in young minds. I want that page taken out immediately - shred it and burn it please. This would certainly accelerate the peace process.

I can point to the fact that billions of rupees are owed to the Government of Pakistan under the head of sales tax, by television channels, but I would be digressing. All I am saying is that we are marketing complete negativity to our own people. Rather, we should market our positive to people outside this 'land of the pure'. I know where corruption takes place; we have now crafted ourselves to live with it. Identifying corruption is easy but rectifying it is difficult because would-be rectifiers are corrupt as well. We lack resources to mobilize our own gold mines. Why isn’t some one focusing on the immense potential we have here. They should come, invest and create jobs. Instead of getting dependent on and threatened by the nation’s largest telecoms company to not report the stretched strike of its workers just because they won’t give them business, the TV channels should be highlighting different investment avenues to make people come over so, to put it crudely, we can milk them in the long run. Who will bell the cat is a difficult question, but one shouldn’t serve milk to wild cats. We must celebrate the countless ways God has blessed this including its human resource.

We are an illiterate society but the reality is our demography gives us an opportunity to completely transform into a literate one. Let us move on from the discussion of democracy versus dictatorship to making people aware of how important their vote is during election time. What criteria should be kept in mind while selecting a candidate during elections? Which candidate had to leave his office because of fake degrees and who fooled the people yesterday and why the same members of a family are in parliament over and over? It is very unfortunate that our people elect the same culprits again and again. This also tells us, that the media failed to highlight the “fraud” of our gubernatorial candidates and media’s 'reporting' failed to change people’s opinion about corrupt leaders. What is the policy going forward to make an impact?

Education is vital no question about it. It is another fact that education’s fruits ripen by the third generation. What I feel is necessary, going forward, is to educate people on social behavior, small examples of which are; Why wearing a helmet is important to avoid accidents; Why its better to switch off the engine at a traffic signal to save fuel; Why children should not be seated in the front; Why saving is important from a very young age; why its important to avoid any SM/email forwarding without proper verification. Wait for your turn. Stand in queues - don't rush while paying bills at banks or buying some groceries. What emergency measures to take in case of some terrorist attack; go for blood donation instead of being an obstacle in the way of rescue efforts and so on and so forth? These small contributions will help us achieve social discipline. Let us see the light at the end of tunnel with each other eyes.

In 1971, classic Urdu writer Ibne-Insha wrote in his book “Urdu ke akre kitab” (Last book of Urdu) “We burn our own buses during strikes and destroy traffic signals - the same resources we use on any other day”. That thought was put to paper about 40 years ago. Why it feels so fresh is a question which needs a brain storming session by people from media groups as from all walks of life, in an effort to find a solution and implement change.

Back at the time of partition, a country was divided and we had to face evils on our road to maturity. Unfortunately we are still not there. The media is in an excellent position to make full use of current pessimism, treat it as an opportunity and turn our masses into people full of solutions and ideas. Encourage out of the box thinking; celebrate our heroes, from every walk of life. Give them credit for making us proud, motivate young and fresh brains. The media got its freedom after a long wait in our country, but only correct policy making and a strategic vision and mission will turn this ordinary freedom into a worthy media revolution.

Muhammad Umair [Vohra]

Written for an Essay competition in September, 2010

The Pessimist

By Muhammad Umair Vohra

I have thousands of reasons to hate my country. Despite the fact that I am born and will die here, too, I have been unable to fall in love with the 'land of the pure'. Astute analyses reveal it is not my country which I hate, but the people who are responsible to put up this shame together. Yes, I like the cup but I don't like the coffee inside.

Every single day people are being bombed out; ironic but true that both the bomber and thebombed end up in heaven. Who is spreading this extreme terror and who should we fight against are simple, unanswered questions. Disappointment is now part and parcel of this deadly game. I need not mention that I live in an "Islamic" republic where "disappointment" is considered a sin. Unfortunately, we have double standards everywhere. We might have people belonging from most "pious" social group but their bank account could be traced back into some commercial bank which is "haram" in the first place. The rationale - we live in "dar-ul-harb" where it is the responsibility ofthe state to provide the environment to practice true Islamic way of life. The sad part is that most Muslims simply refuse to even adapt the dynamics of the modern world. Where sophisticated speakers are used to invite the people to worship, they prefer to use those outdated radio speakers. 'Nothing is permanent except change' is not something my countrymen believe in.

