And I grin and I hide

My hand trembles, the palpitation of the previous night’s intellectual overdose is still gripping my heart. Dumbfounded at my physical response to pain and affection, I try to move myself out of bed. I move but instead I curl up near her feet.

Her warmth is comforting and soothing to my soul and I close my eyes again to fall into another round of sleep. My bad sleeping habits and continuous eating have made me lose my once lithe physical structure and fat has taken precedence in my depressed existence. In the process of this contemplation over my increased rotundity, I hear her shift in the bed again and I look up to see her face on the other side of the bed. Her tranquil face is etched into a faint smile around the corners of her lips making me uneasy and thus I try to lightly push my head on her feet.

She shifts and partially wakes up and says to me in a drowsy voice, “Baby, please sleep, I will give you breakfast soon”. Soon she is back to sleep and I gently keep lying beside her, careful not to wake her up again. I can see that the day is breaking through the sides of the window blinds as the pale yellow light shines through its sides giving it an angelic halo. Some light spills on her face and her curly hair light up almost magically leaving me awe struck and perplexed at the reason why I am here next to her.

I remember meeting her in a lane, where she was finding a path and the moment I laid eyes on her I was awe struck, but strangely I did not feel anything. Maybe she was searching for a path in her life or just walking by, I can never be sure. But I still am grateful that she took a soulless creature like me under her care.

My memory of the past is interrupted by the alarm clock ringing, telling her it is time to wake up and begin a new search. She wakes up and stretches her lovely arms and her mouth parts in a graceful yawn. She looks down the bed to me and says:

“Aww, good morning Cheshire Baby, come let mama give you some food.”

I purr affectionately and reply, “Meow”, which is my way of saying thank you Alice, maybe someday I might just love you.

She replies, “ Cheshire Baby, are you grinning at the idea of breakfast? You always have been very naughty, now don’t disappear again”.

I just continue to grin in response and then get amazed at the coldness of my soul…..

An appeal to overseas Pakistanis for small scale financing for Pakistani businesses

Hello everyone! Pakistan’s political scenario in the recent times has been full of upheavals and difficulties. The war on terror, corruption issues and other problems have left us with a fledgling and weakened economy. Pakistan’s previous growth rate for 2013 was only 3.59 % registering a decline from previous year’s growth rate of 4.36 % (which in itself was very low). The following are the details:

This alarming trend needs to be reversed and we appeal to the overseas Pakistanis for their support of our country. However there is a severe paucity for financing of small and medium sized business initiatives, which is generally known as “Venture capital financing”. Thus entrepreneurs here are facing lack of capital through which they can start their own business and thus create jobs in our nation.

Now let’s revert back to the importance of entrepreneurship and what its importance is to our nation as a whole. In today’s global world it is imperative to continually strive for innovation and new product development through which business will grow and for that we need small scale financing to enable grass root businesses and ideas to take place.

In spite of all the negative perceptions about Pakistan, we can assure you that Pakistan has a very conducive business environment with the appropriate regulations and reporting frameworks in place. Moreover, cities like Karachi have world class infrastructure which can be utilized for small businesses.

To put things in perspective, the following is an estimation of the start-up cost of small business in Pakistan (the range of Rs. 0.5 million to 2 million is taken from the youth business loan scheme initiated by the Prime Minister of Pakistan recently) in various currencies:

Amount of Startup Fund in Rupees	USD needed	GBP needed	Euro needed	AED needed	Saudi Riyal needed
Rs. 0.5 million	4,631	2,859	3,427	17,010	17,369
Rs. 2 million	18,525	11,438	13,709	68,039	69,477

Moreover, the detail of remittances by Overseas Pakistanis during FY 2012, FY 2013 and FY 2013 are as follows:

