Malala, the very name of courage

She is a fourteen year old, but her courage is no less than bulk of a mountain. She hasn't yet seen much of life, but her brain knows exactly what the significance of education is. Her determination is much stronger than any politician who has much more authority than her. It’s ironical to know that when the news of the assault broke out first, many of Pakistanis were finding themselves attuned to her name for the first time. We, Pakistanis, who can make a whole fuss out of a rubbish video, don’t want to know what cruelty is inflicted on an innocent fellow country child. Malala Yousufzai, who kept a diary of the events which she experienced during the Taliban’s notorious rule in Swat Valley aimed to help the children get their basic education. She raised her voice against infidelity, when the very name of school is enough to freak out a child. She is a peace activist at an age when most of the children perhaps don’t even know what a peace activist is.

She was on the hit list of the heartless villains for a long time, but she chose to have it the hard way. And the Taliban, unmanly as they have proved themselves many times before, lived up to their very repute. They tried to pierce her skull, but they had to encounter a never ending courage which retaliated them. Malala, singlehandedly decided to fight the Taliban, while the very name of Taliban puts a restraint in our actions. Some of us are still having a soft corner for them while they are busy brutally murdering innocent humans. Our government has nothing to offer except few words of condemnation like a whole puppet show is being played.

If a fourteen year old can sacrifice her childhoods fantasies and devote her life for something fruitful, why others can’t? If an innocent brain can understand the urgency and criticality of time, why others can’t? If a fragile body can’t take a bullet, why our swollen arrogant bodies can’t?

Malala is fighting for her life in Peshawar Hospital

This is a turning point in Pakistan’s fight against terrorism. If our careless forgetful nation can use their rage in the right direction, the tsunami of its determination can drive the Taliban away rewarding the struggles of the peace activists like Malala.

Malala on front page of Newyork Times

Malala on front page of Washington Post

Exploring Sahiwal

Peace of mind is the most expensive thing in the present world. Grievances, hatred and conceit are ready made items and these along with natural disasters have eliminated whatever comfort was in this chaotic world. But nature has still blessed us with the peace gainers that we refer to as homes. It is in the nature of every living being to love its home; this can be a country and a city in case of human beings. I wanted to write something about my city and this article provides me a suitable platform.

Free from the Taliban situation and the bomb blasts, unlike many other many other cities, Sahiwal is considered consecrated from these demons. It is the city where you would most probably find middle class people, very hardworking, and in my view, shrewd than many other citizens of our country. Here, you can find some really talented and successful professional people, diligent students and good number of working women. The people here try to keep a distance from politics and the unnecessary strikes which are among the most favorite hobbies of our countrymen.

After becoming a Division, Sahiwal has progressed a lot. Industry is a field in which this city has made good progress. Sahiwal industries include cotton ginning and pressing, tanning, textile ( City cloth palace, City Fashion Center), textile spinning, weaving, leather products, garments, pharmaceuticals, flour mills, food processing, oil mills, cold storage, potato, tobacco, vegetable ghee/cooking oil, biscuits, chip board etc. Montgomery factory was the most important biscuit factory of Pakistan until it lost its charm a few years back. This city has got a good potential to become an industry hub.

Sahiwal has a green and good fertile land and is an important contributor to our agriculture. The fruits and vegetables produced here are of the best quality. Anyone would have hardly missed the name of buffalo and cattle breed of Sahiwal in the Pak Studies courses. Many people know Sahiwal because of Harappa civilization as well. The remains of the Indus Civilization here are of the exquisite interest to the world. It is one of the ancient civilizations on archaeological evidence dated 3000 to 5000 B.C.

Sahiwal city has a better literacy rate than many of other Pakistan cities. This owes to the good educational quality in schools and colleges here. COMSATS and Bahauddin Zakariya University are continuing their degree awarding programs while Sahiwal Medical College is expected to finish its construction at the end of this year. Students here have made to the top universities of Pakistan and world.

Sahiwal has got some interesting stats which I would like to share. The platform of Sahiwal Railway Station is considered the longest in Asia. Sahiwal is the birthplace of Pakistan's only Nobel Prize winner, Dr. Abdus Salam. Cricket is the most popular sports in Sahiwal. Sahiwal has produced many cricketers like Mushtaq Ahmed, Manzoor Elahi, Zahoor Elahi and Saleem Elahi.

Summing all these facts, Sahiwal is a city worth to have as your home and I’m proud of it. The city has a lot to offer to Pakistan in the following years.