You might see people travelling in most luxurious imported cars while talking about imbalance it creates for the national economy. As long as their standard of living is up and running, the national economy can be revitalised any time: either by begging from our own people or some foreign financial institutions. The iron man, while formulating the policy of national interest, seems to be fully aware of this contingency. Otherwise, he would have surely given some more thought towards developing the re-paying capacity. The only repaying capacity we have now is our young blood, butthe poor performance of the economy is unable to accommodate this young blood. Words like "job" and "market" sound alien in an environment where "cost cutting" and "layoffs" are buzzing over their shoulders. Probably they forgot to bring in the golden spoon along!

Talking about the golden spoon, the resourceful political populace, the alumni of reputable international educational institutions continue to play their role in the political drama live and exclusive. The king of jungle, after returning back from the great escape, was seen to be fighting for Justice! I wonder how people could possibly forget the time when the same king smashed stones right into the pillar of the state.

The poor people and the middle working class which is the majority are the biggest losers. However, I say that they opted for this state. They decide their future by either selling their right to vote on the day of election to their respective feudal lord or sleeping the day long. Who cares about the winners! Someone wrote somewhere that when you cannot defeat them – join them. Yes, I joined the fools (thinking I would defeat them) but alas! I ended up in the fool's paradise. I am no longer an optimist but a realistic pessimist.

Published 19 Feb, 2010 - US Magazine

http://jang.com.pk/thenews/feb2010-weekly/us-19-02-2010/index.html

Why Education Is Must For Swat Girls.

By: Muhammad Umair Vohra

Napoleon Bonaparte said: ' Give me good mothers and I will give you a good nation'. Scrolling through different news stories I got more interested to read the entire news clip where US secretary of state Hillary Clinton said, “Pakistan's fight with extremism would have been in better shape had the United States invested more in the nation's schools and girls and not just its military”. No individual can drift away from the importance of education for any nation. Pakistan unfortunately been a developing nation has to agree more. One can argue that this statement has come from outside the national jurisdiction which questions if our leaders are thinking likewise? However certainly its not the right time to debate who should be keen about the education of our masses, what matters is the life of any individual within the land of pure should not be with out proper education.

Officially more than 238 schools have been destroyed in swat in which 56,250 students were studying. This loss is not just restricted to capital formation of these students towards national development but also a dream to become a doctor, engineer and teacher to spread the light of success and prosperity ended up in mere ashes.

Majority of the schools destroyed were providing education to girls reflecting the strategic goal of foes to ruin the nation’s dream of prosperity for coming generations. The ideal situation of outperforming your opponent is to come up with a superior strategy. It is about time that not only government but people from lower level should come up to push the rate of literacy north.

As a suggestive measure it’s the need of the hour to have a special emergency fund for the purpose to educate those who suffer as a result of ongoing conflict. The development of lost infrastructure would definitely take time to come back to its lost state till then one can go back to the point where it all started importantly the educational show must go on.

Just as when thorn were used supplementing the common pin back at the time of independence certainly we better off today. People of swat are not against the education of girls rather scared from consistent warnings been issued in the past for those who opting to get enlightened. The awareness among the family to promote education among the girls can convert those IDPS into students. The process of education has its beauty that it welcomes any one from any background with any race or age. Learning is forever and for every single one. It would also be fruitful to quote those who fought against the nation to be citied as victims of illicit thoughts, not having proper basic education as people believe in simple day to day examples.

In the recently announced budget a 2.3 % of GDP was allocated towards education which are peanuts considering the growing demand of investment required in this important sector. However good news is the prime minister also announced to make this up to 4 % of GDP in the next three years. The initiative would certainly help the cause the only risk is its lag of implementation.

One can put aside the monetary requirement for a while as it’s more the desire of the people to enhance them. We as a nation definitely has that prerequisite it’s only about getting the right people together and start working; As the high morale wins any encounter especially when it’s the holy battle.