Monthly Cash Inflow (including FEBCs & FCBCs)	Amount in Millions of US Dollar			YoY Growth (percent)
	FY14	FY13	FY12	FY14	FY13
July	1,404.39	1,204.71	1,096.31	16.57%	9.89%
August	1,240.14	1,258.98	1,310.47	-1.50%	-3.93%
September	1,283.41	1,135.42	890.42	13.03%	27.52%
October	1,347.67	1,365.10	1,017.87	-1.28%	34.11%
Total	5,275.61	4,964.21	4,315.07	6.27%	15.04%
Monthly average for period July-October	1,318.90	1,241.05	1,078.77	6.27%	15.04%

Source: http://www.sbp.org.pk/ecodata/Homeremit.pdf

Thus, if a better utilization of the remittances is made, then our country can progress leaps and bounds as the remittances can then aid in starting small businesses, thus jump-starting our economy. All my brethren living abroad, please WAKE UP! There is a way in which we can make this place better for our future generations so that they would not have to undergo the pain you suffered to leave your homeland behind in search of a better life. Nothing explains optimism and the greatness of the will of the human spirit better than Allama Iqbal’s following verses:

"Thou didst create the night, but I made the lamp.

Thou didst create clay, but I made the cup.

Thou didst create the deserts, mountains and forests, I produced the orchards, gardens and groves.

It is I who made the glass out of stone, and it is I who turn a poison into an antidote." –

Allama Muhammad Iqbal

PAKISTAN PAINDABAD!

Our visit to Pursukoon Karachi

Hello everyone! Yesterday we visited Cantt Station for the "Pursukoon Karachi" event which is being held at Cantt Station, NAPA and Arts Council Karachi for a period of three days from 22nd to 24th November, 2013. We attended the awe inspiring musical performance in the night by the Sitar maestro Ustad Nafees Ahmad at Cantt Station and were mesmerized by the surroundings. Sadly we couldn't attend the other activities held at the event.

 

The beautiful view at Cantt Station during the Pursukoon Karachi's event

 

Overall it is a great effort to promote peace and culture in our great city of Karachi, which has been ravaged by terrorism and countless crimes leaving our citizens in continuous fear and in a sense of hopelessness about the future. Pursukoon Karachi’s objectives as per its Facebook page are:

* ‘Pursukoon Karachi’ is a not-for-profit organization that aims to restore the glory of the city of Karachi to its era of peacefulness, bustling trade and enduring heritage.

* Our mission is foremost to address the issue of violence and crime in the city through creative expression. We aim to make ‘Pursukoon Karachi’ the platform for artists, writers, photographers, musicians and performers to come together and form a collective voice against rampant weaponization, criminal activity and socio-political strife.

* Karachi has lived in the shadow of fear for so long now that creative expression has diminished and is relegated to elitism. We plan to bring the entire population of the city, specially the children, within the fold of creativity, giving people the option and freedom to interact, construct, think and enjoy the pleasures of original expression.

* Our intention is to instill the notion of peace amongst students by working with educational institutions from all parts of the city. Our methods include educating students about the perils of guns and to ensure that children understand that even playing with toy guns can lead to aggressive behavior and inures children to violence.

* While we plan to protest the violence and bloodshed, simultaneously, we aim to restore monuments in the city that were once known for their heritage and are now in disrepair due to negligence and disregard. Sites like Cantonment Railway Station and City Station, old bazaars like Empress Market, Burns Road and Kharadar, buildings like Merewether tower and Frere Hall could all be uplifted to encourage people to visit these locations with a view to revisiting the history of the city.

* ‘Pursukoon Karachi’ is an effort by civil society to re-possess the joys of the city of lights that we were witness to and that has been snatched rudely from us which we have watched passively. No more. We want our city back!"

 

Pi Studio salutes the organizers of this great event and hopes many more such efforts to come. Thus, with such events where art is utilized to promote peace, there is hope that Karachi will once again regain its glory and peace.

 

For Pursukoon Karachi's page please click here

 

For the pictures please click here

Pakistan Paindabad!

 

Adil Mufti Photography's shoot of the legendary Mobeen Ansari

Serenity and inner peace are the antithesis of personal turmoil. The past few weeks have been very eye opening for me (notice the change to first person). Sickness, photography, meeting amazing people and the sublime power of love have affected me in numerous different ways recently.