Published in | The Post |
Why Education is Must for Swat Girls!
[10 September, 2009]

Wire Free Technology in Hands

By: Muhammad Umair Vohra

It was recently when one of my friend happen to introduced me with internet. Thanks to his fiancé for which he was consistently looking for ways and mediums to communicate at a cheaper cost with his loved ones seven seas away. I was spellbound how quick people were communicating exchanging views and having the causal laughs. Yes it was to chat that I got fascinated by this great technology and never considered about its immense influence it would have in future. I still remember when I bought my first internet connection as a result of a special promotion when no connection charges were to be paid. The journey started with dialup internet connection when that irritating connecting voice rewarded with slow web browsing, regular disconnections and off course your phone line was busy during that time.

Life goes on and today we have so many ways in which one can connect to the mammoth network of computers. The one common feature in every new way was none other than the speed. As dialup got older came the “cable – connection” meant only to download with heavy speed. Your phone line was no busier this time forward. Advantage was superior to dialup but some disadvantages lead to its failure. As the cable guy with his pitch to download with heavy speed considered inappropriate to mention huge species of viruses being downloaded into your machine, sit and malfunction. Also the switches got turned off on the back of regular load shedding. No proper availability of customer support as this was a local version of sharing internet connection. The cost to install and maintain was expensive.

Rescuing the web surfers with their previous anguish, DSL – Broad band was introduced. Lightening speed quick and easy installation, full customer support enabled and cost effective as you would only have to pay as per your requirement and package your subscribe. The price started on the higher note and was out of reach for a common “student” which was the biggest user of previous dialup and cable connections. Along side the new hardware the DSL modem had to be purchased by the user making the package more unattractive. The break through came from the PTCL`s move to provide hardware free of cost with the purchase of annual subscription. This opened up the market with competition and made DSL affordable.

Joined the bandwagon came the wireless technologies, starting with the mobile telecom which initially started their offerings with “GPRS” (General packet radio service). The infrastructure these telecoms were putting up together provided a platform to expand their offerings which translated into “EDGE” (Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution) technology simply put you were connected with the internet using your cell phones four times faster this time round. The cost started with Rs.15 per MB upload & download is now available at an average of Rs.500 monthly and unlimited data plan. The catch is the definition of unlimited which varies from carrier to carrier. Still this mode is developing and at the moment mainly directed towards business executives who require connectivity on the go.

Moving forward some one got the idea of setting up a WiMAX network at a country-wide scale. WiMAX is a standards-based technology enabling the delivery of last mile wireless broadband access as an alternative to wired broadband like cable and DSL. The technology lagged the desired response initially as the signal strength and quality of service wasn’t up to the mark.

The internet which started with 100/hour back in 1995 is now offered at monthly fixed rental. This is not only a great achievement for a country like Pakistan but also transforms a great opportunity for ordinary individuals to use the technology for their respective needs. The technological evolution is a never ending game and no one knows where this would lead us to. Despite every technology along with its advantages & disadvantages the user now have a choice and responsibility alongside. Also keeping the tradition a live innovative technologies would end up finding their way to the land of pure because it’s just the start and best is yet to come!

Published in [The Post] Wire Free Technology in Hands [26 August, 2009]

Potentially My First Every Interview !

My first fast!

By Iqra Asad

The first fast--a milestone, a beginning, a discovery. You cover a lot with this one step forward. It is as interesting to view the experience under the microscope of others' memories as it is to view it under one's own, and together we can paint the whole picture.

The decision

Children love to imitate their elders, and fasting is no exception. It is the sense ofsomething special that draws them into the fasting lot, as Muhammad Umair Vohra says: "Even before the start of the holy month of Ramazan, the shared enthusiasm among my family and friends used to encourage me to join the club of the followers. I was eight years old. It felt uncomfortably comfortable back then, as getting up early and then without breakfast leaving for school was something extraordinary."

Begging to be allowed to fast starts from as early as age four or five; some parents relent for a day, others refuse point-blank to wake their tots for sehri, while most get away with selling the concept of "chiri" or "khoja" roza to the little aspirants, as did Momal Mushtaq's parents: "I properly fasted at the age of eight. I saw everyone fasting, so I wanted to do it myself. That was an exciting experience, not my first, though. Before that, according to my parents, I'd tried fasting at the age of five. They made up this story that a 'khoja' is a proper roza, and I happily told everyone that it was my roza that day!"