One thing I have learnt that it truth lies in the purest of hearts and I now have at least started to see my impurities via a comparative analysis of my soul and those great people I know and have met. And one of the finest people I know is my lovely friend Adil Mufti who owns the photography service Adil Mufti Photography.

Adil invited all of us at Pi Studio over to his shoot, where he shot the legendary Pakistani photojournalist and portrait photographer, the one and only Mobeen Ansari. I have personally been a huge fan of Mobeen's work and have learnt a lot from him. Moreover, Mobeen Ansari continues to be an inspiration to me and all of Pi Studio's members to this day.

When I was reaching the shoot with Hussain and Punhal (Pi Studio members) to meet Adil for the shoot, I did not know that I would be meeting one of the sweetest people I have ever met. The experience of meeting Mobeen Ansari was cathartic itself and made me ponder over my inner battles of rationality versus my heart.

I felt as if my dead soul had been run over by a truckload of positivity and patriotism. Mobeen Ansari told us about his upcoming book, which we all are eagerly waiting for. He taught us how he talks to his subjects to get them at ease and get the best portraits. Moreover, he also told us of his assignments in interior Sindh for various developmental agencies for whom he shoots various assignments.

In the end what all of us at Pi Studio learnt from Mobeen Ansari was that simplicity, humility, hard work and dedication to a purpose greater than oneself and the material life are the true core to self-satisfaction. Moreover, we also learnt that  Mobeen Ansari aims to spread optimism by highlighting great stories and Pakistan’s great national heroes (such as Wasim Akram, Imran Khan and countless other great people) through his great work.

All of us at Pi Studio would love to thank Adil Mufti for inviting us to the shoot. Moreover, Adil has always inspired us by his entrepreneurship ideas and ventures such as his photography service called Adil Mufti Photography and his clothing brand called Silaayi. The future looks bright for Pakistan when we have such great people like Adil Mufti and Mobeen Ansari.

The following are the links to the various web pages of Mobeen Ansari and Adil Mufti:

For Mobeen Ansari's astounding work please click here

For images of Mobeen Ansari's shoot done by Adil Mufti please click here

For Adil Mufti's Photography page please click here

For Silaayi's page please click here


PAKISTAN PAINDABAD!

Faiz Sb's death anniversary and what we have become now (an insight via morning shows)

Over the past few days due to some health issues I am on sick leave and thus I am unable to go to my day job. Having been advised to rest and to "take it easy" I tuned to the TV channels in the morning and if I had seen that torture much longer I would have decided to wear a jacket and blow myself and go to paradise.

Media is a reflection of the state of our society and these morning shows are a very accurate depiction of why Pakistan is going nowhere in terms of development and progress. First thing to note about these morning shows is that there is a standard format of morning shows, in which there is one attractive looking woman or a man who is hosting it (the thought of people looking up to these idiots is nauseating to say the least!).

Once, your eyes are accustomed to the torturous and badly designed sets with so many colors that one reminisces the by-gone era of monochrome TV; you will note that the quality of the content in these shows is appalling. I saw some people were blowing party horns in one show; In another one old lady is teaching the host the right way to spread katha (catechu) on pan (betel leaves), thus promoting the use of carcinogenic substances in a cultural manner!

I feel very sad and hurt to see the intellectual state of the media now and if our masses get this “information diet” then I am sure they will end up with unhealthy minds. I now ponder that whether our masses will ever realize their true purpose in life and how they can move forward.

 

There is only one way out of this state of limbo and that is to:

·         “DISCONNECT” from the mass media and

·         start reading and researching (one can always consult professors and specialists for that).

In this way, the quest for truth and the true meaning to life can begin.

 

It will be more than appropriate to remind all of you that today is 20^th November, the death anniversary of the great Pakistani poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz. Faiz Sahab’s contributions to Pakistani society and literature are unparalleled. In remembrance of the great man who left us 29 years ago and in a bid to wake all of you up from your deep comforting slumber, please go through the following verses by Faiz Sb:

 

“vo buto.n ne Daale hai.n vasvase ki dilo.n se Khauf-e-Khudaa gayaa
vo pa.Dii hai.n roz qayaamate.n ki Khayaal-e-roz-e-jazaa gayaa

(So much) cynicism (waswasa also means confusion; uncertainty) is created by the idols that fear of God has vanished from hearts.
(Because People) have gone through Armageddon daily the thought of the Day of Judgment is gone.

jo nafas thaa Khaar-e-gul banaa jo uThaa to haath qalam huye
vo nishaat-e-aah-sahar ga_ii vo viqaar-e-dast-e-duaa gayaa

My breath has turned into thorn in my throat; my raised hands are dripping with blood.
The bliss of the sigh of dawn is no more, pride in hands raised in prayer, no more.

na vo rang fasl-e-bahaar kaa na ravish vo abr-e-bahaar kii
jis adaa se yaar the aashnaa vo mizaaj-e-baad-e-sabaa gayaa

The colors of the spring season (are no more), the ways of cloud of the spring season no more.
The spirit of the early breeze with which my friends were familiar the is gone

abhii baadabaa.N ko tah rakho abhii muzatarib hai ruKh-e-havaa
kisii raaste me.n hai.n mu.ntazir vo sukuu.N jo aake chalaa gayaa

Keep the sail (baadban) furled; the winds are blowing in (muztarib) varied directions
Waiting in some path is the tranquility that came and went”

Vo buto.n ne Daale hai.n vasvase ki dilo.n se Khauf-e-Khudaa gayaa

Faiz Ahmed Faiz

 

 

WAKE UP EVERYONE!

PAKISTAN PAINDABAD!

Our Visit to Youth Cafe in Lyari

Pi Studio recently visited Lyari and it was one of the greatest experiences we have ever had. We were invited to visit the Youth Café in Lyari by the lovely Muzammil and his friends. When we were going there our perceptions had enhanced our fears about Lyari as an area rife with gang violence, but once we were there our perceptions were completely changed.

As a part of KYI (Karachi Youth Initiative) a Youth Café in Lyari has been setup by A.R.M Child and Youth Welfare and is headed by its CEO Mr. Sohail Rahi. It is an effort to ensure that the youth of Lyari gathers together for a collective effort and as explained to us by Muzammil (a member of the Youth Café) it is the second such cafe after T2F (The Second Floor). The following are the objectives of the Youth Café as per its facebook page:

 

“Youth Café will:

·         Promote ‘meaningful interaction’ among youth as a starting point for pioneering community based initiatives.

·         Provide a space for open dialogue to youth and document the trends emerging in these discussions.

·         Garner greater community cohesion and create a sense of shared identity through thematically designed activities.

·         Break stereotypes and remove social barriers by bringing people of varied backgrounds in one place.

·         Improve citizenship and community ownership through youth activism.”

 

 

The lovely people of the Youth Cafe in Lyari

Mr. Sohail explained to us that the initiative sprang about from the idea that there were a lot of youth in Lyari who had no avenues to express themselves, but instead roamed the streets of Lyari.We met talented filmmakers, photographers and actors. Some directors and their teams were being trained by SOC (sharmeen Obaid Chinoy) Films and we came to know that short movies directed by the talneted youth from Lyari will be screened soon, which we are eagerly waiting for to see.

 

Abdul Basit giving his presentation titled "Ehsaas Nama"

 

During our visit there, we attended a lovely presentation titled “Ehsaas Nama" by a brilliant young chap named Mr. Abdul Basit. It was a presentation on women education, tolerance and having the capacity to feel the pain of other souls. It was an intensely moving presentation, after which we left the cafe with a big smile and realizing that Lyari too holds a bright future ahead of it.
However, one thing we must all keep in mind is that we must find ways to promote the youth of Lyari and the art being created at the Youth Cafe to ensure a sustainable livelihood for the youth. We request everyone to please spread the word and invest in these young people for a better future.

 

Pakistan Zindabad!

 

For pictures please click here

 

For the Youth Café page please click here