Some, however, have not-so-obvious motives to take the plunge, as Hamza Asad (notrelated to the writer :P) shares with us: "I was only ten years of age when I fasted for the first (and for the coming few years, last) time. When I was in the fourth standard, there was a beautiful teacher in our school who used to travel by our school bus. I would give her some jasmine flowers every morning. My class fellows used to get jealous of me because I used to sit on the seat next to her! Oh God, how lovely those days were, and how lovely she was! Her bewitching smiles and fascinating looks still remain my most cherished memories. Wooooh!!

One day, I was eating a sandwich in front of her and offered it to her. That cute slap, which she gave me, still dejects me! It was the month of Ramazan. That was the last day I sat with any female teacher in a school bus. Anyway, on that very day, I asked my parents that how and why people fast. What was the reason for doing it? They told me about this holy month in detail and the very next day I was fasting for the first time! (Hey…Only to impress that female teacher, lol ;))"

Rest assured, most people have more long-lasting rewards in mind! Sabihey Namazi: "Ifasted willingly. In fact, my parents were reluctant about it. However, I managed to convince them. I had a spiritual feeling on my very first fast and it all went great."

Saima Aziz: "It was my own wish to fast. I was an eight-year-old then. It was a great feeling - a feeling never experienced before in any other phenomena. I felt like I was free from all sins, and so down-to-earth and meek as well because my hunger had always reminded me of poor people."

The big picture

Though this is by no means a concrete representation, a poll consisting of 123 people provide some insight as to how matters stand. When asked their reason behind fasting for the first time:

75% said it was their own wish

4% said their parents wanted them to, and 21% said it was because fasting had becomefarz on them.

Doing it

Most things are easier decided than carried out, and most people's experiences comply with this norm, but it does happen that in trying to convey a realistic picture to an inexperienced person, experienced people go overboard, as Sabihey relates: "It was easy, unlike what I had anticipated. I saw my elders complaining about the blazing sun and the hunger gnawing at the walls of their stomach with sharp thorns, therefore, this mere concept of fasting made me dread it. But, for me, it all went like a smooth wave."

In other cases, it would have been better if the first-timers had been informed properly beforehand instead of assuming that they would ask if they didn't understand something, as Ali Naqi states: "I have a very dull memory of my first proper fast. I barely remember anything like how old I was, or who was invited to the party if there was any, and what happened. I just remember a single scene, which is due to the extreme emotions associated with that moment. Not of joy or pride, but of guilt. I inadvertently had a good lick at marmalade just before iftar time!

Not being aware that eating or drinking out of ignorance won't make the fast void, I was too ashamed of myself! Back then I thought it would be an embarrassment if I leaked it out, so it remained a secret till today!"

Ali's only lingering memory was of his "transgression", but thankfully most "transgressors"aren't afraid to confide, as in Momal's case: "I always had this habit of sneaking into the kitchen and enjoying goodies secretly. That day, totally forgetting about my fast, I opened the refrigerator door, making the least noise. After eating two spoonfuls of jam," (is jam some sort of a trend?) "I remembered I was fasting that day! Crying and thinking that it was over, I went to Mama who comforted me, and said it was perfectly okay since I did it mistakenly."

Some have other doubts to be cleared, an example being Umair's: "I used to think how God could ask us not to eat from dawn till dusk, for if we didn't eat we would be dead by the evening. My mother came to rescue my thoughts. This helped me to take the first flight."

Then there are those whose attitude remains unscathed despite difficulties, like Saima: "The first experience of everything is hard. I actually fainted on my first fast twice because I was too young and my health wasn't very good either. But my spiritual feeling remained the same from sehri till iftari."

Hamza's experience of his second "first fast" three years after his attempt to impress theteacher is more vivid in his mind: "In those days, a movie named 'Chocolate' was released that had a lovely soundtrack. I listened to it the whole day and my mom would come to my room, turn off the main switch of the stereo system and pull my left ear whenever she heard the music. Then I would try reading Harry Potter, but I discovered that when the stomach is empty, even the most interesting novel slips through your mind without leaving the slightest trace of meaning behind! Therefore, I had to give up fasting as a bad job!"

What you give…

There are many children who begin their fast eagerly but end up cheating in the middle of the day; the culprit is usually thirst but can be as unpredictable as dino munchies! It is for this reason that some parents do not let their kids fast in primary school. The number of youths who bow down to their wills is much less but not nonexistent; the rest are fairly shocked to hear even the suggestion of cheating during a fast. Here's what people had to say on the subject:

Momal: "Well, I did think of drinking a glass of water, and the whole day begged God to remove the 'no drinking' part from fasting. I could, though, easily do it without eating!! :D"

Umair: "Children are supposed to be honest so no question of cheating. After all, teasing friends who are not fasting while you are makes you a little proud. I believe this was one reason which prohibited any such thoughts."

Saima: "No, I did not cheat, in fact, it was the great blessing and encouragement of my first fast that I intended to fast for the whole month the next year. And I managed 25 fasts, Mashallah."

Hamza: "Sooooo many times!!! Even today my parents have their suspicions about whether I eat anything or not when they are asleep in the afternoon!"

Sabihey: "No way! I was and I am a sincere human being, therefore, I resorted to no wrong means. I patiently waited till Iftar :)"

The poll results for this interesting question:

93% said that they had not cheated, while 7% admitted to cheating.

…and what you get

The reward of fasting extends beyond enjoying iftari, as everyone recounts:

Hamza: "I think fasting raises one's conscience. In the beginning, I had a very cavalier approach towards fasting. But last year, I fasted for 25 days. I didn't listen to songs and I was punctual while praying as well."

Saima: "I would like to quote a proverb first before my answer: 'First impression is the last impression'. So what exactly I had gotten from my first fast for the rest of my fasts was a great sense of responsibility and purity, closeness to almighty Allah and a true voice of conscience. Like while fasting, if you want to go for something which isn't good, it will be your conscience which will stop you from doing anything bad. And my first impression was a really good one for me."

Umair: "Everyone's appreciation and encouragement made me feel on top of the world. It put an iron rod in my neck when I walked among my peers. I wanted to fast more, but due to hot weather my mother forced me not to."

Sabihey: "It gave me a stroke of motivation and a feeling of 'mission-accomplished'. In addition to this, after my first experience, I could fast in the subsequent days too because I knew that I could abstain from cuisines from dawn till dusk."

Momal: "To be honest, it was something I could share with my friends, and boast about. Moreover, I was glad I'd done something to please our teacher who taught Islamiat. There was also a sense of great achievement."

Something special for something special

Different families have their own "something special" for their child's first fast; what is more important is how the recipient values it.

Saima: "Hmm, I had gotten just verbal appreciation and support from my family. I liked the way they had admired my practice towards Islam at such a young age because their appreciation encouraged me to do more good deeds in life."

Sabihey: "I was flooded with appreciation. And my Mom prepared my favourite dishes. But I missed one personality on my very first fast. My Dad had to urgently go for an official meeting a few hours before the iftar and I had to celebrate without him. He whole-heartedly greeted me after coming back, but I still wanted the leading light of my life to be with me on that special moment (sobs!)."

Momal: "Well, they cooked special treats for iftari. I was interested in ice-cream only!"

Hamza: "Every year in Ramzan when I come to the dining table, my not-so-very-naughty-brother 'Kukoo' says, 'Oh, Hamza nay bhi roza rakha hai? Outrageous!'"

Umair: "My grandmother provided the much desired monetary appreciation. My mother and father were busy in fostering the menu for the celebratory party."

The poll results for this one:

70% said their parents had given them praise and appreciation

20% said they got a monetary reward, whereas 10% said their parents threw a party to celebrate it.

While the paint dries on this picture of the first fast, let me pass on this message from Ramazan to you: to the new fast-keepers, welcome aboard! To the old ones, welcome back. And to those still waiting in the wings, fasting isn't the only thing this month brings.

Published 19 September, 2008 - US TheNews Weekly Magazine.

http://jang.com.pk/thenews/sep2008-weekly/us-19-09-2008/poster.htm